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SUMMARY OF SIGNIFICANT ACCOUNTING POLICIES (Policies)

9 Months Ended

Sep. 30, 2019

Interim Presentation—Certain information and footnote disclosures normally included in financial statements presented in accordance with U.S. GAAP have been condensed or omitted in the accompanying condensed consolidated financial statements. The Company believes the disclosures made are adequate to prevent the information presented from being misleading. However, the condensed consolidated financial statements should be read in conjunction with the audited consolidated financial statements as of and for the year ended December 31, 2018, included in the combined annual report on Form 10-K filed with the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission (“SEC”) on February 27, 2019.

The accompanying condensed consolidated financial statements reflect all adjustments (consisting only of normal and recurring items) necessary to present fairly the Company’s financial position as of September 30, 2019, the results of the Company’s operations, comprehensive income and changes in equity for the three and nine months ended September 30, 2019 and 2018 and cash flows for the nine months ended September 30, 2019 and 2018. Interim results are not necessarily indicative of full year performance because of the impact of seasonal and short-term variations, as well as the impact of acquisitions, dispositions, hotel renovations

Use of Estimates

Use of Estimates—The preparation of the accompanying condensed consolidated financial statements in conformity with U.S. GAAP requires management to make estimates and assumptions that affect the amounts of assets and liabilities, disclosures of contingent assets and liabilities at the date of the financial statements, and amounts of revenues and expenses during the reporting period. Management used significant estimates to determine the estimated useful lives of tangible assets as well as in the assessment of tangible and intangible assets for impairment, estimated liabilities for insurance reserves and income taxes and the grant-date fair value of certain equity-based awards. Actual results could differ from those estimates.

Property and Equipment

Property and Equipment—Property and equipment additions are recorded at cost. Major improvements that extend the life or utility of property or equipment are capitalized and depreciated over a period equal to the shorter of the estimated useful life of the improvement or the remaining estimated useful life of the asset. Ordinary repairs and maintenance are charged to expense as incurred. Depreciation and amortization are recorded on a straight-line basis over estimated useful lives which range from two to 49 years.

Management assesses the performance of long-lived assets for potential impairment quarterly, as well as when events or changes in circumstances indicate the carrying amount of an asset, or group of assets, may not be recoverable. Recoverability of property and equipment is measured by a comparison of the carrying amount of a hotel property (or group of hotel properties) to the estimated future undiscounted cash flows expected to be generated by the hotel property (or group of hotel properties). Impairment is recognized when estimated future undiscounted cash flows, including expected proceeds from disposition, are less than the carrying value of the hotel property (or group of hotel properties). To the extent that a hotel property (or group of hotel properties) is impaired, the excess carrying amount over its estimated fair value is recognized as an impairment charge and reduces income from operations. Fair value is determined based upon the discounted cash flows of the hotel property (or group of hotel properties), bids, quoted market prices or independent appraisals, as considered necessary. The estimation of future undiscounted cash flows is inherently uncertain and relies upon assumptions regarding current and future economic and market conditions. If such conditions change, impairment charges may occur in future periods (see Note 5).

Revenue Generated

Revenue Generated from Owned and Operated Hotels—Revenue generated from owned and operated hotels consists of room and other hotel revenues recognized when services are provided. When a reservation is made, the Company deems that the parties have approved a contract in accordance with customary business practices and are committed to perform their

respective obligations. At such time, each party’s rights regarding the services to be transferred are identified, payment terms are specified, the contract has commercial substance and, in most instances, it is probable the Company will collect substantially all consideration to which it will be entitled in exchange for services.

Each room night consumed by a guest with a cancellable reservation represents a contract whereby the Company has a performance obligation to provide the room night at an agreed upon price. For cancellable reservations, the Company recognizes revenue as each performance obligation (i.e., each room night) is met. Such contract is renewed if the guest continues their stay. For room nights consumed by a guest with a non-cancellable reservation, the entire reservation period represents the contract term whereby the Company has a performance obligation to provide the room night or nights at an agreed upon price. For non-cancellable reservations, the Company recognizes revenue over the term of the performance period (i.e., the reservation period) as room nights are consumed. For these reservations, the room rate is typically fixed over the reservation period. The Company uses an output method based on performance completed to date (i.e., room nights consumed) to determine the amount of revenue it recognizes on a daily basis if the length of a non-cancellable reservation exceeds one night since consumption of room nights indicates when services are transferred to the guest. In certain instances, variable consideration may exist with respect to the transaction price, such as discounts, coupons and price concessions made upon guest checkout.

