Mark S. Hoplamazian, President and Chief Executive Officer of Hyatt, said, "We reported solid third quarter results, with gross fee revenues reaching $268 million. Our pipeline reached a new record of approximately 135,000 rooms, increasing 10% year-over-year.
Hyatt Hotels Corporation ("Hyatt" or the "Company") (NYSE: H) today reported third quarter 2024 results. Highlights include:
Mark S. Hoplamazian, President and Chief Executive Officer of Hyatt, said, "We reported solid third quarter results, with gross fee revenues reaching $268 million. Our pipeline reached a new record of approximately 135,000 rooms, increasing 10% year-over-year, and World of Hyatt membership expanded to a record of 51 million members, growing a remarkable 22% year-over-year. Our operating results and capital allocation strategy, including the completion of our 2021 asset-disposition commitment, acquisition of Standard International, and planned joint venture transaction to manage Bahia Principe branded hotels and resorts, demonstrate the strength of our asset-light earnings model leading to the return of over $1.2 billion to shareholders through share repurchases and dividends so far this year."
Segment Results and Highlights
Management and franchising: Results reflected strong business transient and group travel demand during the third quarter. In the United States, performance was driven by business transient and group travel while leisure was impacted by renovations, weather, and increased international outbound to Europe and Asia Pacific (excluding Greater China). In Europe, RevPAR increased 15% during the period, bolstered by the Summer Olympics in Paris. Greater China continued to experience meaningful international outbound travel to other markets within Asia, with RevPAR in Asia Pacific (excluding Greater China) up 10% during the quarter.
Owned and leased: Adjusted EBITDA in the third quarter increased 13% compared to the third quarter of 2023, when adjusted for the net impact of transactions. Comparable margins increased 210 bps compared to the third quarter of 2023, led by strong ADR from the Democratic National Convention in Chicago and the Summer Olympics in Paris.
Distribution: Results for the third quarter reflect more seasonal booking patterns compared to last year and the impact of Hurricanes Beryl and Helene, partially offset by Mr & Mrs Smith commissions and certain ALG Vacations travel credits. Excluding the impact of the UVC Transaction, Adjusted EBITDA decreased $5 million.
Openings and Development
In the third quarter, 16 new hotels (or 2,589 rooms) joined Hyatt's portfolio. Notable openings included Alila Shanghai, Brunfels Hotel, part of The Unbound Collection by Hyatt, Grand Hyatt Kunming, and Park Hyatt Marrakech. During the quarter, the Company announced its exclusive alliance with Under Canvas with 13 outdoor resorts, including ULUM Moab.
As of September 30, 2024, the Company had a pipeline of executed management or franchise contracts for approximately 690 hotels (approximately 135,000 rooms).
Transactions and Capital Strategy
As a result of the previously announced sale of Hyatt Regency Orlando and an adjacent undeveloped land parcel on August 16, 2024, the Company exceeded its $2 billion asset-disposition commitment announced in August 2021. The Company has realized $2.6 billion of gross proceeds, net of acquisitions, at a 13.3x multiple over the three-year period and expects to exceed 80% asset-light earnings mix in 2025.
Additionally, as previously announced, the Company closed on the acquisition of Standard International on October 1, 2024 for approximately $150 million with up to an additional $185 million of contingent consideration.
On October 28, 2024, the Company announced plans to enter into a long-term, asset-light joint venture with Grupo Piñero, investing €359 million at closing for 50% of the joint venture plus an additional €60 million when certain conditions are met (the "Bahia Principe Transaction"). This transaction is expected to close in the coming months subject to customary closing conditions, and upon closing, will add 23 all-inclusive resorts (or approximately 12,000 rooms) to Hyatt's managed portfolio.
Balance Sheet and Liquidity
As of September 30, 2024, the Company reported the following:
During the third quarter, the Company repurchased a total of 2,858,280 shares of Class A common stock for approximately $407 million and a total of 1,642,251 shares of Class B common stock for approximately $250 million. As of September 30, 2024, the Company has approximately $982 million remaining under the share repurchase authorization.
The Company's board of directors has declared a cash dividend of $0.15 per share for the fourth quarter of 2024. The dividend is payable on December 6, 2024 to Class A and Class B stockholders of record as of November 22, 2024.