China Lodging Group, Limited Reports First Quarter of 2017 Results

• A total of 3,336 hotels or 335,900 hotel rooms in operation as of March 31, 2017.
  
• Net revenues increased 10.8% year-over-year to RMB1,593.1 million (US$231.4 million) ¹ for the first quarter of 2017.
• Adjusted EBITDA (non-GAAP) increased 35.5% year-over-year to RMB373.5 million (US$54.3 million) for the first quarter of 2017.
• Net income attributable to China Lodging Group, Limited was RMB148.1 million (US$21.5 million) for the first quarter of 2017, compared with RMB69.4 million for the first quarter of 2016.
• Basic earnings per ADS² were RMB2.13 (US$0.31) and diluted earnings per ADS were RMB2.06 (US$0.30) for the first quarter of 2017. Excluding share-based compensation expenses, adjusted basic earnings per ADS (non-GAAP) were RMB2.35 (US$0.34) and adjusted diluted earnings per ADS (non-GAAP) were RMB2.28 (US$0.33) for the first quarter of 2017.
• The Company provided guidance for Q2 2017 net revenues growth of 10% to 12%.

SHANGHAI, China, May 10, 2017 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- China Lodging Group, Limited (NASDAQ:HTHT) (“China Lodging Group”, “HuaZhu” or the “Company”), a leading and fast-growing multi-brand hotel group in China, today announced its unaudited financial results for the first quarter ended March 31, 2017.
                                          
Operational Highlights of First Quarter 2017

• During the first quarter of 2017, the Company opened 5 leased and owned hotels and 84 manachised (“franchised-and-managed”) and franchised hotels, and closed 9 leased and owned hotels and 13 manachised and franchised hotels.
  
  
• The ADR, which is defined as the average daily rate for all hotels in operation, was RMB182 in the first quarter of 2017, compared with RMB172 in the first quarter of 2016 and RMB186 in the previous quarter. The year-over-year increase of 5.2% was due to more favorable brand mix with an increased proportion of midscale and upscale hotels. The sequential decrease mainly resulted from seasonality.
  
  
• The occupancy rate for all hotels in operation was 83.9% in the first quarter of 2017, compared with 80.4% in the first quarter of 2016 and 84.7% in the previous quarter. The year-over-year increase was mainly due to the improvement of economy hotels. The sequential decrease resulted mainly from seasonality.
  
  
• RevPAR, defined as revenue per available room for all hotels in operation, was RMB152 in the first quarter of 2017, compared with RMB139 in the first quarter of 2016 and RMB158 in the previous quarter. The year-over-year increase was attributable to both higher ADR and occupancy. The sequential decrease resulted mainly from seasonality.
  
  
• For all hotels which had been in operation for at least 18 months, the same-hotel RevPAR was RMB151 for the first quarter of 2017, representing a 5.8% year-over-year increase, with a 1.8% increase in ADR and a 3.3-percentage-point increase in occupancy rate. The midscale and upscale hotels registered an 9.2% same-hotel RevPAR improvement, with a 6.9% increase in ADR and 1.7-percentage-point increase in occupancy rate.
  
  
• As of March 31, 2017, the Company’s loyalty program had approximately 81.4 million members, who contributed more than 77% of room nights sold during the first quarter of 2017. In the first quarter of 2017, approximately 86% of room nights were sold through the Company’s own channels.

“We are pleased by our performance in the quarter across the board. Our blended RevPAR achieved 9.8% year-over-year growth while same-hotel RevPAR grew by 5.8% for the first quarter. This was mainly driven by our continuous upgrade to HanTing 2.0, coupled with continuously-growing demand for our midscale hotels.” said Ms. Jenny Zhang, Chief Executive Officer of China Lodging Group.
    
