Holiday Inn Express, part of IHG Hotels & Resorts, has announced a partnership with Costa Coffee, owned by The Coca-Cola Company. This collaboration will bring Costa’s freshly ground and brewed coffee to every Holiday Inn Express hotel in the United States.
To mark the beginning of this partnership, Holiday Inn Express and Costa Coffee are offering free coffee to college football fans on Saturday, August 30. Fans can visit participating hotels within 10 miles of Division I Football Bowl Subdivision (FBS) schools to receive a complimentary cup of coffee. No hotel reservation is required for this offer.
A recent national survey commissioned by Holiday Inn Express and conducted by Talker Research found that more than half of college football fans include breakfast or coffee in their pre-game rituals when traveling for game day. The survey also showed that 81% consider coffee or caffeine an important part of their game day morning routine, and 70% of coffee drinkers have at least two cups while traveling to games.
Justin Alexander, VP of Global Brand Management for Holiday Inn Express, Staybridge Suites & Candlewood Suites said: “For years, Holiday Inn Express has helped guests start their day right with a fresh, hot, complimentary breakfast – one of our signature offerings at over 3,000 locations worldwide. Now, breakfast is getting even better as Costa Coffee becomes part of the Holiday Inn Express experience. For college football fans, the morning can define the whole game day, and with thousands of locations across the country, we’re here to welcome those getting ready to embark on pre-game traditions, cheer on their teams, and maybe even roast a rival or two!”
The survey further indicated that many college football fans spend at least one night away during game day weekends. When choosing accommodations for these events, proximity to stadiums (48%), free breakfast (46%), and high-quality coffee (43%) were top priorities.
Costa Coffee is now available at more than 1,300 Holiday Inn Express locations nationwide. This move reflects both brands’ focus on meeting guest expectations regarding freshness and quality in their food and beverage offerings.
A separate survey conducted by Suzy for Costa Coffee found that nearly half of respondents believe freshly brewed and ground coffee tastes significantly better than traditional drip options. Additionally, 61% agreed that the quality and freshness of hotel coffee influence how much they feel valued as guests.
Amy Daugherty, U.S. Head of Marketing for Costa Coffee said: “For many hotel guests, a cup of coffee is the ritual that sets the tone for their entire stay. That’s why we’re thrilled to partner with Holiday Inn Express to bring Costa’s smooth, rich coffee to travelers across the country. With a shared commitment to quality and warm hospitality, we are proud to offer a solution that’s efficient, flexible, and thoughtfully crafted for today’s travelers. This is about more than coffee; this is about creating meaningful moments of joy for guests and creating unforgettable game day experiences for fans across the country.”
The free coffee promotion runs from 10:30 AM to 3:30 PM local time on August 30 at participating hotels while supplies last. Complimentary Costa Coffee will continue as part of standard guest amenities at all participating IHG properties including avid hotels, Atwell Suites, Garner Hotels, Candlewood Suites, as well as Holiday Inn Express. More information about booking stays can be found at www.ihg.com.
