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UNITED STATES

SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION

Washington, D.C. 20549

 


 

FORM 10-K

 

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

 

        For the Fiscal Year Ended December 31, 2003

 

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 1-14045

 


 

    LASALLE HOTEL PROPERTIES    

(Exact name of registrant as specified in its charter)

 

                            Maryland                             


 

    36-4219376    


(State or other jurisdiction
of incorporation or organization)
  (IRS Employer
Identification No.)

 

    4800 Montgomery Lane, Suite M25,

                    Bethesda, Maryland                    


 

        20814         


(Address of principal executive offices)   (Zip Code)

 

301/941-1500


(Registrant’s telephone number, including area code)

 

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

 

Title of each class


  

Name of each exchange on
which registered


Common Shares of Beneficial Interest

   New York Stock Exchange

        ($0.01 par value)

    

10¼% Series A Cumulative Redeemable Preferred Shares

   New York Stock Exchange

        ($0.01 par value)

    

8 3/8% Series B Cumulative Redeemable Preferred Shares

   New York Stock Exchange

        ($0.01 par value)

    

 

Securities registered pursuant to Section 12(g) of the Act: None

 


 

Indicate by check mark whether the registrant (1) 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 (2) has been subject to such filing requirements for the past 90 days. Yes  x No  ¨

 

Indicate by check mark if disclosure of delinquent filers pursuant to Item 405 or Regulation S-K 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 an accelerated filer (as defined in Exchange Act rule 12b-2). Yes  x No  ¨

 

As of February 13, 2004, there were 24,118,929 shares of the Registrant’s common shares of beneficial interest issued and outstanding. The aggregate market value of the Registrant’s 23,606,275 and 20,097,079 common shares of beneficial interest held by non-affiliates of the Registrant at February 13, 2004 and June 30, 2003, respectively, was approximately $471.7 million and $297.0 million, respectively. The aggregate market value was calculated by using the closing price of the stock as of the respective dates on the New York Stock Exchange.

 

DOCUMENTS INCORPORATED BY REFERENCE

 

Portions of the Registrant’s Proxy Statement for its 2004 Annual Meeting of Shareholders to be held on or about April 22, 2004 (the “Proxy Statement”) are incorporated by reference in Part III of this report.

 


 


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LASALLE HOTEL PROPERTIES

 

INDEX

 

Item
No.


     

Form 10-K

Report

Page


    PART I    
1.   Business   1
2.   Properties   10
3.   Legal Proceedings   13
4.   Submission of Matters to a Vote of Security Holders   14
    PART II    
5.   Market for Registrant’s Common Shares of Beneficial Interest and Related Shareholder Matters   14
6.   Selected Financial Data   15
7.   Management’s Discussion and Analysis of Financial Condition and Results of Operations   17
7A.   Quantitative and Qualitative Disclosures About Market Risk   39
8.   Consolidated Financial Statements and Supplementary Data   41
9.   Changes in and Disagreements With Accountants on Accounting and Financial Disclosure   41
9A.   Controls and Procedures   41
    PART III    
10.   Trustees and Executive Officers of the Registrant   41
11.   Executive Compensation   41
12.   Security Ownership of Certain Beneficial Owners and Management   41
13.   Certain Relationships and Related Transactions   41
14.   Principal Accountant Fees & Services   41
    PART IV    
15.   Exhibits, Financial Statement Schedules, and Reports on Form 8-K   42
    Signatures   48


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This report, together with other statements and information publicly disseminated by the Company, contains certain 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, as amended. The Company intends such forward-looking statements to be covered by the safe harbor provisions for forward-looking statements contained in the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995 and includes this statement for purposes of complying with these safe harbor provisions. Forward-looking statements, which are based on certain assumptions and describe the Company’s future plans, strategies and expectations, are generally identifiable by use of the words “believe,” “expect,” “intend,” “anticipate,” “estimate,” “project” or similar expressions. You should not rely on forward-looking statements since they involve known and unknown risks, uncertainties and other factors that are, in some cases, beyond the Company’s control and which could materially affect actual results, performances or achievements. Factors that may cause actual results to differ materially from current expectations include, but are not limited to the risk factors discussed in this Annual Report on Form 10-K. Accordingly, there is no assurance that the Company’s expectations will be realized. Except as otherwise required by the federal securities laws, the Company disclaims any obligations or undertaking to publicly release any updates or revisions to any forward-looking statement contained herein (or elsewhere) to reflect any change in the Company’s expectations with regard thereto or any change in events, conditions or circumstances on which any such statement is based.

 

The “Company” means LaSalle Hotel Properties, a Maryland real estate investment trust, and one or more of its subsidiaries (including LaSalle Hotel Operating Partnership, L.P. and LaSalle Hotel Lessee, Inc.) and, as the context may require, LaSalle Hotel Properties only or the operating partnership only.

 

PART I

 

Item 1.    Business

 

General

 

The Company was organized as a Maryland real estate investment trust on January 15, 1998 to buy, own and lease primarily upscale and luxury full-service hotels located in convention, resort and major urban business markets. As of December 31, 2003, the Company owned interests in 17 hotels with approximately 5,600 rooms/suites located in ten states and the District of Columbia. Independent hotel operators manage the hotels. The Company is a self-managed and self-administered real estate investment trust (“REIT”) as defined in the Internal Revenue Code of 1986, as amended (the “Code”). A REIT is a legal entity that holds real estate interests and, through payments of dividends to shareholders, is permitted to reduce or avoid federal income taxes at the corporate level.

