Route HMA and CAM costs
Use the governing contract to route each hotel charge.
HMA fees come from an HMA. An HMA is the hotel manager deal. CAM charges come from a tenant lease and landlord statement.
Owned hotel costs are neither. They belong in hotel accounting or asset review.
Franchise fees also need their own contract lane. Do not test them as CAM.
Map the entities first
Start with people and companies, not fee names.
An ABA guide maps hotel roles. Use those roles to name each contract lane.
List these roles:
- Real estate owner
- Hotel owner
- Tenant under each lease
- Hotel manager
- Brand company
- Entity named on each bill
One company may fill two roles. Do not assume that without proof.
Name the contract
A hotel contract guide gives the core difference. A tenant takes business risk under a hotel lease.
Under an HMA, a manager runs the hotel. The manager acts for the hotel owner.
Use that distinction for routing only. It is not legal advice.
| Contract | Main relationship | Common review lane |
|---|---|---|
| Hotel management agreement | Owner and hotel manager | HMA review |
| Franchise agreement | Hotel owner and brand | Brand review |
| Ground lease | Land owner and ground tenant | Deal and lease review |
| Premises lease | Landlord and tenant | Lease CAM review |
| Service contract | Hotel and vendor | Hotel accounting review |
The contract name alone may be wrong. Read the signed duties and named parties.
Follow the decision tree
Use this tree for each questioned charge.
- Does a tenant lease create the charge?
- Did a landlord issue the charge?
- Does the charge use CAM lease terms?
- Is there a CAM statement and support?
- Is the paying entity the lease tenant?
If every answer is yes, use CAM review.
If the HMA creates the fee, use HMA review. If the franchise deal creates it, use brand review.
If the hotel owns the cost, use hotel accounting. If a ground lease creates it, map that lease first.
If legal meaning is unclear, ask counsel.
Route each charge
Use one row per charge and source.
| Charge | Governing source | Reviewer |
|---|---|---|
| HMA base fee | HMA fee section | HMA advisor |
| HMA incentive fee | HMA fee section | HMA advisor |
| Franchise royalty | Franchise agreement | Brand advisor |
| Hotel payroll | Hotel records | Hotel accountant |
| Ground rent | Ground lease | Deal advisor |
| Percentage rent | Lease rent section | Lease reviewer |
| Landlord CAM | Lease and CAM statement | CAM reviewer |
| Property tax pass through | Lease and tax support | Tax and CAM reviewer |
| Insurance pass through | Lease and policy support | Insurance and CAM reviewer |
Do not route by the word fee alone.
The governing source makes the decision.
Check for two contracts
A hotel can have an HMA and a lease.
A 2025 Sonesta form HMA shows this split. It names a separate property lease.
It also gives a manager control of hotel work. The SEC filing gives one U.S. contract example.
It is not one standard hotel form. Use it to remember both contracts may exist.
In that structure, one hotel may have two reviews. HMA fees go to the HMA reviewer.
Landlord CAM may go to the CAM reviewer. Keep the source files separate.
Walk one routing case
This example is fictional. The entities and facts are made up.
Harbor Owner LLC owns a hotel business. Bay Manager LLC runs that hotel.
Their HMA charges a base manager fee. Harbor Owner LLC also leases the hotel site.
The site landlord sends a CAM statement. The statement names Harbor Owner LLC as tenant.
Route the costs this way:
| Cost | Contract | Result |
|---|---|---|
| Base management fee | HMA | HMA review |
| Hotel payroll | Hotel records | Hotel accounting |
| Ground rent | Site lease | Ground lease review |
| Landlord CAM | Site lease | CAM review |
| Site insurance charge | Site lease | Insurance and CAM review |
The HMA fee stays out of CAM review. The payroll also stays outside CAM.
The landlord statement may enter CAM review. First, match it to the signed lease.
Use a no fit worksheet
Some client questions need no CAM work.
| Question | Yes or no |
|---|---|
| Is the client a tenant? | |
| Does a signed lease create the charge? | |
| Did the landlord issue the charge? | |
| Is a CAM statement present? | |
| Does the tenant entity match? | |
| Are core lease files complete? | |
| Is legal meaning clear? |
Any early No may end CAM review.
Write the correct route beside that answer.
Do not buy or start CAM work for HMA fees. Do not start it for owned hotel costs.
Check tenant status with the leased property guide. A fit lease CAM charge moves into the hotel CAM queue. Land rent shifts to the ground lease guide.
Use the tree during client intake. The hotel advisor pillar sets its lease scope.
A fee may fit neither HMA nor lease. Check the specialty advisor hub.
Another firm may own that fee. Pick it in the Practice Growth hub.
Where CAMAudit fits
CAMAudit belongs only on the lease CAM branch. It is not an HMA review tool.
Hotel advisors keep HMA fees outside the CAM review.
It is not hotel accounting or asset work. It does not give legal advice.
CAMAudit can read supplied lease and CAM files. It may flag items and cite source lines.
It can build a branded CAM audit. Your firm reviews and signs that audit.
CAMAudit may prepare a dispute letter draft. Your firm reviews the draft before use.
Have counsel review before sending.
Use the service line guide for fit work only.