Wyndham Hotels & Resorts, Inc. Quarterly report pursuant to Section 13 or 15(d)

Quarterly report pursuant to Section 13 or 15(d)

Basis of Presentation (Policies)

Basis of Presentation (Policies)

9 Months Ended

Sep. 30, 2018

Organization, Consolidation and Presentation of Financial Statements [Abstract]

All intercompany balances and transactions have been eliminated in the Condensed Consolidated and Combined Financial Statements.

Wyndham Hotels’ Condensed Consolidated and Combined Financial Statements include certain indirect general and administrative costs allocated to it by former Parent for certain functions and services including, but not limited to, executive office, finance and other administrative support. These expenses have been allocated to Wyndham Hotels on the basis of direct usage when identifiable, with the remainder allocated primarily based on its pro-rata share of combined revenues or headcount. Both Wyndham Hotels and former Parent consider the basis on which expenses have been allocated to be a reasonable reflection of the utilization of services provided to or the benefit received by Wyndham Hotels during the periods presented.

The Condensed Consolidated and Combined Financial Statements have been prepared on a stand-alone basis and prior to May 31, 2018 are derived from the consolidated financial statements and accounting records of Wyndham Worldwide. The Condensed Consolidated and Combined Financial statements include Wyndham Hotels’ assets, liabilities, revenues, expenses and cash flows and all entities in which Wyndham Hotels has a controlling financial interest.

Basis of Accounting

The accompanying Condensed Consolidated and Combined Financial Statements have been prepared in accordance with accounting principles generally accepted in the United States of America.

Use of Estimate

In presenting the Condensed Consolidated and Combined Financial Statements, management makes estimates and assumptions that affect the amounts reported and related disclosures. Estimates, by their nature, are based on judgment and available information. Accordingly, actual results could differ from those estimates.

Recently Issued and Adopted Accounting Pronouncements

Recently Issued Accounting Pronouncements

Leases. In February 2016, the Financial Accounting Standards Board (“FASB”) issued guidance which requires companies generally to recognize on the balance sheet operating and financing lease liabilities and corresponding right-of-use assets. This guidance is effective for fiscal years beginning after December 15, 2018 and for interim periods within those fiscal years, with early adoption permitted. The Company intends to adopt this guidance on January 1, 2019, and is currently evaluating the impact of the adoption of this guidance on its financial statements and related disclosures.

Simplifying the Test for Goodwill Impairment. In January 2017, the FASB issued guidance which simplifies the current two-step goodwill impairment test by eliminating Step 2 of the test. The guidance requires a one-step impairment test in which an entity compares the fair value of a reporting unit with its carrying amount and recognizes an impairment charge for the amount by which the carrying amount exceeds the reporting unit’s fair value, if any. This guidance is effective for fiscal years beginning after December 15, 2019 and interim periods within those fiscal years, and should be applied on a prospective basis. Early adoption is permitted for the interim or annual goodwill impairment tests performed on testing dates after January 1, 2017. The Company is currently evaluating the impact of the adoption of this guidance on its financial statements and related disclosures.

Customer’s Accounting for Implementation Costs Incurred in a Cloud Computing Arrangement That Is a Service Contract.

In August 2018, the FASB issued guidance to address a customer’s accounting for implementation costs incurred in a cloud computing arrangement that is a service contract. The guidance aligns the requirements for capitalizing implementation costs incurred in such arrangements with the requirements for capitalizing implementation costs incurred to develop or obtain internal-use software. This guidance is effective for fiscal years beginning after December 15, 2019 and for interim periods within those fiscal years, with early adoption permitted. This guidance should be applied on either a retrospective or prospective basis. The Company is currently evaluating the impact of the adoption of this guidance on its financial statements and related disclosures.

Recently Adopted Accounting Pronouncements

Revenue from Contracts with Customers. In May 2014, the FASB issued guidance on revenue from contracts with customers. The guidance outlines a single comprehensive model for entities to use in accounting for revenue arising from contracts with customers. The guidance also requires disclosures regarding the nature, amount, timing and uncertainty of revenue and cash flows arising from contracts with customers. Entities have the option to apply the new guidance under a retrospective approach to each prior reporting period presented or a modified retrospective approach with the cumulative effect of initially applying the new guidance recognized at the date of initial application within the statement of financial position. The Company adopted the guidance on January 1, 2018 utilizing the full retrospective transition method.

This adoption primarily affected the accounting for initial franchise fees, upfront costs, marketing and reservation expenses and loyalty revenues. Specifically, under the new guidance, initial fees are recognized ratably over the life of the noncancelable period of the franchise agreement, and incremental upfront contract costs are deferred and expensed over the life of the noncancelable period of the franchise agreement. Loyalty revenues are deferred and primarily recognized over the loyalty points’ redemption pattern. Additionally, the Company no longer accrues a liability for future marketing and reservation costs when marketing and reservation revenues earned exceed costs incurred. Marketing and reservation costs incurred in excess of revenues earned continue to be expensed as incurred.