 

Substantially all of the Company’s assets are held by, and all of its operations are conducted through, LaSalle Hotel Operating Partnership, L.P. The Company is the sole general partner of the operating partnership with an approximate 98.3% ownership at December 31, 2003. The remaining 1.7% is held by other limited partners who hold 424,686 limited partnership units. Limited partnership units are redeemable for cash or, at the option of the Company, for a like number of common shares of beneficial interest, par value $0.01 per share, of the Company. The hotels are leased under participating leases that provide for rental payments equal to the greater of (i) base rent or (ii) participating rent based on fixed percentages of gross hotel revenues.

 

The Company’s principal offices are located at 4800 Montgomery Lane, Suite M25, Bethesda, MD 20814. The Company’s website is www.lasallehotels.com. The Company makes available on its website free of charge its filings with the Securities and Exchange Commission, including its Annual Report on Form 10-K, quarterly reports on Form 10-Q, current reports on Form 8-K and amendments to those reports.

 

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Strategies and Objectives

 

The Company’s primary objectives are to provide a stable stream of income to its shareholders through increases in distributable cash flow and to increase long-term total returns to shareholders through appreciation in the value of its common shares of beneficial interest. To achieve these objectives, the Company seeks to:

 

    enhance the return from, and the value of, the hotels in which it owns interests and any additional hotels the Company may acquire or develop; and

 

    invest in or acquire additional hotel properties on favorable terms.

 

The Company seeks to achieve revenue growth principally through:

 

    renovations, repositioning and/or expansions at selected hotels;

 

    acquisitions of full-service hotels located in convention, resort and major urban business markets in the U.S. and abroad, especially upscale and luxury full-service hotels in such markets where the Company perceives strong demand growth or significant barriers to entry; and

 

    selective development of hotel properties, particularly upscale and luxury full-service hotels in high demand markets where development economics are favorable.

 

The Company intends to acquire additional hotels in targeted markets, consistent with the growth strategies outlined above and which may:

 

    possess unique competitive advantages in the form of location, physical facilities or other attributes;

 

    be available at significant discounts to replacement cost, including when such discounts result from reduced competition for hotels with long-term management and/or franchise agreements;

 

    benefit from brand or franchise conversion, new management, renovations or redevelopment or other active and aggressive asset management strategies; or

 

    have expansion opportunities.

 

The Company seeks to grow through strategic relationships with premier, internationally recognized hotel operating companies including: Westin Hotels and Resorts, Sheraton Hotels and Resorts, Marriott International, Inc., Radisson Hotels International, Inc., Crestline Hotels & Resorts, Inc., Outrigger Lodging Services, Noble House Hotels and Resorts, Hyatt Corporation, the Kimpton Hotel & Restaurant Group, L.L.C., Benchmark Hospitality and White Lodging Services Corporation. The Company believes that having multiple independent operators creates a network that will generate acquisition opportunities. In addition, the Company believes its acquisition capabilities are enhanced by its considerable experience, resources and relationships in the hotel industry specifically and the real estate industry generally.

 

Hotel Acquisitions

 

The Company acquired ten upscale and luxury full-service hotels in connection with its initial public offering. The Company sold four of the initial hotels. The Company sold the Holiday Inn Plaza Park in August 2000 and the Radisson Hotel Tampa in August 2001, as these hotels were not considered consistent with the Company’s long-term portfolio strategy. Additionally, the Company sold the New Orleans Grande Hotel in April 2003, and the Holiday Inn Beachside Resort in July 2003 because of weak short and mid-term market outlooks in these markets and the Company’s belief that the capital could be redeployed in markets that exhibited stronger fundamentals.

 

Subsequent to the Company’s initial public offering, the Company acquired the following hotel interests:

 

    95.1% interest in the 462-room San Diego Paradise Point Resort for a net purchase price of $73.0 million in June 1998;

 

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    The 270-room Harborside Hyatt Conference Center & Hotel in Boston, Massachusetts for a net purchase price of $73.5 million in June 1998;

 

    The 222-room Hotel Viking in Newport, Rhode Island for a net purchase price of $28.0 million in June 1999;

 

    The 1,192-room Chicago Marriott Downtown in January 2000 through a joint venture with The Carlyle Group, an institutional investor. The Company has a non-controlling 9.9% equity interest and is entitled to receive an annual preferred return and the opportunity to earn an incentive participation in net sale proceeds in the event the hotel is sold or refinanced;

 

    Four full-service hotels in Washington, D.C. (“the D.C. Collection”) with a total of 496 guestrooms for an aggregate net purchase price of approximately $42.5 million in March 2001. All four hotels, the Topaz Hotel, the Hotel Rouge, the Hotel Madera and the Hotel Helix, have been fully renovated, improved and repositioned as unique high-end, independent hotels. The aggregate cost of renovating and repositioning the four hotels was approximately $32.7 million;

 

    The 343-room Holiday Inn on the Hill, a full-service hotel located on Capitol Hill in Washington, D.C., for a net purchase price of approximately $44.0 million in June 2001;

 

    The 296-room Lansdowne Resort, a full-service golf resort and conference center located in Lansdowne, VA, for a purchase price of approximately $115.8 million, in June 2003; and

 

    The 139-room Hotel George, a luxury urban hotel located on Capitol Hill in Washington, D.C., for a purchase price of approximately $24.1 million, in September 2003. The Company includes the Hotel George as part of the D.C. Collection.

 

Recent Developments

 

Effective January 16, 2004, the Company entered into an exclusive listing agreement for the sale of its Omaha property. The asset was classified as held for sale at that time because the property is being actively marketed and sale is expected to occur within one year; accordingly, depreciation was suspended. Based on initial pricing expectation the Company expects to recognize a gain on the sale, therefore no impairment was recognized.

