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Significant Accounting Policies
6 Months Ended
Jun. 30, 2013
Accounting Policies [Abstract]  
Significant Accounting Policies
Significant Accounting Policies

Basis of Presentation – The accompanying unaudited consolidated financial statements have been prepared in accordance with generally accepted accounting principles (“GAAP”) for interim financial information and with the instructions to Form 10-Q and Article 10 of Regulation S-X. Accordingly, they do not include all of the information and footnotes required by GAAP for complete financial statements. In the opinion of management, all adjustments (consisting of normal recurring accruals) considered necessary for a fair presentation have been included. These consolidated financial statements include the accounts of Ashford Hospitality Trust, Inc., its majority-owned subsidiaries, and its majority-owned entities in which it has a controlling interest. All significant intercompany accounts and transactions between consolidated entities have been eliminated in these consolidated financial statements. These consolidated financial statements and related notes should be read in conjunction with the consolidated financial statements and notes thereto included in our 2012 Annual Report to Shareholders on Form 10-K and Form 10-K/A filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission (“SEC”) on March 1, 2013 and March 12, 2013, respectively.

The following items affect reporting comparability related to our consolidated financial statements:

Historical seasonality patterns at some of our properties cause fluctuations in our overall operating results. Consequently, operating results for the three and six months ended June 30, 2013 are not necessarily indicative of the results that may be expected for the year ending December 31, 2013.
Marriott International, Inc. (“Marriott”) currently manages 32 of our legacy hotel properties. There were eight additional hotel properties managed by Marriott until May 31, 2013. For these 40 Marriott-managed hotels, the 2012 fiscal year reflects twelve weeks of operations in each of the first three quarters of the year and 16 weeks for the fourth quarter of the year. Beginning in 2013, the fiscal quarters end on March 31st, June 30th, September 30th and December 31st. Therefore, in any given quarterly period, period-over-period results will have different ending dates. For Marriott-managed hotels, the 2013 and 2012 fiscal years began on December 29, 2012 and December 31, 2011, respectively. The second quarters of 2013 and 2012 began on April 1, 2013 and March 24, 2012, respectively and ended on June 30, 2013 and June 15, 2012, respectively. As a result, the quarter ended June 30, 2013 contained 91 days while the quarter ended June 15, 2012 contained 84 days and the six month periods contained 184 days and 168 days, respectively. Prior results have not been adjusted.

Use of Estimates – The preparation of these consolidated financial statements in accordance with accounting principles generally accepted in the United States 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 revenue and expenses during the reporting period. Actual results could differ from those estimates.

Investments in Hotel Properties, net – Hotel properties are generally stated at cost. However, four hotel properties contributed upon Ashford's formation in 2003 are stated at the predecessor's historical cost, net of impairment charges, if any, plus a partial step-up related to the acquisition of noncontrolling interests from third parties associated with certain of these properties. For hotel properties owned through our majority-owned entities, the carrying basis attributable to the partners' minority ownership is recorded at the predecessor's historical cost, net of any impairment charges, while the carrying basis attributable to our majority ownership is recorded based on the allocated purchase price of our ownership interests in the entities. All improvements and additions which extend the useful life of hotel properties are capitalized.

Impairment of Investment in Hotel Properties – Hotel properties are reviewed for impairment whenever events or changes in circumstances indicate that their carrying amounts may not be recoverable. Recoverability of the hotel is measured by comparison of the carrying amount of the hotel to the estimated future undiscounted cash flows, which take into account current market conditions and our intent with respect to holding or disposing of the hotel. If our analysis indicates that the carrying value of the hotel is not recoverable on an undiscounted cash flow basis, we recognize an impairment charge for the amount by which the property's net book value exceeds its estimated fair value, or fair value, less cost to sell. In evaluating impairment of hotel properties, we make many assumptions and estimates, including projected cash flows, expected holding period, and expected useful life. Fair value is determined through various valuation techniques, including internally developed discounted cash flow models, comparable market transactions and third-party appraisals, where considered necessary. No impairment charges were recorded for investment in hotel properties included in continuing operations for the three and six months ended June 30, 2013 and 2012.

Notes Receivable – Mezzanine loan financing, classified as notes receivable, represents loans held for investment and intended to be held to maturity. Accordingly, these notes are recorded at cost, net of unamortized loan origination costs and fees, loan purchase discounts, and allowance for losses when a loan is deemed to be impaired. Premiums, discounts, and net origination fees are amortized or accreted as an adjustment to interest income using the effective interest method over the life of the loan. We discontinue recording interest and amortizing discounts/premiums when the contractual payment of interest and/or principal is not received when contractually due. Payments received on impaired nonaccrual loans are recorded as adjustments to impairment charges. No interest income was recorded for the three and six months ended June 30, 2013 and 2012.

