Form 10-Q
Table of Contents

 
 
UNITED STATES
SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION
Washington, D.C. 20549
 
FORM 10-Q
     
þ   QUARTERLY REPORT PURSUANT TO SECTION 13 OR 15(d) OF THE SECURITIES EXCHANGE ACT OF 1934
For the quarterly period ended September 10, 2010
OR
     
o   TRANSITION REPORT PURSUANT TO SECTION 13 OR 15(d) OF THE SECURITIES EXCHANGE ACT OF 1934
Commission file number 001-32514
DIAMONDROCK HOSPITALITY COMPANY
(Exact Name of Registrant as Specified in Its Charter)
     
Maryland
(State of Incorporation)
  20-1180098
(I.R.S. Employer Identification No.)
     
3 Bethesda Metro Center, Suite 1500, Bethesda, Maryland
(Address of Principal Executive Offices)
  20814
(Zip Code)
(240) 744-1150
(Registrant’s telephone number, including area code)
Indicate by check mark whether the registrant (1) has filed all reports required to be filed by Section 13 or 15(d) of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934 during the preceding 12 months (or for such shorter period that the registrant was required to file such reports), and (2) has been subject to such filing requirements for the past 90 days. þ Yes o No
Indicate by check mark whether the registrant has submitted electronically and posted on its corporate Web site, if any, every Interactive Data File required to be submitted and posted pursuant to Rule 405 of Regulation S-T (§232.405 of this chapter) during the preceding 12 months (or for such shorter period that the registrant was required to submit and post such files). þ Yes o No
Indicate by check mark whether the registrant is a large accelerated filer, an accelerated filer, a non-accelerated filer, or a smaller reporting company. See definition of “large accelerated filer,” “accelerated filer” and “smaller reporting company” in Rule 12b-2 of the Exchange Act.
             
Large accelerated filer þ   Accelerated filer o   Non-accelerated filer o   Smaller reporting company o
        (Do not check if a smaller reporting company)    
Indicate by check mark whether the registrant is a shell company (as defined in Rule 12b-2 of the Exchange Act). o Yes þ No
The registrant had 154,570,543 shares of its $0.01 par value common stock outstanding as of October 19, 2010.
 
 

 

 


 

INDEX
         
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 Exhibit 31.1
 Exhibit 31.2
 Exhibit 32.1
 EX-101 INSTANCE DOCUMENT
 EX-101 SCHEMA DOCUMENT
 EX-101 CALCULATION LINKBASE DOCUMENT
 EX-101 LABELS LINKBASE DOCUMENT
 EX-101 PRESENTATION LINKBASE DOCUMENT

 

 


Table of Contents

Item 1.  
Financial Statements
DIAMONDROCK HOSPITALITY COMPANY
CONDENSED CONSOLIDATED BALANCE SHEETS
As of September 10, 2010 and December 31, 2009
(in thousands, except share amounts)
                 
    September 10,     December 31,  
    2010     2009  
    (Unaudited)        
ASSETS
               
Property and equipment, at cost
  $ 2,446,205     $ 2,171,311  
Less: accumulated depreciation
    (367,890 )     (309,224 )
 
           
 
    2,078,315       1,862,087  
 
               
Deferred financing costs, net
    6,040       3,624  
Restricted cash
    48,242       31,274  
Due from hotel managers
    70,172       45,200  
Note receivable
    59,365        
Favorable lease assets, net
    42,880       37,319  
Prepaid and other assets
    56,110       58,607  
Cash and cash equivalents
    61,281       177,380  
 
           
 
               
Total assets
  $ 2,422,405     $ 2,215,491  
 
           
 
               
LIABILITIES AND STOCKHOLDERS’ EQUITY
               
 
               
Liabilities:
               
Mortgage debt
  $ 782,656     $ 786,777  
Senior unsecured credit facility
           
 
           
Total debt
    782,656       786,777  
 
               
Deferred income related to key money, net
    19,373       19,763  
Unfavorable contract liabilities, net
    84,181       82,684  
Due to hotel managers
    41,529       29,847  
Dividends declared and unpaid
          41,810  
Accounts payable and accrued expenses
    84,063       79,104  
 
           
 
               
Total other liabilities
    229,146       253,208  
 
           
 
               
Stockholders’ Equity:
               
Preferred stock, $.01 par value; 10,000,000 shares authorized; no shares issued and outstanding
           
Common stock, $.01 par value; 200,000,000 shares authorized; 154,570,543 and 124,299,423 shares issued and outstanding at September 10, 2010 and December 31, 2009, respectively
    1,546       1,243  
Additional paid-in capital
    1,557,002       1,311,053  
Accumulated deficit
    (147,945 )     (136,790 )
 
           
 
               
Total stockholders’ equity
    1,410,603       1,175,506  
 
           
 
               
Total liabilities and stockholders’ equity
  $ 2,422,405     $ 2,215,491  
 
           
The accompanying notes are an integral part of these condensed consolidated financial statements.

 

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DIAMONDROCK HOSPITALITY COMPANY
CONDENSED CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF OPERATIONS
For the Fiscal Quarters Ended September 10, 2010 and September 11, 2009 and
the Periods from January 1, 2010 to September 10, 2010 and January 1, 2009 to September 11, 2009
(in thousands, except per share amounts)
                                 
    Fiscal Quarter     Fiscal Quarter     Period from     Period from  
    Ended     Ended     January 1, 2010 to     January 1, 2009 to  
    September 10, 2010     September 11, 2009     September 10, 2010     September 11, 2009  
    (Unaudited)     (Unaudited)     (Unaudited)     (Unaudited)  
Revenues:
                               
 
                               
Rooms
  $ 99,703     $ 88,318     $ 267,081     $ 253,661  
Food and beverage
    43,370       40,836       126,620       122,423  
Other
    8,040       8,646       21,364       23,866  
 
                       
Total revenues
    151,113       137,800       415,065       399,950  
 
                       
 
                               
Operating Expenses:
                               
 
                               
Rooms
    26,979       23,912       71,510       66,868  
Food and beverage
    30,534       29,068       86,748       85,969  
Management fees
    5,080       4,907       13,634       13,243  
Other hotel expenses
    55,613       50,161       152,232       146,701  
Impairment of favorable lease asset
                      1,286  
Depreciation and amortization
    21,297       18,866       59,278       57,312  
Hotel acquisition costs
    899             1,236        
Corporate expenses
    3,948       3,675       10,859       11,094  
 
                       
Total operating expenses
    144,350       130,589       395,497       382,473  
 
                       
Operating profit
    6,763       7,211       19,568       17,477  
 
                       
 
                               
Other Expenses (Income):
                               
 
                               
Interest income
    (283 )     (82 )     (650 )     (265 )
Interest expense
    11,240       11,090       30,455       33,673  
 
                       
Total other expenses
    10,957       11,008       29,805       33,408  
 
                       
 
                               
Loss before income taxes
    (4,194 )     (3,797 )     (10,237 )     (15,931 )
 
                               
Income tax benefit (expense)
    660       4,558       (803 )     13,856  
 
                       
Net (loss) income
  $ (3,534 )   $ 761     $ (11,040 )   $ (2,075 )
 
                       
 
                               
(Loss) earnings per share:
                               
 
                               
Basic and diluted (loss) earnings per share
  $ (0.02 )   $ 0.01     $ (0.08 )   $ (0.02 )
 
                       
The accompanying notes are an integral part of these condensed consolidated financial statements.

 

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DIAMONDROCK HOSPITALITY COMPANY
CONDENSED CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF CASH FLOWS
For the Periods from January 1, 2010 to September 10, 2010 and January 1, 2009 to September 11, 2009
(in thousands)
                 
    Period from     Period from  
    January 1, 2010 to     January 1, 2009 to  
    September 10, 2010     September 11, 2009  
    (Unaudited)     (Unaudited)  
Cash flows from operating activities:
               
Net loss
  $ (11,040 )   $ (2,075 )
Adjustments to reconcile net loss to net cash provided by operating activities:
               
Real estate depreciation
    59,278       57,312  
Corporate asset depreciation as corporate expenses
    110       101  
Non-cash ground rent
    5,104       5,350  
Non-cash financing costs as interest
    804       556  
Non-cash reversal of penalty interest
    (3,134 )      
Impairment of favorable lease asset
          1,286  
Amortization of unfavorable contract liabilities
    (1,203 )     (1,190 )
Amortization of deferred income
    (390 )     (391 )
Stock-based compensation
    2,794       3,892  
Changes in assets and liabilities:
               
Prepaid expenses and other assets
    2,482       (1,982 )
Restricted cash
    (3,892 )     (1,700 )
Due to/from hotel managers
    (11,765 )     4,958  
Accounts payable and accrued expenses
    3,368       (16,235 )
 
           
Net cash provided by operating activities
    42,516       49,882  
 
           
 
               
Cash flows from investing activities:
               
Hotel capital expenditures
    (16,154 )     (17,735 )
Hotel acquisitions
    (265,998 )      
Purchase of mortgage loan
    (60,615 )      
Cash received from mortgage loan
    1,250        
Change in restricted cash
    (11,290 )     (2,702 )
 
           
Net cash used in investing activities
    (352,807 )     (20,437 )
 
           
 
               
Cash flows from financing activities:
               
Repayments of credit facility
          (57,000 )
Proceeds from mortgage debt
          43,000  
Repayment of mortgage debt
          (40,528 )
Scheduled mortgage debt principal payments
    (4,121 )     (2,972 )
Repurchase of common stock
    (3,961 )     (309 )
Proceeds from sale of common stock, net
    209,817       134,878  
Payment of financing costs
    (3,220 )     (1,008 )
Payment of cash dividends
    (4,323 )     (80 )
 
           
Net cash provided by financing activities
    194,192       75,981  
 
           
Net (decrease) increase in cash and cash equivalents
    (116,099 )     105,426  
Cash and cash equivalents, beginning of period
    177,380       13,830  
 
           
Cash and cash equivalents, end of period
  $ 61,281     $ 119,256  
 
           
 
               
Supplemental Disclosure of Cash Flow Information:
               
Cash paid for interest
  $ 33,381     $ 35,905  
 
           
Cash paid for income taxes
  $ 642     $ 901  
 
           
The accompanying notes are an integral part of these condensed consolidated financial statements.

 

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DIAMONDROCK HOSPITALITY COMPANY
Notes to the Condensed Consolidated Financial Statements
(Unaudited)
1. Organization
DiamondRock Hospitality Company (the “Company” or “we”) is a lodging-focused real estate company that owns a portfolio of 23 premium hotels and resorts as well as a senior loan secured by another hotel. Our hotels are concentrated in key gateway cities and in destination resort locations and are all operated under a brand owned by one of the leading global lodging brand companies (Marriott International, Inc. (“Marriott”), Starwood Hotels & Resorts Worldwide, Inc. (“Starwood”) or Hilton Worldwide (“Hilton”)). We are an owner, as opposed to an operator, of hotels. As an owner, we receive all of the operating profits or losses generated by our hotels after we pay fees to the hotel managers, which are based on the revenues and profitability of the hotels.
As of September 10, 2010, we owned 23 hotels, comprising 10,743 rooms, located in the following markets: Atlanta, Georgia (3); Austin, Texas; Boston, Massachusetts; Charleston, South Carolina; Chicago, Illinois (2); Fort Worth, Texas; Lexington, Kentucky; Los Angeles, California (2); Minneapolis, Minnesota; New York, New York (3); Northern California; Oak Brook, Illinois; Orlando, Florida; Salt Lake City, Utah; Washington D.C.; St. Thomas, U.S. Virgin Islands; and Vail, Colorado, and we also own a senior loan secured by a 443-room hotel located in Chicago, Illinois.
We conduct our business through a traditional umbrella partnership REIT, or UPREIT, in which our hotel properties are owned by our operating partnership, DiamondRock Hospitality Limited Partnership, or subsidiaries of our operating partnership. The Company is the sole general partner of the operating partnership and currently owns, either directly or indirectly, all of the limited partnership units of the operating partnership.
2. Summary of Significant Accounting Policies
Basis of Presentation
We have condensed or omitted certain information and footnote disclosures normally included in financial statements presented in accordance with U.S. generally accepted accounting principles, or U.S. GAAP, in the accompanying unaudited condensed consolidated financial statements. We believe the disclosures made are adequate to prevent the information presented from being misleading. However, the unaudited condensed consolidated financial statements should be read in conjunction with the consolidated financial statements and notes thereto as of and for the year ended December 31, 2009, included in our Annual Report on Form 10-K dated February 26, 2010.
In our opinion, the accompanying unaudited condensed consolidated financial statements reflect all adjustments necessary to present fairly our financial position as of September 10, 2010; the results of our operations for the fiscal quarters ended September 10, 2010 and September 11, 2009 and the periods from January 1, 2010 to September 10, 2010 and January 1, 2009 to September 11, 2009; and cash flows for the periods from January 1, 2010 to September 10, 2010 and January 1, 2009 to September 11, 2009. Interim results are not necessarily indicative of full-year performance because of the impact of seasonal and short-term variations.
Our financial statements include all of the accounts of the Company and its subsidiaries in accordance with U.S. GAAP. All intercompany accounts and transactions have been eliminated in consolidation.
Reporting Periods
The results we report in our condensed consolidated statements of operations are based on results of our hotels reported to us by our hotel managers. Our hotel managers use different reporting periods. Marriott, the manager of most of our properties, uses a fiscal year ending on the Friday closest to December 31 and reports 12 weeks of operations for each of the first three quarters and 16 or 17 weeks for the fourth quarter of the year for its domestic managed hotels. In contrast, Marriott, for its non-domestic hotels (including Frenchman’s Reef), Vail Resorts, manager of the Vail Marriott, Davidson Hotel Company, manager of the Westin Atlanta North at Perimeter, Hilton Hotels Corporation, manager of the Conrad Chicago and the Hilton Minneapolis, Westin Hotel Management, L.P., manager of the Westin Boston Waterfront Hotel and Alliance Hospitality Management, manager of the Hilton Garden Inn Chelsea, report results on a monthly basis. Additionally, as a REIT, we are required by U.S. federal tax laws to report results on a calendar year basis. As a result, we have adopted the reporting periods used by Marriott for its domestic hotels, except that the fiscal year always ends on December 31 to comply with REIT rules. The first three fiscal quarters end on the same day as Marriott’s fiscal quarters but the fourth quarter ends on December 31 and the full year results, as reported in the statement of operations, always include the same number of days as the calendar year.

