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Commitments and Contingencies
12 Months Ended
Dec. 31, 2019
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, 2019, 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 4% to 5% of gross revenues for capital improvements.
Management Fees—Under hotel management agreements for our hotel properties existing at December 31, 2019, we pay monthly hotel management fees equal to the greater of $14,000 (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 management agreements expire from December 2023 through December 2065, excluding renewal options. If we terminate a management agreement prior to its expiration, we may be liable for estimated management fees through the remaining term, liquidated damages or, in certain circumstances, we may substitute a new management agreement.
Leases—We lease land under two non-cancelable operating ground leases, which expire in 2067 and 2065, related to our hotel properties in La Jolla, CA and Yountville, CA, respectively. The lease in Yountville, CA contains two 25-year extension options. These leases are subject to base rent plus contingent rent based on each hotel property’s financial results and escalation clauses. For the years ended December 31, 2018 and 2017, we recognized rent expense of $5.7 million and $5.9 million, respectively, which included contingent rent of $1.8 million and $2.2 million, respectively. Rent expense is included in “other” hotel expenses in our consolidated statements of operations.
On January 1, 2019, we adopted ASC 842 on a modified retrospective basis. The adoption of this standard has resulted in the recognition of operating lease ROU assets and lease liabilities primarily related to our ground lease arrangements. See note 6 for operating lease cost, including variable lease cost associated with the ground leases as well as future minimum lease payments due under non-cancellable leases.
Capital Commitments—At December 31, 2019, we had capital commitments of $27.2 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.
LitigationOn October 24, 2019, the Company provided notice to Accor of the material breach of its responsibilities under the Accor management agreement for the Sofitel Chicago Magnificent Mile at 20 East Chestnut Street in Chicago, Illinois. On November 7, 2019, Accor filed a complaint against Ashford TRS Chicago II in the Supreme Court of the State of New York, New York County, seeking a declaratory judgment that no breach has occurred. Accor has not yet served Ashford TRS Chicago II with the complaint. On January 6, 2020, Ashford TRS Chicago II filed a complaint against Accor in the Supreme Court of the State of New York, New York County, alleging breach of the Accor management agreement and seeking declaration of its right to terminate the Accor management agreement.
We are engaged in other various legal proceedings which have arisen but have not been fully adjudicated. The likelihood of loss from these legal proceedings are based on definitions within the contingency accounting literature. Based on estimates of the range of potential losses associated with these matters, management does 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 or results of operations. However, the final results of legal proceedings cannot be predicted with certainty and if we fail to 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 or results of operations could be materially adversely affected in future periods.
Income Taxes—We and our subsidiaries file income tax returns in the federal jurisdiction and various states and cities. Tax years 2015 through 2019 remain subject to potential examination by certain federal and state taxing authorities.