Under the Crowne Plaza franchise agreement, what are 'Bottler Bottle/Can Beverages', and what brands are specifically included in this definition?

According to the 2025 Crowne Plaza Franchise Disclosure Document, a 'Bottler Bottle/Can Beverage' is defined as a pre-packaged beverage, including pre-mix beverages, that are ready-to-drink and come in bottles, cans, or other factory-sealed containers. These beverages must be marketed under trademarks owned, controlled, or licensed to The Coca-Cola Company and purchased directly from the company or its authorized bottlers for sale at Crowne Plaza hotels or through full-service vending machines exclusively owned, stocked, or serviced by the company or bottler.

Specifically, 'Bottler Bottle/Can Beverages' include Monster, NOS, and Full Throttle brand beverages when purchased directly from a bottler. Additionally, the definition encompasses bottle/can beverages purchased directly from a bottler that has the rights to distribute beverages marketed under trademarks owned, licensed, controlled, or distributed by Dr Pepper Snapple Group, Inc. (DPSG) or its subsidiaries, affiliates, bottlers, or any entity or joint venture in which DPSG has at least a 50% ownership interest.

For a Crowne Plaza franchisee, this definition is important because it dictates which beverages they are required to make available to guests. The FDD specifies that each hotel must offer a core set of Bottler Bottle/Can Beverages, including Coca-Cola®, Diet Coke®, Sprite®, and Coke Zero™. While franchisees can select the remaining beverages, they are subject to approval by The Coca-Cola Company. All bottle/can beverages served in the hotels must be Bottler Bottle/Can Beverages, with a few exceptions, such as Pellegrino bottled water, Fred brand bottled water at Kimpton hotels only, bottled water sold in a glass bottle (provided it is not a Product of PepsiCo), water offered to hotel guests on a complimentary basis (provided such water is not a Product of PepsiCo), and up to 10% of the space allocated to Bottle/Can Beverages in Customer-owned Beverage coolers or displays may feature Competitive Beverages, provided that such brands are (i) not Products of PepsiCo, (ii) are not Sparkling Beverages, and (iii) are not Juice Beverages, except for those Beverages that are local, niche brands for which Company does not provide a product offering and may contain juice as an ingredient. This ensures that Crowne Plaza maintains a consistent beverage offering across its locations while allowing for some local variation.