Summary of Significant Accounting Policies (Policies)

12 Months Ended

Dec. 31, 2016

Summary of Significant Accounting Policies

The accompanying consolidated financial statements as of December 31, 2016 and 2015, and for the years ended December 31, 2016, 2015 and 2014, include the accounts of the Company, the Operating Partnership, the TRS Lessee and their subsidiaries. All significant intercompany balances and transactions have been eliminated. If the Company determines that it has an interest in a variable interest entity within the meaning of the Consolidation Topic of the Financial Accounting Standards Board (“FASB”) Accounting Standards Codification (“ASC”), the Company will consolidate the entity when it is determined to be the primary beneficiary of the entity. Based on its review, the Company determined that all of its subsidiaries were properly consolidated as of December 31, 2016 and 2015, and for the years ended December 31, 2016, 2015 and 2014.

Noncontrolling interest at both December 31, 2016 and 2015 represents the outside 25.0% equity interest in the Hilton San Diego Bayfront, which the Company includes in its financial statements on a consolidated basis.

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

The Company has evaluated subsequent events through the date of issuance of these financial statements.

Use of Estimates

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

Cash and Cash Equivalents

Cash and cash equivalents are defined as cash on hand and in various bank accounts plus all short-term investments with an original maturity of three months or less.

The Company maintains cash and cash equivalents and certain other financial instruments with various financial institutions. These financial institutions are located throughout the country and the Company’s policy is designed to limit exposure to any one institution. The Company performs periodic evaluations of the relative credit standing of those financial institutions that are considered in the Company’s investment strategy. At December 31, 2016 and 2015, the Company had amounts in banks that were in excess of federally insured amounts.

Restricted Cash

Restricted cash is comprised of reserve accounts for debt service, interest reserves, seasonality reserves, capital replacements, ground leases, and property taxes. These restricted funds are subject to supervision and disbursement approval by certain of the Company’s lenders and/or hotel managers.

Accounts Receivable

Accounts receivable primarily represents receivables from hotel guests who occupy hotel rooms and utilize hotel services. Accounts receivable also includes, among other things, receivables from tenants who lease space in the Company’s hotels. The Company maintains an allowance for doubtful accounts sufficient to cover potential credit losses. The Company’s accounts receivable includes an allowance for doubtful accounts of $0.2 million and $0.1 million at December 31, 2016 and 2015, respectively.

Inventories

Inventories, consisting primarily of food and beverages at the hotels, are stated at the lower of cost or market, with cost determined on a method that approximates first-in, first-out basis.

Acquisitions of Hotel Properties and Other Entities

Accounting for the acquisition of a hotel property or other entity as a business combination requires an allocation of the purchase price to the assets acquired and the liabilities assumed in the transaction at their respective estimated fair values. The most difficult estimations of individual fair values are those involving long-lived assets, such as property, equipment, intangible assets and any capital lease obligations that are assumed as part of the acquisition of a leasehold interest. When we acquire a hotel property or other entity as a business combination, we use all available information to make these fair value determinations, and engage independent valuation specialists to assist in the fair value determinations of the long-lived assets acquired and the liabilities assumed. Due to the inherent subjectivity in determining the estimated fair value of long-lived assets, the Company believes that the recording of acquired assets and liabilities is a critical accounting policy.

Investments in Hotel Properties and Other Assets

Hotel properties and other investments are depreciated using the straight-line method over estimated useful lives primarily ranging from five to 35 years for buildings and improvements and three to 12 years for furniture, fixtures and equipment. Intangible assets are amortized using the straight-line method over their estimated useful life or over the length of the related agreement, whichever is shorter.

The Company’s investment in hotel properties, net also includes initial franchise fees which are recorded at cost and amortized using the straight-line method over the lives of the franchise agreements ranging from 14 to 27 years. All other franchise fees that are based on the Company’s results of operations are expensed as incurred.

