RLJ Lodging Trust(RLJ) - 2025 Q4 - Earnings Call Transcript

Financial Data and Key Metrics Changes - The company reported a fourth quarter occupancy rate of 68.7%, an average daily rate (ADR) of $199, and revenue per available room (RevPAR) of $137, reflecting a 1.5% decline in RevPAR year-over-year, driven by a 0.9% decline in occupancy and a 0.7% decline in ADR [17][18] - Total revenues grew by 0.2%, supported by a 7.2% increase in non-room revenues, which outperformed RevPAR by nearly 900 basis points [11][18] - Adjusted EBITDA for the fourth quarter was $80.4 million, with hotel EBITDA margins at 27%, only 44 basis points lower than the previous year [19][22] Business Line Data and Key Metrics Changes - Urban markets outperformed the overall portfolio, with notable RevPAR growth in Northern California (18.5%), Denver CBD (10.1%), and New York City (4.7%) [18] - Non-government related business transient revenues increased by 5%, while group revenues declined by 3% due to the government shutdown impacting demand [9][10] - Leisure segment revenue grew by 1%, with urban leisure outperforming the portfolio, driven by strong holiday demand [10][11] Market Data and Key Metrics Changes - The company noted a strong recovery in San Francisco, with RevPAR growth of 52% in the fourth quarter, supported by various demand segments and events like the Dreamforce conference [8][9] - The overall lodging industry is expected to achieve slightly positive RevPAR growth in 2026, driven by increased leisure demand and ongoing positive trends in non-government business travel [14][15] Company Strategy and Development Direction - The company is focused on urban markets, anticipating that these will continue to outperform the broader industry due to favorable geographic exposure and high-impact capital investments [15][16] - The company plans to continue executing on high-occupancy renovations and conversions, with an average of two conversions per year, including the upcoming Boston conversion to Hilton's Tapestry Collection [12][41] - Capital allocation strategies include opportunistic asset sales and share repurchases, with a focus on maintaining a strong balance sheet while driving shareholder value [32][33][23] Management's Comments on Operating Environment and Future Outlook - Management expressed cautious optimism for 2026, citing potential tailwinds from moderating interest rates and tax cuts, which could positively impact travel demand [13][14] - The company expects the first quarter of 2026 to be the softest due to challenging year-over-year comparisons, with expectations for improved performance in the latter half of the year [25][26] - Management highlighted the importance of urban leisure demand and special events, such as the World Cup, in driving future growth [30][31] Other Important Information - The company successfully addressed all near-term debt maturities and executed refinancing transactions to extend debt maturities through 2028, enhancing financial flexibility [20][21][22] - The company returned $120 million to shareholders through dividends and share repurchases during 2025 [13][23] Q&A Session Summary Question: How much benefit is expected from the World Cup and easier comps due to the government shutdown? - Management indicated that they expect a balanced contribution from rate and occupancy growth, with specific events like the World Cup contributing approximately 45 basis points to RevPAR growth [30][31] Question: How is capital allocation prioritized between asset sales and share repurchases? - Management stated that they are actively recycling capital from asset sales and share repurchases while maintaining a strong balance sheet, with a focus on balancing near-term opportunities and long-term resilience [32][33] Question: What are the expectations for operating costs and EBITDA margins in 2026? - Management anticipates overall expenses to grow about 3%, with variable expenses at 2% and fixed expenses at 4%, excluding tax benefits [37] Question: What is the expected impact of the Wyndham Boston conversion to Tapestry? - Management believes the conversion will yield a 40% increase in EBITDA, driven by the asset's location and demand drivers, with returns well above 50% relative to incremental capital [78][79]