Marriott Switches to Coca-Cola, Ending 30-Year Partnership with Pepsi

Marriott International, the world's largest hotel chain, announced it will replace PEP with KO as its global beverage provider after a 34-year partnership, citing internal research showing over 70% of Marriott Bonvoy members prefer Coca-Cola products. The agreement covers soft drinks, bottled water, and non-alcoholic beverages across approximately 9,700 Marriott properties in 143 countries — one of the largest foodservice contracts in the global hospitality industry.

The switch reverses a 1992 change when PepsiCo displaced Coca-Cola from Marriott's properties following a commercial dispute in which Coke reportedly declined to extend up to $100 million in loans to the hotel chain. Three decades later, Marriott's reversal reflects both a data-driven guest preference decision and Coca-Cola's ongoing push to recapture premium hospitality accounts where brand visibility translates directly to consumer recall. The transition will roll out in phases across regions.

For KO, the Marriott win extends a streak of high-profile foodservice contract gains and reinforces its premium brand positioning in travel and hospitality. For PEP, losing 9,700 hotels in 143 countries represents a meaningful revenue and brand visibility setback in a segment where anchor accounts drive outsized awareness. With both companies competing fiercely in foodservice channels as at-home beverage consumption faces secular pressure, the Marriott switch is a material competitive signal.