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COVID-19 DISCLOSURE
9 Months Ended
Oct. 31, 2021
Unusual or Infrequent Items, or Both [Abstract]  
COVID-19 DISCLOSURE

19. COVID-19 DISCLOSURE

 

COVID-19 had a material detrimental impact on our business, financial results and liquidity, in Fiscal Year 2021, ended January 31, 2021. More recent developments in the U.S., lead IHT Management to believe the severe adverse effects of the Virus on Fiscal Year 2021 on IHT and the entire hotel and travel industry will be reduced as the economy recovers, and travel recovers in the current Fiscal Year 2022, (February 1, 2021 to January 31, 2022).

 

The global spread of COVID-19 has been and continues to be a complex and evolving situation, with governments, public institutions and other organizations imposing or recommending, and business and individuals implementing, at various times and to varying degrees, restrictions on various activities or other actions to combat its spread, such as restrictions on travel or transportation, or operating limitations on work facilities, schools, public buildings and business, cancellation of events, including sporting events, conferences and meetings, and quarantines and lock-downs. COVID-19 and its consequences initially dramatically reduced travel and demand for hotel rooms, which has impacted our business, operations, and financial results. We believe that since April 2021, lodging demand and revenue level are now in a recovery stage.

 

 

ITEM 2. MANAGEMENT’S DISCUSSION AND ANALYSIS OF FINANCIAL CONDITION AND RESULTS OF OPERATIONS

 

GENERAL

 

The following discussion should be read in conjunction with our unaudited condensed consolidated financial statements and notes thereto appearing elsewhere in this Form 10-Q and our Form 10-K for the fiscal year ended January 31, 2021.

 

FORWARD-LOOKING STATEMENTS

 

Certain statements in this Form 10-Q, including statements containing the phrases “believes,” “intends,” “expects,” “anticipates,” “predicts,” “projects,” “will be,” “should be,” “looking ahead,” “may” or similar words, constitute “forward-looking statements” within the meaning of Section 27A of the Securities Act of 1933, as amended, and Section 21E of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended. We intend that such forward-looking statements be subject to the safe harbors created by such Acts. These forward-looking statements include statements regarding our intent, belief or current expectations in respect of (i) the declaration or payment of dividends; (ii) the leasing, management or operation of the Hotels; (iii) the adequacy of reserves for renovation and refurbishment; (iv) our financing plans; (v) our position regarding investments, acquisitions, developments, financings, conflicts of interest and other matters; (vi) expansion of UniGen; (vii) our plans and expectations regarding future sales of hotel properties; and (viii) trends affecting our or any Hotel’s financial condition or results of operations.

 

These forward-looking statements reflect our current views with respect to future events and financial performance, but are subject to many uncertainties and factors relating to the operations and business environment of the Hotels that may cause our actual results to differ materially from any future results expressed or implied by such forward-looking statements. Examples of such uncertainties include, but are not limited to:

 

  Covid-19 Virus Pandemic and its effect and recovery on the Economic and Travel Industry slowdown;
     
 

local, national or international, political, economic and business conditions, including, without limitation, conditions that may, or may continue to, affect public securities markets generally, the hospitality industry or the markets in which we operate or will operate;

 

  labor shortages; supply chain disruptions; travel restrictions;
     
  fluctuations in hotel occupancy rates;
     
  changes in room rental rates that may be charged by InnSuites Hotels in response to market rental rate changes or otherwise;
     
  seasonality of our hotel operations business;
     
  our ability to sell any of our Hotels at market value, or at all;
     
  interest rate fluctuations;
     
  changes in, or reinterpretations of, governmental regulations, including, but not limited to, environmental and other regulations, the Americans with Disability Act, Covid-19 restrictions, and federal income tax laws and regulations;
     
  competition including supply and demand for hotel rooms and hotel properties;
     
  availability of credit or other financing;
     
  our ability to meet present and future debt service obligations;
     
  our ability to refinance or extend the maturity of indebtedness at, prior to, or after the time it matures;
     
  any changes in our financial condition or operating results due to acquisitions or dispositions of hotel properties;
     
  concentration of our investments in the InnSuites Hotels® brand;
     
  loss of membership contracts;
     
  the financial condition of franchises, brand membership companies and travel related companies;
     
  ability to develop and maintain positive relations with “Best Western” and potential future franchises or brands;
     
  real estate and hospitality market conditions;

 

 

  hospitality industry factors;
     
  our ability to carry out our strategy, including our strategy regarding diversification and investments;
     
  the Trust’s ability to remain listed on the NYSE American;
     
  effectiveness of the Trust’s software program;
     
  the need to periodically repair and renovate our Hotels at a cost at or in excess of our standard 4% reserve;
     
  tariffs and health travel restrictions may affect trade and travel;
     
  our ability to cost effectively integrate any acquisitions with the Trust in a timely manner;
     
  increases in the cost and availability of labor, energy, healthcare, insurance and other operating expenses as a result of inflation, or changed or increased regulation, or otherwise;
     
  terrorist attacks or other acts of war;
     
  outbreaks of communicable diseases attributed to our hotels or impacting the hotel industry in general;
     
  natural disasters, including adverse climate changes in the areas where we have or serve hotels;
     
  airline strikes;
     
  transportation and fuel price increases;
     
  adequacy of insurance coverage and increases in cost for health care coverage for employees and potential government regulation with respect to health care coverage;
     
  data breaches or cybersecurity attacks, including breaches impacting the integrity and security of employee and guest data; and
     
  loss of key personnel and uncertainties in the interpretation and application of ever-changing tax laws.

 

We do not undertake any obligation to update publicly or revise any forward-looking statements whether as a result of new information, future events or otherwise except as may be required by law. Pursuant to Section 21E(b)(2)(E) of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended, the qualifications set forth hereinabove are inapplicable to any forward-looking statements in this Form 10-K relating to the operations of the Partnership.

 

OVERVIEW

 

We are engaged in the ownership and operation of hotel properties. On October 31, 2021 the Trust had two moderate service hotels in Tucson, Arizona and Albuquerque, New Mexico with 270 hotel suites. Both of our Hotels are branded through membership agreements with Best Western, and both are trademarked as InnSuites Hotels. We are also involved in various operations incidental to the operation of hotels, such as the operation of restaurants and meeting/banquet room rentals.

 

At October 31, 2021, we owned a direct 21.00% interest in the Albuquerque, New Mexico Hotel, and, together with the Partnership, owned an indirect 51.01% interest in the Tucson, Arizona Hotel.

 

Our operations consist of one reportable segment – Hotel Ownership Operations & Hotel Management Services. Hotel Ownership Operations derives its revenue from the operation of the Trust’s two hotel properties with an aggregate of 270 hotel suites in Arizona and New Mexico. Hotel management services, provides management services for the Trust’s two Hotels. As part of our management services, we also provide trademark and licensing services.

 

Our results are significantly affected by the overall economy and travel, occupancy and room rates at the Hotels, our ability to manage costs, changes in room rates, and changes in the number of available suites caused by the Trust’s disposition activities. Results are also significantly impacted by overall economic conditions and conditions in the travel industry. Unfavorable changes in these factors, such as the virus-related travel slowdown in the Fiscal Year 2021, (February 1, 2020 to January 31, 2021), can and have negatively impacted hotel room demand and pricing, which reduces our profit margins. Additionally, our ability to manage costs could be adversely impacted by significant increases in operating expenses, resulting in lower operating margins and higher hourly labor costs. Either a further increase in supply or a further decline in demand could result in increased competition, which could have an adverse effect on the rates and occupancy revenue of the Hotels in their respective markets.

 

Over time, we expect our UniGen diversified efficient clean energy generation investment to grow and provide another substantial source of income in the foreseeable future.

