Wyndham Hotels & Resorts reported net income of $106 million for the first quarter ended March 31. Domestic RevPAR rose 4% above 2019 levels, while global RevPAR grew nearly 40% year-over-year.
Highlights include:
- Global RevPAR grew 39% compared to first-quarter 2021 in constant currency.
- System-wide rooms grew 200 basis points year-over-year, including 120 basis points of growth in the U.S. and 330 basis points of growth internationally.
- Net income of $106 million compared to $24 million in first-quarter 2021; adjusted net income of $88 million compared to $33 million in first-quarter 2021.
- Adjusted EBITDA of $159 million compared to $97 million in first-quarter 2021.
- Net cash provided by operating activities of $135 million compared to $64 million in first-quarter 2021; free cash flow of $125 million compared to $59 million in first-quarter 2021.
- Completed the exit of its select-service management business.
- Completed the sale of the Wyndham Grand Bonnet Creek Resort; the Wyndham Grand Rio Mar Resort (pictured above) is under contract and expected to close in May 2022.
“Our exemplary first-quarter results demonstrate the power of our brands and the value we are driving to our owners, guests and shareholders,” said Geoff Ballotti, president/CEO. “Strong leisure and everyday business travel demand drove RevPAR 4% above 2019 levels domestically, and we continued to simplify our operations by exiting our select-service management business and selling one of our two owned assets. Our development pipeline increased 9% to a record 204,000 rooms, including the first 50 deals for our new extended-stay product, and our room openings grew 50% more than last year, putting us solidly on track with our full-year net-room growth guidance.”
Fee-related and other revenues increased 36% year-over-year to $316 million primarily reflecting strong ADR growth in the U.S.
The company generated net income of $106 million, or $1.14 per diluted share, an increase of $82 million, or $0.88 per diluted share, reflecting higher adjusted EBITDA, a gain on the sale of the Wyndham Grand Bonnet Creek Resort and lower net interest expense. Adjusted EBITDA increased $62 million, or 64%, versus 2021 to $159 million reflecting higher revenue and a favorable timing benefit from the marketing fund, partially offset by higher variable expenses at the company’s owned hotels.
During the first quarter, Wyndham’s marketing fund revenues exceeded expenses by $7 million; while in first-quarter 2021, its marketing fund expenses exceeded revenues by $7 million.
System size
Wyndham’s global system grew 200 basis points, reflecting 120 basis points of growth in the U.S. and 330 basis points of growth internationally. As expected, these increases included strong growth in both the higher RevPAR midscale and above segments in the U.S. and the direct franchising business in China, which grew 6% and 12%, respectively. The company remains solidly on track with its goal of achieving a retention rate above 95% and its net room growth outlook of 2 to 4% for the full year 2022.
RevPAR
First-quarter RevPAR grew 39% globally in constant currency, including 38% growth in the U.S. and 46% growth internationally. The increase is approximately two-thirds driven by stronger pricing power and one-third driven by higher occupancy levels.
Business segment discussion
Hotel management revenues increased 5% year-over-year to $99 million, including a $16-million decrease in cost-reimbursement revenues, which have no impact on adjusted EBITDA. Absent cost-reimbursements, Hotel management revenues increased $21 million, or 91%, to $44 million primarily due to the global RevPAR increase and improved performance at the company’s owned hotels. Hotel management adjusted EBITDA increased $15 million year-over-year reflecting the revenue increases, partially offset by higher variable expenses at the company’s owned hotels. Hotel franchising revenues increased 30% year-over-year to $272 million primarily due to the global RevPAR increase. Hotel franchising adjusted EBITDA increased 48% to $155 million reflecting the growth in revenues and a timing benefit from the marketing fund.
Development
Wyndham awarded 165 new contracts this quarter, including 50 new-construction projects for its new extended-stay brand, compared to 112 in the first-quarter 2021. On March 31, the company’s global development pipeline consisted of approximately 1,600 hotels and approximately 204,000 rooms, of which approximately 80% is in the midscale and above segments (nearly 70% in the U.S.). The pipeline grew 9% year-over-year, including 12% domestically and 7% internationally. Approximately 63% of the Company’s development pipeline is international and 79% is new construction, of which approximately 35% has broken ground.
Exit of select-service management business
On March 3, the company completed the exit of its select-service management business and received proceeds of $84 million from CorePoint Lodging. The franchise agreements for these hotels remained in-place at their stated fee structure with CPLG’s buyer, Highgate Holdings Inc. The proceeds received were offset on the company’s income statement by the non-cash write-off of the remaining balance of the management contract intangible asset that was created upon the acquisition of La Quinta Holdings in 2018.
Sale of owned hotels
On March 24, Wyndham completed the sale of the Wyndham Grand Bonnet Creek Resort in Orlando for gross proceeds of approximately $121 million and recognized a $36 million gain on sale, which has been excluded from adjusted EBITDA. The company entered into a 20-year franchise agreement with the buyer.
The company is under contract and expects to complete the sale of the Wyndham Grand Rio Mar Resort in Puerto Rico in May 2022. It expects to enter into a 20-year franchise agreement with the buyer in connection with the sale.
