Latest news with #franchise
Travel Daily News
15 hours ago
- Business
- Travel Daily News
Sonesta executes 31 franchise agreements in H1 2025
Sonesta adds 31 new franchise deals and opens 10 hotels in H1 2025, reinforcing its strategic growth and global brand expansion. NEWTON, MA – Sonesta International Hotels (Sonesta), the 8th largest hotel company in the US, announced the execution of 31 new franchise agreements during the first half of 2025 as well as 10 openings that showcase Sonesta's global expansion and continued growth strategy. 'The continued growth in the first half of 2025, with 31 new franchise agreements, highlights Sonesta's sustained momentum and our attractive value proposition for owners,' said Keith Pierce, Sonesta's EVP and President of Franchise & Development. 'We're seeing continued demand across our diverse portfolio, which speaks to our ability to meet the needs of various markets and strengthens our existing owner relationships.' Sonesta's ongoing franchise expansion, in spite of the macroeconomic and political headwinds that started the year, highlights its success in growing its footprint. This growth is bolstered by its fast, friendly, and flexible model, which especially appeals to hotel owners during times of uncertainty. 'Our tailored brand offerings and flexible standards are clearly resonating with developers looking for strategic growth,' said Brian Quinn, Sonesta's Chief Development Officer. 'These 31 new agreements, spanning our distinct brands, along with the 10 recent openings, demonstrate our continued commitment to providing solutions that drive success for our franchisees and expand Sonesta's footprint in key locations.' Sonesta had 10 new hotels add nearly 1000 new rooms to the portfolio in the first six months of 2025. They include (in order of opening): Sonesta Essential Baton Rouge – Baton Rouge, LA – Baton Rouge, LA Red Lion Hotel Charlotte – Charlotte, NC – Charlotte, NC Signature Inn Berkeley – Berkeley, CA – Berkeley, CA Americas Best Value Inn Donaldsonville – Donaldsonville, LA – Donaldsonville, LA Americas Best Value Inn Fredonia – Fredonia, NY – Fredonia, NY Sonesta Essentia Blue Springs – Blue Springs, MO – Blue Springs, MO Sonesta Essential Overland Park – Overland Park, KS – Overland Park, KS Signature Inn Miami – Miami, FL – Miami, FL Americas Best Value Inn/Knights Inn Pilot Mountain (dual brand) – Pilot Mountain, NC In late 2021, Sonesta RL Hotels Franchising Inc. launched four Sonesta-branded hotel concepts in the U.S., complete with a comprehensive platform of franchise services, hotel operations, and franchise support. Building on this momentum, 2023 marked another milestone with the introduction of four new brands: The James, Sonesta Essential Hotels, and two soft brands – Classico Collection by Sonesta and MOD Collection by Sonesta. In 2024, Sonesta expanded its reach by introducing the 'by Sonesta' endorser branding to the Red Lion portfolio, further reinforcing its commitment to strategic growth and innovation. Sonesta's diverse portfolio of 13 distinct brands provides owners and developers with a wide range of options across the upper-upscale, lifestyle, upscale, midscale, extended-stay, and economy segments. With a focus on strategic growth, an owner-first approach, available market opportunities, and direct access to its leadership team, Sonesta stands out as an attractive partner for developers seeking flexibility and innovation in hospitality. Guests of these new locations can earn or redeem points as members of the award-winning Sonesta Travel Pass guest loyalty program.
CTV News
a day ago
- Business
- CTV News
Crumbl Cookies is coming to Waterloo
A new store dedicated to sweet treats will be opening soon in Waterloo. Crumbl Cookies, the popular U.S. dessert company and social media sensation, is expanding their franchise to the corner of Northfield Drive and Weber Street North. According to the company's website, the shop will be open seven days a week and offer baked goods in-store, for delivery and curbside pickup, as well as catering. 'Our desserts are made fresh daily with an exciting weekly rotating menu from the best chocolate chip cookies to mini pies and cakes,' Crumbl's website reads. The Waterloo store is expected to open on Aug. 15.
