DoubleTree by Hilton Franchise Cost, Revenue & Review 2026
- Investment
- $31.5M – $108.7M
- Disclosed sales
- partial, no system average
- SBA charge-off
- Under 10 loans (5)
Data from FDD filing + SBA 7(a) records
Analysis by FranchiseVerdict Research · Methodology
DoubleTree by Hilton is an upscale, full-service hotel franchise famous for its warm welcome cookie. Franchisees own and operate individual properties, running rooms, food and beverage, and guest services to Hilton standards.
FranchiseVerdict summary · 2026
A DoubleTree by Hilton franchise requires a total initial investment of $31.5M – $108.7M, including a $85K franchise fee and an ongoing 5.0% royalty[2]. The 2026 FDD on file does not yield a unit-revenue figure we can publish. FranchiseVerdict grade: A (Strongest tier), an editorial assessment, not investment advice. Run a live ROI scan →
Sources, dates and evidence
FDD issued: · Data extracted: · Last cited check: · Staleness risk: low - issued within the last 12 months
Evidence: strong✓ Investment (Item 7)✓ Item 19 status✓ Units and owners (Item 20)✗ SBA loan coverage✓ Litigation (Item 3)✓ Financial statements (Item 21)✓ Franchisor identityhow this is scored4 of 5 headline figures on this page cite a page of the filing; the rest are marked “Not cited” beside the figure.
Overview
- Investment
- $31.5M – $108.7M
- 66th pct Lodging
- Avg gross sales
- N/A
- Incl. company outletsProjection
- Royalty
- 5.0%
- 3rd pct Lodging
- Units
- 372
- 60th pct Lodging
- SBA charge-off
- N/A
Quick verdict · Lodging · color = vs category peers
Green = favorable by >10% vs Lodging median · No shading = within ±10% · Red = unfavorable by >10% · Source: FDD filings + SBA 7(a)
Data from public FDD filings and SBA records. Not financial advice. Methodology
Bottom line
- COSTTotal investment $31.5M – $108.7M including a $85K franchise fee, 5.0% ongoing royalty.
- RETURNSItem 19 reports operational metrics rather than annual gross sales, so unit revenue is not directly comparable.
- RISKVerdict A (Strongest tier), verdict score 76/100 (higher is better).
- GROWTHPositive: net +13 franchised outlets in the latest year (22 opened, 9 closed); 24 signed but not yet open (Item 20).
- LEGAL15 litigation matters disclosed in Item 3, higher than typical. Of these, 8 name the franchisor itself, 7 its parent, affiliates or predecessor. Pending claims are allegations, not findings.
Item 1 · who you're contracting with
The Franchisor
Corporate structure & franchisor financials
- Legal entity
- Hilton Franchise Holding LLC
- Parent company
- Hilton Domestic Operating Company Inc.
- FDD Item 1, page 9 of the 2026 FDD
- Ultimate parent
- Hilton Worldwide Holdings Inc.
- FDD Item 1, page 9 of the 2026 FDD
- Predecessor
- Doubletree Franchise LLC (October 2007 to March 2015); Doubletree Hotel Systems, Inc. (February 1989 to October 2007)
- Prior franchisor entity
- CEO title
- Chief Executive Officer and President
- Christopher J. Nassetta
- Incorporated in
- Delaware
- HQ
- 7930 Jones Branch Drive, Suite 1100, McLean, Virginia 22102
- Auditor
- Cherry Bekaert LLP
- Audited financials
- Franchisor revenue
- $1.6B
- vs $1.5B prior year
- Management churn noted
- Frequent turnover
- Item 2 disclosed frequent executive changes
Same owner · FDD Item 1, page 9
17 other brands on this site name Hilton Worldwide Holdings Inc. as parent or ultimate parent in their own FDD.
