In our second episode with Reform Lodging co-founders Sagar Shah and Rich Gandhi, we talk about the fact that most franchise organizations today are beholden to stock owners, and how that focus affects franchise owners.

In this episode, we talk to Sagar Shah and Rich Gandhi, co-founders of Reform Lodging, a franchise owners advocacy organization that formed amidst the coronavirus pandemic to shine a bright light on the issues threatening the hotel franchising industry.

On this episode we wrap-up with Keith Miller, long-time franchisee, who’s advocacy combats toward franchisees to fight for themselves. Brands standards and practices, including COVID cleaning procedures, are in place to help and direct franchisees, while their “individually owned and operated” nature protects the franchisor from liability.

What is hidden in a disclosure? It may sound like an oxymoron, but has the length of the franchise disclosure and the length of the franchise agreement allowed for the growing one-sided relationship? Disclosed does not always equal transparency. Keith Miller, from the franchisee perspective, explains a side to the FDD that he’s fighting to fix.

The franchisor is forgetting who the actual investor is in a franchising relationship. The advertised “group purchasing power” benefit of joining a franchise is actually a revenue stream “powering” the franchisor. The franchisee holds majority of the risk, but stockholders dictate direction.

While travel is down, reservations scarce, its time to stand above. Rajiv Bhatia, on this week’s episode, reminisces to what this industry is all about; the service culture. Impeccable service and catering to the needs of our guests is what makes a truly successful lodging facility. Now that travel has slowed, rates coming down from their peaks, it is guest satisfaction that will make property’s stand out.

The truth in growing a franchise brand is to listen. Rajiv Bhatia on this weeks episode takes us back to a time of his days growing the Knights Inn brand. With so many hotel owners fed up with the typical franchise agreement, Bhatia took aim. Has the COVID pandemic brought back to light the unfairness experienced in hotel franchising?

Former Knights Inn Brand President, Rajiv Bhatia, joins Patrick Mullinix as they dive into the hospitality industry and its service culture. In our first segment with Bhatia, he shares the secret to his successful growing of the Knight Inn franchise brand – a culture of relationship. Franchisees want to trust that their brand partner has their best interest in mind.

On this episode, we close out this conversation with Patrick and Vimal, two opposing sides of the story have come full circle. Exposed some dark truths, commiserated with each other on the current climate and state of the industry, and finally a hope for the future.

Patrick asks his franchisor counterparts to reevaluate reexamine relationship and look at all financial aspects that effect the business survival of hotel owners.