HERSHA HOSPITALITY TRUST - Annual Report: 2016 (Form 10-K)







UNITED STATES

SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION

WASHINGTON, D.C. 20549



FORM 10-K



(Mark One)



☒ANNUAL REPORT PURSUANT TO SECTION 13 OR 15(d) OF THE SECURITIES EXCHANGE ACT OF 1934



For the fiscal year ended December 31, 2016



OR

 

☐TRANSITION REPORT PURSUANT TO SECTION 13 OR 15(d) OF THE SECURITIES EXCHANGE ACT OF 1934



For the transition period from _______________ to _______________

 

Commission file number: 001-14765



HERSHA HOSPITALITY TRUST

(Exact Name of Registrant as Specified in Its Charter)





Registrant’s telephone number, including area code: (717) 236-4400



Securities registered pursuant to Section 12(b) of the Act:





Securities registered pursuant to Section 12(g) of the Act:



None

(Title of class)

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Indicate by check mark if the registrant is a well-known seasoned issuer, as defined in Rule 405 of the Securities Act.

☒ Yes ☐ No

 

Indicate by check mark if the registrant is not required to file reports pursuant to Section 13 or Section 15(d) of the Act.

☐ Yes ☒ No

 

Indicate by check mark whether the registrant (i) has filed all reports required to be filed by Section 13 or 15(d) of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934 during the preceding 12 months (or for such shorter period that the registrant was required to file such reports), and (ii) has been subject to such filing requirements for the past 90 days.

☒ Yes ☐ No

 Indicate by check mark whether the registrant has submitted electronically and posted on its corporate Web site, if any, every Interactive Data File required to be submitted and posted pursuant to Rule 405 of Regulation S-T (Sec.232.405 of this chapter) during the preceding 12 months (or for such shorter period that the registrant was required to submit and post such files).

☒ Yes ☐ No

Indicate by check mark if disclosure of delinquent filers pursuant to Item 405 of Regulation S-K (§ 229.405) is not contained herein, and will not be contained, to the best of the registrant’s knowledge, in definitive proxy or information statements incorporated by reference in Part III of this Form 10-K or any amendment to this Form 10-K. ☐ 



Indicate by check mark whether the registrant is a large accelerated filer, an accelerated filer, a non-accelerated filer, or a smaller reporting company. See definition of “large accelerated filer,” “accelerated filer” and “smaller reporting company” in Rule 12b-2 of the Exchange Act. (Check one):

 

Large accelerated filer ☒Accelerated filer☐

Non-accelerated filer ☐Smaller reporting company☐



Indicate by check mark whether the registrant is a shell company (as defined in Rule 12b-2 of the Act). ☐Yes  ☒ No



The aggregate market value of the outstanding Class A common shares held by nonaffiliates of the registrant, computed by reference to the closing sale price at which Class A common shares were last sold on June 30, 2016, was approximately $727.6 million.



As of February 22,  2017, the number of Class A common shares outstanding was 41,771,966 and there were no Class B common shares outstanding.



DOCUMENTS INCORPORATED BY REFERENCE



Portions of the registrant’s definitive proxy statement, to be filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission not later than 120 days after the end of the registrant’s last fiscal year pursuant to Regulation 14A, are incorporated herein by reference into Part II, Item 5 and Part III.



   

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HERSHA HOSPITALITY TRUST

 

Table of Contents







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CAUTIONARY FACTORS THAT MAY AFFECT FUTURE RESULTS



Unless the context otherwise requires, references in this report to: (1) “we,” “us,” “our,” the “Company” and “Hersha” mean Hersha Hospitality Trust and its consolidated subsidiaries, including Hersha Hospitality Limited Partnership, taken as a whole; (2) “HHLP” and “our operating partnership” mean Hersha Hospitality Limited Partnership; and (3) “common shares” mean our Class A common shares of beneficial interest, $0.01 par value per share.



This report contains forward-looking statements within the meaning of Section 27A of the Securities Act of 1933, as amended, and Section 21E of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934 (“Exchange Act”), as amended, including, without limitation, statements containing the words, “believe,” “expect,” “anticipate,” “estimate,” “plan,” “continue,” “intend,” “should,” “may” and words of similar import. Such forward-looking statements relate to future events, our plans, strategies, prospects and future financial performance, and involve known and unknown risks that are difficult to predict, uncertainties and other factors which may cause our actual results, performance or achievements or industry results to be materially different from any future results, performance or achievements expressed or implied by such forward-looking statements. Readers should specifically consider the various factors identified in this report including, but not limited to those discussed in the sections entitled “Risk Factors” and “Management’s Discussion and Analysis of Financial Conditions and Results of Operations” that could cause actual results to differ. Statements regarding the following subjects are forward-looking by their nature:



●our business or investment strategy;

●our projected operating results;

●our distribution policy;

●our liquidity;

●completion of any pending transactions;

●our ability to raise capital on attractive terms or at all;

●our ability to obtain future financing arrangements or refinance or extend the maturity of existing financing arrangements as they come due;

●our ability to repurchase shares at attractive terms from time to time;

●our understanding of our competition;

●market trends; and

●projected capital expenditures.



Forward-looking statements are based on our beliefs, assumptions and expectations, taking into account all information currently available to us. These beliefs, assumptions and expectations are subject to risks and uncertainties and can change as a result of many possible events or factors, not all of which are known to us. If a change occurs, our business, financial condition, liquidity and results of operations may vary materially from those expressed in our forward-looking statements. Readers should not place undue reliance on forward-looking statements. The following factors could cause actual results to vary from our forward-looking statements:



●general volatility of the capital markets and the market price of our common shares;

●changes in our business or investment strategy;

●availability, terms and deployment of capital;

●availability of qualified personnel;

●changes in our industry and the market in which we operate, interest rates, or the general economy;

●decreased international travel because of geopolitical events, including terrorism and current U.S. government policies;

●the degree and nature of our competition;

●financing risks, including the risk of leverage and the corresponding risk of default on our mortgage loans and other debt and potential inability to refinance or extend the maturity of existing indebtedness;

●levels of spending in the business, travel and leisure industries, as well as consumer confidence;

●declines in occupancy, average daily rate and RevPAR and other hotel operating metrics;

●hostilities, including future terrorist attacks, or fear of hostilities that affect travel;

●financial condition of, and our relationships with, our joint venture partners, third-party property managers, franchisors and hospitality joint venture partners;

●the degree and nature of our competition;

●increased interest rates and operating costs;

●ability to complete development and redevelopment projects;

●risks associated with potential acquisitions, including the ability to ramp up and stabilize newly acquired hotels with limited or no operating history, and dispositions of hotel properties;

●availability of and our ability to retain qualified personnel;

●our failure to maintain our qualification as a real estate investment trust, or REIT, under the Internal Revenue Code of 1986, as amended, or the Code;

●environmental uncertainties and risks related to natural disasters;

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●changes in real estate and zoning laws and increases in real property tax rates; and

●the factors discussed in Item 1A of this Annual Report on Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 2016  under the heading “Risk Factors” and in other reports we file with the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission (“SEC”) from time to time.



These factors are not necessarily all of the important factors that could cause our actual results, performance or achievements to differ materially from those expressed in or implied by any of our forward-looking statements. Other unknown or unpredictable factors, many of which are beyond our control, also could harm our results, performance or achievements.



All forward-looking statements contained in this report are expressly qualified in their entirety by the cautionary statements set forth above. Forward-looking statements speak only as of the date they are made, and we do not undertake or assume any obligation to update publicly any of these statements to reflect actual results, new information or future events, changes in assumptions or changes in other factors affecting forward-looking statements, except to the extent required by applicable laws. If we update one or more forward-looking statements, no inference should be drawn that we will make additional updates with respect to those or other forward-looking statements.

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PART I



OVERVIEW



Hersha Hospitality Trust is a self-advised Maryland real estate investment trust that was organized in 1998 and completed its initial public offering in January of 1999. Our common shares are traded on the New York Stock Exchange under the symbol “HT.” We invest primarily in institutional grade hotels in major urban gateway markets including New York, Washington, DC, Boston, Philadelphia, South Florida and select markets on the West Coast. Our primary strategy is to continue to own and acquire high quality, upscale, mid-scale and extended-stay hotels in metropolitan markets with high barriers to entry and independent boutique hotels in markets with similar characteristics. We have operated and intend to continue to operate so as to qualify as a REIT for federal income tax purposes.



We aim to create value through our ability to source capital and identify high growth acquisition targets.  We seek acquisition candidates located in markets with economic, demographic and supply dynamics favorable to hotel owners and operators. Through our due diligence process, we select those acquisition targets where we believe selective capital improvements and intensive management will increase the hotel’s ability to attract key demand segments, enhance hotel operations and increase long-term value. To drive sustainable shareholder value, we also seek to recycle capital from stabilized assets and our sales of non-core hotels in secondary and tertiary markets. Capital from these types of transactions is intended to be and has been redeployed into high growth acquisitions, share buybacks and reduction of debt.



As of December 31, 2016, our portfolio consisted of 43 wholly owned limited and full service properties with a total of 6,344 rooms and interests in 12 limited and full service properties owned through joint venture investments with a total of 2,456 rooms. These 55 properties, with a total of 8,800 rooms, are located in Arizona, California, Connecticut, Delaware, District of Columbia, Florida, Maryland, Massachusetts, New York, Pennsylvania, and Virginia and operate under leading brands owned by Marriott International, Inc. (“Marriott”), Hilton Worldwide, Inc. (“Hilton”), InterContinental Hotels Group (“IHG”), and Hyatt Corporation (“Hyatt”). In addition, some of our hotels operate as independent boutique hotels or with other brands.



On January 3, 2017, we redeemed our joint venture interest in Mystic Partners, LLC by acquiring 100% ownership interest in the Mystic Marriott Hotel & Spa and transferring our minority ownership interests in the Hartford Marriott and Hartford Hilton to the joint venture partner. In July 2016, we entered into a purchase and sale agreement to sell the Residence Inn, Greenbelt, MD, Courtyard, Alexandria, VA, Hyatt House, Scottsdale, AZ, Hyatt House, Pleasant Hill, CA, and Hyatt House, Pleasanton, CA to an unaffiliated buyer. On January 5, 2017, we closed on the sale of two of the five assets, and the remaining three are expected to close in the third quarter of 2017, subject to customary closing conditions.

 

We are structured as an umbrella partnership REIT, or UPREIT, and we own our hotels and our investments in joint ventures through our operating partnership, Hersha Hospitality Limited Partnership, for which we serve as the sole general partner. As of December 31, 2016, we owned an approximate 93.6%  partnership interest in our operating partnership including all general partnership interest.



The majority of our wholly-owned hotels are managed by Hersha Hospitality Management, L.P. (“HHMLP”), a privately held, qualified management company owned by certain of our trustees and executive officers and other unaffiliated third party investors. Other third party qualified management companies manage the hotels that we own through joint venture interests. We lease our wholly-owned hotels to 44 New England Management Company (“44 New England”), our wholly-owned taxable REIT subsidiary (“TRS”) or one of its wholly owned subsidiaries. Each of the hotels that we own through a joint venture investment is leased to another TRS that is owned by the respective joint venture or an entity owned in part by 44 New England.



Our principal executive office is located at 44 Hersha Drive, Harrisburg, Pennsylvania 17102. Our telephone number is (717) 236-4400. Our website address is www.hersha.com. The information found on, or otherwise accessible through, our website is not incorporated into, and does not form a part of, this report.



AVAILABLE INFORMATION



We make available free of charge through our website (www.hersha.com) our code of ethics, corporate governance guidelines and the charters of the committees of our Board of Trustees (Acquisition Committee, Audit Committee, Compensation Committee, Nominating and Corporate Governance Committee and Risk Sub-Committee of the Audit Committee). We also make available through our website our annual reports on Form 10-K, quarterly reports on Form 10-Q, current reports on Form 8-K and amendments to those reports filed or furnished pursuant to Section 13(a) or 15(d) of the Exchange Act as soon as reasonably practicable after such documents are electronically filed with, or furnished to, the SEC. All reports that we have filed with the SEC including this annual report on Form 10-K, our quarterly reports on Form 10-Q and our current reports on Form 8-K, can also be obtained free of charge from the SEC’s website at www.sec.gov. In addition, all reports

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filed with the SEC may be read and copied at the SEC’s Public Reference Room at 100 F Street, NE, Washington, D.C. 20549-1090. Further information regarding the operation of the public reference room may be obtained by calling the SEC at 1-800-SEC-0330. The information available on our website is not, and shall not be deemed to be, a part of this report or incorporated into any other filings we make with the SEC.



INVESTMENT IN HOTEL PROPERTIES



Our operating strategy focuses on increasing hotel performance for our portfolio. The key elements of this strategy are:



working together with our hotel management companies to increase revenue per available room, or RevPAR, and to maximize the average daily rate, or ADR, and occupancy levels at each of our hotels through active property-level management, including intensive marketing efforts to tour groups, corporate and government extended stay customers and other wholesale customers and expanded yield management programs, which are calculated to better match room rates to room demand; and

maximizing our hotel-level earnings by managing hotel-level costs and positioning our hotels to capitalize on increased demand in the high quality, upper-upscale, upscale and extended-stay lodging segments, which we believe can be expected to follow from improving economic conditions, and maximizing our operating margins.



ACQUISITIONS



We selectively acquire high quality branded luxury upper-upscale, upscale, upper-midscale and extended-stay hotels in metropolitan markets with high barriers-to-entry and independent boutique hotels in similar markets. Through our due diligence process, we select those acquisition targets where we believe selective capital improvements and intensive management will increase the hotel’s ability to attract key demand segments, enhance hotel operations and increase long-term value. In executing our disciplined acquisition program, we will consider acquiring hotels that meet the following additional criteria:



nationally-franchised hotels operating under popular brands, such as Ritz-Carlton, Marriott, Residence Inn by Marriott, Courtyard by Marriott, Hilton Hotels, Hilton Garden Inn, Hampton Inn, Holiday Inn, Holiday Inn Express, Holiday Inn Express and Suites, Candlewood Suites, Hyatt House, Hyatt Place, Hyatt and Sheraton Hotels;

hotels in locations with significant barriers-to-entry, such as high development costs, limited availability of land and lengthy entitlement processes;

hotels in our target markets where we can realize operating efficiencies and economies of scale; and

independent boutique hotels in similar markets



Since our initial public offering in January 1999 and through December 31, 2016, we have acquired, wholly or through joint ventures, a total of 115 hotels, including 28 hotels acquired from entities controlled by certain of our trustees and executive officers. Of the 28 acquisitions from entities controlled by certain of our trustees and executive officers, 25 were newly constructed or substantially renovated by these entities prior to our acquisition. We utilize our relationships with entities that are developing or substantially renovating hotels, including entities controlled by certain of our trustees and executive officers, to identify future hotel acquisitions that we believe may be attractive to us. We intend to continue to acquire hotels from entities controlled by certain of our trustees and executive officers if approved by a majority of our independent trustees in accordance with our related party transaction policy.



DISPOSITIONS



We evaluate our hotels and the markets in which they operate on a periodic basis to determine if these hotels continue to satisfy our investment criteria. We may sell hotels opportunistically based upon management’s forecast and review of the cash flow potential of each hotel and re-deploy the proceeds into debt reduction, acquisitions of hotels and share buybacks. We utilize several criteria to determine the long-term potential of our hotels. Hotels are identified for sale based upon management’s forecast of the strength of each hotel’s cash flows, its ability to remain accretive to our portfolio, and the expectations for the market in which the hotel operates. Our decision to sell a hotel is often predicated upon the size of the hotel, strength of the franchise, property condition and related costs to renovate the property, strength of market demand generators, projected supply of hotel rooms in the market, probability of increased valuation and geographic profile of the hotel. All asset sales are comprehensively reviewed by the Acquisition Committee of our Board of Trustees, which committee consists solely of independent trustees. Since our initial public offering in 1999 through December 31, 2016, we have sold a total of 66 hotels.



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For additional information, see “Management’s Discussion and Analysis of Financial Condition and Results of Operation” and Note 2, “Investment in Hotel Properties”.

FINANCING



We intend to finance our long-term growth with common and preferred equity issuances and debt financing having staggered maturities. Our debt includes unsecured debt in the aggregate of $1 billion which is comprised of a $500 million senior unsecured credit facility (includes a $250 million unsecured term loan and $250 million unsecured revolving line of credit), and two unsecured term loans totaling $500 million.  Our debt also includes secured mortgage debt on our hotel properties.  We intend to use our revolving line of credit capacity to pay down mortgage debt, repurchase common shares, fund future acquisitions, as well as for capital improvements and working capital requirements. Subject to market conditions, we intend to repay amounts outstanding under the revolving line of credit portion of our credit facility from time to time with proceeds from periodic common and preferred equity issuances, long-term debt financings and cash flows from operations. When purchasing hotel properties, we may issue common and preferred limited partnership interests in our operating partnership as full or partial consideration to sellers.



FRANCHISE AGREEMENTS



We believe that the public’s perception of quality associated with a franchisor is an important feature in the operation of a hotel. Franchisors provide a variety of benefits for franchisees, which include national advertising, publicity and other marketing programs designed to increase brand awareness, training of personnel, continuous review of quality standards and centralized reservation systems. Most of our hotels operate under franchise licenses from national hotel franchisors, including:







We anticipate a majority of the hotels in which we invest will be operated pursuant to franchise licenses.



The franchise licenses generally specify certain management, operational, record-keeping, accounting, reporting and marketing standards and procedures with which the franchisee must comply. The franchise licenses generally obligate our lessees to comply with the franchisors’ standards and requirements with respect to training of operational personnel, safety, maintaining specified insurance, the types of services and products ancillary to guest room services that may be provided by our lessees, display of signage, and the type, quality and age of furniture, fixtures and equipment included in guest rooms, lobbies and other common areas. In general, the franchise licenses require us to pay the franchisor a fee typically ranging between 6.0% and 9.3% of such hotel’s revenues annually.



PROPERTY MANAGEMENT



We work closely with our hotel management companies to operate our hotels and increase same hotel performance for our portfolio.



Through our TRS and our investment in joint ventures, we have retained the following management companies to operate our hotels as of December 31, 2016:



*The Mystic Partners joint venture was liquidated in January 2017 and subsequently do not have management agreements with Waterford Hotel Group, Inc.



