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, 2004
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.) | |
| 3 Bethesda Metro Center, Suite 1200, |
20814 | |
| (Address of principal executive offices) | (Zip Code) |
301/941-1500
(Registrants telephone number, including area code)
Securities Registered pursuant to Section 12(b) of the Act:
| Title of each class |
Name of each exchange on | |
| Common Shares of Beneficial Interest ($0.01 par value) |
New York Stock Exchange | |
| 10¼% Series A Cumulative Redeemable Preferred Shares ($0.01 par value) |
New York Stock Exchange | |
| 8 3/8% Series B Cumulative Redeemable Preferred Shares ($0.01 par value) |
New York Stock Exchange |
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 Registrants 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 ¨
The aggregate market value of the 27,620,843 common shares of beneficial interest held by non-affiliates of the Registrant was approximately $682.2 million based on the closing price on the New York Stock Exchange for such common shares of beneficial interest on of June 30, 2004.
Number of the Registrants common shares of beneficial interest outstanding as of February 15, 2005: 29,888,333.
DOCUMENTS INCORPORATED BY REFERENCE
Portions of the Registrants Proxy Statement for its 2005 Annual Meeting of Shareholders to be held on or about April 21, 2005 are incorporated by reference in Part III of this report.
LASALLE HOTEL PROPERTIES
| Item No. |
Form 10-K Report Page | |||
| PART I | ||||
| 1. | 1 | |||
| 2. | 10 | |||
| 3. | 13 | |||
| 4. | 14 | |||
| PART II | ||||
| 5. | Market for Registrants Common Shares of Beneficial Interest and Related Shareholder Matters |
14 | ||
| 6. | 15 | |||
| 7. | Managements Discussion and Analysis of Financial Condition and Results of Operations |
18 | ||
| 7A. | 40 | |||
| 8. | 42 | |||
| 9. | Changes in and Disagreements with Accountants on Accounting and Financial Disclosure |
42 | ||
| 9A. | 42 | |||
| PART III | ||||
| 10. | 43 | |||
| 11. | 43 | |||
| 12. | Security Ownership of Certain Beneficial Owners and Management |
43 | ||
| 13. | 43 | |||
| 14. | 43 | |||
| PART IV | ||||
| 15. | 43 | |||
This Annual Report on Form 10-K, 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 Companys 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 Companys 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 Companys 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 Companys 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. (the Operating Partnership) and LaSalle Hotel Lessee, Inc. (LHL)), or, 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, 2004, the Company owned interests in 19 hotels with approximately 6,300 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 that may reduce its federal taxable income to the extent it distributes taxable dividends to its shareholders.
Substantially all of the Companys 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 98.7% ownership interest at December 31, 2004. The remaining 1.3% is held by limited partners who hold 383,090 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 Companys principal offices are located at 3 Bethesda Metro Center, Suite 1200, Bethesda, MD 20814. The Companys 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 Companys 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 Worldwide, Inc., Crestline Hotels & Resorts, Inc., Outrigger Lodging Services, Noble House Hotels and Resorts, Hyatt Hotels Corporation, Kimpton Hotel & Restaurant Group, L.L.C., Benchmark Hospitality, White Lodging Services Corporation, Davidson Hotel Company and Sandcastle Resorts & Hotels. 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 has since sold five of these hotels. In addition to continuing to hold five hotels acquired in connection with its IPO, the Company has acquired the following hotel interests:
| | 100% interest in the 462-room San Diego Paradise Point Resort for a net purchase price of $73.0 million in June 1998; |
| | 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; |
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| | 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, Virginia, for a purchase price of approximately $115.8 million, in June 2003; |
| | 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; |
| | the 615-room Indianapolis Marriott Downtown, a full-service convention hotel located in downtown Indianapolis, Indiana, for a purchase price of approximately $106.0 million, in February 2004; |
| | the 241-room Hilton Alexandria Old Town, an upscale full-service hotel located in historic downtown Alexandria, Virginia, for a purchase price of approximately $59.0 million, in May 2004; |
| | the 153-room Chaminade, a resort and executive conference center located in Santa Cruz, California, for a purchase price of approximately $18.5 million, in November 2004. |
Additionally, subsequent to December 31,2004, the Company acquired the following hotel interests:
| | the 282-room Hilton San Diego Gaslamp Quarter, a full-service upscale urban hotel located in downtown San Diego, California, for a purchase price of approximately $85.0 million, in January 2005; and |
| | the 108-room Grafton on Sunset, an upscale full-service hotel located in West Hollywood, California, for a purchase price of approximately $25.5 million, in January 2005. |
Recent Developments
On January 6, 2005, the Company acquired a 100% interest in the Hilton San Diego Gaslamp Quarter, a 282-room upscale full-service hotel located in the Gaslamp historic district in downtown San Diego, California, for $85.0 million. The source of the funding for the acquisition was the Companys senior unsecured bank facility. The property is leased to LHL, and Davidson Hotel Company was retained to manage the property.
