
2.	Summary of Significant Accounting Policies

We have condensed or omitted certain information and footnote disclosures normally included in financial statements presented in accordance with GAAP in the accompanying unaudited condensed consolidated financial statements. We believe the disclosures made herein are adequate to prevent the information presented from being misleading. However, the financial statements should be read in conjunction with the consolidated financial statements and notes thereto included in our Annual Report on Form 10–K for the year ended December 31, 2017.

The preparation of financial statements in conformity with GAAP requires management to make estimates and assumptions that affect the reported amounts of assets and liabilities and disclosure of contingent assets and liabilities at the date of the financial statements and the reported amounts of revenues and expenses during the reporting period. Actual results could differ from those estimates.

In our opinion, the accompanying unaudited condensed consolidated financial statements reflect all adjustments necessary to present fairly our financial position as of September 30, 2018, and the results of our operations for the quarter and year-to-date periods ended September 30, 2018 and 2017, respectively, and cash flows for the year-to-date periods ended September 30, 2018 and 2017, respectively. Interim results are not necessarily indicative of full year performance because of the impact of seasonal variations.

Three of our partnerships are considered variable interest entities (VIEs) as the general partner maintains control over the decisions that most significantly impact the partnerships. These VIEs include the operating partnership, Host L.P., which is consolidated by Host Inc., of which Host Inc. is the sole general partner and holds approximately 99% of its partnership interests; the consolidated partnership that owns the Houston Airport Marriott at George Bush Intercontinental; and the unconsolidated partnership that owns the Philadelphia Marriott Downtown. Host Inc.’s sole significant asset is its investment in Host L.P. and, consequently, substantially all of Host Inc.’s assets and liabilities consists of the assets and liabilities of Host L.P. All of Host Inc.’s debt is an obligation of Host L.P. and may be settled only with assets of Host L.P.

Reclassifications

Certain prior year financial statement amounts have been reclassified to conform with the current year presentation.

New Accounting Standards

Leases. In February 2016, the FASB issued ASU No. 2016-02, Leases (Topic 842), which affects aspects of accounting for lease agreements. Under the new standard, all leases, including operating leases, will require recognition of the lease assets and lease liabilities by lessees on the balance sheet. However, the effect on the statement of operations and the statement of cash flows largely is unchanged. The standard is effective for fiscal years beginning after December 15, 2018. The current standard requires adoption using a modified retrospective approach, with the option of restatement of the comparative periods presented in the year of adoption or applying the new standard only in the year of adoption with a cumulative-effect adjustment in the period of adoption. The primary impact of the new standard will be to the treatment of our 25 ground leases, which represent approximately 85% of our annual operating lease payments. We believe that application of this standard will result in us recording a right of use asset and the related lease liability of between $500 million and $600 million for the ground leases, although changes in discount rates, ground lease terms or other variables may have a significant effect on the calculation of this recorded amount. As noted above, we expect that the adoption of this standard will have minimal impact on our income statement. We expect to adopt the new standard on January 1, 2019 and use the effective date as our date of initial application. We also expect to elect all of the new standard’s available transition practical expedients. Consequently, financial information will not be updated and disclosures required under the new standard will not be provided for dates and periods before January 1, 2019.

Business Combinations. We adopted ASU No. 2017-01, Business Combinations (Topic 805): Clarifying the Definition of a Business on January 1, 2018. The standard adopts a two-step approach wherein, if substantially all of the fair value of the gross assets acquired is concentrated in a single (group of similar) identifiable asset(s), then the transaction will be considered an asset purchase. We anticipate that most of our future hotel purchases will be considered asset purchases as opposed to business combinations, although this determination will be made on a transaction-by-transaction basis. This standard was adopted on a prospective basis and, therefore, it did not affect the accounting for any of our previous transactions.

Revenue Recognition. We adopted ASU No. 2014-09, Revenue from Contracts with Customers (Topic 606), on January 1, 2018. The standard sets forth steps to determine the timing and amount of revenue to be recognized to depict the transfer of goods or services in an amount that reflects the consideration that an entity expects in exchange. We also adopted ASU No. 2017-05, Other Income – Gains and Losses from the Derecognition of Nonfinancial Assets (Subtopic 610-20), which provides further guidance on accounting for the derecognition and partial sales of a non-financial asset. This standard may allow for earlier gain recognition for certain sale transactions pursuant to which we have continuing involvement with the asset that was sold. We adopted these standards using a modified retrospective approach with a cumulative effect recognized in our equity balance on the date of adoption and no restatements of prior period amounts. When applying the new standard for the cumulative effect, we elected to apply the new standard only to contracts that were not considered completed as of the date of adoption.

Transition adjustment. As a result of the adoption of this standard on January 1, 2018, total liabilities were reduced by $4.5 million, and total equity of Host Inc. stockholders and total Host L.P. partner capital increased by $4.5 million. This adjustment is related to a previously deferred gain on the sale of the Atlanta Marriott Marquis in 2013 that would have qualified for recognition under the new standard. Adoption did not have an effect on our income statement for the quarter and year-to-date ended September 30, 2018 and 2017.

Policy Disclosure. There has been no significant change to our method of revenue recognition for our primary operations; however, we have updated our accounting policy and disclosures for the revenue recognition standard. See Note 4 for this disclosure.