Each management agreement provides for a set term and is subject to early termination upon the occurrence of defaults and certain other events described therein. As required under the REIT qualification rules, all managers, including HHMLP, must qualify as an “eligible independent contractor” during the term of the management agreements.

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Under the management agreements, the manager generally pays the operating expenses of our hotels. All operating expenses or other expenses incurred by the manager in performing its authorized duties are reimbursed or borne by our applicable TRS to the extent the operating expenses or other expenses are incurred within the limits of the applicable approved hotel operating budget. Our managers are not obligated to advance any of their own funds for operating expenses of a hotel or to incur any liability in connection with operating a hotel.



For their services, the managers receive a base management fee, and if a hotel meets and exceeds certain thresholds, an additional incentive management fee. For the year ended December 31, 2016, these thresholds were not met and incentive management fees were not earned. The base management fee for a hotel is due monthly and is generally equal to 3% of the gross revenues associated with that hotel for the related month.



CAPITAL IMPROVEMENTS, RENOVATION AND REFURBISHMENT



Under certain loan agreements, we have established capital reserves for our hotels to maintain the hotels in a condition that complies with their respective requirements. These capital reserves typically range from 3% to 4% of each hotel’s gross revenues. In addition, we may upgrade hotels in our portfolio in order to capitalize on opportunities to increase revenue, and, as deemed necessary by our management, to seek to meet competitive conditions and preserve asset quality. We will also renovate hotels when we believe the investment in renovations will provide an attractive return to us through increased revenues and profitability and is in the best interests of our shareholders. We maintain a capital expenditures policy by which replacements and renovations are monitored to determine whether they qualify as capital improvements. All items that are deemed to be repairs and maintenance costs are expensed and recorded in Hotel Operating Expenses in the Consolidated Statements of Operations.



OPERATING PRACTICES



Our hotel managers utilize centralized accounting and data processing systems, which facilitate financial statement and budget preparation, payroll management, quality control and other support functions for the on-site hotel management team. Our hotel managers also provide centralized control over purchasing and project management (which can create economies of scale in purchasing) while emphasizing local discretion within specific guidelines.



DISTRIBUTIONS



We have made 72 consecutive quarterly distributions to the holders of our common shares since our initial public offering in January 1999 and intend to continue to make regular quarterly distributions to our shareholders as approved by our Board of Trustees.



The following table sets forth distribution information for the last two calendar years.





*Represents the aggregate of a quarterly dividend of $0.28 per common share and unit and an additional special dividend of $0.20 per common share and unit.

**Per share and per unit amounts adjusted for reverse 4-for-1 share split effective as of June 22, 2015.

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*Series B Preferred Shares were redeemed in full on June 8, 2016.

**Represents the initial dividend prorated for the duration of the quarter following issuance.



Our Board of Trustees will determine the amount of our future distributions in its sole discretion and its decision will depend on a number of factors, including the amount of funds from operations, our partnership’s financial condition, debt service requirements, capital expenditure requirements for our hotels, the annual distribution requirements under the REIT provisions of the Internal Revenue Code and such other factors as the trustees deem relevant. Our ability to make distributions will depend on the profitability of and cash flow available from our hotels. There can be no assurance we will continue to pay distributions at the rates above or any other rate. Additionally, we may, if necessary and allowable, pay taxable distributions of our shares or debt securities to meet the distribution requirements. There are no assurances we will be able to continue to make quarterly distributions at the current rate.



SEASONALITY



Our hotels’ operations historically have been seasonal in nature, reflecting higher revenues and occupancy rates during the second and third quarters. This seasonality causes fluctuations in our quarterly operating revenues, profitability, and cash flow.



COMPETITION



The U.S. hotel industry is highly competitive. Our hotels compete with other hotels for guests in each of their markets on the basis of several factors, including, among others, location, quality of accommodations, convenience, brand affiliation, room rates, service levels and amenities, and level of customer service. In addition to traditional hotels, our properties also compete with non-traditional accommodations for travelers such as online room sharing services. Competition is often specific to the individual markets in which our hotels are located and includes competition from existing and new hotels operated under premium brands in the focused-service and full-service segments. We believe that hotels, such as our hotels, that are affiliated with leading national brands, such as the Marriott, Hilton, Hyatt, or IHG, will enjoy the competitive advantages associated with operating under such brands. Increased competition could harm our occupancy and revenues and may require us to provide additional amenities or make capital improvements that we otherwise would not have to make, which may materially and adversely affect our operating results and liquidity.



The upper-upscale and upscale limited service segments of the hotel business are highly competitive.  There are many competitors in our market segments and new hotels are routinely being constructed. Additions to supply create new competitors, in some cases without corresponding increases in demand for hotel rooms.



We also compete for hotel acquisitions with entities that have investment objectives similar to ours. We face competition for the acquisition of hotels from institutional pension funds, private equity funds, REITs, hotel companies and others who are engaged in the acquisition of hotels. Some of these competitors have substantially greater financial and

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operational resources and access to capital than we have and may have greater knowledge of the markets in which we seek to invest. This competition may reduce the number of suitable investment opportunities offered to us, increase the bargaining power of property owners seeking to sell to us and decrease the attractiveness of the terms on which we may acquire our targeted hotel investments, including the cost thereof, making it more difficult for us to acquire new properties on attractive terms.



EMPLOYEES



As of December 31, 2016, we had 49 employees who were principally engaged in managing the affairs of the Company unrelated to property operations.  We believe that our relations with our employees are satisfactory.



TAX STATUS



We elected to be taxed as a REIT under Sections 856 through 860 of the Code, commencing with our taxable year ended December 31, 1999. As long as we qualify for taxation as a REIT, we generally will not be subject to federal income tax on the portion of our income that is currently distributed to our shareholders. If we fail to qualify as a REIT in any taxable year and do not qualify for certain statutory relief provisions, we will be subject to federal income tax (including any applicable alternative minimum tax) on our taxable income at regular corporate tax rates.  Additionally, we will generally be unable to qualify as a REIT for four years following the year in which qualification is lost.  Even if we qualify for taxation as a REIT, we will be subject to certain state and local taxes on our income and property and to federal income and excise taxes on our undistributed income.



We own interests in several TRSs. We may own up to 100% of the stock of a TRS. A TRS is a taxable corporation that may lease hotels from our operating partnership and its subsidiaries under certain circumstances. Overall, no more than 25% (or 20% for taxable years beginning after December 31, 2017) of the value of our assets may consist of securities of one or more TRSs. In addition, no more than 25% of our gross income for any year may consist of dividends from one or more TRSs and income from certain non-real estate related sources.



A TRS is permitted to lease hotels from us as long as the hotels are operated on behalf of the TRS by a third party manager that qualifies as an "eligible independent contractor." To qualify for that treatment, the manager must satisfy the following requirements:



1.such manager is, or is related to a person who is, actively engaged in the trade or business of operating “qualified lodging facilities” for any person unrelated to us and the TRS;

2.such manager does not own, directly or indirectly, more than 35% of our shares;

3.no more than 35% of such manager is owned, directly or indirectly, by one or more persons owning 35% or more of our shares; and

4.we do not, directly or indirectly, derive any income from such manager.



The deductibility of interest paid or accrued by a TRS to us is limited to assure that the TRS is subject to an appropriate level of corporate taxation. A 100% excise tax is imposed on transactions between a TRS and us that are not on an arm’s-length basis.



REGULATION



General



Our hotels are subject to various U.S. federal, state and local laws, ordinances and regulations, including regulations relating to common areas and fire and safety requirements. We believe that each of our hotels has the necessary permits and approvals to operate its business.



Americans with Disabilities Act



Our hotels must comply with applicable provisions of the Americans with Disabilities Act of 1993, or ADA, to the extent that such hotels are "public accommodations" as defined by the ADA. The ADA may require removal of structural barriers to access by persons with disabilities in certain public areas of our hotels where such removal is readily achievable. We believe that our hotels are in substantial compliance with the ADA and that we will not be required to make substantial capital expenditures to address the requirements of the ADA. However, non-compliance with the ADA could result in imposition of fines or an award of damages to private litigants. The obligation to make readily achievable accommodations is an ongoing one, and we will continue to assess our hotels and to make alterations as appropriate in this respect.

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Environmental Matters



Under various laws relating to the protection of the environment, a current or previous owner or operator (including tenants) of real estate may be liable for contamination resulting from the presence or discharge of hazardous or toxic substances at that property and may be required to investigate and clean up such contamination at that property or emanating from that property. These costs could be substantial and liability under these laws may attach without regard to whether the owner or operator knew of, or was responsible for, the presence of the contaminants, and the liability may be joint and several. The presence of contamination or the failure to remediate contamination at our hotels may expose us to third-party liability or materially and adversely affect our ability to sell, lease or develop the real estate or to incur debt using the real estate as collateral.



Our hotels are subject to various federal, state, and local environmental, health and safety laws and regulations that address a wide variety of issues, including, but not limited to, storage tanks, air emissions from emergency generators, storm water and wastewater discharges, lead-based paint, mold and mildew and waste management. Our hotels incur costs to comply with these laws and regulations and could be subject to fines and penalties for non-compliance.



Environmental laws require that owners or operators of buildings with asbestos-containing building materials properly manage and maintain these materials, adequately inform or train those who may come into contact with asbestos and undertake special precautions, including removal or other abatement, in the event that asbestos is disturbed during building renovation or demolition. These laws may impose fines and penalties on building owners or operators for failure to comply with these requirements. In addition, third parties may seek recovery from owners or operators for personal injury associated with exposure to asbestos-containing building materials.



Some of our hotels may contain or develop harmful mold or suffer from other adverse conditions, which could lead to liability for adverse health effects and costs of remediation. The presence of significant mold or other airborne contaminants at any of our hotels could require us to undertake a costly remediation program to contain or remove the mold or other airborne contaminants from the affected hotel or increase indoor ventilation. In addition, the presence of significant mold or other airborne contaminants could expose us to liability from guests or employees at our hotels and others if property damage or health concerns arise.



INSURANCE



We require comprehensive insurance to be maintained by our hotel management companies, including HHMLP, on each of our hotels, including liability and fire and extended coverage in amounts sufficient to permit the replacement of the hotel in the event of a total loss, subject to applicable deductibles. However, there are certain types of losses, generally of a catastrophic nature, such as earthquakes, floods, hurricanes and acts of terrorism that may be uninsurable or not economically insurable. Inflation, changes in building codes and ordinances, environmental considerations and other factors also might make it impracticable to use insurance proceeds to replace the applicable hotel after such applicable hotel has been damaged or destroyed. Under such circumstances, the insurance proceeds received by us might not be adequate to restore our economic position with respect to the applicable hotel. If any of these or similar events occur, it may reduce the return from the attached property and the value of our investment.



FINANCIAL INFORMATION ABOUT SEGMENTS



We are in the business of acquiring equity interests in hotels, and we manage our hotels as individual operating segments that meet the aggregation criteria and are therefore disclosed as one reportable segment. See “Note 1 - Organization and Summary of Significant Accounting Policies” in Item 8 of this Annual Report on Form 10-K for segment financial information.

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You should carefully consider the following risks, together with the other information included in this Annual Report on Form 10-K. If any of the following risks actually occur, our business, financial condition or results of operations may suffer. As a result, the trading price of our securities could decline, and you may lose all or part of any investment you have in our securities.

 

Risks Related to the Economy and Credit Markets



Difficult economic conditions may adversely affect the hotel industry.



The performance of the hotel industry has historically been linked to key macroeconomic indicators, such as GDP growth, employment, corporate earnings and investment, and travel demand.  If the U.S. economy should falter for any reason and there is an extended period of economic weakness, a recession or depression, our revenues and profitability could be adversely affected.



Economic conditions may reduce demand for hotel properties and adversely affect the Company’s profitability. 

 

The performance of the lodging industry is highly cyclical and has traditionally been closely linked with the performance of the general economy and, specifically, growth in the U.S. gross domestic product, employment, and investment and travel demand. The Company cannot predict the pace or duration of the global economic cycle or the cycles of the lodging industry. In the event conditions in the industry deteriorate or do not continue to see sustained improvement, or there is an extended period of economic weakness, the Company’s occupancy rates, revenues and profitability could be adversely affected. In addition, other macroeconomic factors, such as consumer confidence and conditions which negatively shape public perception of travel, may have a negative effect on the lodging industry and may adversely affect the Company’s business. Furthermore, some of the Company’s hotels are classified as upper upscale or upscale. In an economic downturn, these types of hotels may be more susceptible to a decrease in revenue, as compared to hotels in other categories that have lower room rates. This characteristic may result from the fact that upper upscale hotels generally target business and high-end leisure travelers. In periods of economic difficulties, business and leisure travelers may seek to reduce travel costs by limiting travel or seeking to reduce costs on their trips. In addition, in periods of weak demand, as may occur during a general economic recession, profitability is negatively affected by the relatively high fixed costs of operating upper upscale and upscale hotels. Consequently, any uncertainty in the general economic environment could adversely affect the Company’s business. 



A recession could result in declines in our average daily room rates, occupancy and RevPAR, and thereby have a material adverse effect on our results of operations.

 

The performance of the hotel industry has traditionally been closely linked with the general economy. During the recession of 2008 and 2009, overall travel was reduced, which had a significant effect on our results of operations. While operating results have subsequently improved, there can be no assurance that any increases in hotel revenues or earnings at our properties will continue for any number of reasons, including, but not limited to, slower growth in the economy, changes in unemployment, underemployment, administration policies and changes in travel patterns. A stall in the economic recovery or a resurgent recession would have a material adverse effect on our results of operations. While we believe the U.S. economy continues on a trajectory of slow, steady growth, other economies around the world, including Europe, Canada, Japan and China, have demonstrated sluggish, stagnant or slowing growth in recent quarters.  It remains to be seen what effect, if any, the slowing in these economies will have on us.  If a property’s occupancy or room rates drop to the point where its revenues are insufficient to cover its operating expenses, then we would be required to spend additional funds for that property’s operating expenses.

 

In addition, if operating results decline at our hotels secured by mortgage debt, there may not be sufficient operating profit from the hotel to cover the debt service on the mortgage. In such a case, we may be forced to choose from a number of unfavorable options, including using corporate cash, drawing on our revolving credit facility, selling the hotel on disadvantageous terms, including at an unattractive price, or defaulting on the mortgage debt and permitting the lender to foreclose. Any one of these options could have a material adverse effect on our business, results of operations, financial condition and ability to pay distributions to our shareholders.



Disruptions in the financial markets could adversely affect our ability to obtain sufficient third-party financing for our capital needs, including expansion, acquisition and other activities, on favorable terms or at all, which could materially and adversely affect us.

 

In the recession of 2008 and 2009 and some recent years, the U.S. stock and credit markets have experienced significant price volatility, dislocations and liquidity disruptions, which have caused market prices of many stocks to fluctuate substantially and the spreads on prospective debt financings to widen considerably. These circumstances have materially

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impacted liquidity in the financial markets, making terms for certain financings less attractive, and in some cases have resulted in the unavailability of financing, even for companies which otherwise are qualified to obtain financing. Continued volatility and uncertainty in the stock and credit markets in the U.S. and abroad may negatively impact our ability to access additional financing for our capital needs, including expansion, acquisition activities and other purposes, on favorable terms or at all, which may negatively affect our business. Additionally, due to this uncertainty, we may in the future be unable to refinance or extend our debt, or the terms of any refinancing may not be as favorable as the terms of our existing debt. If we are not successful in refinancing our debt when it becomes due, we may be forced to dispose of hotels on disadvantageous terms, which might adversely affect our ability to service other debt and to meet our other obligations. A prolonged downturn in the financial markets may cause us to seek alternative sources of potentially less attractive financing and may require us to further adjust our business plan accordingly. These events also may make it more difficult or costly for us to raise capital through the issuance of new equity capital or the incurrence of additional secured or unsecured debt, which could materially and adversely affect us.



RISKS RELATED TO THE HOTEL INDUSTRY



Our hotels are subject to general hotel industry operating risks, which may impact our ability to make distributions to shareholders.



Our hotels are subject to all operating risks common to the hotel industry. The hotel industry has experienced volatility in the past, as have our hotels, and there can be no assurance that such volatility will not occur in the future. These risks include, among other things: competition from other hotels; over-building in the hotel industry that could adversely affect hotel revenues and hotel values; increases in operating costs due to inflation and other factors, which may not be offset by increased room rates; reduction in business and commercial travel and tourism, including as a result of legislation or executive policies; strikes and other labor disturbances of hotel employees; increases in energy costs and other expenses of travel; civil unrest; adverse effects of general and local economic conditions; and adverse political conditions. These factors could reduce revenues of the hotels and adversely affect our ability to make distributions to our shareholders.



The value of our hotels depends on conditions beyond our control.



Our hotels are subject to varying degrees of risk generally incident to the ownership of hotels. The underlying value of our hotels, our income and ability to make distributions to our shareholders are dependent upon the operation of the hotels in a manner sufficient to maintain or increase revenues in excess of operating expenses. Hotel revenues may be adversely affected by adverse changes in national economic conditions, adverse changes in local market conditions due to changes in general or local economic conditions and neighborhood characteristics, competition from other hotels, changes in interest rates and in the availability, cost and terms of mortgage funds, the impact of present or future environmental legislation and compliance with environmental laws, the ongoing need for capital improvements, particularly in older structures, changes in real estate tax rates and other operating expenses, adverse changes in governmental rules and fiscal policies, civil unrest, acts of terrorism, acts of God, including earthquakes, hurricanes and other natural disasters, acts of war, adverse changes in zoning laws, and other factors that are beyond our control. In particular, general and local economic conditions may be adversely affected by terrorist incidents, such as those in New York, Washington, D.C. and Boston; cities where many of our hotels are located. Our management is unable to determine the long-term impact, if any, of these incidents or of any acts of war or terrorism in the United States or worldwide, on the U.S. economy, on us or our hotels or on the market price of our securities.



Our investments are concentrated in a single segment of the hotel industry.



Our primary business strategy is to continue to acquire high quality, upper-upscale, and upscale limited service and extended-stay hotels in metropolitan markets with high barriers to entry including New York, Washington DC, Boston, Philadelphia, San Diego, Los Angeles, Miami, select markets on the West Coast and other markets with similar characteristics. We are subject to risks inherent in concentrating investments in a single industry and in a specific market segment within that industry. The adverse effect on amounts available for distribution to shareholders resulting from a downturn in the hotel industry in general or the mid-scale segment in particular could be more pronounced than if we had diversified our investments outside of the hotel industry or in additional hotel market segments.