 

On February 10, 2004, the Company acquired a 100% interest in the Indianapolis Marriott Downtown, a 615-room, AAA four-diamond rated full service hotel located in downtown Indianapolis, Indiana, for $106.0 million. The source of funding for the acquisition was the Company’s senior unsecured bank facility. The property was leased to LHL, and White Lodging Services Corporation was retained to manage the property.

 

On February 11, 2004, the Company paid in full the $62.3 million balance of the mortgage loan that had been secured by the Lansdowne Resort, which the Company had assumed upon purchase of the property on June 17, 2003. The mortgage loan permitted prepayment beginning on February 11, 2004. Upon prepayment, the seller was entitled to the remaining value of the $5.0 million debt service reserve (after prepayment penalty) that the seller had transferred to the Company in conjunction with the purchase of the Lansdowne Resort. On February 12, 2004, the Company paid the seller $3.1 million in cash representing the remaining value of the debt service reserve escrow. The Company recognized a gain on the debt extinguishment of $0.1 million.

 

Hotel Renovations

 

The Company believes that its regular program of capital improvements at the hotels, including replacement and refurbishment of furniture, fixtures and equipment, helps maintain and enhance its competitiveness and maximizes revenue growth under the participating leases. During the year ended December 31, 2003, the Company invested approximately $28.0 million on renovations and additional capital improvements at the hotels. The Company plans to invest approximately $45.0 million on renovations and additional capital improvements at

 

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its hotel properties during 2004. As of December 31, 2003, purchase orders and letters of commitment totaling approximately $12.0 million have been issued for renovations at the hotels. The Company has committed to these projects and anticipates making similar arrangements with the existing hotels or any future hotels that it may acquire. Any unexpended amounts will remain the property of the Company upon termination of the participating leases.

 

Tax Status

 

The Company has elected to be taxed as a REIT under Sections 856 through 860 of the Code. As a result, the Company generally is not subject to corporate income tax on that portion of its net income that is currently distributed to shareholders. A REIT is subject to a number of highly technical and complex organizational and operational requirements, including requirements with respect to the nature of its gross income and assets and a requirement that it currently distribute at least 90% of its taxable income. The Company may, however, be subject to certain state and local taxes on its income and property.

 

Effective January 1, 2001, the Company elected to operate its wholly owned subsidiary, LaSalle Hotel Lessee, Inc. (“LHL”), as provided for under the REIT Modernization Act as a taxable-REIT subsidiary. Accordingly, LHL is required to pay income taxes at the applicable rates.

 

Seasonality

 

The hotels’ operations historically have been seasonal. The hotels maintain higher occupancy rates during the second and third quarters, including the Marriott Seaview Resort and Lansdowne Resort, which generate a portion of their revenues from golf-related business and, as a result, their revenues also fluctuate according to the season and the weather. These seasonality patterns can be expected to cause fluctuations in the Company’s quarterly lease revenue under the participating leases with third-party lessees and hotel operating revenue from LHL.

 

Competition

 

The hotel industry is highly competitive. Each of the hotels is located in a developed area that includes other hotel properties. The number of competitive hotel properties in a particular area could have a material adverse effect on occupancy, average daily rate and room revenue per available room of the hotels or at hotel properties acquired in the future. The Company may be competing for investment opportunities with entities that have substantially greater financial resources than the Company. These entities may generally be able to accept more risk than the Company can prudently manage, including risks with respect to the creditworthiness of a hotel operator or the geographic proximity of its investments. Competition may generally reduce the number of suitable investment opportunities offered to the Company and increase the bargaining power of property owners seeking to sell.

 

Environmental Matters

 

In connection with the ownership and operation of the hotels, the Company is subject to various federal, state and local laws, ordinances and regulations relating to environmental protection. Under these laws, a current or previous owner or operator of real estate may be liable for the costs of removal or remediation of certain hazardous or toxic substances on, under, or in such property. Such laws often impose liability without regard to whether the owner or operator knew of, or was responsible for, the presence of hazardous or toxic substances. In addition, the presence of contamination from hazardous or toxic substances, or the failure to remediate such contaminated property properly, may adversely affect the owner’s ability to borrow using such property as collateral. Furthermore, a person who arranges for the disposal or treatment of a hazardous or toxic substance at a property owned by another, or who transports such substance to or from such property, may be liable for the costs of removal or remediation of such substance released into the environment at the disposal or treatment facility. The costs of remediation or removal of such substances may be substantial, and the presence of such

 

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substances may adversely affect the owner’s ability to sell such real estate or to borrow using such real estate as collateral. In connection with the ownership and operation of the hotels the Company may be potentially liable for such costs.

 

The Company believes that its hotels are in compliance, in all material respects, with all federal, state and local environmental ordinances and regulations regarding hazardous or toxic substances and other environmental matters, the violation of which could have a material adverse effect on the Company. The Company has not received written notice from any governmental authority of any material noncompliance, liability or claim relating to hazardous or toxic substances or other environmental matters in connection with any of its present properties.

 

Employees

 

The Company had 22 employees as of February 18, 2004. All persons employed in the day-to-day operations of the hotels are employees of the management companies engaged by the lessees to operate such hotels.

 

Additional Information

 

The Company has made available copies of the charters of its board committees, its code of ethics and its corporate governance guidelines on its website at www.lasallehotels.com. Copies of these documents are available in print to any shareholder who requests them. Requests should be sent to LaSalle Hotel Properties, 4800 Montgomery Lane, Suite M25, Bethesda, Maryland, 20814. Attn: Hans S. Weger, Corporate Secretary.

 

Risk Factors

 

Additional Factors that May Affect Future Results

 

The following risk factors and other information included in this Annual Report on Form 10-K should be carefully considered. The risks and uncertainties described below are not the only ones the Company faces. Additional risks and uncertainties not presently known to the Company or that it currently deems immaterial also may impair its business operations. If any of the following risks occur, the Company’s business, financial condition, operating results and cash flows could be materially adversely affected.