First Quarter of 2017 Financial Results

Net revenues for the first quarter of 2017 were RMB1,593.1 million (US$231.4 million), representing a 10.8% year-over-year increase and a 4.6% sequential decrease. The year-over-year increase was primarily due to our hotel network expansion and improved blended RevPAR. The sequential decrease was due to seasonality.

Net revenues from leased and owned hotels for the first quarter of 2017 were RMB1,223.5 million (US$177.7 million), representing a 7.6% year-over-year increase and a 5.2% sequential decrease.

Net revenues from manachised and franchised hotels for the first quarter of 2017 were RMB361.4 million (US$52.5 million), representing a 20.1% year-over-year increase and a 1.8% sequential decrease. Net revenues from manachised and franchised hotels accounted for 22.7% of the Company’s net revenues in the first quarter of 2017, up from 20.9% a year ago.

Other revenues represent revenues generated from other than hotel businesses, which mainly include revenues from HuaZhu mall and the provision of IT products and services to hotels, totalling RMB8.3 million (US$1.2 million) in the first quarter of 2017. 

Hotel operating costs for the first quarter of 2017 were RMB1,199.0 million (US$174.2 million), compared to RMB1,200.5 million in the first quarter of 2016 and RMB1,264.6 million in the previous quarter, representing a 0.1% year-over-year decrease and a 5.2% sequential decrease. Total hotel operating costs excluding share-based compensation expenses (non-GAAP) for the first quarter of 2017 were RMB1,194.3 million (US$173.5 million), representing 75.0% of net revenues, compared to 83.3% for the first quarter in 2016 and 75.5% for the previous quarter. The year-over-year and sequential decrease in the percentage was mainly attributable to the improved blended RevPAR and the maturity of our leased and owned hotels.

Selling and marketing expenses for the first quarter of 2017 were RMB34.3 million (US$5.0 million), compared to RMB33.1 million in the first quarter of 2016 and RMB46.1 million in the previous quarter. Selling and marketing expenses excluding share-based compensation expenses (non-GAAP) for the first quarter of 2017 were RMB34.0 million (US$4.9 million), or 2.2% of net revenues, compared to 2.3% for the first quarter of 2016 and 2.8% for the previous quarter. The sequential decrease was mainly attributable to the lower marketing spending in the first quarter of 2017.

General and administrative expenses for the first quarter of 2017 were RMB165.3 million (US$24.0 million), compared to RMB106.6 million in the first quarter of 2016 and RMB143.4 million in the previous quarter. General and administrative expenses excluding share-based compensation expenses (non-GAAP) for the first quarter of 2017 were RMB154.5 million (US$22.4 million), representing 9.7% of net revenues, compared with 6.6% of net revenues in the first quarter of 2016 and 8.1% in the previous quarter. The year-over-year and sequential increase was mainly due to one-off Crystal Orange Hotels acquisition transaction costs amounting to RMB45.2 million (US$6.6 million), representing 2.8% of net revenues.

Pre-opening expenses for the first quarter of 2017 were RMB24.1 million (US$3.5 million), representing a 9.5% year-over-year increase and a 22.1% sequential increase. The year-over-year and sequential increase in percentage were mainly due to more midscale or upscale leased and owned hotels were under construction in the first quarter of 2017.

Income from operations for the first quarter of 2017 was RMB167.3 million (US$24.3 million), compared to RMB70.8 million in the first quarter of 2016 and RMB185.7 million in the previous quarter. Excluding share-based compensation expenses, adjusted income from operations (non-GAAP) for the first quarter of 2017 was RMB183.1 million (US$26.6 million), compared to adjusted income from operation (non-GAAP) of RMB85.6 million for the first quarter of 2016 and RMB198.2 million for the previous quarter. The adjusted operating margin，defined as adjusted operating income (non-GAAP) as percentage of net revenues, for the first quarter of 2017 was 11.5%, compared with 5.9% in the first quarter of 2016 and 11.8% in the previous quarter. The improved year-over-year adjusted operating margin was mainly attributable to the improved blended RevPAR and VAT deductions.

