UNITED STATES

SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION

WASHINGTON, D.C. 20549

 

FORM 10-Q

 

QUARTERLY REPORT

PURSUANT TO SECTION 13 OR 15(d)

OF THE SECURITIES EXCHANGE ACT OF 1934

FOR THE QUARTERLY PERIOD ENDED APRIL 30, 2019

 

Commission File Number 1-7062

 

INNSUITES HOSPITALITY TRUST

(Exact name of registrant as specified in its charter)

 

Ohio   34-6647590

(State or other jurisdiction of

incorporation or organization)

 

(I.R.S. Employer

Identification Number)

 

InnSuites Hotels Centre

1730 E. Northern Avenue, Suite 122

Phoenix, AZ 85020

(Address of principal executive offices)

 

Registrant’s telephone number, including area code: (602) 944-1500

 

Indicate by check mark whether the registrant: (l) has filed all reports required to be filed by Section 13 or l5(d) of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934 during the preceding 12 months (or for such shorter period that the registrant was required to file such reports), and (2) has been subject to such filing requirements for the past 90 days. Yes [  ] No [X]

 

Indicate by check mark whether the registrant has submitted electronically and posted on its corporate Web site, if any, every Interactive Data File required to be submitted and posted pursuant to Rule 405 of Regulation S-T (§232.405 of this chapter) during the preceding 12 months (or for such shorter period that the registrant was required to submit and post such files). [X] Yes [  ] No

 

Indicate by check mark whether the registrant is a large accelerated filer, an accelerated filer, a non-accelerated filer, a smaller reporting company, or an emerging growth company. See the definitions of “large accelerated filer,” “accelerated filer,” “smaller reporting company,” and “emerging growth company” in Rule 12b-2 of the Exchange Act. (Check one):

 

Large accelerated filer [  ] Accelerated filer [  ]
Non-accelerated filer [  ] (Do not check if a smaller reporting company)    
Smaller reporting company [X] Emerging growth company [  ]

 

If an emerging growth company, indicate by check mark if the registrant has elected not to use the extended transition period for complying with any new or revised financial accounting standards provided pursuant to Section 13(a) of the Exchange Act [  ]

 

Indicate by check mark whether the registrant is a shell company (as defined in Rule 12b-2 of the Exchange Act). Yes [  ] No [X]

 

Aggregate market value of Shares of Beneficial Interest held by non-affiliates of the registrant as of April 30, 2019, based upon the closing sales price of the registrant’s Shares of Beneficial Interest on that date, as reported on the NYSE AMERICAN: $5,715,397

 

Number of outstanding Shares of Beneficial Interest, without par value, as of July 24, 2019 9,330,057

 

 

 

     
 

 

PART I

FINANCIAL INFORMATION

ITEM 1. FINANCIAL STATEMENTS

INNSUITES HOSPITALITY TRUST AND SUBSIDIARIES

CONDENSED CONSOLIDATED BALANCE SHEETS

 

    APRIL 30, 2019     JANUARY 31, 2019  
     (Unaudited)        
             
ASSETS                
Current Assets:                
Cash and Cash Equivalents   $ 760,262     $ 749,075  
Short-Term Investments – Available For Sale Securities     1,907,016       1,896,556  
Accounts Receivable, including approximately $68,000 and $79,000 from related parties and net of Allowance for Doubtful Accounts of approximately $3,000 as of April 30, 2019 and January 31, 2019, respectively     272,908       236,942  
Advances to Affiliates - Related Party     986,361       986,361  
Notes Receivable - Related Party     632,027       632,027  
Current Portion of Note Receivable     229,167       229,167  
Prepaid Expenses and Other Current Assets     61,976       95,553  
Current Assets of Discontinued Operations     -       320,447  
Total Current Assets     4,849,717       5,146,128  
Property, Plant and Equipment, net     9,455,264       9,532,793  
Note Receivable     2,520,833       2,520,833  
Right-of-use assets, net     2,791,249       -  
TOTAL ASSETS   $ 19,617,063     $ 17,199,754  
                 