 

 

We experienced extremely weak economic conditions during the first nine months of Fiscal Year 2021, February 1, 2020 to October 31, 2020, compared to Fiscal Year 2020 due to the Virus. primarily a result of the Covid-19 virus pandemic. As of October 31, 2021, we are experiencing a solid recovery of travel and hospitality industry which is expected to continue for the remainder of the current Fiscal Year 2022, ending January 31, 2022 due to recovering from the Covid-19 travel related restrictions. We expect the major challenge for current Fiscal Year 2022 to be the continued recovery of the travel industry, continued recovery of our Hotel’s occupancy levels, continued by recovery of room rates, as well as continuation of current strong cost control all leading to improved profitability of our hotels. We believe that we have positioned the Hotels to remain competitive through our now completed full Tucson and Albuquerque hotel refurbishment(s), by offering a relatively large number of fully refurbished two-room suites at each location, and by maintaining robust complementary guest items, including complimentary breakfast and free Internet access.

 

Our strategic plan is to continue to obtain the full benefit of our real estate equity, by seeking buyers for the remaining two Hotels at market value which is substantially higher than lower book values, over the next 12-36 months. In addition, the Trust is seeking a larger private reverse merger partner that may benefit from a merger that would afford that partner access to our listing on the NYSE AMERICAN.

 

In the process of reviewing merger opportunities, the Trust identified in December 2019, and invested $1 million in UniGen Power, Inc. (“UniGen”, or “UPI), an innovative efficient clean energy power generation company. The Trust has invested $1 million in debentures convertible into 1 million shares of UniGen Power Inc., and in addition has acquired warrants to purchase approximately an additional 2 million UniGen shares over the next approximately three years, which could result up to 25% ownership in UniGen. For more information on our strategic plan, including information on our progress in disposing of our hotel properties and expanding energy diversification, see “Future Positioning” in this Management Discussion and Analysis of Financial Condition and Results of Operations

 

HOTEL OPERATIONS

 

Our expenses consist primarily of property taxes, insurance, labor, corporate overhead, interest on mortgage debt, professional fees, depreciation of the Hotels and hotel operating expenses. Hotel operating expenses consist primarily of payroll, guest and maintenance supplies, marketing and utilities expenses. Under the terms of its Partnership Agreement, the Partnership is required to reimburse us for all such expenses. Accordingly, management believes that a review of the historical performance of the operations of the Hotels, particularly with respect to occupancy, which is calculated as rooms sold divided by total rooms available, average daily rate (“ADR”), calculated as total room revenue divided by number of rooms sold, and revenue per available room (“REVPAR”), calculated as total room revenue divided by number of rooms available, is appropriate for understanding revenue from the Hotels.

 

The following tables show historical financial and other information for the periods indicated:

 

Albuquerque  For the Nine Months Ended October 31, 
   2021   2020   Change   %-Incr/Decr 
Occupancy   85.00%   53.85%   31.15%   57.85%
Average Daily Rate (ADR)  $87.82   $66.21   $21.61    32.64%
Revenue Per Available Room (REVPAR)  $75.06   $35.65   $39.41    110.55%

 

Tucson   For the Nine Months Ended October 31,  
    2021     2020     Change     %-Incr/Decr  
Occupancy     71.33 %     57.06 %     14.27 %     25.01 %
Average Daily Rate (ADR)   $ 75.38     $ 79.42     $ (4.04 )     -5.09 %
Revenue Per Available Room (REVPAR)   $ 53.77     $ 45.32     $ 8.45       18.65 %

 

Total   For the Nine Months Ended October 31,  
    2021     2020     Change     %-Incr/Decr  
Occupancy     77.18 %     56.06 %     21.12 %     37.67 %
Average Daily Rate (ADR)   $ 81.08     $ 75.88     $ 5.20       6.85 %
Revenue Per Available Room (REVPAR)   $ 62.58     $ 42.53     $ 20.05       47.14 %

 

No assurance can be given that occupancy, ADR and/or REVPAR will not increase or decrease as a result of changes in national or local economic or hospitality industry conditions.

 

We enter transactions with certain related parties from time to time. For information relating to such related party transactions see the following:

 

  For a discussion of management and licensing agreements with certain related parties, see “Note 2 to our Unaudited Condensed Consolidated Financial Statements – Summary of Significant Policies – Revenue Recognition – Hotel Operations”
     
  For a discussion of guarantees of our mortgage notes payable by certain related parties, see Note 6 to our Unaudited Condensed Consolidated Financial Statements – “Mortgage Notes Payable.”
     
  For a discussion of our equity sales and restructuring agreements involving certain related parties, see Notes 3 to our Unaudited Condensed Consolidated Financial Statements – “Sale of Ownership Interests in Subsidiaries”.
     
  For a discussion of other related party transactions, see Note 11 to our Unaudited Condensed Consolidated Financial Statements – “Related Party Transactions.”

 

 

RESULTS OF OPERATIONS FOR THE NINE MONTHS ENDED OCTOBER 31, 2021 COMPARED TO THE NINE MONTHS ENDED OCTOBER 31, 2020

 

A summary of total operating results of the Trust for the nine months ended October 31, 2021 and 2020 is as follows:

 

    2021     2020     Change     % Change  
Total Revenues   $ 4,763,123     $ 3,323,757     $ 1,439,366       43 %
Operating Expenses     5,111,499       5,519,108       (407,609 )      (7 )%
Operating Loss     (348,376 )     (2,195,351 )     1,846,975       84 %
Interest Income and Other     1,042,969       81,852       961,117       1,174 %
Interest Expense     (303,440 )     (274,682 )     (28,758     10 %
Consolidated Net Income (Loss)     391,153       (2,388,181 )     2,779,334       116 %

 

The Chief Operating Decision Maker (“CODM”), Mr. Wirth, CEO of the Trust, has determined that the Trust operations are comprised of one reportable segment, Hotel Operations & Hotel Management Services (continuing operations) segment that has ownership interest and manages two hotel properties with an aggregate of 270 suites in Arizona and New Mexico.

 

The Trust has chosen to focus its hotel investments on the southwest region of the United States. The CODM does not review assets by geographical region; therefore, no income statement or balance sheet information by geographical region is provided.

 

REVENUE:

 

For the nine months ended October 31, 2021, we had total revenue of approximately $4.8 million compared to approximately $3.3 million for the nine months ended October 31, 2020, an increase of approximately $1.5 million. In the prior fiscal years ended January 31, 2021, 2020 and 2019, we made significant refurbishment improvements to our Albuquerque, New Mexico and Tucson, Arizona. During the nine months ended October 31, 2021, we began to see increases in occupancy as demand and travel began to recover from COVID-19. Consolidated Net Income for the nine months ended October 31, 2021 was approximately $391,000 which is an increase in excess of $2.7 million from the same prior net loss of approximately ($2,388,000). Earnings Per Share based on net loss attributable to Controlling Interest was ($0.05), up from the prior year nine month period of ($0.14).

 

We realized a 53% increase in room revenues during the nine months ended October 31, 2021 as room revenues were approximately $4.6 million for the nine months ending October 31, 2021 as compared to approximately $3.0 million for the nine months ending October 31, 2020. Due to continued COVID-19 restrictions, food and beverage revenue decreased slightly by 7% to approximately $43,000 for the nine months ending October 31, 2021 as compared to approximately $47,000 during the nine months ending October 31, 2020, a decrease of approximately $4,000. During the remainder of Fiscal year 2021, we expect improvements in occupancy. Management and trademark fee revenues decreased due to the sale of the Tempe hotel in December 2020, and were $0 compared to approximately $109,000 during the nine months ended October 31, 2020. During the nine months ended October 31, 2021, we realized an approximate 29% decrease in other revenues which consists mostly of private room rentals at the hotel properties to approximately $114,000, as compared to approximately $161,000 during the nine months ended October 31, 2020.