Entrepreneur
a day ago
- Business
- Entrepreneur
Benefit From Strong Brand Awareness with a Moe's Southwest Grill Franchise
Franchisees benefit from robust training, ongoing operational support, and national marketing initiatives powered by industry-leading franchisor Goto Foods. Why Own a Moe's Southwest Grill? Are you ready to invest in a business that combines bold flavors with a proven business model and a vibrant brand? Moe's Southwest Grill offers an exceptional franchise opportunity for entrepreneurs who want to make an impact in their community while running a rewarding business. Benefits of owning a Moe's Southwest Grill franchise:
Entrepreneur
2 days ago
- Business
- Entrepreneur
She Went From Franchisee to Brand President — Here's How
This story appears in the July 2025 issue of Entrepreneur. Subscribe » Susan Valverde is the brand president of Sylvan Learning, a tutoring and test prep center franchise. She describes her career as "a series of fortunate but very unexpected turns." Valverde was born in northern Mexico, immigrated to the U.S. as a child in the early 1980s, and learned entrepreneurship from her parents, who built a trucking business in Mississippi. She became the first college graduate in her family, then worked in banking and economic development — until her career changed in an unforeseen way. It happened in the year 2000, when Valverde's husband needed to take a professional exam. He did it at a Sylvan Learning franchise location near their south Texas home. While her husband took his test, Valverde observed the center in action. "It just struck a chord," she recalls. "I saw kids running in after a long day of school. I've been that kid who needed extra support when I was learning English." She saw opportunity. Within weeks, she became a franchisee — and went on to build multiple successful units, which she sold in 2016 in order to join the Sylvan leadership team. She then rose from vice president to chief franchise operations officer — and finally, in 2024, she became president. Here, she shares how her time in the trenches helped define her vision. Related: This Founder's 'Favorite' Interview Question Only Has 1 Right Answer Your territories in south Texas were some of the most economically disadvantaged areas in the country, yet they were consistently top performers. What were some challenges you faced in that environment? I hesitate to call them challenges, because I find that areas with limited resources are very resourceful. But there were definite barriers we had to overcome. For instance, all of our marketing messaging was in English, so we had to roll up our sleeves and translate. Luckily, we're all bilingual. What were some initiatives you put in place specific to your clientele? We created a mobile model so that we could take our tutoring to schools, because in Texas there are some rural pockets that are hard to reach. The other thing that we pioneered in my market is partnering with low-income schools — we applied for federal grants, state grants, and foundation grants. We were able to secure scholarships for low-income families and children who would not have been able to access our services. Is there something about the franchise model that you find particularly effective? It's locally owned and operated. To these people that I was trying to partner with, I wasn't just a vendor. These are folks I run into at the grocery store. We live in the same community. So there's a level of accountability, acceptance, and true partnership that a corporate-owned business cannot reach. What was the most challenging part of transitioning from franchisee to corporate leadership? It required a complete shift in perspective. As a franchisee, I had a very localized scope and saw a direct impact; if I needed to grow, it was within my hands to do that. But if you're wearing the corporate hat, you're presenting something that's hopefully compelling, that people will embrace and execute. But you can't do it for them. Related: I've Seen How Reckless Franchisors Can Ruin People's Lives. Here's How the Best Franchises Grow, Find the Right Franchisees, and Thrive Together How has your background as a franchisee influenced you as an executive and a leader? Because I've been in the trenches and understand the sacrifices that a franchisee goes through, that a small business owner goes through, I filter all my decisions through that lens. Is there an overarching business philosophy that has enabled you to be successful? What I believe — and this goes for my whole team — is that success is about impact. If we're seeing students grow, then school districts, communities, and families will embrace what we do. So if we believe in what we're doing and we do a really great job, we're winning because of the impact. Then the revenue follows — not the other way around. Ready to break through your revenue ceiling? Join us at Level Up, a conference for ambitious business leaders to unlock new growth opportunities.
