RLJ Lodging Trust Announces Sale of Two Hotels in New York City for $286 Million
RLJ Lodging Trust (the “Company”) (NYSE: RLJ) today announced that it has sold two hotels (the “Hotels”) in New York City for
$286 million or $494,500 per key. Separately, the Company sold one other hotel in Bakersfield, CA for $13 million.
“We capitalized on the strong interest from international investors in the New York City market to execute an opportunistic
transaction,” commented Ross H. Bierkan, President and Chief Executive Officer. “While we continue to believe in the New York City
market over the long-term, in the near-term these sales reduce our exposure as this market goes through a soft period.”
On December 5, 2016, the Company sold the 298-room Hilton Garden Inn New York/West 35th Street and the 280-room
Hilton New York Fashion District in Manhattan. The sale price represents a capitalization rate of approximately 4.7% on the Hotels’
projected 2016 net operating income, including planned capital expenditures. The sale of the Hotels reduces the share of the
Company’s Pro forma 2016 Hotel EBITDA from the New York City market to less than five percent.
Additionally on November 30, 2016, the Company also sold a 119-room non-core hotel in Bakersfield, CA for $13 million or
$108,000 per key. The sale price represents a capitalization rate of approximately 7.8% on the hotel’s projected 2016 net operating
income, including capital expenditures.
The Company intends to use the proceeds from the sale of these hotels for general corporate purposes, which may include paying
down debt and repurchasing shares.
Following the sale of these hotels, the Company owns 122 hotels with approximately 20,100 rooms, located in 21 states and the
District of Columbia.
About Us
RLJ Lodging Trust is a self-advised, publicly traded real estate investment trust focused on acquiring premium-branded,
focused-service and compact full-service hotels. The Company owns 122 hotels with approximately 20,100 rooms, located in 21 states
and the District of Columbia.
Forward Looking Statements
The following information contains certain statements, other than purely historical information, including estimates,
projections, statements relating to the Company’s business plans, objectives and expected operating results, and the assumptions
upon which those statements are based, that are “forward-looking statements” within the meaning of the Private Securities
Litigation Reform Act of 1995, Section 27A of the Securities Act of 1933, as amended and Section 21E of the Securities Exchange Act
of 1934, as amended. These forward-looking statements generally are identified by the use of the words “believe,” “project,”
“expect,” “anticipate,” “estimate,” “plan,” “may,” “will,” “will continue,” “intend,” “should,” or similar expressions. Although
the Company believes that the expectations reflected in such forward-looking statements are based upon reasonable assumptions,
beliefs, and expectations, such forward-looking statements are not predictions of future events or guarantees of future performance
and the Company’s actual results could differ materially from those set forth in the forward-looking statements. Some factors that
might cause such a difference include the following: the current global economic uncertainty, increased direct competition, changes
in government regulations or accounting rules, changes in local, national, and global real estate conditions, declines in the
lodging industry, seasonality of the lodging industry, risks related to natural disasters, such as earthquakes and hurricanes,
hostilities, including future terrorist attacks or fear of hostilities that affect travel, the Company’s ability to obtain lines of
credit or permanent financing on satisfactory terms, changes in interest rates, access to capital through offerings of the
Company’s common and preferred shares of beneficial interest, or debt, the Company’s ability to identify suitable acquisitions, the
Company’s ability to close on identified acquisitions and integrate those businesses, and inaccuracies of the Company’s accounting
estimates. Given these uncertainties, undue reliance should not be placed on such statements. Except as required by law, the
Company undertakes no obligation to update or revise publicly any forward-looking statements, whether as a result of new
information, future events or otherwise. The Company cautions investors not to place undue reliance on these forward-looking
statements and urges investors to carefully review the disclosures the Company makes concerning risks and uncertainties in the
sections entitled “Risk Factors,” “Forward-Looking Statements,” and “Management’s Discussion and Analysis of Financial Condition
and Results of Operations” in the Company’s Annual Report, as well as risks, uncertainties and other factors discussed in other
documents filed by the Company with the SEC.
For additional information or to receive press releases via email, please visit our website: http://rljlodgingtrust.com.
RLJ Lodging Trust
Leslie D. Hale, 301-280-7774
Chief Operating Officer and Chief Financial Officer
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