Net income attributable to China Lodging Group, Limited for the first quarter of 2017 was RMB148.1 million (US$21.5 million), compared to RMB69.4 million in the first quarter of 2016 and RMB125.9 million in the previous quarter. Excluding share-based compensation expenses, adjusted net income attributable to China Lodging Group, Limited (non-GAAP) for the first quarter of 2017 was RMB163.9 million (US$23.8 million), representing a 94.5% year-over-year increase and a 18.4% sequential increase. The year-over-year increase was mainly attributable to our expanded hotel network, the improved blended RevPAR, and VAT deductions.

Basic and diluted earnings per share/ADS.  For the first quarter of 2017, basic earnings per share were RMB0.53 (US$0.08) and diluted earnings per share were RMB0.52 (US$0.07); basic earnings per ADS were RMB2.13 (US$0.31) and diluted earnings per ADS were RMB2.06 (US$0.30). For the first quarter of 2017, excluding share-based compensation expenses, adjusted basic earnings per share (non-GAAP) were RMB0.59 (US$0.09) and adjusted diluted earnings per share (non-GAAP) were RMB0.57 (US$0.08); adjusted basic earnings per ADS (non-GAAP) were RMB2.35 (US$0.34) and adjusted diluted earnings per ADS (non-GAAP) were RMB2.28 (US$0.33).

EBITDA (non-GAAP) for the first quarter of 2017 was RMB357.7 million (US$52.0 million), compared with RMB260.8 million in the first quarter of 2016 and RMB366.8 million in the previous quarter. Excluding share-based compensation expenses, adjusted EBITDA (non-GAAP) for the first quarter of 2017 was RMB373.5 million (US$54.3 million), compared with RMB275.7 million for the first quarter of 2016 and RMB379.3 million for the previous quarter.

Cash flow. Operating cash inflow for the first quarter of 2017 was RMB178.5 million (US$25.9 million). Investing cash outflow for the first quarter was RMB1,064.5 million (US$154.7 million), including a RMB700.0 million (US$101.7 million) deposit paid for the acquisition of Crystal Orange Hotels, which was recorded in other current assets.

Cash and cash equivalents and Restricted cash. As of March 31, 2017, the Company had a total balance of cash and cash equivalents and restricted cash of RMB2,376.0 million (US$345.2 million).

Debt financing. As of March 31, 2017, the Company had a short-term loan balance of RMB296.7 million (US$43.0 million) and the total credit facility available to the Company was RMB750.0 million.

Guidance for Second Quarter of 2017
For the second quarter of 2017, the Company expects net revenues to grow 10% to 12% year-over-year.

The above forecast reflects the Company’s current and preliminary view, which is subject to change.

Conference Call
China Lodging Group's management will host a conference call at 9 p.m. ET, Wednesday, May 10, 2017 (or 9 a.m. on Thursday, May 11, 2017 in the Shanghai/Hong Kong time zone) following the announcement. To participate in the event by telephone, please dial +1 (855) 500 8701 (for callers in the US), +86 400 120 0654 (for callers in China Mainland), +852 3018 6776 (for callers in Hong Kong) or +65 6713 5440 (for callers outside of the US, China Mainland, and Hong Kong) and enter pass code 1174 2446.  Please dial in approximately 10 minutes before the scheduled time of the call.

A recording of the conference call will be available after the conclusion of the conference call through May 18, 2017. Please dial +1 (855) 452 5696 (for callers in the US) or +61 2 9003 4211 (for callers outside the US) and entering pass code 1174 2446.

The conference call will also be webcast live over the Internet and can be accessed by all interested parties at the Company's Web site, http://ir.huazhu.com.

