For Atwell Suites hotels, what is the geographic scope of the requirement to participate in the IHG|Coca-Cola® Beverage Program?
Atwell_Suites Franchise · 2025 FDDAnswer from 2025 FDD Document
Pursuant to the Standards, Hotels located within the 50 United States (including the District of Columbia) are required to participate in the IHG|Coca-Cola® Beverage Program (the "Beverage Program"). You must sign a Participation Agreement with The Coca-Cola Company ("TCCC"), a copy of which is attached as Exhibit G-3 to this disclosure document, unless a waiver is granted by Holiday. Waivers may be granted by Holiday if your Hotel has a pre-existing beverage agreement with another supplier. Under the Beverage Program, participating Hotels are subject to the standards and requirements summarized below.
All participating Hotels are required to make available to guests a core set of TCCC bottled/canned beverages (subject to availability) that consists of Coca-Cola®, Diet Coke®, Sprite® and Coke Zero Sugar™. Hotels that serve fountain beverages are required to include Coca-Cola®, Diet Coke®, Sprite® and Coke Zero Sugar™. In addition, Hotels are required to serve fountain-dispensed Minute Maid Frozen Concentrate Orange Juice (a TCCC juice product). All non-alcoholic bottled/canned beverages (including waters), fountain beverages, and juices offered, served, or sold by your Hotel must be TCCC beverages, unless a permitted exception in your Hotel's Participation Agreement applies. All beverages displayed and offered in coolers and vending machines must be TCCC products, with limited exceptions for equipment owned by the Hotel. You may also be required to sign a lease agreement with TCCC for TCCC-provided equipment; a copy of which is included as part of Exhibit G-3 to this disclosure document. Hotels may not serve, offer, or display any products of PepsiCo.
Source: Item 8 — Restrictions on Sources of Products and Services (FDD pages 65–73)
What This Means (2025 FDD)
According to Atwell Suites' 2025 Franchise Disclosure Document, participation in the IHG|Coca-Cola® Beverage Program is mandatory for hotels located within the 50 United States, including the District of Columbia. This requirement means that if you operate an Atwell Suites hotel within this geographic area, you must adhere to the terms of the Beverage Program, which includes signing a Participation Agreement with The Coca-Cola Company (TCCC).
Under this program, Atwell Suites hotels are required to offer a core set of TCCC bottled and canned beverages such as Coca-Cola®, Diet Coke®, Sprite®, and Coke Zero Sugar™. For hotels with fountain service, these same beverages must be available. Additionally, Minute Maid Frozen Concentrate Orange Juice, a TCCC product, must be served from the fountain. Unless an exception is permitted in the hotel's Participation Agreement, all non-alcoholic bottled, canned, and fountain beverages, including waters and juices, must be TCCC products.
Coolers and vending machines must exclusively stock TCCC products, with limited exceptions for hotel-owned equipment. The FDD specifies that hotels may not serve, offer, or display any PepsiCo products. However, third-party restaurants or bars operating within the Atwell Suites hotel are not mandated to follow the Beverage Program, but they can choose to do so at their discretion. Franchisees should carefully review Exhibit G-3 of the FDD, which includes a copy of the Participation Agreement and any potential lease agreement for TCCC-provided equipment, to fully understand their obligations and any available exceptions.