- Same store revenue per available room (“RevPAR”) for the quarter up 3% in local currency and down 2% in US dollars
- Second quarter total revenue before real estate down 2% to $163.8 million from $167.8 million
- Second quarter revenue from owned hotels down 4% to $130.7 million from $135.6 million
- Adjusted EBITDA before real estate for the second quarter down 3% to $41.5 million from $42.7 million
- Adjusted net earnings from continuing operations for the second quarter up to $14.8 million from $10.2 million
- Opened Palacio Nazarenas, a 55-key all-suite hotel in Cuzco, Peru
- Entered into agreements to sell The Observatory Hotel in Sydney and The Westcliff in Johannesburg
Orient-Express Hotels Ltd. (NYSE: OEH, http://www.orient-express.com) (the “Company”), owners or part-owners and managers of 46 luxury hotel, restaurant, tourist train and river cruise properties operating in 23 countries, today announced its results for the second quarter ended June 30, 2012.
“We have experienced a challenging second quarter,” said Philip Mengel, Director and Interim Chief Executive Officer. “The continued economic uncertainty in the Eurozone has affected demand for luxury travel from European sources, and the weakening of the euro and other currencies against the dollar has reduced the dollar value of our revenues.
“Despite these challenges,” Mr. Mengel continued, “we are pleased that our underlying revenue in local currencies has continued to grow. Excluding the effects of currency movements, total revenue before real estate for the second quarter was $6.1 million, or 4%, ahead of the second quarter of 2011. If we look forward, total owned hotels’ revenue on the books for the full year 2012 shows a 5% increase compared to 2011 when the effects of currency are excluded.
“Our strategy to redeploy capital from non-core properties is proceeding on plan. We have recently announced agreements to sell The Observatory Hotel and The Westcliff. The sale proceeds will be allocated to debt reduction, corporate liquidity and our active program of investments in core properties. In June, our Peruvian hotel joint venture opened Palacio Nazarenas, an all-suite property in Cuzco, Peru, and we have exciting revenue-enhancing investment projects in progress across the portfolio.”
Second Quarter 2012 Earnings Summary
Revenue before real estate was $163.8 million in the second quarter of 2012, down $4.0 million or 2% from $167.8 million in the second quarter of 2011. Excluding the effects of weaker local currencies compared to the US dollar, revenue before real estate was $6.1 million or 4% ahead of the second quarter in the prior year.
Revenue from owned hotels for the second quarter was $130.7 million, down $4.9 million or 4% from $135.6 million in the second quarter of 2011. On a same store basis, owned hotels RevPAR was up 3% in local currency and down 2% in US dollars.
Trains & cruises revenue in the second quarter was $27.0 million compared to $25.3 million in the second quarter of 2011, an increase of 7%.
Adjusted EBITDA before real estate was $41.5 million for the second quarter, down $1.2 million from $42.7 million in the prior year period. The principal increases were in the Company’s share of earnings from PeruRail (up $2.1 million compared to the same period in the prior year) and earnings from Venice Simplon-Orient-Express (up $1.0 million). Other improvements included the two Sicilian properties (up $0.9 million) and La Samanna, St. Martin (up $0.8 million), offset by decreases at Grand Hotel Europe, St. Petersburg, (down $1.3 million), Hotel Cipriani, Venice (down $1.2 million), Copacabana Palace, Rio de Janeiro (down $0.8 million), and an increase in central overheads of $0.9 million.
Adjusted EBITDA for the second quarter includes an add-back of share-based compensation costs of $1.6 million (2011 – $2.0 million). Revenue and adjusted EBITDA before real estate do not include the results of The Observatory Hotel, Sydney, and The Westcliff, Johannesburg, both of which have been moved to discontinued operations.
Adjusted net earnings from continuing operations for the second quarter were $14.8 million ($0.14 per common share) compared with $10.2 million ($0.10 per common share) in the second quarter of 2011. This increase was in part due to a $4.7 million reduction in interest expense compared to the second quarter of 2011.
Company Highlights
On June 15th, the Company’s 50% Peru hotels joint venture opened its latest property, Palacio Nazarenas. The 55-key luxury urban retreat and former 16th century convent in Cuzco features oxygenated suites, a full-service spa offering a range of indigenous products, iPads for each room loaded with insider city guides, Cuzco’s first outdoor swimming pool, and an all-day dining experience showcasing contemporary Andean cuisine by exciting young Peruvian chef, Virgilio Martinez. During the four-year renovation process, archaeologists discovered many Incan artifacts, several of which are on display in the hotel. Incan walls uncovered during excavations are preserved beneath glass floors in the spa’s treatment rooms.
During the quarter, the Company entered into an agreement to sell The Observatory Hotel. The proceeds of the sale will be used to repay debt of $10.9 million, with the balance held in cash or reinvested in the Company’s portfolio. Orient-Express will continue to operate the hotel until the expected closing of the transaction in mid-August 2012.
In July, the Company also entered into an agreement to sell The Westcliff. The transaction, which is conditional on the satisfaction of certain regulatory approvals, is expected to close by the end of the year. Under the terms of that transaction, Orient-Express has agreed to remain as manager of The Westcliff for a maximum period of twelve months from completion while the new owner develops its long-term refurbishment plans.
