Hyatt Hotels : Reports First Quarter 2014 Results

Hyatt Hotels Corporation ("Hyatt" or the "Company") (NYSE: H) today reported first quarter 2014 financial results as follows:

• Adjusted EBITDA was $172 million in the first quarter of 2014 compared to $131 million in the first quarter of 2013, an increase of 31.3%.
• Adjusted for special items, net income attributable to Hyatt was $20 million, or $0.13 per share, during the first quarter of 2014 compared to net income attributable to Hyatt of $14 million, or $0.09 per share, during the first quarter of 2013.
• Net income attributable to Hyatt was $56 million, or $0.36 per share, during the first quarter of 2014 compared to net income attributable to Hyatt of $8 million, or $0.05 per share, in the first quarter of 2013.
• Comparable owned and leased hotel RevPAR increased 6.5% (6.3% excluding the effect of currency) in the first quarter of 2014 compared to the first quarter of 2013.
• Comparable owned and leased hotel operating margins increased 120 basis points in the first quarter of 2014 compared to the first quarter of 2013. Owned and leased hotel operating margins increased 380 basis points in the first quarter of 2014 compared to the first quarter of 2013.
• Comparable systemwide RevPAR increased 6.0% (7.7% excluding the effect of currency) in the first quarter of 2014 compared to the first quarter of 2013.
• Comparable U.S. full service hotel RevPAR increased 8.4% in the first quarter of 2014 compared to the first quarter of 2013. Comparable U.S. select service hotel RevPAR increased 6.9% in the first quarter of 2014 compared to the first quarter of 2013.
• Eight hotels were opened. As of March 31, 2014, the Company's executed contract base consisted of approximately 240 hotels or approximately 54,000 rooms.
• The Company repurchased 1,172,645 shares of common stock at a weighted average price of $51.71 per share, for an aggregate purchase price of approximately $61 million.

Mark S. Hoplamazian, president and chief executive officer of Hyatt Hotels Corporation, said, "In the first quarter, Hyatt's Adjusted EBITDA grew more than 30%, driven by continued robust demand and healthy rate growth among both transient and group guests as well as strong performance from recent acquisitions and openings. These results demonstrate the power of our differentiated business model and multiple earnings tools.

"Systemwide RevPAR increased 7.7% on a constant currency basis with strength in all regions. Comparable owned and leased margins improved 120 basis points as we saw the benefit of increasing rates and improving flow through. Fees grew by more than 18% as we benefited from solid RevPAR increases and new openings.

"Our asset recycling strategy continues to provide us with additional capital to invest in growth while maintaining brand presence. During the quarter, we closed on the sale of a portfolio of ten Hyatt Place, Hyatt House and Hyatt hotels to a great partner for approximately $313 million and we continue to manage these hotels. In addition, we are currently marketing nine full service hotels in North America for a potential sale.

"Looking ahead, we expect healthy occupancy and rate growth, particularly in the Americas as group business continues to recover and transient business remains strong. Our strong balance sheet and high quality asset base provide us with the flexibility to pursue growth in markets in which we are underrepresented. We expect to continue our asset recycling program while also returning capital to shareholders. Our business model has significant leverage and we are positioned well for robust, sustainable growth in the years ahead."

Owned and Leased Hotels Segment

Total segment Adjusted EBITDA increased 31.6% in the first quarter of 2014 compared to the same period in 2013.

Owned and leased Adjusted EBITDA increased 32.9% in the first quarter of 2014 compared to the same period in 2013. See the table on page 14 of the accompanying schedules for a detailed list of portfolio changes and the year-over-year net impact to first quarter owned and leased Adjusted EBITDA.

Pro rata share of unconsolidated hospitality ventures Adjusted EBITDA increased 25.0% in the first quarter of 2014 compared to the same period in 2013, primarily due to the Company's investment in the all inclusive segment.

Revenue increased 11.4% in the first quarter of 2014 compared to the same period in 2013. Owned and leased hotel expenses increased 6.1% in the first quarter of 2014 compared to the same period in 2013.