LIABILITIES AND SHAREHOLDERS’ EQUITY                
                 
LIABILITIES                
Current Liabilities:                
Accounts Payable and Accrued Expenses   $ 1,838,425     $ 1,092,000  
Current Portion of Notes Payable - Related Party     289,307       317,738  
Current Portion of Mortgage Notes Payable, net of Discount     115,847       115,106  
Current Portion of Notes Payable to Banks, net of Discount     -       9,300  
Current Portion of Other Notes Payable     1,224,077       1,229,069  
Current Portion of Operating Lease Liabilities     98,117       -  
Current Liabilities of Discontinued Operations     -       546,803  
Total Current Liabilities     3,565,773       3,310,016  
Notes Payable - Related Party     116,262       166,677  
Mortgage Notes Payable, net of Discount     4,677,921       4,709,586  
Other Notes Payable     210,632       264,960  
Operating lease liabilities, net of current portion     2,757,466       -  
TOTAL LIABILITIES     11,328,054       8,451,239  
                 
COMMITMENTS AND CONTINGENCIES                
                 
SHAREHOLDERS’ EQUITY                
Shares of Beneficial Interest, without par value, unlimited authorization; 18,608,215 and 18,590,215 shares issued and 9,345,560 and 9,360,292 shares outstanding at April 30, 2019 and January 31, 2019, respectively     23,417,505       23,738,260  
Treasury Stock, 9,262,655 and 9,229,923 shares held at cost at April 30, 2019 and January 31, 2019, respectively     (13,575,929 )     (13,517,833 )
TOTAL TRUST SHAREHOLDERS’ EQUITY     9,841,576       10,220,427  
NON-CONTROLLING INTEREST     (1,552,567 )     (1,471,912 )
TOTAL EQUITY     8,289,009       8,748,515  
TOTAL LIABILITIES AND EQUITY   $ 19,617,063     $ 17,199,754  

 

See accompanying notes to unaudited condensed consolidated financial statements

 

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INNSUITES HOSPITALITY TRUST AND SUBSIDIARIES

UNAUDITED CONDENSED CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF OPERATIONS

 

    FOR THE THREE MONTHS ENDED  
    APRIL 30,  
    2019     2018  
REVENUE                
Room   $ 1,995,329     $ 1,771,367  
Food and Beverage     17,860       9,857  
Management and Trademark Fees     63,512       66,929  
Other     16,317       15,687  
TOTAL REVENUE     2,093,018       1,863,840  
                 
OPERATING EXPENSES                
Room     541,009       485,806  
Food and Beverage     24,001       19,373  
Telecommunications     -       3,188  
General and Administrative     837,673       494,241  
Sales and Marketing     127,979       144,903  
Repairs and Maintenance     99,803       106,026  
Hospitality     139,700       106,645  
Utilities     92,121       88,593  
Depreciation     241,755       205,164  
Real Estate and Personal Property Taxes, Insurance and Ground Rent     134,686       97,848  
Other     4,033       2,475  
TOTAL OPERATING EXPENSES     2,242,760       1,754,262  
OPERATING (LOSS) INCOME     (149,742 )     109,578  
Interest Income     844       3,632  
Interest Income on Advances to Affiliates – Related Party     1,970       -  
TOTAL OTHER INCOME     2,814       3,632  
Interest on Mortgage Notes Payable     54,556       58,382  
Interest on Notes Payable to Banks     -       11,959  
Interest on Other Notes Payable     68,346       23,602  
TOTAL INTEREST EXPENSE     122,902       93,943  
CONSOLIDATED NET (LOSS) INCOME BEFORE INCOME TAX PROVISION AND DISCONTINUED OPERATIONS     (269,830 )     19,267  
Income Tax Provision     -       -  
CONSOLIDATED NET (LOSS) INCOME FROM CONTINUING OPERATIONS   $ (269,830 )   $ 19,267  
Discontinued Operations, Net of Non-Controlling Interest   $ -     $ (309,228 )
CONSOLIDATED NET LOSS   $ (269,830 )   $ (289,961 )
LESS: NET INCOME ATTRIBUTABLE TO NON-CONTROLLING INTEREST   $ 59,024     $ 362,054  
NET LOSS ATTRIBUTABLE TO CONTROLLING INTERESTS   $ (328,854 )   $ (652,015 )
NET (LOSS) INCOME PER SHARE FROM CONTINUING OPERATIONS – BASIC   $ (0.03 )   $ -  
NET (LOSS) INCOME PER SHARE FROM CONTINUING OPERATIONS –DILUTED   $ (0.02 )   $ -  
NET LOSS PER SHARE FROM DISCONTINUED OPERATIONS – BASIC   $ -     $ (0.03 )
NET LOSS PER SHARE FROM DISCONTINUED OPERATIONS – DILUTED   $ -     $ (0.02 )
NET LOSS PER SHARE TOTAL - BASIC   $ (0.03 )   $ (0.03 )
NET LOSS PER SHARE TOTAL - DILUTED   $ (0.02 )   $ (0.02 )
WEIGHTED AVERAGE NUMBER OF SHARES OUTSTANDING - BASIC     9,362,857       9,612,139  
WEIGHTED AVERAGE NUMBER OF SHARES OUTSTANDING - DILUTED     12,668,076       13,085,223  

