"Reaching more than 400 properties in the Ascend Collection is more than a milestone; it's a clear signal of the growing opportunity for owners," said Mark Shalala, Senior Vice President, Development, Upscale Brands, Choice Hotels International. "The collection's expansion, particularly into new and exciting destinations like Chile, positions us even better to raise brand awareness and help drive more bookings and revenue potential for owners. With the benefits of being part of Choice Hotels' fast accelerat ...

Financial Performance - Q1 2025 - Loews Corporation's net income was $370 million, or $1.74 per share, compared to $457 million, or $2.05 per share, in Q1 2024[13] - Dividends from subsidiaries totaled $686 million in Q1 2025[13] - Parent company cash and investments stood at $3.5 billion as of March 31, 2025[8, 13] - Book value per share excluding AOCI increased to $89.74 as of March 31, 2025, from $88.18 as of December 31, 2024[13] Subsidiary Performance - Q1 2025 - CNA's net income attributable to Loews decreased to $252 million, primarily due to lower underwriting income[14, 16] - Boardwalk's net income attributable to Loews increased to $152 million due to increased revenues[14, 16] - Loews Hotels' net income attributable to Loews decreased to $0 million primarily due to lower equity income from joint ventures[14, 16] CNA Financial Highlights - Q1 2025 - CNA's net written premiums increased to $2.606 billion from $2.390 billion[27] - CNA's underlying combined ratio was 92.1%, while the combined ratio was 98.4%[27] Boardwalk Pipelines Highlights - Q1 2025 - Boardwalk's operating revenue increased to $619 million from $511 million[30] - Boardwalk's net income attributable to Loews increased to $152 million from $121 million[30] - Boardwalk's EBITDA was $346 million[30] Loews Hotels & Co Highlights - Q1 2025 - Loews Hotels & Co's revenue increased to $245 million from $216 million[32] - Loews Hotels & Co's Adjusted EBITDA was $81 million[32]

Financial Performance - Loews Corporation reported net income of $370 million, or $1.74 per share, in Q1 2025, down from $457 million, or $2.05 per share, in Q1 2024 [2][14] - Total revenues increased to $4.494 billion in Q1 2025 from $4.231 billion in Q1 2024, driven by higher insurance premiums and operating revenues [14][16] - Book value per share increased to $89.74 as of March 31, 2025, from $88.18 as of December 31, 2024 [4] Segment Performance - CNA Financial's net income attributable to Loews decreased to $252 million in Q1 2025 from $310 million in Q1 2024, primarily due to lower underwriting income [4][5] - Boardwalk Pipelines reported improved results with net income increasing to $152 million in Q1 2025 from $121 million in Q1 2024, attributed to higher re-contracting rates and growth projects [4][10] - Loews Hotels & Co experienced a decline in net income to $0 million in Q1 2025 from $16 million in Q1 2024, mainly due to lower equity income from joint ventures [10][24] Share Repurchase - The company repurchased 5.1 million shares of its common stock for a total cost of $429 million since December 31, 2024 [1][4] - During Q1 2025, Loews Corporation repurchased 4.5 million shares for $376 million, with an additional 0.6 million shares repurchased for $53 million between April 1, 2025, and May 2, 2025 [10][4] Investment and Debt Position - As of March 31, 2025, the parent company had $3.5 billion in cash and investments and $1.8 billion in debt [4] - Net investment income decreased year-over-year due to unfavorable changes in the fair value of equity-based investments [4][10]

Core Viewpoint - The tourism and hospitality market in Jinan experienced a significant surge during the "May Day" holiday, driven by increased hotel bookings, dining activity, and innovative tourism experiences [1][2][3]. Group 1: Accommodation and Dining Market - Hotel bookings in Jinan saw a year-on-year increase of 13% on the first day of the "May Day" holiday, indicating strong growth in the tourism consumption market [2]. - The average length of stay for tourists during the holiday was between 1 to 3 nights, with a notable proportion of family travelers [2]. - The dining sector also experienced a boom, with long queues at restaurants and some requiring up to an hour wait, particularly in major shopping districts [2]. Group 2: Innovative Tourism Experiences - Jinan launched the "Tonight Stay in Jinan" tourism accommodation brand, featuring 43 hotels and inns, and created 24 themed city exploration routes [3]. - Nighttime tourism activities were promoted, including events like the "National Style Trend" night at Jinan Fantawild and "Night Tour" at Jiuding Tower, aimed at extending the tourism consumption chain [3]. Group 3: Events and Their Impact - The "Everything is Peaceful" concert by Li Jian attracted over 176,000 people marking interest, with 40% of attendees coming from outside the province, showcasing the concert's significant impact on local consumption [6]. - The presence of sports events, such as the "Qilu Derby" between Shandong Taishan and Qingdao Hainiu, drew over 40,000 fans, leading to a 50% increase in sales for nearby restaurants on match days [16]. - The trend of "traveling for concerts" and "traveling for sports events" has become popular among young people, indicating a new consumer trend in tourism [16].