The Company follows the requirements of the Property, Plant and Equipment Topic of the FASB ASC, which requires impairment losses to be recorded on long-lived assets to be held and used by the Company when indicators of impairment are present and the future undiscounted net cash flows expected to be generated by those assets are less than the assets’ carrying amount. If such assets are considered to be impaired, the related assets are adjusted to their estimated fair value and an impairment is recognized. The impairment recognized is measured by the amount by which the carrying amount of the assets exceeds the estimated fair value of the assets. In computing fair value, the Company uses a discounted cash flow analysis to estimate the fair value of its hotel properties and other assets, taking into account each property’s expected cash flow from operations, holding period and estimated proceeds from the disposition of the property. The factors addressed in determining estimated proceeds from disposition include anticipated operating cash flow in the year of disposition and terminal capitalization rate. Based on the Company’s review, management believes that there were no impairments on its long-lived assets in 2016, 2015 and 2014, and that the carrying values of its hotel properties and other assets are recoverable at December 31, 2016.

Fair value represents the amount at which an asset could be bought or sold in a current transaction between willing parties, that is, other than a forced or liquidation sale. The estimation process involved in determining if assets have been impaired and in the determination of fair value is inherently uncertain because it requires estimates of current market yields as well as future events and conditions. Such future events and conditions include economic and market conditions, as well as the availability of suitable financing. The realization of the Company’s investment in hotel properties and other assets is dependent upon future uncertain events and conditions and, accordingly, the actual timing and amounts realized by the Company may be materially different from their estimated fair values.

Assets Held for Sale

The Company considers a hotel or other asset held for sale if it is probable that the sale will be completed within twelve months, among other requirements. A sale may be considered to be probable once the buyer completes its due diligence of the asset, there is an executed purchase and sale agreement between the Company and the buyer, the buyer waives any closing contingencies, there are no third party approvals necessary and the Company has received a substantial non-refundable deposit. Depreciation ceases when a property is held for sale. Should an impairment loss be required for assets held for sale, the related assets are adjusted to their estimated fair values, less costs to sell. If the sale of the hotel or other asset represents a strategic shift that will have a major effect on the Company’s operations and financial results, the hotel or other asset is included in discontinued operations, and operating results are removed from income from continuing operations and reported as discontinued operations. The operating results for any such assets for any prior periods presented must also be reclassified as discontinued operations. As of December 31, 2016, the Company’s Fairmont Newport Beach, California, was considered held for sale, and subsequently sold in February 2017 (see Note 14). Based on the criteria noted above, the hotel was not included in discontinued operations. As of December 31, 2015, the Company had no hotels or other assets held for sale.

Deferred Financing Fees

Deferred financing fees consist of loan fees and other financing costs related to the Company’s outstanding indebtedness and credit facility commitments, and are amortized to interest expense over the terms of the related debt or commitment. If a loan is refinanced or paid before its maturity, any unamortized deferred financing costs will generally be expensed unless specific rules are met that would allow for the carryover of such costs to the refinanced debt.

Deferred financing fees related to both the Company’s undrawn credit facility and unfunded senior unsecured notes are included on the Company’s consolidated balance sheets as an asset. Deferred financing fees related to the Company’s undrawn credit facility are amortized ratably over the term of the line of credit arrangement, regardless of whether there are any outstanding borrowings on the line of credit arrangement. Deferred financing fees related to the Company’s unfunded senior unsecured notes will be reclassified to the appropriate current and long-term debt liabilities during the first quarter of 2017 once amounts are funded (see Note 14). Deferred financing fees related to the Company’s outstanding debt are included on the Company’s consolidated balance sheets as a contra-liability (see Note 7) and subsequently amortized ratably over the term of the related debt.

Interest Rate Derivatives

The Company’s objective in holding interest rate derivatives is to manage its exposure to the interest rate risks related to its floating rate debt. To accomplish this objective, the Company uses interest rate caps and swaps, none of which qualifies for effective hedge accounting treatment. The Company records interest rate protection agreements on the balance sheet at their fair value. Changes in the fair value of derivatives are recorded each period in the consolidated statements of operations.

Revenue Recognition

Room revenue and food and beverage revenue are recognized as earned, which is generally defined as the date upon which a guest occupies a room and/or utilizes the hotel’s services. Additionally, some of the Company’s hotel rooms are booked through independent internet travel intermediaries. Revenue for these rooms is booked at the price the Company sold the room to the independent internet travel intermediary less any discount or commission paid.

