NOTE 1 – ORGANIZATION AND SUMMARY OF SIGNIFICANT ACCOUNTING POLICIES

Hersha Hospitality Trust (“we” or the “Company”) was formed in May 1998 as a self-administered, Maryland real estate investment trust. We have elected to be taxed and expect to continue to elect to be taxed as a real estate investment trust, or REIT, for federal income tax purposes.

The Company owns a controlling general partnership interest in Hersha Hospitality Limited Partnership (“HHLP” or the “Partnership”), which owns a 99% limited partnership interest in various subsidiary partnerships. Hersha Hospitality, LLC (“HHLLC”), a Virginia limited liability company, owns a 1% general partnership interest in the subsidiary partnerships and the Partnership is the sole member of HHLLC.

The Partnership owns a taxable REIT subsidiary (“TRS”), 44 New England Management Company (“44 New England” or “TRS Lessee”), which leases certain of the Company’s hotels.

Hersha’s common shares of beneficial interest trade on the New York Stock Exchange (“the NYSE”) under the ticker symbol "HT", its 6.875% Series C Cumulative Redeemable Preferred Shares of Beneficial Interest trade on the NYSE under the ticker symbol “HT PRC”, its 6.500% Series D Cumulative Redeemable Preferred Shares of Beneficial Interest trade on the NYSE under the ticker symbol “HT PRD”, and it’s 6.500% Series E Cumulative Redeemable Preferred Shares of Beneficial Interest trade on the NYSE under the ticker symbol “HT PRE.”

As of December 31, 2016, the Company, through the Partnership and subsidiary partnerships, wholly owned 43 limited and full service hotels. All of the wholly owned hotel facilities are leased to the Company’s TRS, 44 New England.

In addition to the wholly owned hotel properties, as of December 31, 2016, the Company owned joint venture interests in another twelve properties. The properties owned by the joint ventures are leased to a TRS owned by the joint venture or to an entity owned by the joint venture partners and 44 New England. The following table lists the properties owned by these joint ventures:


Joint Venture	Ownership	Property	Location	Lessee/Sublessee

Unconsolidated Joint Ventures
Mystic Partners, LLC	66.7%	Marriott	Mystic, CT	Mystic Partners Leaseco, LLC
	8.8%	Hilton	Hartford, CT	Mystic Partners Leaseco, LLC
	15.0%	Marriott	Hartford, CT	Mystic Partners Leaseco, LLC
Cindat Hersha Owner JV, LLC (1)	30.0%	Hampton Inn	Herald Square, NY	Cindat Hersha Lessee JV, LLC
	30.0%	Hampton Inn	Chelsea, NY	Cindat Hersha Lessee JV, LLC
	30.0%	Hampton Inn	Times Square, NY	Cindat Hersha Lessee JV, LLC
	30.0%	Holiday Inn Express	Times Square, NY	Cindat Hersha Lessee JV, LLC
	30.0%	Candlewood Suites	Times Square, NY	Cindat Hersha Lessee JV, LLC
	30.0%	Holiday Inn	Wall Street, NY	Cindat Hersha Lessee JV, LLC
	30.0%	Holiday Inn Express	Water Street, NY	Cindat Hersha Lessee JV, LLC
SB Partners, LLC	50.0%	Holiday Inn Express	South Boston, MA	South Bay Sandeep, LLC
Hiren Boston, LLC	50.0%	Courtyard	South Boston, MA	South Bay Boston, LLC

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

NOTE 1 – ORGANIZATION AND SUMMARY OF SIGNIFICANT ACCOUNTING POLICIES (CONTINUED)

At December 31, 2016, Mystic Partners, LLC owned an interest in three hotel properties. Our interest in Mystic Partners, LLC is relative to our interest in each of the three properties owned by the joint venture as defined in the joint venture’s governing documents. Each of the three properties owned by Mystic Partners, LLC is leased to a separate entity that is consolidated in Mystic Partners Leaseco, LLC which is owned by 44 New England and our joint venture partner in Mystic Partners, LLC.

On January 3, 2017, we transferred to our joint venture partner all of our partnership interests in the Hartford Marriott and the Hartford Hilton for $8.5 million, which represents a 100% recovery of our equity investment in these assets. We also simultaneously assumed full ownership of the Mystic Marriott Hotel & Spa without any additional cash payment to the joint venture partner.

