INTANGIBLE ASSETS AND GOODWILL

12 Months Ended

Dec. 31, 2019

Goodwill and Intangible Assets Disclosure [Abstract]

INTANGIBLE ASSETS AND GOODWILL

INTANGIBLE ASSETS AND GOODWILL

The following table details the composition of our intangible assets at year-end 2019 and 2018:

($ in millions)	At Year-End 2019			At Year-End 2018
Definite-lived Intangible Assets
Costs incurred to obtain contracts with customers	$	1,588		$	1,347
Contracts acquired in business combinations and other	1,972			1,983
	3,560			3,330
Accumulated amortization	(808		)	(674		)
	2,752			2,656
Indefinite-lived Intangible Brand Assets	5,889			5,724
	$	8,641		$	8,380

We capitalize direct costs that we incur to obtain management, franchise, and license agreements. We amortize these costs on a straight-line basis over the initial term of the agreements, ranging from 15 to 30 years.

For acquired definite-lived intangible assets, we recorded amortization expense of $105 million in 2019, $111 million in 2018, and $116 million in 2017 in the “Depreciation, amortization, and other” caption of our Income Statements. For these assets, we estimate that our aggregate amortization expense will be $102 million for each of the next five fiscal years.

The following table details the carrying amount of our goodwill at year-end 2019 and 2018:

($ in millions)	North American Full-Service		North American Limited-Service		Asia Pacific		Other International			Total Goodwill
Balance at year-end 2018	$	3,566	$	1,755	$	1,862	$	1,856		$	9,039
Foreign currency translation	10		7		2		(10		)	9
Balance at year-end 2019	$	3,576	$	1,762	$	1,864	$	1,846		$	9,048