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Spark by Hilton Franchise Fees 2026: Royalty, Marketing and Initial Fee
Spark by Hilton is an economy brand from Hilton. Here is what it charges to join and to stay in the system, where the numbers come from, and how they compare with similar brands.
Spark by Hilton fees at a glance
| Initial fee | $75,000 (conversion; same for change of ownership and re-licensing) |
|---|---|
| Royalty | 5.5% |
| Marketing or program fee | 3.5% |
| Royalty plus marketing | 9% of rooms revenue |
| Franchisor | Hilton |
| Segment | Economy |
| Disclosure year | 2026 |
Note: Conversion-only premium economy brand; FDD lists conversion, not new development.
Source: Read in Spark by Hilton’s 2026 Franchise Disclosure Document (FDD). Source 1
How Spark by Hilton compares
Spark by Hilton’s royalty and marketing fees add up to 9% of rooms revenue. That is above the 8.7% average for the 10 economy brands in our table with a comparable headline figure, the 7th-lowest of the 10.
| Economy brand | Franchisor | Royalty | Marketing | Headline |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Microtel Inn & Suites by Wyndham | Wyndham | 6% | 2% (marketing and reservation contribution) | 8% |
| Econo Lodge | Choice Hotels | 5% | 3.5% (Marketing and Reservation Fee) | 8.5% |
| Rodeway Inn | Choice Hotels | 5% | 3.5% (Marketing and Reservation Fee) | 8.5% |
| Super 8 by Wyndham | Wyndham | 5.5% | 3% (System Assessment Fee) | 8.5% |
| Howard Johnson by Wyndham | Wyndham | 5% | 3.5% (2% marketing contribution plus 1.5% room sales charge) | 8.5% |
| Travelodge by Wyndham | Wyndham | 5% | 3.5% (2% marketing plus 1.5% reservation fee), plus a daily charge of 5 to 10 cents per room | 8.5% |
| Red Roof Inn | Red Roof | 5% | 4% (Marketing and Reservation Fee) | 9% |
| Red Roof PLUS+ | Red Roof | 5% of GRR | 4% of GRR | 9% |
| Days Inn by Wyndham | Wyndham | 5.5% | 3.8% (System Assessment Fee) | 9.3% |
| SureStay Hotel | BWH Hotels | 4% of gross rooms revenue | 4% of gross rooms revenue (sales & marketing fee) | — |
What it costs on a typical hotel
Take a 100-room Spark by Hilton running 70% occupancy at a $130 average daily rate. That is about $3,321,500 in rooms revenue a year.
| Royalty (5.5%) | $182,683 a year |
| Marketing (3.5%) | $116,253 a year |
| Royalty plus marketing | $298,935 a year |
Illustrative math by The Hotelier Times, not a quote. It leaves out reservation, loyalty, technology and other program fees, which usually push the real total higher.
What the headline number leaves out
Royalty and marketing are only the start. Most brands also charge for reservations and distribution, loyalty-program assessments on member stays, required technology and property-management systems, training and quality assurance. Brands also negotiate: ramp-up royalty discounts, key money and conversion incentives are common. Ask Hilton for its estimate of total fees as a share of rooms revenue, and read Items 5 and 6 of the current FDD before you sign. Our analysis of what owners really pay a brand puts the typical all-in bill at 10% to 13% of rooms revenue.
Other Hilton brands
Hampton by Hilton · Hilton Garden Inn · Home2 Suites by Hilton · Tru by Hilton · Homewood Suites by Hilton · DoubleTree by Hilton · Embassy Suites by Hilton · Hilton Hotels & Resorts · Curio Collection by Hilton · Tapestry Collection by Hilton · Canopy by Hilton · Motto by Hilton · LivSmart Studios by Hilton · Tempo by Hilton · Graduate by Hilton · LXR Hotels & Resorts · Outset Collection by Hilton · Apartment Collection by Hilton · Undergraduate by Hilton
Keep going
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The Hotelier Times is a publisher, not a franchise adviser. Fees change; confirm every figure in the brand’s current Franchise Disclosure Document. Spot an error? Email nathan@hoteliertimes.com.