Financial Data and Key Metrics Changes - For Q1 2025, the company reported net income of $15.6 million, adjusted EBITDAre of $72.9 million, and adjusted FFO per share of $0.51, reflecting nearly 12% growth in adjusted EBITDAre and nearly 16% growth in adjusted FFO per share compared to Q1 2024 [6][14][32] - RevPAR grew by 6.3% year-over-year, with same property RevPAR for the 31 hotel portfolio at $188.73, occupancy increasing by 80 basis points, and ADR increasing by 3.6% [6][19][24] Business Line Data and Key Metrics Changes - The Grand Hyatt Scottsdale's RevPAR grew approximately 60% in Q1 2025 compared to the same quarter last year, driven by a transformative renovation and strong group production [10][23] - Group room nights were up 6.6% with ADR up 4.1%, and business from the largest corporate accounts grew approximately 15% compared to Q1 2024 [21][36] Market Data and Key Metrics Changes - Hotels in Washington DC and New Orleans benefited from significant events, contributing to RevPAR growth, while the Houston market was softer due to winter storms [8][20] - The company’s same property portfolio grew RevPAR by approximately 3.4% in April 2025 compared to the previous year, despite the negative impact of Easter timing [14][32] Company Strategy and Development Direction - The company completed two significant transactions, acquiring land in Santa Clara for $25 million and selling Fairmont Dallas for $111 million, reflecting prudent capital allocation [11][12] - The company plans to reduce capital expenditures to between $75 million and $85 million for the year, a reduction of $25 million compared to previous guidance, in response to macroeconomic uncertainties [16][32] Management's Comments on Operating Environment and Future Outlook - Management expressed confidence in the portfolio's resilience despite macroeconomic uncertainties, noting that all hotels are in luxury and upper upscale segments, which may be more resilient [17][39] - The company expects RevPAR growth to be driven more by occupancy than rate this year, with strong non-rooms revenue growth anticipated [33][39] Other Important Information - The company increased its quarterly dividend by 17% and repurchased 2.7% of its outstanding shares during Q1 2025 [18][31] - The balance sheet remains strong, with a leverage ratio of 5.4 times trailing twelve months net debt to EBITDA, and no significant debt maturities until late 2028 [30][31] Q&A Session Summary Question: Have group booking trends evolved in response to the current uncertainty? - Management noted that group booking activity remains healthy with no uptick in cancellations or attrition, indicating a positive outlook for group production [42][43] Question: Have you seen any meaningful impact from lower international inbound travel? - Management indicated limited impact from lower international visitation, as the portfolio is not heavily dependent on international travel [44][45] Question: Can you provide background on the Santa Clara acquisition process? - The acquisition was a unique opportunity from the city of Santa Clara, aimed at eliminating future rent escalation risks and increasing asset value [49][50][52] Question: What is the plan for deferred CapEx projects? - Management stated that they will continually evaluate deferred projects and may consider executing them in 2026, depending on macroeconomic conditions and tariff impacts [54][73] Question: What trends are seen in leisure business? - Management observed varied performance in leisure business across properties, with a slight decline expected in RevPAR at leisure assets overall [61][65]

