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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, 2004   Commission file number 001-31906

 

OR

 

¨ TRANSITION REPORT PURSUANT TO SECTION 13 OR 15(D)

OF THE SECURITIES EXCHANGE ACT OF 1934

 

For the transition period from              to             .

 

HIGHLAND HOSPITALITY CORPORATION

(Exact name of registrant as specified in its charter)

 

MARYLAND   57-1183293

(State or Other Jurisdiction of

Incorporation or Organization)

  (I.R.S. Employer Identification No.)

 

8405 Greensboro Drive, Suite 500, McLean, Virginia 22102

Telephone Number (703) 336-4901

 

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

 

Title of Each Class


   Name of Exchange On Which Registered

Common Stock, $.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, and (2) has been subject to such filing requirements for the past 90 days. Yes x    No ¨

 

Indicate by check mark whether the registrant is an accelerated filer (as defined in Rule 12b-2 of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934). Yes x    No ¨

 

Indicate by check mark if disclosure of delinquent filers pursuant to Item 405 of Regulation S-K is not contained herein, and will not be contained, to the best of 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. x

 

As of June 30, 2004, the aggregate market value of the Registrant’s common stock held by non-affiliates of the registrant was approximately $377,000,000, based on the closing price reported on the New York Stock Exchange. As of March 4, 2005, there were 40,067,444 shares of the Registrant’s common stock issued and outstanding.

 

DOCUMENTS INCORPORATED BY REFERENCE

 

Part III of this Form 10-K incorporates by reference certain portions of the Registrant’s proxy statement for its 2005 annual meeting of stockholders to be filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission not later than 120 days after the end of the fiscal year covered by this report.

 



Table of Contents

HIGHLAND HOSPITALITY CORPORATION

 

INDEX

 

          Page

     PART I     

Item 1.

   Business    4

Item 2.

   Properties    11

Item 3.

   Legal Proceedings    11

Item 4.

   Submission of Matters to a Vote of Security Holders    11
     PART II     

Item 5.

  

Market for Registrant’s Common Equity, Related Stockholder Matters and Issuer Purchases of Equity Securities

   12

Item 6.

   Selected Financial Data    13

Item 7.

   Management’s Discussion and Analysis of Financial Condition and Results of Operations    16

Item 7a.

   Quantitative and Qualitative Disclosures About Market Risk    23

Item 8.

   Financial Statements and Supplementary Data    24

Item 9.

   Changes in and Disagreements with Accountants on Accounting and Financial Disclosure    24

Item 9a.

   Controls and Procedures    24

Item 9b.

   Other Information    24
     PART III     

Item 10.

   Directors and Executive Officers of the Registrant    25

Item 11.

   Executive Compensation    25

Item 12.

  

Security Ownership of Certain Beneficial Owners and Management and Related Stockholder Matters

   25

Item 13.

   Certain Relationships and Related Transactions    25

Item 14.

   Principal Accounting Fees and Services    25
     PART IV     

Item 15.

   Exhibits and Financial Statement Schedules    26

 

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CAUTIONARY STATEMENT REGARDING FORWARD-LOOKING STATEMENTS

 

This report contains forward-looking statements within the meaning of Section 27A of the Securities Act of 1933 and Section 21E of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, and as such may involve known and unknown risks, uncertainties and other factors which may cause our actual results, performance or achievements to be materially different from future results, performance or achievements expressed or implied by such forward-looking statements. Forward-looking statements, which are based on certain assumptions and describe our future plans, strategies and expectations, are generally identified by our use of words, such as “intend,” “plan,” “may,” “should,” “will,” “project,” “estimate,” “anticipate,” “believe,” “expect,” “continue,” “potential,” “opportunity,” and similar expressions, whether in the negative or affirmative. All statements regarding our expected financial position, business and financing plans are forward-looking statements. Factors which could have a material adverse effect on our operations and future prospects include, but are not limited to:

 

  ·   United States economic conditions generally and the real estate market and the lodging industry specifically;

 

  ·   management and performance of our hotels;

 

  ·   our plans for renovation of our hotels;

 

  ·   our financing plans;

 

  ·   supply and demand for hotel rooms in our current and proposed market areas;

 

  ·   our ability to acquire additional properties and the risk that potential acquisitions may not perform in accordance with expectations;

 

  ·   legislative/regulatory changes, including changes to laws governing taxation of real estate investment trusts; and

 

  ·   our competition.

