Owners should focus on the length of the term and renewal rights, base and incentive fee levels, performance tests that let the owner terminate for sustained underperformance, approval rights over budgets, capital expenditure and the general manager, centralised service charges, and the owner's ability to sell the hotel or refinance. Termination rights and the cost of ending the agreement early deserve particular attention. In Bangladesh, owners should also confirm that fees can be remitted abroad and that taxes are properly allocated. We negotiate these points so that the hospitality agreement reflects local conditions rather than only the operator's template.

Yes, but the payment route must be planned. Management, incentive, licence and technical service fees are remitted through the owner's authorised dealer bank, which will require the agreement, invoices, tax documents and, for certain fees, regulatory approval. Royalty and technical fee remittances have historically been subject to approval and limits, a function now administered by Invest Bangladesh alongside Bangladesh Bank rules. Withholding tax and VAT apply, and a double tax treaty may reduce withholding. We structure fees in the hospitality agreement so that they are acceptable to the bank before signing, avoiding payment problems after opening.

Generally yes, through a Bangladeshi company that owns or leases the land and holds the hotel licences. Foreign investment capital must come in through an authorised dealer bank, and the project may register with Invest Bangladesh. Direct land ownership by foreign individuals is not a practical route, and some locations, such as the Chittagong Hill Tracts or border and coastal areas, carry specific restrictions. Projects in tourism zones may be available on long lease. We recommend a structure early, because ownership affects licences, financing, operator agreements and the investor's ability to exit and repatriate proceeds from the hospitality asset.

A hotel typically needs registration or a licence under the Hotel and Restaurant Act 2014, a trade licence from the local authority, tax and VAT registration, fire safety and environmental approvals, food safety compliance for kitchens and restaurants, and lift, boiler and other equipment certifications where relevant. Serving alcohol requires a separate licence from the Department of Narcotics Control. Star classification may involve further standards. Licences must be renewed and conditions met continuously. We prepare a licence register for each property and track renewals, because gaps can lead to fines, closure orders or problems with lenders and insurers.

Branded residences are usually sold as apartments with a brand licence and a management or service agreement attached. Buyers acquire apartments under sale agreements and registered deeds, with the developer's title and approvals underpinning the project. The brand's standards, service charges, rental pool rules and what happens if the brand leaves should be explained clearly in the sales documents. Off-plan sales raise consumer protection and advertising issues, and foreign buyers face the same ownership questions as for other property. We draft documents that protect the developer and the brand while giving buyers clear, enforceable rights in the hospitality project.

Coastal resorts may need building approval from the Cox's Bazar Development Authority or another local development authority, environmental clearance under the environmental laws, fire safety approval and utility connections, and may be affected by ecologically critical area designations, setback lines and coastal protection rules. Land in some areas is government-owned or subject to settlement and lease conditions. Projects in designated tourism zones may follow a separate process with Invest Bangladesh or the Bangladesh Tourism Board. We review these constraints before land is committed, because they can determine the size, design and viability of a hospitality development.

Hotels, resorts, travel agencies and booking platforms collect passport details, contact information, payment data and preferences, and the Personal Data Protection Act 2026 brings obligations on lawful processing, notices, security, retention and transfers outside Bangladesh, including to an international operator's central reservation and loyalty systems. Police and immigration reporting requirements for foreign guests also continue to apply. We review data flows, update privacy notices and booking terms, and help operators adapt group policies, so that hospitality businesses comply without disrupting reservations, loyalty programmes or guest service.

International hotel management agreements usually provide for arbitration, often in Singapore, London or Dubai, with expert determination for technical or financial disagreements such as budgets and performance tests. Foreign awards are enforced in Bangladesh under the Arbitration Act 2001. Domestic disputes may go to court, where the Commercial Courts Act 2026 may apply, and some may require mediation first under the Legal Aid Services (Amendment) Act 2026 as it rolls out. Possession, brand use and access to hotel accounts can become urgent. Our dispute resolution team advises on strategy and interim relief.