 

The Company’s return on its hotels depends upon the ability of the lessees and the hotel operators to operate and manage the hotels

 

To maintain its status as a REIT, the Company is not permitted to operate any of its hotels. As a result, the Company is unable to directly implement strategic business decisions with respect to the operation and marketing of its hotels, such as decisions with respect to the setting of room rates, repositioning of a hotel, food and beverage prices and certain similar matters. Although it consults with the lessees and hotel operators with respect to strategic business plans, the lessees and hotel operators are under no obligation to implement any of the Company’s recommendations with respect to such matters.

 

The Company’s performance and its ability to make distributions on its capital shares are subject to risks associated with the hotel industry

 

Competition for Guests, Increases in Operating Costs, Dependence on Travel and Economic Conditions Could Affect the Company’s Cash Flow.    The hotels are subject to all operating risks common to the hotel industry. These risks include:

 

    competition for guests and meetings from other hotels including as a result of competition from internet wholesalers and distributors;

 

    increases in operating costs, including wages, benefits, insurance, property taxes and energy, due to inflation and other factors, which may not be offset in the future by increased room rates;

 

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    dependence on demand from business and leisure travelers including substantial weakness at this time in business travel, which may fluctuate and be seasonal;

 

    increases in energy costs, airline fares, and other expenses related to travel, which may deter traveling;

 

    terrorism alerts and warnings and military actions, which may cause decreases in business and leisure travel;

 

    the military involvement in Iraq and its likely continued negative impact on travel and the economy; and

 

    adverse effects of weak general and local economic conditions.

 

These factors could adversely affect the ability of the lessees to generate revenues and to make rental payments to the Company.

 

Unexpected Capital Expenditures Could Adversely Affect the Company’s Cash Flow.    Hotels require ongoing renovations and other capital improvements, including periodic replacement or refurbishment of furniture, fixtures and equipment. Under the terms of its leases, the Company is obligated to pay the cost of certain capital expenditures at the hotels and to pay for periodic replacement or refurbishment of furniture, fixtures and equipment. If capital expenditures exceed expectations, there can be no assurance that sufficient sources of financing will be available to fund such expenditures. In addition, the Company may acquire hotels in the future that require significant renovation. Renovation of hotels involves numerous risks, including the possibility of environmental problems, construction cost overruns and delays, impact on current demand, uncertainties as to market demand or deterioration in market demand after commencement of renovation and the emergence of unanticipated competition from other hotels.

 

The Company’s obligation to comply with financial covenants in its senior unsecured bank facility and mortgages on some of its hotel properties could restrict its range of operating activities

 

The Company has a senior unsecured bank facility from a syndicate of banks, which provides for a maximum borrowing of up to $215.0 million. The senior unsecured bank facility matures on December 31, 2006 and has a one-year extension option. Funding for the new unsecured bank facility occurred on December 15, 2003, at which time it replaced the Company’s prior senior unsecured bank facility. The senior unsecured bank facility contains certain financial covenants relating to debt service coverage, minimum tangible net worth and total funded indebtedness.

 

The Company’s bank facility contains financial covenants that could restrict its ability to incur additional indebtedness or make distributions on the common shares. The senior unsecured bank facility contains certain financial covenants relating to debt service coverage, net worth and total funded indebtedness and contains financial covenants that, assuming no continuing defaults, allow the Company to make shareholder distributions which, when combined with the distributions to shareholders in the three immediately preceding fiscal quarters, do not exceed the greater of (i) funds from operations from the preceding four-quarter rolling period or (ii) the greater of (a) the amount of distributions required for the Company to maintain its status as a REIT or (b) the amount required to ensure the Company will avoid imposition of an excise tax for failure to make certain minimum distributions on a calendar year basis. Availability under the bank facility may be reduced by hotel financing which the Company obtains outside the bank facility. Pursuant to the bank facility, the amount of outside financing is limited to specified levels. If the Company is unable to borrow under the bank facility, it could adversely affect the Company’s financial condition.

 

The Company’s wholly owned subsidiary, LHL, has a senior unsecured bank facility from a syndicate of banks, which provides for a maximum borrowing of up to $13.0 million. The senior unsecured bank facility matures on December 31, 2006. The senior unsecured bank facility contains certain financial covenants relating to debt service coverage, minimum tangible net worth and total funded indebtedness.

 

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The Radisson Convention Hotel, Westin City Center Dallas, Le Montrose Suite Hotel, Lansdowne Resort and San Diego Paradise Point Resort are each mortgaged to secure payment of indebtedness aggregating approximately $187.2 million (including a mortgage premium on the mortgage secured by the Lansdowne Resort) as of December 31, 2003. The Harborside Hyatt Conference Center & Hotel is mortgaged to secure payment of principal and interest on bonds with an aggregate par value of approximately $42.5 million. If the Company is unable to meet mortgage payments, the mortgage securing the specific property could be foreclosed upon by, or the property could be otherwise transferred to, the mortgagee with a consequent loss of income and asset value to the Company. From time to time, the Company may mortgage additional hotels to secure payment of additional indebtedness.

 

The Company’s performance is subject to real estate industry conditions and the terms of our leases

 

Because Real Estate Investments Are Illiquid the Company May Not Be Able to Sell Hotels When Desired.    Real estate investments generally cannot be sold quickly. The Company may not be able to vary its portfolio promptly in response to economic or other conditions. In addition, provisions of the Code limit a REIT’s ability to sell properties in some situations when it may be economically advantageous to do so.