Use of Non-GAAP Financial Measures
To supplement the Company’s unaudited consolidated financial results presented in accordance with U.S. GAAP, the Company uses the following non-GAAP measures defined as non-GAAP financial measures by the SEC: hotel operating costs excluding share-based compensation expenses; general and administrative expenses excluding share-based compensation expenses; selling and marketing expenses excluding share-based compensation expenses; adjusted income from operations excluding share-based compensation expenses; adjusted operating margin excluding share-based compensation expenses; adjusted net income attributable to China Lodging Group, Limited excluding share-based compensation expenses; adjusted basic and diluted earnings per share and per ADS excluding share-based compensation expenses; EBITDA; and adjusted EBITDA excluding share-based compensation expenses. The presentation of these non-GAAP financial measures is not intended to be considered in isolation or as a substitute for the financial information prepared and presented in accordance with U.S. GAAP. For more information on these non-GAAP financial measures, please see the table captioned “Reconciliations of GAAP and non-GAAP results” set forth at the end of this release. The Company believes that these non-GAAP financial measures provide meaningful supplemental information regarding Company performance by excluding share-based compensation expenses that may not be indicative of Company operating performance. The Company believes that both management and investors benefit from referring to these non-GAAP financial measures in assessing Company performance and when planning and forecasting future periods. These non-GAAP financial measures also facilitate management’s internal comparisons to the Company’s historical performance. The Company believes these non-GAAP financial measures are also useful to investors in allowing for greater transparency with respect to supplemental information used regularly by Company management in financial and operational decision-making. A limitation of using non-GAAP financial measures excluding share-based compensation expenses is that share-based compensation expenses have been – and will continue to be – a significant recurring expense in the Company’s business. Management compensates for these limitations by providing specific information regarding the GAAP amounts excluded from each non-GAAP measure. The accompanying tables have more details on the reconciliations between GAAP financial measures that are most directly comparable to non-GAAP financial measures.

The Company believes that EBITDA is a useful financial metric to assess the operating and financial performance before the impact of investing and financing transactions and income taxes, given the significant investments that the Company has made in leasehold improvements, depreciation and amortization expense that comprise a significant portion of the Company’s cost structure. In addition, the Company believes that EBITDA is widely used by other companies in the lodging industry and may be used by investors as a measure of financial performance. The Company believes that EBITDA will provide investors with a useful tool for comparability between periods because it eliminates depreciation and amortization expense attributable to capital expenditures. The Company also uses adjusted EBITDA, which is defined as EBITDA before share-based compensation expenses, to assess operating results of the hotels in operation. The Company believes that the exclusion of share-based compensation expenses helps facilitate year-on-year comparison of the results of operations as the share-based compensation expenses may not be indicative of Company operating performance. Therefore, the Company believes adjusted EBITDA more closely reflects the performance capability of hotels currently in operation. The presentation of EBITDA and adjusted EBITDA should not be construed as an indication that the Company’s future results will be unaffected by other charges and gains considered to be outside the ordinary course of business.

The use of EBITDA and adjusted EBITDA has certain limitations. Depreciation and amortization expense for various long-term assets (including land use rights), income tax, interest expense and interest income have been and will be incurred and are not reflected in the presentation of EBITDA. Share-based compensation expenses have been and will be incurred and are not reflected in the presentation of adjusted EBITDA. Each of these items should also be considered in the overall evaluation of the results. The Company compensates for these limitations by providing the relevant disclosure of the depreciation and amortization, interest income, interest expense, income tax expense, share-based compensation expenses and other relevant items both in the reconciliations to the U.S. GAAP financial measures and in the consolidated financial statements, all of which should be considered when evaluating the performance of the Company.

The terms EBITDA and adjusted EBITDA are not defined under U.S. GAAP, and neither EBITDA nor adjusted EBITDA is a measure of net income, operating income, operating performance or liquidity presented in accordance with U.S. GAAP. When assessing the operating and financial performance, investors should not consider these data in isolation or as a substitute for the Company’s net income, operating income or any other operating performance measure that is calculated in accordance with U.S. GAAP. In addition, the Company’s EBITDA or adjusted EBITDA may not be comparable to EBITDA or adjusted EBITDA – or similarly titled measures utilized by other companies – since such other companies may not calculate EBITDA or adjusted EBITDA in the same manner as the Company does.