Operating costs and capital expenditures for hotel renovation may be greater than anticipated and may adversely impact distributions to shareholders.



Hotels generally have an ongoing need for renovations and other capital improvements, particularly in older structures, including periodic replacement of furniture, fixtures and equipment. Under the terms of our management agreements, we generally are obligated to pay the cost of expenditures for items that are classified as capital items under GAAP that are necessary for the continued operation of our hotels.



If these expenses exceed our expectations, the additional cost could have an adverse effect on amounts available for distribution to shareholders. In addition, we may acquire hotels in the future that require significant renovation. Renovation of

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hotels involves certain risks, including the possibility of environmental problems, construction cost overruns and delays, uncertainties as to market demand or deterioration in market demand after commencement of renovation and the emergence of unanticipated competition from hotels.



The hotel industry is highly competitive.



The hotel industry is highly competitive. Our hotels compete with other existing and new hotels in their geographic markets. In addition to traditional hotels, our properties also compete with non-traditional accommodations for travelers such as online room sharing services. Many of our competitors have substantially greater marketing and financial resources than we do. Effective marketing by our competitors may reduce our hotel revenue and adversely impact our ability to make distributions to our shareholders.



Risks of operating hotels under franchise licenses, which may be terminated or not renewed, may impact our ability to make distributions to shareholders.

The continuation of our franchise licenses is subject to specified operating standards and other terms and conditions. All of the franchisors of our hotels periodically inspect our hotels to confirm adherence to their operating standards. The failure to maintain such standards or to adhere to such other terms and conditions could result in the loss or cancellation of the applicable franchise license. It is possible that a franchisor could condition the continuation of a franchise license on the completion of capital improvements that our trustees determine are too expensive or otherwise not economically feasible in light of general economic conditions, the operating results or prospects of the affected hotel. In that event, our trustees may elect to allow the franchise license to lapse or be terminated.

 

There can be no assurance that a franchisor will renew a franchise license at each option period. If a franchisor terminates a franchise license, we may be unable to obtain a suitable replacement franchise, or to successfully operate the hotel independent of a franchise license. The loss of a franchise license could have a material adverse effect upon the operations or the underlying value of the related hotel because of the loss of associated name recognition, marketing support and centralized reservation systems provided by the franchisor. Our loss of a franchise license for one or more of the hotels could have a material adverse effect on our partnership’s revenues and our amounts available for distribution to shareholders.



The hotel industry is seasonal in nature.



The hotel industry is seasonal in nature. Generally, in certain markets we operate, hotel revenues are greater in the second and third quarters than in the first and fourth quarters. Revenues for hotels and resorts in tourist areas generally are substantially greater during tourist season than other times of the year. Our hotels’ operations historically reflect this trend in these markets. As a result, our results of operations may vary on a quarterly basis, impairing comparability of operating data and financial performance on a quarter to quarter basis.



The cyclical nature of the hotel industry may cause fluctuations in our operating performance, which could have a material adverse effect on us.

 

The hotel industry historically has been highly cyclical in nature. Fluctuations in lodging demand and, therefore, operating performance, are caused largely by general economic and local market conditions, which subsequently affect levels of business and leisure travel. In addition to general economic conditions, new hotel room supply is an important factor that can affect the hotel industry's performance, and overbuilding has the potential to further exacerbate the negative impact of an economic recession. Room rates and occupancy, and thus RevPAR, tend to increase when demand growth exceeds supply growth. We can provide no assurances regarding whether, or the extent to which, lodging demand will rebound or whether any such rebound will be sustained. An adverse change in lodging fundamentals could result in returns that are substantially below our expectations or result in losses, which could have a material adverse effect on us.



The increasing use of Internet travel intermediaries by consumers may materially and adversely affect our profitability.

 

Although a majority of rooms sold on the Internet are sold through websites maintained by the hotel franchisors and managers, some of our hotel rooms will be booked through Internet travel intermediaries. These Internet travel intermediaries may purchase rooms at a negotiated discount from participating hotels, which could result in lower room rates than the franchisor or manager otherwise could have obtained. As these Internet bookings increase, these intermediaries may be able to obtain higher commissions, reduced room rates or other significant contract concessions from us and any hotel management companies that we engage. Moreover, some of these Internet travel intermediaries are attempting to offer hotel rooms as a commodity, by increasing the importance of price and general indicators of quality, such as "three-star downtown hotel," at the expense of brand identification or quality of product or service. If consumers develop brand loyalties to Internet reservations systems rather than to the brands under which our hotels are franchised, the value of our hotels could deteriorate and our

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business could be materially and adversely affected. Although most of the business for our hotels is expected to be derived from traditional channels, if the amount of sales made through Internet intermediaries increases significantly, room revenues may flatten or decrease and our profitability may be materially and adversely affected.



The need for business-related travel and, thus, demand for rooms in our hotels may be materially and adversely affected by the increased use of business-related technology.

 

The increased use of teleconference and video-conference technology by businesses could result in decreased business travel as companies increase the use of technologies that allow multiple parties from different locations to participate at meetings without traveling to a centralized meeting location, such as our hotels. To the extent that such technologies play an increased role in day-to-day business and the necessity for business-related travel decreases, demand for our hotel rooms may decrease and we could be materially and adversely affected.



Future terrorist attacks or changes in terror alert levels could adversely affect travel and hotel demand.

 

Previous terrorist attacks and subsequent terrorist alerts have adversely affected the U.S. travel and hospitality industries in prior years, often disproportionately to the effect on the overall economy. The impact that terrorist attacks in the U.S. or elsewhere could have on domestic and international travel and our business in particular cannot be determined but any such attacks or the threat of such attacks could have a material adverse effect on our business, our ability to finance our business, our ability to insure our properties and our results of operations and financial condition.



The outbreak of widespread contagious disease could reduce travel and adversely affect hotel demand.

 

The widespread outbreak of infectious or contagious disease, such as influenza, mumps and Zika virus, in the U.S. could reduce travel and adversely affect the hotel industry generally and our business in particular.

 

RISKS RELATED TO OUR BUSINESS AND OPERATIONS



We face risks associated with the use of debt, including refinancing risk.



At December 31, 2016, we had outstanding long-term debt of approximately $1.1 billion. We may borrow additional amounts from the same or other lenders in the future. Any future repurchases of our own shares may require additional borrowings. Some of these additional borrowings may be secured by our hotels. Our declaration of trust (as amended and restated, our “Declaration of Trust”) does not limit the amount of indebtedness we may incur. We cannot assure you that we will be able to meet our debt service obligations and, to the extent that we cannot, we risk the loss of some or all of our hotels to foreclosure. Our indebtedness contains various financial and non-financial events of default covenants customarily found in financing arrangements. Our mortgages payable typically require that specified debt service coverage ratios be maintained with respect to the financed properties before we can exercise certain rights under the loan agreements relating to such properties. If the specified criteria are not satisfied, the lender may be able to escrow cash flow from the applicable hotels.



We have a substantial amount of debt that will mature within the next three to five years. There is a risk that we may not be able to refinance existing debt or that the terms of any refinancing will not be as favorable as the terms of the existing debt. If principal payments due at maturity cannot be refinanced, extended or repaid with proceeds from other sources, such as new equity capital or sales of properties, we may be forced to use operating income to repay such indebtedness, which would have a material adverse effect on our cash available for distribution in years when significant “balloon” payments come due. In some such cases, we may lose the applicable hotels to foreclosure. This risk is particularly significant. See Item 7A of this Annual Report on Form 10-K for a detailed schedule of debt principal repayments.



We face high levels of competition for the acquisition of hotel properties and other assets, which may impede our ability to make future acquisitions or may increase the cost of these acquisitions.



We face competition for investment opportunities in high quality, upper-upscale, and upscale limited service and extended-stay hotels from entities organized for purposes substantially similar to our objectives, as well as other purchasers of hotels. We compete for such investment opportunities with entities that have substantially greater financial resources than we do, including access to capital or better relationships with franchisors, sellers or lenders. Our competitors may generally be able to accept more risk than we can manage prudently and may be able to borrow the funds needed to acquire hotels on more favorable terms. Competition may generally reduce the number of suitable investment opportunities offered to us and increase the bargaining power of property owners seeking to sell.

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We do not operate our hotels and, as a result, we do not have complete control over implementation of our strategic decisions.



In order for us to satisfy certain REIT qualification rules, we cannot directly or indirectly operate or manage any of our hotels. Instead, we must engage an independent management company to operate our hotels. As of December 31, 2016, our TRSs and our joint venture partnerships have engaged independent management companies as the property managers for all of our wholly owned hotels leased to our TRSs and the respective hotels for the joint ventures, as required by the REIT qualification rules. The management companies operating the hotels make and implement strategic business decisions with respect to these hotels, such as decisions with respect to the repositioning of a franchise or food and beverage operations and other similar decisions. Decisions made by the management companies operating the hotels may not be in the best interests of a particular hotel or of the Company. Accordingly, we cannot assure you that the management companies will operate our hotels in a manner that is in our best interests. In addition, the financial condition of the management companies could impact their future ability to operate our hotels.



Our acquisitions may not achieve expected performance, which may harm our financial condition and operating results.



We anticipate that acquisitions will largely be financed with the net proceeds of securities offerings and through externally generated funds such as borrowings under our revolving credit facility and other secured and unsecured debt financing. Acquisitions entail risks that investments will fail to perform in accordance with expectations and that estimates of the cost of improvements necessary to acquire and market properties will prove inaccurate, as well as general investment risks associated with any new real estate investment. As a result, we may not be able to generate enough cash from these hotels to make debt service payments or pay operating expenses.



Acquisition of hotels with limited operating history may not achieve desired results.



Many of our recent acquisitions are newly-developed hotels. Newly-developed or newly-renovated hotels do not have the operating history that would allow our management to make pricing decisions in acquiring these hotels based on historical performance. The purchase prices of these hotels are based upon management’s expectations as to the operating results of such hotels, subjecting us to risks that such hotels may not achieve anticipated operating results or may not achieve these results within anticipated time frames. As a result, we may not be able to generate enough cash flow from these hotels to make debt payments or pay operating expenses. In addition, room revenues may be less than that required to provide us with our anticipated return on investment. In either case, the amounts available for distribution to our shareholders could be reduced.



We may be unable to integrate acquired hotels into our operations or otherwise manage our planned growth, which may adversely affect our operating results.



We cannot assure you that we or our management companies will be able to adapt our management, administrative, accounting and operational systems and arrangements, or hire and retain sufficient operational staff to successfully integrate these investments into our portfolio and manage any future acquisitions of additional assets without operational disruptions or unanticipated costs. Acquisition of hotels generates additional operating expenses that we will be required to pay. As we acquire additional hotels, we will be subject to the operational risks associated with owning new lodging properties. Our failure to integrate successfully any future acquisitions into our portfolio could have a material adverse effect on our results of operations and financial condition and our ability to pay dividends to shareholders or make other payments in respect of securities issued by us.



Most of our hotels are located in the Eastern United States and many are located in the area from Washington, DC to Boston, MA, which may increase the effect of any regional or local economic conditions.



Most of our hotels are located in the area from Washington, DC to Boston, MA. As a result, regional or localized adverse events or conditions, such as an economic recession, could have a significant adverse effect on our operations, and ultimately on the amounts available for distribution to shareholders.



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Our ownership of hotels in the New York City market exposes us to concentration risk, which may lead to increased volatility in our results of operations.

 

For the year ended December 31, 2016, our consolidated portfolio of hotels in New York City have accounted for approximately  28% of our hotel operating revenues. The operations of our consolidated portfolio of hotels in New York City will have a material impact on our overall results of operations. Concentration risk with respect to our ownership of hotels in the New York City market may lead to increased volatility in our overall results of operations. Our overall results of operations may be adversely affected and our ability to pay distributions to our shareholders could be negatively impacted in the event:

downturns in lodging fundamentals are more severe or prolonged in New York City compared to the United States as a whole;

negative economic conditions are more severe or prolonged in New York City compared to other areas, due to concentration of the financial industry in New York or otherwise;

as new hotel supply enters the New York City market, this could impact our ability to grow ADR and RevPar as a result of the new supply;

we adopt an unsuccessful strategy to ramp up and stabilize operations at our newly acquired New York hotels; or

New York City is impacted by other unforeseen events beyond our control, including, among others, terrorist attacks and travel related health concerns including pandemics and epidemics.



Acquired properties may be located in new markets where we may face risks associated with investing in an unfamiliar market.

We may acquire properties in markets that are new to us. When we acquire properties located in new markets, we may face risks associated with a lack of market knowledge or understanding of the local economy, forging new business relationships in the area and unfamiliarity with local government and permitting procedures. We work to mitigate such risks through extensive diligence and research and associations with experienced service providers. However, there can be no guarantee that all such risks will be eliminated.



We own a limited number of hotels and significant adverse changes at one hotel may impact our ability to make distributions to shareholders.



As of December 31, 2016, our portfolio consisted of 43 wholly-owned limited and full service properties and joint venture investments in 12 hotels with a total of 8,800 rooms. However, certain larger hotels or hotels in certain locations disproportionately impact our performance. Accordingly, significant adverse changes in the operations of any one of these hotels could have a material adverse effect on our financial performance and on our ability to make expected distributions to our shareholders.

 

We focus on acquiring hotels operating under a limited number of franchise brands, which creates greater risk as the investments are more concentrated.



We place particular emphasis in our acquisition strategy on hotels similar to our current hotels. We invest in hotels operating under a few select franchises and therefore will be subject to risks inherent in concentrating investments in a particular franchise brand, which could have an adverse effect on amounts available for distribution to shareholders. These risks include, among others, the risk of a reduction in hotel revenues following any adverse publicity related to a specific franchise brand or the failure of the franchisor to maintain a certain brand.



We depend on key personnel.



We depend on the services of our existing senior management team, including Jay H. Shah, Neil H. Shah, Ashish R. Parikh and Michael R. Gillespie, to carry out our business and investment strategies. As we expand, we will continue to need to attract and retain qualified additional senior management. We have employment agreements with certain of our senior management; however, the employment agreements may be terminated under certain circumstances. The termination of an employment agreement and the loss of the services of any of our key management personnel, or our inability to recruit and retain qualified personnel in the future, could have an adverse effect on our business and financial results.



Joint venture investments could be adversely affected by our lack of sole decision-making authority, our reliance on co-venturers’ financial conditions and disputes between us and our co-venturers.



As of December 31, 2016, we had several joint ventures in which we shared ownership and decision-making power with one or more parties. Joint venture investments involve risks that may not be present with other methods of ownership, including the possibility: that our partner might become insolvent, refuse to make capital contributions when due or otherwise fail to meet its obligations, which may result in certain liabilities to us for guarantees and other commitments; that our partner might at any time have economic or other business interests or goals that are or become inconsistent with our interests or

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goals; that we could become engaged in a dispute with our partner, which could require us to expend additional resources to resolve such disputes and could have an adverse impact on the operations and profitability of the joint venture; and that our partner may be in a position to take action or withhold consent contrary to our instructions or requests.  Our joint venture partners must agree in order for the applicable joint venture to take, or in some cases, may have control over whether the applicable joint venture will take, specific major actions, such as budget approvals, acquisitions, sales of assets, debt financing, executing lease agreements, and vendor approvals. Under these joint venture arrangements, any disagreements between us and our partners may result in delayed decisions. Our inability to take unilateral actions that we believe are in our best interests may result in missed opportunities and an ineffective allocation of resources and could have an adverse effect on the financial performance of the joint venture and our operating results.



We engage in hedging transactions to limit our exposure to fluctuations in interest rates, which can limit our gains and increase exposure to losses.



We enter into hedging transactions intended to protect us from the effects of interest rate fluctuations on floating rate debt and also intended to protect our portfolio of mortgage assets from interest rate and prepayment rate fluctuations. Our hedging transactions may include entering into interest rate swaps, caps, and floors, options to purchase such items, and futures and forward contracts. Hedging activities may not have the desired beneficial impact on our results of operations or financial condition. No hedging activity can completely insulate us from the risks associated with changes in interest rates and prepayment rates. Moreover, interest rate hedging could fail to protect us or could adversely affect our operating results because, among other things:



Available interest rate hedging may not correspond directly with the interest rate risk for which protection is sought;

The duration of the hedge may not match the duration of the related liability;

The party at risk in the hedging transaction may default on its obligation to pay;

The credit quality of the party owing money on the hedge may be downgraded to such an extent that it impairs our ability to sell or assign our side of the hedging transaction; and

The value of derivatives used for hedging may be adjusted from time to time in accordance with accounting rules to reflect changes in fair value.



Hedging transactions may reduce our shareholders’ equity.



Hedging involves risk and typically involves costs, including transaction costs, which may reduce returns on our investments. These costs increase as the period covered by the hedging increases and during periods of rising and volatile interest rates. These costs will also limit the amount of cash available for distribution to shareholders. The REIT qualification rules may also limit our ability to enter into hedging transactions. We generally intend to hedge as much of our interest rate risk as our management determines is in our best interests given the cost of such hedging transactions and the requirements applicable to REITs. If we are unable to hedge effectively because of the cost of such hedging transactions or the limitations imposed by the REIT rules, we will face greater interest risk exposure than may be commercially prudent.



We and our hotel managers rely on information technology in our operations, and any material failure, inadequacy, interruption or security failure of that technology could harm our business.

 

We and our hotel managers rely on information technology networks and systems, including the Internet, to process, transmit and store electronic information, and to manage or support a variety of business processes, including financial transactions and records, personal identifying information, reservations, billing and operating data. We and our hotel managers purchase some of our information technology from vendors, on whom our systems depend. We and our hotel managers rely on commercially available systems, software, tools and monitoring to provide security for processing, transmission and storage of confidential operator and other customer information, such as individually identifiable information, including information relating to financial accounts. Although we and our hotel managers have taken steps we believe are necessary to protect the security of our information systems and the data maintained in those systems, it is possible that the safety and security measures taken will not be able to prevent the systems’ improper functioning or damage, or the improper access or disclosure of personally identifiable information such as in the event of cyber-attacks. Security breaches, including physical or electronic break-ins, computer viruses, attacks by hackers and similar breaches, can create system disruptions, shutdowns or unauthorized disclosure of confidential information. Any failure to maintain proper function, security and availability of our information systems could interrupt our operations, damage our reputation, subject us to liability claims or regulatory penalties and could have a material adverse effect on our business, financial condition and results of operations.