 

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Two consequences of the reporting cycle we have adopted are: (1) quarterly start dates will usually differ between years, except for the first quarter which always commences on January 1, and (2) the first and fourth quarters of operations and year-to-date operations may not include the same number of days as reflected in prior years.
While the reporting calendar we adopted is more closely aligned with the reporting calendar used by the manager of most of our properties, one final consequence of the calendar is we are unable to report any results for Frenchman’s Reef, Vail Marriott, Westin Atlanta North at Perimeter, Conrad Chicago, Westin Boston Waterfront Hotel, Hilton Minneapolis or Hilton Garden Inn Chelsea for the month of operations that ends after its fiscal quarter-end because none of Westin Hotel Management, L.P., Hilton Hotels Corporation, Davidson Hotel Company, Alliance Hospitality Management, Vail Resorts nor Marriott (with respect to Frenchman’s Reef) make mid-month results available to us. As a result, our quarterly results of operations include results from Frenchman’s Reef, the Vail Marriott, the Westin Atlanta North at Perimeter, the Conrad Chicago, the Westin Boston Waterfront Hotel, the Hilton Minneapolis and the Hilton Garden Inn Chelsea as follows: first quarter (January and February), second quarter (March to May), third quarter (June to August) and fourth quarter (September to December). While this does not affect full-year results, it does affect the reporting of quarterly results.
Investment in Hotels
Acquired hotels, land improvements, building and furniture, fixtures and equipment and identifiable intangible assets are initially recorded at fair value. Additions to property and equipment, including current buildings, improvements, furniture, fixtures and equipment are recorded at cost. Property and equipment are depreciated using the straight-line method over an estimated useful life of 15 to 40 years for buildings and land improvements and one to ten years for furniture and equipment. Identifiable intangible assets are typically related to contracts, including ground lease agreements and hotel management agreements, which are recorded at fair value. Above-market and below-market contract values are based on the present value of the difference between contractual amounts to be paid pursuant to the contracts acquired and our estimate of the fair market contract rates for corresponding contracts. Contracts acquired that are at market do not have significant value. We typically enter into a new hotel management agreement based on market terms at the time of acquisition. Intangible assets are amortized using the straight-line method over the remaining non-cancelable term of the related agreements. In making estimates of fair values for purposes of allocating purchase price, we may utilize a number of sources that may be obtained in connection with the acquisition or financing of a property and other market data. Management also considers information obtained about each property as a result of its pre-acquisition due diligence in estimating the fair value of the tangible and intangible assets acquired.
We review our investments in hotels for impairment whenever events or changes in circumstances indicate that the carrying value of the investments in hotels may not be recoverable. Events or circumstances that may cause us to perform a review include, but are not limited to, adverse changes in the demand for lodging at our properties due to declining national or local economic conditions and/or new hotel construction in markets where our hotels are located. When such conditions exist, management performs an analysis to determine if the estimated undiscounted future cash flows from operations and the proceeds from the ultimate disposition of an investment in a hotel exceed the hotel’s carrying value. If the estimated undiscounted future cash flows are less than the carrying amount of the asset, an adjustment to reduce the carrying value to the estimated fair market value is recorded and an impairment loss recognized.
Note Receivable
We initially record acquired notes receivable at cost. Notes receivable are evaluated for collectability and if collectability of the original amounts due is in doubt, the value is adjusted for impairment. If collectability is in doubt, the note is placed in non-accrual status. No interest is recorded on such notes until the timing and amounts of cash receipts can be reasonably estimated. We record cash payments received on non-accrual notes receivable as a reduction in basis.
Revenue Recognition
Revenues from operations of the hotels are recognized when the services are provided. Revenues consist of room sales, golf sales, food and beverage sales, and other hotel department revenues, such as telephone and gift shop sales. Additionally, our operators collect sales, use, occupancy and similar taxes at our hotels which are excluded from revenue in our consolidated statements of operations (revenue is recorded net of such taxes).

 

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Earnings (Loss) Per Share
Basic earnings (loss) per share is calculated by dividing net income (loss), adjusted for dividends on unvested stock grants, by the weighted-average number of common shares outstanding during the period. Diluted earnings (loss) per share is calculated by dividing net income (loss), adjusted for dividends on unvested stock grants, by the weighted-average number of common shares outstanding during the period plus other potentially dilutive securities such as stock grants or shares issuable in the event of conversion of operating partnership units. No adjustment is made for shares that are anti-dilutive during a period.
Stock-based Compensation
We account for stock-based employee compensation using the fair value based method of accounting. We record the cost of awards with service conditions and market conditions based on the grant-date fair value of the award. For awards based on market conditions, the grant-date fair value is derived using an open form valuation model. The cost of the award is recognized over the period during which an employee is required to provide service in exchange for the award. No compensation cost is recognized for equity instruments for which employees do not render the requisite service.
Income Taxes
Deferred tax assets and liabilities are recognized for the estimated future tax consequences attributable to differences between the financial statement carrying amounts of existing assets and liabilities and their respective tax bases. Deferred tax assets and liabilities are measured using enacted tax rates in effect for the year in which those temporary differences are expected to be recovered or settled. The effect on deferred tax assets and liabilities from a change in tax rates is recognized in earnings in the period when the new rate is enacted.
We have elected to be treated as a REIT under the provisions of the Internal Revenue Code and, as such, are not subject to federal income tax, provided we distribute all of our taxable income annually to our stockholders and comply with certain other requirements. In addition to paying federal and state income tax on any retained income, we are subject to taxes on “built-in-gains” on sales of certain assets. Additionally, our taxable REIT subsidiaries are subject to federal, state and foreign income tax.
Intangible Assets and Liabilities
Intangible assets and liabilities are recorded on non-market contracts assumed as part of the acquisition of certain hotels. We review the terms of agreements assumed in conjunction with the purchase of a hotel to determine if the terms are favorable or unfavorable compared to an estimated market agreement at the acquisition date. Favorable lease assets or unfavorable contract liabilities are recorded at the acquisition date and amortized using the straight-line method over the term of the agreement. We do not amortize intangible assets with indefinite useful lives, but review these assets for impairment annually and if events or circumstances indicate that the asset may be impaired.
Straight-Line Rent
We record rent expense on leases that provide for minimum rental payments that increase in pre-established amounts over the remaining term of the lease on a straight-line basis as required by U.S. GAAP.
Concentration of Credit Risk
Financial instruments that potentially subject the Company to significant concentrations of credit risk consist principally of cash and cash equivalents and the senior loan secured by the Allerton Hotel. We maintain cash and cash equivalents with various high credit-quality financial institutions. We perform periodic evaluations of the relative credit standing of these financial institutions and limit the amount of credit exposure with any one institution.
Use of Estimates
The preparation of financial statements in conformity with U.S. GAAP requires management to make estimates and assumptions that affect the reported amounts of assets and liabilities and disclosure of contingent assets and liabilities at the date of the financial statements and the reported amounts of revenues and expenses during the reporting period. Actual results could differ from those estimates.

 

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Risks and Uncertainties
The state of the overall economy can significantly impact hotel operational performance and thus, impact our financial position. Should any of our hotels experience a significant decline in operational performance, it may affect our ability to make distributions to our stockholders and service debt or meet other financial obligations.
3. Property and Equipment
Property and equipment as of September 10, 2010 (unaudited) and December 31, 2009 consists of the following (in thousands):
                 
    September 10, 2010     December 31, 2009  
Land
  $ 228,245     $ 220,445  
Land improvements
    7,994       7,994  
Buildings
    1,901,344       1,671,821  
Furniture, fixtures and equipment
    305,873       270,042  
CIP and corporate office equipment
    2,749       1,009  
 
           
 
    2,446,205       2,171,311  
Less: accumulated depreciation
    (367,890 )     (309,224 )
 
           
 
  $ 2,078,315     $ 1,862,087  
 
           
4. Favorable Lease Assets
In connection with the acquisition of certain hotels, we have recognized intangible assets for favorable ground leases. The favorable lease assets are recorded at the acquisition date and amortized using the straight-line method over the remaining non-cancelable term of the lease agreement. In connection with our acquisition of the Hilton Minneapolis on June 16, 2010, we recorded a $6.1 million favorable lease asset. We determined the value using a discounted cash flow model using the favorable difference between the contractual lease payments and estimated market rents. The estimated market rents were provided by a third party appraiser and the discount rate was estimated using a risk adjusted rate of return. See Note 10 for a further discussion of this favorable lease asset.
We also own a favorable lease asset related to the right to acquire a leasehold interest in a parcel of land adjacent to the Westin Boston Waterfront Hotel for the development of a 320 to 350 room hotel (the “lease right”). We do not amortize the lease right but review the asset for impairment if events or circumstances indicate that the asset may be impaired. As of September 10, 2010 and December 31, 2009, the carrying amount of the lease right is $9.5 million.
The U.S. GAAP fair value hierarchy assigns a level to fair value measurements based on inputs used: Level 1 inputs are quoted prices in active markets for identical assets and liabilities; Level 2 inputs are inputs other than quoted market prices that are observable for the asset or liability, either directly or indirectly; or Level 3 inputs are unobservable inputs. The fair value of the lease right is a Level 3 measurement and is derived from a discounted cash flow model using the favorable difference between the estimated participating rents in accordance with the lease terms and the estimated market rents. The discount rate was estimated using a risk adjusted rate of return, the estimated participating rents were estimated based on a hypothetical completed 327-room hotel comparable to our Westin Boston Waterfront Hotel, and market rents were based on comparable long-term ground leases in the City of Boston. The methodology used to determine the fair value of the lease right is consistent with the methodology used since acquisition of the lease right.
5. Note Receivable
On May 24, 2010, we acquired the $69.0 million senior mortgage loan secured by the 443-room Allerton Hotel in Chicago, Illinois (the “Allerton Loan”) for approximately $60.6 million. The Allerton Loan matured in January 2010 and is currently in default. The Allerton Loan earns a blended interest rate of LIBOR plus 692 basis points, which includes five percentage points of default interest. As of September 10, 2010, the Allerton Loan had a principal balance of $69.0 million and unrecorded accrued interest (including default interest) of approximately $2.1 million. We continue to pursue the foreclosure proceedings initially filed in April 2010, which, if successful, would result in the Company owning the hotel. The matter may be resolved without foreclosure if the borrower repays the Allerton Loan in full.
Recognition of interest income on the Allerton Loan is dependent upon having a reasonable expectation about the timing and amount of cash payments expected to be collected from the borrower. Due to the uncertainty surrounding the timing and amount of cash payments expected, we placed the Allerton Loan on non-accrual status. As of September 10, 2010, we have received default interest payments from the borrower of approximately $1.3 million, which have been recorded as a reduction of our basis in the Allerton Loan. We have received $0.5 million of default interest payments subsequent to September 10, 2010.

 

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6. Capital Stock
Common Shares
We are authorized to issue up to 200,000,000 shares of common stock, $.01 par value per share. Each outstanding share of common stock entitles the holder to one vote on all matters submitted to a vote of stockholders. Holders of our common stock are entitled to receive dividends out of assets legally available for the payment of dividends when authorized by our board of directors.
Follow-On Public Offering. On May 28, 2010, we completed a follow-on public offering of our common stock. We sold 23,000,000 shares of common stock, including the underwriters’ overallotment of 3,000,000 shares, at an offering price of $8.40 per share. The net proceeds to us, after deduction of offering costs, were approximately $184.7 million.
Stock Dividend. On January 29, 2010, we paid a dividend to stockholders of record as of December 28, 2009 in the amount of $0.33 per share. We relied on the Internal Revenue Service’s Revenue Procedure 2009-15, as amplified and superseded by Revenue Procedure 2010-12, that allowed us to pay up to 90% of that dividend in shares of common stock and the remainder in cash. Based on stockholder elections, we paid the dividend in the form of approximately 3.9 million shares of common stock and $4.3 million of cash.
Controlled Equity Offering Program. During the first quarter ended March 26, 2010, we completed our previously announced $75 million controlled equity offering program by selling 2.8 million shares at an average price of $9.13 per share, raising net proceeds of $25.1 million. Of the shares sold during the first quarter, 0.2 million shares, representing net proceeds of $2.3 million, settled subsequent to March 26, 2010.
Preferred Shares
We are authorized to issue up to 10,000,000 shares of preferred stock, $.01 par value per share. Our board of directors is required to set for each class or series of preferred stock the terms, preferences, conversion or other rights, voting powers, restrictions, limitations as to dividends or other distributions, qualifications, and terms or conditions of redemption. As of September 10, 2010 and December 31, 2009, there were no shares of preferred stock outstanding.
Operating Partnership Units
Holders of operating partnership units have certain redemption rights, which enable them to cause our operating partnership to redeem their units in exchange for cash per unit equal to the market price of our common stock, at the time of redemption, or, at our option for shares of our common stock on a one-for-one basis. The number of shares issuable upon exercise of the redemption rights will be adjusted upon the occurrence of stock splits, mergers, consolidations or similar pro-rata share transactions, which otherwise would have the effect of diluting the ownership interests of the limited partners or our stockholders. As of September 10, 2010 and December 31, 2009, there were no operating partnership units held by unaffiliated third parties.
7. Stock Incentive Plans
We are authorized to issue up to 8,000,000 shares of our common stock under our 2004 Stock Option and Incentive Plan, as amended (the “Incentive Plan”), of which we have issued or committed to issue 3,119,827 shares as of September 10, 2010. In addition to these shares, additional shares could be issued related to the Stock Appreciation Rights and Market Stock Unit awards as further described below.
In April 2010, our board of directors approved an amendment to the Incentive Plan primarily to add a deferred compensation program, which will permit non-employee directors to elect to defer the receipt of the annual unrestricted stock award under the Incentive Plan that is generally made to non-employee directors following the Company’s annual stockholders’ meeting. Those non-employee directors who elect to defer such awards will instead be granted an award of deferred stock units under the Incentive Plan. The deferred stock units will be settled in shares of stock in a lump sum six months after the director ceases to be a member of our board of directors.