 

See accompanying notes to unaudited condensed consolidated financial statements

 

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INNSUITES HOSPITALITY TRUST AND SUBSIDIARIES

UNAUDITED CONDENSED CONSOLIDATED STATEMENT OF SHAREHOLDERS’ EQUITY

 

FOR THE THREE MONTHS ENDED APRIL 30, 2018
       
    Total Equity  
    Shares of Beneficial Interest     Treasury Stock     Trust Shareholders’    

Non-

Controlling

       
    Shares     Amount     Shares     Amount     Equity     Interest     Amount  
Balance, January 31, 2018     9,775,669     $ 22,333,905       8,796,546     $ (12,662,996 )   $ 9,670,909     $ (1,551,940 )   $ 8,118,969  
Net Loss     -       (652,015 )     -       -       (652,015 )     362,054       (289,961 )
Purchase of Treasury Stock     (149,603 )     -       149,603       (287,868 )     (287,868 )     -       (287,868 )
Shares of Beneficial Interest Issued for Services Rendered     18,000       8,100       -       -       8,100       -       8,100  
Sales of Ownership Interests in Subsidiary, net     -       -       -       -       -       102,824       102,824  
Distribution to Non-Controlling Interests     -       -       -       -       -       (257,245 )     (257,245 )
Reallocation of Non-Controlling Interests and Other     -       124,903       -       -       124,903       (124,903 )     -  
Balance, April 30, 2018     9,644,066     $ 21,814,893       8,946,149     $ (12,950,864 )   $ 8,864,029     $ (1,469,210 )   $ 7,394,819  

 

FOR THE THREE MONTHS ENDED APRIL 30, 2019
       
    Total Equity  
    Shares of Beneficial Interest     Treasury Stock     Trust Shareholders’    

Non-

Controlling

       
    Shares     Amount     Shares     Amount     Equity     Interest     Amount  
Balance, January 31, 2019     9,360,292     $ 23,738,260       9,229,923     $ (13,517,833 )   $ 10,220,427     $ (1,471,912 )   $ 8,748,515  
Net Loss     -       (328,854 )     -       -       (328,854 )     59,024       (269,830 )
Purchase of Treasury Stock     (32,732 )     -       32,732       (58,096 )     (58,096 )     -       (58,096 )
Shares of Beneficial Interest Issued for Services Rendered     18,000       8,100       -       -       8,100       -       8,100  
Sales of Ownership Interests in Subsidiary, net     -       -       -       -       -       -       -  
Distribution to Non-Controlling Interests     -       -       -       -       -       (139,679 )     (139,679 )
Reallocation of Non-Controlling Interests and Other     -       -       -       -       -       -       -  
Balance, April 30, 2019     9,345,560     $ 23,417,505       9,262,655     $ (13,575,929 )   $ 9,841,576     $ (1,552,567 )   $ 8,289,009  

 

See accompanying notes to unaudited condensed consolidated financial statements

 

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INNSUITES HOSPITALITY TRUST AND SUBSIDIARIES

UNAUDITED CONDENSED CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF CASH FLOWS

 

    FOR THE THREE MONTHS ENDED  
    APRIL 30,  
    2019     2018  
CASH FLOWS FROM OPERATING ACTIVITIES                
Consolidated Net Income   $ (269,830 )   $ (289,961 )
Adjustments to Reconcile Consolidated Net Income to Net Cash Used In Operating Activities:                
Operating Lease - Right of Use     34,174       -  
Stock-Based Compensation     8,100       8,100  
Recovery of Uncollectible Receivables     -       (1,208 )
Depreciation     241,755       377,738 **
Amortization of Debt Discounts and Deferred Financing Fees     -       1,578  
Changes in Assets and Liabilities:                
Accounts Receivable     (35,966 )     (87,831 )
Prepaid Expenses and Other Assets     33,577       6,773  
Accrued Interest Income     -       -  
Accounts Payable and Accrued Expenses     520,069       146,379  
NET CASH PROVIDED BY OPERATING ACTIVITIES     531,879       161,568  
                 