The tables below summarize the impact of the adoption of the new revenue standard on the Company’s Condensed Combined Income Statement:



	Year Ended December 31, 2017
Net revenues	Previously Reported Balance		New Revenue Standard Adjustments				Adjusted Balance
Royalties and franchise fees	$	375	$	(11	)		$	364
Marketing, reservation and loyalty	407		(36		)		371
Other	118		(20		)		98
Net revenues	1,347		(67		)		1,280

Expenses
Marketing, reservation and loyalty	406		(33		)		373
Operating	205		(22		)		183
Total expenses	1,086		(55		)		1,031

Income/(loss) before income taxes	255		(12		)	*	243
Provision for income taxes	12		1			*	13
Net income/(loss)	243		(13		)		230

The income tax provision consists of (i) a $4 million deferred tax provision resulting from a reduction in deferred tax assets recorded in connection with the retrospective adoption of the new revenue standard and the impact of the lower U.S. corporate income tax rate from the enactment of the U.S. Tax Cuts and Jobs Act and (ii) $3 million tax benefit related to the $12 million loss before income taxes.

The table below summarizes the impact of the adoption of the new revenue standard on the Company’s Condensed Combined Balance Sheet:



	At December 31, 2017
Assets	Previously Reported Balance		New Revenue Standard Adjustments			Adjusted Balance
Other current assets	$	50	$	4		$	54
Total current assets	330		4			334
Other non-current assets	176		11			187
Total assets	2,122		15			2,137

Liabilities and net investment
Deferred income	79		5			84
Total current liabilities	406		5			411
Deferred income taxes	181		(8		)	173
Deferred income	76		88			164
Other non-current liabilities	78		(32		)	46
Total liabilities	822		53			875
Former Parent’s net investment	1,295		(38		)	1,257
Total liabilities and net investment	2,122		15			2,137

In addition, the cumulative impact from the adoption of the new revenue standard to the Company’s Former Parent’s net investment at January 1, 2016, was a decrease of $29 million.

Intra-Entity Transfers of Assets Other Than Inventory. In October 2016, the FASB issued guidance which requires companies to recognize the income tax consequences of an intra-entity transfer of an asset other than inventory when the transfer occurs. This guidance requires the modified retrospective approach and is effective for fiscal years beginning after December 15, 2017, including interim periods within those fiscal years. The Company adopted the guidance on January 1, 2018, as required, which resulted in a cumulative-effect benefit to retained earnings of $15 million.

Clarifying the Definition of a Business. In January 2017, the FASB issued guidance clarifying the definition of a business, which assists entities when evaluating whether transactions should be accounted for as acquisitions of businesses or of assets. This guidance is effective on a prospective basis for fiscal years beginning after December 15, 2017, including interim periods within those fiscal years. The Company adopted the guidance on January 1, 2018, as required. There was no material impact on its Condensed Consolidated and Combined Financial Statements and related disclosures.

Compensation - Stock Compensation. In May 2017, the FASB issued guidance which provides clarification on when modification accounting should be used for changes to the terms or conditions of a share-based payment award. This guidance is effective for fiscal years beginning after December 15, 2017 and for interim periods within those fiscal years. The Company adopted the guidance on January 1, 2018, as required. There was no material impact on its Condensed Consolidated and Combined Financial Statements and related disclosures.

Statement of Cash Flows. In August 2016, the FASB issued guidance intended to reduce diversity in practice in how certain transactions are classified in the statement of cash flows. This guidance requires the retrospective transition method and is effective for fiscal years beginning after December 15, 2017, including interim periods within those fiscal years. The Company adopted the guidance on January 1, 2018, as required. The impact of this new guidance resulted in payments of, and proceeds from, development advance notes being recorded within operating activities on its Condensed Consolidated and Combined Statements of Cash Flows.

Restricted Cash. In November 2016, the FASB issued guidance which requires amounts generally described as restricted cash be included with cash and cash equivalents when reconciling the total beginning and ending amounts for the periods shown on the statement of cash flows. This guidance is effective for fiscal years beginning after December 15, 2017, including interim periods within those fiscal years. The Company adopted the guidance on January 1, 2018, as required, using a retrospective transition method. The impact of this guidance resulted in escrow deposits and restricted cash being included with cash, cash equivalents and restricted cash on the Condensed Consolidated and Combined Statements of Cash Flows.

Derivatives and Hedging - Targeted Improvements to Accounting for Hedging Activities. In August 2017, the FASB issued guidance intended to better align an entity’s risk management activities and financial reporting for hedging relationships through changes to both the designation and measurement guidance for qualifying hedging relationships and the presentation of hedge results. The guidance will expand and refine hedge accounting for both nonfinancial and financial risk components and align the recognition and presentation of the effects of the hedging instrument and the hedged item in the financial statements. This guidance is effective for fiscal years beginning after December 15, 2018 and for interim periods within those fiscal years, with early adoption permitted. The Company early adopted the guidance on April 1, 2018 and there was no material impact on its Condensed Consolidated and Combined Financial Statements and related disclosures.