Basis of Presentation and Significant Accounting Policies (Policies)

9 Months Ended

Sep. 30, 2014

Basis of Presentation and Significant Accounting Policies

Basis of Presentation

Basis of Presentation

The accompanying consolidated financial statements of the Company consolidate the accounts of the Company and all entities that are controlled by ownership of a majority voting interest as well as variable interest entities for which the company is the primary beneficiary. All significant intercompany balances and transactions have been eliminated in the consolidated financial statements.

We prepared these consolidated financial statements in conformity with U.S. generally accepted accounting principles (“GAAP”) for interim financial information and with the instructions to Form 10-Q and Article 10 of Regulation S-X of the Exchange Act. Accordingly, they do not include all of the information and footnotes required by GAAP for complete audited consolidated financial statements. In the opinion of management, all adjustments (consisting of normal recurring items) considered necessary for a fair presentation in accordance with GAAP have been included.  Results for the three and nine months ended September 30, 2014 may not be indicative of the results that may be expected for the full year 2014. For further information, please read the financial statements included in our Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 2013.

Segment Disclosure

Segment Disclosure

Accounting Standards Codification (“ASC”), ASC 280, Segment Reporting, establishes standards for reporting financial and descriptive information about an enterprise’s reportable segments. We have determined that we have one reportable segment, with activities related to investing in real estate. Our investments in real estate are geographically diversified and the chief operating decision makers evaluate operating performance on an individual asset level. As each of our assets has similar economic characteristics, the assets have been aggregated into one reportable segment.

Assets Held for Sale and Discontinued Operations

Assets Held for Sale and Discontinued Operations

We classify assets as held for sale in the period in which certain criteria are met, including when the sale of the asset within one year is probable. Assets held for sale are no longer depreciated and are carried at the lower of carrying amount or fair value, less selling costs.

Historically, we presented the results of operations of hotel properties that had been sold or otherwise qualified as assets held for sale in discontinued operations if the operations and cash flows of the hotel properties had been or would be eliminated from our ongoing operations.  Following adoption of ASU 2014-08 (see “New Accounting Standards” below) in the first quarter of 2014, we anticipate that the majority of future property sales will not be classified as discontinued operations.

We periodically review our hotel properties and our land held for development based on established criteria such as age, type of franchise, adverse economic and competitive conditions, and strategic fit, to identify properties which we believe are either non-strategic or no longer complement our business.

Noncontrolling Interests

Non-controlling Interests

Non-controlling interests represent the portion of equity in a subsidiary held by owners other than the consolidating parent. Non-controlling interests are reported in the consolidated balance sheets within equity, separately from stockholders’ equity. Revenue, expenses and net income (loss) attributable to both the Company and the non-controlling interests are reported in the consolidated statements of operations.

Our consolidated financial statements include non-controlling interests related to common units of limited partnership interests (“Common Units”) in the Operating Partnership held by unaffiliated third parties and, prior to the second quarter of 2014, third-party ownership of a 19% interest in a consolidated joint venture.

Income Taxes

Income Taxes

We have elected to be taxed as a REIT under certain provisions of the Internal Revenue Code. To qualify as a REIT, we must meet certain organizational and operational requirements, including a requirement to distribute annually to our stockholders at least 90% of our REIT taxable income, determined without regard to the deduction for dividends paid and excluding net capital gains, which does not necessarily equal net income as calculated in accordance with GAAP. As a REIT, we generally will not be subject to federal income tax (other than taxes paid by our TRS) to the extent we distribute 100% of our REIT taxable income to our stockholders. If we fail to qualify as a REIT in any taxable year, we will be subject to federal income tax on our taxable income at regular corporate income tax rates and generally will be unable to re-elect REIT status until the fifth calendar year after the year in which we failed to qualify as a REIT, unless we satisfy certain relief provisions.