Other operating revenue consists of revenue derived from incidental hotel services such as telephone/internet, parking, spa, entertainment and other guest services, along with tenant lease revenues related to hotel space leased by third parties, any cancellation or attrition revenue and any performance guarantees. During 2016, the Company recognized $5.0 million in other operating revenue from a performance guarantee received from Marriott related to the Wailea Beach Resort. In addition, prior to its sale in September 2015, other operating revenue also included revenue generated by BuyEfficient, LLC Inc. (“BuyEfficient”), an electronic purchasing platform that allowed members to procure food, operating supplies, furniture, fixtures and equipment. Revenues from incidental hotel services and BuyEfficient are recognized in the period the related services are provided or the revenue is earned.

Advertising and Promotion Costs

Advertising and promotion costs are expensed when incurred. Advertising and promotion costs represent the expense for advertising and reservation systems under the terms of the hotel franchise and brand management agreements and general and administrative expenses that are directly attributable to advertising and promotions.

Stock Based Compensation

Compensation expense related to awards of restricted shares are measured at fair value on the date of grant and amortized over the relevant requisite service period or derived service period.

Income Taxes

The Company has elected to be treated as a REIT pursuant to the Internal Revenue Code, as amended (the “Code”). Management believes that the Company has qualified and intends to continue to qualify as a REIT. Therefore, the Company is permitted to deduct distributions paid to its stockholders, eliminating the federal taxation of income represented by such distributions at the company level. REITs are subject to a number of organizational and operational requirements. If the Company fails to qualify as a REIT in any taxable year, the Company will be subject to federal income tax (including any applicable alternative minimum tax) on taxable income at regular corporate tax rates.

With respect to taxable subsidiaries, the Company accounts for income taxes in accordance with the Income Taxes Topic of the FASB ASC. Accordingly, deferred tax liabilities and assets are determined based on the difference between the financial statement and tax bases of assets and liabilities, using enacted tax rates in effect for the year in which the differences are expected to reverse.

The Income Taxes Topic of the FASB ASC addresses how uncertain tax positions should be recognized, measured, presented, and disclosed in the financial statements. The guidance requires the accounting and disclosure of tax positions taken or expected to be taken in the course of preparing the Company’s tax returns to determine whether the tax positions are “more-likely-than-not” to be sustained by the applicable tax authority. Tax positions not deemed to meet the more-likely-than-not threshold would be recorded as a tax benefit or expense in the current year. The Company’s management is required to analyze all open tax years, as defined by the statute of limitations, for all major jurisdictions, which includes federal and certain states.

Noncontrolling Interests

The Company’s financial statements include entities in which the Company has a controlling financial interest. Noncontrolling interest is the portion of equity (net assets) in a subsidiary not attributable, directly or indirectly, to a parent. Such noncontrolling interests are reported on the consolidated balance sheets within equity, separately from the Company’s equity. On the consolidated statements of operations, revenues, expenses and net income or loss from less-than-wholly-owned subsidiaries are reported at the consolidated amounts, including both the amounts attributable to the Company and noncontrolling interests. Income or loss is allocated to noncontrolling interests based on their weighted average ownership percentage for the applicable period. The consolidated statements of equity include beginning balances, activity for the period and ending balances for each component of stockholders’ equity, noncontrolling interests and total equity.

At December 31, 2016, 2015 and 2014, the noncontrolling interests reported in the Company’s financial statements included Hilton Worldwide’s 25.0% ownership in the Hilton San Diego Bayfront. Additionally, prior to the Company’s sale of its interests in the Doubletree Guest Suites Times Square in December 2015, the noncontrolling interests reported in the Company’s financial statements also included preferred investors that owned a $0.1 million preferred equity interest in a subsidiary captive REIT that owned the Doubletree Guest Suites Times Square.