Total gross proceeds from the sale of these two properties are expected to be $66.0 million. During the second quarter, $2.5 million cash was received from the completion of the sale of Bora Bora Lagoon Resort & Spa.
The Company commenced in June the refurbishment of 121 rooms and suites in the main building of the Copacabana Palace. As part of the three-month project, which is being carried out during the hotel’s traditional low season, the lobby area will be enlarged and arrival experience improved. This project is the second phase of a major investment project started in the fourth quarter of 2011 when the Company refurbished 26 rooms and suites on the fifth floor of the main building, as well as the Cipriani restaurant.
The Company will also complete the refurbishment of public areas and additional rooms at La Samanna during the third quarter, and has recently committed to refurbish rooms in the Oasis Wing of Mount Nelson Hotel in Cape Town, as well as ongoing improvements to the Company’s three safari camps in Botswana. During August, the Company will complete a major renovation of the ballroom at the ’21’ Club in New York that will enhance the space for events and celebrations.
In May, the Company introduced a new Orient-Express.com website, integrating responsive web design to deliver a seamless experience across all devices and platforms, from smartphones and tablets to internet-enabled televisions. The project consolidated the Company’s communications and commercial channels around its recently upgraded booking engine and is part of an overall strategy to speak to new audiences and markets while achieving efficiency of message and content across the Company. Features of the new design include real time social media feeds and TripAdvisor reviews, enhanced online reservation capabilities and greater access to recommended travel experiences across the Company’s portfolio.
Operating Performance
Europe:
In the second quarter, revenue from owned hotels was $70.9 million, down $5.8 million or 8% from $76.7 million in the second quarter of 2011. This decrease is largely attributable to a weaker euro, which lost 11% of its value from the same time last year compared to the US dollar. Excluding the effects of currency movements, the underlying revenue in local currencies was $2.3 million ahead of the second quarter of 2011, led by the two Sicilian properties where the refurbishments have had a positive effect on demand from higher-spending clientele.
Same store RevPAR in Europe was flat compared to the prior year in local currency and down 7% in US dollars, where a weaker euro contributed to a 3% drop in average daily rate (“ADR”).
EBITDA for the quarter was $26.8 million, down $2.0 million from $28.8 million in the second quarter of 2011. Excluding the effects of weaker local currencies, EBITDA was $1.1 million ahead of the second quarter of 2011. The growth in underlying trading was primarily driven by the two Sicilian properties, Villa San Michele, Florence and Grand Hotel Europe.
North America:
Revenue from owned hotels for the quarter was $30.0 million, up $2.3 million or 8% from $27.7 million in the second quarter of 2011. The growth was spread across most properties but continued to be led by Charleston Place where strong results were driven by corporate and group business. Same store RevPAR in the region increased by 9% in US dollars due to a 7% increase in ADR and a 2 percentage point improvement in occupancy.
EBITDA in North America grew by 30% to $6.9 million compared to $5.3 million in the second quarter of 2011. This EBITDA growth included $0.6 million at Charleston Place and $0.8 million at La Samanna where the 2011 investment in rooms had a positive effect. There was also a $0.3 million increase in EBITDA at the two Mexican properties.
Rest of World:
Southern Africa:
Second quarter revenue from owned hotels was $3.6 million, down $0.4 million or 10% from $4.0 million in the second quarter of 2011. Same store RevPAR was up 19% in local currency and down 3% in US dollars due to currency movements affecting ADR in US dollar terms. EBITDA was a loss of $0.5 million compared to an EBITDA loss of $0.8 million in the second quarter of 2011, as the properties benefited from labor and other cost savings.
South America:
Second quarter revenue from owned hotels was $20.0 million, down $1.7 million or 8% from $21.7 million in the second quarter of 2011. This decrease included a $0.5 million increase at Hotel das Cataratas, Iguassu, offset by a decrease of $2.3 million at Copacabana Palace. Compared to the second quarter of 2011, the Brazilian real depreciated by 23% versus the US dollar, negatively impacting the revenue reported by the Brazilian hotels.
Same store RevPAR in the region decreased by 2% in US dollars as a result of a 6% decrease in ADR offset by an increase in occupancy to 61% from 59% in the second quarter of 2011.
EBITDA for the quarter was $4.3 million, a decrease of $0.3 million compared to $4.6 million in the second quarter of last year. This was due to an increase of $0.6 million at Hotel das Cataratas where business from the domestic Brazilian market was strong, offset by a decrease of $0.8 million at Copacabana Palace.
Asia-Pacific:
Revenue for the second quarter of 2012 was $6.3 million, an increase of $0.8 million or 15% compared to $5.5 million in the second quarter of 2011. Revenue growth in the region was led by Napasai, Koh Samui (up $0.5 million), which benefited from its new lagoon, and The Governor’s Residence, Yangon (up $0.4 million), as Myanmar further opens up to international tourism, which is expected to continue due to the recent relaxing of US restrictions in the country. Same store RevPAR increased by 15% in US dollars due to a 9% increase in ADR in US dollar terms and an additional 2 percentage point increase in occupancy compared to the second quarter of 2011.