CASH FLOWS FROM INVESTING ACTIVITIES                
Improvements and Additions to Hotel Properties     (134,066 )     (143,704 )
Purchase of Marketable Securities     (10,460 )     (2,000,000 )
Lendings on Advances to Affiliates - Related Party     -       (130,000 )
Collections on Advances to Affiliates - Related Party     -       260,000  
NET CASH USED IN INVESTING ACTIVITIES     (144,526 )     (2,013,704 )
                 
CASH FLOWS FROM FINANCING ACTIVITIES                
Principal Payments on Mortgage Notes Payable     (30,924 )     (62,416 )
Payments on Notes Payable to Banks, net of financing costs     (124,600 )     (46,805 )
Borrowings on Notes Payable to Banks, net of financing costs     115,300       -  
Borrowings on Notes Payable - Related Party     51,154       (78,737 )
Receipts on Notes Receivable - Related Party     (130,000 )     -  
Payments on Other Notes Payable     (59,320 )     (34,834 )
Borrowings on Other Notes Payable     -       297,698  
Proceeds from Sale of Non-Controlling Ownership Interest in Subsidiary, net     -       102,824  
Distributions to Non-Controlling Interest Holders     (139,679 )     (257,245 )
Repurchase of Treasury Stock     (58,096 )     (287,868 )
NET CASH USED IN FINANCING ACTIVITIES     (376,165 )     (367,383 )
NET INCREASE (DECREASE) IN CASH AND CASH EQUIVALENTS     11,188       (2,219,519 )
CASH AND CASH EQUIVALENTS AT BEGINNING OF PERIOD     749,075       4,776,453  
CASH AND CASH EQUIVALENTS AT END OF PERIOD   $ 760,263     $ 2,556,934 *

 

* Cash balances include cash held in discontinued operations for the three months ended April 30, 2018

 

** Depreciation includes depreciation expense in discontinued operations for the three months ended April 30, 2018

 

See accompanying notes to unaudited condensed consolidated financial statements

 

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INNSUITES HOSPITALITY TRUST AND SUBSIDIARIES

NOTES TO UNAUDITED CONDENSED CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS

AS OF APRIL 30, 2019 AND JANUARY 31, 2019

AND FOR THE THREE MONTHS ENDED APRIL 30, 2019 AND 2018

 

1. NATURE OF OPERATIONS AND BASIS OF PRESENTATION

 

As of April 30, 2019, InnSuites Hospitality Trust (the “Trust”, “IHT”, “we”, “us” or “our”) is a publicly traded company with hotels IHT owns and hotels IHT manages. The Trust and its shareholders own interests directly in and through a partnership interest, two hotels with an aggregate of 267 suites in Arizona and New Mexico (the “Hotels”) operated under the federally trademarked name “InnSuites Hotels” or “InnSuites as well as operating under the brand name “Best Western”.

 

Hotel Operations:

 

The Tucson, Arizona hotel and our hotel located in Albuquerque, New Mexico are moderate or limited service establishments. IHT’s owned properties are limited service hotels. Both hotels offer swimming pools, fitness centers, business centers, and complimentary breakfast. In addition the hotels offer social areas and modest conference facilities.

 

The Trust is the sole general partner of RRF Limited Partnership, a Delaware limited partnership (the “Partnership”), and owned a 74.94% and 74.80% interest in the Partnership as of April 30, 2019 and January 31, 2019 respectively. The Trust’s weighted average ownership for the three months ended ended April 30, 2019 and 2018 was 74.94% and 74.80%. As of April 30, 2019, the Partnership owned a 51.01% interest in an InnSuites® hotel located in Tucson, Arizona. The Trust owns a direct 20.53% interest in an InnSuites® hotel located in Albuquerque, New Mexico.

 

Under certain management agreements, InnSuites Hotels Inc., a subsidiary, manages the Hotels’ daily operations. The Trust also provides the use of the “InnSuites” trademark to the Hotels through wholly-owned InnSuites Hotels. All such expenses and reimbursements between the Trust, InnSuites Hotels and the Partnership have been eliminated in consolidation.

 

The Trust classified these assets in operations. These assets have been marketed for sale. At this time, the Trust is unable to predict when, and if, any of these will be sold. The Trust has listed the Tucson Hotel with a local real estate hotel broker and although the Albuquerque Hotel is not currently listed, the Trust is willing to consider offers for the Hotel. Each of the assets is being marketed at a price that is reasonable in relation to its current fair value. On October 24, 2018, the Yuma Hospitality Properties LLLP (the “Yuma entity”) was sold to an unrelated third party for $16,050,000 (see Note 18).