Variable interest entities (“VIEs”), as defined by authoritative accounting guidance, must be consolidated by their controlling interest beneficiaries if the VIEs do not effectively disperse risks among the parties involved. Our remaining mezzanine note receivable at June 30, 2013 is secured by a hotel property and is subordinate to the controlling interest in the secured hotel property. Although the note receivable is considered to be a variable interest in the entity that owns the related hotel, we are not considered to be the primary beneficiary of the hotel property as a result of holding the loan. Therefore, we do not consolidate the hotel property for which we have provided financing. We will evaluate interests in entities acquired or created in the future to determine whether such entities should be consolidated. In evaluating VIEs, our analysis involves considerable management judgment and assumptions.

Impairment of Notes Receivable – We review notes receivable for impairment each reporting period. A loan is impaired when, based on current information and events, collection of all amounts recorded as assets on the balance sheet is no longer considered probable. We apply normal loan review and underwriting procedures (as may be implemented or modified from time to time) in making that judgment.

When a loan is impaired, we measure impairment based on the present value of expected cash flows discounted at the loan’s effective interest rate against the value of the asset recorded on the balance sheet. We may also measure impairment based on a loan’s observable market price or the fair value of collateral if the loan is collateral-dependent. Loan impairments are recorded as a valuation allowance and a charge to earnings. Our assessment of impairment is based on considerable management judgment and assumptions. No impairment charges were recorded during the three and six months ended June 30, 2013 and 2012. Valuation adjustments of $99,000 and $195,000 on previously impaired notes were credited to impairment charges during the three and six months ended June 30, 2013, respectively. Valuation adjustments of $95,000 and $187,000 on previously impaired notes were credited to impairment charges during the three and six months ended June 30, 2012, respectively.
  
Investments in Unconsolidated Joint Ventures – Investments in unconsolidated joint ventures, in which we have ownership interests ranging from 14.4% to 71.74%, are accounted for under the equity method of accounting by recording the initial investment and our percentage of interest in the joint ventures' net income (loss). We review investments in our unconsolidated joint ventures for impairment in each reporting period. An investment is impaired when its estimated fair value is less than the carrying amount of our investment. Any impairment is recorded in equity earnings (loss) in unconsolidated joint ventures. No such impairments were recorded in the three and six months ended June 30, 2013 and 2012.

Our investments in unconsolidated joint ventures are considered to be variable interests in the underlying entities. VIEs, as defined by authoritative accounting guidance, must be consolidated by a reporting entity if the reporting entity is the primary beneficiary because it has (i) the power to direct the VIE’s activities that most significantly impact the VIE’s economic performance, (ii) an implicit financial responsibility to ensure that the VIE operates as designed, and (iii) an obligation to absorb losses of the VIE or the right to receive benefits from the VIE. Because we do not have the power and financial responsibility to direct our unconsolidated joint ventures’ activities and operations, we are not considered to be the primary beneficiary of these joint ventures. Although we have a 71.74% majority ownership in PIM Highland JV, all major decisions related to the joint venture, including establishment of policies and operating procedures with respect to business affairs and incurring obligations and expenditures, are subject to the approval of an executive committee, which is comprised of four persons with us and our joint venture partner each designating two of those persons. As a result, we utilize the equity accounting method with respect to PIM Highland JV, which had a carrying value of $154.2 million at June 30, 2013 based on our share of the joint venture’s equity. We will evaluate the interests in entities acquired or created in the future to determine whether such entities should be consolidated. In evaluating VIEs, our analysis involves considerable management judgment and assumptions.

Assets Held for Sale and Discontinued Operations – We classify assets as held for sale when management has obtained a firm commitment from a buyer and consummation of the sale is considered probable and expected within one year. In addition, we deconsolidate a property upon transfer of title. When deconsolidating a property/subsidiary, we recognize a gain or loss in net income measured as the difference between the fair value of any consideration received, the fair value of any retained noncontrolling investment in the former subsidiary at the date the subsidiary is deconsolidated, and the carrying amount of the former property/subsidiary. The related operations of assets held for sale are reported as discontinued if a) such operations and cash flows can be clearly distinguished, both operationally and financially, from our ongoing operations, b) such operations and cash flows will be eliminated from ongoing operations once the disposal occurs, and c) we will not have any significant continuing involvement subsequent to the disposal.

During the three and six months ended June 30, 2012, discontinued operations included two hotel properties disposed of in 2012. The Doubletree Guest Suites hotel in Columbus, Ohio was sold in November 2012 and the Hilton El Conquistador hotel in Tucson, Arizona was disposed of in December 2012. For the three and six months ended June 30, 2012, we recognized an impairment charge of $4.1 million on the Hilton El Conquistador hotel. There were no assets held for sale as of June 30, 2013 and December 31, 2012.