 

 

EXPENSES:

 

Total expenses net of interest expense was approximately $5.1 million for the nine months ended October 31, 2021 reflecting a decrease of approximately $408,000, or 7%, compared to total expenses net of interest expense of approximately $5.5 million for nine months ended October 31, 2020. The decrease was primarily due to a decrease in sales and occupancy expense due to an occupancy tax discrepancy generated from our Tucson Oracle and Albuquerque hotels from prior periods.

 

Room expenses consisting of salaries and related employment taxes for property management, front office, housekeeping personnel, reservation fees and room supplies were approximately $1.4 million for the nine months ended October 31, 2021 compared to approximately $1.2 million in the prior year nine month period for an increase of approximately $248,000, or 21%. Room expenses increased as occupancy at the hotels increased, and expenses were incurred with the increased occupancy.

 

Food and beverage expenses included food and beverage costs, personnel, and miscellaneous costs to provide banquet events. For the nine months ended October 31, 2021, food and beverage expenses increased approximately $57,000, or 61%, to approximately $151,000 for nine months ended October 31, 2021, compared to approximately $94,000 for the nine months ended October 31, 2020. The increase in cost relative to the decrease in food and beverage revenue is due to increasing food and beverage purchasing costs combined with additional staff associated with increased demand.

 

General and administrative expenses include overhead charges for management, accounting, shareholder and legal services. General and administrative expenses of approximately $1.52 million for the nine months ended October 31, 2021, increased $63,000 from approximately $1.45 million for the nine months ended October 31, 2020.

 

Sales and marketing expense decreased approximately $17,000, or 6%, to approximately $289,000 for the nine months ended October, 2021 from approximately $307,000 for the nine months ended October 31, 2020. Open positions for sales and marketing resources, due to a tight labor market, accounted for the decrease.

 

Repairs and maintenance expense increased by approximately $30,000, or 12%, to approximately $293,000 for the nine months ended October 31, 2021 from approximately $262,000 for the nine months ended October 31, 2020. Having completed the refurbishment property improvements at our Tucson, Arizona hotel Management anticipates the improvements which complies with the increasing Best Western standards, will continue to lead to improvement in guest satisfaction and will drive additional revenue growth through increased occupancy and increased rates.

 

Hospitality expense increased by approximately $47,000, or 40%, to approximately $167,000 for the nine months ended October 31, 2021 from approximately $119,000 for the nine months ended October 31, 2020. The increase was primarily due to the increased occupancy at the hotel properties as demands and travel began to recover from COVID-19.

 

Utility expenses increased approximately $22,000, or 8%, to approximately $294,000 reported for the nine months ended October 31, 2021 from approximately $272,000 for the nine months ended October 31, 2020. The increase was due to increased occupancy at the hotel properties as demands and travel began to recover from COVID-19.

 

Hotel property depreciation expenses decreased by approximately $56,000 to approximately $577,000 for the nine months ended October 31, 2021 from approximately $634,000 for the nine months ended October 31, 2020. Decreased depreciation resulted from the capital expenditures being fully depreciated.

 

Real estate and Personal Property Taxes, Insurance and Ground Rent expenses increased approximately $44,000, or 13%, to approximately $393,000 for the nine months ended October 31, 2021 from approximately 349,000 for the nine months ended October 31, 2020. The increase was primarily due to increased insurance costs combined with increased property taxes.

 

 

RESULTS OF OPERATIONS FOR THE THREE MONTHS ENDED OCTOBER 31, 2021 COMPARED TO THE THREE MONTHS ENDED OCTOBER 31, 2020

 

A summary of total operating results of the Trust for the three months ended October 31, 2021 and 2020 is as follows:

 

    2021   2020   Change   % Change
Total Revenues   $ 1,693,934     $ 952,959     $ 740,975       78 %
Operating Expenses     1,798,162       1,631,743       166,419     10 %
Operating Loss     (104,228 )     (678,784 )     574,556       85 %
Interest Income and Other     75,506       17,500       58,006       331 %
Interest Expense     (138,850 )     (106,655 )     32,195     30 %
Consolidated Net Income (Loss)     (167,572 )     (767,939 )     600,367       78 %

 

REVENUE:

 

For the three months ended October 31, 2021, we had total revenue of approximately $1.7 million compared to approximately $952k for the three months ended October 31, 2020, an increase of approximately $741,000. In the prior fiscal years ended January 31, 2021, 2020 and 2019, we made significant improvements to our Albuquerque, New Mexico and Tucson, Arizona. During the three months ended October 31, 2021, we began to see increases in occupancy as demand and travel began to recover from COVID-19. Consolidated Net Loss for the three months ended October 31, 2021 was ($168,000) which is an increase of approximately $600,000 from the same prior year period of ($768,000).

 

Earnings Per Share based on net loss attributable to Controlling Interest was ($0.03), up from the prior year three month period of ($0.08).

 

We realized a 88% increase in room revenues during the three months ended October 31, 2021 as room revenues were approximately $1.6 million for the three months ending October 31, 2021 as compared to approximately $878,000 for the three months ending October 31, 2020. Food and beverage revenue increased by 5% to approximately $15,000 for the three months ending October 31, 2021 as compared to approximately $14,000 during the three months ending October 31, 2020, an increase of approximately $1,000. During fiscal year 2021, we expect additional improvements in occupancy, modest improvements in rates and steady food and beverage revenues. Management and trademark fee revenues decreased due to the sale of the Tempe hotel in December 2020, and were $0 compared to approximately $34,000 during the three months ended October 31, 2020. During the three months ended October 31, 2021, we realized an approximate 5% decrease in other revenues which consists mostly of private room rentals at the hotel properties to approximately $25,000, as compared to approximately $26,000 during the three months ended October 31, 2020.

 

 

EXPENSES:

 

Total expenses net of interest expense was approximately $1.8 million for the three months ended October 31, 2021 reflecting an increase of approximately $166,000, or 10%, compared to total expenses net of interest expense and income tax provision of approximately $1.6 million for the three months ended October 31, 2020. The decrease was primarily due to the sales and occupancy tax expense incurred in the prior three month period and not incurred in the current period.

 

Room expenses consisting of salaries and related employment taxes for property management, front office, housekeeping personnel, reservation fees and room supplies were approximately $498,000 for the three months ended October 31, 2021 compared to approximately $343,000 in the prior year three month period for an increase of approximately $155,000, or 45%. Room expenses increased as occupancy at the hotels increased, and additional expenses were incurred with the increased occupancy.

 

Food and beverage expenses included food and beverage costs, personnel, and miscellaneous costs to provide banquet events. For the three months ended October 31, 2021, food and beverage expenses increased approximately $26,000, or 84%, to approximately $56,000 for three months ended October 31, 2021, compared to approximately $30,000 for the three months ended October 31, 2020. The increase in cost relative to the decrease in food and beverage revenue is due to increasing food and beverage purchasing costs.

 

General and administrative expenses include overhead charges for management, accounting, shareholder and legal services. General and administrative expenses of approximately $529,000 for the three months ended October 31, 2021, decreased approximately $12,000 from approximately $542,000 for the three months ended October 31, 2020 primarily due to less charges in corporate staffing in support of the hotels and property sales efforts.