Dividends

Under current federal income tax laws related to REITs, the Company is required to distribute at least 90% of its net taxable income to its stockholders. Currently, the Company pays quarterly cash dividends to its common stockholders, as well as to the preferred stockholders of its 6.95% Series E Cumulative Redeemable Preferred Stock (“Series E preferred stock”) and its 6.45% Series F Cumulative Preferred Stock (“Series F preferred stock”) as declared by the Company’s board of directors. Prior to its redemption date in April 2016, the Company also paid quarterly cash dividends to the preferred stockholders of its 8.0% Series D Cumulative Redeemable Preferred Stock (“Series D preferred stock”) as declared by the Company’s board of directors. The Company’s ability to pay dividends is dependent on the receipt of distributions from the Operating Partnership.

Earnings Per Share

The Company applies the two-class method when computing its earnings per share. As required by the Earnings Per Share Topic of the FASB ASC, the net income per share for each class of stock (common stock and convertible preferred stock) is calculated assuming all of the Company’s net income is distributed as dividends to each class of stock based on their contractual rights. To the extent the Company has undistributed earnings in any calendar quarter, the Company will follow the two-class method of computing earnings per share.

The Company follows the requirements of the Earnings Per Share Topic of the FASB ASC. Unvested share-based payment awards that contain non-forfeitable rights to dividends or dividend equivalents (whether paid or unpaid) are considered participating securities and shall be included in the computation of earnings per share pursuant to the two-class method.

In accordance with the Earnings Per Share Topic of the FASB ASC, basic earnings (loss) attributable to common stockholders per common share is computed based on the weighted average number of shares of common stock outstanding during each period. Diluted earnings (loss) attributable to common stockholders per common share is computed based on the weighted average number of shares of common stock outstanding during each period, plus potential common shares considered outstanding during the period, as long as the inclusion of such awards is not anti-dilutive. Potential common shares consist of unvested restricted stock awards and the incremental common shares issuable upon the exercise of stock options, using the more dilutive of either the two-class method or the treasury stock method.

The following table sets forth the computation of basic and diluted earnings per common share (in thousands, except per share data):


	Year Ended		Year Ended		Year Ended
	December 31, 2016		December 31, 2015		December 31, 2014
Numerator:
Net income	$	140,677	$	355,519	$	87,939
Income from consolidated joint ventures attributable to noncontrolling interests		(6,480)		(8,164)		(6,708)
Preferred stock dividends and redemption charge		(15,964)		(9,200)		(9,200)
Dividends paid on unvested restricted stock compensation		(754)		(1,405)		(969)
Undistributed income allocated to unvested restricted stock compensation		—		(155)		—
Numerator for basic and diluted income attributable to common stockholders	$	117,479	$	336,595	$	71,062

Denominator:
Weighted average basic and diluted common shares outstanding		214,966		207,350		192,674

Basic and diluted income attributable to common stockholders per common share	$	0.55	$	1.62	$	0.37

The Company’s unvested restricted shares associated with its long-term incentive plan and shares associated with common stock options have been excluded from the above calculation of earnings per share for the years ended December 31, 2016, 2015 and 2014, as their inclusion would have been anti-dilutive.

Segment Reporting

The Company considers each of its hotels to be an operating segment, none of which meets the threshold for a separate reportable segment in accordance with the Segment Reporting Topic of the FASB ASC. Currently, the Company operates in one segment, hotel ownership.

Recent Accounting Pronouncements

In May 2014, the FASB issued Accounting Standards Update No. 2014-09, “Revenue from Contracts with Customers (Topic 606)” (“ASU No. 2014-09”). The core principal of ASU No. 2014-09 is that an entity should recognize revenue to depict the transfer of promised goods or services to customers in an amount that reflects the consideration to which the entity expects to be entitled in exchange for those goods or services. To achieve that core principal, an entity will need to apply a five-step model: (1) identify the contract(s) with a customer; (2) identify the performance obligations in the contract; (3) determine the transaction price; (4) allocate the transaction price to the performance obligations in the contract; and (5) recognize revenue when (or as) the entity satisfies a performance obligation. ASU No. 2014-09 was originally to be effective during the first quarter of 2017; however, the FASB issued a one-year deferral in July 2015 so that it now becomes effective during the first quarter of 2018. ASU No. 2014-09 will require either a full retrospective approach or a modified retrospective approach, with early adoption permitted as of the original effective date.