On January 10, 2005, the Company acquired a 100% interest in the Grafton on Sunset, a 108-room, upscale full-service hotel located in West Hollywood, California, for $25.5 million. The source of the funding for the acquisition was the Companys senior unsecured bank facility. The property is leased to LHL, and Outrigger Lodging Services was retained to manage the property.
Hotel Dipositions
In September 2004, the Company sold the Omaha Marriott for a net sale proceeds of approximately $28.6 million because the hotel was no longer considered consistent with the Companys long-term portfolio strategy. The Company has since redeployed these net proceeds in markets that it believes exhibit stronger fundamentals.
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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, 2004, the Company invested approximately $37.2 million on renovations and additional capital improvements at the hotels. The Company plans to invest approximately $55.0 million on renovations and additional capital improvements at its hotel properties during 2005. As of December 31, 2004, purchase orders and letters of commitment totaling approximately $15.0 million had 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. The Seaview Marriott Resort and Spa and Lansdowne Resort, which generate a portion of their revenues from golf-related business, have revenues that fluctuate according to the season and the weather. These seasonality patterns can be expected to cause fluctuations in the Companys 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 Companys current hotels or at hotels 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 of 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
4
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 owners 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 substances may adversely affect the owners ability to sell such real estate or to borrow using such real estate as collateral. In connection with the ownership of 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 23 employees as of February 15, 2005. 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 conduct, its corporate governance guidelines and its whistleblower policy 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, 3 Bethesda Metro Center, Suite 1200, 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 may currently deem immaterial also may impair its business operations. If any of the following risks occur, the Companys business, financial condition, operating results and cash flows could be materially adversely affected.
The Companys 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 Companys recommendations with respect to such matters.
5
The Companys 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 Adversely Affect the Companys 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 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; |
| | dependence on demand from business and leisure travelers, which may fluctuate and be seasonal; |
| | increases in energy costs, airline fares and other expenses related to travel, which may negatively impact traveling; |
| | terrorism alerts and warnings and military actions such as the war in Iraq, which may cause decreases in business and leisure travel; 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 Companys 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, the 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 Companys 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 with a syndicate of banks, which provides for a maximum borrowing of up to $300.0 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 August 30, 2004, at which time it replaced the Companys 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 Companys bank facility contains financial covenants that could restrict its ability to incur additional indebtedness or make distributions on its common shares. The senior unsecured bank facility contains certain financial covenants relating to debt service coverage, net worth and total funded indebtedness; it also 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 that the Company will avoid imposition of an excise tax for failure to make certain
6
minimum distributions on a calendar-year basis. Availability under the bank facility may be reduced by hotel financing that 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 Companys financial condition.
The Companys wholly-owned subsidiary, LHL, has a senior unsecured bank facility with U.S Bank National Association, which provides for a maximum borrowing of up to $25.0 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.
The Sheraton Bloomington Hotel Minneapolis South, Westin City Center Dallas, Le Montrose Suite Hotel, San Diego Paradise Point Resort, Indianapolis Marriott Downtown and Hilton Alexandria Old Town are each mortgaged to secure payment of indebtedness aggregating approximately $211.8 million as of December 31, 2004. 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. In addition, the joint venture that owns the Chicago Marriott Downtown in which the Company holds a non-controlling 9.9% ownership interest is mortgaged to secure payment of indebtedness of $140.0 million. The Companys prorate share of the loan is approximately $13.9 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 Companys 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 REITs ability to sell properties in some situations when it may be economically advantageous to do so.