Yahoo
2 days ago
- Business
- Yahoo
Five Star Franchising taps Wanda Hoegren to be new Brand President of Gotcha Covered
Franchise veteran looks to expand on year of strong growth as VP of Operations for custom window treatment franchise SPRINGVILLE, Utah, July 28, 2025 /PRNewswire/ -- Five Star Franchising, a growing platform of home services franchise opportunities, announces Wanda Hoegren as the new Brand President for Gotcha Covered, a trusted provider of custom window treatments throughout the United States and Canada. No stranger to the world of franchising leadership, Hoegren has been a key executive within the Five Star Franchising platform since 2024, when she was named the VP of Operations for Gotcha Covered. Her promotion to Brand President punctuates a year of growth for the franchise, which now encompasses more than 160 locations. "Over the past year, Wanda has really been in the trenches with the Gotcha Covered team, supporting daily logistics and helping our new and existing franchise owners flourish across the United States and Canada," said Chad Jones, COO and Co-founder for Five Star Franchising. "She's seen first-hand the unique opportunities available in this space, and has a clear vision to propel Gotcha Covered to the next level—cementing its status as the premier window treatment provider for consumers, and as a compelling opportunity for aspiring owners." In her role as Brand President, Hoegren sets strategic direction for Gotcha Covered, developing and implementing strategies for long-term growth. The role encompasses all aspects of franchise operation, from financial analysis to marketing to customer service, with a dual focus on supporting franchise owners and ensuring consumer satisfaction. "There's no doubt in my mind that Gotcha Covered is poised for significant growth—and my aim is to steward that growth by enhancing our national brand, by strengthening unit-level economics and by implementing scalable processes for franchise expansion," said Hoegren. "We're writing the next chapter for Gotcha Covered, and I'm happy to work alongside our internal team and our network of franchise owners to make it the best yet." Gotcha Covered provides both homeowners and small businesses with a full range of blinds, shades, custom drapery and motorized window treatments, including integration with smart home systems. In 2025, the brand was featured as one of Entrepreneur's Top Franchises Under $150k. Additional information about the brand is available at For information about franchising, visit About Gotcha Covered Gotcha Covered is the premier provider of custom window treatments in North America, offering solutions including blinds, draperies, shutters, smart home systems and much more. The company provides end-to-end consultation inspired by customer's needs and goals, and proudly celebrates 99% positive customer reviews. Franchising since 2009 and acquired by Five Star Franchising in 2021, Gotcha Covered is quickly growing across North America with more than 160 franchise locations. In 2025, Gotcha Covered was ranked as one of Entrepreneur's Top Franchises Under $150k, signaling a low-cost opportunity for potential owners. For more information, visit To learn about franchising with Gotcha Covered, visit About Five Star Franchising Five Star Franchising is an innovative, growing platform of home service brands with more than 1,500 total locations throughout North America. Franchise owners across Five Star's brands, including Five Star Bath Solutions, Gotcha Covered, Bio-One, Mosquito Shield, 1-800-Packouts, and Card My Yard enjoy a robust support network and access to industry-leading tools such as ProNexis, the 24/7 sales support solution tailored for home service businesses, and Five Star Marketing Services, Five Star Franchising's elite marketing engine. Five Star Franchising's commitment to core values — Driven, Real, Innovative, Vital, and Enthusiastic (DRIVE) — ensures its brands are category leaders and empowers franchise owners to maximize profitable growth and secure their financial destiny. Five Star Franchising is consistently recognized as one of the most successful companies in the industry. The company has appeared on the prestigious Inc. 5000 list of fastest-growing companies in America four times, ranking #157 in 2024. Five Star Franchising also ranks among the fastest-growing businesses in its home state, with positions on the MountainWest Capital Network Utah 100, the Utah Valley BusinessQ UV50 and the Utah Business Fast 50 lists. For more information, visit View original content to download multimedia: SOURCE Gotcha Covered