 

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Restricted Stock Awards
Restricted stock awards issued to our officers and employees vest over a three-year period from the date of the grant based on continued employment. We measure compensation expense for the restricted stock awards based upon the fair market value of our common stock at the date of grant. Compensation expense is recognized on a straight-line basis over the vesting period and is included in corporate expenses in the accompanying condensed consolidated statements of operations.
A summary of our restricted stock awards from January 1, 2010 to September 10, 2010 is as follows:
                 
            Weighted-  
            Average  
    Number of     Grant Date  
    Shares     Fair Value  
Unvested balance at January 1, 2010
    1,719,376     $ 4.76  
Granted
    356,964       8.41  
Vested
    (573,848 )     5.19  
Additional shares from dividends
    46,206       9.57  
 
           
Unvested balance at September 10, 2010
    1,548,698     $ 5.49  
 
           
The remaining share awards are expected to vest as follows: 848,608 shares during 2011, 581,098 shares during 2012 and 118,992 during 2013. As of September 10, 2010, the unrecognized compensation cost related to restricted stock awards was $4.9 million and the weighted-average period over which the unrecognized compensation expense will be recorded is approximately 23 months. For the fiscal quarters ended September 10, 2010 and September 11, 2009, we recorded $0.7 million and $1.2 million, respectively, of compensation expense related to restricted stock awards. For the periods from January 1, 2010 to September 10, 2010 and January 1, 2009 to September 11, 2009, we recorded $2.2 million and $3.4 million, respectively, of compensation expense related to restricted stock awards.
Market Stock Units
We have awarded our executive officers market stock units (“MSUs”). MSUs are restricted stock units that vest three years from the date of grant, subject to the achievement of certain levels of total stockholder return over the vesting period (the “Performance Period”). We do not pay dividends on the shares of common stock underlying the MSUs; instead, the dividends are effectively reinvested as each of the executive officers is credited with an additional number of MSUs that have a fair market value (based on the closing stock price on the day the dividend is paid) equal to the amount of the dividend that would have been awarded for those shares.
Each executive officer was granted a target number of MSUs (the “Target Award”). The actual number of MSUs that will be earned, if any, and converted to common stock at the end of the Performance Period is equal to the Target Award plus an additional number of shares of common stock to reflect dividends that would have been paid during the Performance Period on the Target Award multiplied by the percentage of total stockholder return over the Performance Period. The total stockholder return is based on the 30-trading day average closing price of our common stock calculated on the vesting date plus dividends paid and the 30-trading day average closing price of our common stock on the date of grant. There will be no payout of shares of our common stock if the total stockholder return percentage on the vesting date is less than negative 50%. The maximum payout to an executive officer under an MSU award is equal to 150% of the Target Award.
On March 3, 2010, we issued 84,854 MSUs to our executive officers with an aggregate fair value of $0.8 million, or $9.87 per share. We used a Monte Carlo simulation model to determine the grant-date fair value of the awards using the following assumptions: expected volatility of 68% and a risk-free rate of 1.33%. For the fiscal quarter ended September 10, 2010 we recorded approximately $0.1 million of compensation expense related to the MSUs. For the period from January 1, 2010 to September 10, 2010 we recorded approximately $0.2 million of compensation expense related to the MSUs. As of September 10, 2010, the unrecognized compensation cost related to the MSU awards was approximately $0.7 million and the weighted-average period over which the unrecognized compensation expense will be recorded is approximately 30 months.
Deferred Stock Awards
At the time of our initial public offering, we made a commitment to issue 382,500 shares of deferred stock units to our senior executive officers. At issuance, these deferred stock units were fully vested and represented the promise to issue a number of shares of our common stock to each senior executive officer upon the earlier of (i) a change of control or (ii) five years after the date of grant, which was the initial public offering completion date (the “Deferral Period”). On June 1, 2010, the last day of the Deferral Period, we issued 268,657 shares of our common stock pursuant to this commitment, net of shares repurchased for employee income taxes.

 

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Stock Appreciation Rights and Dividend Equivalent Rights
In 2008, we awarded our executive officers stock-settled Stock Appreciation Rights (“SARs”) and Dividend Equivalent Rights (“DERs”). For the fiscal quarters ended September 10, 2010 and September 11, 2009, we recorded approximately $0.1 million and $0.2 million, respectively, of compensation expense related to the SARs/DERs. For the periods from January 1, 2010 to September 10, 2010 and January 1, 2009 to September 11, 2009, we recorded approximately $0.2 million and $0.5 million, respectively, of compensation expense related to the SARs/DERs. A summary of our SARs/DERs from January 1, 2010 to September 10, 2010 is as follows:
                 
            Weighted-  
            Average  
    Number of     Grant Date  
    SARs/DERs     Fair Value  
Balance at January 1, 2010
    300,225     $ 6.62  
Granted
           
Exercised
           
Expired
    (37,764 )     6.62  
 
           
Balance at September 10, 2010
    262,461     $ 6.62  
 
           
As of September 10, 2010, approximately two-thirds of the outstanding SAR/DER awards were vested. The remainder will vest in March 2011. As of September 10, 2010, the unrecognized compensation cost related to the SAR/DER awards was $0.2 million and the weighted-average period over which the unrecognized compensation expense will be recorded is approximately six months.
8. Earnings (Loss) Per Share
Basic loss per share is calculated by dividing net loss available to common stockholders by the weighted-average number of common shares outstanding. Diluted loss per share is calculated by dividing net loss available to common stockholders that has been adjusted for dilutive securities, by the weighted-average number of common shares outstanding including dilutive securities.
The following is a reconciliation of the calculation of basic and diluted earnings (loss) per share (in thousands, except share and per share data):
                                 
    Fiscal Quarter     Fiscal Quarter     Period from     Period from  
    Ended     Ended     January 1, 2010 to     January 1, 2009 to  
    September 10, 2010     September 11, 2009     September 10, 2010     September 11, 2009  
Basic Earnings (Loss) per Share Calculation:
                               
Numerator:
                               
Net (loss) income
  $ (3,534 )   $ 761     $ (11,040 )   $ (2,075 )
Less: dividends on unvested restricted common stock
                       
 
                       
Net income (loss) after dividends on unvested restricted common stock
  $ (3,534 )   $ 761     $ (11,040 )   $ (2,075 )
Weighted-average number of common shares outstanding—basic
    154,585,849       110,426,611       139,982,585       101,636,354  
 
                       
Basic (loss) earnings per share
  $ (0.02 )   $ 0.01     $ (0.08 )   $ (0.02 )
 
                       
 
                               
Diluted Earnings (Loss) per Share Calculation:
                               
Numerator:
                               
Net (loss) income
  $ (3,534 )   $ 761     $ (11,040 )   $ (2,075 )
Less: dividends on unvested restricted common stock
                       
 
                       
Net (loss) income after dividends on unvested restricted common stock
  $ (3,534 )   $ 761     $ (11,040 )   $ (2,075 )
Weighted-average number of common shares outstanding—basic
    154,585,849       110,426,611       139,982,585       101,636,354  
Unvested restricted common stock (1)
          875,735              
Unvested SARs (2)
                       
Unvested MSUs (2)
                       
 
                       
Weighted-average number of common shares outstanding—diluted
    154,585,849       111,302,346       139,982,585       101,636,354  
 
                       
Diluted (loss) earnings per share
  $ (0.02 )   $ 0.01     $ (0.08 )   $ (0.02 )
 
                       
     
(1)  
Anti-dilutive for the fiscal quarter ended September 10, 2010 and the periods from January 1, 2010 to September 10, 2010 and January 1, 2009 to September 11, 2009.
 
(2)  
Anti-dilutive for all periods presented.

 

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9. Debt
We have incurred limited recourse, property specific mortgage debt in conjunction with certain of our hotels. In the event of default, the lender may only foreclose on the pledged assets; however, in the event of fraud, misapplication of funds and other customary recourse provisions, the lender may seek payment from us. As of September 10, 2010, ten of our 23 hotel properties were secured by mortgage debt. Our mortgage debt contains certain property specific covenants and restrictions, including minimum debt service coverage ratios that trigger “cash trap” provisions as well as restrictions on incurring additional debt without lender consent. During the fiscal quarter ended June 18, 2010, the cash trap provision was triggered on our Courtyard Manhattan/Midtown East mortgage. As of September 10, 2010, the lender held approximately $1.3 million under this cash trap for purposes of debt service, which is reflected in restricted cash on the accompanying consolidated balance sheet. As of September 10, 2010, we were in compliance with the financial covenants of our mortgage debt.
The following table sets forth information regarding the Company’s debt as of September 10, 2010 (unaudited), in thousands:
                 
    Principal        
Property   Balance     Interest Rate  
 
               
Courtyard Manhattan / Midtown East
  $ 42,721       8.81 %
Marriott Salt Lake City Downtown
    32,060       5.50 %
Courtyard Manhattan / Fifth Avenue
    51,000       6.48 %
Renaissance Worthington
    56,598       5.40 %
Frenchman’s Reef & Morning Star Marriott Beach Resort
    60,781       5.44 %
Marriott Los Angeles Airport
    82,600       5.30 %
Orlando Airport Marriott
    59,000       5.68 %
Chicago Marriott Downtown Magnificent Mile
    217,896       5.975 %
Renaissance Austin
    83,000       5.507 %
Renaissance Waverly
    97,000       5.503 %
Senior unsecured credit facility
        LIBOR + 3.00 %
 
             
 
               
Total debt
  $ 782,656          
 
             
 
               
Weighted-Average Interest Rate
            5.86 %
 
             
Senior Unsecured Credit Facility
On August 6, 2010, we amended and restated our $200 million senior unsecured revolving credit facility (the “Facility”) that now expires in August 2013. The maturity date of the Facility may be extended for an additional year upon the payment of applicable fees and the satisfaction of certain other customary conditions. We also have the right to increase the amount of the Facility to $275 million with lender approval. Interest is paid on the periodic advances under the Facility at varying rates, based upon LIBOR, plus an agreed upon additional margin amount. The applicable margin depends upon our leverage, as defined in the credit agreement, as follows:
         
Leverage   Applicable Margin  
Less than or equal to 35%
    2.75 %
Greater than 35% but less than 45%
    3.00 %
Greater than or equal 45% but less than 50%
    3.25 %
Greater than or equal to 50% but less than 55%
    3.50 %
Greater than or equal to 55%
    3.75 %
The Facility includes a LIBOR floor of 100 basis points. In addition to the interest payable on amounts outstanding under the Facility, we are required to pay an amount equal to 0.50% of the unused portion of the Facility if the unused portion of the Facility is greater than 50% or 0.40% if the unused portion of the Facility is less than 50%. We incurred interest and unused credit facility fees on the Facility of $0.2 and $0.1 million for the fiscal quarters ended September 10, 2010 and September 11, 2009 and $0.4 million and $0.5 million for the periods from January 1, 2010 to September 10, 2010 and January 1, 2009 to September 11, 2009, respectively. As of September 10, 2010, we had no outstanding borrowings under the Facility.

 

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The Facility contains various corporate financial covenants. A summary of the most restrictive covenants is as follows:
         
        Actual at
    Covenant   September 10, 2010
Maximum leverage ratio
  60%   39.1%
Minimum fixed charge coverage ratio
  1.3x - on or before June 29, 2012    
 
  1.4x - on or after June 30, 2012 and on or before June 29, 2013    
 
  1.5x - on or after June 30, 2013   1.9x
Minimum tangible net worth
  $1.457 billion   $1.779 billion
The Facility requires us to maintain a specific pool of unencumbered borrowing base properties. The unencumbered borrowing base assets are subject, among other restrictions, to the following limitations and covenants:
   
A minimum of five properties with an unencumbered borrowing base value, as defined, of not less than $250 million.
   
The unencumbered borrowing base must include the Westin Boston Waterfront, the Conrad Chicago and the Vail Marriott Mountain Resort and Spa. The Conrad Chicago and the Vail Marriott Mountain Resort and Spa may be released from the unencumbered borrowing base upon lender approval and certain conditions.
Mortgage Loan Modification
As of December 31, 2009, we had not completed certain capital projects at Frenchman’s Reef & Morning Star Marriott Beach Resort (“Frenchman’s Reef”) as required by the mortgage loan secured by the hotel (the “Loan”). As a result, we had accrued $3.1 million of penalty interest as of December 31, 2009. During the fiscal quarter ended March 26, 2010, we amended certain provisions of the Loan. The lender provided us with a waiver for any penalty interest and an extension to December 31, 2010 and December 31, 2011, respectively, for the completion date of certain lender required capital projects. In conjunction with the Loan modification, we pre-funded $5.0 million for the capital projects into an escrow account and paid the lender a $150,000 modification fee. As a result of the modification, we reversed the $3.1 million accrual for penalty interest during the fiscal quarter ended March 26, 2010, which was recorded as an offset to interest expense in the accompanying condensed consolidated statement of operations. During the fiscal quarter ended September 10, 2010, we deposited an additional $0.9 million into a lender-held escrow for a roof project at Frenchman’s Reef.
10. Acquisitions
Hilton Minneapolis
On June 17, 2010, we acquired a leasehold interest in the 821-room Hilton Minneapolis in Minneapolis, Minnesota, for total cash consideration of approximately $157 million. The hotel remains a Hilton-branded and managed property. We assumed the existing management agreement, which expires in December 2026. The management agreement provides for a base management fee of 3% of the hotel’s gross revenues and an incentive management fee of 15% of hotel operating profit above an owner’s priority determined in accordance with the terms of the management agreement. The hotel is subject to a ground lease with an agency of the city of Minneapolis that expires in 2091. The ground lease payment and related property tax liability were negotiated as a single payment in lieu of taxes (“PILOT”). The PILOT payments increase at a rate of 5% per year through 2018. Beginning in 2019, there will no longer be a stipulated PILOT payment and the hotel will pay only the real property tax portion of the PILOT based on the then assessed valuation and applicable tax rate. In accordance with GAAP, the total estimated amount to be paid for the ground lease, which is included as part of the PILOT payments through 2018 is being amortized and recognized as an expense on a straight line basis over the life of the ground lease. The following is a schedule of the contractual PILOT payments, excluding amounts due in 2019 and beyond, because such amounts are not fixed and determinable:
         
Fiscal Year   Ground Lease Payment  
2010 (1)
  $ 5,193,000  
2011
  $ 5,453,000  
2012
  $ 5,726,000  
2013
  $ 6,012,000  
2014
  $ 6,313,000  
2015
  $ 6,629,000  
2016
  $ 6,960,000  
2017
  $ 7,308,000  
2018
  $ 7,673,000  
     
(1)  
Includes total 2010 PILOT payments, including the period prior to our acquisition date.