 

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PRINCIPLES OF CONSOLIDATION AND BASIS OF PRESENTATION

 

These consolidated financial statements have been prepared by management in accordance with accounting principles in accordance with GAAP, and include all assets, liabilities, revenues and expenses of the Trust and its wholly-owned subsidiaries. All material intercompany transactions and balances have been eliminated. Certain items have been reclassified to conform to the current fiscal year presentation. The Trust exercises unilateral control over the Partnership and the entities listed below. Therefore, the financial statements of the Partnership and the entities listed below are consolidated with the Trust, and all significant intercompany transactions and balances have been eliminated.

 

    IHT OWNERSHIP %  
ENTITY   DIRECT     INDIRECT (i)  
Albuquerque Suite Hospitality, LLC     20.53 %     -  
Tucson Hospitality Properties, LLLP     -       51.01 %
RRF Limited Partnership     74.94 %     -  
InnSuites Hotels Inc.     100.00 %     -  
                 
(i) Indirect ownership is through the Partnership                

 

PARTNERSHIP AGREEMENT

 

The Partnership Agreement of the Partnership provides for the issuance of two classes of Limited Partnership units, Class A and Class B. Class A and Class B Partnership units are identical in all respects, except that each Class A Partnership unit is convertible into one newly-issued Share of Beneficial Interest of the Trust at any time at the option of the particular limited partner. The Class B Partnership units may only become convertible, each into one newly-issued Share of Beneficial Interest of the Trust, with the approval of the Board of Trustees, in its sole discretion. On April 30, 2019 and January 31, 2019, 211,708 Class A Partnership units were issued and outstanding, representing 1.67% of the total Partnership units, respectively. Additionally, as of April 30, 2019 and January 31, 2019, 2,974,038 Class B Partnership units were outstanding to James Wirth, the Trust’s Chairman and Chief Executive Officer, and Mr. Wirth’s affiliates. If all of the Class A and B Partnership units were converted on April 30, 2019 and January 31, 2019, the limited partners in the Partnership would receive 3,185,746 Shares of Beneficial Interest of the Trust. As of April 30, 2019 and January 31, 2019, the Trust owns 9,527,448 general partner units in the Partnership, representing 74.94% and 74.94% of the total Partnership units, respectively.

 

LIQUIDITY

 

The Trust’s principal source of cash to meet its cash requirements, including distributions to its shareholders, is our share of the RRF quarterly distributions coming from the Tucson Hotel as well as cash flow, quarterly distributions from the Albuquerque, New Mexico property, repayments of intercompany loans for the Tucson and Albuquerque Hotels, and more recently, sales of certain of our Hotels. The Partnership’s principal source of cash flow is quarterly distributions from the Tucson, Arizona properties. The Trust’s liquidity, including our ability to make distributions to its shareholders, will depend upon the ability of the Trust and the Partnership’s ability to generate sufficient cash flow from hotel operations and to service debt as well as to generate funds from repayment of loans and sale of assets.

 

As of April 30, 2019, the Trust had a related party Demand/Revolving Line of Credit/Promissory Note with an amount receivable of approximately $632,000. The Demand/Revolving Line of Credit/Promissory Note accrues interest at 7.0% per annum and requires interest only payments. The Demand/Revolving Line of Credit/Promissory Note has a maximum borrowing capacity to $1,000,000, which is available through December 31, 2019. As of July 19, 2019, the outstanding net balance receivable on the Demand/Revolving Line of Credit/Promissory Note was $632,000.

 

As of April 30, 2019, the Trust had an Advance to Affiliate credit facilities with an aggregate maximum borrowing capacity of $1,000,000, which is available through December 31, 2019. As of April 30, 2019, the Trust had an amount receivable of the Advances to Affiliate credit facility of approximately $986,000. As of July 19, 2019, the amount receivable from the Advance to Affiliate credit facility was approximately $986,000.

