USPTO Trademark Classes Blog Series: Class 43 – Hospitality and Food Services

Welcome back to our USPTO Trademark Classes Blog Series, where we break down each trademark class to help businesses properly categorize and protect their brands.

In this installment, we’re covering Trademark Class 43, which includes restaurant services, hotel accommodations, catering, and other hospitality offerings. If your business operates in the food, beverage, or lodging industries, this class may be the right fit for your trademark.

If you’ve ever asked, “Can I trademark my restaurant’s name?” or “What class covers food trucks or boutique hotels?”, this guide will help clarify whether this classification is appropriate for your brand.

What is Trademark Class 43?

Trademark Class 43 covers services that involve providing food, drink, and temporary accommodations. This includes both dine-in and takeout experiences, as well as hotel stays and travel-related lodging. Class 43 is commonly used by restaurants, chefs, food trucks, hotels, and catering companies.

Some examples of services that might fall under Trademark Class 43 include:

• Restaurants, cafés, and bars

• Food trucks and pop-up kitchens

• Catering and private chef services

• Coffee shops, juice bars, and dessert parlors

• Hotels, inns, and bed & breakfast accommodations

• Vacation rentals and short-term lodging

• Online booking for hospitality services

If your business serves food or provides a place for people to stay, Trademark Class 43 is likely the appropriate classification.

Why Trademark Class 43 Matters for Your Business

Registering a trademark under Class 43 helps protect your brand in the highly competitive food, beverage, and hospitality industries, where unique names and memorable experiences are essential for customer loyalty.

Here’s why filing in this class might be important:

1. Prevents brand confusion – Restaurant and hotel names are often similar, especially in regional markets. A trademark helps distinguish your brand.

2. Protects your identity across locations – Whether you're opening new locations or franchising, a trademark ensures your name stays yours.

3. Strengthens brand loyalty and visibility – Customers associate your name with quality and service—owning it helps protect that reputation.

4. Supports licensing, franchising, and co-branding – If you plan to expand or partner with others, a registered trademark adds real value.

Examples of Trademarks in Class 43

Many popular hospitality and food service brands have registered trademarks under Class 43. Here are a few examples:

• Starbucks® – Registered for coffee shop and café services

• Airbnb® – Protects its short-term rental and hospitality services

• Ritz-Carlton® – For luxury hotel accommodations and related services

These companies use trademarks to protect their restaurant concepts, dining experiences, and hospitality offerings across multiple locations and platforms.

Do You Need a Trademark Search Before Filing in Class 43?

Yes—a trademark search is highly recommended before applying in Class 43. This class includes many local, regional, and national businesses that may have similar or overlapping names, especially in the restaurant and lodging space.

At Brand Diplomacy, we provide comprehensive trademark clearance searches to help confirm that your brand name is available and reduce the risk of legal challenges.

How to Determine if Class 43 is Right for Your Trademark

If you’re unsure whether Trademark Class 43 is the correct category for your services, consider the following:

1. Do you operate a food, beverage, or hospitality business?

   • If yes, Class 43 likely applies.

2. Does your business provide accommodations or event catering?

   • Lodging, private dining, and catering services are all covered.

3. Do you also offer products or retail services?

   • You may need to file in additional classes, such as:

     • Class 30 for packaged food items or baked goods

     • Class 35 for retail or online ordering platforms

     • Class 41 for entertainment experiences or live events at your venue

Filing in multiple classes may be necessary to fully protect your brand, especially if you're selling products alongside services.

How Brand Diplomacy Can Help

At Brand Diplomacy, we help chefs, restaurant owners, hoteliers, and hospitality entrepreneurs protect their brand identities.

Whether you're launching a new café, scaling a food truck concept, or opening a boutique hotel, we can help you:

• Conduct a trademark search to verify availability

• Determine which classes cover your services

• File and manage your USPTO trademark application

• Enforce and monitor your trademark rights as your business grows

If you’re ready to secure your brand in Class 43, contact us today to get started.

What’s Next in Our Trademark Class Series?

Thank you for exploring Trademark Class 43: Hospitality and Food Services with us! Up next, we’ll cover Trademark Class 44: Medical, Beauty, and Agricultural Services, where we’ll look at trademarks for healthcare clinics, beauty salons, therapy practices, and horticultural services.

Stay tuned as we continue guiding you through the USPTO trademark classes, helping you make informed decisions for your brand!