Lesson 1: Think twice before you cross the people who have the long suction cup pole and spare letters to your motel marquis.
The sign at the right was allegedly created by the unhappy and unpaid employees of the DuBois, PA Clarion Inn shortly before they walked off the job and caused franchisee Kronos Hotels to lock the doors.
Tip of the hat to the Kronos Hotels protest site for the story and permission to post the picture.
Lesson 2:  Think twice before you cross franchise owners with access to paper, tape and a Sharpie.
The photo below shows a sign in a closed …read more

Franchise Pick Diss-claimer:  The author wishes to make it clear that neither this post, previous posts nor future posts should be construed as criticism or negative commentary upon former Holiday Inn franchisee Kronos Hotels, LLC., its owner Charles Morais, or their law firm.
In fact, we believe that Kronos Hotels and Mr. Morais are an inspirational testament to perseverance in the face of adversity. 
Despite the fact that Kronos Hotels (allegedly) could not afford to pay its employees, (allegedly) could not afford to keep its lights on, (allegedly) could not afford to refrigerate the food it served to the public, (allegedly) …read more

Related:  HOLIDAY INN: Franchisors Must Protect Their Brands
WORDLESS WEDNESDAY: Save the Amish (Sign)!
HOLIDAY INN: Defranchising a PA Dutch Country Icon
We’ve recently been reporting on the woes of troubled Holiday Inn franchisee Kronos Hotels LLC, an Atlanta-based hotel chain founded by its chief executive officer, Malaysian entrepreneur Charles Morais.  A Franchise Pick reader and ex-employee of the hotel directed us to a protest site linking to negative news articles about the franchise group and calling for its demise:  KronosHotelsllc.com
According to Lancaster Online, the woes of the overextended hotel group is worsening:
-  The Lancaster, PA location was stripped of its Holiday …read more

Related:  HOLIDAY INN: Defranchising a PA Dutch Country Icon
WORDLESS WEDNESDAY: Save the Amish (Sign)!
The franchisor’s greatest responsibility is to protect the integrity of its brand.
In the end, everyone involved is invested in the power of the brand:  franchisees, shareholders, landlords and employees.
Unfortunately, the most devastating attacks on even the most powerful brands often come from within.  Lax employees and undercapitalized or negligent franchise owners can quickly undermine an image built over decades of hard work and billions in advertising and promotion.
Case in point:  The announcement by IHG, franchisor of Holiday Inn, to “disenfranchise” the Lancaster County, PA, Holiday Inn Visitor’s …read more

(Franchise Pick)  The Holiday Inn Visitor’s Center, gateway to PA Dutch tourism country, has been shunned from the Holiday Inn chain.  Will someone please buy it and renovate the sign to its previous kitschy glory?
Read:  HOLIDAY INN: Defranchising a PA Dutch Country Icon
WHAT DO YOU THINK?  SHARE A COMMENT BELOW.
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Photo credit:  FranBest.  …read more

(Franchise Pick)  For decades, the Lancaster, PA Holiday Inn on historic Route 30 served as tourism’s gateway to PA Dutch country.  Its prominent and kitschy sign, flanked by a giant Amish couple, was a favorite tourist photo opp – ranking right up there with the nearby “Welcome to Intercourse, PA” sign.
In recent years, the increasing disrepair of the graffitied roadside sign has signalled the overall decline of a once warm, welcoming and trustworthy member of the IHG-owned Holiday Inn franchise family.  Holiday Inn Lancaster has been increasingly plagued with high management turnover, a decaying infrastructure and credit-unworthiness.  After Atlanta-based Kronos …read more

(FranchisePick.Com) [PHOTO: A preview of the new Holiday Inn logo, graphics and sign package in New York. Construction is almost complete on the new Holiday Inn hotel in the New York neighborhood of Chelsea. Photo credit: Newscom.]
1,000 Holiday Inn Properties Will Feature New Sign and Brand Standards Within Next Six Months
ATLANTA – The new Holiday Inn sign introduced in 2007 is making its way around the world. And today, IHG reveals the first 60 properties to receive this green beacon of hospitality, with plans for it to reach one-third of the Holiday Inn system, …read more