Business headlines
Global constant currency third quarter RevPAR decline of 15.2%.
11,386 net rooms (87 hotels) added in the quarter increasing total system size to 641,086 rooms (4,390 hotels) (an increase of 5% from 30 September 2008).
15,571 rooms (117 hotels) added to the system, 4,185 rooms (30 hotels) removed in line with our quality growth strategy.
16,645 rooms (99 hotels) signed, taking the pipeline to 218,181 rooms (1,513 hotels).
Operating profit benefited by $10m from a reassessment of likely payments under certain incentive plans.
Exceptional operating costs of $44m include a $21m non-cash goodwill write down and $18m of severance costs.
Recent trading
October global constant currency RevPAR decline of 13.5%, -14.5% Americas, -12.7% EMEA and –9.9% Asia Pacific, reflecting weaker comparables in the prior year period.
Update on priorities
Reduce costs. Continued focus on improving operational efficiency. IHG remains on track to achieve savings in regional and central costs of around $80m in the full year 2009 of which at least $40m will be sustainable savings. As previously announced, by the end of 2010 compared to 2008 levels, IHG expects to achieve sustainable cost savings of between $65m and $70m.
Open rooms. Currently 80,000 rooms under construction. Around 10,000 rooms scheduled to open in the balance of the year (42,527 rooms opened year to date).
Drive share. IHG's brands outperformed the market by 4.5 percentage points in fastest growing APAC region and US RevPAR outperformed by 1.2 percentage points.
Relaunch Holiday Inn. 1,378 hotels operating under the new standards (41% of the total estate). Consumer marketing campaign launched globally.
Commenting on the results, Andrew Cosslett, Chief Executive of InterContinental Hotels Group PLC said:
"The trading environment remains challenging. We see signs of occupancy stabilising, but rate is still under considerable pressure across the board.
“Our signings pace remains impacted by the continued scarcity of financing for hotel developments. We are taking action to improve our operating efficiency and support the performance of our hotels; the relaunch of Holiday Inn is gaining pace and continues to make a significant difference to the prospects of our biggest brand.
“The partnership we enjoy with our owners has been a key factor in our system’s resilience through this downturn and underpins our optimism for the future. This unique relationship combined with our global scale, diverse brand portfolio, fee based business model and powerful system positions us to lead the industry when the upturn comes."
Americas
Revenue performance
RevPAR declined 15.5% in the third quarter with US RevPAR falling 15.7%. Revenues declined 19% to $206m.
Operating profit performance
Operating profit declined 36% from $129m to $82m. Operating profit in the owned and leased hotels fell from $13m to $3m driven by an overall RevPAR decline of 22.6% and a particularly tough trading environment in New York. Operating profit in the managed business declined by $24m to a loss of $12m in the quarter, driven by a 20.0% drop in RevPAR which resulted in IHG continuing to fund shortfalls to the owner’s priority return on a number of hotels managed for one owner. This operating profit decline is in line with the disclosed sensitivity that a 1% change in RevPAR has a $4m impact on annual operating profit in the Americas managed business. Franchised hotels’ operating profit decreased by 13% to $104m driven by a decline in royalty fees of 10% and a 48% reduction in initial franchising, relicensing and termination fees.
EMEA
Revenue performance
RevPAR declined 15.2% in the third quarter driven primarily by rate. The UK and France saw the smallest declines with RevPAR down 11.2% and 10.2% respectively. Excluding one $7m liquidated damages receipt in the third quarter of 2008, revenues declined 22% to $101m (15% decline at constant exchange rates (CER)).
Operating profit performance
Operating profit declined 8% (3% CER), excluding the $7m liquidated damages receipt in the third quarter of 2008, to $36m. Owned and leased hotels’ operating profit was down only $2m to $12m with an improved trading environment at the InterContinental Le Grand, Paris and a relatively strong performance at the InterContinental London, Park Lane. A 17.7% RevPAR decline across the European estate drove managed hotels’ operating profit to decrease by $4m to $15m, but margins were held flat at constant currency. Excluding the $7m liquidated damages receipt in the third quarter of 2008, franchised hotels’ operating profit declined by $2m to $16m (6% at CER) driven by a RevPAR decline of 15.4% partially offset by a 6% increase in room count.
Asia Pacific
Revenue performance
RevPAR declined 13.4% driven entirely by rate with occupancy improving by 1.3 percentage points. Greater China RevPAR declined 19.8%, which was four percentage points better than in the second quarter and showed occupancy growth for the first time this year. Excluding one $4m liquidated damages receipt received in the third quarter of 2008, revenues declined 10% to $62m (13% at CER).
Operating profit performance
Excluding the liquidated damages receipt received in 2008, operating profit increased by 21% (14% CER) from $14m to $17m. Operating profit at owned and leased hotels decreased by $2m to $5m driven by a 22.3% RevPAR decline at the InterContinental Hong Kong. Managed hotels’ operating profit increased by $1m to $18m (0% at CER), with a 13.4% RevPAR decline offset both by the contribution from 12% more rooms and cost benefits from the reorganisation of the region.
Interest and tax
The interest charge for the quarter fell $15m to $13m due to a reduction in interest rates and lower average net debt.
Based on the position at the end of the quarter, the tax charge has been calculated using an estimated annual tax rate of 19% (Q3 2008: 25%). The reported tax rate may continue to vary year-on-year but is expected to increase in the medium to long term.
Cash flow & net debt
Growth capital expenditure of $81m included $65m payment on completion of the Hotel Indigo San Diego which opened in July. Maintenance capital expenditure was $15m and, as disclosed previously, the full year amount is expected to be c.$75m, down 25% on 2008 levels.
IHG's net debt was reduced to $1.2bn at the end of the quarter, including the $204m finance lease on the InterContinental Boston. IHG remains well placed in terms of its banking facilities, with a $1.6bn revolving credit facility expiring May 2013 and a $0.5bn term loan expiring November 2010.
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