 

These risks and uncertainties, together with the information contained in our Form 8-K filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission on March 15, 2005 under the caption “Risk Factors,” should be considered in evaluating any forward-looking statement contained in this report or incorporated by reference herein. All forward-looking statements speak only as of the date of this report or, in the case of any document incorporated by reference, the date of that document. All subsequent written and oral forward-looking statements attributable to us or any person acting on our behalf are qualified by the cautionary statements in this section. We undertake no obligation to update or publicly release any revisions to forward-looking statements to reflect events, circumstances or changes in expectations after the date of this report.

 

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PART I

 

Item 1.    Business

 

Overview

 

Highland Hospitality Corporation is a self-advised real estate investment trust (“REIT”) that was incorporated in Maryland in July 2003 to own upscale full-service, premium limited-service, and extended stay properties located in major convention, business, resort and airport markets in the United States and all-inclusive resort properties in certain beachfront destinations outside of the United States. We commenced operations on December 19, 2003 when we completed our initial public offering (“IPO”) and concurrently consummated the acquisition of three hotel properties.

 

The IPO, including the exercise of the underwriters’ over-allotment option, consisted of the sale of 34,500,000 shares of common stock, resulting in net proceeds of approximately $318.9 million. Concurrent with the IPO, we sold in private placement transactions an aggregate of 4,550,000 shares of common stock, resulting in proceeds of approximately $42.3 million. The total net proceeds generated from the IPO, the exercise of the underwriters’ over-allotment option, and the private placement transactions were approximately $361.2 million.

 

Substantially all of our assets are held by, and all of our operations are conducted through, Highland Hospitality, L.P., our operating partnership (the “Operating Partnership”). In order for us to qualify as a REIT, neither our company nor the Operating Partnership can operate hotels directly. Therefore, the Operating Partnership, which is owned approximately 98% by us and approximately 2% by other limited partners, leases its hotels to subsidiaries of HHC TRS Holding Corporation (collectively, “HHC TRS”), which is a wholly-owned subsidiary of the Operating Partnership. HHC TRS then engages hotel management companies to operate the hotels pursuant to management contracts. HHC TRS is treated as a taxable REIT subsidiary for federal income tax purposes.

 

As of March 4, 2005, we owned 18 hotel properties with 5,143 rooms.

 

Our corporate office is located at 8405 Greensboro Drive, Suite 500, McLean, Virginia 22102. Our telephone number is (703) 336-4901.

 

Acquisition of Hotel Properties Since Inception

 

On December 19, 2003, concurrent with the completion of the IPO, we acquired 100% of the equity interests in Portsmouth Hotel Associates, LLC, A/H-BCC Virginia Beach Hotel, LLC, and Sugar Land Hotel Associates, L.P. Barceló Crestline Corporation (“Barceló Crestline”), which was the sponsor of our formation and IPO, owned equity interests in the three entities.

 

Portsmouth Hotel Associates, LLC, which is considered our predecessor for accounting purposes, leases the 249-room Portsmouth Renaissance hotel and adjoining conference center located in Portsmouth, Virginia from the Industrial Development Authority of the City of Portsmouth, pursuant to two separate lease agreements, each for an initial term of 50 years ending May 2049. Portsmouth Hotel Associates, LLC was acquired for approximately $13 million, which included the repayment of a mortgage loan which encumbered the hotel property of approximately $11.9 million and the issuance of 529,635 Operating Partnership units valued at approximately $1.1 million.

 

A/H-BCC Virginia Beach Hotel, LLC owned the 176-room Hilton Garden Inn Virginia Beach Town Center hotel located in Virginia Beach, Virginia. A/H-BCC Virginia Beach Hotel, LLC was acquired for approximately

 

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$20 million, which included the repayment of a construction loan which encumbered the hotel property of approximately $17.5 million and the issuance of 285,376 Operating Partnership units valued at approximately $2.5 million. In addition, we have agreed to pay the third-party member additional purchase consideration in the form of Operating Partnership units if the Hilton Garden Inn Virginia Beach Town Center hotel exceeds certain agreed-upon operating results during the second 12-month period or third 12-month period following the opening date of the hotel.

