On October 1st 2002, the management of Golden Tulip and franchisee representatives of all Golden Tulip regions assembled in The Hague, The Netherlands to present and discuss the implementation and structure of the 1st General Franchise Council. 

The aim of General Franchise Council is to protect the rights of the franchisees in general by securing the continuity of the brands by acting as an advisory body to the Golden Tulip franchise organisation. The General Franchise Council is comprised of a number of franchisee representatives and a number of Golden Tulip management members. 

Hans Kennedie, managing director and chief executive officer of Golden Tulip Hotels, Inns & Resorts, states: �The guiding light for the initiation came to me from the automobile industry, which with its dealership structure is a prime example of how a hotel franchise organisation can structure itself. It is important for the franchisor to do away its image of being the aggressor, and to work towards educating hotels that they are key to the success of the brand. By allowing joint decision power in certain aspects of the business, we aim to prove that profit can only be achieved through partnership.� 

The members of the General Franchise Council are from Norway, Denmark, Germany, Italy, France, Belgium/Luxemburg, The Netherlands, the United Kingdom, the Middle East and the Americas.

Golden Tulip Hotels, Inns & Resorts is a privately owned franchise company with its head office based in Amersfoort, the Netherlands. Since the recent merger with TOP International Hotels, a German based hotel consortium, the portfolio comprises over 45,000 rooms in approximately 450 hotels across 50 countries, with the majority of hotels being located in urban destinations across Europe. Golden Tulip offers a unique concept for two brands, designed to implement international standards, whilst maintaining local flavours: Golden Tulip for the four star urban and resort hotels and Tulip Inn for the three star category.  TOP International Hotels offers hotel reservations, marketing and sales services to independent hotels. Since 1975, Golden Tulip has been the preferred travel partner of KLM Royal Dutch Airlines.