The properties are managed by eligible independent management companies, including Hersha Hospitality Management, LP (“HHMLP”). HHMLP is owned in part by certain of our trustees and executive officers and other unaffiliated third party investors.

Principles of Consolidation and Presentation

The accompanying consolidated financial statements have been prepared in accordance with U.S. generally accepted accounting principles and include all of our accounts as well as accounts of the Partnership, subsidiary partnerships and our wholly owned TRS Lessee. All significant inter-company amounts have been eliminated.

Consolidated properties are either wholly owned or owned less than 100% by the Partnership and are controlled by the Company as general partner of the Partnership. Properties owned in joint ventures are also consolidated if the determination is made that we are the primary beneficiary in a variable interest entity (VIE) or we maintain control of the asset through our voting interest in the entity. Control can be demonstrated when the general partner has the power to impact the economic performance of the partnership, which includes the ability of the general partner to manage day-to-day operations, refinance debt and sell the assets of the partnerships without the consent of the limited partners and the inability of the limited partners to replace the general partner. Control can be demonstrated by the limited partners if the limited partners have the right to dissolve or liquidate the partnership or otherwise remove the general partner without cause or have rights to participate in the significant decisions made in the ordinary course of the partnership’s business.

We evaluate each of our investments and contractual relationships to determine whether they meet the guidelines of consolidation. Entities are consolidated if the determination is made that we are the primary beneficiary in a VIE or we maintain control of the asset through our voting interest or other rights in the operation of the entity. To determine if we are the primary beneficiary of a VIE, we evaluate whether we have a controlling financial interest in that VIE. An enterprise is deemed to have a controlling financial interest if it has i) the power to direct the activities of a variable interest entity that most significantly impact the entity’s economic performance, and ii) the obligation to absorb losses of the VIE that could be significant to the VIE or the rights to receive benefits from the VIE that could be significant to the VIE. Control can also be demonstrated by the ability of a member to manage day-to-day operations, refinance debt and sell the assets of the partnerships without the consent of the other member and the inability of the members to replace the managing member. Based on our examination, the following entities were determined to be VIE’s: Mystic Partners, LLC; Mystic Partners Leaseco, LLC; Cindat Hersha Owner JV, LLC; Cindat Hersha Lessee JV, LLC; South Bay Boston, LLC; Hersha Statutory Trust I; and Hersha Statutory Trust II. Mystic Partners, LLC is a VIE entity, however because we are not the primary beneficiary it is not consolidated by the Company. Our maximum exposure to losses due to our investment in Mystic Partners, LLC is limited to our investment in the joint venture which is $4,699 as of December 31, 2016. Cindat Hersha Owner JV, LLC is a VIE entity, however because we are not the primary beneficiary it is not consolidated by the Company. Our maximum exposure to losses due to our investment in Cindat Hersha Owner JV, LLC is limited to our investment in the joint venture which is $3,717 as of December 31, 2016. Also, Mystic Partners Leaseco, LLC; and South Bay Boston, LLC lease hotel properties are VIEs. These entities are consolidated by the lessors, the primary beneficiaries of each entity. Hersha Statutory Trust I and Hersha Statutory Trust II are VIEs but HHLP is not the primary beneficiary in these entities. Accordingly, the accounts of Hersha Statutory Trust I and Hersha Statutory Trust II are not consolidated. On September 2, 2016, we exercised our option to acquire the non-controlling equity interests in Brisam Management DE, LLC (“Brisam”), the entity which owns the real estate assets of the Holiday Inn Express, New York, NY. We paid approximately $2,318 to exercise this option. Prior to the exercise of this option, we had consolidated Brisam, a variable interest entity, in our financial statements as we determined we were the primary beneficiary.

We allocate resources and assess operating performance based on individual hotels and consider each one of our hotels to be an operating segment. All of our individual operating segments meet the aggregation criteria. All of our other real estate investment activities are immaterial and meet the aggregation criteria, and thus, we report one segment: investment in hotel

NOTE 1 – ORGANIZATION AND SUMMARY OF SIGNIFICANT ACCOUNTING POLICIES (CONTINUED)

properties.

