icense to play Radio Margaritaville and other theme-appropriate channels and/or a subscription to an approved audiovisual vendor; 6. Use our approved reputation platform provider, Medallia, to measure
From the filings
Z - Margaritaville Hotels & Resorts
LodgingSoftware purchasing at Z - Margaritaville Hotels & Resorts is controlled at the headquarters level, led by executives like President of Hospitality Dan Leonard and COO Brad Schwaeble. The brand mandates a specific, enterprise-heavy tech stack including Salesforce, Infor, and InfoGenesis across its 15 franchised lodging locations. This creates a concentrated, 15-unit addressable market for vendors who can integrate with or displace these incumbent systems.
For software vendors selling into US franchise brands.
Live signals
Ongoing fee load
What the operator pays every month
The recurring percentage of gross sales named in this filing, before rent, labour or any technology fee.
4.5%of gross sales (FY2023)
15% reference
Mandated & recommended tech
The systems vendors compete with
2 of these are mandated in the franchise agreement. Each is named in Item 11 of the filing, the incumbents a challenger must displace or integrate with.
et up and implement technology systems. In connection with any FBR Unit, you must purchase all food items for the Core Menu of such restaurant (approximately 80% of the menu) from SYSCO. Food items fo
e PMS is provided by Infor and has a current ongoing operational cost of $11.70 per room per month after installation. Currently, the HSIA Portal and Network system is provided by Allbridge and has a
rvation. GDS Reservations made via Global $12.90 Cost per Reservations Distribution System used by travel agents actualized worldwide, such as Sabre, Galileo, reservation. Apollo, Amadeus or Worldspan
se all related domains and retain ownership of them while granting you access as per our policies and guidelines. Subject to our approval, you may use social media (which includes Facebook, Twitter, I
ces or Margaritaville.com reservation. GDS Reservations made via Global $12.90 Cost per Reservations Distribution System used by travel agents actualized worldwide, such as Sabre, Galileo, reservation
tal and Network system is provided by Allbridge and has a current ongoing operational cost of $2.25 per room per month after installation. Currently, the POS System is provided by InfoGenesis and has
ins and retain ownership of them while granting you access as per our policies and guidelines. Subject to our approval, you may use social media (which includes Facebook, Twitter, Instagram, Snapchat,
ed devices or Margaritaville.com reservation. GDS Reservations made via Global $12.90 Cost per Reservations Distribution System used by travel agents actualized worldwide, such as Sabre, Galileo, rese
l operational expense of $1,800 per terminal after installation. All fees for the PMS, HSIA, and POS system are payable directly to the suppliers. Currently, the CRM is powered by Salesforce and has m
ain ownership of them while granting you access as per our policies and guidelines. Subject to our approval, you may use social media (which includes Facebook, Twitter, Instagram, Snapchat, YouTube, a
ion that needs to be fee automated system contracted separately. Please reach out to Margaritaville Revenue Strategy team for information. Confirmations This is only when used via SynXis. $0.25 per te
al you may not use any trademark, trade name, service mark, metatag, domain name, keyword or social media indicator, including, but not limited to, Facebook, Instagram, YouTube or Twitter handle, cons
S Reservations made via Global $12.90 Cost per Reservations Distribution System used by travel agents actualized worldwide, such as Sabre, Galileo, reservation. Apollo, Amadeus or Worldspan. IDS Reser
hip of them while granting you access as per our policies and guidelines. Subject to our approval, you may use social media (which includes Facebook, Twitter, Instagram, Snapchat, YouTube, and similar
Franchisor behaviours
What the franchisor requires
26 requirements the franchisor states in this filing, each in its own words; 4 explicit no's; 4 questions the text does not settle, which is not a no.
Accounting
Must the franchisee use an accounting or bookkeeping system designated or approved by the franchisor?
YesFranchise agreement
(a) prepare on a current basis in a form acceptable to Franchisor, in its commercially reasonable discretion, and preserve for at least 3 years, complete and accurate records concerning Gross Revenue and all financial, operating, marketing, and other aspects of the Hotel; and (b) maintain an accounting system that…
Does the franchisor have direct or independent electronic access to the franchisee's financial, sales or customer records?
YesItem 11
You will provide us with independent access to the information that the Computing Environment generates and tracks upon or request.
Must the franchisee submit periodic financial statements (monthly, quarterly or annual) to the franchisor?
YesFranchise agreement
Franchisee must send Franchisor upon its reasonable request, in the form and format that Franchisor periodically specifies, any information relating directly or indirectly to the Hotel that Franchisor does not access independently from Franchisee’s computer system.
How the franchisor buys
Is the franchisor or an affiliate itself a supplier of required products, services or systems?
YesItem 8
In providing these and other products and services to you, we and our affiliates have the right to charge prices that exceed our and their costs and include a profit margin.