RevPAR for comparable owned and leased hotels increased 6.5% (6.3% excluding the effect of currency) in the first quarter of 2014 compared to the same period in 2013. Occupancy improved 100 basis points and ADR increased 5.1% (4.9% excluding the effect of currency) compared to the same period in 2013.

Comparable hotel revenue increased 4.4% in the first quarter of 2014 compared to the same period in 2013. Excluding expenses related to benefit programs funded through rabbi trusts and non-comparable hotel expenses, expenses increased 2.9% in the first quarter of 2014 compared to the same period in 2013. See the table on page 9 of the accompanying schedules for a reconciliation of comparable owned and leased hotels expenses to owned and leased hotels expenses.

Comparable owned and leased hotel operating margins increased 120 basis points in the first quarter of 2014 compared to the first quarter of 2013. Comparable owned and leased hotel operating margins for hotels in the Americas increased 150 basis points in the first quarter of 2014 compared to the first quarter of 2013. Comparable owned and leased hotel operating margins in ASPAC and EAME/SW Asia increased 30 basis points in the first quarter of 2014 compared to the first quarter of 2013. Comparable owned and leased hotel operating margins in ASPAC and EAME/SW Asia were negatively impacted by adverse market conditions at one hotel.

The following hotel was added to the portfolio during the first quarter:

• Hyatt Place Amsterdam Airport, Netherlands (leased, 330 rooms)

The following 10 hotels were removed from the owned and leased portfolio as they were sold during the first quarter:

• Hyatt Market Street, The Woodlands (70 rooms)
• Hyatt Place Fremont / Silicon Valley (151 rooms)
• Hyatt Place Madison / Downtown (151 rooms)
• Hyatt House Charlotte / Center City (163 rooms)
• Hyatt House Cypress / Anaheim (142 rooms)
• Hyatt House Emeryville / SF Bay Area (234 rooms)
• Hyatt House San Diego / Sorrento Mesa (193 rooms)
• Hyatt House San Jose / Silicon Valley (164 rooms)
• Hyatt House San Ramon (142 rooms)
• Hyatt House Santa Clara (150 rooms)

The Company entered into a management agreement for each hotel listed above and therefore the hotels remain included within the Hyatt system.

Additionally, during the first quarter, the Company's hotels in Baku, Azerbaijan were consolidated into Hyatt Regency Baku.

Management and Franchise Fees

Total fee revenue increased 18.7% to $89 million in the first quarter of 2014 compared to the same period in 2013. Base management fees increased 10.8% to $41 million in the first quarter of 2014 compared to the same period in 2013, primarily due to strong RevPAR growth and newly opened hotels. Incentive management fees increased 8.0% to $27 million in the first quarter of 2014 compared to the same period in 2013. Franchise fees increased 40.0% to $14 million in the first quarter of 2014 compared to the same period in 2013, primarily due to new hotels and hotels recently converted from managed to franchised. Other fee revenue increased 133.3% to $7 million in the first quarter of 2014 compared to the same period in 2013, in part due to an increase in deferred gains and a termination fee.

Americas Management and Franchising Segment

Adjusted EBITDA increased 16.7% in the first quarter of 2014 compared to the same period in 2013.

RevPAR for comparable Americas full service hotels increased 7.7% (8.6% excluding the effect of currency) in the first quarter of 2014 compared to the same period in 2013. Occupancy increased 210 basis points and ADR increased 4.5% (5.3% excluding the effect of currency) compared to the same period in 2013.

Group rooms revenue at comparable U.S. full service hotels increased 9.3% in the first quarter of 2014 compared to the same period in 2013. Group room nights increased 5.7% and group ADR increased 3.4% in the first quarter of 2014 compared to the same period in 2013.

Transient rooms revenue at comparable U.S. full service hotels increased 7.6% in the first quarter of 2014 compared to the same period in 2013. Transient room nights increased 1.5% and transient ADR increased 6.0% in the first quarter of 2014 compared to the same period in 2013.

RevPAR for comparable Americas select service hotels increased 7.0% in the first quarter of 2014 compared to the same period in 2013. Occupancy increased 110 basis points and ADR increased 5.3% compared to the same period in 2013.