Use of Estimates

The preparation of financial statements in conformity with accounting principles generally accepted in the United States (US GAAP) requires management to make estimates and assumptions that affect the reported amount of assets and liabilities and disclosure of contingent assets and liabilities at the date of the financial statements and the reported amounts of revenue and expenses during the reporting period. Actual results could differ from those estimates.

Although we believe the assumptions and estimates we made are reasonable and appropriate, as discussed in the applicable sections throughout these Consolidated Financial Statements, different assumptions and estimates could materially impact our reported results. The current economic environment has increased the degree of uncertainty inherent in these estimates and assumptions and changes in market conditions could impact our future operating results.

Investment in Hotel Properties

The Company records the value of hotel properties acquired based on the fair value of the acquired real estate, furniture, fixtures and equipment, and intangible assets and the fair value of liabilities assumed, including debt. The fair value allocations were determined using Level 3 inputs, which are typically unobservable and are based on our own assumptions, as there is little, if any, related market activity. The Company’s investments in hotel properties are carried at cost and are depreciated using the straight-line method over the following estimated useful lives:

Building and Improvements 7 to 40 Years

Furniture, Fixtures and Equipment 2 to 7 Years

The Company periodically reviews the carrying value of each hotel to determine if circumstances indicate impairment to the carrying value of the investment in the hotel or that depreciation periods should be modified. If facts or circumstances indicate the possibility of impairment, the Company will prepare an estimate of the undiscounted future cash flows, without interest charges, of the specific hotel. Based on the properties undiscounted future cash flows, the Company will determine if the investment in such hotel is recoverable. If impairment is indicated, an adjustment will be made to reduce the carrying value of the hotel to reflect its fair value.

We consider a hotel to be held for sale when management and our independent trustees commit to a plan to sell the property, the property is available for sale, management engages in an active program to locate a buyer for the property and it is probable the sale will be completed within a year of the initiation of the plan to sell.

Acquisition-related cost, such as due diligence, legal and accounting fees, are not capitalized or applied in determining the fair value of the above acquired assets.

Investment in Unconsolidated Joint Ventures

If it is determined that we do not have a controlling interest in a joint venture, either through our financial interest in a VIE or our voting interest in a voting interest entity, the equity method of accounting is used. Under this method, the investment, originally recorded at cost, is adjusted to recognize our share of net earnings or losses of the affiliates as they occur rather than as dividends or other distributions are received, limited to the extent of our investment in, advances to and commitments for the investee. Pursuant to our joint venture agreements, allocations of profits and losses of some of our investments in unconsolidated joint ventures may be allocated disproportionately as compared to nominal ownership percentages due to specified preferred return rate thresholds. See Note 3 – Investment in Unconsolidated Joint Ventures for a more detailed explanation of the methodology used in determining the allocation of profits and losses within our joint ventures.

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

NOTE 1 – ORGANIZATION AND SUMMARY OF SIGNIFICANT ACCOUNTING POLICIES (CONTINUED)

other than temporary, the loss will be measured as the excess of the carrying amount over the fair value of our investment in the unconsolidated joint venture.

Cash and Cash Equivalents

Cash and cash equivalents represent cash on hand and in banks plus short-term investments with an initial maturity of three months or less when purchased.

Escrow Deposits

Escrow deposits include reserves for debt service, real estate taxes, and insurance and reserves for furniture, fixtures, and equipment replacements, as required by certain mortgage debt agreement restrictions and provisions.

Hotel Accounts Receivable

Hotel accounts receivable consists primarily of meeting and banquet room rental and hotel guest receivables. The Company generally does not require collateral. Ongoing credit evaluations are performed and an allowance for potential losses from uncollectible accounts is provided against the portion of accounts receivable that is estimated to be uncollectible.

Deferred Financing Costs

Deferred financing costs are recorded at cost and amortized over the terms of the related indebtedness using the effective interest method.

Due from/to Related Parties

Due from/to Related Parties represents current receivables and payables resulting from transactions related to hotel management and project management with affiliated entities. Due from related parties results primarily from advances of shared costs incurred. Due to affiliates results primarily from hotel management and project management fees incurred. Both due to and due from related parties are generally settled within a period not to exceed one year.

Intangible Assets and Liabilities

Intangible assets consist of leasehold intangibles for above-market value of in-place leases and deferred franchise fees. The leasehold intangibles are amortized over the remaining lease term. Deferred franchise fees are amortized using the straight-line method over the life of the franchise agreement.

