If you own a franchised hotel, the technology in your building is not entirely your choice. Your brand sets standards for the property management system, payment processing, guest WiFi, TVs and more, and a Property Improvement Plan (PIP) can require you to upgrade all of it on a deadline, often when the hotel is sold, a franchise agreement is renewed or the brand changes its standards.
This guide explains how technology standards work at brands common in Ontario, such as Best Western, Choice and Wyndham, what usually shows up in the technology section of a PIP, and how to budget for it without overpaying.
Brand standards change often and can differ between the US and Canada. Use this as a planning guide, and always confirm the current requirements in your brand’s owner portal and your franchise agreement.
How Brand Technology Standards Work
Most brands control technology in three ways:
- Mandated systems that every hotel must use, typically the PMS, central reservations connection and payment gateway.
- Approved, endorsed or qualified vendors for systems such as guest internet and TV. You choose from a list, or use another provider whose system meets the standard.
- Performance and guest-experience standards, such as WiFi coverage and speed, TV channel lineups and casting, and quality-assurance scores that trigger corrective action if they slip.
What We Know About Each Brand
Best Western
Best Western runs an endorsed supplier program for high-speed internet access. When it added Broadband Hospitality as an endorsed HSIA supplier in 2019, the announcement described new guest internet standards and bandwidth requirements, along with a tiered WiFi offer: a complimentary tier and a premium tier, with premium free for elite Best Western Rewards members. Best Western owners should check the current HSIA standard and supplier list before upgrading WiFi.
Choice Hotels
Choice runs a Qualified Vendor Program covering systems such as internet access, WiFi equipment, telephony and guest TV. Vendors publicly list themselves as Choice qualified vendors for products such as WiFi 6 access points, cloud telephony and brand-standard free-to-guest TV lineups, some for both the US and Canada. Choice properties run on Choice’s own cloud PMS, choiceADVANTAGE, so integrations for phones, WiFi and TV need to work with it.
Wyndham (Days Inn, Super 8, Ramada, Travelodge and others)
In 2021 Wyndham began rolling out Oracle OPERA Cloud as the PMS for its full-service hotels, with new full-service hotels placed on it and existing owners able to upgrade or wait until their PMS agreements expired. Wyndham’s 2026 US franchise disclosure document for Days Inn lists two approved PMS options, SynXis and Oracle OPERA, requires tokenization for card payments through an approved gateway, and lists technology fees for PMS setup and monthly support. Canadian owners should confirm what applies to their agreement.
What Usually Shows Up in a Technology PIP
| Area | Typical requirement | What to watch |
|---|---|---|
| Guest WiFi | Coverage in every room and public space, minimum speeds or bandwidth, brand login or loyalty tier, approved vendor or equivalent | Access point count and cabling, internet circuit size, backup internet |
| Internet circuit | Enough bandwidth for a full house, sometimes a minimum per room | Carrier availability, especially in rural areas |
| PMS and payments | Brand-mandated PMS, tokenized card payments, chip and PIN terminals | Interfaces to phones, locks, TV and POS; PCI scope |
| TV | Smart or hospitality TVs, brand channel lineup, casting from guest devices | Network design for casting, TV mounts and cabling |
| Phones | Working room and lobby phones, emergency calling, PMS interface for wake-up calls and room status | Copper line retirement, VoIP migration, fax |
| Locks and access | Electronic or mobile key locks integrated with the PMS | Lock vendor approval, door hardware, network or Bluetooth coverage |
| Security | Network segmentation, current firewalls, supported operating systems | End-of-life equipment that fails audits |
How to Budget for the Technology Part of a PIP
Industry commentary in 2024 put full PIP costs for midmarket hotels in the US at around $35,000 to $40,000 per key, with costs well above pre-pandemic levels. Technology is a smaller slice of that than rooms and public spaces, but it is easy to underestimate because it is spread across several systems and vendors.
- Get the current standards in writing from your brand portal, including which vendors are approved for each system.
- Audit what you have: WiFi coverage and speeds, cabling, switches and firewalls, TVs, phones, locks and the PMS version. Our hotel technology audit does this before you commit to quotes.
- Separate “must replace” from “can stay”. Equipment that already meets the standard and is still supported may not need replacing.
- Bundle the work. Cabling for WiFi, TV and phones can often be done at the same time, while ceilings are open.
- Plan the network first. Casting, mobile keys, VoIP and cloud PMS all depend on it.
- Ask about deferrals early. Brands have granted extensions on some PIP items; it is easier to negotiate with a clear plan and timeline.
For WiFi pricing, see how much hotel WiFi installation costs in Ontario.
Mistakes That Cost Owners Money
- Buying equipment before checking the standard, then replacing it after a brand inspection.
- Upgrading WiFi without upgrading the internet circuit, so the new network is still slow on a full night.
- Ignoring the phone system until copper lines are retired. See what copper retirement means for hotels.
- Installing new TVs on a network that cannot support casting. See our smart TV upgrade guide.
- Leaving payments in PCI scope when a PMS or terminal change was the right moment to fix it. See PCI compliance for hotels.
Real Example
A 64-room franchise hotel in Halton Hills replaced unreliable WiFi with a managed Ruckus network, moved from copper lines to VoIP with VoIP fax, and now plans its access point refresh around a defined support term rather than waiting for failures. Read the case study.
Frequently Asked Questions
Where do I find my brand’s current technology standards?
In your brand’s owner or franchisee portal and your franchise agreement. Standards are updated regularly, so always work from the current version and confirm with your brand’s technology or support team before buying equipment.
Do I have to use the brand’s approved vendors?
It depends on the brand and the system. Some systems, such as the PMS and payment gateway, are usually mandated. For others, such as guest WiFi or TV, brands often have endorsed or qualified vendor programs, and some allow other providers as long as the installed system meets the brand standard. Check your agreement before you sign a contract.
How much of a PIP is technology?
It varies widely by property, brand and how far behind the existing systems are. WiFi, TVs, phones and network equipment are usually a smaller share than rooms and public spaces, but they are the items guests notice every day and the ones most likely to fail a brand quality review.
Can technology upgrades be done before the PIP deadline?
Yes, and it is often cheaper. Running cabling and installing access points while ceilings are open during renovation avoids paying twice, and early upgrades spread the cost over time.
Do these requirements apply to Canadian hotels?
Brand standards generally apply across a brand’s properties, but Canadian hotels may have different approved vendors, carriers and legal requirements, such as Canadian privacy and emergency calling rules. Always confirm the Canadian version of your standards.
Facing a PIP or a Brand Inspection?
AutoSecure helps franchised hotels across Ontario plan and deliver the technology side of a PIP: guest WiFi, phones, PMS integration, TV, PCI and managed IT. Call 226-476-3358 or book a free technology assessment and we will review your PIP’s technology items with you.
Related reading: technology due diligence checklist for hotel buyers.
Comparing providers? See how to choose a hotel IT provider in Ontario.