 

Sales and marketing expense increased approximately $12,000, or 14%, to approximately $98,000 for the three months ended October 31, 2021 from approximately $84,000 for the three months ended October 31, 2020. The increase was due to additional sales and marketing spend as we began to see increases in occupancy as demand and travel began to recover from COVID-19

 

Repairs and maintenance expense increased by approximately $12,000, or 14%, to approximately $104,000 for the three months ended October 31, 2021 from approximately $84,000 for the three months ended October 31, 2020. Having completed the property improvements at our Tucson, Arizona hotel Management anticipates the improvements which complies with the increasing Best Western standards, will (after the adverse effects of travel restrictions and slowdown), lead to improvement in guest satisfaction and will drive additional revenue growth through increased occupancy and increased rates.

 

Hospitality expense increased by approximately $38,000, or 154%, to approximately $62,000 for the three months ended October 31, 2021 from approximately $25,000 for the three months ended October 31, 2020. The increase was primarily due to the increased occupancy at the hotel properties due to the removal of COVID-19 restrictions and lockdowns.

 

Utility expenses remained flat to approximately $94,000 reported for the three months ended October 31, 2021 from approximately $94,000 for the three months ended October 31, 2020.

 

Hotel property depreciation expenses increased by approximately $7,000 to approximately $214,000 for the three months ended October 31, 2021 from approximately $207,000 for the three months ended October 31, 2020.

 

Real Estate and Personal Property Taxes, Insurance and Ground Rent expenses increased approximately $2,000, or 2%, to approximately $141,000 for the three months ended October 31, 2021 from approximately $139,000 for the three months ended October 31, 2020. The increase was primarily due to increased insurance costs.

 

LIQUIDITY AND CAPITAL RESOURCES

 

Overview – Hotel Operations & Corporate Overhead

 

One principal source of cash to meet our cash requirements, including dividends to our shareholders, is our share of the Partnership’s cash flow, and quarterly distributions from the Tucson and Albuquerque hotel properties. Potential future real estate hotel sales is another future source of cash. The Partnership’s principal source of revenue is hotel operations for the hotel property it owns in Tucson, Arizona and Albuquerque, New Mexico. Our liquidity, including our ability to make distributions to our shareholders, will depend upon our ability, and the Partnership’s ability, to generate sufficient cash flow from hotel operations, from management fees, and from the potential sale and/or refinance of the hotel, and to service our debt.

 

Hotel operations were significantly affected by occupancy and room rates at the Hotels in the Fiscal year 2021. As the Covid-19 vaccine becomes more readily available and desired, and as the economy and travel industry continue to recover, occupancy has begun to recover from the Virus, as has the related economic and travel slowdown since April 2021 and is anticipated to continue throughout Fiscal 2022. Capital improvements are expected to decrease from the prior year due to the completed refurbishments mentioned previously.

 

With approximately $1.2 million of cash as of October 31, 2021 and the availability of three $250,000 bank lines of credit, and $947,000 available from the $2,000,000 related party Demand/Revolving Line of Credit/Promissory Note, and the availability of Advances to Affiliate credit facilities and available Bank line of Credit, we believe that we will have enough cash on hand to meet all of our financial obligations as they become due for at least the next twelve months from the issuance date of the these consolidated financial statements. In addition, our management is analyzing other strategic options available to us, including additional asset sales, and increasing borrowings at our Tucson hotel. However, such transactions may not be available on terms that are favorable to us, or at all.

 

 

IHT and InnDependent Boutique Collections Hotels (IBC), agreed to extend the payment schedule on IBC’s note receivable from November 2021 to May 2023. The reason for the extension is in support of IBC’s cash requirements; related to IBC’s realization of fully benefiting from a return in occupancy and travel. These potential benefits in turn improve IHT’s secured position on its note receivable from IBC, with secured UCC Filings in place. Management also believes that even with an additional extension repayment term due to COVID-19 that the future collectability of the current carrying value of the note is probable and not subject to further impairment, or allowance for the Quarter ended October 31, 2021.

 

Refer to Note 16 – “Note Receivable” for information related to the Sale of IBC Hospitality Technologies (IBC).

 

There can be no assurance that we will be successful in refinancing debt or raising additional or replacement funds, or that these funds may be available on terms that are favorable to us. If we are unable to raise additional or replacement funds, we may be required to sell certain of our assets to meet our liquidity needs, which may not be on terms that are favorable.

 

We anticipate no additional new-build hotel supply in our markets during the remaining Fiscal Year 2022 and most likely Fiscal Year 2023, and accordingly we anticipate continuation since April 2021 of the recovery of revenues, room rates, and operating margins. We expect the major challenge for the current Fiscal Year to be the continued economic and travel recovery of leisure, corporate, group, and government business in the markets in Fiscal 2022 in which we operate, which may affect our ability to continue to maintain and recover occupancy and further increase room rates while maintaining and/or building market share.

 

Net cash provided by (used in) operating activities from operations totaled approximately $125,000 during the nine months ended October 31, 2021 as compared to net cash used by of $721,000 during the nine months ended October 31, 2020. Consolidated net income was approximately $391,000 for the nine months ended October 31, 2021 as compared to consolidated net loss for the nine months ended October 31, 2020 of approximately $2.4 million. Explanation of the differences between these fiscal years are explained above in the results of operations of the Trust.

 

Changes in the adjustments to reconcile net income (loss) for the nine months ended October 31, 2021 and 2020, respectively, consist primarily of PPP Loan Forgiveness, operating lease costs, stock-based compensation, hotel property depreciation, and changes in assets and liabilities.

 

Changes in assets and liabilities for accounts receivable, prepaid expenses and other assets and accounts payable and accrued expenses totaled approximately ($64,000) and $1,012,000 for the nine months ended October 31, 2021 and 2020, respectively. This significant increase in changes in assets and liabilities for the nine months ended October 31, 2021 compared to the nine months ended October 31, 2020 was due primarily to a large reduction in accounts receivable from the prior nine month period compared to the current nine month period of greater than $500,000 which was a result of accounts receivable being better accounted for timely, reducing balances, combined with payments received in the current period.

 

Net cash used in investing activities totaled approximately $312,000 for the nine months ended October 31, 2021 compared to net cash used in investing activities of approximately $87,000 for nine months ended October 31, 2020. The change in net cash provided by investing activities during the nine months ended October 31, 2021 was due primarily due to the completed investment into UniGen in 2020. During the nine months ended October 31, 2021 and 2020, the Trust had net collections from Advances to Affiliates - Related Party of $- and $343,000, respectively. During the nine months ended October 31, 2021 and 2020, the Trust invested $213,750 and $430,000 in UniGen, respectively.

 

Net cash used in financing activities totaled approximately $364,000 and $345,000, respectively, for the nine months ended October 31, 2021 and 2020. The decrease of approximately $19,000 was primarily due to net repayments and borrowings on the note payable - related party, approximately $76,000 in distributions, and approximately $88,000 in repurchases in treasury shares and treasury stock in the prior period that did not occur in the current period.

 

 

Principal payments on mortgage notes payable for operations was approximately $138,000 and $121,000 during the nine months ended October 31, 2021 and 2020, respectively. Net payments and borrowings on notes payable to banks was approximately $0 and approximately $17,000 during the nine months ended October 31, 2021 and 2020, respectively.

 

Borrowings on notes payables – related party, netted against payments on note payable–related party, was approximately $542,000 and $126,000 of cash used in financing activities during the nine months ended October 31, 2021 and 2020, respectively.

 

Borrowings on other notes payables netted against payments on other note payable was approximately $500,000 and $417,000 of net cash provided by financing activities during the nine months ended October 31, 2021 and 2020, respectively.

 

Net proceeds from sales of non-controlling ownership interests in subsidiaries decreased by approximately $10,000 as purchases of non-controlling ownership interest was $20,000 for the nine months ended October 31, 2021 and sales of non-controlling interests were $10,000 for the nine months ended October 31, 2020. We had no sales of our IHT stock for cash for the nine months ended October 31, 2021.

