Under what circumstances can a Crowne Plaza hotel serve non-TCCC beverages at meetings or events?
Crowne_Plaza Franchise · 2025 FDDAnswer from 2025 FDD Document
All non-alcoholic beverages served at meetings or events hosted by your Hotel should be TCCC products, unless serving non-TCCC beverages was required by the client as a condition of booking the function. In such circumstances, serving competitive beverages is permitted; provided, that certain restrictions set forth in your Participation Agreement are followed. Third-party restaurant or bar outlets operating at the Hotel are not required to follow the Beverage Program but may do so at their discretion.
Source: Item 8 — Restrictions on Sources of Products and Services (FDD pages 59–68)
What This Means (2025 FDD)
According to Crowne Plaza's 2025 Franchise Disclosure Document, hotels are generally required to serve Coca-Cola products at all events. However, there is an exception. If a client requires non-Coca-Cola beverages as a condition of booking a meeting or event, the Crowne Plaza hotel is permitted to serve those beverages. Certain restrictions, outlined in the hotel's Participation Agreement with Coca-Cola, must be followed in these instances.
This requirement to serve Coca-Cola products is part of the IHG | Coca-Cola® Beverage Program, which applies to hotels within the 50 United States, including the District of Columbia. The program mandates that hotels make available a core set of Coca-Cola products, including Coca-Cola®, Diet Coke®, Sprite®, and Coke Zero Sugar™. Hotels must also serve Simply® Orange juice. All other non-alcoholic beverages, including bottled water, fountain drinks, and juices, must also be Coca-Cola products unless an exception applies.
This restriction does not extend to third-party restaurants or bars operating within the Crowne Plaza hotel, which are not required to participate in the Beverage Program. However, they may choose to do so at their discretion. Franchisees should carefully review their Participation Agreement with Coca-Cola to understand the specific restrictions and requirements that apply to their hotel, as well as the process for obtaining waivers or exemptions from these requirements.