Quarterly report pursuant to Section 13 or 15(d)

Franchising, Marketing and Reservation Activities

v3.23.3
Franchising, Marketing and Reservation Activities
9 Months Ended
Sep. 30, 2023
Franchisors [Abstract]  
Franchising and Marketing and Reservation Activities
8. FRANCHISING, MARKETING AND RESERVATION ACTIVITIES
Royalties and franchise fee revenues on the Condensed Consolidated Statements of Income include initial franchise fees of $4 million for the three months ended September 30, 2023 and 2022, and $11 million and $10 million for the nine months ended September 30, 2023 and 2022, respectively.
In accordance with its franchise agreements, the Company is generally contractually obligated to expend the marketing and reservation fees it collects from franchisees for the operation of an international, centralized, brand-specific reservation system and for marketing purposes such as advertising, promotional and co-marketing programs, and training for the respective franchisees.
Development Advance Notes
The Company may, at its discretion, provide development advance notes to certain franchisees/hotel owners in order to assist them in converting to one of its’ brands, in building a new hotel to be flagged under one of its’ brands or in assisting in other franchisee expansion efforts. Provided the franchisee/hotel owner is in compliance with the terms of the franchise agreement, all or a portion of the development advance notes may be forgiven by the Company over the period of the franchise agreement. Otherwise, the related principal is due and payable to the Company. In certain instances, the Company may earn interest on unpaid franchisee development advance notes.
The Company’s Condensed Consolidated Financial Statements include the following with respect to development advances:
Condensed Consolidated Balance Sheets:
September 30, 2023 December 31, 2022
Other non-current assets
$ 203  $ 144 

During the third quarter of 2023, the Company made a non-cash reclass of $25 million from other current assets to development advance notes in connection with the execution of franchise agreements.


Condensed Consolidated Statements of Income:
Three Months Ended September 30, Nine Months Ended September 30,
2023 2022 2023 2022
Forgiveness of notes (a)
$ $ $ 11  $
Bad debt expense related to notes
—  — 
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(a)    Amounts are recorded as a reduction of both royalties and franchise fees and marketing, reservation and loyalty revenues on the Condensed Consolidated Statements of Income.

Condensed Consolidated Statements of Cash Flows:
Nine Months Ended September 30,
2023 2022
Payments of development advance notes $ (48) $ (40)
Proceeds from repayment of development advance notes
Payments of development advance notes, net
$ (47) $ (36)