From the filings

HQ-led decisions

Z - Margaritaville Hotels & Resorts

Lodging

Software 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

Total units
15
15 franchised
Unit growth YoY
0%
vs prior filing
AUV
—
Item 19, 2023
Royalty
3%
of gross sales
Ad fund
1.5%
national + local
Initial fee
—
per unit
Investment range
$21.97M–$195.78M
all-in, Item 7
Procurement
Approved supplier
from the filing
Item 19
Claims
from the filing

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)

Ongoing fees: 4.5% of gross sales (FY2023)Royalty 3%, Ad fund 1.5%. Total 4.5% of gross sales. Drawn against a 15% reference scale.

15% reference

Royalty 3%Ad fund 1.5%

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.

MedalliaMedallia
Mandatory
MarketingItem 8

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

SyscoSysco
Mandatory
InventoryItem 8

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

AllbridgeAllbridge
Industry softwareItem 11

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

AmadeusAmadeus
BookingItem 6

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

FacebookMeta
MarketingItem 11

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

GalileoTravelport
BookingItem 6

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

InfoGenesisAgilysys
POSItem 11

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

InstagramMeta
MarketingItem 11

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,

SabreSabre
BookingItem 6

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

SalesforceSalesforce
CrmItem 11

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

SnapchatSnapchat
MarketingItem 11

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

SynXisSabre Hospitality
BookingItem 6

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

TwitterX
MarketingItem 13

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

WorldspanTravelport
BookingItem 6

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

YouTubeGoogle
MarketingItem 11

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?

Yes

Franchise 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?

Yes

Item 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?

Yes

Franchise 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?

Yes

Item 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?

Yes

Franchise 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?

Yes

Item 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?

80

Item 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?

Yes

Item 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?

Yes

Item 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?

Yes

Franchise 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?

Yes

Franchise 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?

Yes

Item 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?

Yes

Item 11

We may modify the Manual from time to time.

Must the franchisor approve the franchisee's site or location before opening?

Yes

Item 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?

Yes

Item 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?

Yes

Item 8

Purchase all non-alcoholic beverages from a local Coca-Cola Bottling Company distributor;

Must equipment be purchased from designated or approved suppliers?

Yes

Franchise 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?

Yes

Franchise 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?

Yes

Franchise 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?

Yes

Item 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?

Yes

Item 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?

Yes

Item 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?

Yes

Franchise 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?

Yes

Item 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?

Yes

Franchise 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?

Yes

Franchise 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

The buying center includes Dan Leonard (President, Hospitality) and Brad Schwaeble (COO, Hospitality). As a heavily mandated system, decisions are centralized at the Margaritaville Holdings corporate level, not by individual franchisees.
The 2023 FDD mandates InfoGenesis for POS, Infor and Infor d/EPM for financials, Salesforce for CRM, a CRS, a loyalty program, and Allbridge for connectivity. This is a locked-down, enterprise stack.
There are 15 total units, all of which are franchised. The operator footprint is concentrated, with 1 mapped operator and the top state being Wisconsin with a single unit.
The procurement model is not explicitly detailed in the available Item 8 extract. Given the list of mandated technologies, it operates on a designated-supplier model where franchisees must use specific, named vendors.
The initial franchise term is 20 years. Franchisees in good standing are entitled to an automatic renewal for one additional 10-year term, suggesting long vendor lock-in periods with renewal-driven evaluation windows.
The 2023 FDD was filed with state franchise regulators. You can read the full document using the embedded PDF viewer below to analyze the specific contractual obligations and tech mandates directly.
Source

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Z - Margaritaville Hotels & Resorts2023 FDDView only

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The brands you can actually sell into, from the filings.

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

Single-unit1

Top states by locations

WI1

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.