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 the quarter, with a global pipeline growing by 4% to 257,000 rooms [5][6] - Adjusted EBITDA for the third quarter was $213 million, with fee-related and other revenues declining 3% year over year [16][17] - Adjusted diluted EPS for the quarter was $1.46, up 1% on a comparable basis [17] - Adjusted free cash flow was $97 million in the third quarter and $265 million year to date, with a conversion rate from adjusted EBITDA of 48% [18] Business Line Data and Key Metrics Changes - Ancillary fee streams increased by 18%, contributing to the overall revenue despite a decline in other franchise fees [5][11] - The company introduced Dazzler Select by Wyndham, expanding its brand offerings in the economy lifestyle space [7] Market Data and Key Metrics Changes - RevPAR declined 5% in constant currency globally and domestically, with a notable decline in the select service segments in the U.S. [10] - Internationally, RevPAR declined 2%, primarily driven by an 8% decline in Asia-Pacific, particularly in China [10] - EMEA grew its net rooms by 8%, while Latin America and the Caribbean grew net rooms by 4% [8][9] Company Strategy and Development Direction - The company is focusing on higher-fee-par brands and expanding direct franchising in regions that previously relied on master licensees [6] - The introduction of Wyndham Rewards Insider aims to enhance customer engagement and loyalty, tapping into the growing subscription economy [12][88] Management's Comments on Operating Environment and Future Outlook - Management noted that despite a challenging macro environment, there are no structural concerns in the economy segment, with positive indicators such as improved cancellation rates [26][27] - The outlook for full-year constant currency global RevPAR has been adjusted to a decline of 3% to 2%, reflecting a reduction from previous expectations [20][21] Other Important Information - The company completed the refinancing of its revolving credit facility, increasing total capacity to $1 billion and reducing borrowing costs [19] - The marketing fund expenses are expected to exceed revenues by approximately $5 million, reflecting investments in initiatives to strengthen the franchise system [22][96] Q&A Session Summary Question: Can you talk about what's in your control and what you're doing regarding the RevPAR environment? - Management indicated that there are no structural concerns and highlighted positive booking lead times and improved cancellation rates [26][27] Question: How has government spending affected infrastructure-related travel demand? - Management remains optimistic about infrastructure spending as a multi-year tailwind, despite some projects being paused [35][36] Question: What are the early trends in RevPAR for Q4? - Early trends show RevPAR tracking about 100 basis points above September performance, with stabilization in booking pace [41] Question: Can you discuss net unit growth momentum for next year? - Management expressed confidence in net unit growth, with a strong pipeline and record room openings year to date [48][49] Question: What is the outlook for ancillary revenue growth? - Ancillary revenues are expected to continue growing, driven by several initiatives including credit card programs and technology enhancements [59][60] Question: How does the company view the impact of key money deals versus growth in China? - Key money deals are seen as accretive to RevPAR, and the company is experiencing strong growth in China without the use of key money [65][70] Question: Can you elaborate on the Wyndham Rewards Insider program? - The program is expected to enhance engagement and loyalty, with significant potential for long-term fee growth [87][88]