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Commitments and Contingencies | 12 Months Ended
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Dec. 31, 2023
Commitments and Contingencies Disclosure [Abstract] |
Commitments and Contingencies | Commitments and Contingencies Restricted Cash—Under certain management and debt agreements for our hotel properties existing at December 31, 2023, escrow payments are required for insurance, real estate taxes, and debt service. In addition, for certain properties based on the terms of the underlying debt and management agreements, we escrow generally 4% to 6% of gross revenues for capital improvements. From time to time, the Company may work with its property managers and lenders in order to utilize lender and manager held reserves to fund operating shortfalls. Franchise Fees—Under franchise agreements for our hotel properties existing at December 31, 2023, we pay franchisor royalty fees between 3% and 6% of gross rooms revenue and, in some cases, 1% to 3% of food and beverage revenues. Additionally, we pay fees for marketing, reservations, and other related activities aggregating between 1% and 4% of gross rooms revenue and, in some cases, food and beverage revenues. These franchise agreements expire on varying dates between 2024 and 2047. When a franchise term expires, the franchisor has no obligation to renew the franchise. In addition, if we breach the franchise agreement and the franchisor terminates a franchise prior to its expiration date, we may be liable for up to three times the average annual fees incurred for that property. The table below summarizes the franchise fees incurred (in thousands):
|  |  |  | Year Ended December 31,
Line Item |  |  |  |  |  | 2023 |  | 2022 |  | 2021
Other hotel expenses |  |  |  |  |  | $ | 64,437 |  |  | $ | 59,195 |  |  | $ | 39,633 |
Management Fees—Under hotel management agreements for our hotel properties existing at December 31, 2023, we pay monthly hotel management fees equal to the greater of approximately $17,000 per hotel (increased annually based on consumer price index adjustments) or 3% of gross revenues, or in some cases 2% to 7% of gross revenues, as well as annual incentive management fees, if applicable. These hotel management agreements expire from 2025 through 2038, with renewal options. If we terminate a hotel management agreement prior to its expiration, we may be liable for estimated management fees through the remaining term and liquidated damages or, in certain circumstances, we may substitute a new management agreement. Leases—We lease land and facilities under non-cancelable operating and finance leases, which expire between 2054 and 2084, including two ground leases related to two hotels and one lease that encompasses the Hilton Marietta. These leases are subject to base rent plus contingent rent based on each hotel property’s financial results and escalation clauses. Additionally, other leases have certain contingent rentals included. See note 19. See discussion of the 815 Commerce MM failed sale and leaseback in note 4. Capital Commitments—At December 31, 2023, we had capital commitments of $59.7 million, including commitments that will be satisfied with insurance proceeds, relating to general capital improvements that are expected to be paid in the next twelve months. Potential Pension Liabilities—Upon our 2006 acquisition of a hotel property, certain employees of such hotel were unionized and covered by a multi-employer defined benefit pension plan. At that time, no unfunded pension liabilities existed. Subsequent to our acquisition, a majority of employees, who are employees of the hotel manager, Remington Hospitality, petitioned the employer to withdraw recognition of the union. As a result of the decertification petition, Remington Hospitality withdrew recognition of the union. At the time of the withdrawal, the National Retirement Fund, the union’s pension fund, indicated unfunded pension liabilities existed. The National Labor Relations Board filed a complaint against Remington Hospitality seeking, among other things, a ruling that Remington Hospitality’s withdrawal of recognition was unlawful. The pension fund entered into a settlement agreement with Remington Hospitality on November 1, 2011, providing that Remington Hospitality will continue to make monthly pension fund payments pursuant to the collective bargaining agreement. As of December 31, 2023, Remington Hospitality continues to comply with the settlement agreement by making the appropriate monthly pension fund payments. If Remington Hospitality does not comply with the settlement agreement, we have agreed to indemnify Remington Hospitality for the payment of the unfunded pension liability, if any, as set forth in the settlement agreement equal to $1.7 million minus the monthly pension payments made by Remington Hospitality since the settlement agreement. To illustrate, if Remington Hospitality - as of the date a final determination occurs - has made monthly pension payments equaling $100,000, Remington Hospitality’s remaining withdrawal liability would be the unfunded pension liability of $1.7 million minus $100,000 (or $1.6 million). This remaining unfunded pension liability would be paid to the pension fund in annual installments of $84,000 (but may be made monthly or quarterly, at Remington Hospitality’s election), which shall continue for the remainder of 20 years, which is capped, unless Remington Hospitality elects to pay the unfunded pension liability amount earlier. Income Taxes—We and our subsidiaries file income tax returns in the federal jurisdiction and various states. Tax years 2019 through 2023 remain subject to potential examination by certain federal and state taxing authorities. Litigation—On December 20, 2016, a class action lawsuit was filed against one of the Company’s hotel management companies in the Superior Court of the State of California in and for the County of Contra Costa alleging violations of certain California employment laws, which class action affects nine hotels owned by subsidiaries of the Company. The court has entered an order granting class certification with respect to: (i) a statewide class of non-exempt employees of our manager who were allegedly deprived of rest breaks as a result of our manager’s previous written policy requiring its employees to stay on premises during rest breaks; and (ii) a derivative class of non-exempt former employees of our manager who were not paid for allegedly missed breaks upon separation from employment. Notices to potential class members were sent out on February 2, 2021. Potential class members had until April 4, 2021 to opt out of the class; however, the total number of employees in the class has not been definitively determined and is the subject of continuing discovery. The opt out period has been extended until such time that discovery has concluded. In May 2023 the trial court requested additional briefing from the parties to determine whether the case should be maintained, dismissed, or the class de-certified. After submission of the briefs, the court requested that the parties submit stipulations for the court to rule upon. On February 13, 2024, the judge ordered the parties to submit additional briefing related to on-site breaks. While we believe it is reasonably possible that we may incur a loss associated with this litigation, because there remains uncertainty under California law with respect to a significant legal issue, discovery relating to class members continues, and the trial judge retains discretion to award lower penalties than set forth in the applicable California employment laws, we do not believe that any potential loss to the Company is reasonably estimable at this time. As of December 31, 2023, no amounts have been accrued. We are also engaged in other legal proceedings that have arisen but have not been fully adjudicated. To the extent the claims giving rise to these legal proceedings are not covered by insurance, they relate to the following general types of claims: employment matters, tax matters and matters relating to compliance with applicable law (for example, the Americans with Disability Act and similar state laws). The likelihood of loss from these legal proceedings is based on the definitions within contingency accounting literature. We recognize a loss when we believe the loss is both probable and reasonably estimable. Based on the information available to us relating to these legal proceedings and/or our experience in similar legal proceedings, we do not believe the ultimate resolution of these proceedings, either individually or in the aggregate, will have a material adverse effect on our consolidated financial position, results of operations, or cash flow. During the quarter ended September 30, 2023, we had a cyber incident that resulted in the potential exposure of certain employee personal information. We have completed an investigation and have identified certain employee information that may have been exposed, but we have not identified that any customer information was exposed. All systems have been restored. We believe that we maintain a sufficient level of insurance coverage related to such events, and the related incremental costs incurred to date are immaterial. In February of 2024, two class action lawsuits were filed related to the cyber incident. The suits are currently pending in the U.S. District Court for the Northern District of Texas. We intend to vigorously defend these matters and do not believe that any potential loss is reasonably estimable at this time. It is reasonably possible that the Company may incur additional costs related to the matter, but we are unable to predict with certainty the ultimate amount or range of potential loss. Our assessment may change depending upon the development of any current or future legal proceedings, and the final results of such legal proceedings cannot be predicted with certainty. If we ultimately do not prevail in one or more of these legal matters, and the associated realized losses exceed our current estimates of the range of potential losses, our consolidated financial position, results of operations, or cash flows could be materially adversely affected in future periods.

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