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Marriott International announced today that it’s making a huge change to its global beverage program. It signed a new agreement with The Coca-Cola Company to replace longtime partner PepsiCo across its worldwide hotel portfolio. The move will bring Coca-Cola products to approximately 9,700 Marriott properties spanning more than 140 countries. I first covered this news back in April and this marks one of the most high-profile wins in the neverending cola war between the two beverage giants.
Pepsi had been Marriott’s exclusive beverage provider since 1992. This relationship began during a financially challenging period for the hotel chain. At the time, Pepsi stepped in with a substantial financial package that helped stabilize Marriott and in return it secured a decades-long partnership in return. Marriott maintained that relationship for more than 30 years, which irked many guests globally when they simply wanted a Coke or Diet Coke.
The transition represents a large-scale operational shift that impacts more than 1.7 million hotel rooms worldwide. Coca-Cola products will be introduced across multiple touchpoints including restaurants, bars, minibars, meeting spaces, and catering services. For Coca-Cola, the deal provides a major boost in visibility and volume by placing its beverages front and center in one of the world’s largest hotel networks.
The agreement strengthens Coca-Cola’s position in the hospitality sector and expands its reach through Marriott’s global footprint. The partnership is expected to drive increased sales through fountain service, in-room offerings, and large-scale events while also reinforcing brand presence among international travelers.
Anthony Capuano, President and Chief Executive Officer at Marriott International, said:
This agreement brings together two iconic brands with a shared commitment to quality, consistency, and creating memorable experiences. We are focused on delivering the products our guests and Marriott Bonvoy® Members know and love, better meeting guest preferences, and creating economic benefits for owners and franchise operators across our system. We’re excited to collaborate with The Coca‑Cola Company to deliver their great products in more places.”
Anthony’s Take: As Coca-Cola products begin rolling out across Marriott properties starting this summer, the change marks the end of an era and the beginning of a new chapter in one of the most enduring rivalries in the beverage industry. I was once addicted to Diet Coke, but have not consumed cola or diet drinks in over a decade.
(Image Credits: Popartic via iStock and Marriott.)
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Advertiser & Editorial Disclosure: The Bulkhead Seat earns an affiliate commission for anyone approved through the links above This compensation may impact how and where links appear on this site. We work to provide the best publicly available offers to our readers. We frequently update them, but this site does not include all available offers. Opinions, reviews, analyses & recommendations are the author’s alone, and have not been reviewed, endorsed, or approved by any of these entities.