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RISKS RELATED TO REAL ESTATE INVESTMENT GENERALLY



Illiquidity of real estate investments could significantly impede our ability to respond to adverse changes in the performance of our properties and harm our financial condition.



Real estate investments are relatively illiquid. Our ability to vary our portfolio in response to changes in operating, economic and other conditions will be limited. No assurances can be given that the fair market value of any of our hotels will not decrease in the future.



If we suffer losses that are not covered by insurance or that are in excess of our insurance coverage limits, we could lose investment capital and anticipated profits.



We require comprehensive insurance to be maintained on each of the our hotels, including liability and fire and extended coverage in amounts sufficient to permit the replacement of the hotel in the event of a total loss, subject to applicable deductibles. However, there are certain types of losses, generally of a catastrophic nature, such as earthquakes, floods, hurricanes and acts of terrorism that may be uninsurable or not economically insurable. Inflation, changes in building codes and ordinances, environmental considerations and other factors also might make it impracticable to use insurance proceeds to replace the applicable hotel after such applicable hotel has been damaged or destroyed. Under such circumstances, the insurance proceeds received by us might not be adequate to restore our economic position with respect to the applicable hotel. If any of these or similar events occur, it may reduce the return from the attached property and the value of our investment.



Real estate is subject to property taxes.



Each hotel is subject to real and personal property taxes. The real and personal property taxes on hotel properties in which we invest may increase as property tax rates change and as the properties are assessed or reassessed by taxing authorities. Many state and local governments are facing budget deficits that have led many of them, and may in the future lead others to, increase assessments and/or taxes. If property taxes increase, our operating results may be negatively affected.



Environmental matters could adversely affect our results.



Operating costs may be affected by the obligation to pay for the cost of complying with existing environmental laws, ordinances and regulations, as well as the cost of future legislation. Under various federal, state and local environmental laws, ordinances and regulations, a current or previous owner or operator of real property may be liable for the costs of removal or remediation of hazardous or toxic substances on, under or in such property. Such laws often impose liability whether or not the owner or operator knew of, or was responsible for, the presence of such hazardous or toxic substances. The cost of complying with environmental laws could materially adversely affect amounts available for distribution to shareholders. Phase I environmental assessments have been obtained on all of our hotels. Nevertheless, it is possible that these reports do not reveal all environmental liabilities or that there are material environmental liabilities of which we are unaware.



Our hotel properties may contain or develop harmful mold, which could lead to liability for adverse health effects and costs of remediating the problem.

 

When excessive moisture accumulates in buildings or on building materials, mold growth may occur, particularly if the moisture problem remains undiscovered or is not addressed over a period of time. Some molds may produce airborne toxins or irritants. Concern about indoor exposure to mold has been increasing, as exposure to mold may cause a variety of adverse health effects and symptoms, including allergic or other reactions. As a result, the presence of mold to which hotel guests or employees could be exposed at any of our properties could require us to undertake a remediation program to contain or remove the mold from the affected property, which could be costly. In addition, exposure to mold by guests or employees, management company employees or others could expose us to liability if property damage or health concerns arise.



Costs associated with complying with the ADA may adversely affect our financial condition and operating results.



Under the ADA, all public accommodations are required to meet certain federal requirements related to access and use by disabled persons. While we believe that our hotels are substantially in compliance with these requirements, a determination that we are not in compliance with the ADA could result in imposition of fines or an award of damages to private litigants. In addition, changes in governmental rules and regulations or enforcement policies affecting the use and operation of the hotels, including changes to building codes and fire and life-safety codes, may occur. If we were required to make substantial modifications at the hotels to comply with the ADA or other changes in governmental rules and regulations, our ability to make expected distributions to our shareholders could be adversely affected.

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RISKS RELATED TO CONFLICTS OF INTEREST



Due to conflicts of interest, many of our existing agreements may not have been negotiated on an arm’s-length basis and may not be in our best interest.



Some of our officers and trustees have ownership interests in HHMLP and in entities with which we have entered into transactions, including hotel acquisitions and dispositions and certain financings. Consequently, the terms of our agreements with those entities, including hotel contribution or purchase agreements, the Option Agreement (as defined below) between our operating partnership and some of the trustees and officers and our property management agreements with HHMLP, while intended to be negotiated on an arm’s-length basis, may not have been and may not be in the best interest of all our shareholders. We have policies in place to encourage agreements to be negotiated on an arm’s-length basis. Transactions with related persons must be approved by a majority of the Company’s independent trustees. The Board of Trustees’ policy requires any independent trustee with a direct or indirect interest in the transaction to excuse himself or herself from any consideration of the related person transaction in which he or she has an interest.



Conflicts of interest with HHMLP may result in decisions that do not reflect our best interests.



We have entered into an option agreement (as amended, the “Option Agreement”) with each of our officers and certain trustees such that  we obtain a right of first refusal to purchase any hotel owned or developed in the future by these individuals or entities controlled by them at fair market value. This right of first refusal would apply to each party until one year after such party ceases to be an officer or trustee of the Company. Our Acquisition Committee of the Board of Trustees is comprised solely of independent trustees, and the purchase  prices and all material terms of the purchase of hotels from related parties are approved by the Acquisition Committee.



The following officers and trustees own collectively approximately 27% of  HHMLP: Hasu P. Shah, Jay H. Shah, and Neil H. Shah. Conflicts of interest may arise with respect to the ongoing operation of our hotels including, but not limited to, the enforcement of the contribution and purchase agreements, the Option Agreement and our property management agreements with HHMLP. These officers and trustees also make decisions for our company with respect to property management. Consequently, these officers and trustees may not act solely in the best interests of our shareholders relating to property management by HHMLP.



Conflicts of interest relating to sales or refinancing of hotels acquired from some of our trustees and officers may lead to decisions that are not in our best interest.



Some of our non-independent trustees and officers have unrealized gains associated with their interests in the hotels we have acquired from them and, as a result, any sale of these hotels or refinancing or prepayment of principal on the indebtedness assumed by us in purchasing these hotels may cause adverse tax consequences to such trustees and officers. Therefore, our interests and the interests of these individuals may be different in connection with the disposition or refinancing of these hotels.



Hotels owned or acquired by some of our trustees and officers may hinder these individuals from spending adequate time on our business.



Some of our trustees and officers own hotels and may develop or acquire new hotels, subject to certain limitations. Such ownership, development or acquisition activities may materially affect the amount of time these officers and trustees devote to our affairs. Some of our trustees and officers operate hotels that are not owned by us, which may materially affect the amount of time that they devote to managing our hotels. Pursuant to the Option Agreement we have an option to acquire any hotels developed by our officers and trustees.



RISKS RELATING TO OUR STRUCTURE



There are no assurances of our ability to make distributions in the future.



We intend to pay quarterly dividends and to make distributions to our shareholders in amounts such that all or substantially all of our taxable income in each year, subject to certain adjustments, is distributed. However, our ability to pay dividends may be adversely affected by the risk factors described in this annual report. All distributions will be made at the discretion of our Board of Trustees and will depend upon our earnings, our financial condition, maintenance of our REIT status and such other factors as our Board of Trustees may deem relevant from time to time. There are no assurances of our ability to pay dividends in the future.

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An increase in market interest rates may have an adverse effect on the market price of our securities.



One of the factors that investors may consider in deciding whether to buy or sell our securities is our dividend rate as a percentage of our share or unit price, relative to market interest rates. If market interest rates increase, prospective investors may desire a higher dividend or interest rate on our securities or seek securities paying higher dividends or interest. The market price of our common shares likely will be based primarily on the earnings and return that we derive from our investments and income with respect to our properties and our related distributions to shareholders, and not from the market value or underlying appraised value of the properties or investments themselves. The market price of our preferred shares is based in large part on prevailing interest rates. As a result, interest rate fluctuations and capital market conditions can affect the market price of our common shares. For instance, if interest rates rise without an increase in our dividend rate, the market price of our common shares could decrease because potential investors may require a higher dividend yield on our common shares as market rates on interest-bearing securities, such as bonds, rise. In addition, rising interest rates would result in increased interest expense on our variable rate debt, thereby adversely affecting cash flow and our ability to service our indebtedness and pay dividends.



Holders of our outstanding preferred shares have dividend, liquidation and other rights that are senior to the rights of the holders of our common shares.



Our Board of Trustees has the authority to designate and issue preferred shares with liquidation, dividend and other rights that are senior to those of our common shares. As of December 31, 2016, 3,000,000 Series C Preferred Shares, 7,700,000 Series D Preferred Shares and 4,000,000 Series E Preferred Shares were issued and outstanding. Holders of our outstanding preferred shares are entitled to cumulative dividends before any dividends may be declared or set aside on our common shares. Upon our voluntary or involuntary liquidation, dissolution or winding up, before any payment is made to holders of our common shares, holders of our preferred shares are entitled to receive a liquidation preference of $25.00 per share plus any accrued and unpaid distributions. This will reduce the remaining amount of our assets, if any, available to distribute to holders of our common shares. In addition, holders of our preferred shares have the right to elect two additional trustees to our Board of Trustees whenever dividends are in arrears in an aggregate amount equivalent to six or more quarterly dividends, whether or not consecutive.



Future offerings of equity securities, which would dilute our existing shareholders and may be senior to our common shares for the purposes of dividend distributions, may adversely affect the market price of our common shares.



In the future, we may attempt to increase our capital resources by making additional offerings of equity securities, including classes of preferred or common shares. Upon liquidation, holders of our preferred shares and lenders with respect to other borrowings will receive a distribution of our available assets prior to the holders of our common shares. Additional equity offerings may dilute the holdings of our existing shareholders or reduce the market price of our common shares, or both. Our preferred shares, if issued, could have a preference on liquidating distributions or a preference on dividend payments that could limit our ability to make a dividend distribution to the holders of our common shares. Because our decision to issue securities in any future offering will depend on market conditions and other factors beyond our control, we cannot predict or estimate the amount, timing or nature of our future offerings. Thus, our shareholders bear the risk of our future offerings reducing the market price of our common shares and diluting their share holdings in us.



We may change our distribution policy in the future.

 

In the past we have reduced the quarterly distributions paid to our shareholders, and we may reduce or eliminate the quarterly distribution paid to our shareholders in the future. The decision to declare and pay distributions on our common shares in the future, as well as the timing, amount and composition of any such future distributions, will be at the sole discretion of our board of trustees and will depend on our earnings, funds from operations, liquidity, financial condition, capital requirements, contractual prohibitions or other limitations under our indebtedness and preferred shares, the annual distribution requirements under the REIT provisions of the Code, state law and such other factors as our board of trustees deems relevant. Any change in our distribution policy could have a material adverse effect on the market price of our common shares.



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The market price of our securities could be volatile and could decline, resulting in a substantial or complete loss of your investment in our securities.

 

The stock markets have experienced significant price and volume fluctuations in the recent past. As a result, the market price of our securities has been and could be similarly volatile in the future, and investors in our securities may experience a decrease in the value of their investments, including decreases unrelated to our operating performance or prospects. The market price of our securities could be subject to wide fluctuations in response to a number of factors, including:

 

our operating performance and the performance of other similar companies;

actual or anticipated differences in our operating results;

changes in our revenues or earnings estimates or recommendations by securities analysts; publication of research reports about us or our industry by securities analysts;

additions and departures of key personnel;

strategic decisions by us or our competitors, such as acquisitions, divestments, spin-offs, joint ventures, strategic investments or changes in business strategy;

the passage of legislation or other regulatory developments or executive policies that adversely affect us or our industry;

speculation in the press or investment community; actions by institutional shareholders;

changes in accounting principles;

terrorist acts; and

general market conditions, including factors unrelated to our performance.



In the past, securities class action litigation has often been instituted against companies following periods of volatility in their stock price. This type of litigation could result in substantial costs and divert our management’s attention and resources.

 

Future sales of our common shares or securities convertible into or exchangeable or exercisable for our common shares could depress the market price of our common shares.

 

We cannot predict whether future sales of our common shares or securities convertible into or exchangeable or exercisable for our commons shares or the availability of these securities for resale in the open market will decrease the market price of our common shares. Sales of a substantial number of these securities in the public market, including sales upon the redemption of Common Units held by the limited partners of our operating partnership, (other than us and our subsidiaries) or the perception that these sales might occur, may cause the market price of our common shares to decline and you could lose all or a portion of your investment.

 

Future issuances of our common shares or other securities convertible into or exchangeable or exercisable for our common shares, including, without limitation, common units of beneficial interest in our Operating Partnership (“Common Units”), in connection with property, portfolio or business acquisitions and issuances of equity-based awards to participants in our equity incentive plans, could have an adverse effect on the market price of our common shares. Future issuances of these securities also could adversely affect the terms upon which we obtain additional capital through the sale of equity securities. In addition, future sales or issuances of our common shares may be dilutive to existing shareholders.

 

Our Board of Trustees may authorize the issuance of additional shares that may cause dilution or prevent a transaction that is in the best interests of our shareholders.



Our Declaration of Trust authorizes the Board of Trustees, without shareholder approval, to:



amend the Declaration of Trust to increase or decrease the aggregate number of shares of beneficial interest or the number of shares of beneficial interest of any class or series that we have the authority to issue;

cause us to issue additional authorized but unissued common shares or preferred shares; or

classify or reclassify any unissued common or preferred shares and to set the preferences, rights and other terms of such classified or reclassified shares, including the issuance of additional common shares or preferred shares that have preference rights over the common shares with respect to dividends, liquidation, voting and other matters.



Any one of these events could cause dilution to our common shareholders, delay, deter or prevent a transaction or a change in control that might involve a premium price for the common shares or otherwise not be viewed in the best interest of holders of common shares.



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Our Declaration of Trust contains a provision that creates staggered terms for our Board of Trustees.



Our Board of Trustees is divided into two classes, the terms of which expire every two years. Trustees of each class are elected for two-year terms upon the expiration of their current terms and each year one class of trustees will be elected by the shareholders. The staggered terms of trustees may delay, deter or prevent a tender offer, a change in control of us or other transaction, even though such a transaction might be viewed in the best interest of the shareholders.



Certain provisions of Maryland law may discourage a third party from acquiring us.



Under the Maryland General Corporation Law, as amended (MGCL), as applicable to REITs, certain “business combinations” (including certain issuances of equity securities) between a Maryland REIT and any person who beneficially owns ten percent or more of the voting power of the trust’s shares, or an affiliate thereof, are prohibited for five years after the most recent date on which such shareholder acquired at least ten percent of the voting power of the trust’s shares. Thereafter, any such business combination must be approved by two super-majority shareholder votes unless, among other conditions, the trust’s common shareholders receive a minimum price (as defined in the MGCL) for their shares and the consideration is received in cash or in the same form as previously paid by the interested shareholder for its common shares. These provisions could delay, deter or prevent a change of control or other transaction in which holders of our equity securities might receive a premium for their shares above then-current market prices or which such shareholders otherwise might believe to be in their best interests.  Although our bylaws contain a provision exempting acquisitions of our shares from the control share acquisition legislation referenced above, there can be no assurance that this provision will not be amended or eliminated at any time in the future.



Our Board of Trustees may change our investment and operational policies without a vote of the common shareholders.



Our major policies, including our policies with respect to acquisitions, financing, growth, operations, debt limitation and distributions, are determined by our Board of Trustees. The Trustees may amend or revise these and other policies from time to time without a vote of the holders of the common shares.



Our Board of Trustees and management make decisions on our behalf, and shareholders have limited management rights.



Our shareholders have no right or power to take part in our management except through the exercise of voting rights on certain specified matters. The Board of Trustees is responsible for our management and strategic business direction, and our management is responsible for our day-to-day operations. Certain policies of our Board of Trustees may not be consistent with the immediate best interests of our shareholders.



RISKS RELATED TO OUR TAX STATUS



If we fail to qualify as a REIT, our dividends will not be deductible to us, and our income will be subject to taxation, which would reduce the cash available for distribution to our shareholders.



We have operated and intend to continue to operate so as to qualify as a REIT for federal income tax purposes. However, the federal income tax laws governing REITs are extremely complex, and interpretations of the federal income tax laws governing REITs are limited. Our continued qualification as a REIT will depend on our continuing ability to meet various requirements concerning, among other things, the ownership of our outstanding shares of beneficial interest, the nature of our assets, the sources of our income, and the amount of our distributions to our shareholders. Moreover, new tax legislation, administrative guidance or court decisions, in each instance potentially with retroactive effect, could make it more difficult or impossible for us to qualify as a REIT. If we were to fail to qualify as a REIT in any taxable year and did not qualify for certain statutory relief provisions, we would not be allowed a deduction for distributions to our shareholders in computing our taxable income and would be subject to federal income tax (including any applicable alternative minimum tax) on our taxable income at regular corporate rates. Any such corporate tax liability could be substantial and would reduce the amount of cash available for distribution to our shareholders, which in turn could have an adverse impact on the value of, and trading prices for, our shares. Unless entitled to relief under certain Code provisions, we also would be disqualified from treatment as a REIT for the four taxable years following the year during which qualification was lost. As a result, amounts available for distribution to shareholders would be reduced for each of the years involved. Although we currently intend to continue to operate in a manner so as to qualify as a REIT, it is possible that future economic, market, legal, tax or other considerations may cause our Board of Trustees, with the consent of holders of two-thirds of the outstanding shares, to revoke our REIT election.

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Failure to make required distributions would subject us to tax, which would reduce the cash available for distribution to our shareholders.



In order to maintain our qualification as a REIT, each year we must distribute to our shareholders at least 90% of our REIT taxable income, determined without regard to the deduction for dividends paid and excluding net capital gain. To the extent that we satisfy the 90% distribution requirement, but distribute less than 100% of our taxable income, we will be subject to federal corporate income tax on our undistributed income. In addition, we will incur a 4% nondeductible excise tax on the amount, if any, by which our actual distributions in any year are less than the sum of:



85% of our REIT ordinary income for that year;

95% of our REIT capital gain net income for that year; and

100% of our undistributed taxable income required to be distributed from prior years.



We have distributed, and intend to continue to distribute, our taxable income to our shareholders in a manner intended to satisfy the 90% distribution requirement and to avoid corporate income tax and the 4% nondeductible excise tax. Differences in timing between the recognition of income and the related cash receipts or the effect of required debt amortization payments could require us to borrow money or sell assets to pay out enough of our taxable income to satisfy the distribution requirement and to avoid corporate income tax and the 4% nondeductible excise tax in a particular year. In the past we have borrowed, and in the future we may borrow, to pay distributions to our shareholders and the limited partners of our operating partnership. Such borrowings subject us to risks from borrowing as described herein. Additionally, we may, if necessary and allowable, pay taxable dividends of our shares or debt securities to meet the distribution requirements.



If the leases of our hotels to our TRSs are not respected as true leases for federal income tax purposes, we would fail to qualify as a REIT.



To maintain our qualification as a REIT, we must satisfy two gross income tests, under which specified percentages of our gross income must be derived from certain sources, such as “rents from real property.” Rents paid to our operating partnership by our TRSs pursuant to the lease of our hotels constitute substantially all of our gross income. In order for such rent to qualify as “rents from real property” for purposes of the gross income tests, the leases must be respected as true leases for federal income tax purposes and not be treated as service contracts, joint ventures or some other type of arrangement. If our leases are not respected as true leases for federal income tax purposes, we would fail to qualify as a REIT.



Our ownership of our TRSs is limited and our transactions with our TRSs will cause us to be subject to a 100% penalty tax on certain income or deductions if those transactions are not conducted on arm's-length terms.



A REIT may own up to 100% of the stock of one or more TRSs. A TRS may hold assets and earn income that would not be qualifying assets or income if held or earned directly by a REIT, including gross operating income from hotel operations pursuant to hotel management contracts. Both the subsidiary and the REIT must jointly elect to treat the subsidiary as a TRS. A corporation of which a TRS directly or indirectly owns more than 35% of the voting power or value of the stock will automatically be treated as a TRS. Overall, no more than 25% (or 20% for taxable years beginning after December 31, 2017) of the value of a REIT's assets may consist of stock or securities of one or more TRSs. In addition, the TRS rules limit the deductibility of interest paid or accrued by a TRS to its parent REIT to assure that the TRS is subject to an appropriate level of corporate taxation. The rules also impose a 100% excise tax on certain transactions between a TRS and its parent REIT that are not conducted on an arm's-length basis.



Our TRSs are subject to applicable federal, foreign, state and local income tax on their taxable income, and their after-tax net income will be available for distribution to us but is not required to be distributed to us. We believe that the aggregate value of the stock and securities of our TRSs is and will continue to be less than 25% (or 20% beginning after December 31, 2017) of the value of our total assets (including our TRS stock and securities). Furthermore, we will monitor the value of our respective investments in our TRSs for the purpose of ensuring compliance with TRS ownership limitations. In addition, we will scrutinize all of our transactions with our TRSs to ensure that they are entered into on arm's-length terms to avoid incurring the 100% excise tax described above. There can be no assurance, however, that we will be able to comply with the 25% (or 20%) limitation discussed above or to avoid application of the 100% excise tax discussed above.



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If our hotel managers do not qualify as “eligible independent contractors,” we would fail to qualify as a REIT.

 

Rent paid by a lessee that is a “related party tenant” of ours will not be qualifying income for purposes of the two gross income tests applicable to REITs. We lease our hotels to our TRSs. A TRS will not be treated as a “related party tenant,” and will not be treated as directly operating a lodging facility, which is prohibited, to the extent the TRS leases properties from us that are managed by an “eligible independent contractor.”

 

We believe that the rent paid by our TRSs is qualifying income for purposes of the REIT gross income tests and that our TRSs qualify to be treated as taxable REIT subsidiaries for federal income tax purposes, but there can be no assurance that the Internal Revenue Service, or the IRS, will not challenge this treatment or that a court would not sustain such a challenge. If the IRS successfully challenged this treatment, we would likely fail to satisfy the asset tests applicable to REITs and substantially all of our income would fail to qualify for the gross income tests. If we failed to satisfy either the asset or gross income tests, we would likely lose our REIT qualification for federal income tax purposes, unless certain relief provisions applied.



If our hotel managers do not qualify as “eligible independent contractors,” we would fail to qualify as a REIT. Each of the hotel management companies that enters into a management contract with our TRSs must qualify as an “eligible independent contractor” under the REIT rules in order for the rent paid to us by our TRSs to be qualifying income for our REIT income test requirements. Among other requirements, in order to qualify as an eligible independent contractor a manager must not own more than 35% of our outstanding shares (by value) and no person or group of persons can own more than 35% of our outstanding shares and the ownership interests of the manager, taking into account only owners of more than 5% of our shares and, with respect to ownership interests in such managers that are publicly traded, only holders of more than 5% of such ownership interests. Complex ownership attribution rules apply for purposes of these 35% thresholds. Although we intend to continue to monitor ownership of our shares by our hotel managers and their owners, there can be no assurance that these ownership levels will not be exceeded.

 

The federal income tax laws governing REITs are complex.



We intend to continue to operate in a manner that will qualify us as a REIT under the federal income tax laws. The REIT qualification requirements are extremely complex, however, and interpretations of the federal income tax laws governing qualification as a REIT are limited. Accordingly, we cannot be certain that we will be successful in operating so we can continue to qualify as a REIT. At any time, new laws, interpretations, or court decisions may change the federal tax laws or the federal income tax consequences of our qualification as a REIT.



Complying with REIT requirements may force us to sell otherwise attractive investments.



To maintain our qualification as a REIT, we must satisfy certain requirements with respect to the character of our assets. If we fail to comply with these requirements at the end of any calendar quarter, we must correct such failure within 30 days after the end of the calendar quarter (by, possibly, selling assets notwithstanding their prospects as an investment) to avoid losing our REIT status. If we fail to comply with these requirements at the end of any calendar quarter, and the failure exceeds a de minimis threshold, we may be able to preserve our REIT status if (a) the failure was due to reasonable cause and not to willful neglect, (b) we dispose of the assets causing the failure within six months after the last day of the quarter in which we identified the failure, (c) we file a schedule with the IRS, describing each asset that caused the failure, and (d) we pay an additional tax of the greater of $50,000 or the product of the highest applicable tax rate multiplied by the net income generated on those assets. As a result, we may be required to liquidate otherwise attractive investments.



The prohibited transactions tax may limit our ability to engage in transactions, including dispositions of assets that would be treated as sales for federal income tax purposes.



A REIT's net income from prohibited transactions is subject to a 100% tax. In general, prohibited transactions are sales or other dispositions of property, other than foreclosure property, held primarily for sale to customers in the ordinary course of business. We may be subject to the prohibited transaction tax upon a disposition of real property. Although a safe harbor to the characterization of the sale of real property by a REIT as a prohibited transaction is available, we cannot assure you that we can comply with the safe harbor or that we will avoid owning property that may be characterized as held primarily for sale to customers in the ordinary course of business. Consequently, we may choose not to engage in certain sales of real property or may conduct such sales through a TRS.



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We may pay taxable dividends partly in shares and partly in cash, in which case shareholders may sell our shares to pay tax on such dividends, placing downward pressure on the market price of our shares.

 

We may make taxable dividends that are payable partly in cash and partly in shares. The IRS has issued private letter rulings to other REITs treating certain distributions that are paid partly in cash and partly in shares as dividends that would satisfy the REIT annual distribution requirement and qualify for the dividends paid deduction for federal income tax purposes. Those rulings may be relied upon only by the taxpayers to whom they were issued, but we could request a similar ruling from the IRS. In addition, the IRS issued a revenue procedure creating a temporary safe harbor that authorized publicly traded REITs to make elective cash/stock dividends, but that temporary safe harbor has expired. Accordingly, it is unclear whether and to what extent we will be able to make taxable dividends payable in cash and shares. If in the future we choose to pay dividends in our own shares, our shareholders may be required to pay tax in excess of the cash that they receive. If a U.S. shareholder sells the shares that it receives as a dividend in order to pay this tax, the sales proceeds may be less than the amount included in income with respect to the dividend, depending on the market price of our shares at the time of the sale. Furthermore, with respect to certain non-U.S. shareholders, we may be required to withhold U.S. federal income tax with respect to such dividends, including in respect of all or a portion of such dividend that is payable in shares. If we pay dividends in our own shares and a significant number of our shareholders determine to sell our shares in order to pay taxes owed on dividends, it may put downward pressure on the trading price of our shares.



Dividends payable by REITs do not qualify for the reduced tax rates available for some dividends.



The tax rate applicable to “qualified dividend income” payable to domestic stockholders taxed at individual rates may be 20% or lower. Dividends payable by REITs, however, generally are not eligible for the reduced rates for qualified dividend income. Although this legislation does not adversely affect the taxation of REITs or dividends payable by REITs, the more favorable rates applicable to regular corporate qualified dividends could cause investors who are taxed at individual rates to perceive investments in REITs to be relatively less attractive than investments in the stocks of non-REIT corporations that pay dividends, which could adversely affect the value of the stock of REITs, including our shares.



Our share ownership limitation may prevent certain transfers of our shares.



In order to maintain our qualification as a REIT, not more than 50% in value of our outstanding shares of beneficial interest may be owned, directly or indirectly, by five or fewer individuals (as defined in the Code to include certain entities). Our Declaration of Trust prohibits direct or indirect ownership (taking into account applicable ownership provisions of the Code) of more than (a) 9.9% of the aggregate number of outstanding common shares of any class or series or (b) 9.9% of the aggregate number of outstanding preferred shares of any class or series of outstanding preferred shares by any shareholder or group, or the Ownership Limitation. Generally, the shares of beneficial interest owned by related owners will be aggregated for purposes of the Ownership Limitation. The Board of Trustees, upon receipt of advice of counsel or other evidence satisfactory to the Board of Trustees, in its sole and absolute discretion, may exempt a shareholder from the Ownership Limitation. The Ownership Limitation could have the effect of delaying, deterring or preventing a change in control or other transaction in which holders of shares might receive a premium for their shares over the then prevailing market price or which such holders might believe to be otherwise in their best interests. Any transfer of shares of beneficial interest that would violate the Ownership Limitation, cause us to have fewer than 100 shareholders, cause us to be “closely held” within the meaning of Section 856(h) of the Code or cause us to own, directly or indirectly, 10% or more of the ownership interest in any tenant (other than a TRS) will be void, the intended transferee of such shares will be deemed never to have had an interest in such shares, and such shares will be designated “shares-in-trust.” Further, we will be deemed to have been offered shares-in-trust for purchase at the lesser of the market price (as defined in the Declaration of Trust) on the date we accept the offer and the price per share in the transaction that created such shares-in-trust (or, in the case of a gift, devise or non-transfer event (as defined in the Declaration of Trust), the market price on the date of such gift, devise or non-transfer event). Therefore, the holder of shares of beneficial interest in excess of the Ownership Limitation will experience a financial loss when such shares are purchased by us, if the market price falls between the date of purchase and the date of redemption.



We may be subject to adverse legislative or regulatory tax changes that could reduce the market price of our shares.



At any time, the federal income tax laws governing REITs or the administrative interpretations of those laws may be amended. We cannot predict when or if any new federal income tax law, regulation, or administrative interpretation, or any amendment to any existing federal income tax law, regulation or administrative interpretation, will be adopted, promulgated or become effective and any such law, regulation, or interpretation may take effect retroactively. In addition, according to publicly released statements, a top legislative priority of the Trump administration and Congress may be significant reform of the Code, including significant changes to taxation of business entities.  There is a substantial lack of clarity around both the timing and the details of any such tax reform and the impact of any potential tax reform on an investment in us.  We and our shareholders could be adversely affected by any such change in, or any new, federal income tax law, regulation or administrative interpretation.

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None.



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The following table sets forth certain information with respect to the 43 hotels we wholly owned as of December 31, 2016, all of which are consolidated on the Company’s financial statements.

 







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(1) Our interests in these hotels are subject to ground leases which, in most cases, require monthly rental payment as determined by the applicable ground lease agreement. These ground lease agreements typically have initial terms of 99 years and all have a remaining term of at least 85 years.

(2) These properties were sold on January 5, 2017.



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The following table sets forth certain information with respect to the 12 hotels we owned through unconsolidated joint ventures with third parties as of December 31, 2016.







(1) The joint ventures interests in these hotels are subject to ground leases which, in most cases, require monthly rental payment as determined by the applicable ground lease agreements. These ground lease agreements typically have terms of 60 years and all have a remaining term of at least 44 years.

(2)  On January 3, 2017, we redeemed our joint venture interest in Mystic Partners, LLC by acquiring 100% ownership interest in the Mystic Marriott Hotel & Spa and transferring our minority ownership interests in the Hartford Marriott and Hartford Hilton to the joint venture partner.

(3) The percentages shown for these properties represent our common ownership interest in the CINDAT JV.  As of December 31, 2016, we owned a $43,194 preferred equity interest in the joint venture, which earns a 9% cumulative preferred return.  See Note 3 – Investment in Unconsolidated Joint Ventures for a more detailed explanation of our ownership interest and the related distribution of earnings within the venture.

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We are not presently subject to any material litigation nor, to our knowledge, is any other litigation threatened against us, other than routine actions for negligence or other claims and administrative proceedings arising in the ordinary course of business, some of which are expected to be covered by liability insurance and all of which collectively are not expected to have a material adverse effect on our liquidity, results of operations or business or financial condition.





Not applicable.

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PART II





MARKET INFORMATION



Our common shares trade on the New York Stock Exchange under the symbol “HT.” As of February 22, 2017, the last reported closing price per common share on the New York Stock Exchange was $21.17. The following table sets forth the high and low sales price per common share reported on the New York Stock Exchange as traded and the dividends declared on the common shares for each of the quarters indicated.





*Represents the aggregate of a quarterly dividend of $0.28 per common share and an additional special dividend of $0.20 per common share.

**Adjusted for 4-for-1 reverse share split effective as of June 22, 2015.



SHAREHOLDER INFORMATION



At December 31, 2016 we had approximately 122 shareholders of record of our common shares. Common Units (which are redeemable by holders for cash or, at our option, for common shares on a one for one basis, subject to certain limitations) were held by approximately 38 entities and persons, including our company.



Our Declaration of Trust, subject to certain exceptions, provides that no person may own, or be deemed to own by virtue of the attribution provisions of the Code, more than 9.9% of the number of outstanding common shares of any class or series of common shares or the number of outstanding preferred shares of any class or series of preferred shares. For this purpose, a person includes a “group” and a “beneficial owner” as those terms are used for purposes of Section 13(d)(3) of the Exchange Act. Any transfer of common or preferred shares that would result in any person owning, directly or indirectly, common or preferred shares in excess of the ownership limitation, result in the common and preferred shares being owned by fewer than 100 persons (determined without reference to any rules of attribution), result in our being “closely held” within the meaning of Section 856(h) of the Code, or cause us to own, actually or constructively, 10% or more of the ownership interests in a tenant (other than a TRS) of our or our operating partnership’s real property, within the meaning of Section 856(d)(2)(B) of the Code, will be null and void, and the intended transferee will acquire no rights in such common or preferred shares.



Any person who acquires or attempts to acquire common or preferred shares in violation of the foregoing restrictions, or any person who owned common or preferred shares that were transferred to a trust, will be required to give written notice immediately to us of such event and provide us with such other information as we may request in order to determine the effect, if any, of such transfer on our status as a REIT.



In addition, our trustees, upon receipt of advice of counsel or other evidence satisfactory to the trustees, in their sole and absolute discretion, may, in their sole and absolute discretion, exempt a person from the ownership limitation under certain circumstances. The foregoing restrictions continue to apply until the trustees determine that it is no longer in our best interests to attempt to qualify, or to continue to qualify, as a REIT and there is an affirmative vote of two-thirds of the number of common and preferred shares entitled to vote on such matter at a regular or special meeting of our shareholders.



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All certificates representing common or preferred shares bear a legend referring to the restrictions described above.



The restrictions on ownership and transfer described above could have the effect of delaying, deterring or preventing a change in control or other transaction in which holders of some, or a majority, of our common shares might receive a premium for their shares over the then-prevailing market price or which such holders might believe to be otherwise in their best interest.



EQUITY COMPENSATION PLAN



See Part III, Item 12, for a description of securities authorized for issuance under our Amended and Restated 2012 Equity Incentive Plan.



DISTRIBUTION INFORMATION



Future distributions, if any, will be at the discretion of our Board of Trustees and will depend on our actual cash flow, financial condition, capital requirements, the annual distribution requirements under the REIT provisions of the Internal Revenue Code and such other factors as we may deem relevant. Our ability to make distributions will depend on our receipt of distributions from our operating partnership and lease payments from our lessees with respect to the hotels. We rely on the profitability and cashflows of our hotels to generate sufficient cash flow for distributions. Additionally, we may, if necessary and allowable, pay taxable dividends of our shares or debt securities to meet the distribution requirements.



SHARE PERFORMANCE GRAPH

 

The following graph compares the yearly change in our cumulative total shareholder return on our common shares for the period beginning December 31, 2011 and ending December 31, 2016, with the yearly changes in the Standard & Poor’s 500 Stock Index (the S&P 500 Index), the Russell 2000 Index, and the SNL Hotel REIT Index for the same period, assuming a base share price of $100.00 for our common shares, the S&P 500 Index, the Russell 2000 Index and the Hotel REIT Index for comparative purposes. The Hotel REIT Index is comprised of publicly traded REITs which focus on investments in hotel properties. Total shareholder return equals appreciation in stock price plus dividends paid and assumes that all dividends are reinvested. The performance graph is not indicative of future investment performance. We do not make or endorse any predictions as to future share price performance.







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Unregistered Sales of Equity Securities and Use of Proceeds



A summary of our common share repurchases (in millions, except average price per share) during the year ended December 31, 2016 under the $100 million repurchase program authorized by our Board of Trustees in December 2012 and reauthorized in February 2015, October 2015 and October 2016 is set forth in the table below. All such common shares were repurchased pursuant to open market transactions.



In October 2015, our Board of Trustees authorized us to repurchase from time to time up to an aggregate of $100 million of our outstanding common shares. This new program was in addition to the existing $100 million program authorized in February 2015 and commenced upon completion of the existing $100 million common share repurchase program, and expired on December 31, 2016. 



In October 2016, our Board of Trustees authorized us to repurchase from time to time up to an aggregate of $100 million of our outstanding common shares. This new program is in addition to the existing $100 million program authorized in October 2015 and will commence upon completion of the existing $100 million common share repurchase program, and will expire on December 31, 2017.  We may seek Board of Trustee approval to increase the 2016 authorization.



In May 2015, our Board of Trustees approved a reverse share split of our issued and outstanding common shares at a ratio of 1-for-4. This reverse share split converted every four issued and outstanding common shares into one common share. The reverse share split was effective as of 5:00 PM Eastern time on June 22, 2015. All common share and per share data shown below have been updated to reflect this share split as if it occurred on January 1, 2015.







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The following sets forth selected financial and operating data on a historical consolidated basis. The following data should be read in conjunction with the financial statements and notes thereto and Management’s Discussion and Analysis of Financial Condition and Results of Operations included elsewhere in this Form 10-K.   As a result of the early adoption on January 1, 2014 of ASU Update No. 2014-08, we do not expect to classify most of our hotel dispositions as discontinued operations.  For purposes of this table below, the operating results of certain real estate assets which have been sold prior to the adoption of ASU Update No. 2014-08 are included in discontinued operations for all periods presented.

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HERSHA HOSPITALITY TRUST

SELECTED FINANCIAL DATA

(In thousands, except per share data)





 

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HERSHA HOSPITALITY TRUST

SELECTED FINANCIAL DATA

(In thousands, except per share data)





(1) Income allocated to noncontrolling interest in HHLP has been excluded from the numerator and Common Units have been omitted from the denominator for the purpose of computing diluted earnings per share because the effect of including these amounts in the numerator and denominator would have no impact.

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Certain statements appearing in this Item 7 are forward-looking statements within the meaning of the federal securities laws. Our actual results may differ materially. We caution you not to place undue reliance on any such forward-looking statements. See “Cautionary Factors That May Affect Future Results” for additional information regarding our forward-looking statements.



BACKGROUND



As of December 31, 2016, we owned interests in 55 hotels in major urban gateway markets including New York, Washington DC, Boston, Philadelphia, San Diego, Los Angeles, Miami and select markets on the West Coast including 43 wholly-owned hotels and interests in 12 hotels owned through unconsolidated joint ventures.  We have elected to be taxed as a REIT for federal income tax purposes, beginning with the taxable year ended December 31, 1999. For purposes of the REIT qualification rules, we cannot directly operate any of our hotels. Instead, we must lease our hotels to a third party lessee or to a TRS, provided that the TRS engages an eligible independent contractor to manage the hotels. As of December 31, 2016, we have leased all of our hotels to a wholly-owned TRS, a joint venture owned TRS, or an entity owned by our wholly-owned TRS. Each of these TRS entities will pay qualifying rent, and the TRS entities have entered into management contracts with qualified independent managers, including HHMLP, with respect to our hotels. We intend to lease all newly acquired hotels to a TRS. The TRS structure enables us to participate more directly in the operating performance of our hotels. Each TRS directly receives all revenue from, and funds all expenses relating to, hotel operations of the hotels that it leases. Each TRS is also subject to income tax on its earnings.

 



OVERVIEW



We believe the changes in our equity and debt capitalization and repositioning of our portfolio better enables us to capitalize on further improvement in lodging fundamentals. During 2016, we continued to see improvements in ADR and RevPAR, led by hotels in most of our major locations, while operating margins remain relatively flat. We continue to seek acquisition opportunities in urban centers and central business districts. In addition, we will continue to look for attractive opportunities to divest certain of our properties at favorable prices, potentially redeploying that capital in our focus markets or opportunistically repurchasing our common shares. We may seek to buy out or sell our joint venture interests to select existing joint venture partners.



We expect continued stability and improvement in consumer and commercial spending and lodging demand in many of our markets during 2017.  However some markets, such as New York City and South Florida, are encountering less favorable supply and demand dynamics. Industry wide occupancy has surpassed peak occupancy from the previous cycle which should allow hotel operators to increase ADR across the United States (“U.S.”).  However, the manner in which the economy will continue to grow, if at all, is not predictable and we have no way of predicting how any policies pursued by the new U.S. administration will affect the markets in which we operate or the tourism industry in general. In addition, the availability of hotel-level financing for the acquisition of new hotels is not within our control. As a result, there can be no assurances that we will be able to grow hotel revenues, occupancy, ADR or RevPAR at our properties as we hope.  Factors that might contribute to less than anticipated performance include those described under the heading “Item 1A. Risk Factors” and other documents that we may file with the SEC in the future. We will continue to cautiously monitor recovery in lodging demand and rates, our third party hotel managers and our performance generally.



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SUMMARY OF OPERATING RESULTS



The following table outlines operating results for the Company’s portfolio of wholly owned hotels and those owned through joint venture interests that are consolidated in our financial statements for the three years ended December 31, 2016, 2015 and 2014.



We define a comparable consolidated hotel as one that is currently consolidated, that we have owned in whole or in part for the entirety of the periods being presented, and is deemed fully operational.  Based on this definition, for the years ended December 31, 2016 and 2015, there are 41 and 46 comparable consolidated hotels, respectively. The comparable key hotel operating statistics presented in the table below have been computed using pro forma methodology to compute the operating results for the portion of time prior to our ownership of hotels purchased during the comparable period for the year ended December 31, 2016 compared to the year ended December 31, 2015, and the year ended December 31, 2015 compared to the year ended December 31, 2014 for our comparable hotels. 



For the comparison of December 31, 2016 to December 31, 2015, comparable hotel operating results contain results from our consolidated hotels owned as of December 31, 2016, excluding: (1) The Envoy because the hotel was not operational for the full year ended December 31, 2015; (2) The Ambrose Hotel due to the fact that we owned the hotel for less than a month over the comparable period and determined its inclusion not meaningful to the analysis; and (3) the results of all hotels sold during the years ended December 31, 2016 and 2015.  The comparison of December 31, 2016 to December 31, 2015 includes results as reported by the prior owners for the following hotels acquired during 2016 and 2015:





For the comparison of December 31, 2015 to December 31, 2014, comparable hotel operating results contain results from our consolidated hotels owned as of December 31, 2015, excluding: (1) Hilton Garden Inn Midtown East and Hampton Inn Pearl Street because the hotels were newly constructed and not open for business for the full year ended December 31, 2014; (2) The Ritz Carlton Georgetown due to the fact that we owned the hotel for less than a month over the comparable period and determined its inclusion not meaningful to the analysis; and (3) the results of all hotels sold during the years ended December 31, 2015 and 2014.  The comparison of December 31, 2015 to December 31, 2014 includes results as reported by the prior owners for the following hotels acquired during 2015 and 2014:







RevPAR for the year ended December 31, 2016 increased 2.1% for our comparable consolidated hotels when compared to 2015.  The 2.1% increase in 2016 is off from the 5.8%  comparable hotel growth experienced in 2015, which can be partially explained by the softening of the New York and South Florida markets during 2016 which negatively impacted RevPAR growth on a comparable basis by -140 basis points and -80 basis points, respectively. The Company experienced stronger RevPAR

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growth from comparable consolidated hotels in our West Coast, Philadelphia, and Washington D.C. markets which all experienced greater than 6% growth for 2016 when compared to 2015.  Current year results compared to 2015 were also hindered by ongoing renovations at seven of our hotels, and new supply which inhibited rate growth in some of our properties in the New York City and South Florida markets.





The decreases in occupancy, ADR, RevPAR, room revenues and total revenues for the twelve months ended December 31, 2016 over the same periods in 2015 are primarily driven by the results of operations of seven hotel properties located in New York City that were contributed to the CINDAT JV (as defined in “Note 2 – Investment in Hotel Properties” to the consolidated financial statements) which was established on April 29, 2016 as part of the CINDAT JV. The addition of these seven hotels to the comparable set resulted in the negative trends presented in the table above.  As we also experienced in our consolidated results, the New York City market has proven challenging from a growth perspective due to increasing supply in the market which is placing downward pressure on both occupancy and rate. 



COMPARISON OF THE YEAR ENDED DECEMBER 31, 2016 TO DECEMBER 31, 2015

(dollars in thousands, except ADR and per share data)



Revenue



Our total revenues for the years ended December 31, 2016 and 2015 consisted entirely of hotel operating revenues, including room, food and beverage and other operating department revenues, and other revenue.  Hotel operating revenues are recorded for wholly-owned hotels that are leased to our wholly owned TRS and hotels owned through joint venture or other interests that are consolidated in our financial statements.  Hotel operating revenues decreased  $3,902, or 0.8%, from $470,272 for the year ended December 31, 2015 to $466,370 for the same period in 2016.  This decrease in hotel operating revenues was primarily attributable to the impact of the hotels contributed to the Cindat joint venture, offset by the acquisition of hotel properties, continued growth and stabilization of our existing assets. Revenue generated from current year acquisitions and incremental revenue increases from 2015 acquisitions contributed $57,445 in incremental revenue during the twelve months ended December 31, 2016 when compared to the same period in 2015.   The contribution of seven hotels to our joint venture with Cindat and disposition of four assets to unrelated third parties caused a decrease in revenue of $69,641 during the same period.



Since December 31, 2015, we have acquired interests in five consolidated hotels. These five hotels contributed the following operating revenues for the twelve months ended December 31, 2016.





Revenues for all hotels were recorded from the date of acquisition as hotel operating revenues. Further, hotel operating revenues for the year ended December 31, 2016 included revenues for the following hotels that were purchased

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during the year ended December 31, 2015. Hotels acquired during the year ended December 31, 2015 would have a full year of results included in the year ended December 31, 2016 but not necessarily a full year of results during the same period in 2015.



We acquired interests in the following consolidated hotels during the year ended December 31, 2015:











Offsetting these acquisitions is our contribution of the seven properties to the joint venture with Cindat during the second quarter of 2016, and the sale of four properties during 2016.  These 11 hotels contributed $30,123 in operating revenues to our consolidated hotel portfolio for the period of ownership during the year ended December 31, 2016 compared to the revenues they generated during the year ended December 31, 2015 when we recorded $99,764 related to these hotels.







In addition, our comparable consolidated portfolio experienced improvements in ADR and RevPAR during the year ended December 31, 2016 when compared to the same period in 2015. ADR improved 2.1%, increasing from $202.62 for the year ended December 31, 2015 to  $206.96 during the same period in 2016. RevPAR in our same comparable consolidated hotels increased 2.1% from $167.68 during the year ended December 31, 2015 to $171.27 for the same period in 2016. These improvements were due to improvements in lodging trends in the markets in which our hotels are located.  In particular, the Company experienced stronger RevPAR growth from comparable consolidated hotels in our West Coast, Philadelphia, and Washington D.C. markets which all experienced greater than 6% growth for 2016 when compared to 2015.  Current year results compared to 2015 were also hindered by ongoing renovations at seven of our hotels, and new supply which inhibited rate growth in some of our properties in the New York City and South Florida markets.



Expenses



Total hotel operating expenses, including room, food and beverage and other operating department expenses increased 3.4% to approximately $262,956 for the year ended December 31, 2016 from $254,313 for the year ended December 31, 2015. This increase in operating expenses is primarily attributable to hotel properties acquired in our existing portfolio, offset by a $29,214 decrease in hotel operating expenses recorded during the year ended December 31, 2015 compared to 2016 due to the contribution of seven hotel properties to the joint venture with Cindat as well as the other hotel dispositions. Depreciation and amortization increased by 1.3%, or $1,000, to $75,390 for the year ended December 31, 2016 from $74,390 for the year ended December 31, 2015.  The increase was a result of depreciation and amortization recorded on the hotels recently acquired, offset by a decrease of approximately $5,685 in depreciation and amortization recorded during the year ended December 31, 2015 compared to 2016 for properties part of the joint venture with Cindat.  Real estate and personal property tax and property insurance decreased $2,361, or 6.8%, for the year ended December 31, 2016 when compared to the same period in 2015. This was primarily attributable to a decrease of $6,000 in real estate and property insurance during the current year related to the seven hotel properties contributed to the joint venture with Cindat in April of 2016. We otherwise

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typically experience increases in tax assessments and tax rates as the economy improves which are offset by reductions resulting from our management of this expense.



General and administrative expense increased by approximately  $3,929 to $24,444 for the year ended December 31, 2016 from  $20,515  for the year ended December 31, 2015.  General and administrative expense includes expense related to non-cash share based payments issued as incentive compensation to the Company’s trustees, executives, and employees.   Expense related to share based compensation increased $1,525 when comparing the year ended December 31, 2016 to the same period in 2015. This increase in share based compensation expense is primarily related to the issuance of share awards under the 2013 Multi-Year LTIP during the year ended December 31,2016 as the performance period ended December 31, 2015. Please refer to “Note 8 – Share Based Payments” of the notes to the consolidated financial statements for more information about our stock based compensation.

 

Amounts recorded on our consolidated statement of operations for acquisition and terminated transaction costs will fluctuate from period to period based on our acquisition activities.  Acquisition and terminated transaction costs typically consist of transfer taxes, legal fees and other costs associated with acquiring a hotel property and transactions that were terminated during the year. Acquisition and terminated transaction costs increased $1,441 from $1,119 for the year ended December 31, 2015 to $2,560 for the same period in 2016. The costs incurred in 2016 were primarily related to our acquisition of the Sanctuary Beach Resort, Marina, CA, the Hilton Garden Inn M Street, Washington, DC, the Envoy Hotel, Boston, MA, the Courtyard by Marriott, Sunnyvale, CA and The Ambrose, Santa Monica, CA while the costs incurred in 2015 primarily related to our acquisitions of St. Gregory Hotel in Washington, DC, TownePlace Suites, Sunnyvale, CA and Ritz Carlton Georgetown, Washington, DC.  Also included in acquisition and terminated transaction costs are charges related to transactions that were terminated during the period.

Operating Income

Operating income for the year ended December 31, 2016 was $65,522 compared to operating income of $82,393 during the same period in 2015. Operating income was negatively impacted by the dispositions of the hotel properties noted above.



Interest Expense



Interest expense increased $795 from $43,557 for the year ended December 31, 2015 to $44,352 for the year ended December 31, 2016. The increase in interest expense is primarily due to increased borrowings drawn on the Second Term Loan during the third and fourth quarters of 2015, and the Third Term Loan during the third and fourth quarter of 2016.  These borrowings were used to acquire hotel properties and to pay down consolidated mortgage debt.



Gain on Disposition of Hotel Properties



During the year ended December 31, 2016, the Company recorded a net gain of $115,839 related to the Cindat joint venture transaction and the sales of the Hyatt Place, King of Prussia, PA, Hawthorn Suites, Franklin, MA, Residence Inn, Norwood, MA and Residence Inn, Framingham, MA. Please refer to “Note 3 – Investment in Unconsolidated Joint Ventures” of the notes to the consolidated financial statements for more information about the Cindat joint venture.



Unconsolidated Joint Venture Investments

 

The income from unconsolidated joint ventures consists of our interest in the operating results of the properties we own in joint ventures. Income from our unconsolidated joint ventures decreased by $2,788 to a loss of $1,823 for the year ended December 31, 2016 compared to income of $965 during the same period in 2015, due to the loss we recognized on our equity interest in the Cindat joint venture, offset by improvements in the markets of the hotels owned by our unconsolidated joint venture investments, particularly the Boston market where two of these hotels are located.



Income Tax Benefit



During the year ended December 31, 2016, the Company recorded an income tax benefit of $4,888 compared to an income tax benefit of $3,141 for the year ended December 31, 2015.



Net Income Applicable to Common Shareholders



Net income applicable to common shareholders for the year ended December 31, 2016 was $95,579 compared to income of $27,440 during the same period in 2015.  This increase in net income was primarily caused by the net gain of $115,839 realized on the Cindat joint venture transaction and the sales of the Hyatt Place, King of Prussia, PA, the Hawthorn Suites, Franklin, MA, Residence Inn Norwood, MA and Residence Inn, Framingham, MA. Please refer to “Note 3 – Investment in Unconsolidated Joint Ventures” of the notes to the consolidated financial statements for more information about the Cindat

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joint venture.  Offsetting this increase in net income was an increase of approximately $3,024 in preferred distributions and $4,021 in extinguishment of issuance costs related to our redemption of the Series B preferred shares in 2016 and a $16,831 expense incurred as result of a lease buyout of a restaurant at our Courtyard by Marriott, Miami, FL property made in conjunction with an overall property improvement and up-branding strategy.



Comprehensive Income Attributable to Common Shareholders



Comprehensive income attributable to common shareholders for the year ended December 31, 2016 was $97,328 compared to comprehensive income of $27,332 for the same period in 2015. This amount was primarily attributable to gains on disposition of hotel properties as more fully described above. For the year ended December 31, 2016, we recorded comprehensive income of $123,296 compared to $42,099 of comprehensive income for the year ended December 31, 2015. The increase in comprehensive income was primarily due to the $79,250 increase in net income. 





COMPARISON OF THE YEAR ENDED DECEMBER 31, 2015 TO DECEMBER 31, 2014

(dollars in thousands, except per share data)



Revenue



Our total revenues for the years ended December 31, 2015 and 2014 consisted entirely of hotel operating revenues and other revenue. Hotel operating revenues are recorded for wholly owned hotels that are leased to our wholly owned TRS and hotels owned through joint venture interests that were consolidated in our financial statements during the period. Hotel operating revenues increased $53,046, or 12.7%, from $417,226 for the year ended December 31, 2014 to $470,272 for the same period in 2015. This increase in hotel operating revenues was primarily attributable to the acquisition of hotel properties consummated in 2015 and 2014 as well as the continued growth and stabilization of our existing assets.



Since December 31, 2014, we have acquired interests in three consolidated hotels. These three hotels contributed the following operating revenues for the twelve months ended December 31, 2015.









Revenues for all hotels were recorded from the date of acquisition as hotel operating revenues. Further, hotel operating revenues for the year ended December 31, 2015 included revenues for the following hotels that were purchased during the year ended December 31, 2014. Hotels acquired during the year ended December 31, 2014 would have a full year of results included in the year ended December 31, 2015 but not necessarily a full year of results during the same period in 2014.

We acquired interests in the following consolidated hotels during the year ended December 31, 2014:









*Date the hotel began operations.



In addition, our comparable consolidated portfolio experienced improvements in ADR and occupancy during the year ended December 31, 2015 when compared to the same period in 2014. Occupancy in our comparable consolidated hotels increased 110 basis points from 82.6% during the year ended December 31, 2014 to 83.7% for the same period in 2015. ADR improved 4.5%, increasing from $187.21 for the year ended December 31, 2014 to $195.55 during the same period in 2015. These improvements were due to improvements in lodging trends in the markets in which our hotels are located.

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Expenses



Total hotel operating expenses increased 11.9% to approximately $254,313 for the year ended December 31, 2015 from $227,324 for the year ended December 31, 2014. Consistent with the increase in hotel operating revenues, hotel operating expenses increased primarily due to the acquisitions consummated since the comparable period in 2014, as mentioned above. The acquisitions also resulted in an increase in depreciation and amortization of 7.6%, or $5,223, to $74,390 for the year ended December 31, 2015 from $69,167 for the year ended December 31, 2014. Real estate and personal property tax and property insurance increased $4,176, or 13.8%, for the year ended December 31, 2015 when compared to the same period in 2014. This increase is due to our acquisitions along with a general overall increase in tax assessments and tax rates as the economy improves, but was partially offset by reductions resulting from our rigorous management of this expense.



General and administrative expense increased by approximately $152 to $20,515 for the year ended December 31, 2015 from $20,363 for the year ended December 31, 2014. General and administrative expense includes expense related to non-cash share based payments issued as incentive compensation to the Company’s trustees, executives, and employees. Expense related to share based compensation increased $495 when comparing the year ended December 31, 2015 to the same period in 2014. The increase in share based compensation expense is due primarily to the issuance of the shares attributable to the 2014 ALTIP Plan during the first quarter of 2015. Please refer to “Note 8 – Share Based Payments” of the notes to the consolidated financial statements for more information about our stock based compensation. 



Amounts recorded on our consolidated statement of operations for acquisition and terminated transactions costs will fluctuate from period to period based on our acquisition activities. Acquisition costs typically consist of transfer taxes, legal fees and other costs associated with acquiring a hotel property and transactions that were terminated during the year. Acquisition and terminated transaction costs decreased $1,353 from $2,472 for the year ended December 31, 2014 to $1,119 for the year ended December 31, 2015. While we acquired more properties in 2014, the manners in which acquisition targets are found can and do dictate the costs necessary to complete the acquisition. The costs incurred in 2015 were related to the following hotels: $76 related to our St. Gregory acquisition, $84 related to our TownePlace Suites acquisition, and $548 related to our Ritz Carlton Georgetown acquisition. The costs incurred in 2014 were related to the following hotels: $1,836 related to our Hilton Garden Inn 52nd Street acquisition; $173 related to our Hotel Milo acquisition; and $169 related to our Parrot Key Resort acquisition. Also included in these costs are charges related to transactions that were terminated during the year.



Operating Income



Operating income for the year ended December 31, 2015 was $82,393 compared to operating income of $67,909 during the same period in 2014. Operating income was positively impacted by the improved operating results of our hotels discussed above. Offsetting this increase was insurance recoveries of approximately $4,604 recognized during the year ended December 31, 2014 related to the settlement of insurance claims from Hurricane Sandy. A similar event did not occur during the year ended December 31, 2015.



Interest Expense



Interest expense increased $200 from $43,357 for the year ended December 31, 2014 to $43,557 for the year ended December 31, 2015. Our borrowings increased in total since December 31, 2014, largely in part because of increased borrowings drawn on our unsecured credit facility and unsecured term loan. However, these borrowings were used to repay several secured mortgage obligations during the year ended December 31, 2015. The borrowings on our unsecured credit facility and unsecured term loan bear interest at a lower interest rate than the mortgage loans in which the proceeds were used to repay, thereby compressing the increase in interest expense for the year ended December 31, 2015 as compared to the same period in 2014. During 2014, we entered into a new credit facility which allowed for an additional $100,000 unsecured term loan, which we drew during the second quarter of 2014. On August 10, 2015, we entered into a $300,000 senior unsecured term loan with Citigroup Global Markets Inc. and various other lenders, which was fully drawn down by December 31, 2015.



Gain on Disposition of Hotel Properties



During the year ended December 31, 2014, the Company recorded a gain of $7,195 related to its sale of Hotel 373 in Manhattan.



Gain on Hotel Acquisitions, net



During the year ended December 31, 2014, the Company recorded a gain of $12,667 related primarily to its purchase of the Hilton Garden Inn on 52nd Street in Manhattan as the purchase price of the asset was less than the appraised fair value as of the closing date.  A similar event did not occur during the year ended December 31, 2015.

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Development Loan Recovery



Consideration given in exchange for the Hilton Garden Inn 52nd Street included cash to the seller and our reinstatement and cancellation of a development loan receivable in the original principal amount of $10,000 and $12,494 of accrued interest and late fees. This development loan receivable had previously been fully impaired in 2009, but was recovered as part of this acquisition. As a result, we recognized a gain of $22,494 on the recovery of the previously impaired development loan during the year ended December 31, 2014.  A similar event did not occur during the year ended December 31, 2015.



Unconsolidated Joint Venture Investments

 

The income from unconsolidated joint ventures consists of our interest in the operating results of the properties we own in joint ventures. The operating results of the unconsolidated joint ventures improved by $272 for the year ended December 31, 2015. This is primarily because of the improved performance in our Boston market, where two of our five properties owned in joint ventures are located.



Income Tax Benefit



During the year ended December 31, 2015, the Company recorded an income tax benefit of $3,141 compared to an income tax benefit of $2,685 in 2014. 



Net Income Applicable to Common Shareholders



Net income applicable to common shareholders for the year ended December 31, 2015 was $27,440 compared to net income applicable to common shareholders of $52,899 for the same period in 2014. Net income applicable to common shareholders for the year ended December 31, 2014 was positively impacted by the improved operating results of our hotels and one-time gains discussed above which occurred for the year ended December 31, 2014 only.



Comprehensive Income Applicable to Common Shareholders



Comprehensive income applicable to common shareholders for the year ended December 31, 2015 was $27,332 compared to $52,917 for the same period in 2014. This amount was primarily attributable to net income as more fully described above. Further change in other comprehensive income was primarily the result of the decrease in fair value of our interest rate swaps and caps used as cash flow hedges. The decrease in fair value of these instruments is attributed to changes in the forecasted LIBOR rates from period to period, as interest rates continued to be forecasted at historic lows. For the year ended December 31, 2015, we recorded other comprehensive loss of $108 when compared to $18 of other comprehensive income for the year ended December 31, 2014. The decrease in other comprehensive income was primarily due to the decrease in fair value of our interest rate swaps and caps used as cash flow hedges. The decrease in fair value of these instruments is attributed to changes in the forecasted LIBOR rates from period to period, as interest rates continue to be forecasted at historic lows.



LIQUIDITY, CAPITAL RESOURCES, AND EQUITY OFFERINGS

(dollars in thousands, except per share data)



Potential Sources of Capital



Our organizational documents do not limit the amount of indebtedness that we may incur. Our ability to incur additional debt is dependent upon a number of factors, including the current state of the overall credit markets, our degree of leverage and borrowing restrictions imposed by existing lenders. Our ability to raise funds through the issuance of debt and equity securities is dependent upon, among other things, capital market volatility, risk tolerance of investors, general market conditions for REITs and market perceptions related to the Company’s ability to generate cash flow and positive returns on its investments.



In addition, our mortgage indebtedness contains various financial and non-financial covenants customarily found in secured, nonrecourse financing arrangements. If the specified criteria are not satisfied, the lender may be able to escrow cash flow generated by the property securing the applicable mortgage loan. We have determined that certain debt service coverage ratio covenants contained in the loan agreements securing one of our hotel properties was not met as of December 31, 2016. Pursuant to this loan agreement, the lender has the option to escrow the operating cash flow. However, these covenants do not constitute an event of default for these loans. Future deterioration in market conditions could cause restrictions in our access to the cash flow of additional properties.



We have unsecured debt facilities in the aggregate of $1,000,000 which is comprised of a $500,000 senior unsecured credit facility and two unsecured term loans totaling $500,000. The unsecured credit facility (“Credit Facility”) contains a

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$250,000 unsecured term loan (“First Term Loan”) and a $250,000 unsecured revolving line of credit (“Line of Credit”). This Credit Facility expires on February 28, 2018 and, provided no event of default has occurred, we may request that the lenders renew the credit facility for an additional one-year period. The Credit Facility is also expandable to $850,000 at our request, subject to the satisfaction of certain conditions.  Our two additional unsecured term loans are $300,000 (“Second Term Loan”) and $200,000 (“Third Term Loan”), which mature on August 10, 2020 and August 2, 2021, respectively.



As of December 31, 2016, the outstanding balance under the First Term Loan was $210,520, under the Second Term Loan was $300,000, under the Third Term Loan was $156,100 and we had no outstanding borrowings under the Line of Credit. As of December 31, 2016, our remaining borrowing capacity under the Credit Facility, Second Term Loan and Third Term Loan was $99,822 which is based on certain operating metrics of unencumbered hotel properties designated as borrowing base assets. We intend to repay indebtedness incurred under the Credit Facility, Second Term Loan and Third Term Loan out of cash flow and from the proceeds of issuances of additional common and preferred shares and potentially other securities and from proceeds from dispositions.  As of February 21, 2017, our borrowing capacity under the Credit Facility and Term Loans was approximately $197,998 as we added seven and removed two borrowing base assets subsequent to December 31, 2016.



We will continue to monitor our debt maturities to manage our liquidity needs. However, no assurances can be given that we will be successful in refinancing all or a portion of our future debt obligations due to factors beyond our control or that, if refinanced, the terms of such debt will not vary from the existing terms. As of December 31, 2016, we have $160,908 of indebtedness due on or before December 31, 2017. We currently expect that cash requirements for all debt that is not refinanced by our existing lenders for which the maturity date is not extended will be met through a combination of cash on hand, refinancing the existing debt with new lenders, draws on the Line of Credit and the issuance of our securities.

 

In addition to the incurrence of debt and the offering of equity securities, dispositions of property or investment from a joint venture partner may serve as additional capital resources and sources of liquidity. We may recycle capital from stabilized assets or from sales of non-core hotels in secondary and tertiary markets.  Capital from these types of transactions is intended to be redeployed into high growth acquisitions, share buybacks, or to pay down existing debt.



Common Share Repurchase Plan



In October 2015, our Board of Trustees authorized our current share repurchase program for up to $100,000 of common shares. For the twelve months ended December 31, 2016, the Company repurchased 2,772,710 common shares for an aggregate purchase price of $52,055. Upon repurchase by the Company, these common shares ceased to be outstanding and became authorized but unissued common shares.



In October 2016, our Board of Trustees authorized a new share repurchase program for up to $100,000 of common shares which will commence upon the completion of the existing repurchase program. The new program will expire on December 31, 2017, unless extended by our Board of Trustees.





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Acquisitions



During the year ended December 31, 2016, we acquired the following wholly-owned hotel properties:



*Assumption of debt includes a $50 premium resulting from the determination that the stated rate of interest is above market rates on the date of acquisition.

**Includes an intangible asset for a lease-in-place of $648, advance bookings of $76 and franchise fees of $150.

***Includes a lease-in-place intangible asset of $126, below market lease liability of $319, advance bookings asset of $199, and franchise fees asset of $125.

****Includes a franchise fees asset of $150.



We intend to invest in additional hotels only as suitable opportunities arise and adequate sources of financing are available. We expect that future investments in hotels will depend upon and will be financed by, in whole or in part, our existing cash, the proceeds from additional issuances of common or preferred shares, proceeds from the sale of assets, issuances of Common Units, issuances of preferred units or other securities or borrowings secured by hotel assets and under our Line of Credit.



Operating Liquidity and Capital Expenditures



We expect to meet our short-term liquidity requirements generally through net cash provided by operations, existing cash balances and, if necessary, short-term borrowings under the Line of Credit. We believe that the net cash provided by operations in the coming year and borrowings drawn on the Line of Credit will be adequate to fund the Company’s operating requirements, monthly recurring debt service and the payment of dividends in accordance with REIT requirements of the Internal Revenue Code of 1986, as amended.



To qualify as a REIT, we must distribute annually at least 90% of our taxable income. This distribution requirement limits our ability to retain earnings and requires us to raise additional capital in order to grow our business and acquire additional hotel properties. However, there is no assurance that we will be able to borrow funds or raise additional equity capital on terms acceptable to us, if at all. In addition, we cannot guarantee that we will continue to make distributions to our shareholders at the current rate or at all. Due to the seasonality of our business, cash provided by operating activities fluctuates significantly from quarter to quarter. However, we believe that, based on our current estimates, which include the addition of cash from operations provided by hotels acquired during 2016, our cash provided by operating activities will be sufficient over the next 12 months to fund the payment of our dividend at its current level. However, our Board of Trustees continues to evaluate the dividend policy in the context of our overall liquidity and market conditions and may elect to reduce or suspend these distributions. Net cash provided by operating activities for the year ended December 31, 2016 was $86,558 and cash used for the payment of distributions and dividends for the year ended December 31, 2016 was $67,856.



We also project that our operating cash flow and available borrowings under the Line of Credit will be sufficient to satisfy our liquidity and other capital needs over the next twelve to eighteen months.

Our long-term liquidity requirements consist primarily of the costs of acquiring additional hotel properties, renovation and other non-recurring capital expenditures that need to be made periodically with respect to hotel properties and scheduled debt repayments. We will seek to satisfy these long-term liquidity requirements through various sources of capital, including borrowings under the Line of Credit and through secured, non-recourse mortgage financings with respect to our unencumbered hotel properties. In addition, we may seek to raise capital through public or private offerings of our securities. Certain factors

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may have a material adverse effect on our ability to access these capital sources, including our degree of leverage, the value of our unencumbered hotel properties and borrowing restrictions imposed by lenders or franchisors. We will continue to analyze which source of capital is most advantageous to us at any particular point in time, but financing may not be consistently available to us on terms that are attractive, or at all.



Spending on capital improvements during the year ended December 31, 2016 increased when compared to spending on capital improvements during the year ended December 31, 2015. During the year ended December 31, 2016, we spent $33,267 on capital expenditures to renovate, improve or replace assets at our hotels. This compares to $27,366 during the same period in 2015. These capital expenditures were undertaken to comply with brand mandated improvements and to initiate projects that we believe will generate a return on investment.



In addition to capital reserves required under certain loan agreements and capital expenditures to renovate, improve or replace assets at our hotels, we have opportunistically engaged in hotel development projects. During the year ended December 31, 2016, we spent $952 on hotel development projects compared to $950 during the same period of 2015.



We may spend additional amounts, if necessary, to comply with the requirements of any franchise license under which any of our hotels operate and otherwise to the extent we deem such expenditures to be prudent. We are also obligated to fund the cost of certain capital improvements to our hotels. We expect to use operating cash flow, borrowings under the Line of Credit, and proceeds from issuances of our securities to pay for the cost of capital improvements and any furniture, fixture and equipment requirements in excess of the set aside referenced above.



CASH FLOW ANALYSIS (dollars in thousands, except per share data)



Comparison of the Years Ended December 31, 2016 and December 31, 2015



Net cash provided by operating activities decreased $35,259 from $121,817 for the year ended December 31, 2015 to $86,558 for the comparable period in 2016. Net income, adjusted for non-cash items reflected in the statement of cash flows for the year ended December 31, 2016 decreased by $20,077 when compared to 2015, partially driven by the disposition and subsequent contribution of seven hotel properties located in New York City to an unconsolidated joint venture with Cindat. Further, a net increase in working capital assets utilized additional cash from operating activities.



Net cash provided by investing activities for the year ended December 31, 2016 was $149,924 compared to net cash used in investing activities of $143,909 for the year ended December 31, 2015. During 2016, we received $429,221 in net proceeds from contributions of seven hotel properties to the Cindat joint venture and disposed of four additional hotel properties for $67,430. We did not have similar transactions during 2015. Offsetting these sources of funds were $321,995 for the purchase of five hotel properties during the year ended December 31, 2016 compared to $110,176 for the purchase of three hotel properties during 2015. 



Net cash used in financing activities for the year ended December 31, 2016 was $78,793 compared to net cash provided by financing activities for the year ended December 31, 2015 of $28,372. This is primarily due to $276,859 in repayments in borrowings under the Line of Credit, Term Loans and mortgages payable from proceeds from the hotel dispositions and preferred stock offering proceeds during the year ended December 31, 2016.  Additionally, we received proceeds from unsecured term loans of $156,100 for the year ended December 31, 2016. During the year ended December 31, 2015, we received proceeds from borrowings under the Line of Credit and Term Loans of $327,000 and repayments of mortgages payable of $184,356 during the same period in 2015. In addition, we redeemed our Series B Preferred Shares in June 2016 for $115,000. Offsetting this was approximately $282,686 in net proceeds from our Series D & E Preferred Shares offerings. In addition, dividends and distributions decreased $3,115 during the year ended December 31, 2016, compared to 2015, due to the reduction of dividends paid on common shares due to our common share repurchases, but offset by the increase in dividends paid on preferred shares as a result of our Series D & E Preferred Shares offerings.



Comparison of the Years Ended December 31, 2015 and December 31, 2014



Net cash provided by operating activities increased $8,923 from $112,894 for the year ended December 31, 2014 to $121,817 for the comparable period in 2015. Net income, adjusted for non-cash items reflected in the statement of cash flows for the years ended December 31, 2015 and 2014, increased $16,769 for the year ended December 31, 2015 when compared to 2014. This is primarily due to cash provided by properties acquired over the past twelve months and improving operating results within our existing portfolio. Further, a net decrease in working capital assets provided additional cash from operating activities.



Net cash used in investing activities for the year ended December 31, 2015 decreased $36,595 from $180,504 for the year ended December 31, 2014 compared to $143,909 for 2015. While spending on the purchase of hotel properties and deposits on hotel acquisitions was $60,060 higher during the year ended December 31, 2014, compared to same period in 2015,

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proceeds from the disposition of hotel properties was $30,056 less during the year ended December 31, 2015 when compared to the year ended December 31, 2014. Offsetting this was spending on hotel development projects which were $2,814 less during the year ended December 31, 2015 when compared to the year ended December 31, 2014. During the year ended December 31, 2014 we received $30,056 in proceeds from the disposition of Hotel 373 in the second quarter and the remaining 4 non-core properties during the first quarter.

