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($0.61) Per Share; More than Half of Loss Attributed to Defective Windows at Nine Hotels Hotel Operating Data |
SPRINGFIELD, Mo. - Feb.13, 2002 - John Q. Hammons Hotels, Inc. (AMEX:JQH) today reported on its full-year and fourth-quarter 2001 results. Full-Year Results Total revenue was $436.7 million for the 2001 year, up slightly compared to the 2000 year total revenue of $436.6 million. Total earnings before interest expense, taxes, depreciation, and amortization (EBITDA) were $121.3 million for the 2001 year, down 2.8% compared to the 2000 year EBITDA of $124.8 million, reflecting a weak economy and the sudden impact on travel of the terrorist attacks on September 11. Basic and diluted loss per share for the 2001 year was ($0.61), compared to basic and diluted loss per share of ($0.16) in 2000. Of the ($0.61) loss in 2001, ($0.36) is attributed to the previously disclosed moisture-related problems discussed below. In spite of the weaker economy, the Company continued to surpass the
Revenue Per Available Room (RevPAR) performance of the hotel industry.
The Company's RevPAR was $62.90 for the 2001 year, down 0.9% from $63.50
in the 2000 year. These results are more than 23% higher than the hotel
Fourth-Quarter Results Total revenue was $104.1 million for the 2001 fourth quarter, down 4.8% compared to the 2000 fourth-quarter total revenue of $109.4 million. EBITDA was $30.5 million for the fourth quarters of both 2000 and 2001, reflecting an increased margin performance in 2001 versus the same quarter last year. Basic and diluted loss per share for the 2001 fourth quarter was ($0.38), compared to basic and diluted loss per share of ($0.08) in 2000. Of the ($0.38) loss in the 2001 fourth quarter, ($0.29) relates to the previously disclosed moisture-related problem discussed below. Excluding the charge resulting from those moisture-related problems, fourth-quarter 2001 loss per share increased only $0.01 per share when compared to fourth quarter 2000. Moisture-Related Issues During fiscal 2000, the Company initiated claims against certain of
its construction service providers, as well as with its insurance carrier.
These claims, previously disclosed in prior SEC filings, resulted from
costs the Company incurred and expected to incur in order to address moisture-related
Operations During the fourth quarter of 2001, the Company continued to see decreased demand in most of its markets. This decrease can be attributed to the lingering effects of September 11th and the residual weakness in the industry. In spite of this weakness, efforts have been made to increase EBITDA margins, as shown in the fourth-quarter results. We believe the continued concentration of these efforts will prove beneficial to operations, even if RevPAR remains slightly depressed. The Company's RevPAR was off historical levels as much as 35% in the week immediately after the terrorist attacks, but has been trending upward, slightly below prior years' levels. While industry weakness is still apparent, the Company is beginning to see some recovery, which we expect to continue. Chairman Comments John Q. Hammons, Chairman and Chief Executive Officer, stated: ``Although the last quarter was difficult, we remain encouraged by our performance in relation to last year as well as the industry. Our profit margins are improving and 2002 is shaping up to be another challenging yet productive year.'' 2002 Outlook The Company remains cautiously optimistic about its performance in the first and second quarters of 2002. January RevPAR in 2002 was down 7.0% compared to January 2001, yet EBITDA from hotels increased 8.5% over the same period. First-quarter revenues and EBITDA are expected to be comparable to 2001, and potentially improve as economic recovery continues. The Company is expected to produce cash as it has historically, which will be used to reduce debt and further deleverage the Company in 2002. We reduced debt, as planned, by approximately $23.7 million in 2001. Options are being explored for the refinancing of the two outstanding First Mortgage Notes, due in 2004 and 2005. The current portion of long-term debt ($38.9 million) is primarily attributable to the Omaha Embassy Suites property ($23.0 million), which the Company plans to refinance prior to its maturity in August 2002. Although the Company is not developing new hotels, Mr. John Q. Hammons
has personally developed three projects that opened in 2001. Mr. Hammons
opened a Renaissance Hotel in Richardson, Texas, on May 18, an Embassy
Suites Hotel in Nashville, Tennessee (Franklin), on August 7, and a Marriott
Residence Inn in Springfield, Missouri, on September 24. The Company manages
all of the properties developed by Mr. Hammons' private company.
John Q. Hammons Hotels, Inc. owns, develops and manages hotels, primarily
under the Embassy Suites, Marriott and Holiday Inn brand names. With 56
hotels strategically located near demand generators such as state capitals,
universities, airports, corporate headquarters or office parks in secondary
and tertiary markets, John Q. Hammons Hotels are dominant in their markets.
The
Certain statements in this press release about the Company are forward-looking statements within the meaning of the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995. |
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John Q. Hammons Hotels
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Also See | John Q. Hammons Hotels, Inc. Reports 2000 RevPAR Up 6.5% from 1999 / Feb 2001 |
John Q. Hammons Hotels, Inc. Increases EBITDA 10% for 1999; Driven By RevPAR Increase of 5.0% for 1999 / Feb 2000 | |
John Q. Hammons Hotels RevPAR Increases 9.6 Percent for 1998, Occupancy Down 1.3% Hotel Operating Data / Feb 1999 | |
2002 National Lodging Forecast / Trends, Outlook, Market Segment Reports / Ernst & Young LLP / Feb 2002 | |
Canadian Hotel Investment Report 2002 / Colliers International Hotels / Feb 2002 |