Financial Data and Key Metrics Changes - For Q1 2025, the company reported net income of $15.6 million, adjusted EBITDAre of $72.9 million, and adjusted FFO per share of $0.51, reflecting nearly 12% growth in adjusted EBITDAre and nearly 16% growth in adjusted FFO per share compared to Q1 2024 [5][6][30] - RevPAR grew by 6.3% year-over-year, with same property RevPAR for the 31 hotel portfolio at $188.73, occupancy increasing by 80 basis points, and ADR increasing by 3.6% [5][17] Business Line Data and Key Metrics Changes - The Grand Hyatt Scottsdale's RevPAR grew by approximately 60% in Q1 2025 compared to the same quarter last year, driven by the completion of its transformative renovation [9][22] - One-third of the company's assets achieved double-digit percentage RevPAR growth, while several others experienced high single-digit percentage growth [6][17] Market Data and Key Metrics Changes - Hotels in Washington DC and New Orleans benefited from significant events, such as the presidential inauguration and the Super Bowl, contributing positively to RevPAR [6] - The Houston market experienced softness due to winter storms impacting travel, leading to a 2.1% increase in January RevPAR but a decline in occupancy [18] Company Strategy and Development Direction - The company completed two significant transactions, acquiring land in Santa Clara for $25 million and selling Fairmont Dallas for $111 million, reflecting prudent capital allocation [10][12] - The company plans to reduce capital expenditures for 2025 to between $75 million and $85 million, a reduction of $25 million compared to previous guidance, in response to macroeconomic uncertainties [14][30] Management's Comments on Operating Environment and Future Outlook - Management expressed confidence in the portfolio's resilience despite macroeconomic uncertainties, noting that all high-quality branded hotels cater to more resilient customers [15][30] - The company expects RevPAR growth to be driven more by occupancy than rate, with a forecasted full-year RevPAR growth of approximately 4.5% [30][31] Other Important Information - The company increased its quarterly dividend by 17% and repurchased 2.7% of its outstanding shares during Q1 2025 [16][29] - The company has a strong balance sheet with a leverage ratio of 5.4 times trailing twelve months net debt to EBITDA, and current liquidity of approximately $75 million [28][29] Q&A Session Summary Question: Have group booking trends evolved in response to the current uncertainty? - Management noted that group booking activity remains healthy with no uptick in cancellations or attrition, indicating a positive outlook for group business [40][41] Question: Have you seen any meaningful impact from lower international inbound travel? - Management indicated limited impact from lower international visitation, as the portfolio is not heavily dependent on international travel [42][43] Question: Can you provide background on the Santa Clara acquisition? - The acquisition was a unique opportunity from the city of Santa Clara, aimed at eliminating future rent escalation risks and increasing asset value [46][50] Question: What is the plan for deferred CapEx projects? - Management stated that they will continually evaluate deferred projects and may consider executing them in 2026, depending on macroeconomic conditions and tariff impacts [52][70] Question: What are the trends in leisure business? - Management observed varied performance in leisure business across properties, with a slight decline expected in leisure RevPAR for the year [57][62]

Financial Data and Key Metrics Changes - Comparable RevPAR increased by 2% year-over-year, while total RevPAR increased by 1.6% [4] - Hotel adjusted EBITDA margins increased by 54 basis points, with hotel adjusted EBITDA in Q1 at $61.3 million, reflecting a 2.2% growth over 2024 [10] - Adjusted FFO was $0.19 per share, an increase of 5.6% over 2024, and free cash flow per share increased by 10% to $0.63 [11] Business Line Data and Key Metrics Changes - Urban hotels saw RevPAR growth of 5%, driven by group and business transient segments, while food and beverage revenue declined by 3.3% year-over-year [4][5] - Resort portfolio experienced a decline in comparable RevPAR by 2.1%, with total revenues slightly up in January and February but down by 4.3% in March [6][8] - Group room revenues increased by 10.4% year-over-year, with urban hotels seeing a 14.4% increase [9] Market Data and Key Metrics Changes - Florida assets experienced mid-single-digit revenue declines, with RevPAR down 5.9% [8] - Outside of Florida, RevPAR increased by 1.7%, with notable increases in luxury resorts like The Heights and Vail, which saw RevPAR growth of 7% and total RevPAR growth of 9.5% [8] Company Strategy and Development Direction - The company is focused on adding groups to resorts to enhance pricing and profitability, while also managing costs effectively in the face of revenue softness [9] - The company plans to continue share repurchases and is exploring refinancing options for maturing debts [12][13] - The outlook for 2025 has been revised, with FFO per share guidance unchanged at $0.94 to $1.06, and RevPAR outlook adjusted to a range of -1% to +1% growth [25][26] Management's Comments on Operating Environment and Future Outlook - Management noted that the macroeconomic environment remains unsettled, impacting group lead conversion rates, but expressed cautious optimism for the second half of 2025 [22][24] - The company anticipates that demand for drive-to resorts may increase due to economic conditions, while foreign visitation is expected to be softer than initially anticipated [20][21] - Management highlighted the importance of maintaining liquidity and flexibility in the current environment while focusing on increasing earnings per share [80] Other Important Information - The company repurchased 1.4 million shares at an average price of $7.85, with a total of approximately $16 million in repurchases year-to-date [12] - The company has three mortgage loans maturing in 2025, totaling just under $300 million, and is considering a recast of its corporate credit facility [12][13] Q&A Session Summary Question: Preliminary portfolio-wide RevPAR for April - Management indicated that preliminary April RevPAR is showing better than 2% growth [31] Question: Impact of tariffs on renovation costs - Management stated that renovation costs are complex and depend on the timing of orders and tariffs [32][34] Question: Profile of average group bookings - Management noted that group bookings range from associations to corporate events, with average hotel sizes around 200 to 250 rooms [39] Question: Markets with strong group pacing - Management highlighted Denver and Salt Lake as markets showing significant strength in group bookings [42] Question: Average booking window for groups - Management mentioned that the booking window for smaller groups is typically 4 to 6 months, while larger groups book 8 to 12 months out [57] Question: Consumer behavior shifts in booking and spending - Management observed that booking windows are getting shorter, but on-property spending remains in line with or ahead of last year [70] Question: Expectations for wages and benefits growth - Management expects wages and benefits growth to be around 3% to 3.5% for the full year [76] Question: Incremental share repurchases versus cash position - Management emphasized the importance of driving value through share repurchases while maintaining liquidity [80]

