10. RETIREMENT AND POSTRETIREMENT BENEFITS OTHER THAN PENSION PLANS:

Net periodic pension expense reflected in the accompanying condensed consolidated statements of operations included the following components for the respective periods (in thousands):


	Three Months Ended September 30,						Nine Months Ended September 30,
	2013			2012			2013			2012
Interest cost	$	999		$	1,086		$	2,939		$	3,260
Expected return on plan assets		(1,312	)		(1,173	)		(3,886	)		(3,519	)
Recognized net actuarial loss		242			1,170			822			3,510
Net settlement loss		188			—			1,478			—

Total net periodic pension expense	$	117		$	1,083		$	1,353		$	3,251

As a result of increased lump-sum distributions from the Company’s qualified retirement plan during 2013, partially due to the transfer of a large number of the retirement plan participants to Marriott in connection with the REIT conversion, which resulted in an increase in the number of participants eligible for distributions, a net settlement loss of $0.2 million and $1.5 million was recognized in the three months and nine months ended September 30, 2013, respectively. Approximately $0.7 million of the net settlement loss in the nine months ended September 30, 2013 related to lump-sum distributions to former employees affected by the REIT conversion and has been classified as REIT conversion costs. Approximately $0.2 million and $0.8 million of the net settlement loss in the three months and nine months ended September 30, 2013, respectively, related to lump-sum distributions to former employees not affected by the REIT conversion and has been classified as corporate operating expenses.

In addition, the increase in lump-sum distributions required the Company to re-measure its liability under its pension plan as of May 31, 2013. As a result of the lump-sum distributions and an increase in the plan’s assumed discount rate from 3.6% at December 31, 2012 to 4.0% at May 31, 2013, the Company recorded a $9.5 million reduction in its liability under the plan, which was recorded as a decrease in other liabilities and accumulated other comprehensive loss in the accompanying condensed consolidated balance sheet as of September 30, 2013.

Net postretirement benefit expense reflected in the accompanying condensed consolidated statements of operations included the following components for the respective periods (in thousands):


	Three Months Ended September 30,						Nine Months Ended September 30,
	2013			2012			2013			2012
Service cost	$	—		$	14		$	—		$	43
Interest cost		49			254			146			761
Amortization of net actuarial loss		120			176			358			528
Amortization of prior service credit		(333	)		(130	)		(998	)		(391	)

Total net postretirement benefit expense	$	(164	)	$	314		$	(494	)	$	941