BETHESDA, Md.--(BUSINESS WIRE)--Pebblebrook Hotel Trust (NYSE: PEB) today announced that it has withdrawn its 2020 and Q1 2020 Outlook provided on February 20, 2020 due to the large number of recent corporate group cancellations and corporate travel policy restrictions related to concerns about COVID-19 which have led to material declines in net bookings year over year.
The Company’s quarterly and full-year guidance issued on February 20, 2020 specifically did not account for any impact from the COVID-19 outbreak, other than what was known at the time, but increasing travel restrictions, governmental travel advisories and state of emergency declarations across multiple markets in which the Company owns hotels are now expected to significantly adversely impact the Company’s financial results for the first quarter of 2020 and the full year.
“We have seen a considerable rise in corporate group- and convention-related cancellations due to concerns surrounding COVID-19, and therefore, we are unlikely to achieve our first quarter and full-year 2020 outlook,” said Jon E. Bortz, Chairman, President and Chief Executive Officer of Pebblebrook Hotel Trust. “These cancellations, which have dramatically escalated in just the last 10 days, are largely for business previously on the books for March, April and May of 2020. We’ve also experienced significant cancellations and material declines in business transient demand, while leisure bookings have also been impacted, but to a lesser extent. This remains a rapidly evolving situation. As a result of the shift in demand, we are thoughtfully modifying our operations and implementing cost reduction plans to mitigate the impact on revenue that we are anticipating and experiencing today. In conjunction with our property operating teams, we are utilizing our unique set of best practices, just as we have successfully done during previous downturns and similar unexpected events. The impact of COVID-19 continues to quickly develop, and, thus, we do not expect to issue new guidance until we have more clarity on travel demand and more predictable overall operating fundamentals and trends.”
About Pebblebrook Hotel Trust
Pebblebrook Hotel Trust (NYSE: PEB) is a publicly traded real estate investment trust (“REIT”) and the largest owner of urban and resort lifestyle hotels in the United States. The Company owns 54 hotels, totaling approximately 13,400 guest rooms across 15 urban and resort markets with a focus on the west coast gateway cities. For more information, visit www.pebblebrookhotels.com and follow us at @PebblebrookPEB.