In March 2016, the FASB clarified the principal versus agent guidance in ASU No. 2014-09 with it issuance of Accounting Standards Update No. 2016-08, “Revenue from Contracts with Customers (Topic 606): Principal versus Agent Considerations (Reporting Revenue Gross versus Net)” (“ASU No. 2016-08”). In particular, ASU No. 2016-08 clarifies how an entity should identify the unit of accounting for the principal versus agent evaluation and how it should apply the control principle to certain types of arrangements, such as service transactions by explaining what a principal controls before the specified good or service is transferred to the customer. In addition, ASU No. 2016-08 reframes the indicators to focus on evidence that an entity is acting as a principal rather than as an agent. ASU No. 2016-08 will become effective, along with ASU No. 2014-09, during the first quarter of 2018. Similar to ASU No. 2014-09, ASU No. 2016-08 will require either a full retrospective approach or a modified retrospective approach, with early adoption permitted as of the original effective date.

In May 2016, the FASB amended ASU No. 2014-09’s guidance on transition, collectability, noncash consideration and the presentation of sales and other similar taxes with its issuance of Accounting Standards Update No. 2016-12, “Revenue from Contracts with Customers (Topic 606): Narrow-Scope Improvements and Practical Expedients” (“ASU No. 2016-12”). The amendments clarify that, for a contract to be considered completed at transition, all (or substantially all) of the revenue must have been recognized under legacy GAAP. This clarification is important because entities that use the modified retrospective transition approach need to apply the standard only to contracts that are not complete as of the date of initial application, and entities that use the full retrospective approach may apply certain practical expedients to completed contracts. In addition, ASU No. 2016-12 clarifies that an entity should consider the probability of collecting substantially all of the consideration to which it will be entitled in exchange for goods and services expected to be transferred to the customer rather than the total amount promised for all the goods or services in the contract. ASU No. 2016-12 also clarifies that an entity may consider its ability to manage its exposure to credit risk as part of the collectability assessment, as well as that the fair value of noncash consideration should be measured at contract inception when determining the transaction price. Finally, ASU No. 2016-12 allows an entity to make an accounting policy election to exclude from the transaction price certain types of taxes collected from a customer if it discloses that policy. ASU No. 2016-12 will become effective, along with ASU No. 2014-09, during the first quarter of 2018. Similar to ASU No. 2014-09, ASU No. 2016-12 will require either a full retrospective approach or a modified retrospective approach, with early adoption permitted as of the original effective date.

The Company is in the process of evaluating the impact that ASU No. 2014-09, along with the related clarifications and amendments in ASU No. 2016-08 and ASU No. 2016-12, will have on its recognition of revenue included in its consolidated financial statements. While the Company is still evaluating the impact that the ASUs will have on accounting for the gain recognized upon the sale of a hotel, there is a possibility that the adoption of ASU No. 2014-09 will affect the timing of any gain recognition in the consolidated financial statements. For example, under current guidance, a gain on the sale of hotel properties with contingencies and some future involvement is deferred until all contingencies have been removed. Under the new guidance, however, the entire gain on sale may be recognized upon the close of escrow. The Company expects to adopt the new ASUs under the modified retrospective approach.

In June 2014, the FASB issued Accounting Standards Update No. 2014-12, “Accounting for Share-Based Payments When the Terms of an Award Provide That a Performance Target Could Be Achieved after the Requisite Service Period” (“ASU No. 2014-12”), which requires a reporting entity to treat a performance target that affects vesting and that could be achieved after the requisite service period as a performance condition. ASU No. 2014-12 became effective during the first quarter of 2016, requiring either a prospective or a modified retrospective approach. The Company’s adoption of ASU No. 2014-12 did not have an effect on its consolidated financial statements, and will not have an effect in the future unless the Company issues grants that fall within its scope.

