Financial Data and Key Metrics Changes - Adjusted EBITDA increased by 4% year over year, reaching a record of $129.6 million [19] - Adjusted earnings per share rose by 5% year over year to a record $1.34 per share [19] - Global rooms grew by 3.9% year over year across more revenue-intensive segments [20] Business Line Data and Key Metrics Changes - Business travel segment grew by 10% year over year, driven by group and business transient travel [6] - Extended stay portfolio increased by 19% over the past five years, now representing half of the total domestic rooms pipeline [9] - Domestic extended stay segment achieved RevPAR growth of 6.8% year over year, outperforming the industry by over four percentage points [23] Market Data and Key Metrics Changes - Approximately 40% of the overall guest mix is now business travelers, indicating a balanced approach between business and leisure travel [5] - The company captured demand across multiple regions, outperforming chain scales in domestic RevPAR performance [5] - International rooms portfolio expanded by over 4% year over year, with a 13% increase in the rooms pipeline compared to the prior quarter [18] Company Strategy and Development Direction - The company is focused on expanding its presence in the extended stay and upscale limited service segments, which are key drivers of future growth [14] - Strategic investments in technology and franchisee tools are enhancing the value proposition for franchise owners [13] - The company aims to leverage its diversified brand portfolio to capture market share during economic uncertainty [8] Management's Comments on Operating Environment and Future Outlook - Management expressed confidence in the long-term outlook despite increased macroeconomic uncertainty, citing strong demand from business travelers and infrastructure investments [6][7] - The company anticipates domestic RevPAR performance to be flat to slightly positive for the remainder of the year, adjusting expectations due to recent trends [27][29] - Management highlighted the resilience of the business model and the ability to generate multiple avenues of growth throughout various economic cycles [18][30] Other Important Information - The rewards program expanded to over 70 million members, an 8% year over year increase, contributing to higher direct bookings [10] - The company returned $115 million to shareholders year to date through dividends and share repurchases [25] - The effective royalty rate for the domestic system increased by eight basis points year over year, indicating a positive trend in revenue growth [24] Q&A Session All Questions and Answers Question: What is the company's perspective on consumer behavior and macroeconomic conditions? - Management noted that the company is well-positioned for trade down scenarios, with a higher income consumer profile and strong business travel demand [34][36] Question: Can you elaborate on organic growth expectations moving forward? - Management expressed confidence in achieving about 1% worldwide rooms growth, with international growth expected in the high single digits [37][38] Question: How does the company view the performance of leisure and group business in April? - Management indicated that April's performance was impacted by the Easter shift and eclipse-related travel, making it challenging to draw specific conclusions about leisure travel [90][91] Question: What are the expectations for ancillary fee growth? - Management believes that ancillary fees can continue to grow at an accelerated pace, potentially outpacing core franchising royalty fees [46] Question: What insights were gained from the recent franchisee convention? - Franchisees expressed optimism about their performance relative to peers, attributing success to recent investments in loyalty programs and technology [50][52]