Quarterly report [Sections 13 or 15(d)]

Franchising, Marketing and Reservation Activities

v3.26.1
Franchising, Marketing and Reservation Activities
3 Months Ended
Mar. 31, 2026
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 and $5 million for the three months ended March 31, 2026 and 2025, 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:
March 31, 2026 December 31, 2025
Other non-current assets (a)
$ 355  $ 343 
Condensed Consolidated Statements of Income:
Three Months Ended March 31,
2026 2025
Forgiveness of notes (b)
$ $
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(a)    Development advance notes were reduced by $10 million due to the non-cash hotel acquisitions. Accordingly, the Company has no remaining net book value relating to development advance notes from Revo as of March 31, 2026. See Note 5 - Non-Cash Hotel Acquisitions for more details.
(b)    Amounts are primarily 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:
Three Months Ended March 31,
2026 2025
Payments of development advance notes $ (32) $ (29)
Proceeds from repayment of development advance notes
Payments of development advance notes, net
$ (29) $ (28)
The Company made a non-cash reclassification of $1 million during the three months ended March 31, 2025 from loans receivable to development advance notes, both of which were reported within other non-current assets.