- Apartment Collection by HiltonC
- Canopy by HiltonB
- Curio Collection by HiltonB
- Embassy Suites by HiltonB
- Graduate by HiltonB
- Hampton by HiltonA
- Hilton Garden InnA
- Home2 Suites by HiltonA
- Homewood Suites by HiltonA
- LXRB
- Motto by HiltonB
- Outset Collection by HiltonC
- Project Q by HiltonC
- Tapestry Collection by HiltonB
- Tempo by HiltonC
- Tru by HiltonA
- Undergraduate by HiltonC
Grouped by the owner's name as each filing prints it (this page: the 2026 FDD). Spelling variants of the same group may be listed apart; a brand is never grouped with an owner its filing does not name.
Overview
About
- CEO
- Christopher J. Nassetta
- Headquarters
- VA
- Founded
- 1946
- FDD year
- 2026
- States available
- 48
Can you afford it, and what does the money buy?
Entry cost runs 688% above the typical lodging franchise.
Source: FDD 2026 · Items 5–7
FDD Item 7 · 2026 filing
Initial investment breakdown
| Cost component | Low | High |
|---|---|---|
| Initial franchise fee | $85K | $85K |
| Working capital (3–6 mo) | $900K | $1.3M |
| Equipment, build-out, other | $30.5M | $107.3M |
| Total initial investment | $31.5M | $108.7M |
Source: DoubleTree by Hilton 2026 FDD, Items 5 and 7[2]. “Equipment, build-out, other” is computed as total minus disclosed line items above.
Item 7 · what it costs to open + operate
The Vitals
- Total investment
- $31.5M – $108.7M
- Middle of category vs category
- Liquid capital req'd
- $900K – $1.3M
- Middle of category vs category
- Franchise fee
- $85K
- Middle of category vs category
- Royalty
- 5.0%
- typical 6–8%
- Ad fund
- 4.0%
- typical 3–5%
- Total fee load
- 9.0%
- vs 9–13% typical
Ongoing fees · Item 6
| Fee | Amount |
|---|---|
| Royalty | 5.0% of gross sales |
| Marketing / ad fund | 4.0% of gross sales |
| Training fee | $20K |
| Transfer fee | $175K |
| Inventory (initial) | $1.2M – $1.8M |
| Total fee load | 9.0% of rev |
What do units actually make?
Source: FDD 2026 · Item 19
ROI & LBO modelsSingle-unit · 25-unit portfolio · editable
No Item 19 revenue figure for DoubleTree by Hilton is on file. The return models need a revenue figure to start from, and the operating costs that turn gross sales into a profit are in no FDD. Enter your own and the calculator runs on your assumptions — nothing here is modelled until you do.
Returns model · single-unit ROIC
What would one DoubleTree by Hilton unit return on the cash you put in?
Illustrative category typicals — not sourced to any filing, survey or sample. Replace them with figures from franchisee validation calls before you rely on the output.
Unlevered ROIC · per unit
Your modelled return on total invested capital, before any debt financing.
—
An FDD discloses gross sales, not profit. We hold no sourced figure for annual revenue, COGS, labour, rent / occupancy and other operating costs, and will not substitute an assumed one. Enter your own and the model runs on your assumptions.
These models are for research and scenario planning only. Not investment advice. Actual results depend on your specific location, management, and market conditions. Consult a franchise attorney and accountant before signing any franchise agreement.
Item 19 · Source: 2026 FDD
Financial Performance
Includes company-owned outlets
Not a revenue figure
- Item 19 type
- operational metrics
- Sample size
- 294
- vs category median 98 · large
- Reporting year
- 2025
- Fiscal year the figures cover
- Source filing
- FDD 2026
- Disclosed in the 2026 filing, covering 2025
Compared against 175 Lodging brands
Operator outlook
What the numbers say
Data-driven interpretation of this brand's financial disclosures, fee structure, and system trajectory.
Fee burden
Total ongoing fee load of 9.0% (near the Lodging median).
Disclosure
Item 19 reports operational metrics rather than annual gross sales, so unit revenue is not directly comparable.
Operator retention
System expanding at 5.1% CAGR over 3 years across 372 units — operators are staying and new ones are joining.