Revenue from management and franchise fees increased 17.2% in the first quarter of 2014 compared to the same period in 2013.

The following four hotels were added to the portfolio during the first quarter:

• Hyatt Place Fredericksburg-Mary Washington (franchised, 93 rooms)
• Hyatt Place Houston/The Woodlands (franchised, 146 rooms)
• Hyatt Place Lincoln/Downtown-Haymarket (franchised, 111 rooms)
• Hyatt Place Manatí (managed, 104 rooms)

Southeast Asia, China, Australia, South Korea and Japan (ASPAC) Management and Franchising Segment

Adjusted EBITDA increased 22.2% in the first quarter of 2014 compared to the same period in 2013.

RevPAR for comparable ASPAC hotels increased 2.4% (7.3% excluding the effect of currency) in the first quarter of 2014 compared to the same period in 2013. Occupancy increased 290 basis points and ADR decreased 2.0% (increased 2.7% excluding the effect of currency) compared to the same period in 2013.

Revenue from management and franchise fees increased 10.5% in the first quarter of 2014 compared to the same period in 2013.

The following hotel was added to the portfolio during the first quarter:

• Hyatt Regency Chongming, China (managed, 235 rooms)

Europe, Africa, Middle East and Southwest Asia (EAME/SW Asia) Management Segment

Adjusted EBITDA increased 37.5% in the first quarter of 2014 compared to the same period in 2013.

RevPAR for comparable EAME/SW Asia hotels increased 3.0% (5.3% excluding the effect of currency) in the first quarter of 2014 compared to the same period in 2013. Occupancy increased 140 basis points and ADR increased 0.8% (3.1% excluding the effect of currency) compared to the same period in 2013.

Revenue from management fees increased 20.0% in the first quarter of 2014 compared to the same period in 2013. The increase was partially due to newly converted hotels.

The following three hotels were added to the portfolio during the first quarter:

• Hyatt Raipur, India (managed, 105 rooms)
• Hyatt Regency Ludhiana, India (managed, 168 rooms)
• Hyatt Place Amsterdam Airport, Netherlands (leased, 330 rooms)

Two hotels were removed from the portfolio during the first quarter.

Selling, General, and Administrative Expenses

Selling, general, and administrative expenses increased 3.6% in the first quarter of 2014 compared to the same period in 2013. Adjusted selling, general, and administrative expenses increased 10.4% in the first quarter of 2014 compared to the same period in 2013. The increase was partially due to timing of marketing activities in the first quarter. See the table on page 8 of the accompanying schedules for a reconciliation of adjusted selling, general, and administrative expenses to selling, general, and administrative expenses.

OPENINGS AND FUTURE EXPANSION

Eight hotels were added in the first quarter of 2014, each of which is listed above.

The Company expects that a significant number of new properties will be opened under all of the Company's brands in the future. As of March 31, 2014 this effort was underscored by executed management or franchise contracts for approximately 240 hotels (or approximately 54,000 rooms) across all brands. The executed contracts represent potential entry into several new countries and expansion into new markets or markets in which the Company is under-represented.

SHARE REPURCHASE

During the first quarter of 2014, the Company repurchased 1,172,645 shares of common stock at a weighted average price of $51.71 per share, for an aggregate purchase price of approximately $61 million. From April 1 through April 25, 2014, the Company repurchased 500,529 shares of common stock at a weighted average price of $53.91 per share, for an aggregate purchase price of approximately $27 million. As of April 25, 2014, the Company had approximately $101 million remaining under its share repurchase authorization.

CORPORATE FINANCE / ASSET RECYCLING

During the quarter, the Company completed the following transactions:

• Sold 10 hotels (totaling 1,560 rooms) for approximately $313 million. The Company continues to manage the hotels.
• Sold its unconsolidated hospitality venture interest in Park Hyatt Ningbo Resort and Spa (207 rooms) for approximately $3 million. As a result of this sale, the Company's pro rata share of unconsolidated hospitality venture debt was reduced by approximately $12 million. The Company continues to manage the hotel.