 

  7  
 

 

As of April 30, 2019, the Trust had a Revolving line of Credit of $150,000 with the Republic Bank of Arizona. The line had a zero balance as of April 30, 2019,

 

With approximately $2,667,000 of cash and short term investments, as of April 30, 2019, the availability of a $1,000,000 related party Demand/Revolving Line of Credit/Promissory Note, the availability of the combined $1,000,000 Advance to Affiliate credit facilities, and the Revolving Line of Credit with Republic Bank, the Trust believes that it will have enough cash on hand to meet all of the financial obligations as they become due for at least the next year. In addition, management is analyzing other strategic options available to the Trust, including the sale of one or both hotel properties. However, such transactions may not be available on terms that are favorable to the Trust, or at all.

 

There can be no assurance that the Trust will be successful selling properties, refinancing debt or raising additional or replacement funds, or that these funds may be available on terms that are favorable to it. If the Trust is unable to raise additional or replacement funds, it may be required to sell certain of our assets to meet liquidity needs, which may not be on terms that are favorable.

 

BASIS OF PRESENTATION

 

The accompanying unaudited condensed consolidated financial statements have been prepared by the Trust in accordance with accounting principles generally accepted in the United States of America (“U.S. GAAP”) for interim financial information, and pursuant to the instructions to Form 10-Q and Article 10 of Regulation S-X promulgated by the Securities and Exchange Commission (“SEC”). Accordingly, they do not include all of the information and footnotes required by U.S. GAAP for complete financial statement presentation. However, the Trust believes that the disclosures are adequate to make the information presented not misleading. In the opinion of management, all adjustments (consisting primarily of normal recurring accruals) considered necessary for a fair presentation have been included.

 

Operating results for the three months ended April 30, 2019 are not necessarily indicative of the results that may be expected for the year ending January 31, 2020. The unaudited condensed consolidated financial statements should be read in conjunction with the audited consolidated financial statements and related notes thereto included in the Trust’s Annual Report on Form 10-K for the year ended January 31, 2019.

 

The Company has evaluated subsequent events through the date of the filing of its Form 10-K with the Securities and Exchange Commission. Other than those events disclosed in Note 21 the Company is not aware of any other significant events that occurred subsequent to the balance sheet date but prior to the filing of this report that would have a material impact on the Trust’s financial statements.

 

As sole general partner of the Partnership, the Trust exercises unilateral control over the Partnership, and the Trust owns all of the issued and outstanding classes of shares of InnSuites Hotels Inc. Therefore, the financial statements of the Partnership and InnSuites Hotels Inc. are consolidated with the Trust, and all significant intercompany transactions and balances have been eliminated.

 

Under Accounting Standards Codification (“ASC”) Topic 810-10-25, Albuquerque Suite Hospitality, LLC and Yuma Hospitality Properties LLLP have been determined to be variable interest entities with the Partnership as the primary beneficiary (see Note 4 – “Variable Interest Entity”). Therefore, the financial statements of Albuquerque Suite Hospitality, LLC and Yuma Hospitality Properties, LLP, prior to its sale on October 24, 2018, are consolidated with the Partnership and the Trust, and all significant intercompany transactions and balances have been eliminated.

 

SEASONALITY OF THE HOTEL BUSINESS

 

The Hotels’ operations historically have been somewhat seasonal. The Tucson Arizona hotel experiences the highest occupancy in the first fiscal quarter (the winter season) and, to a lesser extent, the fourth fiscal quarter. The second fiscal quarter tends to be the lowest occupancy period at this Arizona hotel. This seasonality pattern can be expected to cause fluctuations in the Trust’s quarterly revenues. The hotel located in New Mexico historically experience their most profitable periods during the second and third fiscal quarters (the summer season), providing some balance to the general seasonality of the Trust’s hotel business.

 

The seasonal nature of the Trust’s business increases its vulnerability to risks such as labor force shortages and cash flow issues. Further, if an adverse event such as an actual or threatened terrorist attack, international conflict, data breach, regional economic downturn or poor weather should occur at either of its two hotels, the adverse impact to the Trust’s revenues and profit could be significant.

 

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RECENTLY ISSUED ACCOUNTING GUIDANCE

 

In February 2016, the Financial Accounting Standards Board (“FASB”) issued Accounting Standards Update (“ASU”) No. 2016-02, Leases (Topic 842). The new standard establishes a right-of-use (“ROU”) model that requires a lessee to record a ROU asset and a lease liability on the balance sheet for all leases with terms longer than 12 months. Leases will be classified as either finance or operating, with classification affecting the pattern of expense recognition in the income statement. ASU No. 2016-02 is effective for annual periods beginning after December 15, 2018, and annual and interim periods thereafter, with early adoption permitted. A modified retrospective transition approach is an option for lessees for capital and operating leases existing at, or entered into after, the beginning of the earliest comparative period presented in the financial statements, with certain practical expedients available. In July 2018, the FASB issued ASU No. 2018-11, Leases (Topic 842), which adds an optional transition method allowing entities to apply the new lease accounting rules through a cumulative-effect adjustment to the opening balance of retained earnings in the initial year of adoption.