 

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We reviewed the terms of the ground lease in conjunction with the hotel purchase accounting and concluded that the terms are more favorable to us than a typical current market ground lease. Accordingly, we recorded a $6.1 million favorable lease asset that will be amortized over the remaining term of the ground lease.
Renaissance Charleston Historic District Hotel
On August 6, 2010, we acquired the 166-room Renaissance Charleston Historic District Hotel for total cash consideration of approximately $40 million. The hotel remains a Renaissance-branded and managed hotel. We assumed the existing management agreement, which expires in December 2021 with two five-year extensions at the option of the manager. The management agreement provides for a base management fee of 3.5% of the hotel’s gross revenues and an incentive management fee of 20% of hotel operating profit above an owner’s priority determined in accordance with the terms of the management agreement. We reviewed the terms of the management agreement in conjunction with the hotel purchase accounting and concluded that the terms are less favorable than a typical current market management agreement for this type of hotel. Accordingly, we recorded a $2.7 million unfavorable contract liability that will be amortized over the remaining term of the management agreement.
Hilton Garden Inn Chelsea
On September 8, 2010, we acquired the 169-room Hilton Garden Inn Chelsea located in New York City for total cash consideration of approximately $69 million. The hotel continues to be managed by Alliance Hospitality Management under a new 10-year management agreement, which provides for a base management fee of 2.5% of the hotel’s gross revenues for the first three years and 2.75% of the hotel’s gross revenues thereafter. In addition, the agreement provides for an incentive management fee of 10% of hotel operating profits above an owner’s priority as defined in the management agreement. The hotel remains Hilton-branded under a franchise agreement.
The preliminary allocation of fair value to the acquired assets and liabilities, which may be adjusted upon receipt of all information necessary for the finalization of appraisals is as follows (in thousands):
                         
                    Hilton  
    Hilton     Renaissance     Garden Inn  
    Minneapolis     Charleston     Chelsea  
Land
  $     $ 5,900     $ 1,900  
Building
    130,130       32,700       63,500  
Furniture, fixtures and equipment
    19,700       3,100       3,000  
 
                 
Total fixed assets
    149,830       41,700       68,400  
Favorable lease asset
    6,100              
Unfavorable contract liability
          (2,700 )      
FF&E escrow
    1,028       759        
Accrued liabilities and other assets, net
    272       16       595  
 
                 
Purchase Price
  $ 157,230     $ 39,775     $ 68,995  
 
                 

 

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The acquired properties are included in our results of operations based on their respective dates of acquisition. The following unaudited pro forma results of operations reflect these transactions as if each had occurred on January 1, 2009. In our opinion, all significant adjustments necessary to reflect the effects of the acquisitions have been made; however, a preliminary allocation of the fair value was made, and we will finalize the allocation after all information is obtained. The pro forma information is not necessarily indicative of the results that actually would have occurred nor does it intend to indicate future operating results.
                                 
    Fiscal Quarter     Fiscal Quarter     Period from     Period from  
    Ended     Ended     January 1, 2010 to     January 1, 2009 to  
    September 10, 2010     September 11, 2009     September 10, 2010     September 11, 2009  
    (in thousands)  
Revenues
  $ 157,524     $ 153,795     $ 447,645     $ 439,680  
 
                       
Net (loss) income
    (1,875 )     3,537       (5,765 )     2,727  
 
                       
 
                               
(Loss) earnings per share — Basic and Diluted
  $ (0.01 )   $ 0.03     $ (0.04 )   $ 0.03  
 
                       
11. Fair Value of Financial Instruments
The fair value of certain financial assets and liabilities and other financial instruments as of September 10, 2010 (unaudited) and December 31, 2009, in thousands, are as follows:
                                 
    As of September 10,     As of December 31,  
    2010     2009  
    Carrying             Carrying        
    Amount     Fair Value     Amount     Fair Value  
 
                               
Note receivable
  $ 59,365     $ 59,365     $     $  
Debt
  $ 782,656     $ 836,486     $ 786,777     $ 670,936  
We estimate the fair value of our mortgage debt by discounting the future cash flows of each instrument at estimated market rates. Based on the recent timing of our acquisition of the Allerton Loan, we estimate the fair value of the note receivable to equal our carrying amount. The carrying value of our other financial instruments approximates fair value due to the short-term nature of these financial instruments.
12. Commitments and Contingencies
Litigation
Except as described below, we are not involved in any material litigation nor, to our knowledge, is any material litigation threatened against us. We are involved in routine litigation arising out of the ordinary course of business, all of which is expected to be covered by insurance and none of which is expected to have a material impact on our financial condition or results of operations.
We are involved in foreclosure proceedings against the borrower under the Allerton Loan. The proceedings were initiated in April 2010 and, if successful, would result in the Company owning the Allerton Hotel. Foreclosure proceedings in Cook County are expected to take 8 to 10 months from inception and no assurances can be given that the proceedings will be completed in this time frame or will be successful.
In addition, certain employees at the Los Angeles Marriott Airport Hotel (the “LAX Marriott”), which is owned by one of the Company’s subsidiaries, and certain employees at other hotels in the vicinity of the Los Angeles Airport (“LAX Hotels”), have brought a claim against DiamondRock and Marriott and other LAX area hotel owners and operators alleging that the LAX Marriott and the other LAX Hotels did not comply with an ordinance adopted by the Los Angeles City Council governing payment of service charges to certain employees at such hotels. The case is likely to begin the discovery phase in the near future. We cannot presently determine the likelihood of the outcome of amount of potential loss, if any; however, we do not expect any potential loss to have a material impact on our financial condition or results of operations.
Income Taxes
We had no accruals for tax uncertainties as of September 10, 2010 and December 31, 2009. As of September 10, 2010, all of our federal income tax returns and state tax returns for the jurisdictions in which our hotels are located remain subject to examination by the respective jurisdiction tax authorities.
The Frenchman’s Reef & Morning Star Marriott Beach Resort is owned by a subsidiary that has elected to be treated as a taxable REIT subsidiary (“TRS”), and is subject to U.S. Virgin Island (“USVI”) income taxes. We were party to a tax agreement with the USVI that reduced the income tax rate to approximately 4%. This agreement expired in February 2010, at which time the income tax rate increased to 37.4%. On October 9, 2010, the USVI Economic Development Authority recommended the approval of the extension of our tax agreement for a period of 5 years, retroactive to February 2010 and subject to another renewal in February 2015. The extension is expected to be sent to the Governor of USVI for final approval and execution. If the agreement is not extended, the TRS that owns Frenchman’s Reef & Morning Star Marriott Beach Resort will continue to be subject to an income tax rate of 37.4%.

 

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Item 2.  
Management’s Discussion and Analysis of Financial Condition and Results of Operations
This report contains certain forward-looking statements within the meaning of Section 27A of the Securities Act of 1933, as amended, and Section 21E of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended. The Company intends such forward-looking statements to be covered by the safe harbor provisions for forward-looking statements contained in the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995 and includes this statement for purposes of complying with these safe harbor provisions. These forward-looking statements are generally identifiable by use of the words “believe,” “expect,” “intend,” “anticipate,” “estimate,” “project” or similar expressions, whether in the negative or affirmative. Forward-looking statements are based on management’s current expectations and assumptions and are not guarantees of future performance. Factors that may cause actual results to differ materially from current expectations include, but are not limited to, the risk factors discussed herein and other factors discussed from time to time in our periodic filings with the Securities and Exchange Commission. Accordingly, there is no assurance that the Company’s expectations will be realized. Except as otherwise required by the federal securities laws, the Company disclaims any obligations or undertaking to publicly release any updates or revisions to any forward-looking statement contained in this report to reflect events, circumstances or changes in expectations after the date of this report.
Overview
We are a lodging-focused real estate company that, as of October 19, 2010, owns a portfolio of 23 premium hotels and resorts that contain 10,743 guestrooms and a senior loan secured by another hotel. We are an owner, as opposed to an operator, of hotels. As an owner, we receive all of the operating profits or losses generated by our hotels after we pay fees to the hotel managers, which are based on the revenues and profitability of the hotels.
Our vision is to be the premier allocator of capital in the lodging industry. Our mission is to deliver long-term stockholder returns through a combination of dividends and long-term capital appreciation. Our strategy is to utilize disciplined capital allocation and focus on acquiring, owning, and measured recycling of high quality, branded lodging properties in North America with superior long-term growth prospects and high barrier-to-entry for new supply. In addition, we are committed to enhancing the value of our platform by being open and transparent in our communications with investors, monitoring our corporate overhead and following sound corporate governance practices.
Consistent with our strategy, we continue to focus on opportunistically investing in premium full-service hotels and, to a lesser extent, premium urban limited-service hotels located throughout North America. Our portfolio of 23 hotels is concentrated in key gateway cities and in destination resort locations and are all operated under a brand owned by one of the leading global lodging brand companies (Marriott International, Inc. (“Marriott”), Starwood Hotels & Resorts Worldwide, Inc. (“Starwood”) or Hilton Worldwide (“Hilton”)).
We differentiate ourselves from our competitors because of our adherence to three basic principles:
   
high-quality urban- and destination resort-focused branded hotel real estate;
   
conservative capital structure; and
   
thoughtful asset management.
High Quality Urban and Destination Resort Focused Branded Real Estate
We own 23 premium hotels and resorts in North America. These hotels and resorts are primarily categorized as upper upscale as defined by Smith Travel Research and are generally located in high barrier-to-entry markets with multiple demand generators.
Our properties are concentrated in five key gateway cities (New York City, Los Angeles, Chicago, Boston and Atlanta) and in destination resort locations (such as the U.S. Virgin Islands and Vail, Colorado). We believe that gateway cities and destination resorts will achieve higher long-term growth because they are attractive business and leisure destinations. We also believe that these locations are better insulated from new supply due to relatively high barriers-to-entry, including expensive construction costs and limited prime hotel development sites.

 

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We believe that higher quality lodging assets create more dynamic cash flow growth and superior long-term capital appreciation.
In addition, a core tenet of our strategy is to leverage global hotel brands. We strongly believe in the value of powerful global brands because we believe that they are able to produce incremental revenue and profits compared to similar unbranded hotels. Dominant global hotel brands typically have very strong reservation and reward systems and sales organizations, and all of our hotels are operated under a brand owned by one of the top global lodging brand companies (Marriott, Starwood or Hilton) and all but three of our hotels are managed by the brand company directly. Generally, we are interested in owning hotels that are currently operated under, or can be converted to, a globally recognized brand.
Conservative Capital Structure
Since our formation in 2004, we have been committed to a flexible capital structure with prudent leverage. During 2004 through early 2007, we took advantage of the low interest rate environment by fixing our interest rates for an extended period of time. Moreover, during the peak years (2006 and 2007) in the commercial real estate market, we maintained low financial leverage by funding several of our acquisitions with proceeds from the issuance of equity. This capital markets strategy allowed us to maintain a balance sheet with a moderate amount of debt as the lodging cycle began to decline. During the peak years, we believed, and present events have confirmed, that it is not prudent to increase the inherent risk of a highly cyclical business through a highly levered capital structure.
We prefer a relatively simple but efficient capital structure. We have not invested in joint ventures and have not issued any operating partnership units or preferred stock. We endeavor to structure our hotel acquisitions so that they will not overly complicate our capital structure; however, we will consider a more complex transaction if we believe that the projected returns to our stockholders will significantly exceed the returns that would otherwise be available.
We have always strived to operate our business with prudent leverage. During 2009, a year that experienced a significant industry downturn, we focused on preserving and enhancing our liquidity. Based on a comprehensive action plan, which included equity offerings and debt repayment, we achieved that goal.
As of September 10, 2010, we had $61.3 million of unrestricted corporate cash. We believe that we maintain a reasonable amount of fixed interest rate mortgage debt. As of September 10, 2010, we had $782.7 million of mortgage debt outstanding with a weighted average interest rate of 5.86 percent and a weighted average maturity date of approximately 5.4 years, with no maturities until late 2014. In addition, we amended and restated our $200 million unsecured credit facility in August 2010, which now provides reasonable financial covenants. Finally, we currently have 13 hotels unencumbered by debt and no corporate-level debt outstanding.
Thoughtful Asset Management
We believe that we are able to create significant value in our portfolio by utilizing our management team’s extensive experience and our innovative asset management strategies. Our senior management team has an established broad network of hotel industry contacts and relationships, including relationships with hotel owners, financiers, operators, project managers and contractors and other key industry participants.
In the current economic environment, we believe that our extensive lodging experience, our network of industry relationships and our asset management strategies position us to minimize the impact of declining revenues on our hotels. In particular, we are focused on controlling our property-level and corporate expenses, as well as working closely with our managers to optimize the mix of business at our hotels in order to maximize potential revenue. Our property-level cost containment efforts include the implementation of aggressive contingency plans at each of our hotels. The contingency plans include controlling labor expenses, eliminating hotel staff positions, adjusting food and beverage outlet hours of operation and not filling open positions. In addition, our strategy to significantly renovate many of the hotels in our portfolio from 2006 to 2008 resulted in the flexibility to significantly curtail our planned capital expenditures for 2009 and 2010.
We use our broad network of hotel industry contacts and relationships to maximize the value of our hotels. Under the regulations governing REITs, we are required to engage a hotel manager that is an eligible independent contractor through one of our subsidiaries to manage each of our hotels pursuant to a management agreement. Our philosophy is to negotiate management agreements that give us the right to exert significant influence over the management of our properties, annual budgets and all capital expenditures (to the extent permitted under the REIT rules), and then to use those rights to continually monitor and improve the performance of our properties. We cooperatively partner with the managers of our hotels in an attempt to increase operating results and long-term asset values at our hotels. In addition to working directly with the personnel at our hotels, our senior management team also has long-standing professional relationships with our hotel managers’ senior executives, and we work directly with these senior executives to improve the performance of our portfolio.

