When you check into a Marriott property this summer and order a Coke, you’ll actually get one. After 35 years firmly in the Pepsi camp, Marriott International has signed a new global agreement with The Coca-Cola Company, making Coke the exclusive beverage provider for the world’s largest hotel chain. This is a big deal — quite literally.
Coke is pouring in Marriott Minibars this summer
The deal between Marriott International and Coca-Cola will see all Pepsi products replaced with Coca-Cola’s beverages across Marriott’s lobby bars, mini-markets, mini-fridges, soda fountains, and at events hosted at its properties. That is a staggering number of properties to transition — over 9,800 properties and nearly 1.78 million rooms across 145 countries and territories.
The transition will be implemented in phases across different regions and properties, with hotels gradually replacing existing beverage inventory and updating supply chains to reflect the new agreement. Please note that your local Marriott Courtyard won’t switch overnight; this will be a rolling changeover. The switchover across 450 million room nights begins this summer.
A little history: Why Pepsi in the first place?
Here’s the part of the story that many people don’t know. In the early 1990s, Marriott found itself in a challenging financial situation, and Coca-Cola refused to extend financial support when Marriott needed it the most. Coke internally described Marriott as asking it to become a “banker,” refusing to provide between USD 50 million and USD 100 million in below-market loans. PepsiCo stepped in, provided the financial assistance, and signed a long-term strategic partnership. Pepsi got a great deal, Marriott got the liquidity it needed, and the rest was history — until now.
It’s also worth remembering that when Marriott acquired Starwood in 2016, Starwood had been a Coke property. That changed quickly. Starwood switched from Coke to Pepsi products following the Marriott merger, much to the dismay of Starwood loyalists who were already coming to terms with losing their beloved SPG programme. Sheraton, Westin, W Hotels — all went Pepsi. Amongst the people at dismay was yours truly, who had not purchased a beverage from a Marriott Minibar in a long while.
Why the switch now?
Guest preference, primarily. In an email to hotel owners about the change, Marriott stated that more than 70% of Bonvoy members prefer Coke to Pepsi. That’s a pretty decisive number, and it’s not surprising. Anyone who has ever asked a hotel bartender for a Coke and been told, “Is Pepsi okay?” knows this pain firsthand.
Coke said Marriott’s decision is a result of its guests’ preference for its “total beverage portfolio.” That total portfolio matters too — we’re not just talking Cola. Water brands, juices, teas, energy drinks — Coke’s portfolio is broader than many people realise, and Marriott’s F&B operations benefit from the full breadth of it. In an internal email sent out with respect to this announcement, Satya Anand, the Group President, U.S., Canada, and the Caribbean and Latin America states,
The Coca-Cola portfolio is preferred globally by a margin of 2:1 and is favored by more than 70% of Marriott’s guests.
There’s also money on the table, of course. There’s going to be some combination of lower syrup pricing, volume rebates, equipment support, branded coolers and fountains, marketing funds, and potentially direct payments. When you’re talking about 9,800 properties, even a few cents per room night adds up to serious money.
What this means for you as a Bonvoy member
Practically speaking, once your property makes the switch, the in-room minibar will go from Aquafina to Dasani, from Pepsi to Coke, from Mountain Dew to Sprite. The lounge’s soft drinks will look different. The vending machines will stock different cans.
For most of us, this is genuinely good news. If you’ve been quietly carrying a Coke from the convenience store into your hotel room because the minibar had Pepsi, you can stop doing that.
Bottomline
After 34 years of being Pepsi’s most prominent hotel partner — a relationship born not out of preference but out of financial necessity — Marriott has finally made the switch to Coke. The transition begins this summer and will roll out across nearly 10,000 properties worldwide. It’s a win for the majority of Bonvoy members who’ve preferred Coke all along, and a significant commercial victory for Coca-Cola in the ongoing Cola Wars.
Now, if only they’d do something about those pillow menus.
Will the switch to Coke at Marriott properties make a difference to your hotel experience? Or is this much ado about fizzy water?
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