Reconciliations of the Company’s non-GAAP financial measures, including EBITDA and adjusted EBITDA, to the consolidated statement of operations information are included at the end of this press release.

About China Lodging Group, Limited
China Lodging Group, Limited is a leading hotel operator and franchisor in China under 12 brand names. As of March 31, 2017, the Company had 3,336 hotels or 335,900 rooms in operation in 369 cities. With a primary focus on economy and midscale hotel segments, China Lodging Group’s brands include Hi Inn, HanTing Hotel, Elan Hotel, JI Hotel, Starway Hotel, Joya Hotel, and Manxin Hotel. The Company also has the rights as master franchisee for Mercure, Ibis and Ibis Styles, and co-development rights for Grand Mercure and Novotel, in Pan-China region.

The Company’s business includes leased and owned, manachised and franchised models. Under the lease and ownership model, the Company directly operates hotels typically located on leased or owned properties. Under the manachise model, the Company manages manachised hotels through the on-site hotel managers it appoints and collects fees from franchisees. Under the franchise model, the Company provides training, reservation and support services to the franchised hotels and collects fees from franchisees but does not appoint on-site hotel managers. The Company applies a consistent standard and platform across all of its hotels. As of March 31, 2017, China Lodging Group operates 23 percent of its hotel rooms under lease and ownership model, 77 percent under manachise and franchise models.

For more information, please visit the Company’s website: http://ir.huazhu.com.

Safe Harbor Statement Under the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995: The information in this release contains forward-looking statements which involve risks and uncertainties, including statements regarding the Company’s capital needs, business strategy and expectations. Any statements contained herein that are not statements of historical fact may be deemed to be forward-looking statements, which may be identified by terminology such as “may,” “should,” “will,” “expect,” “plan,” “intend,” “anticipate,” “believe,” “estimate,” “predict,” “potential,” “forecast,” “project,” or “continue,” the negative of such terms or other comparable terminology. Readers should not rely on forward-looking statements as predictions of future events or results. Any or all of the Company’s forward-looking statements may turn out to be wrong. They can be affected by inaccurate assumptions, risks and uncertainties and other factors which could cause actual events or results to be materially different from those expressed or implied in the forward-looking statements. In evaluating these statements, readers should consider various factors, including the anticipated growth strategies of the Company, the future results of operations and financial condition of the Company, the economic conditions of China, the regulatory environment in China, the Company’s ability to attract customers and leverage its brand, trends and competition in the lodging industry, the expected growth of the lodging market in China and other factors and risks outlined in the Company’s filings with the Securities and Exchange Commission, including its annual report on Form 20-F and other filings. These factors may cause the Company’s actual results to differ materially from any forward-looking statement. In addition, new factors emerge from time to time and it is not possible for the Company to predict all factors that may cause actual results to differ materially from those contained in any forward-looking statements. Any projections in this release are based on limited information currently available to the Company, which is subject to change. This release also contains statements or projections that are based upon information available to the public, as well as other information from sources which the Company believes to be reliable, but it is not guaranteed by the Company to be accurate, nor does the Company purport it to be complete. The Company disclaims any obligation to publicly update any forward-looking statements to reflect events or circumstances after the date of this document, except as required by applicable law.

¹ The conversion of Renminbi (“RMB”) into United States dollars (“US$”) is based on the exchange rate of US$1.00=RMB6.8832 on March 31, 2017 as set forth in H.10 statistical release of the U.S. Federal Reserve Board and available at http://www.federalreserve.gov/releases/h10/hist/dat00_ch.htm.

² Each ADS represents four of the Company’s ordinary shares.

—Financial Tables and Operational Data Follow—