In August 2014, the FASB issued Accounting Standards Update No. 2014-15, “Presentation of Financial Statements – Going Concern (Subtopic 205-40)” (“ASU No. 2014-15”), which requires management to evaluate an entity’s ability to continue as a going concern within one year after the date that the financial statements are issued (or available to be issued, when applicable). The evaluation requires management to perform two steps. Management must first evaluate whether there are conditions and events that raise substantial doubt about the entity’s ability to continue as a going concern (step 1). If management concludes that substantial doubt is raised, management also is required to consider whether its plans alleviate that doubt (step 2). Disclosures in the notes to the financial statements are required if management concludes that substantial doubt exists or that its plans alleviate substantial doubt that was raised. ASU No. 2014-15 requires that management perform a going concern evaluation for annual periods beginning in 2016, and for interim periods within annual periods beginning with the first quarter of 2017. The Company’s adoption of ASU No. 2014-15 in 2016 did not have an effect on its financial statements; however, if in the future the Company determines that there is substantial doubt about the Company’s ability to continue as a going concern, the Company will be required to provide the additional disclosures outlined in ASU No. 2014-15 steps 1 and 2 in its consolidated financial statements.

In February 2015, the FASB issued Accounting Standards Update No. 2015-02, “Consolidation (Topic 810): Amendments to the Consolidation Analysis” (“ASU No. 2015-02”), which eliminates the option allowing entities with interests in certain investment funds to follow previous consolidation guidance and makes other changes to both the variable interest model and the voting model. While ASU No. 2015-02 is aimed at asset managers, it will affect all reporting entities involved with limited partnerships or similar entities. In some cases consolidation conclusions will change. In other cases, reporting entities will need to provide additional disclosures about entities that currently aren’t considered VIEs but will be considered VIEs under the new guidance when they have a variable interest in those VIEs. Regardless of whether conclusions change or additional disclosure requirements are triggered, reporting entities will need to re-evaluate limited partnerships or similar entities for consolidation and revise their documentation. ASU No. 2015-02 changes (1) the identification of variable interests (fees paid to a decision maker or service provider), (2) the VIE characteristics for a limited partnership or similar entity and (3) the primary beneficiary determination. ASU No. 2015-02 became effective during the first quarter of 2016, requiring a modified retrospective approach. The Company’s adoption of ASU No. 2015-02 did not have a material effect on its consolidated financial statements.

In September 2015, the FASB issued Accounting Standards Update No. 2015-16, “Business Combinations (Topic 805): Simplifying the Accounting for Measurement-Period Adjustments” (“ASU No. 2015-16”), which eliminates the requirement for an acquirer in a business combination to account for measurement-period adjustments retrospectively. In a business combination, if the initial accounting is incomplete as of the end of the reporting period in which the acquisition occurs, the acquirer records provisional amounts based on information available at the acquisition date. The acquirer then adjusts these amounts as it obtains more information about facts and circumstances that existed as of the acquisition date. This period is called the measurement period. It ends when the acquirer receives the information it was seeking about facts and circumstances that existed as of the acquisition date or when it determines that it cannot obtain more information. The measurement period cannot exceed one year from the date of the acquisition. Under the previous guidance, an acquirer must recognize adjustments to provisional amounts during the measurement period retrospectively (i.e., as if the accounting for the business combination had been completed at the acquisition date). That is, the acquirer was required to revise comparative information on the income statement and balance sheet for any prior periods affected. Under ASU No. 2015-16, an acquirer will now recognize measurement-period adjustments during the period in which it determines the amount of the adjustment. The acquirer still must disclose the amounts and reasons for adjustments to the provisional amounts. The acquirer also must disclose, by line item, the amount of the adjustment reflected in the current-period income statement that would have been recognized in previous periods if the adjustment to provisional amounts had been recognized as of the acquisition date. Alternatively, an acquirer may present those amounts separately on the face of the income statement. ASU No. 2015-16 became effective during the first quarter of 2016, requiring a prospective approach. The Company’s adoption of ASU No. 2015-16 will have an effect on its consolidated financial statements and related disclosures when and if the Company has a business combination that requires a significant measurement-period adjustment.