Financial Data and Key Metrics Changes - Comparable RevPAR increased by 2% over 2024, while total RevPAR increased by 1.6% [4] - Hotel adjusted EBITDA margins increased by 54 basis points, with hotel adjusted EBITDA in Q1 at $61.3 million, reflecting a 2.2% growth over 2024 [9] - Adjusted FFO was $0.19 per share, an increase of $0.01 or 5.6% over 2024 [10] - Free cash flow per share increased by 10% to $0.63 per share over the prior four-quarter period [10] Business Line Data and Key Metrics Changes - Urban portfolio RevPAR grew by 5%, driven by group and business transient segments, with room revenues up 3.1% in January, 2.6% in February, and 5.4% in March [4] - Food and beverage revenue at urban hotels declined by 3.3% year over year, but excluding the Chicago Marriott, it increased by 5.5% [5] - Resort portfolio comparable RevPAR declined by 2.1% over 2024, with total revenues slightly up in January and February but down 4.3% in March [6][7] - Group room revenues increased by 10.4% over last year on a 5.2% increase in room nights [8] Market Data and Key Metrics Changes - Florida assets saw mid-single-digit revenue declines, with RevPAR down 5.9% and total RevPAR down 4% [7] - Outside of Florida, RevPAR increased by 1.7% and total RevPAR increased by 2.9% [7] - Preliminary April RevPAR showed better than 2% growth [30] Company Strategy and Development Direction - The company is focused on adding groups to resorts to preserve pricing and improve profitability [8] - Plans to refinance maturing loans through a combination of corporate debt issuance and recasting the corporate credit facility [12] - The company is pursuing opportunities to dispose of non-strategic assets while recycling proceeds into attractive investment alternatives [17] Management's Comments on Operating Environment and Future Outlook - Management noted that the unsettled macroeconomic environment has led to softer closure rates for group bookings [9] - The long-term secular drivers for US resorts remain strong, but near-term performance could be soft [20] - The company expects economic anxiety to settle as 2025 progresses, with a focus on increasing earnings per share [27] - Revised full-year 2025 RevPAR outlook to a range of -1% to +1% growth, reflecting a cautious stance on group bookings [23] Other Important Information - The company intends to continue paying a quarterly dividend of $0.08 per share in 2025 [10] - Share repurchases totaled approximately $16 million or 2.1 million shares at an average price of $7.85 [11] Q&A Session Summary Question: Preliminary portfolio-wide RevPAR for April - Preliminary April is showing a little better than 2% growth [30] Question: Renovation project costs and tariffs - Costs depend on the type of renovations; efforts are being made to secure materials before tariffs are reinstated [31][32] Question: Group conversion profile and average group size - The average hotel is about 200 to 250 rooms, with groups running the gamut from associations to corporate [36][37] Question: Group pacing in specific markets - Denver and Salt Lake are showing significant strength in group bookings [41] Question: Holes in group bookings for the rest of the year - The biggest holes are due to difficult comps in Chicago and Boston [48] Question: Average booking window for groups - Smaller groups tend to book 4 to 6 months out, while larger groups book 8 to 12 months out [53] Question: Competitive supply growth and developer behavior - Approximately 40% to 50% of markets have little to no supply growth due to anti-development stances [82]