In evaluating its performance obligation, the Company bundles the obligation to provide the guest the room itself with other obligations (such as free WiFi, grab and go breakfast, access to on-site laundry facilities and parking), as the other obligations are not distinct and separable because the guest cannot benefit from the additional amenities without the consumed room night. The Company’s obligation to provide the additional items or services is not separately identifiable from the fundamental contractual obligation (i.e., providing the room and its contents). The Company has no performance obligations once a guest’s stay is complete.

Certain revenues are generated through third-party intermediaries or distribution channels (i.e., online travel agents). Regardless of the basis on which the Company is compensated (i.e., gross or net), the Company is responsible for fulfilling the promise to provide the hotel room and related services to the guest and retains inventory risk. Since the Company controls the inventory and services provided and because third-party intermediaries are typically not contractually required to guarantee room night consumption, the Company is the principal in these transactions. As such, the Company is required to record revenue at an amount equal to the price charged to the guest (i.e., on a gross basis). Third-party intermediaries that pay the Company directly (i.e., on a net basis) typically charge the guest additional fees, blend the room offering with other offerings at amounts which are not allocable and may adjust the price without the Company’s approval. As such, the Company is unable to calculate the room rate charged to the guest. Since any estimate the Company would make has significant uncertainty that ultimately would not be resolved, despite its role as principal, in these instances the Company records revenue equal to the amount paid by the third-party intermediaries (i.e., the net amount).

Revenue Generated from Franchise and Management Fees—Revenue generated from franchise and management contracts consists of the following:

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Franchise fees, which consist of an initial fee and an ongoing royalty fee based on a percentage of a hotel’s monthly revenue in exchange for the access to and use of the Company’s brand name and other intellectual property. Initial fees are deferred and recognized over the expected contract or customer life. Royalty fees are recognized over time as franchisees derive value from the license to use the intellectual property.


•	Management fees, which consist of an ongoing base fee calculated as a percentage of a hotel’s monthly revenue in exchange for on-site hotel management services. Management fees are recognized over time as third-party hotel owners derive value from on-site personnel and related services.


•	Other revenues from franchised and managed properties, which include the reimbursement of costs incurred on behalf of third-party owners on a direct and an indirect basis, as follows:

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Direct costs incurred with respect to management and franchise agreements include on-site hotel personnel and incremental reservation and distribution costs, respectively, for which the Company is reimbursed on a dollar-for-dollar basis. Since the Company employs the hotel personnel and has discretion over reservation and distribution costs, it is the principal with respect to these services and revenue is recognized on a gross basis.

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Indirect costs incurred with respect to franchise agreements include costs associated with certain shared system-wide platforms (i.e., system services), such as marketing, technology infrastructure, central reservations, national sales and revenue management systems. The Company is reimbursed for indirect costs through a system service, or program, fee based on a percentage of a hotel’s monthly revenue. System service fees are recognized over time as franchisees derive value from the license to use these processes and systems. The Company has discretion over

how it spends system service fees and is the principal with respect to these services. Revenue is recognized on a gross basis; expense is recognized as incurred. Over time, the Company manages system services to break-even, but the timing of revenue will typically not align with the expense to operate the programs.

The promise to provide access to the Company’s intellectual property is combined with the promise to provide system services to form a single performance obligation since the promises generally accompany one another. Hotel management services form a single performance obligation. As noted above, each identified performance obligation is considered to be a series of services transferred over time. Revenue is recognized on an output method based on performance completed to date. The Company recognizes revenue in the amount to which it has a right to bill third parties under their respective franchise and/or management agreements, as it has a right to consideration in an amount that corresponds directly with the third parties’ hotel revenues. Franchise, management and system service fees are characterized as variable consideration and vary from period to period. In the event that fees include variables that extend beyond the current period, the Company uses the most likely amount method to determine the amount of revenue to record based on a reasonable revenue forecast for the applicable hotel. In most instances, the Company does not have constraining estimates, as hotel revenues are typically available and obtained monthly.

Segments

Segments—The Company has two reportable operating segments based on the manner in which we evaluate our business: (i) owned hotels and (ii) franchise and management. The Company assesses the performance of these segments on an individual basis (see Note 10).

Recently Issued Accounting Standards

Fair Value Measurement—In August 2018, the Financial Accounting Standards Board (“FASB”) issued an accounting standards update which modifies the disclosure requirements for fair value measurements in Topic 820, Fair Value Measurement. This update will be effective for fiscal years and interim periods within those fiscal years beginning after December 15, 2019, and may be early adopted. The Company does not expect the adoption of this update to have a material effect on its condensed consolidated financial statements.