 

Sugar Land Hotel Associates, L.P. owned the 300-room Sugar Land Marriott hotel and leased the adjoining conference center and parking facility located in Sugar Land, Texas from the Sugar Land Development Authority, pursuant to a lease agreement for a term of 99 years ending October 2102. Sugar Land Hotel Associates, L.P. was acquired for approximately $32.6 million, which included the repayment of a construction loan which encumbered the hotel property and a mezzanine loan in an aggregate amount of approximately $29.7 million, and the issuance of 152,200 Operating Partnership units valued at approximately $0.3 million. In addition, we have agreed to pay Barceló Crestline up to $1.8 million in the form of Operating Partnership units as additional purchase consideration if the Sugar Land Marriott hotel exceeds certain agreed-upon operating results over the 36-month period following our acquisition of the hotel.

 

Since the IPO and the acquisition of the initial three hotel properties on December 19, 2003, we have acquired 15 hotel properties, consisting of 4,418 rooms, for an aggregate purchase price of approximately $542 million, including the assumption of mortgage debt of approximately $28.3 million. The hotel acquisitions were funded with proceeds from the IPO, along with proceeds from the issuance of long-term debt during 2004. The hotel properties acquired were:

 

Property


  Number of
Rooms


  

Location


   Acquired

Plaza San Antonio Marriott

  252    San Antonio, TX    December 29, 2003

Hyatt Regency Savannah

  347    Savannah, GA    December 30, 2003

Hilton Tampa Westshore

  238    Tampa, FL    January 8, 2004

Hilton Garden Inn BWI Airport

  158    Linthicum, MD    January 12, 2004

Dallas/Fort Worth Airport Marriott

  491    Dallas/Fort Worth, TX    May 10, 2004

Residence Inn Tampa Downtown

  109    Tampa, FL    August 2, 2004

Courtyard Savannah Historic District

  156    Savannah, GA    August 2, 2004

Hyatt Regency Wind Watch Long Island

  360    Hauppauge, NY    August 19, 2004

Courtyard Boston Tremont

  322    Boston, MA    August 19, 2004

Crowne Plaza Atlanta-Ravinia

  495    Atlanta, GA    August 19, 2004

Hilton Parsippany

  510    Parsippany, NJ    August 19, 2004

Radisson Mount Laurel

  283    Mount Laurel, NJ    September 1, 2004

Omaha Marriott

  299    Omaha, NE    September 15, 2004

Courtyard Denver Airport

  202    Denver, CO    September 17, 2004

Sheraton Annapolis

  196    Annapolis, MD    February 4, 2005
   
         

Total number of rooms

  4,418          
   
         

 

Business Strategy

 

We intend to evaluate our portfolio on a regular basis to determine if our hotel properties continue to satisfy our current investment criteria. We believe that the following investment criteria and strategies promote our continued growth and our total return to stockholders:

 

External Growth—We seek to focus our investments in upscale full-service, premium limited-service and extended stay hotels located in major convention, business, resort and airport markets in the United States and

 

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all-inclusive resort properties in beachfront destinations outside of the United States. We believe that these types of hotels currently offer the opportunity for better risk-adjusted returns than hotels in other sectors in the industry. Within our target sectors, we seek to acquire hotel properties that have superior locations within their respective markets, are in markets with high barriers to entry, are market leaders or are new, or relatively new, properties and well-maintained. We also consider investments in hotel properties that possess sound operating fundamentals but are underperforming in their respective markets and would benefit from renovation, re-branding or a change in management.

 

In the United States, we seek to invest in hotels operating under national franchise brands such as Marriott, Hilton, Hyatt, Renaissance, Sheraton, Westin, Crowne Plaza, Courtyard by Marriott, Residence Inn by Marriott, Embassy Suites, Homewood Suites, and Hilton Garden Inn. However, our ability to operate a hotel under these brands is subject to the franchisor’s approval of any application we would submit to operate a particular facility under such brand and our execution of a franchise agreement with the franchisor. Outside of the United States, we focus on acquiring all-inclusive resorts operating under the Barceló brand name, or other resorts that can be rebranded with the Barceló name, that meet our investment criteria. “Barceló” means Barceló Corporación Empresarial, S.A., which is based in Palma de Mallorca, Spain and is one of the world’s largest and most respected hospitality companies with 220 hotels owned, managed, leased or franchised in 19 countries on four continents. Barceló Crestline is a wholly-owned subsidiary of Barceló. We plan on leveraging Barceló’s unique all-inclusive operating model, which we believe works efficiently in high-quality resort locations, driving strong revenue growth, profitability and return on investment.