Liability for Environmental Matters Could Adversely Affect the Companys 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 ownership (direct or indirect) of its hotels, the Company may be considered an owner or operator of properties with 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 Companys 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
7
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, the San Diego Paradise Point Resort, Indianapolis Marriott Downtown and one of two golf courses, the Pines, at Seaview Marriott Resort and Spa are each subject to a ground lease with a third-party lessor. The ground leases for the Indianapolis Marriott Downtown and the Pines golf course at Seaview Marriott Resort and Spa are each for one dollar per year. In order for the Company to sell any of these hotels or to assign its leasehold interest in any of these ground leases, it must first obtain the consent of the relevant third-party lessor. The Sheraton Bloomington Hotel Minneapolis South is also subject to a ground lease with a third-party lessor; third-party lessor consent is required to assign the 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 a transaction if it is unable to obtain the required consent from the relevant lessor.
In some instances, the Company may be required to obtain the consent of the hotel operator or franchisor 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 the Chicago Marriott Downtown and Harborside Hyatt Conference Center & 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. The Hilton San Diego Gaslamp Quarter is a unit of a commercial condominium complex and is not subject to a right of first refusal by 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, Seaview Marriott Resort and Spa and Indianapolis Marriott Downtown. 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 is sold other than through a public bidding process. Finally, the Company is subject to franchisors certain rights of first offer with respect to the Hilton Alexandria Old Town.
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, 2004, approximately $56.4 million of aggregate indebtedness (21.0% of total indebtedness) was subject to variable interest rates. The aggregate indebtedness balance includes the Companys $13.9 million pro rata portion of indebtedness relating to the Companys joint venture investment in the Chicago Marriott Downtown hotel. An increase in interest rates could increase the Companys interest expense and reduce its cash flow and its ability to make distributions to shareholders and 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,
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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 Companys 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 Companys 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, might at any time have different interests or goals from those of the Company, and may take action contrary to the Companys 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 Companys co-investors nor the Company would have full control over the partnership or joint venture. There is no limitation under the Companys organizational documents as to the amount of funds that may be invested in partnerships or joint ventures.
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, 2004, the Company owned interests in the following 19 hotel properties:
| Property |
Number of Rooms/Suites |
Location | ||
| 1. Sheraton Bloomington Hotel Minneapolis South* |
565 | Bloomington, MN | ||
| 2. Westin City Center Dallas * |
407 | Dallas, TX | ||
| 3. Seaview Marriott Resort and Spa |
297 | Galloway, NJ (Atlantic City) | ||
| 4. Le Montrose Suite Hotel * |
133 | West Hollywood, CA | ||
| 5. LaGuardia Airport Marriott |
438 | New York, NY | ||
| 6. San Diego Paradise Point Resort * |
462 | San Diego, CA | ||
| 7. Harborside Hyatt Conference Center & Hotel * |
270 | Boston, MA | ||
| 8. Hotel Viking |
222 | Newport, RI | ||
| 9. Chicago Marriott Downtown * |
1,192 | Chicago, IL | ||
| 10. Topaz Hotel |
99 | Washington, D.C. | ||
| 11. Hotel Rouge |
137 | Washington, D.C. | ||
| 12. Hotel Madera |
82 | Washington, D.C. | ||
| 13. Hotel Helix |
178 | Washington, D.C. | ||
| 14. Hotel George |
139 | Washington, D.C. | ||
| 15. Holiday Inn on the Hill |
343 | Washington, D.C. | ||
| 16. Lansdowne Resort |
296 | Lansdowne, VA | ||
| 17. Indianapolis Marriott Downtown * |
615 | Indianapolis, IN | ||
| 18. Hilton Alexandria Old Town * |
241 | Alexandria, VA | ||
| 19. Chaminade Resort and Conference Center |
153 | Santa Cruz, CA | ||
| Total number of rooms/suites |
6,269 | |||
| * | Properties subject to a mortgage. |
Sheraton Bloomington Hotel Minneapolis South. Sheraton Bloomington Hotel Minneapolis South 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 Starwood Hotels & Resorts, Worldwide, Inc.