Intangible liabilities consist of leasehold intangibles for below-market value of in-place leases. The leasehold intangibles are amortized over the remaining lease term. Intangible liabilities are included in the accounts payable, accrued expenses and other liabilities on the Company’s consolidated balance sheets.

Development Project Capitalization

We have opportunistically engaged in the development and re-development of hotel assets. We capitalize expenditures related to hotel development projects and renovations, including indirect costs such as interest expense, real estate taxes and utilities related to hotel development projects and renovations.

Noncontrolling Interest

Noncontrolling interest in the Partnership represents the limited partner’s proportionate share of the equity of the Partnership. Income (loss) is allocated to noncontrolling interest in accordance with the weighted average percentage ownership of the Partnership during the period. At the end of each reporting period the appropriate adjustments to the income (loss) are made based upon the weighted average percentage ownership of the Partnership during the period. Our ownership interest in the Partnership as of December 31, 2016, 2015 and 2014 was 93.6%, 95.0%, and 95.8%, respectively.

We define a noncontrolling interest as the portion of equity in a subsidiary not attributable, directly or indirectly, to a parent.

NOTE 1 – ORGANIZATION AND SUMMARY OF SIGNIFICANT ACCOUNTING POLICIES (CONTINUED)

Such noncontrolling interests are reported on the consolidated balance sheets within equity, but separately from the shareholders’ equity. Revenues, expenses and net income or loss attributable to both the Company and noncontrolling interests are reported on the consolidated statements of operations.

In accordance with US GAAP, we classify securities that are redeemable for cash or other assets at the option of the holder, or not solely within the control of the issuer, outside of permanent equity in the consolidated balance sheet. The Company makes this determination based on terms in applicable agreements, specifically in relation to redemption provisions. Additionally, with respect to noncontrolling interests for which the Company has a choice to settle the contract by delivery of its own shares, the Company considers the guidance in US GAAP to evaluate whether the Company controls the actions or events necessary to issue the maximum number of common shares that could be required to be delivered at the time of settlement of the contract.

We classify the noncontrolling interests of our consolidated joint ventures, consolidated variable interest entity, and certain Common Units (“Nonredeemable Common Units”) as equity. The noncontrolling interests of Nonredeemable Common Units totaled $44,321 as of December 31, 2016 and $31,876 as of December 31, 2015. As of December 31, 2016, there were 2,838,546 Nonredeemable Common Units outstanding with a fair market value of $61,029, based on the price per share of our common shares on the NYSE on such date.

In accordance with the partnership agreement of the Partnership, holders of these units may redeem them for cash unless we, in our sole and absolute discretion, elect to issue common shares on a one-for-one basis in lieu of paying cash.

Net income or loss attributed to Nonredeemable Common Units and Redeemable Common Units (collectively, “Common Units”), as well as the net income or loss related to the noncontrolling interests of our consolidated joint venture and consolidated variable interest entity, is included in net income or loss in the consolidated statements of operations. Net income or loss attributed to the Common Units and the noncontrolling interests of our consolidated joint ventures and consolidated variable interest entity is excluded from net income or loss applicable to common shareholders in the consolidated statements of operations.

Shareholders’ Equity

On May 31, 2016, we completed a public offering of 7,700,000 (including 700,000 overallotment shares sold on June 14, 2016) 6.50% Series D Cumulative Redeemable Preferred Shares. These shares have a par value of $0.01 per share with a $25.00 liquidation preference per share. Net proceeds of the offering, after deducting the underwriting discount and the offering expenses payable by us, were approximately $185,999. We utilized the net proceeds of the offering to redeem all outstanding 8.00% Series B Cumulative Redeemable Preferred Shares on June 8, 2016, and for general corporate purposes.

Shares of our 8.00% Series B Cumulative Redeemable Preferred Shares were redeemed at a per share redemption price of $25.00 together with accrued and unpaid dividends to the redemption date for an aggregate per share redemption price of $25.3722. Dividends ceased accruing on the Series B Preferred Shares on June 8, 2016.