Source: FDD Item 19 financial performance representations and publicly filed FDD data. Past performance is not indicative of future results. Verify all figures with the franchisor and current franchisees before making any investment decision.
vs Lodging medians
How DoubleTree by Hilton Compares
Category median of published Lodging brands that report the figure; the middle half spans the 25th to 75th percentile and n counts the brands behind it. Medians are used because a few very large systems pull an average far from the typical brand. Revenue is disclosed gross sales, not profit.
Is the system healthy?
Source: FDD 2026 · Item 20
Unit growth
Item 20 · unit dynamics
The Growth Chart
- Total units
- 372
- Opened
- 22
- Last reporting year
- Closed
- 9
- Terminated
- 4
- Franchisor ended the franchise (per Item 20)
- Non-renewed
- 5
- Term expired, not renewed (per Item 20)
- Turnover rate
- 2.4%
- Company-owned
- 0
- Corporate units in the system
- % franchised
- 100%
- vs corporate-owned
- Net growth (3-yr)
- +5.1%
- Net unit change over 3 years
- 3-yr CAGR
- +5.1%
- Compounded over last 3 years
Last fiscal year · Item 20 exits and transfers
- Terminated
- 4
- Not renewed
- 5
- Transferred
- 36
- Reacquired
- 0
- Franchisor bought back
- Signed, not yet open
- 24
- 0.06 per open outlet · Item 20 Table 5
- Projected new
- 13
- Franchisor's next-year forecast
- Transfer rate
- 2.4%
- Owners selling to other franchisees
- Continuity rate
- 97.6%
- Units that stayed open
- Termination rate
- 2.4%
- Franchisor-initiated terminations
Year-over-year franchised unit counts and net change. Source: FDD Item 20.
Item 20 · 9 states with active franchisees
The Territory Map
Derived from franchisee contact records. Shows states with at least one current operator. Not where the franchisor is registered to sell new units (that data is re-extracting in a future refresh).
States derived from franchisee contact records (FDD Item 20). Shows states with at least one current operator on file. Full state registration data (Item 12) will appear on a future FDD refresh.
Where the owners are · Item 20 owner list
12 current owners across 9 states.
- CA 2
- FL 2
- TX 2
- AZ 1
- MN 1
- NY 1
- OH 1
- OR 1
- RI 1
Counts only, from the list the franchisor prints in Item 20; 2 entries carry no state. Names and phone numbers are for your own due diligence and are not shown here.
SBA loan performance
Government records
SBA Loan Data
Aggregated from SBA loan disclosures. This brand has only 5 7(a) loans on file; statistical reliability is limited below 10 loans.
- Total loans
- 5
- Loan volume
- $20.1M
- Median loan
- $5.0M
- 50th percentile
- Charge-off rate
- Under 10 loans (5)
- Insufficient SBA coverage: 5 loans, rate hidden below 10
Historical SBA 7(a) lending data, not predictive of future performance. How SBA charge-off rates are calculated
- Repayment rate (PIF)
- Under 10 loans (5)
- 5-yr charge-off
- Under 10 loans (5)
- Loans approved 2021+
- Active lenders
- 4
- Defaults
- N/A
Explore lender portfolios on Bank Reports or regional data on State Reports.
What could kill this investment?
Source: SBA 7(a) FOIA · FDD Items 3, 21
Risk analysis
FranchiseVerdict rating + FDD Items 3, 4, 8, 16, 21
Risk & Legal
DoubleTree presents moderate-to-caution risk: lack of financial transparency (no Item 19), slow growth, active antitrust litigation, unprotected territory, and aggressive termination enforcement create profitability uncertainty and operational vulnerability.
Litigation (Item 3)
Subject: the franchisor is a named party (defendant).