 

During the nine months ended October 31, 2021, our distributions to non-controlling interest holders was approximately $- compared with approximately $76,000 for the nine months ended October 31, 2020.

 

We continue to contribute to a Capital Expenditures Fund (the “Fund”) an amount equal to 4% of the InnSuites Hotels’ revenues from operation of the Hotels. The Fund is restricted by the mortgage lender for one of our properties. As of October 31, 2021, and 2020, there were no monies held in these accounts reported on our Consolidated Balance Sheet as “Restricted Cash.” The Fund is intended to be used for capital improvements to the Hotels and refurbishment and replacement of furniture, fixtures and equipment. During the nine months ended October 31, 2021 and 2020, the Hotels spent approximately $119,000 and $0, respectively, for capital expenditures. The capital expenditures were primarily associated with the property improvements at the Hotels, as required to meet continuing Best Western standards. We consider most of these improvements to be revenue producing. Therefore, these amounts are capitalized and depreciated over their estimated useful lives. For the remaining fiscal year 2022 capital expenditures, we plan on spending less on capital improvements as we have completed our property improvements at our Tucson, Arizona hotel which required significant amounts of capital improvements during the nine months ending October 31, 2020. Repairs and maintenance were charged to expense as incurred and approximated $99,000 and $87,000 for the nine months ended October 31, 2021 and 2020, respectively.

 

We have minimum debt payments, net of debt discounts, of approximately $64,000 and approximately $1.8 million due during fiscal years 2022 and 2023, respectively. Minimum debt payments due during fiscal year 2022 and 2023 include approximately $42,000 and $175,000 of mortgage notes payable, and approximately $22,000 and $615,000 of other notes payable, which are secured promissory notes outstanding to unrelated third parties arising from the Shares of Beneficial Interest and Partnership unit repurchases, respectively.

 

We may seek to negotiate additional credit facilities or issue debt instruments. Any debt incurred or issued by us may be secured or unsecured, long-term, medium-term, or short-term, bear interest at a fixed or variable rate and be subject to such other terms as we consider prudent.

 

COMPETITION IN THE HOTEL INDUSTRY

 

The hotel industry is highly competitive. There are clear signs and trends of economic recovery since April 2021, in this early part of the current Fiscal Year 2022 from the prior year, as our operations for Fiscal Year 2021 from February 1, 2020 until January 31, 2021 were down and well below previous averages in all aspects of our hotel operations, due to the impact of COVID-19. In the current Third Fiscal Quarter of Fiscal Year 2022, ending October 31, 2021, both the Tucson and Albuquerque hotels have experienced strong recovery of revenue and even stronger rebounds of gross operating profit to continue due to the ongoing cost control measures. Revenues are growing, and gross operating profit is growing even more again due to stringent cost control measures. The drastic impact of COVID-19 to the world economy and hospitality industry resulted in severely reduced occupancy and significant reduction in room rates. Continued competition for reduced demand in corporate, leisure, group, and government business in the markets in which we operate, may affect our ability to maintain room rates and maintain market share. Each of the Hotels faces competition primarily from other mid-market hotels located in its immediate vicinity, but also competes with hotel properties located in other geographic markets, and increasingly from alternative lodging facilities, such as Airbnb. While none of the Hotels’ competitors dominate any of their geographic markets, some of those competitors may have greater marketing and financial resources than the Trust.

 

 

Certain additional hotel property refurbishments have been completed by competitors in both Hotels’ markets, and additional hotel property developments may be built in the future. Such hotel developments could have an adverse effect on the revenue of our Hotels in their respective markets.

 

The Trust’s hotel investments are located in Arizona and New Mexico. With the completed renovations at our Tucson, Arizona and Albuquerque, New Mexico hotel properties, those hotels are now seeing incremental demand which is expected to continue during the next 18 months, as supply had been steady in those respective markets, and demand is expected to continue to increase as COVID-19 restrictions phase out. Either an increase in supply or a decline in demand could result in increased competition, which could have an adverse effect on occupancy, room rates and revenues of our Hotels in their respective markets. The hotels experienced a decrease in demand due to impact of the COVID-19 virus and the related restrictions and reduction of travel after February 1, 2020 to January 31, 2021. The recovery is benefitting our hotels especially since April 2021 and continuing throughout the Third Fiscal Quarter August 1, 2021 to October 31, 2021. This improvement and continued upward trend is expected to continue for the balance of Fiscal Year 2022, through January 31, 2022, as the Covid-19 vaccines become more readily available both nationally and internationally, and the Travel Industry continues its recovery worldwide.

 

The Trust may not invest further in hotels, but rather diversify into investments such as the investment made by the Trust in December 2019 in the innovative UniGen Power, Inc. (UPI), efficient clean energy power generation company. The Trust may continue to seek further diversification through a reverse merger with a larger non-public entity.

 

CRITICAL ACCOUNTING POLICIES AND ESTIMATES

 

As a partial offset to the current hotel industry Virus induced fluctuation of demand, the Trust looks to benefit from, and expand, its UniGen clean energy operation diversification investments in the months, and years ahead. See Note 2 of the unaudited consolidated financial statements for discussion on UniGen.

 

In our Annual Report on Form 10-K for the fiscal year ended January 31, 2021 filed with the SEC on May 17, 2021, we identified the critical accounting policies that affect our more significant estimates and assumptions used in preparing our condensed consolidated financial statements. We believe that the policies we follow for the valuation of our Hotel properties, which constitute a major portion of our assets, are our most critical policies which have not changed in the period ended October 31, 2021. Those policies include methods used to recognize and measure any identified impairment of our Hotel property assets.

 

Asset Impairment

 

We believe that the policies we follow for the valuation of our hotel properties, which constitute most of our assets, are our most critical policies. The Financial Accounting Standards Board (“FASB”) has issued authoritative guidance related to the impairment or disposal of long-lived assets, codified in ASC Topic 360-10-35, which we apply to determine when it is necessary to test an asset for recoverability. On an events and circumstances basis, we review the carrying value of our hotel properties. We will record an impairment loss and reduce the carrying value of a property when anticipated undiscounted future cash flows and the current market value of the property do not support it carrying value. In cases where we do not expect to recover the carrying cost of hotel properties held for use, we will reduce the carrying value to the fair value of the hotel, as determined by a current appraisal or other acceptable valuation methods. We did not recognize a hotel properties impairment loss for the nine months ended October 31, 2021 or 2020. As of October 31, 2021, our management does not believe that the carrying values of any of our hotel properties are impaired.

 

Sale of Hotel Assets

 

Management believes that our currently owned Hotels are valued at prices that are reasonable in relation to their current fair market value. At this time, the Trust is unable to predict when, and if, either of its Hotel properties will be sold. The Trust seeks to sell one hotel per year or both over the next 12-36 months. We believe that each of the assets is available at a price that is reasonable in relation to its current fair market value.

 

Revenue Recognition

 

Revenues are primarily derived from the following sources and are recognized as services are rendered and when collectability is reasonably assured. Amounts received in advance of revenue recognition are considered deferred liabilities.

 

Revenues primarily consist of room rentals, food and beverage sales, management and trademark fees and other miscellaneous revenues from our properties. Revenues are recorded when rooms are occupied and when food and beverage sales are delivered.