On November 7, 2016, we completed a public offering of 4,000,000 6.50% Series E Cumulative Redeemable Preferred Shares. These shares have a par value of $0.01 per share with a $25.00 liquidation preference per share. Net proceeds of the offering, after deducting the underwriting discount and the offering expenses payable by us, were approximately $96,585. We utilized the net proceeds of the offering for general corporate purposes.

Terms of the Series B, Series C, Series D and Series E Preferred Shares outstanding at December 31, 2016 and 2015 are summarized as follows:

NOTE 1 – ORGANIZATION AND SUMMARY OF SIGNIFICANT ACCOUNTING POLICIES (CONTINUED)



							Dividend Per Share
	Shares Outstanding						Year Ended December 31,
Series	December 31, 2016	December 31, 2015		Aggregate Liquidation Preference	Distribution Rate		2016		2015

Series B	-	4,600,000	$	115,000	8.000%	$	0.8722	$	2.0000
Series C	3,000,000	3,000,000	$	75,000	6.875%	$	1.7188	$	1.7188
Series D	7,700,000	-	$	192,500	6.500%	$	1.0157		-
Series E	4,000,000	-	$	100,000	6.500%	$	0.3069		-
Total	14,700,000	7,600,000

On December 23, 2014, we amended our partnership agreement to allow for the issuance of profits interests in HHLP in the form of LTIP Units, a new class of limited partnership units in HHLP, and to establish the terms of the LTIP Units. The LTIP Units vest on December 31 and June 1 of each year, beginning on December 31, 2014 and ending on June 1, 2017. The LTIP Units contain restricted stock awards that were forfeited and replaced with LTIP Unit awards with similar terms. The total number of Restricted Stock Awards forfeited and LTIP Units awarded was 1,948,324.

In February 2015, our Board of Trustees authorized us to repurchase from time to time up to an aggregate of $100,000 of our outstanding shares. In October 2015, our Board of Trustees authorized a new share repurchase program for $100,000 which would commence up on the completion of the previous program. For the year ended December 31, 2016, the Company repurchased 2,772,710 common shares for an aggregate purchase price of $52,055 under the October 2015 repurchase programs. Upon repurchase by the Company, these common shares ceased to be outstanding and became authorized but unissued common shares.

In May 2015, our Board of Trustees approved a reverse share split of our issued and outstanding common shares and Common Units and LTIP units at a ratio of 1-for-4. This reverse share split converted every four issued and outstanding common shares into one common share. The reverse share split was effective as of 5:00 PM Eastern time on June 22, 2015. As a result of the reverse share split, the number of outstanding Common Units and LTIP Units was reduced from 9,313,063 to 2,328,276 units. In addition, the second quarter dividend was adjusted to $0.28 per common share from the previously announced $0.07 per common share. All common share, Common Unit and LTIP Unit and per share data related to these classes of equity have been updated in the accompanying consolidated financial statements to reflect this share split for all periods presented.

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

Stock Based Compensation

We measure the cost of employee service received in exchange for an award of equity instruments based on the grant-date fair value of the award. The compensation cost is amortized on a straight line basis over the period during which an employee is required to provide service in exchange for the award. The compensation cost related to performance awards that are contingent upon market-based criteria being met is recorded at the fair value of the award on the date of the grant and amortized over the performance period.

Derivatives and Hedging

The Company’s objective in using derivatives is to add stability to interest expense and to manage its exposure to interest rate movements. To accomplish this objective, the Company primarily uses interest rate swaps and interest rate caps as part of its cash flow hedging strategy. Interest rate swaps designated as cash flow hedges involve the receipt of variable-rate amounts in exchange for fixed-rate payments over the life of the agreements without exchange of the underlying principal amount. Interest rate caps designated as cash flow hedges limit the Company’s exposure to increased cash payments due to increases in variable interest rates.

NOTE 1 – ORGANIZATION AND SUMMARY OF SIGNIFICANT ACCOUNTING POLICIES (CONTINUED)

Revenue Recognition

We recognize revenue and expense for all consolidated hotels as hotel operating revenue and hotel operating expense when earned and incurred. These revenues are recorded net of any sales or occupancy taxes collected from our guests. We participate in frequent guest programs sponsored by the brand owners of our hotels and we expense the charges associated with those programs, as incurred.