Pending: Bow Hospitality (franchise termination), In re Extended Stay Hotel Antitrust Litigation (Sherman Act), Hanson Dai v. SAS Institute (Sherman Act, hotel rate-setting), Ryan Segal v. Amadeus IT Group (Sherman Act), Jeanette Portillo v. CoStar Group (Sherman Act). Concluded: AAAA Property Partners (breach of contract, settled), State of Texas v. Hilton (deceptive trade practices, settled $2.1M), State of Nebraska v. Hilton (consumer protection, settled $300K), Hilton v. Portland Hotel Ownership (breach/fraudulent inducement, settled), San Pedro Inn v. Hilton (wrongful termination NJ, settled), U.S. v. HHC (1970 Sherman Act, injunction). Collection suits against franchisees also disclosed.
Largest disclosed settlement: $2,100,000
Bankruptcy (Item 4)
None disclosed
Audited financials (Item 21)
Yes · Cherry Bekaert LLP
Franchisor revenue (Item 21)
Franchisor entity revenue (not unit-level)
Item 21 audited financials of Hilton Franchise Holding LLC (the franchisor entity), in thousands, year ended Dec 31 2025. Total revenues comprise franchise royalty fees $1,502,299K, franchise sales and change of ownership fees $52,254K, and franchise termination fees and other $5,514K. Audited by Cherry Bekaert (cbh.com), Tysons Corner, VA, March 18, 2026.
ⓘ These are the parent company's consolidated financials (the parent guarantees the franchisor), not this brand's standalone results — the figure reflects the whole corporate group, not this brand alone.
Supplier relationship · Items 8 & 16
- Franchisor sells you products: Yes
- Kickbacks from required suppliers: Yes
- Must buy proprietary products: Yes
- Restricted to system-approved products: No
- Can negotiate own supplier terms: Yes
Score breakdown · what drove the 76 / 100 verdict
- 01MINORSlow unit growth of 3.6% YoY suggests market saturation or franchisee dissatisfaction in a mature 372-unit system
- 02HIGHMultiple active antitrust litigations alleging price-fixing and improper rate-setting software create legal/reputational risk and potential for franchisor liability
- 03MINORBreach of contract termination lawsuits indicate aggressive enforcement and compliance standards that may expose franchisees to termination risk
- 04MINORNo territory protection means new DoubleTree locations can be placed adjacent to existing franchisees, cannibalizing revenue
- 05MED23-year term is unusually long and locks franchisees into Hilton ecosystem with limited exit flexibility
- 06HIGHConsumer protection litigation regarding mandatory guest fee disclosure suggests potential brand reputation damage and guest dissatisfaction
- 07MED$31.4M+ investment requirement is capital-intensive with no disclosed average returns to evaluate payback period
Severity inferred from the FDD text · not a regulatory classification
Litigation case detail15 matters · Item 3
Litigation cases
The franchisor
Pending (2)
Bow Hospitality LLC v. Hilton Franchise Holding LLC
pendingBrought by a franchisee · filed 2025-01-24 · Superior Court of Kent County, Rhode Island · KC-2025-1291
“Bow Hospitality LLC v. Hilton Franchise Holding LLC (Superior Court of Kent County, Rhode Island), Case No. KC-2025-1291. On January 24, 2025, the plaintiff filed suit against us alleging breach of contract and breach of the covenant of good faith and fair dealing under the Rhode Island Dealership Act”Page 21 of the 2026 FDD, Item 3
Outcome:“We intend to vigorously defend our interests in this matter.”
In re: 177 BFP, LLC
pendingBrought against a franchisee · filed 2025-08-14 · US Bankruptcy Court, E.D. Penn. · 25-13225-amc
“In re: 177 BFP, LLC (US Bankruptcy Court, E.D. Penn., Case No. 25-13225-amc). On August 14, 2025, we filed a petition in this Chapter 7 bankruptcy action to collect an unpaid judgment against a former Embassy Suites franchisee for amounts past due, liquidated damages, and attorneys’ fees.”Page 25 of the 2026 FDD, Item 3
Outcome:“The Court appointed a trustee on October 7, 2025 and a meeting of the creditors is scheduled for April 8, 2026.”
