Exhibit 99.1
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[GRAPHIC OMITED]
HERSHA HOSPITALITY TRUST
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148 Sheraton Drive
New Cumberland, PA 17070
Phone: 717-770-2406
Fax: 717-774-0461
www.hersha.com
For Immediate Release
Contact: Chris Daly or Jerry Daly (media) Ashish Parikh, CFO (investors)
Ph: (703) 435-6293 Ph: (717) 770-2405
HERSHA HOSPITALITY TRUST ANNOUNCES PRELIMINARY FOURTH QUARTER AND FULL-YEAR
RESULTS
HARRISBURG, Pa., March 1, 2004-Hersha Hospitality Trust (AMEX: HT), a real
estate investment trust (REIT) and owner of nationally franchised, premium,
limited-service hotels, today released preliminary results for the fourth
quarter and year ended December 31, 2003. The company will announce its final
results for both periods on March 17, 2004 during an 11:00 a.m. conference call.
HIGHLIGHTS
- Funds from operations (FFO) for the 2003 fourth quarter increased to $1.74
million from $1.67 million for the same period a year earlier. On a per
share basis, FFO for the 2003 fourth quarter was $0.10 on 17,497,230
weighted average shares outstanding, compared to $0.22 cents per share on
7,676,585 weighted average shares outstanding during the fourth quarter of
2002. The difference in the shares outstanding is a result of a 9.775
million share follow-on stock offering in October 2003, which impacted the
common shares outstanding and the FFO/FFO per share for the 2003 fourth
quarter and full year.
- FFO for the 12 months ended December 31, 2003, increased to $9.0 million
from $8.3 million the prior year. FFO per share was $0.81 on 11,137,894
weighted average shares outstanding, compared to $1.09 per share on
7,619,542 weighted average shares outstanding for the previous year.
- For the three months ended December 31, 2003, occupancy reached 59.9
percent, up 3.7 percent, compared to the 2002 fourth quarter. Average daily
rate (ADR) rose to $80.76, a 1.1 percent increase over the previous year.
Together, these results produced systemwide RevPAR of $48.35, an increase
of 4.9 percent, compared to last year's fourth quarter.
- For the full-year 2003, RevPAR increased 3.6 percent to $54.10, based on a
2.5 percent increase in occupancy to 65.5 percent and a 1.1 percent rise in
ADR to $82.56.
- The company's portfolio outperformed its competitive set in both the fourth
quarter and for the full year. According to Smith Travel Research, Hersha's
portfolio achieved 105.8 percent and 107.7 percent market share for the
2003 fourth quarter and full year, respectively.
- Excluding its Georgia properties, Hersha's hotel portfolio achieved fourth
quarter RevPAR of $50.92, based on occupancy of 61.1 percent and ADR of
$83.41. The company's four Georgia properties particularly were hard hit by
the economic downturn, but recently have changed management entities to
Hersha Hospitality Management, a mid-size, independent hotel management
company.
- On a same-store basis for the 12 months ended December 31, 2003, excluding
the Georgia hotels, RevPAR improved 4.6 percent to $57.17, on a 3.9 percent
increase in occupancy to 66.2 percent and a 0.8 percent increase in average
daily rate to $86.43.
"2003 was a challenging but positive year for Hersha Hospitality Trust,"
concluded Jay H. Shah, president and chief operating officer. "We believe the
hotel industry is poised for a recovery and that we are well-positioned to
benefit from it. But we are not resting on our laurels. Already in 2004 we
have made some strong additions to our management team and acquired another
hotel. We will continue to work hard to achieve superior returns for our
investors."
Hersha Hospitality Trust is a self-advised real estate investment trust
that owns premium limited and full service hotels in the eastern United States
with strong, national franchise affiliations. The company focuses on
acquisition and joint venture opportunities in primary and secondary markets
near major metropolitan markets.
This press release contains forward-looking statements about Hersha
Hospitality Trust, including those statements regarding future operating
results, the timing and composition of revenues and expected proceeds from asset
sales, among others. Except for historical information, the matters discussed in
this press release are forward-looking statements that are subject to certain
risks and uncertainties that could cause the actual results to differ
materially, including the following: the continuing sluggishness of the national
economy; economic conditions generally and the real estate market specifically;
the effect of threats of terrorism and increased security precautions on travel
patterns and demand for hotels; the threatened or actual outbreak of hostilities
and international political instability; governmental actions;
legislative/regulatory changes, including changes to laws governing the taxation
of REITs; level of proceeds from asset sales; cash available for capital
expenditures; availability of capital; ability to refinance debt; rising
interest rates; rising insurance premiums; competition; supply and demand for
hotel rooms in our current and proposed market areas, including the existing and
continuing weakness in business travel and lower-than expected daily room rates;
other factors that may influence the travel industry, including health, safety
and economic factors; and changes in generally accepted accounting principles,
policies and guidelines applicable to REITs. Additional risks are discussed in
the company's filings with the Securities and Exchange Commission. Although the
company believes the expectations reflected in such forward-looking statements
are based upon reasonable assumptions, it can give no assurance that the
expectations will be attained or that any deviation will not be material. These
statements are made as of the date of this press release, and we undertake no
obligation to publicly update or revise any forward-looking statement, whether
as a result of new information, future events or otherwise.
HERSHA HOSPITALITY TRUST
SAME STORE RESULTS
TWELVE THREE
MONTHS MONTHS
ENDED ENDED
12/31/03 VARIANCE 12/31/03 VARIANCE
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Rooms Available 576,464 145,774
Rooms Occupied 377,774 87,271
Occupancy 65.53% 2.47% 59.87% 3.71%
ADR $ 82.56 1.12% $ 80.76 1.14%
RevPar $ 54.10 3.62% $ 48.35 4.89%
Room Revenue $31,189,081 $7,048,132
Total Revenue $34,976,015 $9,096,527
TWELVE THREE
MONTHS MONTHS
ENDED ENDED
12/31/02 12/31/02
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Rooms Available 574,785 145,432
Rooms Occupied 367,595 83,952
Occupancy 63.95% 57.73%
ADR $ 81.64 $ 79.85
RevPar $ 52.21 $ 46.10
Room Revenue $30,011,997 $6,703,741
Total Revenue $33,375,344 $8,285,252