Subsequent to the end of the quarter:

• An unconsolidated hospitality venture sold Hyatt Place Austin Downtown (296 rooms). The Company received approximately $25 million for its equity interest. As a result of this sale, the Company's pro rata share of unconsolidated hospitality venture debt was reduced by approximately $18 million. The Company continues to franchise the hotel.

BALANCE SHEET / OTHER ITEMS

On March 31, 2014, the Company reported the following:

• Total debt of approximately $1.5 billion.
• Pro rata share of non-recourse unconsolidated hospitality venture debt of approximately $694 million compared with approximately $672 million as of December 31, 2013.
• Cash and cash equivalents, including investments in highly-rated money market funds and similar investments, of approximately $765 million and short-term investments of approximately $30 million.
• Undrawn borrowing availability of approximately $1.4 billion under its revolving credit facility.

2014 INFORMATION

The Company is providing the following information for the 2014 fiscal year:

• Adjusted SG&A expense is expected to be approximately $325 million.
• Capital expenditures are expected to be approximately $325 million, including approximately $150 million for investment in new properties.
• In addition to the capital expenditures described above, the Company intends to continue a strong level of investment spending. Investment spending includes acquisitions, equity investments in joint ventures, debt investments, contract acquisition costs or other investments.
• Depreciation and amortization expense is expected to be approximately $375 million.
• Interest expense is expected to be approximately $75 million.
• The Company expects to open approximately 40 hotels in 2014.

CONFERENCE CALL INFORMATION

The Company will hold an investor conference call today, April 30, 2014, at 10:30 a.m. CT. The Company requests that questions be submitted via email to earnings@hyatt.com by 9:00 a.m. CT. Hyatt management will read and respond to as many submitted questions as possible. All interested persons may listen to a simultaneous webcast of the conference call, which may be accessed through the Company’s website at www.hyatt.com and selecting the Investor Relations link located at the bottom of the page, or by dialing 617.786.2904, passcode #11561402, approximately 10 minutes before the scheduled start time. For those unable to listen to the live broadcast, a replay will be available from 1:00 p.m. CT on April 30, 2014 through May 05, 2014 at midnight by dialing 617.801.6888, passcode # 95827281. Additionally, an archive of the webcast will be available on the Company’s website for approximately 90 days.

DEFINITIONS

Adjusted EBITDA

We use the term Adjusted EBITDA throughout this earnings release. Adjusted EBITDA, as we define it, is a non-GAAP measure. We define consolidated Adjusted EBITDA as net income attributable to Hyatt Hotels Corporation plus our pro rata share of unconsolidated hospitality ventures Adjusted EBITDA based on our ownership percentage of each venture, adjusted to exclude the following items:

• equity losses from unconsolidated hospitality ventures;
• asset impairments;
• gains on sales of real estate;
• other income (loss), net;
• depreciation and amortization;
• interest expense; and
• (provision) benefit for income taxes.

We calculate consolidated Adjusted EBITDA by adding the Adjusted EBITDA of each of our reportable segments to corporate and other Adjusted EBITDA.

Our Board of Directors and executive management team focus on Adjusted EBITDA as a key performance and compensation measure both on a segment and on a consolidated basis. Adjusted EBITDA assists us in comparing our performance over various reporting periods on a consistent basis because it removes from our operating results the impact of items that do not reflect our core operating performance both on a segment and on a consolidated basis. Our president and chief executive officer, who is our chief operating decision maker, also evaluates the performance of each of our reportable segments and determines how to allocate resources to those segments, in significant part, by assessing the Adjusted EBITDA of each segment. In addition, the compensation committee of our Board of Directors determines the annual variable compensation for certain members of our management based in part on consolidated Adjusted EBITDA, segment Adjusted EBITDA or some combination of both.

We believe Adjusted EBITDA is useful to investors because it provides investors the same information that we use internally for purposes of assessing our operating performance and making selected compensation decisions.