EBITDA was $1.3 million compared to $1.2 million in the second quarter of 2011.
Hotel management & part-ownership interests:
EBITDA for the second quarter of 2012 was $1.6 million compared to $2.5 million in the second quarter of 2011. The quarterly result included a $0.7 million decline from Hotel Ritz, Madrid, which has struggled in the difficult economic conditions prevailing in Spain.
Restaurants:
Revenue from ’21’ Club in the second quarter of 2012 was $3.9 million compared to $4.1 million in the same quarter of 2011, due to temporary noise disruption from neighboring construction. EBITDA was $0.5 million compared to an EBITDA loss of $0.4 million in the same quarter of 2011 due to a non-recurring legal settlement of $1.0 million recorded in the second quarter of 2011.
Trains & cruises:
Revenue increased by $1.7 million or 7% to $27.0 million in the second quarter of 2012 from $25.3 million in the prior year period, largely due to a $2.1 million increase from the Company’s PeruRail joint venture generated by increased passenger numbers and a $1.1 million increase from the Venice Simplon-Orient-Express, which is on target to achieve a record year.
EBITDA was $8.0 million compared to $6.1 million in the second quarter of 2011. This improvement was largely due to a $2.1 million increase in share of results from PeruRail and a $1.0 million increase from Venice Simplon-Orient-Express compared to the second quarter of 2011.
Central costs:
In the second quarter of 2012, central overheads were $8.0 million compared with $6.6 million in the prior year period. This increase was attributable to a $0.5 million increase in cash compensation costs, a $0.8 million increase in legal and professional fees and a $0.5 million receivable write-off (a non-recurring item added back for the purposes of calculating adjusted EBITDA).
In addition, the Company incurred $1.6 million of non-cash share-based compensation expense compared to $2.0 million in the second quarter of 2011. Starting in the second quarter of 2012, the Company has begun adding back share-based compensation costs in calculating adjusted EBITDA before real estate and adjusted net earnings from continuing operations.
The Company incurred $0.3 million of central marketing costs, as it continued to invest in developing awareness of the Orient-Express brand.
Real estate:
In the second quarter of 2012, there was an EBITDA loss of $1.5 million from real estate activities, related to Porto Cupecoy, Sint Maarten, compared with a loss of $1.9 million in the second quarter of 2011. One condominium unit was sold at Porto Cupecoy during the quarter, bringing cumulative sales at the end of the quarter to 118, or 64% of the total number of units.
Depreciation and amortization:
The depreciation and amortization charge for the second quarter of 2012 was $10.5 million, down from $10.9 million in the second quarter of 2011.
Interest:
The interest charge for the second quarter of 2012 was $6.4 million, down $4.7 million from $11.1 million in the prior year quarter. This decrease was due to the reduction in net debt over the last twelve months, a non-recurring charge of $1.7 million in the second quarter of 2011 related to the write-off of deferred finance costs and $1.0 million of interest capitalized in the second quarter of 2012 in relation to the construction at El Encanto, Santa Barbara, compared to $nil in the second quarter of 2011.
Tax:
The tax charge for the second quarter of 2012 was $7.5 million compared to a charge of $10.0 million in the same quarter in the prior year. The primary reason for the movement was that the charge in the second quarter of 2012 included a deferred tax credit of $2.4 million arising in respect of fixed asset timing differences following depreciation of local currencies against the US dollar, compared to a charge of $1.0 million in the second quarter of 2011.
Investment:
The Company invested a total of $26.0 million during the second quarter of 2012, including $10.6 million for the ongoing restoration of El Encanto, $2.1 million primarily related to the construction of five new suites at Hotel Splendido, Portofino, $2.6 million primarily for the ongoing refurbishment of Copacabana Palace, $1.7 million for completing the remaining works at the two Sicilian properties and the balance for routine capital expenditures.
Balance Sheet
At June 30, 2012, the Company had long-term debt (including the current portion and debt of consolidated variable interest entities) of $615.1 million, working capital loans of $0.5 million and cash balances of $86.1 million (including $14.5 million of restricted cash), resulting in total net debt of $529.5 million compared with total net debt of $531.1 million at the end of 2011. At June 30, 2012, the ratio of net debt to trailing 12-month adjusted EBITDA (before real estate) was 4.5 times.
Undrawn amounts available to the Company at June 30, 2012 under short-term lines of credit were $3.9 million, bringing total cash availability (excluding restricted cash) at June 30, 2012 to $75.5 million.
At June 30, 2012, approximately 50% of the Company’s debt was at fixed interest rates and 50% was at floating interest rates. The weighted average maturity of the debt was approximately 2.8 years and the weighted average interest rate was approximately 4.2%. The Company had $114.7 million of debt repayments due within 12 months. These amounts are expected to be met through a combination of operating cash flow, proceeds from divestments of non-core assets, refinancing of the facilities and utilization of available cash.
Source: Orient-Express Hotels Ltd (Full Article)