Park Hotels & Resorts(PK) - 2025 Q3 - Earnings Call Transcript

Financial Data and Key Metrics Changes - For the third quarter, RevPAR was $181, representing a 6% decline over the prior year, or down 5% excluding the Royal Palm South Beach, which suspended operations for renovation [18] - Total hotel revenues were $585 million, and hotel-adjusted EBITDA came in at $141 million, translating into a hotel-adjusted EBITDA margin of 24.1% [18] - Adjusted EBITDA was $130 million, and adjusted FFO per share was $0.35 [19] Business Line Data and Key Metrics Changes - RevPAR declined 6%, with a notable drop in group demand impacting overall performance [11] - The Bonnet Creek complex in Orlando delivered nearly 3% RevPAR growth, achieving its highest third-quarter RevPAR and GOP in history [11] - Key West's Casa Marina's RevPAR index reached 110, up nearly 800 basis points year-over-year, driven by strong group demand [12] Market Data and Key Metrics Changes - In New York, RevPAR rose nearly 4%, with significant share gains across all segments [12] - San Francisco's JW Marriott Union Square delivered RevPAR growth of nearly 14%, supported by strong group and transient demand [12] - The Caribe Hilton in Puerto Rico saw Q3 RevPAR increase nearly 12%, driven by leisure demand from a local residency event [13] Company Strategy and Development Direction - The company is focused on transforming into an owner of high-quality, iconic hotels with compelling growth profiles, emphasizing capital recycling and operational excellence [5] - A strategy to divest 15 non-core hotels and concentrate ownership across 20 high-quality assets is in place, which accounts for 90% of the portfolio's value [9] - The company has invested approximately $1.4 billion in core hotels since 2018, upgrading nearly 8,000 guest rooms [9] Management's Comments on Operating Environment and Future Outlook - Management expressed confidence in the strategic investments made, anticipating stronger performance during the re-acceleration of the lodging cycle in 2026 [16] - The company expects a rebound in group demand and leisure transient strength, projecting mid-single-digit RevPAR growth for Q4 [12][16] - Management noted that macroeconomic uncertainties persist, particularly affecting lower-end consumers, but sees a foundation forming for future growth [17] Other Important Information - The company declared a fourth-quarter cash dividend of $0.25 per share, translating to an annualized yield of approximately 9% [20] - The company does not expect to declare a top-off dividend for 2025, preserving over $50 million for strategic initiatives [21] - Full-year RevPAR growth is now expected to be down around 2%, reflecting weaker-than-expected third-quarter results and continued softness in leisure demand [21] Q&A Session Summary Question: Expense performance in light of lower 4Q RevPAR outlook - Management discussed aggressive asset management and cost reduction strategies, including staffing adjustments and procurement initiatives to offset lower revenue expectations [23][24] Question: Dividend strategy and cash retention - Management clarified that the decision to maintain a $0.25 dividend was to reflect a disciplined capital allocation strategy, emphasizing the importance of reinvesting in strategic initiatives [27][30] Question: Group demand outlook for 2026 - Management indicated that group pace for 2026 is expected to be flat, with strong performance anticipated in specific markets like Bonnet Creek and Boston [31][32] Question: Impact of government shutdown on demand - Management noted that the government shutdown has impacted both group and transient demand, but expressed optimism for a quick recovery once resolved [46][48] Question: Capital allocation and potential share buybacks - Management stated that while share buybacks are a consideration, the priority remains on paying down debt and reinvesting in the portfolio [55]