Hotels & Lodging

As the recession continues, hotel industry operating metrics are showing no signs of improvement, as both business and leisure travelers are cutting back.

OUTLOOK

The lodging industry is facing significant challenges stemming from the economic recession, as both business and consumers are cutting back on travel expenditures. When evaluating hotel companies like Starwood (HOT - Analyst Report) and Marriott (MAR - Analyst Report) during this down cycle, we will be paying especially close attention to changes in average daily room rates as an indication of how quickly the sector may recover once the economy improves.

A key operating metric in the lodging industry is RevPAR (revenue per available room). This metric is derived by multiplying the occupancy percentage of a hotel over a given period by the average daily room rate (ADR) over that same period. Changes in either occupancy or ADR will impact RevPAR, but with different implications for bottom-line profitability.

Given the current state of the U.S. economy, it is no surprise that hotel occupancy percentages have been down recently, and that additional deterioration is anticipated throughout 2009. In past downturns, some hotel owners have attempted to slash room rates in an attempt to fill beds. In most cases, this tactic will result in material long-term damage to the business, for two primary reasons:

First, increases in occupancy are accompanied by increases in operating expenses. For every room that is filled, there are additional costs such as housekeeping, laundry and utilities that must be paid. When room rates decline while variable operating expenses remain stable, margins are compressed. Changes in ADR, however, fall almost entirely to the bottom line.

Second, and more importantly, cuts to ADR are difficult to recoup when the operating environment eventually improves. After slashing room rates in an effort to fill a hotel, attempts to restore those rates to previous levels are likely to be met with significant resistance. As such, the ability to benefit from an improving economy will be delayed.

Ultimately, the ability of lodging companies to maintain room rates as much as possible should have the most significant impact on their ability to weather the downturn. By keeping an eye on changes in ADR, investors can gain some insight as to which companies are best poised to benefit when economic growth returns.

OPPORTUNITIES

We are not currently recommending the purchase of any large-cap lodging stocks. Although share prices have fallen considerably, much uncertainty remains. When researching potential investments in the sector, however, we would advise investors to pay close attention to the ADR reported by lodging companies. We expect that companies that are able to best maintain room rates through the downturn will be best positioned to capitalize once economic conditions do improve.

WEAKNESSES

We expect RevPAR to decline meaningfully in 2009. To this point, the majority of the declines have stemmed from occupancy losses. However, while occupancy declines have somewhat stabilized, the rate of decline in ADR has continued to increase. Given this trend, we currently expect the downturn to be deeper and more prolonged than currently anticipated by many investors.

Through the first 22 weeks of 2009, weekly RevPAR in the U.S. fell by an average of 19.6% year-over-year. The majority of this decline was attributable to decline in occupancy, as average weekly occupancy rates fell by 12.3%, but ADR also fell meaningfully, with an average weekly decline of 8.4% year-over-year. This pace of ADR deterioration has accelerated, from down 7.4% in the first quarter, to down 9.6% thus far in the second quarter.

Given the lower levels of room revenue, we expect margins to tighten materially during 2009, resulting in substantial year-over-year earnings declines.

We would continue to avoid lodging companies such as Starwood (HOT - Analyst Report) and Marriott (MAR - Analyst Report). The stocks have climbed along with the broad market over the last three months, and in light of our expectation for weak operating fundamentals going forward, we believe that the shares are due for a correction.

In addition, companies with weak balance sheets, or even limited financial flexibility, will likely have a harder time navigating the challenges created by the economic recession.