 

Liability for Environmental Matters Could Adversely Affect the Company’s Financial Condition.    As an owner of real property, the Company is subject to various federal, state and local laws and regulations relating to the protection of the environment that may require a current or previous owner of real estate to investigate and clean-up hazardous or toxic substances at a property. These laws often impose such liability without regard to whether the owner knew of or caused the presence of the contaminants, and liability is not limited under the enactments and could exceed the value of the property and/or the aggregate assets of the owner. Persons who arrange for the disposal or treatment of hazardous or toxic substances may also be liable for the clean-up costs of the substances at a disposal or treatment facility, whether or not such facility is owned or operated by the person. Even if more than one person were responsible for the contamination, each person covered by the environmental laws may be held responsible for the entire amount of clean-up costs incurred.

 

Environmental laws also govern the presence, maintenance and removal of asbestos-containing materials. These laws impose liability for release of asbestos-containing materials into the air and third parties may seek recovery from owners or operators of real properties for personal injury associated with asbestos-containing materials. In connection with the ownership (direct or indirect) the Company may be considered an owner or operator of properties containing asbestos-containing materials. Having arranged for the disposal or treatment of contaminants, the Company may be potentially liable for removal, remediation and other costs, including governmental fines and injuries to persons and property.

 

The Costs of Compliance with the Americans with Disabilities Act Could Adversely Affect the Company’s Cash Flow.    Under the Americans with Disabilities Act of 1990, all public accommodations are required to meet certain federal requirements related to access and use by disabled persons. A determination that the Company is not in compliance with the Americans with Disabilities Act of 1990 could result in imposition of fines or an award of damages to private litigants.

 

Certain Leases and Management Agreements May Constrain the Company from Acting in the Best Interests of Shareholders or Require it to Make Certain Payments.    The Harborside Hyatt Conference Center & Hotel and the San Diego Paradise Point Resort are each subject to a ground lease with a third-party lessor. In order for the Company to sell either of these hotels or to assign its leasehold interest in either of these ground leases, it must first obtain the consent of the relevant third-party lessor. The Radisson Convention Hotel is also subject to a ground lease with a third-party lessor; third-party lessor consent is required to assign leasehold interest unless the assignment is in conjunction with the sale of the hotel. Accordingly, if the Company determines that the sale of any of these hotels or the assignment of its leasehold interest in any of these ground leases is in the best interest of its shareholders, the Company may be prevented from completing such transaction if it is unable to obtain the required consent from the relevant lessor.

 

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In some instances, the Company may be required to obtain the consent of the hotel operator prior to selling the hotel. Typically, such consent is only required in connection with certain proposed sales, such as if the proposed purchaser is engaged in the operation of a competing hotel or does not meet certain minimum financial requirements. Hotels where operator approval of certain sales may be required include: Chicago Marriott Downtown, Harborside Hyatt Conference Center & Hotel and Omaha Marriott Hotel.

 

The Westin City Center Dallas is a unit of a commercial condominium complex and is subject to a right of first refusal in favor of the owner of the remaining condominium units. In addition, the Company is subject to certain rights of first refusal or similar rights with respect to the following hotels: Hotel Viking, LaGuardia Airport Marriott and Marriott Seaview Resort. Similarly, the operator of the D.C. Collection hotels has a right of first offer and a right of first refusal, excluding the Hotel George, if any of the hotels are sold other than through a public bidding process.

 

If the Company determines to terminate a lease with a third-party lessee (other than in connection with a default by such lessee), it may be required to pay a termination fee calculated based upon the value of the lease.

 

Increases in interest rates may increase our interest expense

 

As of December 31, 2003, approximately $116.8 million of aggregate indebtedness (48.8% of total indebtedness) was subject to variable interest rates. The aggregate indebtedness balance includes the Company’s $11.9 million pro rata portion of indebtedness relating to the Company’s joint venture investment in the Chicago Marriott Downtown hotel. An increase in interest rates could increase the Company’s interest expense and reduce its cash flow and its ability to service its indebtedness.

 

Failure to qualify as a REIT would be costly

 

The Company has operated (and intends to so operate in the future) so as to qualify as a REIT under the Code beginning with its taxable year ended December 31, 1998. Although management believes that the Company is organized and operated in a manner to so qualify, no assurance can be given that the Company will qualify or remain qualified as a REIT.

 

If the Company fails to qualify as a REIT in any taxable year, it will be subject to federal income tax (including any applicable alternative minimum tax) on its taxable income at regular corporate rates. Moreover, unless entitled to relief under certain statutory provisions, the Company also will be disqualified from treatment as a REIT for the four taxable years following the year during which qualification was lost. This treatment would cause the Company to incur additional tax liabilities and would significantly impair the Company’s ability to service indebtedness, and reduce the amount of cash available to make new investments or to make distributions on its common shares of beneficial interest and preferred shares.

 

Property ownership through partnerships and joint ventures could limit the Company’s control of those investments

 

Partnership or joint venture investments may involve risks not otherwise present for investments made solely by the Company, including the possibility that its co-investors might become bankrupt, that its co-investors might at any time have different interests or goals than the Company does, and that its co-investors may take action contrary to its instructions, requests, policies or objectives, including its policy with respect to maintaining its qualification as a REIT. Other risks of joint venture investments include an impasse on decisions, such as a sale, because neither the Company’s co-investors nor the Company would have full control over the partnership or joint venture. There is no limitation under the Company’s organizational documents as to the amount of funds that may be invested in partnerships or joint ventures.

 

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Tax consequences upon a sale or refinancing of properties may result in conflicts of interest

 

Holders of units of limited partnership interest in the operating partnership or co-investors in properties not owned entirely by the Company may suffer different and more adverse tax consequences than the Company upon the sale or refinancing of properties. The Company may have different objectives from these co-investors and unitholders regarding the appropriate pricing and timing of any sale or refinancing of these properties. While the Company, as the sole general partner of the operating partnership, has the exclusive authority as to whether and on what terms to sell or refinance each property owned solely by the operating partnership, some of its trustees who have interests in units of limited partnership may seek to influence the Company not to sell or refinance the properties, even though such a sale might otherwise be financially advantageous to it, or may seek to influence the Company to refinance a property with a higher level of debt.

 

The Company may not have enough insurance

 

The Company carries comprehensive liability, fire, flood, earthquake, extended coverage and business interruption policies that insure it against losses with policy specifications and insurance limits that the Company believes are reasonable. There are certain types of losses that management may decide not to insure against since the cost of insuring is not economical. The Company may suffer losses that exceed its insurance coverage. Further, market conditions, changes in building codes and ordinances or other factors such as environmental laws may make it too expensive to repair or replace a property that has been damaged or destroyed, even if covered by insurance.

 

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Item 2.    Properties

 

Hotel Properties

 

At December 31, 2003, the Company owned interests in the following 17 hotel properties:

 

Property


   Number of
Rooms/Suites


  

Location


1.

   Radisson Convention Hotel*    565    Bloomington, MN

2.

   Westin City Center Dallas*    407    Dallas, TX

3.

   Marriott Seaview Resort    297    Galloway, NJ (Atlantic City)

4.

   Omaha Marriott Hotel    299    Omaha, NE

5.

   Le Montrose Suite Hotel*    132    West Hollywood, CA

6.

   LaGuardia Airport Marriott    438    New York, NY

7.

   San Diego Paradise Point Resort*    462    San Diego, CA

8.

   Harborside Hyatt Conference Center & Hotel*    270    Boston, MA

9.

   Hotel Viking    222    Newport, RI

10.

   Chicago Marriott Downtown*    1,192    Chicago, IL

11.

   Topaz Hotel    99    Washington, D.C.

12.

   Hotel Rouge    137    Washington, D.C.

13.

   Hotel Madera    82    Washington, D.C.

14.

   Hotel Helix    178    Washington, D.C.

15.

   Hotel George    139    Washington, D.C.

16.

   Holiday Inn on the Hill    343    Washington, D.C.

17.

   Lansdowne Resort*    296    Lansdowne, VA
         
    
     Total number of rooms/suites    5,558     
         
    

*   Properties subject to a mortgage.

 

Radisson Convention Hotel.    Radisson Convention Hotel is an upscale full-service convention hotel located at the intersection of Interstate 494 and Highway 100, approximately 15 minutes from the Minneapolis/St. Paul International Airport, and five miles from the Mall of America. The hotel is currently leased to LHL and operated by an affiliate of the Radisson Group, Inc.

 

The Company currently expects to engage Starwood Hotels and Resorts Worldwide, Inc. to manage and operate its Bloomington, Minnesota property under the Sheraton brand affiliation, beginning during the first quarter 2004.

 

Westin City Center Dallas.    Westin City Center Dallas is an upscale full-service convention oriented hotel located in downtown Dallas, approximately 25 minutes from the Dallas/Fort Worth International Airport, in the heart of the city’s arts and financial districts. The hotel is conveniently located near the Dallas Convention Center, four stops away on the Dallas light rail system, with a DART station adjacent to the hotel. The hotel is leased to LHL and operated by Starwood Hotels & Resorts Worldwide, Inc.

 

Marriott Seaview Resort.    Marriott Seaview Resort is a luxury AAA Four-Diamond rated golf resort and conference center located on Reeds Bay, approximately nine miles north of Atlantic City, New Jersey. The hotel is leased to LHL and operated by Marriott International, Inc. pursuant to a long-term incentive-based operating agreement.

 

Omaha Marriott Hotel.    Omaha Marriott Hotel is an upscale full-service major business hotel located in the western suburbs of Omaha at one of the city’s busiest intersections (I-680 and West Dodge Road). The hotel is located in the Regency Office Park, a mixed-use development containing over 865,000 square feet of office

 

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and retail space, and directly across West Dodge Road from Westroads Shopping Center, one of the largest shopping malls in Omaha. The hotel is leased to LHL and operated by Marriott International, Inc. pursuant to a long-term incentive-based operating agreement.

 

Le Montrose Suite Hotel.    Le Montrose Suite Hotel is a five-story, luxury full-service hotel located in West Hollywood, California, two blocks east of Beverly Hills and one block south of the “Sunset Strip.” The hotel is within walking distance of many of the area’s finest restaurants, retail shops and nightclubs. The hotel attracts short and long-term guests and small groups primarily from the recording, film and design industries. The hotel is leased to and operated by Outrigger Lodging Services.

 

LaGuardia Airport Marriott.    LaGuardia Airport Marriott is an upscale full-service urban/major business hotel located directly across from New York’s LaGuardia Airport. The hotel is five minutes from Shea Stadium and the USTA National Tennis Center and 20 minutes from Manhattan. The hotel is leased to LHL and operated by Marriott International, Inc. pursuant to a long-term incentive-based operating agreement.

 

San Diego Paradise Point Resort.    San Diego Paradise Point Resort is a luxury resort that lies on 44 acres and has nearly one mile of beachfront. The hotel is located in the heart of Mission Bay on Vacation Island, a 4,600-acre aquatic park in southwest San Diego County. The resort is 15 minutes away from the San Diego International Airport and convenient to many major San Diego tourist attractions including Sea World, Old Town, downtown San Diego, the San Diego Convention Center, Qualcomm Stadium and the San Diego Zoo. The hotel is subject to a 50-year ground lease with the city of San Diego, which expires in June 2049. The hotel is leased to and operated by WestGroup San Diego Associates, Ltd., an affiliate of Noble House Hotels and Resorts.

