Why Hotel Franchise Submittals Get Rejected (And How to Pass on Attempt #1)

The True Cost of a Rejected Submittal

When a franchisor brand review committee (such as Marriott MDS, Hilton Brand Central, or IHG Design Review) rejects a submittal package, the project is thrown into a 4-to-6 week revision loop. In commercial hospitality, every month of delayed opening represents tens of thousands of dollars in lost room revenue and carrying costs.

Understanding what brand reviewers look for is the difference between opening on schedule or bleeding cash while waiting for re-review.

The Top 5 Rejection Triggers

Our audit of hundreds of franchise submittal packages reveals the most frequent failure points:

• 1. Missing Test Certifications: Failure to provide ASTM E84 Class A flame spread certificates for wallcoverings, or TB 117-2013 flame retardancy tags on upholstered seating.
• 2. ADA Clear Floor Space Violations: Inaccurate dimensional drawings showing nightstands or desks encroaching on mandatory 30-inch by 48-inch wheelchair approach clearances.
• 3. Electrical & Charging Shortfalls: Nightstands or desk consoles lacking required tamper-resistant commercial electrical outlets and high-wattage USB-C ports.
• 4. Non-Compliant Lighting Temperatures: Specifying cold 4000K commercial office lighting instead of the mandatory 2700K-3000K warm hospitality color temperatures.
• 5. Incomplete Physical Sample Binders: Submitting digital renderings without the required physical material trays, fabric swatches, and quartz samples.

The Hospitality IDS 100% Pass Protocol

We don't guess. Our design and technical detailing teams build submittal binders that mirror the brand's exact review matrix, pre-clearing all technical details before submission to ensure your project clears brand review on Attempt #1.