 

Stabilized Assets—We believe that over the next several years, existing upscale full-service, premium limited-service and extended stay hotels located in major convention, business, resort and airport markets in the United States and all-inclusive resort properties in beachfront destinations outside of the United States will offer the opportunity for better risk-adjusted returns than hotels in other sectors in the industry. Within our target sectors, we seek to acquire hotel properties that meet the following criteria:

 

  ·   Strong location in its market—hotel properties located in markets with high barriers to entry, adjacent to a convention center, that serve as an integral component of a master development or mixed-use project or reside on a superior beachfront location or within a protected area that prohibits further development;

 

  ·   Hard to duplicate hotel property—hotel properties developed using public financing that could not have been financed entirely in the private sector or possessing a unique competitive advantage that distinguishes them from other hotels in their markets;

 

  ·   Market leaders—hotel properties that are proven leaders in market share, setting the rates in the market and providing superior meeting space, services or amenities; and

 

  ·   Good condition—hotel properties that are new, or relatively new, or recently renovated and well-maintained.

 

Because we believe hotel properties that possess these characteristics currently can be acquired at prices below replacement costs, we expect these hotel properties to provide stable returns over the long term.

 

Renovation, Repositioning and Re-branding Opportunities—We believe that there are opportunities to acquire hotel properties that possess sound operating fundamentals, but are underperforming in their respective markets and would benefit from renovation, repositioning or re-branding efforts. We intend to pursue opportunities for:

 

  ·   Re-branding—we investigate opportunities to re-brand certain hotels by determining which brands are available in the market, seeking to quantify the potential improvement in revenue generation and profitability and undertaking a cost/benefit analysis of investing capital to bring the property into compliance with the standards of the selected brand;

 

  ·   Renovation—we consider properties that are in prime locations and are structurally sound, but have been neglected and can be purchased at attractive prices and renovated and reintroduced into the market at a cost significantly lower than what would have been spent to acquire a stabilized property or to develop a new hotel of similar quality; or

 

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  ·   New management—we intend to identify hotel properties that are underperforming due to poor management where we can acquire the properties at an attractive price and replace management with qualified managers such as Barceló Crestline and Barceló.

 

Internal Growth—We work with our hotel management companies to aggressively pursue ways to enhance the profitability of our hotels. We seek to negotiate management agreements that align our managers’ interests with ours, which is to generate revenue growth while producing acceptable operating profits. We work with our managers to identify cost-savings opportunities and projects that result in a positive return on investment.

 

We have begun, or will begin shortly, significant renovations on seven hotel properties, including the Plaza San Antonio Marriott hotel, the Hyatt Regency Savannah hotel, the Crowne Plaza Atlanta-Ravinia hotel, the Hilton Parsippany hotel, the Hyatt Regency Wind Watch Long Island hotel, the Courtyard Boston Tremont hotel, and the Radisson Mount Laurel hotel. We expect to spend approximately $52 million on the renovations, the majority of which we expect to have committed or spent by the end of the third quarter 2005. We believe that once these renovations are completed, our improved hotel properties will be well positioned to compete with the other leading hotels in their respective markets.

 

Strategic Alliance Agreement

 

On December 19, 2003, we entered into a seven-year strategic alliance agreement with Barceló Crestline pursuant to which (i) Barceló Crestline agrees to refer to us (on an exclusive basis) hotel acquisition opportunities in the United States presented to Barceló Crestline or its subsidiaries, other than opportunities that primarily relate to third-party management arrangements offered to Barceló Crestline, and (ii) we agree to offer Barceló Crestline or its subsidiaries the right to manage hotel properties that we acquire in the United States, unless (a) a majority of our independent directors in good faith concludes for valid business reasons that another management company should manage the acquired hotel, or (b) the hotel is encumbered by a management agreement that would extend beyond the date of our acquisition of the hotel and a termination fee is payable to terminate the existing management agreement (unless Barceló Crestline pays such termination fee). Crestline Hotels & Resorts, Inc., which is a wholly-owned subsidiary of Barceló Crestline, currently manages 10 of our 18 hotel properties.

 

Lease Agreements

 

In order for us to qualify as a REIT, neither our company nor the Operating Partnership or its subsidiaries can operate our hotels directly. Our Operating Partnership, or subsidiaries of our Operating Partnership, as lessors, leases our hotels to HHC TRS, or subsidiaries of HHC TRS, as TRS lessees, and the TRS lessees enter into agreements with third-party management companies to manage the hotels. Each lease for the hotels has a non-cancelable term of ten years, subject to earlier termination upon the occurrence of certain contingencies described in the lease.