Marketable Securities – Marketable securities, including U.S. treasury bills, public equity securities and equity put and call options of certain publicly traded companies, are recorded at fair value. Equity put and call options are considered derivatives. The fair value of these investments is based on the closing price as of the balance sheet date and is reported as “Marketable securities” or “Liabilities associated with marketable securities and other” in the consolidated balance sheets. On the consolidated statements of operations, net investment income, including interest income (expense), dividends, realized gains or losses and related costs incurred, is reported as a component of “Other income” while unrealized gains and losses on these investments are reported as “Unrealized gain on marketable securities."

Revenue Recognition – Hotel revenues, including room, food, beverage, and ancillary revenues such as Internet access, laundry, parking, and space rentals, are recognized when services have been rendered. Interest income is recognized when earned. We discontinue recording interest and amortizing discounts/premiums when the contractual payment of interest and/or principal is not received when contractually due. Sales taxes collected from customers and submitted to taxing authorities are not recorded in revenue.

Derivatives and Hedges – We use interest rate derivatives to hedge our risks and to capitalize on the historical correlation between changes in LIBOR (London Interbank Offered Rate) and RevPAR (Revenue per Available Room). Interest rate derivatives could include swaps, caps, floors and flooridors. We assess the effectiveness of each hedging relationship by comparing changes in fair value or cash flows of the derivative hedging instrument with the changes in fair value or cash flows of the designated hedged item or transaction. We also use credit default swaps to hedge financial and capital market risk. All of our derivatives are subject to master-netting settlement arrangements and the credit default swaps are subject to credit support annexes. For credit default swaps, cash collateral is posted by us as well as our counterparty. We offset the fair value of the derivative and the obligation/right to return/reclaim cash collateral.

All derivatives are recorded at fair value in accordance with the applicable authoritative accounting guidance. Interest rate derivatives and credit default swaps are reported as “Derivative assets, net” or “Derivative liabilities” in the consolidated balance sheets. Accrued interest on non-hedge designated interest rate derivatives is included in “Accounts receivable, net” in the consolidated balance sheets. For interest rate derivatives designated as cash flow hedges:

a)
the effective portion of changes in fair value is initially reported as a component of “Accumulated Other Comprehensive Income (Loss)” (“OCI”) in the equity section of the consolidated balance sheets and reclassified to interest expense in the consolidated statements of operations in the period during which the hedged transaction affects earnings, and

b)
the ineffective portion of changes in fair value is recognized directly in earnings as “Unrealized loss on derivatives” in the consolidated statements of operations.

For non-hedge designated interest rate derivatives and credit default swaps, changes in fair value are recognized in earnings as “Unrealized loss on derivatives” in the consolidated statements of operations.

Income Taxes - As a REIT, we generally will not be subject to federal corporate income tax on the portion of our net income (loss) that does not relate to taxable REIT subsidiaries. However, Ashford TRS is treated as a taxable REIT subsidiary for federal income tax purposes. In accordance with authoritative accounting guidance, we account for income taxes related to Ashford TRS using the asset and liability method under which deferred tax assets and liabilities are recognized for future tax consequences attributable to differences between the financial statement carrying amounts of existing assets and liabilities and their respective tax bases. In addition, the analysis utilized by us in determining our deferred tax asset valuation allowance involves considerable management judgment and assumptions.

Recently Adopted Accounting Standards – In December 2011, the Financial Accounting Standards Board issued accounting guidance to require disclosures about offsetting assets and liabilities. Entities are required to disclose both gross information and net information about both instruments and transactions eligible for offset in the statement of financial position and instruments and transactions subject to an agreement similar to a master-netting arrangement. This scope would include derivatives, sale and repurchase agreements and reverse sale and repurchase agreements, and securities borrowing and securities lending arrangements that are either netted on the balance sheet or subject to an enforceable master-netting agreement or similar arrangement. The new accounting guidance is effective for fiscal years, and interim periods within those years, beginning after January 1, 2013 and the disclosures should be reported retrospectively for all comparative periods presented. We adopted this accounting guidance on January 1, 2013. The adoption of this accounting guidance did not have any impact on our financial position or results of operations.
 
Reclassifications – Certain amounts in the consolidated financial statements for the three and six months ended June 30, 2012 have been reclassified for discontinued operations. Additionally, certain amounts due from affiliates have been reclassified in the 2012 consolidated statement of cashflows. These reclassifications had no effect on our cash flows, equity, or net income (loss) previously reported.