Intangibles-Goodwill and Other—Internal-Use Software—In August 2018, the FASB issued an accounting standards update which aligns the requirements for capitalizing implementation costs incurred in a hosting arrangement that is a service contract with the requirements for capitalizing implementation costs incurred to develop or obtain internal-use software and hosting arrangements that include an internal-use software license. This update will be effective for fiscal years and interim periods within those fiscal years beginning after December 15, 2019, and may be early adopted. The Company expects to apply this update prospectively and does not expect adoption to have a material effect on its condensed consolidated financial statements.

Compensation—Stock Compensation—In June 2018, the FASB issued an accounting standards update which expands the scope of Topic 718, Stock Compensation, to include share-based payments granted to non-employees in exchange for goods or services. The new guidance simplifies the accounting for share-based payments granted to non-employees for goods or services by aligning it with the accounting for share-based payments granted to employees, with certain exceptions. Under the new guidance, non-employee share-based payment awards included within the scope of Topic 718 will be measured at the grant-date fair value of the equity instruments. In addition, classification of non-employee share-based payment awards will be subject to the requirements of Topic 718 unless modified after the good has been delivered and/or the service has been rendered and any other conditions necessary to earn the right to benefit from the instruments have been satisfied. This approach will eliminate the requirement to reassess classification of such awards upon vesting. The Company adopted this update on January 1, 2019, using a retrospective method. The adoption of this update did not have a material effect on the Company’s condensed consolidated financial statements.

Comprehensive Income—In February 2018, the FASB issued an accounting standards update that allows a reclassification from accumulated other comprehensive income to retained earnings for stranded tax effects resulting from the Tax Cuts and Jobs Act (“TCJA”). The Company adopted this update on January 1, 2019, using a retrospective method. The adoption of this update did not have a material effect on the Company’s condensed consolidated financial statements.

Goodwill—In January 2017, the FASB issued an accounting standards update in which the guidance on testing for goodwill was updated to eliminate Step 2 in the determination on whether goodwill should be considered impaired. Annual and/or interim assessments are still required. This update will be effective for fiscal years and interim periods within fiscal years beginning after December 15, 2019, and may be adopted early. The Company expects to apply this update prospectively and does not expect adoption to have a material effect on its condensed consolidated financial statements.

Financial Instruments—Credit Losses—In June 2016, the FASB issued an accounting standards update which requires the measurement of an impairment allowance for certain financial assets based on a company’s current estimate of all contractual cash flows it does not expect to collect. This update will be effective for fiscal years and interim periods within those fiscal years beginning after December 15, 2019, and may be adopted early. The Company expects to apply this update using a modified retrospective method and does not expect adoption to have a material effect on its condensed consolidated financial statements.

Leases—ASC 842, Leases, introduced a lessee model that requires a right-of-use asset and lease obligation to be presented on the balance sheet for all leases, whether operating or financing. The Company adopted ASC 842 on January 1, 2019, using the modified retrospective approach with the Comparatives Under 840 Option, whereby the Company applied the standard at the beginning of the period of adoption and has presented financial information for periods prior to January 1, 2019 in accordance with prior guidance. Upon adoption, the Company elected practical expedients related to (i) the identification and classification of leases that commenced before the effective date, (ii) initial direct costs for leases that commenced before the effective date, (iii) the ability to use hindsight in evaluating lessee options to extend or terminate a lease or to purchase the underlying asset, (iv) land easements and (v) the evaluation of lease and non-lease components of a contract.

Implementation had no cumulative effect on retained earnings. Adoption resulted in the recognition of operating lease right-of-use assets of $7.1 million as of January 1, 2019, which included adjustments for accrued lease payments, above market lease liabilities and lease incentives, and liabilities of $14.5 million. Finance lease right-of-use assets and liabilities recognized as of January 1, 2019, included preexisting assets and liabilities of $3.8 million and $3.4 million, respectively, related to capital leases accounted for under prior guidance.

Judgement was exercised in the application of ASC 842 with respect to the determination of whether a contract contains a lease. While the ability to control and direct the use of an identified asset indicates that the contract, or portion of a contract, is a lease, a counterparty’s substantive substitution rights typically provide evidence that a lessee does not control the asset. Judgement was also exercised with respect to the determination of the discount rate used to determine the present value of lease payments. In instances in which interest rates implicit in leases are not readily determinable, the Company uses its incremental borrowing rate. The substantial majority of widely available market maturities and asset-specific risk spreads may not match the underlying contract and, as such, borrowing rates and risk spreads are estimated based on the contract’s term, the counterparty’s security and other characteristics of the identified asset.