Does the franchisor reserve the right to change designated suppliers or systems at any time?
YesFranchise agreement
Franchisor reserves the right to modify or change, at its sole discretion, the CRS at any time upon 60 days’ notice to Franchisee.
Does the franchisor or an affiliate receive rebates, commissions or other revenue from designated or approved suppliers?
YesItem 8
We and our affiliates may receive rebates, commissions, payments, benefits and other material consideration from suppliers on account of their actual or prospective dealings with you and other franchisees and owners of Margaritaville Hotels & Resorts.
Item 8 gives this proportion in one of two shapes: separate percentages for establishing the business and for operating it, or one figure covering "establishing and operating" together. Where they are separate, answer with the operating percentage; where the passage gives only the combined figure, answer with that. What percentage of the franchisee's purchases must come from designated or approved suppliers?
80Item 8
We estimate that before operation and during operation of your Hotel, you will purchase 80% of the required goods and services from suppliers we approve or designate.
Does the franchisor charge a fee to evaluate a proposed supplier?
YesItem 8
We may charge you our costs to review your request and evaluate the proposed product, service and/or source.
Can a franchisee propose a new supplier for the franchisor's approval?
YesItem 8
If you wish to obtain any FF&E, supplies, or other goods and services from a source that we have not previously approved, you must send us a written request with any information and samples we consider necessary to determine whether the product, service and source meet our then current criteria.
Data and IT
Must the franchisee comply with PCI, data-security or cybersecurity standards set by the franchisor?
YesFranchise agreement
Franchisee shall and shall cause the Franchisee Agents to comply with (a) the most current version of the Payment Card Industry Data Security Standards (including the payment application data security standards), as amended or updated from time to time (the “PCI Security Standards”)
Franchise management
Must the franchisee participate in a customer-satisfaction or net-promoter survey program?
YesFranchise agreement
Franchisee shall facilitate, at Franchisee’s expense, participation in a guest comment card program to measure Hotel guest satisfaction.
Does the franchisor conduct periodic inspections, audits or evaluations of the franchised business?
YesItem 11
Conduct periodic inspections of the Hotel and otherwise maintain the Quality Assurance Program for the Margaritaville Hotels & Resorts franchise network.
Can the franchisor change the operations manual and brand standards unilaterally?
YesItem 11
We may modify the Manual from time to time.
Must the franchisor approve the franchisee's site or location before opening?
YesItem 11
It is your responsibility to select a potential site, but we must accept the site.
Marketing
Must the franchisee participate in a customer loyalty or rewards program?
YesItem 11
You must participate in the Loyalty Program and contribute fees set forth in Items 5, 6, and 7.
Operations
Must the franchisee buy products from a designated distributor?
YesItem 8
Purchase all non-alcoholic beverages from a local Coca-Cola Bottling Company distributor;
Must equipment be purchased from designated or approved suppliers?
YesFranchise agreement
Franchisor may require Franchisee to acquire FF&E, OS&E, technology, equipment, supplies, and other goods and services from one or more sources that Franchisor periodically designates or approves for the purpose of maintaining the Hotel Standards, the Margaritaville brand, and uniformity across the Hotel System.
Payments
Are royalties and other fees collected by automatic bank debit (ACH or electronic funds transfer) from the franchisee's account?
YesFranchise agreement
All payments shall be delivered to Franchisor via ACH transfer in accordance with the wire transfer instructions provided by Franchisor to Franchisee, and accompanied by an accounting statement showing a detailed computation of the amounts paid.
Must the franchisee participate in a gift card program?
YesFranchise agreement
Franchisee must participate in the program for the sale and processing of gift cards at participating locations (the “Gift Card Program”) that Franchisor has established.
People
Does the franchisor require minimum staffing levels or specific roles?
YesItem 15
You (or your approved management company) must hire and properly train all Hotel personnel and always have Key Personnel in place at the Hotel.
Must employees wear uniforms specified by the franchisor?
YesItem 8
Use Cintas for employee uniforms;
Point of sale
Must the franchisee use a specific point-of-sale system designated or approved by the franchisor?
YesItem 11
You currently must acquire the PMS, POS System, CRM, CRS, CMS, EPP, HSIA, Music/Video Distribution systems, electronic door lock systems, lighting control system, and certain other components of the Computing Environment only from our designated vendors.
Does the franchisor have independent access to the data in the franchisee's POS or computer system?
YesFranchise agreement
Franchisor reserves the right to access Franchisee’s computer system independently to obtain sales information, occupancy information, and other data and information relating to the Hotel.
Sales and CRM
Must the franchisee use a CRM system designated or approved by the franchisor?
YesItem 11
You currently must acquire the PMS, POS System, CRM, CRS, CMS, EPP, HSIA, Music/Video Distribution systems, electronic door lock systems, lighting control system, and certain other components of the Computing Environment only from our designated vendors.
