COMMITMENTS AND CONTINGENCIES

3 Months Ended

Mar. 31, 2020

Commitments and Contingencies Disclosure [Abstract]

COMMITMENTS AND CONTINGENCIES

COMMITMENTS AND CONTINGENCIES

Restricted Cash

The Company maintains reserve funds for property taxes, insurance, capital expenditures and replacement or refurbishment of furniture, fixtures and equipment at some of our hotel properties in accordance with management, franchise or mortgage loan agreements. These agreements generally require us to reserve cash ranging from 2% to 5% of the revenues of the individual hotel in restricted cash escrow accounts. Any unused restricted cash balances revert to us upon the termination of the underlying agreement or may be released to us from the restricted cash escrow accounts upon proof of expenditures and approval from the lender or other party requiring the restricted cash reserves.

On April 13, 2020, as a result of the COVID-19 pandemic, Marriott International, Inc. (“Marriott”) agreed to allow us to use $1.6 million of cash deposited in FF&E Reserve Accounts for seven of our Marriott-branded hotels managed by Marriott affiliates (“Marriott Hotels”) to pay for the working capital needs of the respective hotels.  In addition, Marriott returned $8.9 million to us from the FF&E Reserve Accounts (“Borrowed Reserve”) of the Marriott Hotels for general operational purposes. The Borrowed Reserve must be replenished into the respective FF&E Reserve Accounts in ten equal monthly installments beginning on the date that is twelve months prior to the next scheduled renovation date for each of the Marriott Hotels (“Renovation Date”) or in a lump sum payment no later than sixty days prior to each respective Renovation Date. Furthermore, Marriott has suspended our obligation to fund monthly FF&E reserves for the Marriott Hotels through August 31, 2020.

At March 31, 2020 and December 31, 2019, approximately $28.6 million and $27.6 million, respectively, was available in restricted cash reserve funds required by certain of our property managers, franchisors, or mortgage lenders for property taxes, insurance, capital expenditures and replacement or refurbishment of furniture, fixtures and equipment at our hotel properties.

Franchise Agreements

We expensed fees related to our franchise agreements of $9.5 million and $11.5 million for the three months ended March 31, 2020 and 2019.  

Management Agreements

Our hotel properties operate pursuant to management agreements with various professional third-party management companies. We pay base management fees that are a percentage of gross room revenues and incentive management fees based on achievement of certain financial targets pursuant to contracts that generally have remaining terms of less than five years. Management fee expenses for the three months ended March 31, 2020 and 2019 were $3.1 million and $5.1 million, respectively.

Litigation

We are involved from time to time in litigation arising in the ordinary course of business. There are currently no pending legal actions that we believe would have a material effect on our financial position or results of operations.