8-K

UNITED STATES

SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION

WASHINGTON, D.C. 20549

FORM 8-K

CURRENT REPORT

PURSUANT TO SECTION 13 OR 15(d) OF THE

SECURITIES EXCHANGE ACT OF 1934

Date of Report (date of earliest event reported): May 17, 2017

ASHFORD HOSPITALITY TRUST, INC.

(Exact name of registrant as specified in its charter)

Maryland	001-31775	86-1062192
(State or other jurisdiction of incorporation or organization)	(Commission File Number)	(IRS employer identification number)
14185 Dallas Parkway, Suite 1100
Dallas, Texas		75254
(Address of principal executive offices)		(Zip code)

Registrant’s telephone number, including area code (972) 490-9600

Check the appropriated box if the Form 8-K filing is intended to simultaneously satisfy the filing obligation of the registrant under any of the following provisions:

¨ Written communications pursuant to Rule 425 under the Securities Act (17 CFR 230.425)

¨ Soliciting material pursuant to Rule 14-a-12 under the Exchange Act (17 CFR 240.14a-12)

¨ Pre-commencement communications pursuant to Rule 14d-2(b) under the Exchange Act (17 CFR 240.14d-2(b))

¨ Pre-commencement communications pursuant to Rule 13e-4(c) under the Exchange Act (17 CFR 240.13e-4(c))

Indicate by check mark whether the registrant is an emerging growth company as defined in Rule 405 of the Securities Act of 1933 (§230.405 of this chapter) or Rule 12b-2 of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934 (§240.12b-2 of this chapter).

Emerging growth company    ¨

If an emerging growth company, indicate by check mark if the registrant has elected not to use the extended transition period for complying with any new or revised financial accounting standards provided pursuant to Section 13(a) of the Exchange Act.                                    ¨

ITEM 7.01     REGULATION FD DISCLOSURE

On May 17, 2017, Ashford Hospitality Trust, Inc. will present a Powerpoint slideshow to the investment community. The Powerpoint slideshow is attached hereto as Exhibit 99.1.

ITEM 9.01     FINANCIAL STATEMENTS AND EXHIBITS

(d) Exhibits

Exhibit

NumberDescription

99.1     Powerpoint slideshow presentation

SIGNATURE

Pursuant to the requirements of Section 12 of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, the registrant has duly caused this report to be signed on its behalf by the undersigned hereunto duly authorized.

Dated: May 17, 2017

ASHFORD HOSPITALITY TRUST, INC.

By: /s/ DAVID A. BROOKS            

David A. Brooks

Chief Operating Officer and General Counsel

EX-99.1

The W & The Ritz-Carlton Property Tour Atlanta, GA – May 2017

W Atlanta Downtown

Overview 3  Acquired in July 2015 for $56.8 million  237 keys, 9,000 sq. ft. of meeting space  Located in the heart of Downtown Atlanta  Close proximity to the downtown and midtown demand generators: Centennial Olympic Park, the Atlanta Aquarium, AmericasMart, and the new Mercedes-Benz Stadium

Location 4 Georgia Aquarium AmericasMart Olympic Park Mercedez-Benz Stadium Civil Rights Museum World of Coca-Cola Museum College Football Hall of Fame W Atlanta Downtown Bobby Dodd Stadium

Investment Highlights 5  Replaced unprofitable restaurant manager and re-positioned restaurant • Projected annual positive GOP impact of almost $300,000  New management of the on-premise digital billboard • Utilization increased from 25% to nearly 100% in 2016 • More than quadrupled 2015 revenue • Projected additional revenue of $200,000 in 2017  Renegotiated valet parking agreement • Estimated to contribute $190,000 in incremental annualized parking revenue  Eliminated operational loss at Bliss Spa through restructuring

Operational Performance 6  Hotel EBITDA flow-through of 157.3%  Hotel EBITDA growth of 27.2%  NOI growth of 33.8% 2016 Performance Through First Full Year of Ownership 2015 2016 Growth Room Revenue $13,665,573 $14,124,111 3.4% RevPAR $157.97 $162.83 3.1% Total Revenue $21,433,744 $22,120,138 3.2% Hotel EBITDA $3,974,909 $5,054,651 27.2% NOI $3,117,559 $4,169,845 33.8%

Exterior 7 W Atlanta – Atlanta, GA W Atlanta – Atlanta, GA

Rooms & Bathrooms 8 W Atlanta – Atlanta, GA W Atlanta – Atlanta, GA

The Ritz-Carlton Atlanta

Overview 10  Acquired as part of the 27-Hotel Highland Portfolio transaction in 2011  444 keys, 17,000 sq. ft. of meeting space  Located in the heart of Downtown Atlanta  Close proximity to the downtown and midtown demand generators: Centennial Olympic Park, the Atlanta Aquarium, AmericasMart, and the new Mercedes-Benz Stadium

Location 11 Georgia Aquarium Olympic Park Mercedez-Benz Stadium Civil Rights Museum World of Coca-Cola Museum College Football Hall of Fame The Ritz-Carlton Atlanta Bobby Dodd Stadium AmericasMart

Investment Highlights 12  Recently completed restaurant renovation  Expanded/updated gift shop into upscale retail market  Extensive $21 million guestroom renovation scheduled for Q4 2017  Expanding Ritz Carlton Club Lounge Completed Upcoming

Completed Restaurant Renovation 13

Completed Restaurant Renovation (cont.) 14

Upcoming Guestroom Renovation 15  Guestrooms • Carpet and wall vinyl • Soft and case goods • Drapery • Artwork • HDTVs (wall mount in King rooms) • Entry tile (King rooms only)  Bathrooms • Shower conversions(King rooms only) • Vanities and electric mirrors (King rooms only) • Floor tile (King rooms only) • Wall vinyl  Corridors • Carpet / wall vinyl / lighting

Operational Performance 16  Hotel EBITDA flow-through of 176.2%  Hotel EBITDA growth of 22.1%  NOI growth of 30.6% 2016 Performance 2015 2016 Growth Room Revenue $25,958,430 $26,906,082 3.7% RevPAR $160.18 $165.57 3.4% Total Revenue $39,344,706 $40,397,063 2.7% Hotel EBITDA $8,377,110 $10,231,644 22.1% NOI $6,288,951 $8,211,790 30.6%

80.0% 100.0% 120.0% 140.0% 160.0% 180.0% 200.0% 220.0% D e c -1 1 Fe b -1 2 A p r- 1 2 Ju n -1 2 A u g -1 2 Oc t- 1 2 D e c -1 2 Fe b -1 3 A p r- 1 3 Ju n -1 3 A u g -1 3 Oc t- 1 3 D e c -1 3 Fe b -1 4 A p r- 1 4 Ju n -1 4 A u g -1 4 Oc t- 1 4 D e c -1 4 Fe b -1 5 A p r- 1 5 Ju n -1 5 A u g -1 5 Oc t- 1 5 D e c -1 5 Fe b -1 6 A p r- 1 6 Ju n -1 6 A u g -1 6 Oc t- 1 6 D e c -1 6 Fe b -1 7 Operational Performance (cont.) 17 GOP margin has nearly tripled over past 6+ years Rolling 12-Month Indexed GOP Margin 2010 TTM Mar 2017 Increase (BPS) RPI 117.9 140.1 2,220 GOP Margin 11.4% 29.6% 1,822 EBITDA Margin 8.0% 25.3% 1,735

The W & The Ritz-Carlton Property Tour Atlanta, GA – May 2017