 

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We believe we can create significant value in our portfolio through innovative asset management strategies such as rebranding, renovating and repositioning. We are committed to regularly evaluating our portfolio to determine if we can employ these value-added strategies at our hotels.
Key Indicators of Financial Condition and Operating Performance
We use a variety of operating and other information to evaluate the financial condition and operating performance of our business. These key indicators include financial information that is prepared in accordance with U.S. GAAP, as well as other financial information that is not prepared in accordance with U.S. GAAP. In addition, we use other information that may not be financial in nature, including statistical information and comparative data. We use this information to measure the performance of individual hotels, groups of hotels and/or our business as a whole. We periodically compare historical information to our internal budgets as well as industry-wide information. These key indicators include:
   
Occupancy percentage;
   
Average Daily Rate (or ADR);
   
Revenue per Available Room (or RevPAR);
   
Earnings Before Interest, Income Taxes, Depreciation and Amortization (or EBITDA); and
   
Funds From Operations (or FFO).
Occupancy, ADR and RevPAR are commonly used measures within the hotel industry to evaluate operating performance. RevPAR, which is calculated as the product of ADR and occupancy percentage, is an important statistic for monitoring operating performance at the individual hotel level and across our business as a whole. We evaluate individual hotel RevPAR performance on an absolute basis with comparisons to budget and prior periods, as well as on a company-wide and regional basis. ADR and RevPAR include only room revenue. Room revenue comprised approximately 66% of our total revenues for the fiscal quarter ended September 10, 2010, and is dictated by demand, as measured by occupancy percentage, pricing, as measured by ADR, and our available supply of hotel rooms.
Our ADR, occupancy percentage and RevPAR performance may be impacted by macroeconomic factors such as regional and local employment growth, personal income and corporate earnings, office vacancy rates and business relocation decisions, airport and other business and leisure travel, new hotel construction and the pricing strategies of competitors. In addition, our ADR, occupancy percentage and RevPAR performance is dependent on the continued success of the Marriott, Starwood and Hilton brands.
We also use EBITDA and FFO as measures of the financial performance of our business. See “Non-GAAP Financial Matters.”
Our Hotels
The following table sets forth certain operating information for each of our hotels for the period from January 1, 2010 to September 10, 2010.
                                             
                                        % Change  
        Number of     Occupancy                     from 2009  
Property   Location   Rooms     (%)     ADR($)     RevPAR($)     RevPAR (5)  
Chicago Marriott
  Chicago, Illinois     1,198       71.7 %   $ 176.48     $ 126.48       1.1 %
Los Angeles Airport Marriott
  Los Angeles, California     1,004       82.4       102.44       84.45       4.4  
Hilton Minneapolis (2)
  Minneapolis, Minnesota     821       85.9       143.61       123.43       19.7  
Westin Boston Waterfront Hotel (1)
  Boston, Massachusetts     793       69.6       186.39       129.65       (1.6 )
Renaissance Waverly Hotel
  Atlanta, Georgia     521       64.7       126.66       81.93       (3.5 )
Salt Lake City Marriott Downtown
  Salt Lake City, Utah     510       54.0       134.00       72.32       0.1  
Renaissance Worthington
  Fort Worth, Texas     504       66.2       158.77       105.07       0.2  
Frenchman’s Reef & Morning Star Marriott Beach Resort (1)
  St. Thomas, U.S. Virgin Islands     502       84.8       232.26       197.00       0.8  
Renaissance Austin Hotel
  Austin, Texas     492       61.7       141.71       87.46       (3.9 )
Torrance Marriott South Bay
  Los Angeles County, California     487       81.4       100.73       81.96       2.7  
Orlando Airport Marriott
  Orlando, Florida     485       71.6       97.65       69.90       (11.7 )
Marriott Griffin Gate Resort
  Lexington, Kentucky     409       63.7       124.17       79.11       2.7  
Oak Brook Hills Marriott Resort
  Oak Brook, Illinois     386       52.6       106.83       56.22       11.5  
Westin Atlanta North at Perimeter (1)
  Atlanta, Georgia     372       71.4       102.40       73.14       4.6  
Vail Marriott Mountain Resort & Spa (1)
  Vail, Colorado     344       65.8       232.48       152.94       13.2  
Marriott Atlanta Alpharetta
  Atlanta, Georgia     318       67.5       118.63       80.07       7.1  
Courtyard Manhattan/Midtown East
  New York, New York     312       85.6       221.64       189.62       9.9  
 
                                           

 

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                                        % Change  
        Number of     Occupancy                     from 2009  
Property   Location   Rooms     (%)     ADR($)     RevPAR($)     RevPAR (5)  
Conrad Chicago (1)
  Chicago, Illinois     311       77.7       176.17       136.93       3.1  
Bethesda Marriott Suites
  Bethesda, Maryland     272       67.2       162.00       108.83       1.9  
Courtyard Manhattan/Fifth Avenue
  New York, New York     185       86.1       235.93       203.18       8.8  
The Lodge at Sonoma, a Renaissance Resort & Spa
  Sonoma, California     182       68.1       192.22       130.99       12.0  
Hilton Garden Inn Chelsea (3)
  New York, New York     169                          
Renaissance Charleston (4)
  Charleston, South Carolina     166       84.4       148.55       125.31       7.9  
 
                                 
 
                                           
TOTAL/WEIGHTED AVERAGE
        10,743       71.3 %   $ 151.94     $ 108.34       2.7 %
 
                                 
 
     
(1)  
The Frenchman’s Reef & Morning Star Marriott Beach Resort, Vail Marriott Mountain Resort & Spa, Westin Atlanta North at Perimeter, Conrad Chicago and Westin Boston Waterfront Hotel report operations on a calendar month and year basis. The period from January 1, 2010 to September 10, 2010 includes the operations for the period from January 1, 2010 to August 31, 2010 for these hotels.
 
(2)  
The Hilton Minneapolis reports operations on a calendar month and year basis. The hotel was acquired on June 16, 2010 and the period from January 1, 2010 to September 10, 2010 includes operations for the period from June 16, 2010 to August 31, 2010.
 
(3)  
The Hilton Garden Inn Chelsea reports operations on a calendar month and year basis. The period from January 1, 2010 to September 10, 2010 excludes the operations of the hotel since it was acquired on September 8, 2010.
 
(4)  
The Renaissance Charleston was acquired on August 6, 2010 and the period from January 1, 2010 to September 10, 2010 includes operations from August 6, 2010 to September 10, 2010.
 
(5)  
The percentage change from 2009 RevPAR reflects the comparable period in 2009 to our 2010 ownership period for our 2010 acquisitions.
2010 Highlights
Allerton Mortgage Loan. On May 24, 2010, we acquired the $69.0 million senior mortgage loan secured by the 443-room Allerton Hotel in Chicago, Illinois (the “Allerton Loan”) for approximately $60.6 million. The Allerton Loan matured in January 2010 and is currently in default. The Allerton Loan earns a blended interest rate of LIBOR plus 692 basis points, which includes 5 percentage points of default interest. As of September 10, 2010, the Allerton Loan had a principal balance of $69.0 million and unpaid basic and default interest of approximately $2.1 million. As of September 10, 2010, we have received default interest payments from the borrower of approximately $1.3 million, which have been recorded as a reduction of our basis in the Allerton Loan. We received $0.5 million of default interest payments subsequent to September 10, 2010.
Hotel Acquisitions. On June 17, 2010, we acquired a leasehold interest in the 821-room Hilton Minneapolis in Minneapolis, Minnesota, for total cash consideration of approximately $157 million. The hotel remains a Hilton-branded and managed property. The management agreement provides for a base management fee of 3% of the hotel’s gross revenues and an incentive management fee of 15% of hotel operating profits above an owner’s priority defined in the management agreement. The hotel is the largest hotel in the state of Minnesota and features 77,000 square feet of meeting space, including the largest ballroom in the state.
On August 6, 2010, we acquired the 166-room Renaissance Charleston Historic District Hotel for total cash consideration of approximately $40 million. The hotel remains a Renaissance-branded and managed hotel. We assumed the existing management agreement, which provides for a base management fee of 3.5% of the hotel’s gross revenues and an incentive management fee of 20% of hotel operating profit above an owner’s priority, as defined.
On September 8, 2010, we acquired the 169-room Hilton Garden Inn Chelsea located in New York City for total cash consideration of approximately $69 million. The hotel continues to be managed by Alliance Hospitality Management under a 10-year management agreement which provides for a base management fee of 2.5% of the hotel’s gross revenues and an incentive management fee of 10% of hotel operating profits above an owner’s priority, as defined. The hotel remains Hilton-branded under a franchise agreement.
New Line of Credit. On August 6, 2010, we amended and restated our $200 million senior unsecured revolving credit facility. The new credit agreement has a term of 36 months, which may be extended for an additional year. We also have the right to increase the amount of the credit agreement to $275 million with lender approval.
Follow-on Public Offering. We completed a follow-on public offering of our common stock during the second quarter. We sold 23,000,000 shares of common stock, including the underwriters’ overallotment of 3,000,000 shares, at an offering price of $8.40 per share. The net proceeds to us, after deduction of offering costs, were approximately $184.7 million.

 

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Controlled Equity Offering Program. During the first quarter ended March 26, 2010, we completed our previously announced $75 million controlled equity offering program by selling 2.8 million shares at an average price of $9.13 per share, raising net proceeds of $25.1 million.
Results of Operations
During the fiscal quarter ended September 10, 2010, our hotels operated in an improving economic environment. Lodging fundamentals have historically correlated with several key economic indicators such as GDP growth, employment trends, corporate profits, consumer confidence and business investment. As some of these economic indicators have begun to improve, our hotels experienced improvement in demand and average daily rates during the quarter. As demand continues to strengthen, we expect rates to improve in the remainder of 2010.
Comparison of the Fiscal Quarter Ended September 10, 2010 to the Fiscal Quarter Ended September 11, 2009
Our net loss for the fiscal quarter ended September 10, 2010 was $3.5 million compared to net income of $0.8 million for the fiscal quarter ended September 11, 2009.
Revenue. Revenue consists primarily of the room, food and beverage and other operating revenues from our hotels. Our total revenues increased $13.3 million from $137.8 million for the fiscal quarter ended September 11, 2009 to $151.1 million for the fiscal quarter ended September 10, 2010. This increase includes amounts that are not comparable year-over-year as follows:
   
$11.8 million increase from the Minneapolis Hilton, which was purchased on June 16, 2010;
   
$0.9 million increase from the Renaissance Charleston, which was purchased on August 6, 2010.
Individual hotel revenues for the fiscal quarters ended September 10, 2010 and September 11, 2009, respectively, consist of the following (in millions):
                 
    Fiscal Quarter     Fiscal Quarter  
    Ended     Ended  
    September 10, 2010     September 11, 2009  
Chicago Marriott
  $ 21.6     $ 21.7  
Westin Boston Waterfront Hotel (1)
    16.2       18.5  
Hilton Minneapolis (2)
    11.8        
Los Angeles Airport Marriott
    11.3       10.2  
Frenchman’s Reef & Morning Star Marriott Beach Resort (1)
    10.8       11.4  
Conrad Chicago (1)
    7.1       6.5  
Renaissance Waverly Hotel
    6.7       6.9  
Renaissance Austin Hotel
    6.0       6.1  
Marriott Griffin Gate Resort
    6.0       6.0  
Vail Marriott Mountain Resort & Spa (1)
    5.8       4.5  
Oak Brook Hills Marriott Resort
    5.7       6.1  
Courtyard Manhattan/Midtown East
    5.6       4.9  
Renaissance Worthington
    5.4       5.5  
The Lodge at Sonoma, a Renaissance Resort & Spa
    4.6       4.1  
Torrance Marriott South Bay
    4.5       4.8  
Salt Lake City Marriott Downtown
    4.4       4.4  
Westin Atlanta North at Perimeter (1)
    3.9       3.7  
Courtyard Manhattan/Fifth Avenue
    3.3       3.0  
Orlando Airport Marriott
    3.2       3.9  
Bethesda Marriott Suites
    3.2       2.9  
Marriott Atlanta Alpharetta
    3.1       2.7  
Renaissance Charleston (3)
    0.9        
Hilton Garden Inn Chelsea (4)
           
 
           
Total
  $ 151.1     $ 137.8  
 
           
     
(1)  
The Frenchman’s Reef & Morning Star Marriott Beach Resort, Vail Marriott Mountain Resort & Spa, Westin Atlanta North at Perimeter, Conrad Chicago and the Westin Boston Waterfront Hotel report operations on a calendar month and year basis. The fiscal quarters ended September 10, 2010 and September 11, 2009 include the operations for the period from June 1, 2010 to August 31, 2010 and June 1, 2009 to August 31, 2009, respectively, for these five hotels.
 
(2)  
The Hilton Minneapolis reports operations on a calendar month and year basis. The hotel was acquired on June 16, 2010 and the fiscal quarter ended September 10, 2010 includes operations for the period from June 16, 2010 to August 31, 2010.
 
(3)  
The Charleston Renaissance was acquired on August 6, 2010 and includes operations from August 6, 2010 to September 10, 2010.
 
(4)  
The Hilton Garden Inn Chelsea reports operations on a calendar month and year basis. The fiscal quarter ended September 10, 2010 excludes the operations of the hotel since it was acquired on September 8, 2010.

 

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The following pro forma key hotel operating statistics for our hotels for the fiscal quarters ended September 10, 2010 and September 11, 2009, respectively, include the prior year operating statistics for the comparable prior year period to our 2010 ownership period.
                         
    Fiscal Quarter     Fiscal Quarter        
    Ended     Ended        
    September 10, 2010     September 11, 2009     % Change  
Occupancy %
    75.0 %     73.5 %   1.5 percentage points  
ADR
  $ 149.35     $ 145.93       2.3 %
RevPAR
  $ 111.94     $ 107.25       4.4 %
Food and beverage revenues increased $2.5 million from the comparable period in 2009, with $3.8 million contributed from the Hilton Minneapolis and the Renaissance Charleston offset by a decrease of $1.3 million from our comparable hotels. The decrease in food and beverage revenues at our comparable hotels is due mainly to lower group banquet revenue. Other revenues, which primarily represent spa, golf, parking and attrition and cancellation fees, decreased $1.0 million at our comparable hotels from 2009, which is primarily the result of lower attrition and cancellation fees for the quarter ended September 10, 2010 as is typical during the initial stages of a lodging recovery.
Hotel operating expenses. Hotel operating expenses consist primarily of operating expenses of our hotels, including non-cash ground rent expense. The operating expenses for the fiscal quarters ended September 10, 2010 and September 11, 2009 consists of the following (in millions):
                 
    Fiscal Quarter     Fiscal Quarter  
    Ended     Ended  
    September 10, 2010     September 11, 2009  
Rooms departmental expenses
  $ 27.0     $ 23.9  
Food and beverage departmental expenses
    30.5       29.1  
Other departmental expenses
    8.6       7.0  
General and administrative
    13.6       12.2  
Utilities
    6.9       6.1  
Repairs and maintenance
    7.2       6.7  
Sales and marketing
    11.4       9.9  
Base management fees
    4.1       3.6  
Incentive management fees
    1.0       1.3  
Property taxes
    4.9       5.9  
Ground rent—Contractual
    1.5       0.5  
Ground rent—Non-cash
    1.5       1.8  
 
           
Total hotel operating expenses
  $ 118.2     $ 108.0  
 
           
Our hotel operating expenses increased $10.2 million, or 9.4%, from $108.0 million for the fiscal quarter ended September 11, 2009 to $118.2 million for the fiscal quarter ended September 10, 2010. This increase includes amounts that are not comparable year-over-year as follows:
   
$7.3 million increase from the Minneapolis Hilton, which was purchased on June 16, 2010;
   
$0.6 million increase from the Renaissance Charleston, which was purchased on August 6, 2010.
The remaining increase of $2.3 million is due to the overall increase of occupancy at our hotels as well as higher support costs at our hotels, specifically administrative and sales and marking expenses. In addition, during the quarter we recorded $1.4 million of operating expense related to hurricane damage sustained at Frenchman’s Reef from Hurricane Earl in late August 2010. These increases are partially offset by lower property taxes, primarily due to a $1.6 million successful multi-year real estate tax appeal at the Renaissance Waverly Hotel. We continue to work with our hotel managers to lower operating expenses.
Management fees are calculated as a percentage of total revenues, as well as the level of operating profit at certain hotels. Therefore, the increase in base management fees is due to the overall increase in revenues at our hotels. We pay incentive management fees only at certain of our hotels based on operating profits.