Concluded (4)
AAAA Property Partners LLC v. Hilton Franchise Holding LLC
dismissedBrought by a franchisee · filed 2025-01-24 · United States District Court for the Middle District of Florida (removed from Orange County, Florida) · 6:25-cv-00132-CEM-RMN
“AAAA Property Partners LLC v. Hilton Franchise Holding LLC (M.D. Fla. Case No. 6:25-cv-00132- CEM-RMN). On January 24, 2025, the plaintiff filed suit against us in Orange County, Florida (Filing No. 215324302) alleging breach of contract arising in connection with our termination of plaintiff’s franchise for the Hilton Garden Inn Orlando I-4 Millenia Boulevard Mall.”Page 23 of the 2026 FDD, Item 3
Outcome:“The parties resolved the case on March 5, 2025 by agreeing to terminate the Franchise Agreement as of January 27, 2025, and the plaintiff agreed to dismiss the lawsuit and sell the property within 150 days. We also agreed not to enforce the former franchisee’s post-termination obligations, including the payment of liquidated damages.”
Hilton Franchise Holding LLC v. Empower Metro Center LLC
settledBrought against a franchisee · filed 2025-02-28 · Circuit Court of Fairfax County, Virginia · CL-2025-0003051
“Hilton Franchise Holding LLC v. Empower Metro Center LLC (Cir. Ct. of Fairfax County, Virginia, Case No. CL-2025-0003051). On February 28, 2025, we filed a complaint against a former Hampton brand franchisee for damages and fees arising from the early termination of the franchise agreement for failure to commence or complete the construction of the hotel.”Page 25 of the 2026 FDD, Item 3
Outcome:“On January 14, 2026, the parties agreed to a settlement that was favorable to us and we agreed to dismiss the case.”
Hilton Franchise Holding LLC v. Portland Hotel Ownership, et al.
settledBrought against a franchisee · filed 2020-09-17 · Fairfax County Circuit Court · 2020-14233
“Hilton Franchise Holding LLC v. Portland Hotel Ownership, et al. (Fairfax County Circuit Court, Case Number, Case Number 2020-14233). On September 17, 2020, we filed suit against Portland Hotel Ownership, LLC, a former franchisee of a Curio brand hotel, for breach of contract arising from the early termination of the franchise agreement.”Page 24 of the 2026 FDD, Item 3
Outcome:“On July 28, 2022, the parties settled this case by agreeing to dismiss all claims and exchange general releases.”
San Pedro Inn, LP v. Hilton Franchise Holding LLC
settledBrought by a franchisee · filed 2019-08-28 · Superior Court of New Jersey Chancery Division General Equity Part, Union County · UNN-C- 121 19
“San Pedro Inn, LP v. Hilton Franchise Holding LLC (Superior Court of New Jersey Chancery Division General Equity Part, Union County Docket No. UNN-C- 121 19). On July 18, 2019, we sent a notice to terminate plaintiff’s franchise for a Hampton hotel for failure to cure a material breach of the franchise agreement.”Page 24 of the 2026 FDD, Item 3
Outcome:“The parties settled the case on September 25, 2020. The parties agreed to dismiss all claims, exchange general releases, and terminate the franchise on April 28, 2021 without the payment of any termination damages or litigation costs by either party.”
Status not stated in the filing (2)
Hilton Franchise Holding LLC v. ML Plaza Owner LLC
Brought against a franchisee · filed 2026-02-27 · Circuit Court of Fairfax County, Virginia · CL-2026-0003448
“Hilton Franchise Holding LLC v. ML Plaza Owner LLC (Cir. Ct. of Fairfax County, Virginia), Case No. CL-2026-0003448. On February 27, 2026, we filed a complaint against a former Hilton brand franchisee for amounts past due and liquidated damages arising from the early termination of the franchise agreement for failing to pay monthly fees.”Page 25 of the 2026 FDD, Item 3
Hilton Franchise Holding LLC v. Unique Crowne Hospitality LLC et al.