 

 

Each room night consumed by a guest with a cancellable reservation represents a contract whereby the Trust has a performance obligation to provide the room night at an agreed upon price. For cancellable reservations, the Trust recognizes revenue as each performance obligation (i.e., each room night) is met. Such contract is renewed if the guest continues their stay. For room nights consumed by a guest with a non-cancellable reservation, the entire reservation period represents the contract term whereby the Trust has a performance obligation to provide the room night or nights at an agreed upon price. For non-cancellable reservations, the Trust recognizes revenue over the term of the performance period (i.e., the reservation period) as room nights are consumed. For these reservations, the room rate is typically fixed over the reservation period. The Trust uses an output method based on performance completed to date (i.e., room nights consumed) to determine the amount of revenue it recognizes on a daily basis if the length of a non-cancellable reservation exceeds one night since consumption of room nights indicates when services are transferred to the guest. In certain instances, variable consideration may exist with respect to the transaction price, such as discounts, coupons and price concessions made upon guest checkout.

 

In evaluating its performance obligation, the Trust bundles the obligation to provide the guest the room itself with other obligations (such as free Wi-Fi, grab and go breakfast, access to on-site laundry facilities and parking), as the other obligations are not distinct and separable because the guest cannot benefit from the additional amenities without the consumed room night. The Trust’s obligation to provide the additional items or services is not separately identifiable from the fundamental contractual obligation (i.e., providing the room and its contents). The Trust has no performance obligations once a guest’s stay is complete.

 

We are required to collect certain taxes and fees from customers on behalf of government agencies and remit these back to the applicable governmental agencies on a periodic basis. We have a legal obligation to act as a collection agent. We do not retain these taxes and fees and, therefore, they are not included in revenues. We record a liability when the amounts are collected and relieve the liability when payments are made to the applicable taxing authority or other appropriate governmental agency.

 

COMPLIANCE WITH CONTINUED LISTING STANDARDS OF NYSE AMERICAN

 

On November 15, 2021, the Trust received a letter from the NYSE American indicating it did not meet certain financial requirements to remain listed, and set a timeframe of 18 months to May 2023, to once again meet those standards of earnings, capitalization, and/or profitability. The Trust provided the required Plan by December 15, 2021, and expects the NYSE American to grant the additional 18 months to execute the Plan.

 

 

NON-GAAP FINANCIAL MEASURES

 

The following non-GAAP presentations of earnings before interest, taxes, depreciation, and amortization (“EBITDA”) and funds from operations (“FFO”) are made to assist our investors in evaluating our operating performance.

 

Adjusted EBITDA is defined as earnings before interest expense, amortization of loan costs, interest income, income taxes, depreciation and amortization, and non-controlling interests in the Trust. We present Adjusted EBITDA because we believe these measurements (a) more accurately reflect the ongoing performance of our hotel assets and other investments, (b) provide more useful information to investors as indicators of our ability to meet our future debt payments and working capital requirements, and (c) provide an overall evaluation of our financial condition. Adjusted EBITDA as calculated by us may not be comparable to Adjusted EBITDA reported by other companies that do not define Adjusted EBITDA exactly as we define the term. Adjusted EBITDA does not represent cash generated from operating activities determined in accordance with GAAP and should not be considered as an alternative to (a) GAAP net income or loss as an indication of our financial performance or (b) GAAP cash flows from operating activities as a measure of our liquidity.

 

A reconciliation of net loss attributable to controlling interests to Adjusted EBITDA for the three and nine months ended October 31, 2021 and 2020 is approximately as follows:

 

   Three Months Ended
October 31,
   Nine Months Ended
October 31,
 
   2021   2020   2021   2020 
Net loss attributable to controlling interests  $(266,000)  $(481,000)  $(432,000)  $(1,288,000)
Add back:                    
Depreciation   214,000    207,000    578,000    634,000 
Interest expense   139,000    107,000    303,000    275,000 
Taxes   -    -    -    - 
Less:                    
Interest Income   (45,000)   (18,000)   (45,000)   (82,000)
Adjusted EBITDA  $42,000   $(185,000)  $404,000   $(461,000)

 

FFO is calculated on the basis defined by the National Association of Real Estate Investment Trusts (“NAREIT”), which is net income (loss) attributable to common shareholders, computed in accordance with GAAP, excluding gains or losses on sales of properties, asset impairment adjustments, and extraordinary items as defined by GAAP, plus depreciation and amortization of real estate assets, and after adjustments for unconsolidated joint ventures and non-controlling interests in the operating partnership. NAREIT developed FFO as a relative measure of performance of an equity REIT to recognize that income-producing real estate historically has not depreciated on the basis determined by GAAP. The Trust is an unincorporated Ohio real estate investment trust; however, the Trust is not a real estate investment trust for federal taxation purposes. Management uses this measurement to compare itself to REITs with similar depreciable assets. We consider FFO to be an appropriate measure of our ongoing normalized operating performance. We compute FFO in accordance with our interpretation of standards established by NAREIT, which may not be comparable to FFO reported by other companies that either do not define the term in accordance with the current NAREIT definition or interpret the NAREIT definition differently than us. FFO does not represent cash generated from operating activities as determined by GAAP and should not be considered as an alternative to (a) GAAP net income or loss as an indication of our financial performance or (b) GAAP cash flows from operating activities as a measure of our liquidity, nor is it indicative of funds available to satisfy our cash needs, including our ability to make cash distributions. However, to facilitate a clear understanding of our historical operating results, we believe that FFO should be considered along with our net income or loss and cash flows reported in the unaudited condensed consolidated financial statements.

 

 

An approximate reconciliation of net loss attributable to controlling interests to FFO for the three and nine months ended October 31, 2021 and 2020:

 

    Three Months Ended
October 31,
    Nine Months Ended
October 31,
 
    2021     2020     2021     2020  
Net loss attributable to controlling interests   $ (266,000 )   $ (481,000 )   $ (432,000 )   $ (1,288,000 )
Add back:                                
Depreciation     578,000       634,000       578,000       634,000  
Non-controlling interest     99,000       (287,000     823,000       (1,100,000
FFO   $ 411,000     $ (134,000   $ 969,000     $ (1,754,000 )

 

FUTURE POSITIONING

 

In viewing the hotel industry cycles, recently reconfirmed by the COVID-19 disruption of travel and hospitality, the Board of Trustees determined that it was appropriate to seek buyers for our two remaining Hotel properties. We continue to make our Tucson Hotel and Albuquerque Hotel available for sale at market value, (which is substantially higher than the carrying book value which reflects years of non-cash depreciation expense), on the website www.suitehotelsrealty.com.

 

The table below provides book values, mortgage balances and listed asking price for the Hotels.

 

Hotel Property  Book Value   Mortgage Balance   Estimated Market/Asking Price 
Albuquerque  $1,238,149   $1,306,214    7,995,000 
Tucson Oracle   6,407,716    4,492,996    17,400,000 
                
   $7,645,865   $5,799,210   $25,395,000 

 

The “Estimated Market/Asking Price” is the amount at which we believe would sell each of the Hotels and is adjusted to reflect hotel sales in the Hotels’ areas of operation and projected upcoming 12 month earnings of each of the Hotels. The Estimated Market/Asking Price is not based on appraisals of the properties.

 

We have from time to time listed each of the properties with a long time highly successful local real estate hotel broker who has successfully sold four of our hotel properties. We believe that each of the assets are being marketed at a price that is reasonable in relation to its current fair market value. We plan to sell our remaining two Hotel properties within 12-36 months, based on feedback received by our local hotel real estate property professional brokers, who specialize in the selling/buying hotel real estate properties. We can provide no assurance that we will be able to sell either or both of the Hotel properties on terms favorable to us or within our expected time frame, or at all.

 

Although believed feasible, we may be unable to realize the asking price for the individual Hotel properties or to sell and/or refinance one or both. However, we believe that the asking price values are reasonable based on upturn local market conditions, comparable sales, and anticipated upturns in occupancy, rates, and profits per hotel. Changes in market conditions have in part resulted, and may in the future result, in our changing one or all of the asking prices.