 

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Depreciation and amortization. Depreciation and amortization is recorded on our hotel buildings over 40 years for the periods subsequent to acquisition. Depreciable lives of hotel furniture, fixtures and equipment are estimated as the time period between the acquisition date and the date that the hotel furniture, fixtures and equipment will be replaced. Our depreciation and amortization expense increased $2.4 million from $18.9 million for the fiscal quarter ended September 11, 2009 to $21.3 million for the fiscal quarter ended September 10, 2010. This increase includes amounts that are not comparable year-over-year as follows:
   
$1.7 million increase from the Minneapolis Hilton, which was purchased on June 16, 2010;
   
$0.1 million increase from the Renaissance Charleston, which was purchased on August 6, 2010.
Corporate expenses. Our corporate expenses increased $0.2 million, from $3.7 million for the fiscal quarter ended September 11, 2009 to $3.9 million for the fiscal quarter ended September 10, 2010. Corporate expenses principally consist of employee-related costs, including base payroll, bonus and restricted stock. Corporate expenses also include corporate operating costs, professional fees and directors’ fees. The increase in corporate expenses is due primarily to legal expenses incurred partially offset by a decrease in employee-related expenses.
Hotel acquisition costs. We incurred $0.9 million of hotel acquisition costs during the fiscal quarter ended September 10, 2010 associated with our acquisitions of the Renaissance Charleston and the Hilton Garden Inn Chelsea. In accordance with GAAP, acquisition-related costs are expensed as incurred rather than capitalized.
Interest expense. Our interest expense was $11.1 million and $11.2 million for the fiscal quarters ended September 11, 2009 and September 10, 2010, respectively. The 2010 interest expense was comprised of mortgage debt ($10.7 million), amortization of deferred financing costs ($0.3 million) and unused fees on our credit facility ($0.2 million). The 2009 interest expense was comprised of mortgage debt ($10.8 million), amortization of deferred financing costs ($0.2 million) and interest and unused facility fees on our credit facility ($0.1 million).
As of September 10, 2010, we had property-specific mortgage debt outstanding on ten of our hotels. All of our mortgage debt is fixed-rate secured debt bearing interest at rates ranging from 5.30% to 8.81% per year. Our weighted-average interest rate on all debt as of September 10, 2010 was 5.86%.
Interest income. Interest income increased $0.2 million from $0.1 million for the fiscal quarter ended September 11, 2009 to $0.3 million for the fiscal quarter ended September 10, 2010. The increase is due to our corporate cash balances being significantly higher in 2010, as well as the interest rates earned on corporate cash having increased slightly since 2009.
Income taxes. We recorded an income tax benefit of $0.7 million for the fiscal quarter ended September 10, 2010 and $4.6 million for the fiscal quarter ended September 11, 2009. The third quarter 2010 income tax benefit includes $0.6 million of income tax expense incurred on the $1.5 million pre-tax income of our taxable REIT subsidiary, or TRS, foreign income tax benefit of $1.4 million incurred on the $3.0 million of pre-tax loss of the taxable REIT subsidiary that owns the Frenchman’s Reef & Morning Star Marriott Beach Resort and $0.1 million of state franchise taxes. The third quarter 2009 income tax benefit was recorded on the $11.8 million pre-tax loss of our TRS for the fiscal quarter ended September 11, 2009, offset by a foreign income tax expense of $0.1 million related to the taxable REIT subsidiary that owns the Frenchman’s Reef & Morning Star Marriott Beach Resort.
The Frenchman’s Reef & Morning Star Marriott Beach Resort is owned by a subsidiary that has elected to be treated as a TRS, and is subject to USVI income taxes. We were party to a tax agreement with the USVI that reduced the income tax rate to approximately 4%. This agreement expired in February 2010, at which time the income tax rate increased to 37.4%. On October 9, 2010, the USVI Economic Development Authority recommended the approval of the extension of our tax agreement for a period of 5 years, retroactive to February 2010 and subject to another renewal in February 2015. The extension is expected to be sent to the Governor of USVI for final approval and execution. If the agreement is not extended, the TRS that owns Frenchman’s Reef & Morning Star Marriott Beach Resort is subject to an income tax rate of 37.4%. The third quarter income tax benefit of $1.4 million related to the taxable REIT subsidiary that owns the Frenchman’s Reef & Morning Star Marriott Beach Resort reflects the statutory tax rate of 37.4%. If the tax agreement is extended, this expense will be reversed to an amount which reflects the lower rate in the period the extension is granted.
Comparison of the Period from January 1, 2010 to September 10, 2010 to the Period from January 1, 2009 to September 11, 2009
Our net loss for the period from January 1, 2010 to September 10, 2010 was $11.0 million compared to $2.1 million for the period from January 1, 2009 to September 11, 2009.

 

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Revenue. Revenue consists primarily of the room, food and beverage and other operating revenues from our hotels. Our total revenues increased $15.1 million from $400.0 million for the period from January 1, 2009 to September 11, 2009 to $415.1 million for the period from January 1, 2010 to September 10, 2010. This increase includes amounts that are not comparable year-over-year as follows:
   
$11.8 million increase from the Minneapolis Hilton, which was purchased on June 16, 2010;
   
$0.9 million increase from the Renaissance Charleston, which was purchased on August 6, 2010.
The remaining increase of $2.4 million reflects the improvement in lodging fundamentals.
Individual hotel revenues for the periods from January 1, 2010 to September 10, 2010 and January 1, 2009 to September 11, 2009, respectively, consist of the following (in millions):
                 
    Period from     Period from  
    January 1, 2010     January 1, 2009  
    to September 10,     to September 11,  
    2010     2009  
Chicago Marriott
  $ 57.1     $ 58.1  
Westin Boston Waterfront Hotel (1)
    42.5       43.6  
Frenchman’s Reef & Morning Star Marriott Beach Resort (1)
    37.1       36.1  
Los Angeles Airport Marriott
    34.7       33.8  
Renaissance Worthington
    21.4       21.4  
Renaissance Waverly Hotel
    20.6       21.3  
Renaissance Austin Hotel
    19.9       20.9  
Vail Marriott Mountain Resort & Spa (1)
    18.1       16.1  
Marriott Griffin Gate Resort
    16.1       15.9  
Courtyard Manhattan/Midtown East
    15.6       14.3  
Salt Lake City Marriott Downtown
    14.4       14.2  
Conrad Chicago (1)
    14.1       14.1  
Torrance Marriott South Bay
    14.0       14.3  
Oak Brook Hills Marriott Resort
    14.0       14.0  
Orlando Airport Marriott
    12.9       15.0  
Hilton Minneapolis (2)
    11.8        
Westin Atlanta North at Perimeter (1)
    10.5       10.0  
The Lodge at Sonoma, a Renaissance Resort & Spa
    10.3       9.5  
Bethesda Marriott Suites
    10.0       9.8  
Courtyard Manhattan/Fifth Avenue
    9.6       8.9  
Marriott Atlanta Alpharetta
    9.5       8.7  
Renaissance Charleston
    0.9        
Hilton Garden Inn Chelsea (2)
           
 
           
Total
  $ 415.1     $ 400.0  
 
           
     
(1)  
The Frenchman’s Reef & Morning Star Marriott Beach Resort, Vail Marriott Mountain Resort & Spa, Westin Atlanta North at Perimeter, Conrad Chicago and the Westin Boston Waterfront Hotel report operations on a calendar month and year basis. The periods from January 1, 2010 to September 10, 2010 and January 1, 2009 to September 11, 2009 include the operations for the period from January 1, 2010 to August 31, 2010 and January 1, 2009 to August 31, 2009, respectively, for these five hotels.
 
(2)  
The Hilton Minneapolis reports operations on a calendar month and year basis. The hotel was acquired on June 16, 2010 and the period from January 1, 2010 to September 10, 2010 includes operations for the period from June 16, 2010 to August 31, 2010.
 
(3)  
The Renaissance Charleston was acquired on August 6, 2010 and the period from January 1, 2010 to September 10, 2010 includes operations from August 6, 2010 to September 10, 2010.
 
(4)  
The Hilton Garden Inn Chelsea reports operations on a calendar month and year basis. The period ended September 10, 2010 excludes the operations of the hotel since it was acquired on September 8, 2010.
The following pro forma key hotel operating statistics for our hotels for the periods from January 1, 2010 to September 10, 2010 and January 1, 2009 to September 11, 2009, respectively, include the prior year operating statistics for the comparable prior year period to our 2010 ownership period.
                         
    Period from     Period from        
    January 1, 2010     January 1, 2009        
    to September 10,     to September 11,        
    2010     2009     % Change  
Occupancy %
    71.3 %     69.0 %   2.3 percentage points  
ADR
  $ 151.94     $ 152.98       (0.7 )%
RevPAR
  $ 108.34     $ 105.51       2.7 %

 

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Food and beverage revenues increased $4.2 million from the comparable period in 2009, with $3.8 million contributed from the Hilton Minneapolis and the Renaissance Charleston and $0.4 million from our comparable hotels. Other revenues, which primarily represent spa, golf, parking and attrition and cancellation fees, decreased $2.5 million from the comparable period in 2009, which is primarily the result of lower attrition and cancellation fees for the quarter ended September 10, 2010 as is typical during the initial stages of a lodging recovery.
Hotel operating expenses. Hotel operating expenses consist primarily of operating expenses of our hotels, including non-cash ground rent expense. The operating expenses for the periods from January 1, 2010 to September 10, 2010 and January 1, 2009 to September 11, 2009 consist of the following (in millions):
                 
    Period from     Period from  
    January 1, 2010     January 1, 2009  
    to September 10,     to September 11,  
    2010     2009  
Rooms departmental expenses
  $ 71.5     $ 66.9  
Food and beverage departmental expenses
    86.7       86.0  
Other hotel expenses
    20.9       20.8  
General and administrative
    37.8       35.7  
Utilities
    17.7       16.9  
Repairs and maintenance
    20.0       19.7  
Sales and marketing
    30.8       28.8  
Base management fees
    11.1       10.5  
Incentive management fees
    2.5       2.7  
Property taxes
    17.6       18.2  
Ground rent—Contractual
    2.4       1.3  
Ground rent—Non-cash
    5.1       5.3  
 
           
Total hotel operating expenses
  $ 324.1     $ 312.8  
 
           
Our hotel operating expenses increased $11.3 million or 3.6%, from $312.8 million for the period from January 1, 2009 to September 11, 2009 to $324.1 million for the period from January 1, 2010 to September 10, 2010. This increase includes amount that are not comparable year-over-year as follows:
   
$7.3 million increase from the Minneapolis Hilton, which was purchased on June 16, 2010;
   
$0.6 million increase from the Renaissance Charleston, which was purchased on August 6, 2010.
The remaining increase of $3.4 million is due to the overall increase of occupancy at our hotels as well as higher support costs at our hotels, specifically administrative and sales and marketing expenses. In addition, during the quarter we recorded $1.4 million of operating expense related to hurricane damage sustained at Frenchman’s Reef from Hurricane Earl in late August 2010. These increases are partially offset by lower property taxes, primarily due to a $1.6 million successful multi-year real estate tax appeal at the Renaissance Waverly Hotel. We continue to work with our hotel managers to lower operating expenses.
Management fees are calculated as a percentage of total revenues, as well as the level of operating profit at certain hotels. Therefore, the increase in base management fees is due to the overall increase in revenues at our hotels. We pay incentive management fees only at certain of our hotels based on operating profits.
Depreciation and amortization. Depreciation and amortization is recorded on our hotel buildings over 40 years for the periods subsequent to acquisition. Depreciable lives of hotel furniture, fixtures and equipment are estimated as the time period between the acquisition date and the date that the hotel furniture, fixtures and equipment will be replaced. Our depreciation and amortization expense increased $2.0 million from $57.3 million for the period from January 1, 2009 to September 11, 2009 to $59.3 million for the period from January 1, 2010 to September 10, 2010. This increase includes amounts that are not comparable year-over-year as follows:
   
$1.7 million increase from the Minneapolis Hilton, which was purchased on June 16, 2010;
   
$0.1 million increase from the Renaissance Charleston, which was purchased on August 6, 2010.
Corporate expenses. Our corporate expenses decreased from $11.1 million for the period from January 1, 2009 to September 11, 2009 to $10.9 million for the period from January 1, 2010 to September 10, 2010. Corporate expenses principally consist of employee-related costs, including base payroll, bonus and restricted stock. Corporate expenses also include corporate operating costs, professional fees, and directors’ fees. The decrease in corporate expenses is due primarily to a decrease in employee-related expenses.