Brought against a franchisee · filed 2025-08-25 · United States District Court for the Eastern District of Virginia · 1:25-cv-01604-MSN-WEF
“Hilton Franchise Holding LLC v. Unique Crowne Hospitality LLC et al. (E.D. Va.) Case No. 1:25- cv-01604-MSN-WEF. On August 25, 2025, we filed a complaint against a former DoubleTree brand franchisee and its guarantor for damages and fees arising from the early termination of the franchise agreement for failing to comply with DoubleTree brand standards.”Page 25 of the 2026 FDD, Item 3
Parent, affiliates and predecessor
Pending (4)
Hanson Dai v. SAS Institute Inc.
pendingThird-party plaintiff · Hilton Worldwide Holdings Inc. ('Hilton Worldwide', parent of our parent) · filed 2024-04-26 · United States District Court for the Northern District of California · 4:24-cv-02537
“Hanson Dai v. SAS Institute Inc. (N.D. Cal.), Civil Case No. 4:24-cv-02537 (Class Action). On April 26, 2024, a putative class action complaint captioned Dai v. SAS Institute Inc., Civil Case No. 4:24-cv-02527, was filed in the United States District Court for the Northern District of California”Page 22 of the 2026 FDD, Item 3
Outcome:“The hotel defendants filed a motion to dismiss which has been fully briefed and pending before the court since October 20, 2025.”
In re Extended Stay Hotel Antitrust Litigation
pendingThird-party plaintiff · Hilton Worldwide Holdings Inc. ('Hilton Worldwide', parent of our parent) · filed 2024-07-24 · United States District Court for the Northern District of California (transferred from the Northern District of Illinois) · 4:24-civil-09060
“In re Extended Stay Hotel Antitrust Litigation (N.D. Cal.), Civil Case No. 4:24-civil-09060 (Class Action). On July 24, 2024, a putative class action complaint captioned Au v. Integrated Decisions and Systems, Inc., Civil Case No. 1:24-civil-06324, was filed in the United States District Court for the Northern District of Illinois”Page 21 of the 2026 FDD, Item 3
Outcome:“The hotel defendants filed a motion to dismiss which has been fully briefed and pending before the Court since October 24, 2025.”
Jeanette Portillo, et. al. v. CoStar Group, Inc., et. al.
pendingThird-party plaintiff · Hilton Worldwide Holdings Inc. ('Hilton Worldwide', parent of our parent); Hilton Domestic Operating Company Inc. substituted as defendant April 16, 2024 · filed 2024-02-20 · United States District Court for the Western District of Washington · 2:24-cv-00229
“Jeanette Portillo, et. al. v. CoStar Group, Inc., et. al. (W.D. Wash.), Civil No. 2:24-cv-00229 (Class Action). On February 20, 2024, plaintiffs filed a class action lawsuit against the CoStar Group, Inc. and its subsidiary STR, Inc., together with several hotel companies including Hilton Worldwide.”Page 22 of the 2026 FDD, Item 3
Outcome:“Plaintiffs filed an amended complaint on September 29, 2025. The hotel defendants filed a motion to dismiss which has been fully briefed and pending before the court since January 6, 2026.”
Ryan Segal v. Amadeus IT Group, S.A., et. al.
pendingThird-party plaintiff · Hilton Worldwide Holdings Inc. ('Hilton Worldwide', parent of our parent); Hilton Domestic Operating Company, Inc. substituted as defendant March 25, 2024 · filed 2024-03-01 · United States District Court for the Northern District of Illinois · 1:24-civil-01783
“Ryan Segal v. Amadeus IT Group, S.A., et. al. (N.D. Ill.), Civil No. 1:24-civil-01783 (Class Action). On March 1, 2024, plaintiff filed a class action lawsuit against Amadeus IT Group, S.A., Amadeus Hospitality Americas, Inc., and several hotel companies including Hilton Worldwide.”Page 22 of the 2026 FDD, Item 3
Outcome:“On April 28, 2025, Plaintiff filed a third Amended Complaint. The hotel defendants filed a motion to dismiss which has been fully briefed and pending before the court since August 27, 2025.”