 

During the term of each lease, the TRS lessees are obligated to pay (i) the greater of a fixed annual base rent or percentage rent and (ii) certain other additional charges. Base rent accrues and is paid monthly. Percentage rent is calculated by multiplying fixed percentages by gross room revenues, food and beverage revenues, and other revenues for each of the hotels and is paid quarterly.

 

Management Agreements

 

Our hotels are managed and operated by third parties pursuant to management agreements with our TRS lessees. The initial terms of our management agreements are generally 10 to 20 years, subject, in some cases, to renewal options. We have five different management companies operating our hotels. The management companies generally have sole responsibility and exclusive authority for all activities necessary for the day-to-day operation of the hotels, including establishing all room rates, processing reservations, procuring inventories, supplies and services, and promoting and publicizing the hotels. In addition, the management companies provide all managerial and other employees for the hotels, oversee the operation and maintenance of the hotels, prepare reports, budgets and projections, and provide other administrative and accounting support services to the hotels.

 

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Each management company receives a base management fee generally between 2% and 4% of hotel revenues. The management companies are also eligible to receive an incentive management fee, if hotel operating income, as defined in the management agreements, exceeds certain thresholds. The incentive management fee is generally calculated as a percentage of hotel operating income after we have received a priority return on our investment in the hotel. The management agreements also allow the management companies to charge our hotels for services that are generally furnished on a centralized basis. Such services include: (1) the development and operation of certain computer systems and reservation services; (2) regional management and administrative services, regional marketing and sales services, regional training services, manpower development and relocation of regional personnel; and (3) such additional central or regional services as may from time to time be more efficiently performed on a regional or group basis rather than at an individual hotel. Costs and expenses incurred in providing these services are generally allocated among all hotels managed by the management company or its affiliates.

 

Generally, our management agreements limit our ability to sell, lease or otherwise transfer the hotels by requiring that the transferee assume the related management agreements and meet specified other conditions, including the condition that the transferee not be a competitor of the management company. In addition, the management agreements provide for termination rights in the case of a management company’s failure to meet certain financial performance criteria.

 

Franchise Agreements

 

Of our 18 hotel properties, 13 currently operate pursuant to franchise agreements from national hotel companies. The initial terms of our franchise agreements are generally 20 to 30 years. Our other five hotel properties, which include the Hyatt Regency Savannah hotel, the Hyatt Regency Wind Watch Long Island hotel, the Dallas/Fort Worth Airport Marriott hotel, the Courtyard Boston Tremont hotel, and the Courtyard Denver Airport hotel, are managed by Hyatt Corporation or Marriott International, Inc. The management agreements for these five hotel properties allow the hotel property to operate under the respective brand.

 

We anticipate that most of the additional hotel properties that we acquire will operate pursuant to franchise agreements. We believe that the public’s perception of quality associated with a franchisor is an important feature in the operation of a hotel. Franchisors provide a variety of benefits for franchisees, which include national advertising, publicity and other marketing programs designed to increase brand awareness, training of personnel, continuous review of quality standards, and centralized reservation systems.

 

The franchise agreements are entered into by our TRS lessees. The franchise agreements generally specify certain management, operational, record keeping, accounting, reporting and marketing standards and procedures with which the TRS lessees must comply. The franchise agreements obligate the TRS lessees to comply with the franchisors’ standards and requirements with respect to training of operational personnel, safety, maintaining specified insurance, the types of services and products ancillary to guest room services that may be provided, display of signs, and the type, quality and age of furniture, fixtures and equipment included in guest rooms, lobbies and other common areas.

 

The franchise agreements provide for termination at the franchisor’s option upon the occurrence of certain events, including the TRS lessees’ failure to pay royalties and fees or perform its other covenants pursuant to the franchise agreement, bankruptcy, abandonment of the franchise, commission of a felony, assignment of the franchise without the consent of the franchisor, or failure to comply with applicable law in the operation of the relevant hotel. The franchise agreements will not renew automatically upon expiration. The TRS lessees are responsible for making all payments pursuant to the franchise agreements to the franchisors. Pursuant to the franchise agreements, the TRS lessees pay a royalty fee generally between 4% and 5% of room revenues, plus additional fees for marketing, central reservation systems, and other franchisor costs that amount to between 3% and 4% of room revenues from the hotels.