 

Our long-term strategic plan is to obtain the full benefit of our real estate equity, to benefit from our UniGen Power, Inc., (UPI) clean energy operation diversified investment, and to pursue a merger with another company, likely a private larger entity that seeks to go public to list on the NYSE AMERICAN Exchange.

 

SHARE REPURCHASE PROGRAM

 

For information on the Trust’s Share Repurchase Program, see Part II, Item 5. “Market for the Registrant’s Common Equity Related Stockholder Matters and Issuer Purchases of Equity Securities.” of our most recent 10-K Annual Report filed on May 17, 2021. The stock and unit Repurchase Program was highly successful during the Covid-19 Pandemic, throughout Fiscal Year 2021 (February 1, 2020 to January 31, 2021). We plan to continue the stock and unit buy backs in the current Fiscal Year 2022.

 

 

OFF-BALANCE SHEET ARRANGEMENTS

 

We do not have any off-balance sheet financing arrangements or liabilities. We do not have any majority-owned or controlled subsidiaries that are not included in our consolidated financial statements.

 

SEASONALITY

 

The Hotels’ operations historically have been somewhat seasonal. The Tucson Hotel typically experiences its highest occupancy in the first fiscal quarter and, to a lesser extent, the fourth fiscal quarter (the winter high season). The second fiscal quarter tends to be the lowest occupancy period at the Tucson Hotel. This seasonality pattern can be expected to cause fluctuations in the Trust’s quarterly revenues. The hotel located in New Mexico historically experiences their most profitable periods during the second and third fiscal quarters (the summer high season), providing balance to the general seasonality of the Trust’s hotel business.

 

The seasonal nature of the Trust’s business increases its vulnerability to risks such as labor force shortages and cash flow issues. Further, if an adverse event such as an actual or threatened terrorist attack, viral outbreak or pandemic, international conflict, data breach, regional economic downturn or poor weather conditions should occur during the high season, the adverse impact to the Trust’s revenues could likely be greater as a result of its seasonal business.

 

INFLATION

 

We rely entirely on the performance of the Hotels and InnSuites Hotels’ ability to increase revenue to keep pace with inflation. Operators of hotels in general, and InnSuites Hotels in particular, can change room rates quickly, but competitive pressures may limit InnSuites Hotels’ ability to raise rates as fast as or faster than inflation.

 

INVESTMENT IN UNIGEN POWER, INC.

 

On December 16, 2019 the Trust entered into a Convertible Debenture Purchase Agreement with UniGen Power Inc. (“UPI” or “UniGen”).

 

The Trust purchased secured convertible debentures (“Debentures”) in the aggregate amount of $1,000,000 (the “Loan Amount”) (the “Loan”) yielding at an annual interest rate of 6%. The Debentures are convertible into 1,000,000 Class A shares of UniGen Common Stock at an initial conversion rate of $1.00 per share.

 

UniGen issued the Trust common stock purchase warrants (the “Debenture Warrants”) to purchase up to 1,000,000 shares of Class A Common. The Debenture Warrants are exercisable at an exercise price of $1.00 per share of Class A Common Stock.

 

UniGen, also, issued the Trust additional common stock purchase warrants (“Additional Warrants”) to purchase up to 200,000 shares of Class A Common Stock and a separate grant of 300,000 warrants. The Additional Warrants are exercisable at an exercise price of $2.25 per share of Class A Common Stock.

 

On the Trust’s balance sheet, the investment of the $1,000,000 consists of approximately $700,000 in note receivables, approximately $300,000 as the fair value of the warrants issued with the Trust’s investment in UniGen, and $273,750 of UniGen Common Stock. The value of the premium related to the fair value of the warrant will accrete over the life of the debentures.

 

InnSuites Hospitality Trust (IHT) made an initial $1 million diversification investment in late Fiscal Year 2020 and early Fiscal Year 2021 that could expand into a multi-million-dollar investment totaling up to approximately 25 percent ownership in privately held UniGen Power, Inc. (UniGen) to develop a patented high profit potential new efficient clean energy generation innovation. The initial investment was made December 16, 2019, with significant positive progress to date despite the virus, economic, and travel disruptions of 2020. The investment includes warrants convertible to UniGen stock upon election of the Trust. The investment is valued at fair value (level 3), as defined in Note 2 of the Consolidated Financial Statements. There is no Investment Commitment to UniGen requiring any restriction of cash.

 

IHT is likely to obtain an opportunity to extend and then convert a $500,000 UniGen line of credit into 500,000 shares of UniGen. IHT, but not UniGen, has an option to extend the line of credit up to $500,000, and also has the option to receive payment convertible into stock at $1 per share. Full conversion of all IHT held convertible debt and UniGen warrants could result in 3 million shares of UniGen stock. If all shares from all parties are fully exercised, it would result in approximately 12 million UniGen shares outstanding, of which approximately up to 25% of the total equity of UniGen would be held by IHT. The Trust owns less than 1% of the outstanding shares of UniGen as of October 31, 2021.

 

 

According to UniGen Management, the UniGen clean energy innovation project has made positive progress, with the first GenSet prototype anticipated to be in operation in a time period likely the first Fiscal Quarter ahead (February 1, 2022 to April 30, 2022). A time delay is related to several factors, including the Covid-19 travel restrictions on UniGen engineers to travel to UniGen China suppliers, time needed to incorporate three additional patentable innovations discovered sourcing more parts in the U.S. to increase supply dependability, and design improvements. Global Supply sources include China, Italy, Israel, and the United States. IHT has confidence in the UniGen technical team based in Detroit and in the encouraging progress to date. UniGen profitability is anticipated to be 12 months into the future, but future high profit potential is encouraging for IHT investors, especially considering 24 months of successful design and development work, now complete.

 

James Wirth (President) and Marc Berg (Executive Vice President) both lack significant control. They hold two of the six Board of Directors seats or 33% and were elected in December 2019 to serve on the board of UPI to closely monitor and assist in the success of this potentially power industry disruptive relatively clean energy generation innovation.

 

ITEM 3. QUANTITATIVE AND QUALITATIVE DISCLOSURES ABOUT MARKET RISK

 

Not required for smaller reporting companies.

 

ITEM 4. CONTROLS AND PROCEDURES

 

Evaluation of Disclosure Controls and Procedures

 

As of the end of the period covered by this report, we conducted an evaluation under the supervision and with the participation of our management, including our principal executive officer and principal financial officer, of the effectiveness of the design and operation of our disclosure controls and procedures. The term “disclosure controls and procedures,” as defined in Rules 13a-15(e) and 15d-15(e) under the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended (the “Exchange Act”), means controls and other procedures of a company that are designed to ensure that information required to be disclosed by the company in the reports it files or submits under the Exchange Act is recorded, processed, summarized and reported, within the time periods specified in the SEC’s rules and forms. Based on this evaluation, our Chief Executive Officer (CEO), and our Chief Financial Officer (CFO), concluded that our disclosure controls and procedures were not fully effective as of October 31, 2021.

 

Our management, including our CEO and CFO, do not expect that our disclosure controls and procedures or our internal controls will prevent all error or fraud. A control system, no matter how well conceived and operated, can provide only reasonable, not absolute, assurance that the objectives of the control system are met. Further, the design of a control system must reflect the fact that there are resource constraints, and the benefits of controls must be considered relative to their costs. Due to the inherent limitations in all control systems, no evaluation of controls can provide absolute assurance that all control issues and instances of fraud, if any, have been detected.