 

The Company adopted ASU No. 2016-02 as of February 1, 2019, using the transition method per ASU No. 2018-11 issued in July 2018 wherein entities were allowed to initially apply the new leases standard at adoption date and recognize a cumulative effect adjustment to the opening balance of retained earnings in the period of adoption. Accordingly, all periods prior to February 1, 2019 were presented in accordance with the previous ASC Topic 840, Leases, and no retrospective adjustments were made to the comparative periods presented.

 

The Company elected the package of practical expedients permitted under the new standard which, among other things, allowed the Company to not reassess the lease classification, the lease identification and the initial direct costs for any existing leases. Further, as permitted by the standard, the Company made an accounting policy election not to record ROU assets or lease liabilities for leases with a term of 12 months or less. Instead, consistent with legacy accounting guidance, the Company will recognize payments for such leases in the consolidated statement of operations on a straight-line basis over the lease term. With adoption on February 1, 2019, this standard resulted in the recognition of additional assets of $2,821,410 and liabilities of $2,913,568 upon adoption on its accompanying condensed consolidated balance sheet. The new standard did not have a material impact on the Company’s results of operations or cash flows.

 

In January 2017, the FASB issued Accounting Standards Update (ASU) 2017-04, Intangibles – Goodwill and Other (Topic 350): Simplifying the Test for Goodwill Impairment . The update simplifies how the entity is required to test goodwill for impairment by eliminating Step 2 from the goodwill impairment test. Step 2 measures a goodwill impairment loss by comparing the implied fair value of a reporting unit’s goodwill with the carrying amount. This update is effective for annual or interim periods beginning after December 15, 2019. The Trust is still in the process of completing the analysis on the impact this guidance will have on the consolidated financial statements and related disclosures, and the Trust does not expect the impact to be material.

 

In June 2018, the FASB issued Accounting Standards Update (“ASU”) 2018-07, Compensation – Stock Compensation (Topic 718) Improvements to Nonemployee Share-Based Payment Accounting . This ASU expands the scope of Topic 718 to include share-based payment transactions for acquiring goods and services from nonemployees. The amendments in this ASU will become effective for us beginning February 1, 2019, and early adoption is permitted. The Trust has adopted this ASU which did not have a material effect on the consolidated financial statements.

 

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2. SUMMARY OF SIGNIFICANT ACCOUNTING POLICIES

 

USE OF ESTIMATES

 

The preparation of financial statements in conformity with GAAP requires management to make estimates and assumptions that affect the reported amounts of assets and liabilities, the disclosure of contingent assets and liabilities at the date of the consolidated financial statements and the reported amounts of revenues and expenses during the reporting period. Actual results could differ from those estimates.

 

The Trust’s operations are affected by numerous factors, including the economy, competition in the hotel industry and the effect of the economy on the travel and hospitality industries. The Trust cannot predict if any of the above items will have a significant impact in the future, nor can it predict what impact, if any, the occurrence of these or other events might have on the Trust’s operations and cash flows. Significant estimates and assumptions made by management include, but are not limited to, the estimated useful lives of long-lived assets and recoverability of long-lived assets and the fair values of the long-lived assets.

 

PROPERTY, PLANT AND EQUIPMENT AND HOTEL PROPERTIES

 

Furniture, fixtures, building improvements and hotel properties are stated at cost and depreciated using the straight-line method over estimated lives ranging up to 40 years for buildings and 3 to 10 years for furniture and equipment.

 

For tax purposes the Trust takes advantage of accelerated depreciation methods (MACRS) for new capital additions and improvements to its Hotels.

 

Management applies guidance ASC 360-10-35, to determine when it is required to test an asset for recoverability of its carrying value and whether, or not, an impairment exists. Under ASC 360-10-35, the Trust is required to test a long-lived asset for impairment when there is an indicator of impairment. Impairment indicators may include, but are not limited to, a drop in the performance of a long-lived asset, a decline in the hospitality industry or a decline in the economy. If an indicator of potential impairment is present, then an assessment is performed of whether the carrying amount of an asset exceeds its estimated undiscounted future cash flows over its estimated remaining life.