Training
Can the franchisor charge the franchisee for additional, refresher or remedial training?
YesFranchise agreement
Franchisor may also, at its option, provide other optional training programs from time to time during the Term.
Is attendance at an annual convention or conference mandatory for the franchisee?
YesFranchise agreement
Franchisee has attended all mandatory annual conventions or other mandatory meetings during the Initial Term, unless attendance was excused by Franchisor;
The filing answers no to 4 questions
- Is the franchisee prohibited from operating its own website or social media accounts, or required to use pages the franchisor provides?Item 11
- Is a minimum grand opening advertising spend required?Item 11
- Is the franchisee required to spend a minimum amount on local advertising or marketing, as a percentage of sales or a fixed amount?Item 11
- Must the franchisee participate in a regional advertising cooperative when one exists?Item 11
The vendor opportunity at Z - Margaritaville Hotels
Z - Margaritaville Hotels & Resorts presents a compact but highly standardized opportunity for software vendors. The system consists of 15 total units, all of which are franchised. The unit growth rate year-over-year is not disclosed in the most recent FDD. The operator footprint is notably concentrated, with just 1 mapped operator across approximately 1 located unit, and the top state by presence is Wisconsin. This is not a massive, fragmented chain; it is a small, tightly controlled brand where a single corporate mandate can dictate the technology stack for the entire system. The parent company is Margaritaville Enterprises, LLC and Margaritaville Holdings LLC.
The average unit volume (AUV) is not disclosed in the most recent FDD. The royalty fee is set at 3.0% of gross revenues, and the initial franchise term runs for 20 years. For a vendor, the addressable market is exactly those 15 franchised units. The sales cycle will not be about winning over dozens of independent operators but about convincing a centralized HQ team that your solution is a better fit than the deeply embedded incumbents.
Who controls software purchasing
Purchasing authority is firmly centralized at the headquarters level. The FDD lists key executives who form the relevant buying center. John Cohlan serves as Chief Executive Officer. The hospitality division is led by Dan Leonard, President of Hospitality, and Brad Schwaeble, Chief Operating Officer of Hospitality. Mark Rogers holds the position of Senior Vice President, Hospitality, and Laura McConnell is the Chief Financial Officer. For a software vendor, the primary targets are Leonard and Schwaeble, who oversee daily operations and are most likely to sponsor a technology evaluation. Given the mandated nature of the tech stack, any pitch must be directed at this HQ team; individual franchisees do not have the autonomy to select their own core systems.
Mandated and current tech stack
The brand’s 2023 FDD reveals a heavily mandated technology environment. The systems are not merely recommended; they are required. The mandated stack includes Salesforce by Salesforce, Inc. for customer relationship management. For property management and financials, the brand mandates Infor and Infor d/EPM. The point-of-sale system is InfoGenesis. Guest-facing and operational infrastructure includes a mandated CRS (Central Reservation System), a Loyalty Program, and Allbridge for connectivity solutions. This is a full-suite, enterprise-grade stack. A vendor pitching into this account must have a clear integration strategy or a compelling rip-and-replace value proposition that can overcome the inertia of these deeply integrated, mandated systems.
Procurement, renewals, and timing
The specific procurement model from Item 8 is not detailed in the available extract, but the operational reality is a designated-supplier model driven by the franchisor’s mandates. The contractual terms further reinforce long technology lifecycles. The initial franchise agreement is for 20 years. According to Item 17, if a franchisee is in good standing and satisfies certain conditions, they are entitled to an automatic renewal for one additional 10-year term. This structure suggests that major technology decisions are likely tied to these long-term contractual cycles or to property-level renovations and refreshes, rather than annual budget flips. Vendors should prepare for a long, relationship-based sales process aligned with the corporate strategy set by Margaritaville Holdings.
How to read the Z - Margaritaville Hotels FDD
The 2023 Franchise Disclosure Document is the definitive source for understanding the legal and operational constraints of this brand. It contains the exact language governing technology mandates, supplier rights, and the obligations of franchisees. The embedded viewer below provides the full document. Reviewing it directly is essential to verify the scope of the franchisor's control over IT procurement and to identify any specific approved-supplier processes not summarized here. For a ranked target list of franchise systems matched to your software category, contact FranCloud.
Questions vendors ask
Z - Margaritaville Hotels & Resorts, answered from the filing
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FDD alert
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Operator footprint
Who runs the locations
1 operators run 1 mapped locations. 0 of them are multi-unit. Aggregate counts from the filing; no names.
Operators by units owned
Top states by locations
| WI | 1 |
|---|
Ownership
The portfolio behind Z - Margaritaville Hotels & Resorts
single_brand_holdco of Margaritaville.
Sibling brands
Related Lodging brands
Primary franchise filings · updated June 2026. Every figure is source-traceable and QA-checked.