Financial Data and Key Metrics Changes - The global RevPAR midpoint for the year was initially projected at 3% but has been adjusted to 2% [4] - October RevPAR was globally at 2%, with the U.S. down by 20 basis points and international RevPAR at 7% [7][8] - Group bookings are expected to be positive, but have underperformed relative to initial expectations [5] Business Line Data and Key Metrics Changes - Leisure demand has remained strong, particularly in luxury and premium sectors, while group and business travel (BT) have underperformed [5][12] - Group RevPAR is expected to be positive, with group bookings up 8% in the U.S. [22][24] - Select-service hotels have shown flat demand, which is better than overall trends [12] Market Data and Key Metrics Changes - The U.S. market has shown some uncertainty due to government shutdowns and economic conditions, impacting RevPAR [6][21] - International markets have performed better than the U.S., with a notable 7% RevPAR in October [8] Company Strategy and Development Direction - The company is focusing on strategic partnerships and development, with a pipeline of 150 mid-scale hotels in the U.S. [13] - There is an emphasis on conversions and hotel transactions as a means to drive growth in 2026 [36][37] - The company is actively engaging with AI technologies to enhance distribution and booking processes [51][54] Management's Comments on Operating Environment and Future Outlook - Management remains optimistic about leisure travel and luxury segments, despite potential economic downturns [15][17] - The company is preparing for potential interest rate cuts and their impact on hotel transactions [36] - The outlook for 2026 is cautiously optimistic, with expectations of improved performance in the U.S. market [10][21] Other Important Information - The company faced challenges with Sonder, which filed for bankruptcy, but views this as a learning experience for future partnerships [28][32] - The upcoming renegotiation of credit card partnerships is expected to provide potential upside to Adjusted EBITDA [43][44] Q&A Session Summary Question: How is the demand environment post-third quarter earnings? - Management noted that leisure demand has remained strong, while group and business travel have underperformed due to economic uncertainties [5][6] Question: What are the expectations for group bookings next year? - Group bookings are expected to remain strong, with an 8% increase noted in the U.S. [22][24] Question: What lessons were learned from the Sonder experience? - The company emphasized the importance of due diligence and financial capabilities of partners, while still pursuing strategic deals [32] Question: What is the outlook for credit card partnerships? - Management is optimistic about the upcoming negotiations and expects to improve their position with credit card partners [43][44] Question: How is the company utilizing AI in distribution? - The company is actively engaging with AI technologies to enhance booking processes, though it is still in early stages [51][54]