In January 2016, the FASB issued Accounting Standards Update No. 2016-01, “Financial Instruments – Overall (Subtopic 825-10): Recognition and Measurement of Financial Assets and Financial Liabilities” (“ASU No. 2016-01”), which makes targeted amendments to guidance on classifying and measuring financial instruments. ASU No. 2016-01 provides disclosure relief for public companies by eliminating the requirement to disclose the method(s) and significant assumptions used to estimate the fair value of financial instruments measured at amortized cost. ASU No. 2016-01 will become effective during the first quarter of 2018, with early adoption permitted. The Company chose to early adopt ASU No. 2016-01 effective January 1, 2016, and eliminated the disclosure in its consolidated financial statements of the methods and significant assumptions the Company use to calculate the fair value of its debt.

In February 2016, the FASB issued Accounting Standards Update No. 2016-02, “Leases (Topic 842)” (“ASU No. 2016-02”), which will require lessees to put most leases on their balance sheets but recognize expenses in the income statement in a manner similar to today’s accounting. The guidance also eliminates today’s real estate-specific provisions and changes the guidance on sale-leaseback transactions, initial direct costs and lease executory costs for all entities. For lessors, the standard modifies the classification criteria and the accounting for sales-type and direct financing leases. All entities will classify leases to determine how to recognize lease-related revenue and expense. Classification will continue to affect amounts that lessors record on the balance sheet. ASU No. 2016-02 will become effective during the first quarter of 2019, and will require a modified retrospective approach for leases that exist or are entered into after the beginning of the earliest comparative period in the financial statements. The Company is currently evaluating the impact that ASU No. 2016-02 will have on its consolidated financial statements, and, other than the inclusion of operating leases on the Company’s balance sheet, such effects have not yet been determined.

In March 2016, the FASB issued Accounting Standards Update No. 2016-09, “Compensation – Stock Compensation (Topic 718): Improvements to Employee Share-Based Payment Accounting” (“ASU No. 2016-09”), which changes certain aspects of accounting for share-based payments to employees. The new guidance will require all income tax effects of awards to be recognized in the income statement when the awards vest or are settled. It also will allow an employer to repurchase more of an employee’s shares for tax withholding purposes without triggering liability accounting and to make a policy election to account for forfeitures as they occur. ASU No. 2016-09 will become effective during the first quarter of 2017, with early adoption permitted, and will require a modified retrospective approach. As noted below, the Company chose to early adopt ASU No. 2016-09 effective January 1, 2016.

Upon adoption of ASU No. 2016-09, the Company elected to account for forfeitures as they occur. In addition, pursuant to employee statutory withholding obligations, the Company may repurchase more of an employee’s shares for tax withholding purposes up to the maximum statutory tax rate in the employee’s applicable jurisdictions.

In accordance with the transition provisions of the new guidance, the Company adjusted items on its consolidated balance sheet, consolidated statement of equity and consolidated statement of cash flows. The following financial statement line items have been adjusted on the Company’s consolidated balance sheet and consolidated statement of equity for the year ended December 31, 2015 in order to reverse the effects of forfeitures recognized in prior years, and on the consolidated statement of cash flows for the years ended December 31, 2015 and 2014 to reclassify the repurchase of employee common stock for employee withholding obligations from an operating activity to a financing activity (in thousands):


			Effect of Change in
	As Originally Reported		Accounting Principle		As Adjusted
2015:
Consolidated Balance Sheet and Consolidated Statement of Equity as of December 31, 2015:
Additional paid in capital	$	2,458,735	$	154	$	2,458,889
Retained earnings	$	652,858	$	(154)	$	652,704

Consolidated Statement of Cash Flows for the year ended December 31, 2015:
Amortization of deferred stock compensation	$	6,536	$	3,159	$	9,695
Accrued payroll and employee benefits	$	(8,165)	$	6,105	$	(2,060)
Net cash provided by operating activities	$	300,061	$	9,264	$	309,325
Repurchase of common stock for employee withholding obligations	$	—	$	(9,264)	$	(9,264)
Net cash used in financing activities	$	(422,443)	$	(9,264)	$	(431,707)