 

Tax Status

 

We have elected to be taxed as a REIT under Sections 856 through 860 of the Internal Revenue Code. To qualify as a REIT, we must meet a number of organizational and operational requirements, including a

 

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requirement that we currently distribute at least 90% of our REIT taxable income (excluding net capital gains) to our stockholders. It is our current intention to adhere to these requirements and maintain our qualification for taxation as a REIT. As a REIT, we generally will not be subject to federal corporate income tax on that portion of our taxable income that is currently distributed to stockholders. If we fail to qualify for taxation as a REIT in any taxable year, we will be subject to federal income taxes at regular corporate rates (including any applicable alternative minimum tax) and may not be able to qualify as a REIT for four subsequent taxable years. Even if we qualify for taxation as a REIT, we may be subject to certain state and local taxes on our income and property, and to federal income and excise taxes on our undistributed taxable income. In addition, taxable income from non-REIT activities managed through taxable REIT subsidiaries is subject to federal, state and local income taxes.

 

Seasonality

 

Demand in the lodging industry is affected by recurring seasonal patterns. For non-resort properties, demand is generally lower in the winter months due to decreased travel and higher in the spring and summer months during the peak travel season. We expect that our operations will generally reflect non-resort seasonality patterns. Accordingly, we expect that we will have lower revenue, operating income and cash flow in the first and fourth quarters and higher revenue, operating income and cash flow in the second and third quarters. These general trends are, however, expected to be greatly influenced by overall economic cycles.

 

Competition

 

The hotel industry is highly competitive with various participants competing on the basis of price, level of service and geographic location. Each of our 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 (“ADR”) and revenue per available room (“RevPAR”) of our hotels or at hotel properties acquired in the future. We believe that brand recognition, location, the quality of the hotel, consistency of services provided, and price are the principal competitive factors affecting our hotels.

 

Environmental Matters

 

In connection with the ownership and operation of the hotels, we are 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 substances may adversely affect the owner’s ability to sell such real estate. In connection with the ownership of the hotels, we may be potentially liable for such costs.

 

We believe that our 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 would have a material adverse effect on us. We have 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 our present hotel properties.

 

Employees

 

As of March 4, 2005, we employed 13 persons, all of whom work at our corporate office in McLean, Virginia. All persons employed in the day-to-day operations of the hotels are employees of the management companies engaged by the TRS lessees to operate such hotels.

 

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Executive Officers

 

The following table lists our executive officers as of December 31, 2004:

 

Name


   Age

  

Position


James L. Francis

   42    President, Chief Executive Officer and Director

Tracy M.J. Colden

   43   

Executive Vice President, General Counsel and Secretary

Patrick W. Campbell

   43   

Executive Vice President and Chief Investment Officer

Douglas W. Vicari

   45   

Executive Vice President, Chief Financial Officer and Treasurer

Terrence P. O’Leary

   49    Senior Vice President, Asset Management

 

James L. Francis is our President and Chief Executive Officer. Mr. Francis served as the Chief Operating Officer, Chief Financial Officer and Treasurer of Barceló Crestline Corporation from June 2002 until the completion of our initial public offering and as Executive Vice President and Chief Financial Officer of Crestline Capital Corporation from December 1998 to June 2002. From June 1997 to December 1998, Mr. Francis held the position of Assistant Treasurer and Vice President Corporate Finance for Host Marriott Corporation.

 

Tracy M.J. Colden is our Executive Vice President, General Counsel and Secretary. Ms. Colden served as the Executive Vice President, General Counsel and Secretary of Barceló Crestline Corporation from June 2002 until the completion of our initial public offering and as Senior Vice President, General Counsel and Secretary of Crestline Capital Corporation from December 1998 to June 2002. From January 1996 to December 1998, Ms. Colden held various positions with Host Marriott Corporation, the last of which was Assistant General Counsel.

 

Patrick W. Campbell is our Executive Vice President and Chief Investment Officer. Mr. Campbell served as Senior Vice President of Acquisitions of Crestline Hotels & Resorts, Inc. from January 2003 until the completion of our initial public offering and as Vice President of Business Development of Crestline Capital Corporation from July 2000 to December 2002. From May 1998 to June 2000, Mr. Campbell held the position of Vice President of Acquisitions and Development with Bristol Hotels & Resorts, Inc., prior to its being acquired by Bass PLC (now Intercontinental Hotels Group).

