RLJ Lodging Trust Provides Hurricane Update

September 13, 2017
PDF Version

BETHESDA, Md.--(BUSINESS WIRE)--Sep. 13, 2017-- RLJ Lodging Trust (the “Company”) (NYSE: RLJ) today provided an update with respect to the Company’s properties following Hurricanes Harvey and Irma.

“Our thoughts and prayers go out to the people impacted by these two devastating hurricanes,” commented Ross H. Bierkan, President and Chief Executive Officer of RLJ Lodging Trust. “I could not be prouder of the professionalism and humanity of our team in taking care of our guests. In the true spirit of hospitality and service, our associates continue to serve even in the face of crisis.”

In Texas, all of the Company’s 11 hotels in the Houston market remain operational. To date, there has been no material property damage reported. RLJ’s hotels in the Austin and San Antonio markets have also remained operational and were largely unaffected.

In Florida, eight of the Company’s 20 hotels had been temporarily closed to comply with mandatory evacuation orders. A number of the closed hotels are in the process of reopening as evacuation orders are lifted at their respective locations. Based on preliminary information, no material property damage has been reported.

RLJ maintains comprehensive insurance coverage on all of its hotels including property, flood and business interruption. The Company is working with its insurance providers to assess the overall impact from the two storms and expects the assessment to take several weeks to complete.

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’s portfolio consists of 158 hotels with approximately 31,180 rooms located in 26 states and the District of Columbia and an ownership interest in one unconsolidated hotel with 171 rooms.

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,” “may” 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 urge 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

Source: RLJ Lodging Trust

RLJ Lodging Trust
Leslie D. Hale, 301-280-7774
Chief Operating Officer and Chief Financial Officer