Add branch= to commercial POIs

[nicolasmaia]

Right now a lot of mappers incorrectly add the branch name to the name field, although we have branch. We should also allow translation of branch names (in a way similar to how the name field is translated), as branch:en, etc.

This would be useful so that a person looking for a school in Tokyo, for instance, will get both the name and branch name in English.

[1ec5]

There are cases where the branch name does go in name, not just in branch, as in the case of many chain hotels where the branch’s name is signposted. This is a difficult distinction to make while keeping the field labels concise.

[nicolasmaia]

Maybe hotels can do without this field. Are there any other commercial establishments we can think of where branch wouldn't apply?

[andrewharvey]

Right now a lot of mappers incorrectly add the branch name to the name field, although we have branch. We should also allow translation of branch names (in a way similar to how the name field is translated), as branch:en, etc.

Who says it's incorrect to add the branch name to the name field? According to the wiki "name=* should then hold only what can be physically observed on signs at the individual branch". In many cases like banks the branch name is also signposted.

Maybe hotels can do without this field. Are there any other commercial establishments we can think of where branch wouldn't apply?

Branch can still apply even if the branch is used in the name.

eg.

shop=mall name=Westfield Hornsby brand=Westfield branch=Hornsby

or

amenity=bank name=ANZ Chatswood branch=Chatswood brand=ANZ

Same for many banks, car dealerships

[1ec5]

name can include or exclude the branch name on a case-by-case basis, even within a given chain:

• amenity=fast_food name=Noah’s Bagels Downtown brand=Noah’s Bagels branch=Downtown
• shop=supermarket name=Safeway Midtown brand=Safeway branch=Midtown
• landuse=residential residential=apartments name=Avalon Morrison Park brand=Avalon branch=Morrison Park

In these cases, name ≈ brand + branch. Maybe to make that relationship clearer, brand and branch could sit on the same line, sort of like in some address field formats.

What would the branch field be called? In American English, “Branch Name” would be understandable for banks, but people don’t call individual fast food restaurants or apartment complexes “branches”. I’m not sure of the situation in other languages.

[Adamant36]

What would the branch field be called?

"location" seems to fit for your examples.

[mds08011]

Similar to this issue #6561 where the location is added to the name

[tohaklim]

branch is often a case of "ref"

[bhousel]

Right now a lot of mappers incorrectly add the branch name to the name field, although we have branch.

Since it looks like adding this info in the name field is still the recommended practice in a lot of situations, let's not do this.