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

Income Taxes

The Company has elected to be taxed as a REIT under applicable provisions of the Internal Revenue Code of 1986, as amended, or the Code, and intends to continue to qualify as a REIT. In general, under such provisions, a trust which has made the required election and, in the taxable year, meets certain requirements and distributes to its shareholders at least 90% of its REIT taxable income, determined without regard to the deduction for dividends paid and excluding net capital gains, will not be subject to federal income tax to the extent of the income which it distributes. Earnings and profits, which determine the taxability of dividends to shareholders, differ from net income reported for financial reporting purposes due primarily to differences in depreciation of hotel properties for federal income tax purposes.

Deferred income taxes relate primarily to the TRS Lessee and are accounted for using the asset and liability method. Under this method, deferred income taxes are recognized for temporary differences between the financial reporting bases of assets and liabilities of the TRS Lessee and their respective tax bases and for their operating loss and tax credit carry forwards based on enacted tax rates expected to be in effect when such amounts are realized or settled. However, deferred tax assets are recognized only to the extent that it is more likely than not that they will be realized based on consideration of available evidence, including tax planning strategies and other factors.

The Company may recognize a tax benefit from an uncertain tax position when it is more-likely-than-not (defined as a likelihood of more than 50%) that the position will be sustained upon examination, including resolutions of any related appeals or litigation processes, based on the technical merits. If a tax position does not meet the more-likely-than-not recognition threshold, despite the Company’s belief that its filing position is supportable, the benefit of that tax position is not recognized in the statements of operations. The Company recognizes interest and penalties, as applicable, related to unrecognized tax benefits as a component of income tax expense. The Company recognizes unrecognized tax benefits in the period that the uncertainty is eliminated by either affirmative agreement of the uncertain tax position by the applicable taxing authority, or by expiration of the applicable statute of limitation. For the years ended December 31, 2016, 2015 and 2014, the Company did not record any uncertain tax positions. As of December 31, 2016, with few exceptions, the Company is subject to tax examinations by federal, state, and local income tax authorities for years 2003 through 2016.

Reclassification

Certain amounts in the prior year financial statements have been reclassified to conform to the current year presentation.

In accordance with the adoption of the FASB issued ASU No. 2015-03, Simplifying the Presentation of Debt Issuance Costs, on January 1, 2016, the Company recorded certain reclassifications of deferred financing costs. The Company reclassified deferred financing costs historically presented within Assets to now present them as a direct deduction from the associated debt liability. The table below summarizes the balances as of December 31, 2015, that were affected by this reclassification.

NOTE 1 – ORGANIZATION AND SUMMARY OF SIGNIFICANT ACCOUNTING POLICIES (CONTINUED)


		As Reported in the		Reclassification		As Reported in the
Balance Sheet Caption		2015 Form 10-K		Amount		2016 Form 10-K
Assets:
Deferred Financing Costs, Net	$	8,971	$	(8,971)	$	-
Other Assets		38,110		1,848		39,958
Total Assets		1,969,772		(7,123)		1,962,649
Liabilities:
Unsecured Term Loan		550,000		(2,220)		547,780
Unsecured Notes Payable		51,548		(1,023)		50,525
Mortgages Payable		548,539		(3,880)		544,659
Total Liabilities		1,261,617		(7,123)		1,254,494

New Accounting Pronouncements

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

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

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

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

On January 1, 2016, we adopted ASU No. 2015-02, Consolidation – Amendments to the Consolidation Analysis. We evaluated the application of ASU No. 2015-02 and concluded that no change was required to our accounting of our interests in less than wholly owned joint ventures. However, HHLP, our operating partnership, now meets the criteria as a variable

NOTE 1 – ORGANIZATION AND SUMMARY OF SIGNIFICANT ACCOUNTING POLICIES (CONTINUED)

interest entity. The Company’s most significant asset is its investment in HHLP, and consequently, substantially all for the Company’s assets and liabilities represent those assets and liabilities of HHLP.

In August 2014, the FASB issued ASU No. 2014-15, Disclosure of Uncertainties about an Entity’s Ability to Continue as a Going Concern, which provides guidance about management’s responsibility to evaluate whether there is substantial doubt about an entity’s ability to continue as a going concern and to provide related footnote disclosures. This update is effective for the Company as of December 31, 2016. The adoption of this update had no material impact to our financial statements and related disclosures.

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