 

Douglas W. Vicari is our Executive Vice President, Chief Financial Officer and Treasurer, a position he has held since September 2003. From August 1998 to July 2003, Mr. Vicari served as Senior Vice President and Chief Financial Officer of Prime Hospitality Corporation.

 

Terrence P. O’Leary is our Senior Vice President, Asset Management, a position he has held since March 2004. From February 1998 to February 2004, Mr. O’Leary served as Senior Vice President of Business Development of Prime Hospitality Corporation.

 

Available Information

 

We maintain an Internet site, http://www.highlandhospitality.com, which contains additional information concerning Highland Hospitality Corporation. We make available free of charge through our Internet site our filings with the Securities and Exchange Commission as soon as reasonably practicable after we electronically file such material with, or furnish it to, the Securities and Exchange Commission. We also post on this website our Code of Business Conduct and Ethics, Principles of Corporate Governance, and the charters of our Audit, Compensation Policy, and Nominating and Corporate Governance Committees of our board of directors. We intend to disclose on our website any changes to, or waivers from, our Code of Business Conduct and Ethics. Information on our Internet site is neither part of nor incorporated into this Form 10-K.

 

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Item 2.    Properties

 

As of March 4, 2005, we owned the following 18 hotel properties:

 

Property


   Number of
Rooms


  

Location


Full Service:

         

Portsmouth Renaissance and Conference Center

   249    Portsmouth, VA

Sugar Land Marriott and Conference Center

   300    Sugar Land, TX

Plaza San Antonio Marriott

   252    San Antonio, TX

Dallas/Fort Worth Airport Marriott

   491    Dallas/Fort Worth, TX

Omaha Marriott

   299    Omaha, NE

Hyatt Regency Savannah

   347    Savannah, GA

Hyatt Regency Wind Watch Long Island

   360    Hauppauge, NY

Hilton Tampa Westshore

   238    Tampa, FL

Hilton Parsippany

   510    Parsippany, NJ

Crowne Plaza Atlanta-Ravinia

   495    Atlanta, GA

Radisson Mount Laurel

   283    Mount Laurel, NJ

Sheraton Annapolis

   196    Annapolis, MD
    
    
     4,020     
    
    

Limited Service:

         

Hilton Garden Inn Virginia Beach Town Center

   176    Virginia Beach, VA

Hilton Garden Inn BWI Airport

   158    Linthicum, MD

Courtyard Savannah Historic District

   156    Savannah, GA

Courtyard Boston Tremont

   322    Boston, MA

Courtyard Denver Airport

   202    Denver, CO
    
    
     1,014     
    
    

Extended Stay:

         

Residence Inn Tampa Downtown

   109    Tampa, FL
    
    

Total number of rooms

   5,143     
    
    

 

Item 3.    Legal Proceedings

 

We are not involved in any material litigation nor, to our knowledge, is any material litigation threatened against us.

 

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

 

No matters were submitted to a vote of our stockholders during the fourth quarter of the fiscal year ended December 31, 2004.

 

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PART II

 

Item 5.    Market for Registrant’s Common Equity, Related Stockholder Matters and Issuer Purchases of

Equity Securities

 

Market Information

 

Our common stock trades on the New York Stock Exchange under the symbol “HIH”. The following table sets forth, for the indicated period, the high and low closing prices for the common stock, as reported on the New York Stock Exchange:

 

     Price Range

     High

   Low

Year Ended December 31, 2003

             

Fourth Quarter(1)

   $ 10.90    $ 10.52

Year Ended December 31, 2004

             

First Quarter

   $ 12.50    $ 10.85

Second Quarter

   $ 11.65    $ 9.96

Third Quarter

   $ 11.85    $ 10.00

Fourth Quarter

   $ 11.99    $ 10.59

Year Ending December 31, 2005

             

First Quarter (through March 4, 2005)

   $ 11.10    $ 10.05

(1)   Our common stock commenced trading on the New York Stock Exchange on December 16, 2003.

 

The closing price of our common stock on the New York Stock Exchange on March 4, 2005 was $10.20 per share.

 

Distribution Information

 

In order to maintain our qualification as a REIT, we must make annual distributions to our stockholders of at least 90% of our taxable income (excluding net capital gains). For federal income tax purposes, distributions that we make may consist of ordinary income, capital gains, nontaxable return of capital or a combination of those items. Distributions that exceed our current and accumulated earnings and profits (calculated for tax purposes) constitute a return of capital rather than a dividend, which reduces a stockholder’s basis in the shares of common stock and will not be taxable to the extent that the distribution equals or is less than the stockholder’s basis in the stock. To the extent that a distribution exceeds both current and accumulated earnings and profits and the stockholder’s basis in the stock, that distribution will be treated as a gain from the sale or exchange of that stockholder’s shares. Every year, we notify stockholders of the taxable composition of distributions paid during the preceding year.