 

Harborside Hyatt Conference Center & Hotel.    Harborside Hyatt Conference Center & Hotel is a full-service luxury conference and airport hotel located adjacent to Boston’s Logan International Airport along the Boston waterfront. The property features 19,000 square feet of meeting space and is directly across the Boston Harbor from Boston’s central business district. The hotel is located next to the Ted Williams Tunnel, providing convenient access to downtown Boston and the new Boston Convention Center. The property is subject to a long-term ground lease from the Massachusetts Port Authority, Logan International Airport’s owner and operating authority. The hotel is leased to LHL and operated by Hyatt Corporation pursuant to a long-term incentive based managment agreement.

 

Hotel Viking.    Hotel Viking is a full-service upscale resort located on Bellevue Avenue in Newport, Rhode Island. The hotel offers 29,000 square feet of meeting space, a restaurant, a lounge, a rooftop bar and a full-service spa. The property also includes the Trinity Parish House and the fully restored Kay Chapel, both adjacent to the hotel. The hotel is leased to LHL and is operated by Noble House Hotels and Resorts.

 

Chicago Marriott Downtown.    Chicago Marriott Downtown is a full-service, upscale convention hotel located at the intersection of North Michigan Avenue and Ohio Street on downtown Chicago’s world-famous “Magnificent Mile.” The property has over 60,000 square feet of meeting space, five food and beverage outlets, a health club and sports center, a business center and a gift shop. The Chicago Marriott Downtown has superb visibility and allows guests convenient access to a variety of attractions. A world-renowned shopping destination, the “Magnificent Mile” is home to such retailers as Neiman Marcus, Saks Fifth Avenue, Nordstrom, Marshall Fields and Niketown. The Company, through the operating partnership, owns a non-controlling 9.9% equity interest in the Chicago Marriott Downtown. The hotel is leased to Chicago 540 Lessee, Inc. in which the Company also owns a non-controlling 9.9% equity interest. The hotel is operated by Marriott International, Inc. pursuant to a long-term incentive-based operating agreement.

 

D.C. Collection.    The D.C. Collection comprises five full-service hotels located in Washington, D.C. with a total of 635 guestrooms. Each hotel features large guestrooms or suites. The Company renovated and repositioned four of the hotels as full-service, upscale, unique, independent hotels: the Topaz Hotel, the Hotel

 

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Rouge, the Hotel Madera and the Hotel Helix. The Company leases each of these hotels to wholly owned subsidiaries of LHL. The San Francisco, California-based Kimpton Hotel & Restaurant Group, L.L.C., operates all five of these hotels.

 

Topaz Hotel.    The Topaz Hotel is a full-service hotel with an exotic “East-meets-West” theme. The hotel is conveniently located on Embassy Row in downtown Washington, D.C. It is within walking distance of the Central Business District, minutes from the monuments and museums, and less than two blocks from Dupont Circle and the Metro. The hotel features a bar/restaurant.

 

Hotel Rouge.    Hotel Rouge is a full-service hotel with a “playful, interactive, glamorous” theme. Located on Scott Circle in Washington, D.C., the hotel is five blocks from the White House and just minutes from the business district. The hotel features a bar/restaurant.

 

Hotel Madera.    Hotel Madera is a full-service hotel with a “cosmopolitan comfort” theme. The Hotel Madera, is located on the eastern edge of the Georgetown section of Washington, D.C., and near many of the area’s attractions. The hotel features a restaurant, Firefly, a modern American bistro.

 

Hotel Helix.    Hotel Helix is a full-service hotel with a “pop-art” theme. The Hotel Helix is located just a few blocks from the new 2.3 million square-foot Washington Convention Center. The hotel is located four blocks from Dupont Circle in close proximity to most of the major downtown tourist attractions. The hotel features a bar/restaurant.

 

Hotel George.    The Hotel George, a luxury urban hotel, is situated within three blocks of the U.S. Capitol Building and is centrally located to numerous leisure and corporate demand generators such as Union Station, The White House, the Mall and the Smithsonian. The hotel is within walking distance of the new 2.3 million square-foot Washington Convention Center and the revitalized Capitol Hill and Chinatown neighborhoods. The hotel features the award winning restaurant Bistro Bis.

 

Holiday Inn on the Hill.    Holiday Inn on the Hill is an upscale full-service hotel strategically located on Capitol Hill in Washington, D.C. The property is the closest hotel to the U.S. Capitol Building. The hotel offers a first class amenity package, including 10,000 square feet of newly renovated meeting space, a full-service restaurant and bar and a rooftop swimming pool. The hotel is minutes away from the 2.3 million square-foot Washington Convention Center. The hotel is leased to a wholly owned subsidiary of LHL, and Crestline Hotels & Resorts, Inc. has been the operator of the property since 1997.

 

Lansdowne Resort.    Lansdowne Resort is a AAA Four-Diamond luxury full-service golf resort and conference center located in Lansdowne, Virginia. The 296-room resort is located on 556 acres and features an 18-hole championship golf course designed by award-winning architect Robert Trent Jones, Jr. A second 18-hole championship golf course, designed by Greg Norman, and a clubhouse are currently under development and are scheduled for completion by mid-2005. The resort is leased to a wholly owned subsidiary of LHL and operated by Benchmark Hospitality.

 

Participating Leases and Management Agreements

 

The Company is subject to participating leases with third-party lessees and, through LHL, management agreements. For hotels leased to third-party lessees, the Company earns the greater of (i) base rent or (ii) participating rent based on fixed percentages of hotel revenues pursuant to the respective participating lease. For hotels leased to third-party lessees, the Company is responsible for the payment of real estate taxes, ground rent, if any, certain insurance, maintaining a reserve for future capital expenditures and payment of agreed upon capital expenditures. The terms of these third-party participating leases have expirations between 2008 and 2009. For hotels leased by LHL, the Company, through LHL, earns all hotel revenues and is responsible for all hotel expenses, including base management fees and incentive management fees, if any, pursuant to the terms of the respective management agreement. The terms of the leases with LHL have expirations between 2008 and 2011.

