New Accounting Pronouncements (Policies)

6 Months Ended

Jun. 30, 2020

Accounting Standards Update and Change in Accounting Principle [Abstract]

Basis of Accounting

The accompanying condensed consolidated financial statements of Service Properties Trust and its subsidiaries, or SVC, we, our or us, are unaudited. Certain information and disclosures required by U.S. generally accepted accounting principles, or GAAP, for complete financial statements have been condensed or omitted. We believe the disclosures made are adequate to make the information presented not misleading. However, the accompanying condensed consolidated financial statements should be read in conjunction with the financial statements and notes contained in our Annual Report on Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 2019, or our 2019 Annual Report. In the opinion of management, all adjustments, consisting of normal recurring accruals considered necessary for a fair statement of results for the interim period, have been included. These condensed consolidated financial statements include our accounts and the accounts of our subsidiaries, all of which are 100% owned directly or indirectly by us. All intercompany transactions and balances with or among our consolidated subsidiaries have been eliminated. Our operating results for interim periods and those of our managers and tenants are not necessarily indicative of the results that may be expected for the full year. Reclassifications have been made to the prior year’s condensed consolidated financial statements to conform to the current year’s presentation.

Use of Estimates

The preparation of financial statements in conformity with GAAP requires us to make estimates and assumptions that affect reported amounts. Actual results could differ from those estimates. Significant estimates in our condensed consolidated financial statements include the allowance for doubtful accounts, purchase price allocations, useful lives of fixed assets, impairment of real estate and the valuation of intangible assets.

Variable Interest Entity

We have determined that each of our wholly owned taxable REIT subsidiaries, or TRSs, is a variable interest entity, or VIE, as defined under the Consolidation Topic of the Financial Accounting Standards Board, or FASB, Accounting Standards Codification™. We have concluded that we must consolidate each of our wholly owned TRSs because we are the entity with the power to direct the activities that most significantly impact such VIEs’ performance and we have the obligation to absorb losses or the right to receive benefits from each VIE that could be significant to the VIE and are, therefore, the primary beneficiary of each VIE.

New Accounting Pronouncements

On January 1, 2020, we adopted FASB Accounting Standards Update, or ASU, No. 2016-13, Financial Instruments - Credit Losses (Topic 326): Measurement of Credit Losses on Financial Instruments, which requires that entities use a new forward-looking “expected loss” model that generally will result in the earlier recognition of allowance for credit losses. The measurement of expected credit losses is based upon historical experience, current conditions, and reasonable and supportable forecasts that affect the collectability of the reported amount. Lease related receivables are governed by the lease accounting under GAAP and are not subject to ASU No. 2016-13. We adopted this standard using the modified retrospective approach. The implementation of this standard did not have a material impact in our condensed consolidated financial statements.