IndUS Business Journal:
Longtime Asian American Hotel Owners Association collaborator and founder of Hospitality Solutions LLC Steven Belmonte has recently celebrated his company’s 500th hotel negotiation case.
The Randolph-based Hospitality Solutions provides new franchise agreement negotiations, franchise termination and liquidated damage claim negotiations, mediation, expert witness, litigation support, motivational speaking, market studies, feasibility studies, on-site analysis, ownership and development assistance to the hospitality and service industries. Since Belmonte founded the company in 2001, he says he has remained focused on helping hotel franchisees secure a solid, equitable franchise contract – or, similarly, an equitable franchise termination.
“Sure there were plenty of law firms out there, but more often that’s really not what owners’ need – unless of course they want nothing but a lawsuit,†said Belmonte, Hospitality Solutions’ president and chief executive officer. “My experience has been that many lawyers really don’t understand hotel franchising, and even fewer understand the climate and culture that exists at each of the numerous franchise companies.â€
He explained that an attorney could be very expensive, charging by the hour, and oftentimes, taking months to complete a task. If an attorney does not understand or know the ins and outs of the franchise industry, Belmonte said he or she would need to learn – oftentimes at the hotelier’s expense.