 

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Item 3.    Legal Proceedings

 

The nature of the operations of the hotels exposes them to the risk of claims and litigation in the normal course of their business. Although the outcome of these matters cannot be determined, management does not expect the ultimate resolution of these matters to have a material adverse effect on the financial position, operations or liquidity of the hotels.

 

The Company has engaged Starwood Hotels & Resorts Worldwide, Inc. to manage and operate its Dallas hotel under the Westin brand affiliation. Meridien Hotels, Inc. (“Meridien”) had been operating the Dallas property as a wrongful holdover tenant, until the Westin brand conversion occurred on July 14, 2003 under court order.

 

On December 20, 2002, Meridien abandoned the Company’s New Orleans hotel. The Company entered into a lease with a wholly owned subsidiary of LHL and an interim management agreement with Interstate Hotels & Resorts, Inc., and re-named the hotel the New Orleans Grande Hotel. The New Orleans property thereafter was sold on April 21, 2003 for $92.5 million.

 

In connection with the termination of Meridien at these hotels, the Company is currently in litigation with Meridien and related affiliates. The Company believes its sole potential obligation in connection with the termination of the leases is to pay fair market value of the leases, if any. Arbitration of the fair market value of the New Orleans lease commenced in October 2002. On December 19, 2002, the arbitration panel determined that Meridien was entitled to a net award of approximately $5.4 million in connection with the New Orleans property, subject to adjustment (reduction) by the courts to account for Meridien’s holdover. The Company is disputing the arbitration decision, as well as whether Meridien is entitled to fair market value. In order to dispute the arbitration decision, the Company was required to post a $7.8 million surety bond, which is secured by $5.9 million of restricted cash.

 

In 2002 the Company recognized a net $2.5 million contingent lease termination expense and reversed previously deferred assets and liabilities related to the termination of both the New Orleans property and Dallas property leases, and recorded a corresponding contingent liability included in accounts payable and accrued expenses in the accompanying consolidated financial statements. The Company believes, however, it is owed holdover rent per the lease terms due to Meridien’s failure to vacate the properties as required under the leases. The contingent lease termination expense was therefore net of the holdover rent the Company believes it is entitled to for both properties and in the first, second and third quarters of 2003 the Company adjusted this liability by additional holdover rent of $395, $380 and $52, respectively, that it believes it is entitled to for the Dallas property. The additional holdover rent is recorded as other income in the accompanying consolidated financial statements. The net contingent lease termination liability has also been adjusted for legal fees and has a balance of approximately $2.0 million as of December 31, 2003, which is included in accounts payable and accrued expenses in the accompanying consolidated balance sheet. Based on the claims the Company has against Meridien, the Company is and will continue to seek reimbursement of legal fees and damages, and will challenge the arbitration determination, which may reduce any amounts owed Meridien, and therefore ultimately any contingent lease termination expense. Additionally, the Company cannot provide any assurances that the holdover rents will be collectible or that the amounts due will not be greater than the recorded contingent lease termination expense.

 

The Company maintained a lien on Meridien’s security deposit on both disputed properties with an aggregate value of approximately $3.3 million, in accordance with the lease agreements. The security deposits were liquidated in May 2003 with the proceeds used to partially satisfy Meridien’s outstanding obligations, including certain working capital notes and outstanding base rent.

 

Additionally, Meridien is disputing the Company’s calculations of participating rents for both properties. The total amount Meridien is disputing is approximately $2.0 million. Consistent with the express terms of the lease, however, Meridien has paid the participating rent due for 2001 and 2002 in full. The Company continues to believe the calculation is correct, consistent with the lease terms, and it has recognized the revenue in the appropriate periods.

 

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Meridien also has sued the Company and one of the Company’s officers alleging that certain actions taken in anticipation of re-branding the Dallas and New Orleans hotels under the Westin brand affiliation constituted unfair trade practices, false advertising, trademark infringement, trademark dilution and tortious interference. On August 19, 2002, the Company received an order from the court denying all of Meridien’s motions. Meridien continued with the lawsuit, however, and filed an amended complaint. The Company moved to dismiss Meridien’s lawsuit, and on March 11, 2003 the court granted the Company’s motion and dismissed all of Meridien’s claims. On April 9, 2003, Meridien filed a notice of appeal, which appeal is pending.

 

The Company does not believe that the amount of any fees or damages it may be required to pay on any of the litigation related to Meridien will have a material adverse effect on the Company’s financial condition or results of operations, taken as a whole. The Company’s management has discussed this contingency and the related accounting treatment with the audit committee of its Board of Trustees.

 

The Company is not presently subject to any other material litigation nor, to the Company’s knowledge, is any other litigation threatened against the Company, 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 the liquidity, results of operations or business or financial condition of the Company.

 

Item 4.    Submission of Matters to a Vote of Security Holders

 

There were no matters submitted to a vote of the Company’s shareholders during the fourth quarter of the year covered by this Annual Report on Form 10-K.

 

Part II

 

Item 5.    Market for Registrant’s Common Shares of Beneficial Interest and Related Shareholder Matters

 

Market Information

 

The common shares of the Company began trading on the New York Stock Exchange on April 24, 1998 under the symbol “LHO.” The following table sets forth for the indicated periods the high and low sale prices for the common shares of beneficial interest and the cash distributions declared per share:

 

     Calendar Year 2003

   Calendar Year 2002

     High

   Low

   Distribution