 

Management’s Report on Internal Control Over Financial Reporting

 

Management is responsible for establishing and maintaining adequate internal control over financial reporting and for the assessment of the effectiveness of internal control over financial reporting. Internal control over financial reporting is a process designed by, or under the supervision of the Trust’s CEO and CFO and effected by the Trust’s Board of Trustees, management and other personnel, to provide reasonable assurance regarding the reliability of financial reporting and the preparation of financial statements for external purposes in accordance with U.S. generally accepted accounting principles.

 

Because of its inherent limitations, internal control over financial reporting may not prevent or detect misstatements. Also, projections of any evaluation of effectiveness to future periods are subject to the risk that controls may become inadequate because of changes in conditions, or that the degree of compliance with the policies or procedures may deteriorate.

 

 

Assessment of Internal Control over Financial Reporting

 

Our management assessed the effectiveness of our internal control over financial reporting as of January 31, 2021. In making this assessment, management used the criteria set forth by the Committee of Sponsoring Organizations of the Treadway Commission (“COSO”) in Internal Control - Integrated Framework (2013). Based on management’s assessment, management concluded our internal control over financial reporting was not fully effective as of October 31, 2021.

 

Management’s Remediation Initiatives

 

In an effort to remediate deficiencies and enhance the Trust’s internal control over financial reporting, the Trust made attempts to increase its technical accounting expertise by hiring a new Chief Financial Officer, Corporate Controller, and Staff Accountant with public company reporting experience to assist with the Trust’s technical accounting and internal control issues.

 

We need to take appropriate and reasonable steps to make necessary improvements to our Accounting staff and internal control over financial reporting, which will require management to support the hiring and training of sufficient personnel with appropriate training and expertise in accounting principles generally accepted in the United States. This increase to staffing and training will allow us to make the necessary improvements, including:

 

  Continuing to improve the control environment through (i) being staffed with sufficient number of personnel to address segregation of duties issues, ineffective controls and to perform control monitoring activities, (ii) increasing the level of GAAP knowledge by retaining additional technical accountants, (iii) implementing formal process to account for non-standard transactions, and (iv) implementing and formalizing management oversight of financial reporting at regular intervals;
     
  Continuing to update the documentation of our internal control processes, including implementing formal risk assessment processes and entity level controls;
     
  Implementing control activities that address relevant risks and assure that all transactions are subject to such control activities; Ensure systems that impact financial information and disclosures have effective information technology controls;
     
  Implementing plan to increase oversight and review of ad hoc spreadsheets while also working to reduce their use;
     
 

We are in the process of further enhancing the supervisory procedures to include additional levels of analysis and quality control reviews within the accounting and financial reporting functions;

 

  We previously filled the previously vacant position of Chief Financial Officer (CFO), to assist with the Trust’s internal controls oversight; and
     
  We are in the process of adding 3 additional part time accounting employees.

 

We believe that the remediation measures described above have and will continue to strengthen our internal control over financial reporting and remediate the material weaknesses we have identified. We expect these remediation efforts will be implemented throughout Fiscal Year 2022.

 

Despite the deficiencies reported above, our management believes that our financial statements included in this Quarterly Report on Form 10-Q for the nine months ended October 31, 2021 fairly present in all material respects our financial condition, results of operations and cash flows for the periods presented and that this report does not contain any untrue statement of a material fact or omit to state a material fact necessary to make the statements, in light of the circumstances under which such statements were made, not misleading with respect to the periods covered by this report.

 

Changes in Internal Control over Financial Reporting

 

There were no changes in our internal control over financial reporting during the nine months ended October 31, 2021 that have materially affected, or are reasonably likely to materially affect, our internal control over financial reporting. We have had significant turnover in our accounting department over the last 36 months. Continued training and experience should further assist with the Trust’s stability, technical accounting, and internal control issues.

 

 

PART II

 

OTHER INFORMATION

 

ITEM 1. LEGAL PROCEEDINGS

 

None.

 

ITEM 1A. RISK FACTORS

 

Risks Relating to COVID-19

 

In Fiscal year 2021, ended January 31, 2021, COVID-19 has had a material detrimental impact on our business, financial results and liquidity. Since April 2021 at the start of Fiscal Year 2022, (starting February 1, 2021 and ending January 31, 2022), the current Fiscal Year has shown significantly strong and encouraging recovery.

 

The global spread of COVID-19 has been and continues to be a complex and rapidly evolving situation, with governments, public institutions and other organizations imposing or recommending, and business and individuals implementing, at various times and to varying degrees, restrictions on various activities or other actions to combat its spread, such as restrictions and bans on travel or transportation, limitations on the size of gatherings, closures of or occupancy or other operating limitations on work facilities, schools, public buildings and business, cancellation of events, including sporting events, conferences and meetings, and quarantines and lock-downs. COVID-19 and its consequences have dramatically reduced travel and demand for hotel rooms, which has and will continue to impact our business, operations, and financial results. We believe that it will be some time before lodging demand and revenue level fully recover. Such recovery could vary across markets or regions around the world. The extent to which COVID-19 impacts our business, operations, and financial results, including the duration and magnitude of such effects, will depend on numerous evolving factors that we may not be able to accurately predict or assess, including availability of the Covid-19 vaccine, as well as including the duration and scope of COVID-19 (including the location and extent of resurgences of the virus and the availability of effective treatments or vaccines); the negative impact COVID-19 has on global and regional economies and economic activity, including the duration and magnitude of its impact on unemployment rates and consumer discretionary spending; its short and longer-term impact on the demand for travel, transient and group business, and levels of consumer confidence.

 

ITEM 2. UNREGISTERED SALES OF EQUITY SECURITIES AND USE OF PROCEEDS

 

Holders of the Trust’s Shares of Beneficial Interest are entitled to receive dividends when and if declared by the Board of Trustees of the Trust out of funds legally available. The holders of Shares of Beneficial Interest, upon any liquidation, dissolution or winding-down of the Trust, are entitled to share ratably in any assets remaining after payment in full of all liabilities of the Trust. The Shares of Beneficial Interest possess ordinary voting rights, each share entitling the holder thereof to one vote. Holders of Shares of Beneficial Interest do not have cumulative voting rights in the election of Trustees and do not have preemptive rights.

 

The Board approved removing all restrictions to Class B RRF unit holders to convert, adding potential additional equity.

 

 

ITEM 3. DEFAULTS UPON SENIOR SECURITIES

 

None.

 

ITEM 4. MINE SAFETY DISCLOSURES

 

None.

 

ITEM 5. OTHER INFORMATION

 

None.

 

ITEM 6. EXHIBITS

 

Exhibit No.   Exhibit
     
31.1   Section 302 Certification by Chief Executive Officer
     
31.2   Section 302 Certification by Chief Financial Officer
     
32.1 *   Section 906 Certification of Principal Executive Officer and Principal Financial Officer
     
101   XBRL Exhibits
     
101.INS   XBRL Instance Document
     
101.SCH   XBRL Schema Document
     
101.CAL   XBRL Calculation Linkbase Document
     
101.LAB   XBRL Labels Linkbase Document
     
101.PRE   XBRL Presentation Linkbase Document
     
101.DEF   XBRL Definition Linkbase Document

 

+ Management contract or compensation plan or arrangement.

 

* Furnished, note filed.

 

 

SIGNATURES

 

Pursuant to the requirements of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, the Registrant has duly caused this report to be signed on its behalf by the undersigned thereunto duly authorized.

 

  INNSUITES HOSPITALITY TRUST
   
Date: December 27, 2021 /s/ James F. Wirth
  James F. Wirth
  Chairman and Chief Executive Officer
  (Principal Executive Officer)
   
Date: December 27, 2021 /s/ Sylvin R. Lange
  Sylvin R. Lange
 

Sylvin Lange, Chief Financial Officer

(Principal Financial and Accounting Officer)