 

In June 2004, we declared our first dividend payment of $.13 per common share for the six months ended June 30, 2004. The dividend was paid on July 15, 2004 to stockholders of record as of June 30, 2004. In September 2004, we declared a dividend payment of $.09 per common share for the quarter ended September 30, 2004. The dividend was paid on October 15, 2004 to stockholders of record as of September 30, 2004. As reported to stockholders, $.025598 per common share of the July 15, 2004 dividend constituted a return of capital and $.017722 per common share of the October 15, 2004 dividend constituted a return of capital. In December 2004, we declared a dividend payment of $.14 per common share for the quarter ended December 31, 2004. The dividend was paid on January 14, 2005 to stockholders of record as of December 31, 2004, and such dividend will be taxable when received by stockholders for federal income tax purposes. We intend to continue to declare quarterly distributions to our stockholders. The amount of our future distributions will be based upon quarterly operating results, general economic conditions, capital requirements, the Internal Revenue Code’s annual distribution requirements, and other factors which our board of directors deems relevant.

 

Stockholder Information

 

As of March 4, 2005, there were 31 record holders of our common stock, including shares held in “street name” by nominees who are record holders, and approximately 3,165 beneficial owners.

 

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In order to comply with certain requirements related to our qualification as a REIT, our charter, subject to certain exceptions, limits the number of common shares that may be owned by any single person or affiliated group to 9.9% of the outstanding common shares.

 

Issuer Purchases of Equity Securities

 

The following table provides information about our purchases of our common stock within the fourth quarter of the year ended December 31, 2004:

 

Period


  

Total Number

of Shares
Purchased


   Average Price
Paid Per Share


   Total Number of Shares
Purchased as Part of
Publicly Announced
Plans or Programs


  

Approximate Dollar Value
of Shares that May Yet

Be Purchased Under the
Plans or Programs


December 2004

   71,242    $ 11.24    n/a    n/a

 

We do not currently have a repurchase plan or program in place. However, we do provide employees, who have been issued shares of restricted common stock, the option of selling shares to us to satisfy the minimum statutory tax withholding requirements on the date their shares vest. The shares of common stock purchased in December 2004 related to such repurchases.

 

Item 6.    Selected Financial Data

 

The following table sets forth selected historical financial data for Highland Hospitality Corporation beginning with its commencement of operations on December 19, 2003. Prior to December 19, 2003, the table sets forth selected historical financial data for Portsmouth Hotel Associates, LLC, which was acquired by us concurrent with the completion of our IPO on December 19, 2003. Portsmouth Hotel Associates, LLC was owned 66.7% by Barceló Crestline, which was the sponsor of our formation and IPO. Portsmouth Hotel Associates, LLC is considered the predecessor to Highland Hospitality Corporation for accounting purposes. Portsmouth Hotel Associates, LLC, which leases the Portsmouth Renaissance hotel and conference center, commenced operations on January 10, 2001. Portsmouth Hotel Associates, LLC activity prior to January 10, 2001 related to construction and pre-opening efforts.

 

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The selected historical financial data for Highland Hospitality Corporation for the year ended December 31, 2004 and the period from December 19, 2003 through December 31, 2003, and the selected historical financial data for Portsmouth Hotel Associates, LLC for the period from January 1, 2003 through December 18, 2003 and the years ended December 31, 2002, 2001, and 2000 have been derived from the historical financial statements of Highland Hospitality Corporation and Portsmouth Hotel Associates, LLC. The following selected historical financial data should be read in conjunction with “Management’s Discussion and Analysis of Financial Condition and Results of Operations” and the financial statements and notes thereto, both included elsewhere in this Form 10-K.

 

    Highland Hospitality
Year Ended
December 31, 2004


    Highland Hospitality
Period From
December 19, 2003 to
December 31, 2003


    The Predecessor
Period From
January 1, 2003 to
December 18, 2003


   

The Predecessor

Year Ended December 31,


 
          2002

    2001

    2000

 
    (in thousands, except per share data)  

Statement of Operations Data: