PEPSI KICKED OUT! Marriott Returns To Coke After 34 Years…Uganda's New Kampala Marriott To Serve Coca-Cola As Global Beverage War Takes New Twist

The decades-long cola war has taken another dramatic turn after Marriott International, the world’s largest hotel company, dumped PepsiCo after 34 years and signed a massive new global beverage agreement with Coca-Cola in one of the biggest hospitality deals in recent years.

The agreement, announced on July 1, gives Coca-Cola exclusive rights to supply beverages across Marriott’s global network of about 10,000 hotels in 146 countries and territories, stretching from the United States and China to France, South Africa, Nigeria and the rest of Africa.

For Uganda, the development is significant because Marriott is establishing a presence in Kampala, with its flagship hotel currently under construction in Nsambya. Once operational, guests staying at the luxury property are expected to be served Coca-Cola beverages under the new worldwide agreement instead of Pepsi products.

The deal means Coca-Cola will become Marriott’s global beverage partner across several categories, including carbonated soft drinks, bottled water, hydration drinks, juices, dairy products and functional beverages. The company said the transition has already begun and will be rolled out in phases across Marriott’s worldwide portfolio over the coming months.

Guests will gradually start seeing Coca-Cola products in hotel guestrooms, restaurants, bars, lounges, meeting facilities, conference centres and event venues throughout Marriott’s network.

The agreement covers virtually every Marriott brand operating around the world and gives Coca-Cola access to one of the largest hospitality networks on the planet.

END OF A 34-YEAR RELATIONSHIP

The decision officially ends one of the hospitality industry’s longest-running beverage partnerships.

Marriott first partnered with PepsiCo in 1992 after dramatically switching away from Coca-Cola.

According to industry reports, the switch happened after Coca-Cola reportedly declined Marriott’s request for a loan worth between US$50 million and US$100 million, prompting the hotel giant to sign with Pepsi instead.

Since then, Pepsi products have been served across Marriott hotels worldwide for more than three decades.

In 2018, Pepsi renewed its agreement with Marriott, extending what had become a familiar relationship for millions of travellers checking into Marriott hotels across different brands.

However, that partnership has now come to an end, with Marriott deciding that Coca-Cola will better serve its future business strategy and customer expectations.

WHY MARRIOTT CHOSE COKE

Marriott says the decision is based on customer demand.

According to travel publication View From The Wing, Marriott informed hotel owners that more than 70 percent of Marriott guests prefer Coca-Cola products, making the switch commercially attractive.

Anthony Capuano, Marriott International’s President and Chief Executive Officer, described the agreement as a partnership between two iconic global brands.

He said the company is focused on giving guests and Marriott Bonvoy loyalty members the products they know and love while creating better value for hotel owners and franchise operators across the Marriott system.

Capuano added that the partnership would improve guest experiences while generating stronger economic benefits throughout Marriott’s worldwide operations.

COKE CELEBRATES MAJOR VICTORY

For Coca-Cola, the agreement represents one of its biggest hospitality wins in years.

Henrique Braun, Executive Vice-President and Chief Operating Officer of The Coca-Cola Company, welcomed the partnership, saying the company was excited to work with Marriott and provide travellers with beverages they already enjoy.

He said Coca-Cola’s broad portfolio—from sparkling soft drinks to juices, hydration beverages and dairy products—would now be available to guests throughout their hotel stay.

Although both companies confirmed the partnership, neither Marriott nor Coca-Cola disclosed how much the agreement is worth or how long it will last.

WHAT IT MEANS FOR AFRICA

The deal is expected to have major implications across Africa, where Marriott continues expanding rapidly as tourism, international conferences and business travel rebound.

The hotel group currently operates nearly 150 properties with more than 26,000 rooms across 20 African countries, covering 22 hotel brands.

Marriott has also unveiled ambitious expansion plans, announcing that it intends to add more than 50 new hotels and about 9,000 additional rooms by 2027.

The expansion will include entry into several new African markets, including Cape Verde, Côte d’Ivoire, the Democratic Republic of Congo, Madagascar and Mauritania, while strengthening operations in existing destinations such as South Africa, Nigeria and other key business hubs.

As Coca-Cola replaces Pepsi across Marriott’s African hotels, travellers staying at these properties—including the upcoming Kampala Marriott in Nsambya—will increasingly encounter Coca-Cola products throughout restaurants, bars, guest rooms, conference facilities and hospitality events.

For Uganda, the timing is particularly noteworthy. As Kampala prepares to welcome its first flagship Marriott hotel, the property will open under a new global beverage partnership that aligns it with one of the world’s most recognised consumer brands.

The agreement also highlights Coca-Cola’s growing influence in Africa’s hospitality sector, giving the beverage giant access to millions of international and domestic travellers passing through Marriott hotels each year.

With Marriott’s expansion accelerating across the continent and Uganda joining its growing network, the cola war has officially entered a new chapter—and this time, Coca-Cola has emerged with one of the hospitality industry’s biggest prizes.