2014:
Consolidated Statement of Cash Flows for the year ended December 31, 2014:
Amortization of deferred stock compensation	$	6,221	$	2,842	$	9,063
Accrued payroll and employee benefits	$	1,844	$	932	$	2,776
Net cash provided by operating activities	$	278,595	$	3,774	$	282,369
Repurchase of common stock for employee withholding obligations	$	—	$	(3,774)	$	(3,774)
Net cash provided by financing activities	$	245,872	$	(3,774)	$	242,098

In June 2016, the FASB issued Accounting Standards Update No. 2016-13, “Financial Instruments-Credit Losses (Topic 326): Measurement of Credit Losses on Financial Instruments” (“ASU No. 2016-13”), which will replace today’s “incurred loss” approach with an “expected loss” model for instruments measured at amortized cost. For trade and other receivables, held-to-maturity debt securities, loans and other instruments, entities will be required to use a new forward looking “expected loss” model that generally will result in the earlier recognition of allowances for losses. In addition, entities will have to disclose significantly more information, including information they use to track credit quality by year of origination for most financing receivables. ASU No. 2016-13 is effective during the first quarter of 2020. ASU No. 2016-13 will require a modified retrospective approach, with early adoption permitted during the first quarter of 2019. The Company is currently evaluating the impact that ASU No. 2016-13 will have on its consolidated financial statements.

In September 2016, the FASB issued Accounting Standards Update No. 2016-15, “Statement of Cash Flows (Topic 230): Classification of Certain Cash Receipts and Cash Payments (a consensus of the Emerging Issues Task Force)” (“ASU No. 2016-15”), which clarifies how entities should classify certain cash receipts and cash payments on the statement of cash flows. ASU No. 2016-15 addresses certain issues where diversity in practice was identified. It amends existing guidance, which is principles based and often requires judgment to determine the appropriate classification of cash flows as operating, investing or financing activities. In addition, ASU No. 2016-15 clarifies how the predominance principle should be applied when cash receipts and cash payments have aspects of more than one class of cash flows. ASU No. 2016-15 is effective during the first quarter of 2018, and will generally require a retrospective approach. Early adoption is permitted. The Company does not believe that the adoption of ASU No. 2016-15 will have a material effect on its consolidated financial statements.

In November 2016, the FASB issued Accounting Standards Update No. 2016-18, “Statement of Cash Flows (Topic 230): Restricted Cash (a consensus of the FASB Emerging Issues Task Force)” (“ASU No. 2016-18”), which will require entities to show the changes in total cash, cash equivalents, restricted cash and restricted cash equivalents in the statement of cash flows. As a result, entities will no longer present transfers between cash and cash equivalents and restricted cash and restricted cash equivalents in the statement of cash flows. When cash, cash equivalents, restricted cash and restricted cash equivalents are presented in more than one line item on the balance sheet, the new guidance requires a reconciliation of the totals in the statement of cash flows to the related caption in the balance sheet. This reconciliation can be presented either on the face of the statement of cash flows or in the notes to the financial statements. ASU No. 2016-18 is effective in the first quarter of 2018, and will require a retrospective approach. Early adoption in an interim period is permitted, but any adjustments must be reflected as of the beginning of the fiscal year that includes the interim period. The Company is currently evaluating the impact that ASU No. 2016-18 will have on its consolidated financial statements.

In January 2017, the FASB issued Accounting Standards Update No. 2017-01, “Business Combinations (Topic 805): Clarifying the Definition of a Business” (“ASU No. 2017-01”), which changes the definition of a business to assist entities with evaluating when a set of transferred assets and activities is a business. Under the new guidance, an entity first determines whether substantially all of the fair value of the gross assets acquired is concentrated in a single identifiable asset or a group of similar identifiable assets. If this threshold is met, the set of transferred assets and activities is not a business. If it is not met, the entity then evaluates whether the set meets the requirement that a business include, at a minimum, an input and a substantive process that together significantly contribute to the ability to create outputs. ASU No. 2017-01 is effective in the first quarter of 2018, and the guidance is to be applied prospectively. Early adoption is permitted. Once adopted, the Company will be required to analyze future hotel acquisitions to determine if the transaction qualifies as the purchase of a business or an asset. Depending on the Company’s conclusion, ASU No. 2017-01 may have an effect on its consolidated financial statements.