 

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Hotel acquisition costs. We incurred $1.2 million of hotel acquisition costs during the period from January 1, 2010 to September 10, 2010 associated with our acquisitions of the Hilton Minneapolis, Renaissance Charleston and Hilton Garden Inn Chelsea. In accordance with GAAP, acquisition-related costs are expensed as incurred rather than capitalized.
Interest expense. Our interest expense decreased $3.2 million from $33.7 million for the period from January 1, 2009 to September 11, 2009 to $30.5 million for the period from January 1, 2010 to September 10, 2010. The decrease in interest expense is primarily attributable to the first quarter reversal of $3.1 million penalty interest on the Frenchman’s Reef mortgage loan. The 2010 interest expense was comprised of mortgage debt ($29.3 million), amortization of deferred financing costs ($0.8 million) and interest and unused facility fees on our credit facility ($0.4 million). The 2009 interest expense is comprised of mortgage debt ($32.6 million), amortization of deferred financing costs ($0.6 million) and interest and unused facility fees on our credit facility ($0.5 million).
As of September 10, 2010, we had property-specific mortgage debt outstanding on ten of our hotels. All of our mortgage debt is fixed-rate secured debt bearing interest at rates ranging from 5.30% to 8.81% per year. Our weighted-average interest rate on all debt as of September 10, 2010 was 5.86%.
Interest income. Interest income increased $0.4 million from $0.3 million for the period from January 1, 2009 to September 11, 2009 to $0.7 million for the period from January 1, 2010 to September 10, 2010. The increase is due to our corporate cash balances being significantly higher in 2010, as well as the interest rates earned on corporate cash being slightly higher than they were in 2009.
Income taxes. We recorded an income tax expense of $0.8 million for the period from January 1, 2010 to September 10, 2010 and an income tax benefit of $13.9 million for the period from January 1, 2009 to September 11, 2009, respectively. The 2010 income tax expense includes a $0.4 million benefit recorded on the $0.9 million pre-tax loss of our taxable REIT subsidiary, or TRS, foreign income tax expense of $0.9 million incurred on the $5.8 million of pre-tax income of the taxable REIT subsidiary that owns the Frenchman’s Reef & Morning Star Marriott Beach Resort and $0.3 million of state franchise tax expense. The 2009 income tax benefit was recorded on the $37.4 million pre-tax loss of our TRS for the period from January 1, 2009 to September 11, 2009, together with foreign income tax expense of $0.8 million related to the taxable REIT subsidiary that owns the Frenchman’s Reef & Morning Star Marriott Beach Resort.
The Frenchman’s Reef & Morning Star Marriott Beach Resort is owned by a subsidiary that has elected to be treated as a TRS, and is subject to USVI income taxes. We were party to a tax agreement with the USVI that reduced the income tax rate to approximately 4%. This agreement expired in February 2010, at which time the income tax rate increased to 37.4%. On October 9, 2010, the USVI Economic Development Authority recommended the approval of the extension of our tax agreement for a period of 5 years, retroactive to February 2010 and subject to another renewal in February 2015. The agreement is expected to be sent to the Governor of USVI for execution. If the agreement is not extended, the TRS that owns Frenchman’s Reef & Morning Star Marriott Beach Resort is subject to final approval an income tax rate of 37.4%. The income tax expense for the period from January 1, 2010 to September 10, 2010 of $0.9 million related to the taxable REIT subsidiary that owns the Frenchman’s Reef & Morning Star Marriott Beach Resort reflects the statutory tax rate of 37.4% on the pre-tax income generated after expiration of the tax agreement. If the tax agreement is extended, this expense will be reversed to an amount which reflects the lower rate in the period the extension is granted.
Liquidity and Capital Resources
Our short-term liquidity requirements consist primarily of funds necessary to fund future distributions to our stockholders to maintain our REIT status as well as to pay for operating expenses and other expenditures directly associated with our hotels, including capital expenditures as well as payments of interest and principal. We currently expect that our available cash flows generally provided through net cash provided by hotel operations, existing cash balances and, if necessary, short-term borrowings under our credit facility will be sufficient to meet our short-term liquidity requirements. Some of our mortgage debt agreements contain “cash trap” provisions that are triggered when the hotel’s operating results fall below a certain debt service coverage ratio. When these provisions are triggered, all of the excess cash flow generated by the hotel is deposited directly into cash management accounts for the benefit of our lenders until a specified debt service coverage ratio is reached and maintained for a certain period of time. During the second quarter, the Courtyard Manhattan/Midtown East lender notified us that the cash trap provision was triggered, resulting in $1.3 million being held by the lender as of September 10, 2010.
Our long-term liquidity requirements consist primarily of funds necessary to pay for the costs of acquiring additional hotels, renovations, expansions and other capital expenditures that need to be made periodically to our hotels, scheduled debt payments and making distributions to our stockholders. We expect to meet our long-term liquidity requirements through various sources of capital, cash provided by operations and borrowings, as well as through our issuances of additional equity or debt securities. Our ability to incur additional debt is dependent upon a number of factors, including the state of the credit markets, our degree of leverage, the value of our unencumbered assets and borrowing restrictions imposed by existing lenders. Our ability to raise additional equity is also dependent on a number of factors including the current state of the capital markets, investor sentiment and use of proceeds.

 

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Our Financing Strategy
Since our formation in 2004, we have been consistently committed to a flexible capital structure with prudent leverage levels. During 2004 through early 2007, we took advantage of the low interest rate environment by fixing our interest rates for an extended period of time. Moreover, during the peak in the commercial real estate market in the recent past (2006 and 2007), we maintained low financial leverage by funding the majority of our acquisitions through the issuance of equity. This strategy allowed us to maintain a balance sheet with a moderate amount of debt. During the peak years, we believed, and present events have confirmed, that it would be inappropriate to increase the inherent risk of a highly cyclical business through a highly levered capital structure.
We prefer a relatively simple but efficient capital structure. We have not invested in joint ventures and have not issued any operating partnership units or preferred stock. We endeavor to structure our hotel acquisitions so that they will not overly complicate our capital structure; however, we will consider a more complex transaction if we believe that the projected returns to our stockholders will significantly exceed the returns that would otherwise be available.
We have always strived to operate our business with prudent leverage. During 2009, a year that experienced a significant industry downturn, we focused on preserving and enhancing our liquidity. Based on a comprehensive action plan, which included equity offerings and debt repayment, we achieved that goal.
We believe that we maintain a reasonable amount of fixed interest rate mortgage debt. As of September 10, 2010, we had $782.7 million of mortgage debt outstanding with a weighted average interest rate of 5.86 percent and a weighted average maturity date of approximately 5.4 years with no maturities until late 2014. In addition, we entered into a new $200 million unsecured credit facility in August 2010 that provides reasonable financial covenants. Finally, we currently have 13 hotels unencumbered by debt and no corporate-level debt outstanding.
Senior Unsecured Credit Facility
On August 6, 2010, we amended and restated our $200 million senior unsecured revolving credit facility (the “Facility”) that now expires in August 2013. The maturity date of the Facility may be extended for an additional year upon the payment of applicable fees and the satisfaction of certain other customary conditions. We also have the right to increase the amount of the Facility to $275 million with lender approval. Interest is paid on the periodic advances under the Facility at varying rates, based upon LIBOR, plus an agreed upon additional margin amount. The applicable margin depends upon our leverage, as defined in the credit agreement, as follows:
         
Leverage   Applicable Margin  
Less than or equal to 35%
    2.75 %
Greater than 35% but less than 45%
    3.00 %
Greater than or equal 45% but less than 50%
    3.25 %
Greater than or equal to 50% but less than 55%
    3.50 %
Greater than or equal to 55%
    3.75 %
The Facility includes a LIBOR floor of 100 basis points. In addition to the interest payable on amounts outstanding under the Facility, we are required to pay an amount equal to 0.50% of the unused portion of the Facility if the unused portion of the Facility is greater than 50% or 0.40% if the unused portion of the Facility is less than 50%. We incurred interest and unused credit facility fees on the Facility of $0.2 and $0.1 million for the fiscal quarters ended September 10, 2010 and September 11, 2009 and $0.4 million and $0.5 million for the periods from January 1, 2010 to September 10, 2010 and January 1, 2009 to September 11, 2009, respectively. As of September 10, 2010, we had no outstanding borrowings under the Facility.

 

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The Facility contains various corporate financial covenants. A summary of the most restrictive covenants is as follows:
         
        Actual at
    Covenant   September 10, 2010
Maximum leverage ratio
  60%   39.1%
Minimum fixed charge coverage ratio
  1.3x - on or before June 29, 2012    
 
  1.4x - on or after June 30, 2012 and on or before June 29, 2013    
 
  1.5x - on or after June 30, 2013   1.9x
Minimum tangible net worth
  $1.457 billion   $1.779 billion
The Facility requires us to maintain a specific pool of unencumbered borrowing base properties. The unencumbered borrowing base assets are subject, among other restrictions, to the following limitations and covenants:
   
A minimum of five properties with an unencumbered borrowing base value, as defined, of not less than $250 million.
   
The unencumbered borrowing base must include the Westin Boston Waterfront, the Conrad Chicago and the Vail Marriott Mountain Resort and Spa. The Conrad Chicago and the Vail Marriott Mountain Resort and Spa may be released from the unencumbered borrowing base upon lender approval and certain conditions.
Mortgage Loan Modification
As of December 31, 2009, we had not completed certain capital projects at Frenchman’s Reef & Morning Star Marriott Beach Resort (“Frenchman’s Reef”) as required by the mortgage loan secured by the hotel (the “Loan”). As a result, we had accrued $3.1 million of penalty interest as of December 31, 2009. During the fiscal quarter ended March 26, 2010, we amended certain provisions of the Loan. The lender provided us with a waiver for any penalty interest and an extension to December 31, 2010 and December 31, 2011, respectively, for the completion date of certain lender required capital projects. In conjunction with the loan modification, we pre-funded $5.0 million for the capital projects into an escrow account and paid the lender a $150,000 modification fee. As a result of the loan modification, we reversed the $3.1 million penalty interest accrued last year. During the fiscal quarter ended September 10, 2010, we deposited an additional $0.9 million into a lender-held escrow for a roof project at Frenchman’s Reef.
Sources and Uses of Cash
Our principal sources of cash are net cash flow from hotel operations, borrowing under mortgage debt and our credit facility and the proceeds from our equity offerings. Our principal uses of cash are acquisitions of hotel properties and notes, debt service, capital expenditures, operating costs, corporate expenses and dividends. As of September 10, 2010, we had $61.3 million of unrestricted corporate cash and $48.2 million of restricted cash.
Our net cash provided by operations was $42.5 million for the period from January 1, 2010 to September 10, 2010. Our cash from operations generally consists of the net cash flow from hotel operations offset by cash paid for corporate expenses, cash paid for interest, funding of lender escrow reserves and other working capital changes. The net cash provided by operations declined from 2009 due primarily to the decline in hotel operations.
Our net cash used in investing activities was $352.8 million for the period from January 1, 2010 to September 10, 2010 primarily as a result of the acquisitions of the Hilton Minneapolis, Renaissance Charleston, Chelsea Hilton Garden Inn and the purchase of the Allerton Loan. In addition, we made certain capital expenditures at our hotels and funded restricted cash reserves for capital expenditures.
Our net cash provided by financing activities was $194.2 million for the period from January 1, 2010 to September 10, 2010. The following table summarizes the significant financing activities for the period from January 1, 2010 to September 10, 2010 (in millions):
             
Transaction Date   Description of Transaction   Amount  
 
January
  Payment of dividends   $ (4.3 )
January
  Repurchase of shares for employee taxes   $ (2.0 )
March
  Proceeds from Controlled Equity Offering Program   $ 25.1  
May
  Proceeds from Follow-on Public Offering   $ 184.7  
June
  Repurchase of shares for employee taxes   $ (2.0 )
August
  Payment of new credit facility fees   $ (3.1 )

 

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Dividend Policy
We intend to distribute to our stockholders dividends at least equal to our REIT taxable income so as to avoid paying corporate income tax and excise tax on our earnings (other than the earnings of our TRS and TRS lessees, which are all subject to tax at regular corporate rates) and to qualify for the tax benefits afforded to REITs under the Code. In order to qualify as a REIT under the Code, we generally must make distributions to our stockholders each year in an amount equal to at least:
   
90% of our REIT taxable income determined without regard to the dividends paid deduction, plus
   
90% of the excess of our net income from foreclosure property over the tax imposed on such income by the Code, minus
   
any excess non-cash income.
On January 29, 2010, we paid a dividend to our stockholders of record as of December 28, 2009 in the amount of $0.33 per share, which represented 100% of our 2009 taxable income. We relied on the Internal Revenue Service’s Revenue Procedure 2009-15, as amplified and superseded by Revenue Procedure 2010-12, that allowed us to pay 90% of the dividend in shares of our common stock and the remainder in cash. We intend to declare our next dividend, if any, to stockholders of record on a date close to December 31, 2010.
Capital Expenditures
The management and franchise agreements for each of our hotels provide for the establishment of separate property improvement funds to cover, among other things, the cost of replacing and repairing furniture and fixtures at our hotels. Contributions to the property improvement fund are calculated as a percentage of hotel revenues. In addition, we may be required to pay for the cost of certain additional improvements that are not permitted to be funded from the property improvement fund under the applicable management or franchise agreement. As of September 10, 2010, we have set aside $36.2 million for capital projects in property improvement funds, which are included in restricted cash. Funds held in property improvement funds for one hotel are typically not permitted to be applied to any other property.
Although we have significantly curtailed the capital expenditures at our hotels, we continue to benefit from the extensive capital investments made from 2006 to 2008, during which time many of our hotels were fully renovated. In 2009 and 2010, we have focused our capital expenditures primarily on life safety, capital preservation and return-on-investment projects. The total budget in 2010 for capital improvements is $36 million, only $7 million of which is expected to be funded from corporate cash with the balance to be funded from hotel escrow reserves. We spent approximately $16.2 million on capital improvements during the period from January 1, 2010 through September 10, 2010, of which approximately $2.3 million was funded from corporate cash.
We recently completed a comprehensive evaluation of a major capital investment program at the Frenchman’s Reef & Morning Star Marriott Beach Resort. We plan to undertake a $45 million renovation and repositioning program in order to enhance the guest experience. The repositioning program is projected to include the following key elements:
   
Reinvented Pool — The Company plans a major redesign of the pool with state of the art features, including multiple pools, cascading waterfalls, bali beds, a sundeck and a new swim-up bar.
   
Guestroom Renovation — Each of the guestrooms and bathrooms is expected to feature new modern design elements to enhance lighting, comfort and feel. A renowned interior design firm is the designer for the new guestrooms and bathrooms.
   
Spa Upgrade and Expansion — The Company plans to reinvent and double the size of the existing spa. The plans incorporate the creation of a dedicated spa pool and additional treatment rooms.
   
Infrastructure Improvements — The Company intends to invest $15 million to comprehensively redesign the mechanical plant to allow the hotel to generate its own electricity, improve air flow in common spaces and replace packaged terminal air conditioners in the guestrooms with a central system. These enhancements are expected to greatly reduce the energy consumption and cost per kilowatt hour and generate a significant return on investment while improving guest comfort.
   
Other Resort Upgrades — In addition to the above, the Company intends to provide for upgrades to the food and beverage outlets, renovation of the main ballroom, balcony upgrades, renovations to the boat dock and improvements to other facilities designed to enhance the guest experience.

