Variable Interest Entities

6 Months Ended

Jun. 30, 2011

Variable Interest Entities [Abstract]

4. VARIABLE INTEREST ENTITIES

In accordance with the guidance for the consolidation of variable interest entities, we analyze our variable interests, including equity investments and management agreements, to determine if an entity in which we have a variable interest, is a variable interest entity. Our analysis includes both quantitative and qualitative reviews. We base our quantitative analysis on the forecasted cash flows of the entity, and our qualitative analysis on our review of the design of the entity, its organization structure including decision-making ability, and relevant financial agreements. We also use our qualitative analyses to determine if we must consolidate a variable interest entity as the primary beneficiary.

The following summarizes our analyses of entities in which we have a variable interest and that we have concluded are variable interest entities:

	•		We have an equity investment in the joint venture that owns the Great Wolf Lodge resort in Grand Mound, Washington. We manage that resort and we have concluded that the joint venture is a variable interest entity because the management fees we receive represent a variable interest. The management contract, however, does not provide us with power to direct the activities that most significantly impact the economic performance of the joint venture. As we lack the ability to direct the activities that most significantly affect the resort’s performance, we are not the primary beneficiary of the joint venture and, therefore, we do not consolidate this entity at June 30, 2011. During the three and six months ended June 30, 2011 and 2010, we did not provide any support to this entity that we were not contractually obligated to do so. Our maximum exposure to loss related to our involvement with this entity as of June 30, 2011 is limited to the carrying value of our equity investments in the joint venture as of that date. The total carrying values of those items on our balance sheet as of June 30, 2011 is $24,818.

	•		We have equity investments in two subsidiaries which are Delaware statutory trusts, both of which were used to issue trust preferred securities through private offerings. We have concluded that both of these trusts are variable interest entities. As we lack the ability to direct the activities that most significantly impact the trusts’ performance, we are not the primary beneficiary and therefore, we do not consolidate these entities at June 30, 2011. During the three and six months ended June 30, 2011 and 2010, we did not provide any support to these entities that we were not contractually obligated to do so. Our maximum exposure to loss related to our involvement with these entities as of June 30, 2011 is limited to the carrying value of our equity investments in the entities as of that date. The total carrying values of those items on our balance sheet as of June 30, 2011 is $2,420.

- Definition

Tabular disclosure of the significant judgments and assumptions made in determining whether a variable interest (as defined) held by the entity requires the variable interest entity (VIE) (as defined) to be consolidated and (or) disclose information about its involvement with the VIE, individually or in aggregate (as applicable); the nature of restrictions, if any, on the consolidated VIE's assets and on the settlement of its liabilities reported by an entity in its statement of financial position, including the carrying amounts of such assets and liabilities; the nature of, and changes in, the risks associated with involvement in the VIE; how involvement with the VIE affects the entity's financial position, financial performance, and cash flows; the lack of recourse if creditors (or beneficial interest holders) of the consolidated VIE have no recourse to the general credit of the primary beneficiary (if applicable); the terms of arrangements, giving consideration to both explicit arrangements and implicit variable interests, if any, that could require the entity to provide financial support to the VIE, including events or circumstances that could expose the entity to a loss; the methodology used by the entity for determining whether or not it is the primary beneficiary of the variable interest entity; the significant factors considered and judgments made in determining that the power to direct the activities of a VIE that most significantly impact the VIE's economic performance are shared (as defined); the carrying amounts and classification of assets and liabilities of the VIE included in the statement of financial position; the entity's maximum exposure to loss, if any, as a result of its involvement with the VIE, including how the maximum exposure is determined and significant sources of the entity's exposure to the VIE; a comparison of the carrying amounts of the assets and liabilities and the entity's maximum exposure to loss; information about any liquidity arrangements, guarantees, and (or) other commitments by third parties that may affect the fair value or risk of the entity's variable interest in the VIE; whether or not the entity has provided financial support or other support (explicitly or implicitly) to the VIE that it was not previously contractually required to provide or whether the entity intends to provide that support, including the type and amount of the support and the primary reasons for providing the support; and supplemental information the entity determines necessary to provide.

+ References

Reference 1: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef
-Publisher FASB
-Name Accounting Standards Codification
-Topic 810
-SubTopic 10
-Section 50
-Paragraph 9
-URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=6970148&loc=SL6228884-111685

Reference 2: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef
-Publisher FASB
-Name Accounting Standards Codification
-Glossary Variable Interest Entity
-URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=6528138

Reference 3: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef
-Publisher FASB
-Name Statement of Financial Accounting Standard (FAS)
-Number 167
-Appendix D
-Paragraph 23A

Reference 4: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef
-Publisher FASB
-Name FASB Interpretation (FIN)
-Number 46R
-Paragraph 2, 14, 15, 16, 23, 24, 25, 26
-LegacyDoc This reference is SUPERSEDED by the Accounting Standards Codification effective for interim and annual periods ending after September 15, 2009. This reference is included to help users transition from the previous accounting hierarchy and will be removed from future versions of this taxonomy.

Reference 5: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef
-Publisher FASB
-Name Statement of Financial Accounting Standard (FAS)
-Number 167
-Appendix D
-Paragraph 22E

Reference 6: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef
-Publisher FASB
-Name Accounting Standards Codification
-Topic 810
-SubTopic 10
-Section 50
-Paragraph 5A
-URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=6970148&loc=SL6759159-111685

Reference 7: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef
-Publisher FASB
-Name Statement of Financial Accounting Standard (FAS)
-Number 140
-Paragraph 35
-LegacyDoc This reference is SUPERSEDED by the Accounting Standards Codification effective for interim and annual periods ending after September 15, 2009. This reference is included to help users transition from the previous accounting hierarchy and will be removed from future versions of this taxonomy.

Reference 8: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef
-Publisher FASB
-Name Statement of Financial Accounting Standard (FAS)
-Number 167
-Appendix D
-Paragraph 22B

Reference 9: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef
-Publisher FASB
-Name FASB Interpretation (FIN)
-Number 46R
-Paragraph 4
-Subparagraph g
-LegacyDoc This reference is SUPERSEDED by the Accounting Standards Codification effective for interim and annual periods ending after September 15, 2009. This reference is included to help users transition from the previous accounting hierarchy and will be removed from future versions of this taxonomy.

Reference 10: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef
-Publisher FASB
-Name FASB Staff Position (FSP)
-Number FAS140-4/FIN46(R)-8
-Paragraph C4
-Subparagraph d
-LegacyDoc This reference is SUPERSEDED by the Accounting Standards Codification effective for interim and annual periods ending after September 15, 2009. This reference is included to help users transition from the previous accounting hierarchy and will be removed from future versions of this taxonomy.

Reference 11: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef
-Publisher FASB
-Name Statement of Financial Accounting Standard (FAS)
-Number 167
-Appendix D
-Paragraph 24

Reference 12: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef
-Publisher FASB
-Name Accounting Standards Codification
-Topic 810
-SubTopic 10
-Section 50
-Paragraph 3
-URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=6970148&loc=d3e5710-111685

Reference 13: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef
-Publisher FASB
-Name Accounting Standards Codification
-Topic 810
-SubTopic 10
-Section 50
-Paragraph 4
-URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=6970148&loc=d3e5728-111685

Reference 14: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef
-Publisher FASB
-Name Accounting Standards Codification
-Topic 810
-SubTopic 10
-Section 50
-Paragraph 6
-URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=6970148&loc=d3e5747-111685

+ Details