Wyndham Hotels & Resorts(WH) - 2025 Q3 - Earnings Call Transcript

Financial Data and Key Metrics Changes - The company reported a 21% increase in room openings and signed 24% more deals in Q3 2025, growing the global pipeline by 4% to 257,000 rooms [6][10] - Adjusted EBITDA for the quarter was $213 million, with fee-related and other revenues declining 3% year over year to $382 million [16][17] - Adjusted diluted EPS increased by 1% to $1.46, while adjusted free cash flow was $97 million for the quarter and $265 million year to date [17][18] Business Line Data and Key Metrics Changes - Ancillary fee streams grew by 18%, driven by new strategic partnerships and technology initiatives [12][16] - The company introduced Dazzler Select by Wyndham, expanding its brand into the economy lifestyle space [7][8] - The U.S. mid-scale and above system grew by over 200 basis points, with significant contributions from new constructions and conversions [7][10] Market Data and Key Metrics Changes - RevPAR declined by 5% in constant currency globally and domestically, with the U.S. showing particular softness in the select service segments [10][11] - Internationally, RevPAR decreased by 2%, primarily due to declines in Asia Pacific and Latin America [10][11] - Canada saw an 8% increase in RevPAR, indicating strong domestic travel [11] Company Strategy and Development Direction - The company is focusing on development in higher fee geographies and expanding direct franchising [6][7] - A strategic partnership with the Ovalo Group was announced to enhance upscale offerings in Australia [10] - The introduction of Wyndham Rewards Insider aims to capture a share of the growing subscription economy [12][13] Management's Comments on Operating Environment and Future Outlook - Management noted that RevPAR trends are softening, expecting full-year constant currency global RevPAR to decline between 2% to 3% [18][19] - The company remains focused on cost discipline and delivering strong ancillary revenue growth despite the challenging economic environment [21] - Management expressed optimism about infrastructure spending and private investment in reshoring and manufacturing, particularly in data centers [34][36] Other Important Information - The company completed refinancing its revolving credit facility, increasing total capacity to $1 billion [18] - The marketing fund revenues exceeded expenses by $18 million in Q3 2025, compared to $12 million in Q3 2024 [15][16] - The company has a strong track record of recovering marketing fund investments, with expectations of recovery in the near term [108] Q&A Session Summary Question: What actions are being taken in the current RevPAR environment? - Management indicated that there are no structural concerns in the economy segment, with positive indicators such as improved cancellation rates and consistent lengths of stay [24][25] Question: How is government spending affecting project pipelines? - Management remains optimistic about infrastructure spending, noting that contracted room nights are pacing well ahead of last year [34][35] Question: What are the early trends for Q4 RevPAR? - Early trends in October show RevPAR tracking about 100 basis points above September performance in key states [42][43] Question: What is the outlook for net unit growth? - The company is confident in its net unit growth outlook, with a record 48,000 organic rooms opened year to date [51][53] Question: Can you elaborate on ancillary revenue growth expectations? - Ancillary revenues are expected to continue growing, driven by credit card initiatives and new technology [64][66] Question: How does the introduction of Wyndham Rewards Insider fit into the strategy? - The program aims to enhance member engagement and is expected to provide long-term fee growth opportunities [96][99]