 

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We expect the majority of the renovation and repositioning program will occur during the summer of 2011 when we will close two of the resorts four buildings (approximately 300 guestrooms) during the seasonally slow period between May and September. During this time, we expect renovation disruption to operations resulting from the partial closure, decreasing the Company’s EBITDA by several million dollars compared to the comparable period in 2010.
We intend to fund the renovation and repositioning program from available corporate cash and borrowings under our credit facility. Marriott has agreed pursuant to a non-binding term sheet to fund a portion of the expense, demonstrating its commitment to Frenchman’s Reef. In addition to funding from Marriott and existing escrow reserves, we expect our total cash expenditure to be approximately $35 million over the next two years.
Elements of the renovation and repositioning program began during the third quarter. In order to take advantage of the low occupancy summer months, we started several projects in the Sea Cliff tower in August 2010, including installation of a new roof, tile surrounds in the guest bathrooms and balcony upgrades. The hotel was damaged by Hurricane Earl, which hit the U.S. Virgin Islands during the Sea Cliff construction. The remediation costs related to the damage caused by Hurricane Earl in September 2010 were below our insurance policy deductible for damages from a named windstorm event. The Company accrued $1.4 million during the third quarter for remediation costs from Hurricane Earl damage.
Off-Balance Sheet Arrangements
We have no off-balance sheet arrangements that have or are reasonably likely to have a current or future effect on our financial condition, changes in financial condition, revenues or expenses, results of operations, liquidity, capital expenditures or capital resources that is material to investors.
Non-GAAP Financial Measures
We use the following two non-GAAP financial measures that we believe are useful to investors as key measures of our operating performance: (1) EBITDA and (2) FFO. These measures should not be considered in isolation or as a substitute for measures of performance in accordance with GAAP.
EBITDA represents net (loss) income excluding: (1) interest expense; (2) provision for income taxes, including income taxes applicable to sale of assets; and (3) depreciation and amortization. We believe EBITDA is useful to an investor in evaluating our operating performance because it helps investors evaluate and compare the results of our operations from period to period by removing the impact of our capital structure (primarily interest expense) and our asset base (primarily depreciation and amortization) from our operating results. In addition, covenants included in our indebtedness use EBITDA as a measure of financial compliance. We also use EBITDA as one measure in determining the value of hotel acquisitions and dispositions.
                                 
                    Period from     Period from  
    Fiscal Quarter     Fiscal Quarter     January 1, 2010 to     January 1, 2009  
    Ended     Ended     September 10,     to September 11,  
    September 10, 2010     September 11, 2009     2010     2009  
    (in thousands)  
 
                               
Net (loss) income
  $ (3,534 )   $ 761     $ (11,040 )   $ (2,075 )
Interest expense
    11,240       11,090       30,455       33,673  
Income tax (benefit) expense
    (660 )     (4,558 )     803       (13,856 )
Real estate related depreciation and amortization
    21,297       18,866       59,278       57,312  
 
                       
EBITDA
  $ 28,343     $ 26,159     $ 79,496     $ 75,054  
 
                       

 

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We compute FFO in accordance with standards established by the National Association of Real Estate Investment Trusts, which defines FFO as net (loss) income (determined in accordance with GAAP), excluding gains (losses) from sales of property, plus depreciation and amortization. We believe that the presentation of FFO provides useful information to investors regarding our operating performance because it is a measure of our operations without regard to specified non-cash items, such as real estate depreciation and amortization and gain or loss on sale of assets. We also use FFO as one measure in assessing our results.
                                 
                    Period from     Period from  
    Fiscal Quarter     Fiscal Quarter     January 1, 2010     January 1, 2009  
    Ended     Ended     to September 10,     to September 11,  
    September 10, 2010     September 11, 2009     2010     2009  
    (in thousands)  
 
                               
Net (loss) income
  $ (3,534 )   $ 761     $ (11,040 )   $ (2,075 )
Real estate related depreciation and amortization
    21,297       18,866       59,278       57,312  
 
                       
FFO
  $ 17,763     $ 19,627     $ 48,238     $ 55,237  
 
                       
Critical Accounting Policies
Our consolidated financial statements include the accounts of the DiamondRock Hospitality Company and all consolidated subsidiaries. The preparation of financial statements in conformity with U.S. generally accepted accounting principles, or GAAP, requires management to make estimates and assumptions that affect the reported amount of assets and liabilities at the date of our financial statements and the reported amounts of revenues and expenses during the reporting period. While we do not believe the reported amounts would be materially different, application of these policies involves the exercise of judgment and the use of assumptions as to future uncertainties and, as a result, actual results could differ materially from these estimates. We evaluate our estimates and judgments, including those related to the impairment of long-lived assets, on an ongoing basis. We base our estimates on experience and on various other assumptions that are believed to be reasonable under the circumstances. All of our significant accounting policies are disclosed in the notes to our consolidated financial statements. The following represent certain critical accounting policies that require us to exercise our business judgment or make significant estimates:
Investment in Hotels. Acquired hotels, land improvements, building and furniture, fixtures and equipment and identifiable intangible assets are initially recorded at fair value. Additions to property and equipment, including current buildings, improvements, furniture, fixtures and equipment are recorded at cost. Property and equipment are depreciated using the straight-line method over an estimated useful life of 15 to 40 years for buildings and land improvements and one to ten years for furniture and equipment. Identifiable intangible assets are typically related to contracts, including ground lease agreements and hotel management agreements, which are recorded at fair value. Above-market and below-market contract values are based on the present value of the difference between contractual amounts to be paid pursuant to the contracts acquired and our estimate of the fair market contract rates for corresponding contracts. Contracts acquired that are at market do not have significant value. We typically enter into a new hotel management agreement based on market terms at the time of acquisition. Intangible assets are amortized using the straight-line method over the remaining non-cancelable term of the related agreements. In making estimates of fair values for purposes of allocating purchase price, we may utilize a number of sources that may be obtained in connection with the acquisition or financing of a property and other market data. Management also considers information obtained about each property as a result of its pre-acquisition due diligence in estimating the fair value of the tangible and intangible assets acquired.
We review our investments in hotels for impairment whenever events or changes in circumstances indicate that the carrying value of the investments in hotels may not be recoverable. Events or circumstances that may cause us to perform a review include, but are not limited to, adverse changes in the demand for lodging at our properties due to declining national or local economic conditions and/or new hotel construction in markets where our hotels are located. When such conditions exist, management performs an analysis to determine if the estimated undiscounted future cash flows from operations and the proceeds from the ultimate disposition of an investment in a hotel exceed the hotel’s carrying value. If the estimated undiscounted future cash flows are less than the carrying amount of the asset, an adjustment to reduce the carrying value to the estimated fair market value is recorded and an impairment loss recognized.
Revenue Recognition. Hotel revenues, including room, golf, food and beverage, and other hotel revenues, are recognized as the related services are provided. Additionally, our operators collect sales, use, occupancy and similar taxes at our hotels which are excluded from revenue in our consolidated statements of operations (revenue is recorded net of such taxes).
Stock-based Compensation. We account for stock-based employee compensation using the fair value based method of accounting. We record the cost of awards with service conditions and market conditions based on the grant-date fair value of the award. For awards based on market conditions, the grant-date fair value is derived using an open form valuation model. The cost of the award is recognized over the period during which an employee is required to provide service in exchange for the award. No compensation cost is recognized for equity instruments for which employees do not render the requisite service.

 

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Income Taxes. Deferred tax assets and liabilities are recognized for the estimated future tax consequences attributable to differences between the financial statement carrying amounts of existing assets and liabilities and their respective tax bases. Deferred tax assets and liabilities are measured using enacted tax rates in effect for the year in which those temporary differences are expected to be recovered or settled. The effect on deferred tax assets and liabilities from a change in tax rates is recognized in earnings in the period when the new rate is enacted.
We have elected to be treated as a REIT under the provisions of the Internal Revenue Code and, as such, are not subject to federal income tax, provided we distribute all of our taxable income annually to our stockholders and comply with certain other requirements. In addition to paying federal and state income tax on any retained income, we are subject to taxes on “built-in-gains” on sales of certain assets. Additionally, our taxable REIT subsidiaries are subject to federal, state and foreign income tax.
Notes Receivable. We initially record acquired notes receivable at cost. Notes receivable are evaluated for collectability and if collectability of the original amounts due is in doubt, the value is adjusted for impairment. If collectability is in doubt, the note is placed in non-accrual status. No interest is recorded on such notes until the timing and amounts of cash receipts can be reasonably estimated. We record cash payments received on non-accrual notes receivable as a reduction in basis We continually assess the current facts and circumstances to determine whether we can reasonably estimate cash flows. If we can reasonably estimate the timing and amount of cash flows to be collected, then income recognition becomes possible.
Inflation
Operators of hotels, in general, possess the ability to adjust room rates daily to reflect the effects of inflation. However, competitive pressures may limit the ability of our management companies to raise room rates.
Seasonality
The operations of hotels historically have been seasonal depending on location, and accordingly, we expect some seasonality in our business. Historically, we have experienced approximately two-thirds of our annual income in the second and fourth fiscal quarters.
New Accounting Pronouncements Not Yet Implemented
There are no new unimplemented accounting pronouncements that are expected to have a material impact on our results of operations, financial position or cash flows.
Item 3.  
Qualitative Disclosure about Market Risk
Market risk includes risks that arise from changes in interest rates, foreign currency exchange rates, commodity prices, equity prices and other market changes that affect market sensitive instruments. In pursuing our business strategies, the primary market risk to which we are currently exposed, and, to which we expect to be exposed in the future, is interest rate risk. As of September 10, 2010, all of our debt was fixed rate and therefore not exposed to interest rate risk.
Item 4.  
Controls and Procedures
The Company’s management has evaluated, under the supervision and with the participation of the Company’s Chief Executive Officer and Chief Financial Officer, the effectiveness of the disclosure controls and procedures (as defined in Rules 13a-15(e) and 15d-15(e) under the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended (the “Exchange Act”)), as required by paragraph (b) of Rules 13a-15 and 15d-15 under the Exchange Act, and has concluded that as of the end of the period covered by this report, the Company’s disclosure controls and procedures were effective to give reasonable assurances that information we disclose in reports filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission is recorded, processed, summarized and reported within the time periods specified in the Securities and Exchange Commissions rules and forms.
There was no change in the Company’s internal control over financial reporting identified in connection with the evaluation required by paragraph (d) of Rules 13a-15 and 15d-15 under the Exchange Act during the Company’s most recent fiscal quarter that materially affected, or is reasonably likely to materially affect, the Company’s internal control over financial reporting.

 

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PART II
Item 1.  
Legal Proceedings
Except as described below, we are not involved in any material litigation nor, to our knowledge, is any material litigation threatened against us other than routine litigation arising out of the ordinary course of business or which is expected to be covered by insurance and none of which is expected to have a material impact on our business, financial condition or results of operations.
We are involved in foreclosure proceedings against the borrower under the Allerton Loan. The proceedings were initiated in April 2010 and, if successful, would result in the Company owning the Allerton Hotel. Foreclosure proceedings in Cook County are expected to take 8 to 10 months from inception and no assurances can be given that the proceedings will be completed in this time frame or will be successful.
In addition, certain employees at the Los Angeles Marriott Airport Hotel (the “LAX Marriott”), which is owned by one of the Company’s subsidiaries, and certain employees at other hotels in the vicinity of the Los Angeles Airport (“LAX Hotels”), have brought a claim against DiamondRock and Marriott and other LAX area hotel owners and operators alleging that the LAX Marriott and the other LAX Hotels did not comply with an ordinance adopted by the Los Angeles City Council governing payment of service charges to certain employees at such hotels. The case is likely to begin the discovery phase in the near future. We cannot presently determine the likelihood of the outcome of amount of potential loss, if any; however, we do not expect any potential loss to have a material impact on our financial condition or results of operations.
Item 1A.  
Risk Factors
Other than as disclosed in the Company’s Quarterly Report on Form 10-Q for the quarter ended June 18, 2010, there have been no material changes in the risk factors described in Item 1A of the Company’s Annual Report on Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 2009, except for the following:
The planned renovation and repositioning of Frenchman’s Reef & Morning Star Marriott Beach Resort (“Frenchman’s Reef”) may cost more than anticipated and the project could take longer than planned.
We are currently undertaking a renovation and repositioning program at Frenchman’s Reef, including a major redesign of the pool, spa upgrade and expansion, infrastructure improvements, including the HVAC system, and renovation of guestrooms. This renovation and repositioning gives rise to several risks, including construction cost overruns and delays; the renovation investment not resulting in the returns on investment that we expect; and disruption in the operations of the hotel, closure of part of the hotel for longer than expected and reduction in demand for the hotel while capital improvements are underway. These costs and delays could have a material adverse effect on our business, financial condition, results of operations and our ability to make distributions to our stockholders.
Item 2.  
Unregistered Sales of Equity Securities and Use of Proceeds
None.
Item 3.  
Defaults Upon Senior Securities
Not applicable.
Item 4.  
Removed and Reserved
Item 5.  
Other Information
None.

 

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Item 6.  
Exhibits
(a) Exhibits
The following exhibits are filed as part of this Form 10-Q:
         
Exhibit
       
 
  3.1.1    
Articles of Amendment and Restatement of the Articles of Incorporation of DiamondRock Hospitality Company (incorporated by reference to the Registrant’s Registration Statement on Form S-11 filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission (File no. 333-123065))
       
 
  3.1.2    
Amendment to the Articles of Amendment and Restatement of the Articles of Incorporation of DiamondRock Hospitality Company (incorporated by reference to the Registrant’s Current Report on Form 8-K filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission on January 10, 2007)
       
 
  3.2    
Third Amended and Restated Bylaws of DiamondRock Hospitality Company (incorporated by reference to the Registrant’s Current Report on Form 8-K filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission on December 17, 2009)
       
 
  4.1    
Form of Certificate for Common Stock for DiamondRock Hospitality Company (incorporated by reference to the Registrant’s Quarterly Report on Form 10-Q filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission on May 5, 2010)
       
 
  10.1    
Second Amended and Restated Credit Agreement, dated as of August 6, 2010, by and among DiamondRcok Hospitality Limited Partnership. DiamondRock Hospitality Company, Wells Fargo Bank, National Association, as Administrative Agent, Bank of America, N.A., as Syndication Agent, Deutsche Bank Securities, Inc. and Citibank, N.A., as Co-Documentation Agents, and Wells Fargo Securities, LLC and Banc of America Securities LLC, as Joint Lead Arrangers and Joint Bookrunners (incorporated by reference to the Registrant’s Current Report on Form 8-K filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission on August 9, 2010)
       
 
  31.1    
Certification of Chief Executive Officer Required by Rule 13a-14(a) of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended
       
 
  31.2    
Certification of Chief Financial Officer Required by Rule 13a-14(a) of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended
       
 
  32.1    
Certification of Chief Executive Officer and Chief Financial Officer Required by Rule 13a-14(b) of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended
       
 
     
*  
Exhibit is management contract or compensatory plan or arrangement

 

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SIGNATURE
Pursuant to the requirements of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, the registrant has duly caused this report to be signed on its behalf by the undersigned thereunto duly authorized.
         
 
      DiamondRock Hospitality Company
October 19, 2010
       
 
       
/s/ Sean M. Mahoney
      /s/ William J. Tennis
 
       
Sean M. Mahoney
      William J. Tennis
Executive Vice President and
      Executive Vice President,
Chief Financial Officer
      General Counsel and Corporate Secretary
(Principal Financial and Accounting Officer)
       

 

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