Adjusted EBITDA is not a substitute for net income attributable to Hyatt Hotels Corporation, net income, cash flows from operating activities or any other measure prescribed by GAAP. There are limitations to using non-GAAP measures such as Adjusted EBITDA. Although we believe that Adjusted EBITDA can make an evaluation of our operating performance more consistent because it removes items that do not reflect our core operations, other companies in our industry may define Adjusted EBITDA differently than we do. As a result, it may be difficult to use Adjusted EBITDA or similarly named non-GAAP measures that other companies may use to compare the performance of those companies to our performance. Because of these limitations, Adjusted EBITDA should not be considered as a measure of the income generated by our business or discretionary cash available to us to invest in the growth of our business. Our management compensates for these limitations by reference to our GAAP results and using Adjusted EBITDA supplementally.

Adjusted Selling, General, and Administrative Expense

Adjusted selling, general, and administrative expenses exclude the impact of expenses related to benefit programs funded through rabbi trusts.

Comparable Owned and Leased Hotel Operating Margin

We define Comparable Owned and Leased Hotel Operating Margin as the difference between comparable owned and leased hotels revenue and comparable owned and leased hotels expenses. Comparable owned and leased hotels revenue is calculated by removing non-comparable hotels revenue from owned and leased hotels revenue as reported in our condensed consolidated statements of income. Comparable owned and leased hotel expenses is calculated by removing both non-comparable hotels expenses and the impact of expenses funded through rabbi trusts from owned and leased hotel expenses as reported in our condensed consolidated statements of income.

Comparable Hotels

Comparable systemwide hotels represents all properties we manage or franchise (including owned and leased properties) and that are operated for the entirety of the periods being compared and that have not sustained substantial damage, business interruption or undergone large scale renovations during the periods being compared or for which comparable results are not available. We may use variations of comparable systemwide hotels to specifically refer to comparable systemwide Americas full service or select service hotels for those properties that we manage or franchise within the Americas management and franchising segment, comparable systemwide ASPAC full service hotels for those properties that we manage or franchise within the ASPAC management and franchising segment, or comparable systemwide EAME/SW Asia full service hotels for those properties that we manage within the EAME/SW Asia management segment. Comparable operated hotels is defined the same as Comparable systemwide hotels with the exception that it is limited to only those hotels we manage or operate and excludes hotels we franchise. “Comparable owned and leased hotels” represents all properties we own or lease and that are operated and consolidated for the entirety of the periods being compared and have not sustained substantial damage, business interruption or undergone large scale renovations during the periods being compared or for which comparable results are not available. Comparable systemwide hotels and comparable owned and leased hotels are commonly used as a basis of measurement in the industry. Non-comparable systemwide hotels or Non-comparable owned and leased hotels represent all hotels that do not meet the respective definition of comparable as defined above.

Revenue per Available Room (RevPAR)

RevPAR is the product of the average daily rate and the average daily occupancy percentage. RevPAR does not include non-room revenues, which consist of ancillary revenues generated by a hotel property, such as food and beverage, parking, telephone and other guest service revenues. Our management uses RevPAR to identify trend information with respect to room revenues from comparable properties and to evaluate hotel performance on a regional and segment basis. RevPAR is a commonly used performance measure in the industry.

RevPAR changes that are driven predominantly by changes in occupancy have different implications for overall revenue levels and incremental profitability than do changes that are driven predominantly by changes in average room rates. For example, increases in occupancy at a hotel would lead to increases in room revenues and additional variable operating costs (including housekeeping services, utilities and room amenity costs), and could also result in increased ancillary revenues (including food and beverage). In contrast, changes in average room rates typically have a greater impact on margins and profitability as there is no substantial effect on variable costs.

Average Daily Rate (ADR)

ADR represents hotel room revenues, divided by total number of rooms sold in a given period. ADR measures average room price attained by a hotel and ADR trends provide useful information concerning the pricing environment and the nature of the customer base of a hotel or group of hotels. ADR is a commonly used performance measure in the industry, and we use ADR to assess the pricing levels that we are able to generate by customer group, as changes in rates have a different effect on overall revenues and incremental profitability than changes in occupancy, as described above.

Occupancy

Occupancy represents the total number of rooms sold divided by the total number of rooms available at a hotel or group of hotels. Occupancy measures the utilization of our hotels' available capacity. Management uses occupancy to gauge demand at a specific hotel or group of hotels in a given period. Occupancy levels also help us determine achievable ADR levels as demand for hotel rooms increases or decreases.

