The starting point
A hotel in Frankfurt was to continue under the ibis Styles brand (Accor) with a new, private operator. Such brand-tied handovers require more than mere brokering: before a hotel chain releases a franchise or licence agreement, it carefully vets the future operator — for from then on he carries its name.
Our role
We found the right private operator and supported the entire process together with Accor: from transmitting the contract to the new operator to the jointly conducted KYC process (Know Your Customer), by which the chain verifies the operator's identity, creditworthiness and suitability. This ensured that all the brand's requirements were met before the licence agreement was concluded.
The result
The property continues as an ibis Styles under the brand — with a private operator secured by the chain's licence agreement. The owner keeps an established brand in the building, and the operator benefits from Accor's distribution power, booking platform and standards, without giving up entrepreneurial independence.
Why it works
The combination of brand affiliation and private operator unites two worlds: the security of a chain (standards, distribution, international visibility) with the flexibility and commitment of a local entrepreneur. The precondition is a clean contract and KYC process — this is precisely what decides whether the chain grants the licence at all.
What transfers
We work not only with private operators but also directly with hotel chains — and equip properties with licence agreements from renowned brands. For owners this means: a private operator and a strong brand are not mutually exclusive. With the right partner and a clean process, the two can be combined.