Concluded (3)
State of Texas v. Hilton Domestic Operating Company Inc.
settledGovernment or regulatory action · Hilton Domestic Operating Company Inc. ('Hilton', our parent company) · filed 2023-05-23 · District Court of Collin County, Texas · 296-02595-2023
“State of Texas v. Hilton Domestic Operating Company Inc. (District Court of Collin County, Texas, CAUSE NO. 296-02595-2023). On May 23, 2023, the plaintiff filed suit against Hilton alleging the violations of the Texas Deceptive Trade Practices Act in relation to how mandatory guest fees are disclosed to consumers.”Page 23 of the 2026 FDD, Item 3
Outcome:“In January 2025, the parties settled the case. Without admitting any fault, Hilton agreed to pay Texas $2.1 million and to disclose, display, and sort guest rooms by their total cost on its hotel reservation websites,”
State of Nebraska v. Hilton Domestic Operating Company Inc.
settledGovernment or regulatory action · Hilton Domestic Operating Company Inc. ('Hilton', our parent company) · filed 2019-07-23 · District Court of Lancaster County, Nebraska · D02CI190002366
“State of Nebraska v. Hilton Domestic Operating Company Inc. (District Court of Lancaster County, Nebraska, Case No. D02CI190002366). On July 23, 2019, the plaintiff filed suit against Hilton alleging the violations of the Nebraska Consumer Protection Act and Uniform Deceptive Trade Practices Act in relation to how mandatory guest fees are disclosed to consumers.”Page 23 of the 2026 FDD, Item 3
Outcome:“In February 2024, without admitting any fault, Hilton entered into a settlement agreement with Plaintiff and agreed to pay $300,000 and clearly disclose all mandatory fees and the total price for a booking.”
U.S. v. Hilton Hotels Corporation, et al.
judgmentGovernment or regulatory action · Hilton Hotels Corporation (HHC); Item 1 says references to 'Hilton' (our parent) include HHC · filed 1970-05-12 · United States District Court, District of Oregon · 70-310
“U.S. v. Hilton Hotels Corporation, et al. (United States District Court, District of Oregon, Case No. 70-310). On or about May 12, 1970, the United States filed a civil complaint against HHC (among other defendants), alleging the violation of Section 1 of the Sherman Act”Page 24 of the 2026 FDD, Item 3
Outcome:“On or about November 29, 1971, pursuant to a stipulation filed October 26, 1971, the court entered a final judgment against HHC enjoining and restraining it from engaging in any agreement, understanding, combination, conspiracy or concert of action”
Item 3 lists the litigation the franchisor must disclose; a matter against a parent, an affiliate or a named officer is not a matter against the franchisor, and pending claims are allegations, not findings.
What are you signing up for?
Ongoing fees run about 9.0% of sales (royalty + ad fund), before rent and labor.
Source: FDD 2026 · Items 11, 12, 17
FDD Items 12, 15, 17 · continued from Risk & Legal
Contract & Territory Detail
| Initial term | 23 years |
|---|---|
| Allowed renewalsℹ | 0 |
| Territory type | No territory protection |
| Protected territory | No |
| Exclusive territoryℹ | No |
| Online sales rightsℹ | Granted |
| Franchisor can compete | Yes |
| Hire a manager? | Allowed |
| Owner-operator | Optional |
| Right of first refusalℹ | No |
| Transfer requires consent | Yes |
| Termination notice | 10 days |
| Termination groundsℹ | 17 |
| Curable defaultsℹ | 4 |
| Mandatory arbitration | No |
| Arbitration location | Fairfax County, Virginia (Puerto Rico only); standard disputes in U.S. District Court for Eastern District of Virginia, Alexandria, VA |
| Jury trial waiver | Yes |
| Governing law | NY |
| Litigation count | 15 |
View Item 3 litigation summary
Pending: Bow Hospitality (franchise termination), In re Extended Stay Hotel Antitrust Litigation (Sherman Act), Hanson Dai v. SAS Institute (Sherman Act, hotel rate-setting), Ryan Segal v. Amadeus IT Group (Sherman Act), Jeanette Portillo v. CoStar Group (Sherman Act). Concluded: AAAA Property Partners (breach of contract, settled), State of Texas v. Hilton (deceptive trade practices, settled $2.1M), State of Nebraska v. Hilton (consumer protection, settled $300K), Hilton v. Portland Hotel Ownership (breach/fraudulent inducement, settled), San Pedro Inn v. Hilton (wrongful termination NJ, settled), U.S. v. HHC (1970 Sherman Act, injunction). Collection suits against franchisees also disclosed.