Core Insights - Xenia Hotels & Resorts reported revenue of $288.93 million for Q1 2025, an 8% year-over-year increase, with an EPS of $0.51 compared to $0.08 a year ago [1] - The revenue exceeded the Zacks Consensus Estimate by 5.66%, while the EPS surprise was 21.43% above the consensus estimate of $0.42 [1] Revenue Breakdown - Food and beverage revenue reached $104.70 million, surpassing the average estimate of $94.62 million, reflecting a year-over-year increase of 12.9% [4] - Room revenue was $159.87 million, exceeding the average estimate of $156.67 million, with a year-over-year change of 4.4% [4] - Other revenues totaled $24.36 million, above the estimated $22.12 million, marking a 12.8% increase compared to the previous year [4] Stock Performance - Xenia Hotels & Resorts shares returned 2.9% over the past month, contrasting with a -0.5% change in the Zacks S&P 500 composite [3] - The stock currently holds a Zacks Rank 3 (Hold), indicating potential performance in line with the broader market in the near term [3]

Financial Data and Key Metrics Changes - The company reported a strong first quarter performance, exceeding expectations despite economic uncertainty, driven by improved hotel operating efficiencies and cost reductions [4][5] - Same property hotel EBITDA totaled $62.3 million, surpassing the midpoint of the outlook by $4.3 million, while adjusted EBITDA was $56.6 million, exceeding the midpoint by $4.1 million [5][6] - Adjusted FFO was $0.16 per share, $0.05 above the midpoint, reflecting strong operational execution [6] Business Line Data and Key Metrics Changes - Same property total RevPAR rose 2.1% year over year, with resorts seeing an 8.2% increase, while urban total RevPAR declined 2.2% due to disruptions from the LA fires and renovations [6][7] - Excluding Los Angeles, same property total RevPAR increased by 6%, and same property non-room revenues climbed 6.6% [7][12] - Group room nights rose 5.4% year over year, contributing 28.2% of room revenue, indicating resilience in business group demand [12] Market Data and Key Metrics Changes - Washington DC posted a 14.7% RevPAR increase, benefiting from inauguration-related activities, while San Francisco saw a 13% increase due to strong business and leisure travel [8][9] - Portland and Chicago also showed solid results with RevPAR growth of 7.5% and 7.1%, respectively [9] - The company experienced a softening in demand in March, particularly from government-related segments and international inbound travel, leading to a decline in overall RevPAR [8][17] Company Strategy and Development Direction - The company is focused on operational efficiencies and cost control, which contributed to the strong performance in Q1 [13][27] - The capital plan for the year remains unchanged, with expected investments between $65 million and $75 million, while the balance sheet remains strong with $218 million in cash [15] - The company is cautious about the second half of the year due to economic uncertainty and reduced government travel, adjusting its outlook accordingly [31][33] Management's Comments on Operating Environment and Future Outlook - Management noted that the economic environment is uncertain, with expectations of a slowdown impacting demand, particularly in the second half of the year [32][33] - There are concerns about the impact of tariffs on costs, particularly for new construction and renovation projects, but the company has not yet seen significant material impacts [46][97] - The company remains optimistic about its ability to adapt and generate free cash flow, maintaining flexibility in its operations [35][57] Other Important Information - The company recorded $4.3 million in business interruption income for the quarter, raising its total forecast for the year to $8.5 million [14] - The company is actively monitoring demand trends and has not yet seen significant cancellations outside of government-related groups [22][23] Q&A Session Summary Question: Impact of second half outlook on bookings - Management indicated that the second half outlook is influenced by potential demand pullback due to economic slowdown and reduced government travel [39][40] Question: Trends in corporate travel spending - So far, corporate travel has not shown a downturn, but there are indications that companies may reduce discretionary travel as uncertainty persists [41][42] Question: Expected cost impacts from tariffs - Management expects some impact on new construction and renovation costs due to tariffs, particularly for items sourced outside the U.S. [46][47] Question: Washington D.C. market performance - The D.C. market is experiencing positive demand due to increased congressional activity and a healthy convention calendar, despite some negative impacts from government travel freezes [64][66] Question: Summer performance expectations - Management is optimistic about summer performance, particularly for stabilized resorts, but acknowledges potential challenges due to economic conditions [108]