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 citys 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.
Seaview Marriott Resort and Spa. Seaview Marriott Resort and Spa is a AAA Four-Diamond rated luxury 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.
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 areas 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 Yorks 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.
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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 Bostons Logan International Airport along the Boston waterfront. The property features 19,000 square feet of meeting space and is directly across Boston Harbor from Bostons 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 with the Massachusetts Port Authority, Logan International Airports owner and operating authority, which expires September 14, 2030. The hotel is leased to LHL and operated by Hyatt Corporation pursuant to a long-term incentive-based management 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, 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 Chicagos 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.
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 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 westside of downtown Washington, D.C., and near many of the areas 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.
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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 minutes away from 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 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 roof-top 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 operated by Crestline Hotels & Resorts, Inc.
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, nine-hole executive course, resort pool 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.
Indianapolis Marriott Downtown. Indianapolis Marriott Downtown is a AAA Four-Diamond rated, full-service convention hotel centrally located in the heart of Indianapoliss business and leisure district. The property is physically connected, via a temperature-controlled skywalk, to the 1.9 million square foot Indiana Convention Center/RCA Dome. The property has over 38,000 square feet of meeting space, including a 21,000 square foot ballroom, two restaurants, an upscale fitness center and an indoor swimming pool. The hotel is subject to a 100year ground lease with the city of Indianapolis, which expires on June 23, 2099. The hotel is leased to LHL, and is operated by White Lodging Services Corporation.
Hilton Alexandria Old Town. Hilton Alexandria Old Town is an upscale full-service hotel located in the heart of historic downtown Alexandria. The property was built in 2000 and includes approximately 8,000 square feet of meeting space, including a 3,800 square-foot ballroom, an upscale restaurant, fitness center, an indoor swimming pool and an on-site parking facility. The property is situated in the center of the City of Alexandria, on Old Towns main street and directly adjacent to the King Street Metro Station. The hotel is leased to LHL, and is operated by Sandcastle Resorts & Hotels.
Chaminade Resort and Conference Center. The Chaminade is a AAA Four-Diamond resort and executive conference center located on a 288-acre bluff overlooking the northern end of Monterey Bay, approximately 30 miles south of San Jose and 75 miles south of San Francisco. The property opened in 1985 and features twelve meeting rooms encompassing approximately 12,000 square feet of meeting space, state-of-the-art audio-visual and teleconferencing facilities, three upscale restaurants, a newly renovated spa, a fitness center and other resort amenities. The hotel is leased to LHL, and is 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 gross 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.
Litigation
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) affiliates 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, affiliates of Meridien abandoned the Companys 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 the Meridien affiliates 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. With respect to the Dallas hotel, the Company has obtained a judgment from the court that Meridien defaulted and that Meridien is not entitled to the payment of fair market value. With respect to the New Orleans hotel, the issue of default by the lessee, among other claims, is currently in trial. 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 an award of approximately $5.7 million in connection with the New Orleans property, subject to adjustment (reduction) by the courts to account for Meridiens holdover. In order to dispute the arbitration decision, the Company was required to post a $7.8 million surety bond, which was secured by $5.9 million of restricted cash. The Company successfully challenged the award on appeal, and the dispute has been remanded to the trial court. Meridiens request for rehearing was denied on March 31, 2004, and Meridien did not petition to the Louisiana Supreme Court. In June 2004, the $7.8 million surety bond was released and the $5.9 million restricted cash securing it was returned to the Company.
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 Meridiens 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. 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. These amounts were recorded as other income in the accompanying consolidated financial statements. The contingent lease termination expense recognized cumulatively since 2002 is comprised of (dollars in thousands):
| Expense Recognized Quarter Ended December 31, 2002 |
Expense Recognized Year Ended December 31, 2004 |
Cumulative Expense Recognized as of December 31, 2004 |
||||||||||
| Estimated arbitration award |
$ | 5,749 | $ | | $ | 5,749 | ||||||
| Legal fees related to litigation |
2,610 | 1,350 | 3,960 | |||||||||
| Holdover rent |
(4,844 | ) | | (4,844 | ) | |||||||
| Expected reimbursement of legal fees |
(995 | ) | (500 | ) | (1,495 | |||||||