Items 10, 11
Training & Operations
- Classroom training
- 49 hrs
- On-the-job training
- 1 hrs
- Training location
- Virtual, Online, On-site (varies by program)
- Ongoing training
- Required
- Franchisor financing
- Not offered
- Item 10
- POS system
- OnQ
- Operating tech stack
Items 5 & 11
Franchisor Support
Technology: OnQ
Item 20 · call current owners
Franchisee Contacts
14 owners to call
Name · phone · city · state. Extracted from FDD Item 20
Frequently asked questions
Frequently Asked Questions
How much does it cost to open a DoubleTree by Hilton franchise?
The total investment to open a DoubleTree by Hilton franchise ranges from $31.5M – $108.7M, with an initial franchise fee of $85K. This includes real estate, equipment, inventory, and working capital as disclosed in their Franchise Disclosure Document (FDD).
What do DoubleTree by Hilton franchise owners earn?
Item 19 of the DoubleTree by Hilton FDD discloses figures for part of the system but no single average across all outlets. These are gross sales figures, not profit; the Revenue section shows what the filing reports and on what basis. Item 20 of the FDD lists current and former franchisees; asking them directly is the standard way to fill this gap.
Who owns DoubleTree by Hilton?
DoubleTree by Hilton is franchised by Hilton Franchise Holding LLC. Its parent company is Hilton Domestic Operating Company Inc.. The ultimate parent named in the FDD is Hilton Worldwide Holdings Inc.. Source: FDD Item 1, 2026 filing.
What is Item 19 in the DoubleTree by Hilton FDD?
The FDD section where a franchisor may disclose financial performance of its outlets. Disclosure is optional and formats vary; figures are typically gross sales, which is revenue before expenses, not profit. FranchiseVerdict extracts these figures directly from the DoubleTree by Hilton FDD and qualifies whose outlets they describe.
What is DoubleTree by Hilton's franchise failure rate?
SBA 7(a) loan charge-off data is not available for DoubleTree by Hilton (fewer than 10 loans on file). Charge-off rates are one way to gauge franchise risk, but not all franchise loans go through the SBA program. We recommend reviewing turnover and closure data in the FDD and speaking with current franchisees.
How many DoubleTree by Hilton franchise locations are there?
As of their most recent FDD filing, DoubleTree by Hilton has 372 total units in the United States, including 372 franchised units and 0 company-owned units. 22 new units were opened in the latest reporting year.
Is DoubleTree by Hilton a good franchise to buy?
FranchiseVerdict rates DoubleTree by Hilton as a A-grade franchise with a verdict score of 76 out of 100 (higher is better). The grade is a deterministic score built from six weighted dimensions — financial health, unit economics, unit growth, scale, legal, and transparency — then calibrated against SBA loan charge-off rates and FDD age. Transparency is one of the six, so a filing that discloses less scores lower on that dimension than one that discloses more. Our rating is based solely on publicly available FDD and government data; we recommend speaking with current franchisees before making any investment decision. This is not investment advice.
Data sourced from public FDD filings and SBA 7(a) FOIA records. Not financial advice.
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Data extracted from public FDD filings and SBA 7(a) loan disclosures (FOIA). This information is provided for research purposes only and does not constitute financial, legal, or investment advice. Verify all figures with the franchisor's current Franchise Disclosure Document before making any investment decision.