   

Net cash provided by financing activities for the year ended December 31, 2015 was $28,372 compared to net cash provided by financing activities for the year ended December 31, 2014 of $53,072. Net proceeds received during the year ended December 31, 2015 under our unsecured credit facility were $227,000 higher than during the same period in 2014. Net proceeds from mortgages and notes payable were $136,258 lower during the year ended December 31, 2015, when compared to the same period in 2014. During the year ended December 31, 2015, we used $128,239 for the repurchase of common shares. Dividends and distributions payable increased $4,605 during the year ended December 31, 2015, compared to 2014, due to the increase in our dividend paid on common shares from $1.04 to $1.12 per share. This was partially offset by the reduction of dividends paid on common shares due to our common share repurchases.



OFF BALANCE SHEET ARRANGEMENTS



The Company does not have off balance sheet arrangements that have or are reasonably likely to have a current or future effect on our financial condition, revenues or expenses, results of operations, liquidity, capital expenditures or capital resources.



FUNDS FROM OPERATIONS

(in thousands, except share data)



The National Association of Real Estate Investment Trusts (“NAREIT”) developed Funds from Operations (“FFO”) as a non-GAAP financial measure of performance of an equity REIT in order to recognize that income-producing real estate historically has not depreciated on the basis determined under GAAP. We calculate FFO applicable to common shares and Common Units in accordance with the April 2002 National Policy Bulletin of NAREIT, which we refer to as the White Paper. The White Paper defines FFO as net income (loss) (computed in accordance with GAAP) excluding extraordinary items as defined under GAAP and gains or losses from sales of previously depreciated assets, plus certain non-cash items, such as loss from impairment of assets and depreciation and amortization, and after adjustments for unconsolidated partnerships and joint ventures. Our interpretation of the NAREIT definition is that noncontrolling interest in net income (loss) should be added back to (deducted from) net income (loss) as part of reconciling net income (loss) to FFO. Our FFO computation may not be comparable to FFO reported by other REITs that do not compute FFO in accordance with the NAREIT definition, or that interpret the NAREIT definition differently than we do.



The GAAP measure that we believe to be most directly comparable to FFO, net income (loss) applicable to common shareholders, includes loss from the impairment of certain depreciable assets, our investment in unconsolidated joint ventures and land, depreciation and amortization expenses, gains or losses on property sales, noncontrolling interest and preferred dividends. In computing FFO, we eliminate these items because, in our view, they are not indicative of the results from our property operations.



FFO does not represent cash flows from operating activities in accordance with GAAP and should not be considered an alternative to net income as an indication of the Company’s performance or to cash flow as a measure of liquidity or ability to make distributions. We consider FFO to be a meaningful, additional measure of operating performance because it excludes the effects of the assumption that the value of real estate assets diminishes predictably over time, and because it is widely used by industry analysts as a performance measure. We show both FFO from consolidated hotel operations and FFO from unconsolidated joint ventures because we believe it is meaningful for the investor to understand the relative contributions from our consolidated and unconsolidated hotels. The display of both FFO from consolidated hotels and FFO from unconsolidated joint ventures allows for a detailed analysis of the operating performance of our hotel portfolio by management and investors. We present FFO applicable to common shares and Common Units because our Common Units are redeemable for common shares. We believe it is meaningful for the investor to understand FFO applicable to all common shares and Common Units.



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The following table reconciles FFO for the periods presented to the most directly comparable GAAP measure, net income, for the same periods (dollars in thousands):





(1)Adjustment made to add depreciation of purchase price in excess of historical cost of the assets in the unconsolidated joint venture at the time of our investment.

(2)Adjustment made to add our interest in real estate related depreciation and amortization of our unconsolidated joint ventures. Allocation of depreciation and amortization is consistent with allocation of income and loss.



Certain amounts related to depreciation and amortization and depreciation and amortization from discontinued operations in the prior year FFO reconciliation have been recast to conform to the current year presentation. In addition, based on guidance provided by NAREIT, we have eliminated loss from the impairment of certain depreciable assets, including investments in unconsolidated joint ventures and land, from net income (loss) to arrive at FFO in each year presented.

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INFLATION

Operators of hotel properties, in general, possess the ability to adjust room rates daily to reflect the effects of inflation. However, competitive pressures may limit the ability of our management companies to raise room rates.



CRITICAL ACCOUNTING POLICIES AND ESTIMATES



The estimates and assumptions made by management in applying critical accounting policies have not changed materially during 2016 and 2015 and none of the estimates or assumptions have proven to be materially incorrect or resulted in our recording any significant adjustments relating to prior periods. See Item 7 of our Annual Report on Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 2016 for a summary of the accounting policies that management believes are critical to the preparation of the consolidated financial statements.



Revenue Recognition



Approximately 100% of our revenues are derived from hotel room revenues and revenue from other hotel operating departments. We directly recognize revenue and expense for all consolidated hotels as hotel operating revenue and hotel operating expense when earned and incurred. These revenues are recorded net of any sales or occupancy taxes collected from our guests. All revenues are recorded on an accrual basis, as earned. We participate in frequent guest programs sponsored by the brand owners of our hotels and we expense the charges associated with those programs, as incurred.



Other revenues consist primarily of fees earned for asset management services provided to hotels we own through unconsolidated joint ventures. Fees are earned as a percentage of hotel revenue and are recorded in the period earned.



Investment in Hotel Properties



Investments in hotel properties are recorded at cost. Improvements and replacements are capitalized when they extend the useful life of the asset. Costs of repairs and maintenance are expensed as incurred. Depreciation is computed using the straight-line method over the estimated useful life of up to 40 years for buildings and improvements, two to seven years for furniture, fixtures and equipment. We are required to make subjective assessments as to the useful lives of our properties for purposes of determining the amount of depreciation to record on an annual basis with respect to our investments in hotel properties. These assessments have a direct impact on our net income because if we were to shorten the expected useful lives of our investments in hotel properties we would depreciate these investments over fewer years, resulting in more depreciation expense and lower net income on an annual basis.



Identifiable assets, liabilities, and noncontrolling interests related to hotel properties acquired in a business combination are recorded at full fair value. Estimating techniques and assumptions used in determining fair values involve significant estimates and judgments. These estimates and judgments have a direct impact on the carrying value of our assets and liabilities which can directly impact the amount of depreciation expense recorded on an annual basis and could have an impact on our assessment of potential impairment of our investment in hotel properties.



Properties intended to be sold are designated as “held for sale” on the balance sheet.  In accordance with ASU Update No. 2014-08 concerning the classification and reporting of discontinued operations, we evaluate each disposition to determine whether we need to classify the disposition as discontinued operations. This amendment defines discontinued operations as a component of an entity that represents a strategic shift that has (or will have) a major effect on an entity’s operations and financial results. We anticipate that most of our hotel dispositions will not be classified as discontinued operations as most will not fit this definition.



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Based on the occurrence of certain events or changes in circumstances, we review the recoverability of the property’s carrying value. Such events or changes in circumstances include the following:





We review our portfolio on an on-going basis to evaluate the existence of any of the aforementioned events or changes in circumstances that would require us to test for recoverability. In general, our review of recoverability is based on an estimate of the future undiscounted cash flows, excluding interest charges, expected to result from the property’s use and eventual disposition. These estimates consider factors such as expected future operating income, market and other applicable trends and residual value expected, as well as the effects of hotel demand, competition and other factors. If impairment exists due to the inability to recover the carrying value of a property, an impairment loss is recorded to the extent that the carrying value exceeds the estimated fair value of the property. We are required to make subjective assessments as to whether there are impairments in the values of our investments in hotel properties.



As of December 31, 2016, based on our analysis, we have determined that the estimated future cash flow of each of the properties in our portfolio is sufficient to recover its carrying value.



Investment in Joint Ventures



Properties owned in joint ventures are consolidated if the determination is made that we are the primary beneficiary in a variable interest entity (VIE) or we maintain control of the asset through our voting interest or other rights in the operation of the entity. To determine if we are the primary beneficiary of a VIE, we evaluate whether we have a controlling financial interest in that VIE. An enterprise is deemed to have a controlling financial interest if it has i) the power to direct the activities of a VIE that most significantly impact the entity’s economic performance, and ii) the obligation to absorb losses of the VIE that could be significant to the VIE or the rights to receive benefits from the VIE that could be significant to the VIE. Control can also be demonstrated by the ability of a member to manage day-to-day operations, refinance debt and sell the assets of the partnerships without the consent of the other member and the inability of the members to replace the managing member. This evaluation requires significant judgment.



If it is determined that we do not have a controlling interest in a joint venture, either through our financial interest in a VIE or our voting interest in a voting interest entity, the equity method of accounting is used. Under this method, the investment, originally recorded at cost, is adjusted to recognize our share of net earnings or losses of the affiliates as they occur rather than as dividends or other distributions are received, limited to the extent of our investment in, advances to and commitments for the investee. Pursuant to our joint venture agreements, allocations of profits and losses of some of our investments in unconsolidated joint ventures may be allocated disproportionately as compared to nominal ownership percentages due to specified preferred return rate thresholds.



The Company periodically reviews the carrying value of its investment in unconsolidated joint ventures to determine if circumstances exist indicating impairment to the carrying value of the investment that is other than temporary. When an impairment indicator is present, we will estimate the fair value of the investment. Our estimate of fair value takes into consideration factors such as expected future operating income, trends and prospects, as well as the effects of demand, competition and other factors. This determination requires significant estimates by management, including the expected cash flows to be generated by the assets owned and operated by the joint venture. Subsequent changes in estimates could impact the determination of whether impairment exists. To the extent impairment has occurred, the loss will be measured as the excess of the carrying amount over the fair value of our investment in the unconsolidated joint venture.



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Accounting for Derivative Financial Investments and Hedging Activities



We use derivatives to hedge, fix and cap interest rate risk and we account for our derivative and hedging activities by recording all derivative instruments at fair value on the balance sheet. Derivative instruments designated in a hedge relationship to mitigate exposure to variability in expected future cash flows, or other types of forecasted transactions, are considered cash flow hedges. We formally document all relationships between hedging instruments and hedged items, as well as our risk-management objective and strategy for undertaking each hedge transaction. Cash flow hedges that are considered highly effective are accounted for by recording the fair value of the derivative instrument on the balance sheet as either an asset or liability, with a corresponding amount recorded in other comprehensive income within shareholders’ equity. Amounts are reclassified from other comprehensive income to the income statements in the period or periods the hedged forecasted transaction affects earnings.



Under cash flow hedges, derivative gains and losses not considered highly effective in hedging the change in expected cash flows of the hedged item are recognized immediately in the income statement. For hedge transactions that do not qualify for the short-cut method, at the hedge’s inception and on a regular basis thereafter, a formal assessment is performed to determine whether changes in the cash flows of the derivative instruments have been highly effective in offsetting changes in cash flows of the hedged items and whether they are expected to be highly effective in the future.

New Accounting Pronouncements

In January 2017, the FASB issued ASU 2017-01, Business Combinations (Topic 805): Clarifying the Definition of a Business, which clarifies the definition of a business as it relates to acquisitions and business combinations. The update adds further guidance that assists preparers in evaluating whether a transaction will be accounted for as an acquisition of an asset or a business.  We expect most of our hotel property acquisitions to qualify as asset acquisitions under the standard which permits the capitalization of acquisition costs to the underlying assets. This standard is effective for periods beginning after December 31, 2017, however early adoption is permitted.  The Company is evaluating the ultimate effect that ASU No. 2017-01 will have on its consolidated financial statements and related disclosures.



In March 2016, the FASB issued ASU No. 2016-09, Improvements to Employee Share-Based Award Payment Accounting, which simplifies various aspects of how share-based payments are accounted for and presented in the financial statements. This standard requires companies to record all of the tax effects related to share-based payments through the income statement, allows companies to elect an accounting policy to either estimate the share based award forfeitures (and expense) or account for forfeitures (and expense) as they occur, and allows companies to withhold a percentage of the shares issuable upon settlement of an award up to the maximum individual statutory tax rate without causing the award to be classified as a liability. The new standard is effective for the Company on January 1, 2017. The Company has determined that ASU No. 2016-09 will have no material impact on the consolidated financial statements and related disclosures.



In February 2016, the FASB issued ASU No. 2016-02, Leases (Topic 842), which provides the principles for the recognition, measurement, presentation and disclosure of leases.  The accounting for lessors will remain largely unchanged from current GAAP; however, the standard requires the certain initial direct costs be expensed rather than capitalized.  Under the standard, lessees apply a dual approach, classifying leases as either finance or operating leases. A lessee is required to record a right-of-use asset and a lease liability for all leases with a term of greater than 12 months, regardless of their lease classification. Based on our real estate leases, we are a lessee on ground leases in certain markets and office space leases. This standard will be effective for the first annual reporting period beginning after December 15, 2018. The Company is evaluating the effect that ASU No. 2016-02 will have on its consolidated financial statements and related disclosures.



We adopted ASU No. 2015-03, Simplifying the Presentation of Debt Issuance Costs, on January 1, 2016.  This standard requires debt issuance costs to be presented in the balance sheet as a direct deduction from the associated debt liability.  Previously, debt issuance costs were recorded as an asset.  The issuance costs will continue to be amortized over the life of the debt instrument and recorded in interest expense, as they were prior to the new standard.  As part of this adoption, debt issuance costs are now included as an offset to the mortgages, unsecured term loan and unsecured notes payable line items on the consolidated balance sheets for all periods presented. For full reclassification amounts, see “Note 5 – Debt”.



On January 1, 2016, we adopted ASU No. 2015-02, Consolidation – Amendments to the Consolidation Analysis.  We evaluated the application of ASU No. 2015-02 and concluded that no change was required to our accounting for our interests in less than wholly owned joint ventures.  However, HHLP, our operating partnership, now meets the criteria as a variable interest entity.  The Company’s most significant asset is its investment in HHLP, and consequently, substantially all of the Company’s assets and liabilities represent those assets and liabilities of HHLP.



In August 2014, the FASB issued ASU No. 2014-15, Disclosure of Uncertainties about an Entity’s Ability to Continue as a Going Concern, which provides guidance about management’s responsibility to evaluate whether there is substantial doubt about an entity’s ability to continue as a going concern and to provide related footnote disclosures.  This update is effective for

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the Company as of December 31, 2016.  The adoption of this update had no material impact to our financial statements and related disclosures.



On May 28, 2014, the FASB issued ASU No. 2014-09, Revenue from Contracts with Customers, which requires an entity to recognize the amount of revenue to which it expects to be entitled for the transfer of promised goods or services to customers.  The ASU will replace most existing revenue recognition guidance in U.S. GAAP when it becomes effective.  We are evaluating each of our revenue streams and related accounting policy under the standard.    The new standard is effective for the Company on January 1, 2018.  Early adoption is permitted, but not prior to the original effective date of January 1, 2017.  The standard permits the use of either the retrospective or cumulative effect transition method.  Based on our analysis to date, we do not expect the new revenue recognition model to have a material impact on our hotel operating revenue, including room revenue, food and beverage, and other revenue, however, our final evaluation has not been concluded.  Our evaluation under the standard also includes sales to third parties, primarily a result of dispositions of real estate.  Our evaluation over sales of real estate will be partially dependent on how the FASB defines a business with regard to sales of assets, which is currently under deliberation.  The Company continues to evaluate the ultimate effect that ASU No. 2014-09 will have on its consolidated financial statements and related disclosures. 



RELATED PARTY TRANSACTIONS



We have entered into a number of transactions and arrangements that involve related parties. For a description of the transactions and arrangements, please see Note 6, “Commitments and Contingencies and Related Party Transactions,” to the consolidated financial statements.



CONTRACTUAL OBLIGATIONS AND COMMERCIAL COMMITMENTS



The following table summarizes our contractual obligations and commitments to make future payments under contracts, such as debt and lease agreements, as of December 31, 2016.







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Item 7A .Quantitative and Qualitative Disclosures About Market Risk (in thousands, except per share data)



Our primary market risk exposure is to changes in interest rates on our variable rate debt which has not been effectively hedged with interest swaps or interest rate caps. As of December 31, 2016, we are exposed to interest rate risk with respect to variable rate borrowings under our Credit Facility, Second Term and Third Term Loans and certain variable rate mortgages and notes payable. As of December 31, 2016, we had total variable rate debt outstanding of $730,418 with a weighted average interest rate of 2.97%. The effect of a 100 basis point increase or decrease in the interest rate on our variable rate debt outstanding as of December 31, 2016 would be an increase or decrease in our interest expense for the twelve months ended December 31, 2016 of $6,488.



Our interest rate risk objectives are to limit the impact of interest rate fluctuations on earnings and cash flows and to lower our overall borrowing costs. To achieve these objectives, we manage our exposure to fluctuations in market interest rates for a portion of our borrowings through the use of fixed rate debt instruments to the extent that reasonably favorable rates are obtainable with such arrangements. We have also entered into derivative financial instruments such as interest rate swaps or caps, and in the future may enter into treasury options or locks, to mitigate our interest rate risk on a related financial instrument or to effectively lock the interest rate on a portion of our variable rate debt. As of December 31, 2016, we have an interest rate cap related to debt on the Hyatt Union Square, New York, NY and Courtyard by Marriott, Westside, Los Angeles, CA  and we have four interest rate swaps related to debt on the Duane Street Hotel, New York, NY, Hilton Garden Inn, 52nd Street, New York, NY and our unsecured credit facility. We do not intend to enter into derivative or interest rate transactions for speculative purposes.



As of December 31, 2016 approximately 42% of our outstanding consolidated long-term indebtedness is subject to fixed rates or effectively capped, while 58% of our outstanding long term indebtedness is subject to floating rates, including borrowings under our revolving credit facility.



Changes in market interest rates on our fixed-rate debt impact the fair value of the debt, but such changes have no impact on interest expense incurred. If interest rates rise 100 basis points and our fixed rate debt balance remains constant, we expect the fair value of our debt to decrease. The sensitivity analysis related to our fixed-rate debt assumes an immediate 100 basis point move in interest rates from their December 31, 2016 levels, with all other variables held constant. A 100 basis point increase in market interest rates would cause the fair value of our fixed-rate debt outstanding at December 31, 2016 to be approximately $1,084,490 and a 100 basis point decrease in market interest rates would cause the fair value of our fixed-rate debt outstanding at December 31, 2016 to be approximately $1,112,862.



The table incorporates only those exposures that existed as of December 31, 2016, and does not consider exposure or positions that could arise after that date. As a result, our ultimate realized gain or loss with respect to interest rate fluctuations will depend on the exposures that arise during the future period, prevailing interest rates, and our hedging strategies at that time.