We account for federal and state income taxes of our TRS using the asset and liability method. Deferred tax assets and liabilities are recognized for the future tax consequences attributable to differences between carrying amounts of existing assets and liabilities based on GAAP and respective carrying amounts for tax purposes, and operating losses and tax-credit carryforwards. Deferred tax assets and liabilities are measured using enacted tax rates expected to apply to taxable income in the years in which temporary differences are expected to be recovered or settled. The effect on deferred tax assets and liabilities of a change in tax rates is recognized in income in the period that includes the enactment date of the change in tax rates. However, deferred tax assets are recognized only to the extent that it is more likely than not they will be realized based on consideration of available evidence, including future reversals of taxable temporary differences, future projected taxable income and tax planning strategies.

Fair Value Measurement

Fair Value Measurement

Fair value measures are classified into a three-tiered fair value hierarchy, which prioritizes the inputs used in measuring fair value as follows:

Level 1:	Observable inputs such as quoted prices in active markets.
Level 2:	Directly or indirectly observable inputs, other than quoted prices in active markets.
Level 3:	Unobservable inputs in which there is little or no market data, which require a reporting entity to develop its own assumptions.

Assets and liabilities measured at fair value are based on one or more of the following valuation techniques:

Market approach:	Prices and other relevant information generated by market transactions involving identical or comparable assets or liabilities.
Cost approach:	Amount required to replace the service capacity of an asset (replacement cost).
Income approach:	Techniques used to convert future amounts to a single amount based on market expectations (including present-value, option-pricing, and excess-earnings models).

Our estimates of fair value were determined using available market information and appropriate valuation methods.  Considerable judgment is necessary to interpret market data and develop estimated fair value. The use of different market assumptions or estimation methods may have a material effect on the estimated fair value amounts. We classify assets and liabilities in the fair value hierarchy based on the lowest level of input that is significant to the fair value measurement.

We elected not to use the fair value option for cash and cash equivalents, restricted cash, trade receivables, prepaid expenses and other, debt, accounts payable, and accrued expenses. With the exception of our fixed-rate debt, the carrying amounts of these financial instruments approximate their fair values due to their short-term nature or variable interest rates.

New Accounting Standards

New Accounting Standards

In April 2014, the FASB issued ASU No. 2014-08, “Presentation of Financial Statements (Topic 205) and Property, Plant, and Equipment (Topic 360): Reporting Discontinued Operations and Disclosures of Disposals of Components of an Entity.”  The ASU changed the criteria for reporting discontinued operations while enhancing related disclosures.  Criteria for discontinued operations will now include only disposals that represent a strategic shift in operations with a major effect on operations and financial results.  The ASU is to be applied on a prospective basis and would be effective for us beginning January 1, 2015; however, we have elected early adoption in the first quarter of 2014, which is permitted for disposals and classifications as held for sale, which have not been reported previously. While we have elected early adoption for our consolidated financial statements and footnote disclosures, the AmericInn Hotel & Suites, Aspen Hotel & Suites and Hampton Inn in Fort Smith, AR will be included in discontinued operations as these hotels were classified as held for sale in our consolidated financial statements in prior periods. The AmericInn Hotel & Suites and Aspen Hotel & Suites were sold in January 2014.  The Hampton Inn in Fort Smith, AR was sold in September 2014.

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. The new standard is effective for the Company on January 1, 2017 and early adoption is not permitted. The standard permits the use of either the retrospective or cumulative effect transition method. The Company is evaluating the effect that ASU 2014-09 will have on its consolidated financial statements and related disclosures. The Company has not yet selected a transition method nor has it determined the effect of the standard on its consolidated financial statements.

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 requires management to perform interim and annual assessments of an entity’s ability to continue as a going concern within one year of the date the financial statements are issued and provides guidance on determining when and how to disclose going concern uncertainties in the financial statements. Certain disclosures will be required if conditions give rise to substantial doubt about an entity’s ability to continue as a going concern. This guidance is effective for the Company on January 1, 2017.