Select service

The term select service includes the brands Hyatt Place and Hyatt House. These properties have limited food and beverage outlets and do not offer comprehensive business or banquet facilities but rather are suited to serve smaller business meetings.

FORWARD-LOOKING STATEMENTS

Forward-Looking Statements in this press release, which are not historical facts, are forward-looking statements within the meaning of the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995. These statements include statements about our plans, strategies, occupancy and ADR trends, market share, margin trends, the number of properties we expect to open in the future, our expected adjusted SG&A expense, capital expenditures, investment spending, depreciation and amortization expense and interest expense estimates, financial performance, prospects or future events and involve known and unknown risks that are difficult to predict. As a result, our actual results, performance or achievements may differ materially from those expressed or implied by these forward-looking statements. In some cases, you can identify forward-looking statements by the use of words such as “may,” “could,” “expect,” “intend,” “plan,” “seek,” “anticipate,” “believe,” “estimate,” “predict,” “potential,” “continue,” “likely,” “will,” “would” and variations of these terms and similar expressions, or the negative of these terms or similar expressions. Such forward-looking statements are necessarily based upon estimates and assumptions that, while considered reasonable by us and our management, are inherently uncertain. Factors that may cause actual results to differ materially from current expectations include, among others, general economic uncertainty in key global markets, the rate and pace of economic recovery following economic downturns; levels of spending in business and leisure segments as well as consumer confidence; declines in occupancy and average daily rate; limited visibility with respect to future bookings; our ability to successfully achieve certain levels of operating profit at hotels that have performance guarantees with our third-party owners; the impact of hotel renovations; loss of key personnel; hostilities, or fear of hostilities, including future terrorist attacks, that affect travel; travel-related accidents; natural or man-made disasters such as earthquakes, tsunamis, tornadoes, hurricanes, floods, oil spills and nuclear incidents; the seasonal and cyclical nature of the real estate and hospitality businesses; changes in distribution arrangements, such as through Internet travel intermediaries; our ability to successfully execute our common stock repurchase program; changes in the tastes and preferences of our customers; relationships with associates and labor unions and changes in labor law; the financial condition of, and our relationships with, third-party property owners, franchisees and hospitality venture partners; if our third-party owners, franchisees or development partners are unable to access the capital necessary to fund current operations or implement our plans for growth; risk associated with potential acquisitions and dispositions and the introduction of new brand concepts; the timing of acquisitions and dispositions; unforeseen terminations of our management agreements; changes in the competitive environment in our industry and the markets where we operate; outcomes of legal proceedings; changes in federal, state, local or foreign tax law; foreign exchange rate fluctuations or currency restructurings; general volatility of the capital markets; our ability to access the capital markets; and other risks discussed in the Company's filings with the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission, including our Annual Report on Form 10-K, which filings are available from the SEC. We caution you not to place undue reliance on any forward-looking statements, which are made as of the date of this press release. We undertake no obligation to update publicly any of these forward-looking statements to reflect actual results, new information or future events, changes in assumptions or changes in other factors affecting forward-looking statements, except to the extent required by applicable laws. If we update one or more forward-looking statements, no inference should be drawn that we will make additional updates with respect to those or other forward-looking statements.

About Hyatt Hotels Corporation

Hyatt Hotels Corporation, headquartered in Chicago, is a leading global hospitality company with a proud heritage of making guests feel more than welcome. Thousands of members of the Hyatt family strive to make a difference in the lives of the guests they encounter every day by providing authentic hospitality. The Company's subsidiaries manage, franchise, own and develop hotels and resorts under the Hyatt®, Park Hyatt®, Andaz®, Grand Hyatt®, Hyatt Regency®, Hyatt Place®,Hyatt House®,Hyatt Zilara™andHyatt Ziva™brand names and have locations on six continents. Hyatt Residential Group, Inc., a Hyatt Hotels Corporation subsidiary, develops, operates, markets or licenses Hyatt Residences® and Hyatt Residence Club®. As of March 31, 2014, the Company's worldwide portfolio consisted of 554 properties in 47 countries. For more information, please visit www.hyatt.com.

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