 

If the estimated undiscounted future cash flows over the asset’s estimated remaining life are greater than the asset’s carrying value, no impairment is recognized; however, if the carrying value of the asset exceeds the estimated undiscounted future cash flows, then the Trust would recognize an impairment expense to the extent the asset’s carrying value exceeds its fair value, if any. The estimated future cash flows are based upon, among other things, assumptions about expected future operating performance, and may differ from actual cash flows. Long-lived assets evaluated for impairment are analyzed on a property-specific basis independent of the cash flows of other groups of assets. Evaluation of future cash flows is based on historical experience and other factors, including certain economic conditions and committed future bookings. Management impaired these assets during the fiscal year 2018, and has determined that no further impairment is required of long-lived assets for the fiscal period ended April 30, 2019.

 

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CASH AND CASH EQUIVALENTS

 

The Trust considers all highly liquid short-term investments with maturities of three months or less at the time of purchase to be cash equivalents. The Trust believes it places its cash and cash equivalents only with high credit quality financial institutions, although these balances may periodically exceed federally insured limits.

 

REVENUE RECOGNITION

 

Hotel and Operations

 

ASU 2014-09 (Topic 606), “Revenue from Contracts with Customers” is effective for reporting periods after January 1, 2018. ASU 2014-09 requires entities to recognize revenue through the application of a five-step model, which includes identification of the contract, identification of the performance obligations, determination of the transaction price, allocation of the transaction price to the performance obligations and recognition of revenue as the entity satisfies the performance obligations.

 

Revenues are primarily derived from the sources below and are recognized as services are rendered and when collectability is reasonably assured. Amounts received in advance of revenue recognition are considered deferred liabilities, and are generally not significant.

 

Revenues primarily consist of room rentals, food and beverage sales, management and trademark fees and other miscellaneous revenues from our properties. Revenues are recorded when rooms are occupied and when food and beverage sales are delivered. Management and trademark fees from non-affiliated hotels include a monthly accounting fee and a percentage of hotel room revenues for managing the daily operations of the Hotels and the one hotel owned by affiliates of Mr. Wirth.

 

Each room night consumed by a guest with a cancellable reservation represents a contract whereby the Company has a performance obligation to provide the room night at an agreed upon price. For cancellable reservations, the Company recognizes revenue as each performance obligation (i.e., each room night) is met. Such contract is renewed if the guest continues their stay. For room nights consumed by a guest with a non-cancellable reservation, the entire reservation period represents the contract term whereby the Company has a performance obligation to provide the room night or nights at an agreed upon price. For non-cancellable reservations, the Company recognizes revenue over the term of the performance period (i.e., the reservation period) as room nights are consumed. For these reservations, the room rate is typically fixed over the reservation period. The Company uses an output method based on performance completed to date (i.e., room nights consumed) to determine the amount of revenue it recognizes on a daily basis if the length of a non-cancellable reservation exceeds one night since consumption of room nights indicates when services are transferred to the guest. In certain instances, variable consideration may exist with respect to the transaction price, such as discounts, coupons and price concessions made upon guest checkout.

 

In evaluating its performance obligation, the Company bundles the obligation to provide the guest the room itself with other obligations (such as free WiFi, grab and go breakfast, access to on-site laundry facilities and parking), as the other obligations are not distinct and separable because the guest cannot benefit from the additional amenities without the consumed room night. The Company’s obligation to provide the additional items or services is not separately identifiable from the fundamental contractual obligation (i.e., providing the room and its contents). The Company has no performance obligations once a guest’s stay is complete.

 

We are required to collect certain taxes and fees from customers on behalf of government agencies and remit these back to the applicable governmental agencies on a periodic basis. We have a legal obligation to act as a collection agent. We do not retain these taxes and fees and, therefore, they are not included in revenues. We record a liability when the amounts are collected and relieve the liability when payments are made to the applicable taxing authority or other appropriate governmental agency.

 

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ACCOUNTS RECEIVABLES AND ALLOWANCE FOR DOUBTFUL ACCOUNTS

 

Accounts receivable are carried at original amounts billed less an estimate made for doubtful accounts based on a review of outstanding amounts on a quarterly basis. Management generally records an allowance for doubtful accounts for 50% of balances over 90 days and 100% of balances over 120 days. Accounts receivable are written off when collection efforts have been exhausted and they are deemed uncollectible. Recoveries, if any, of receivables previously written off are recorded when received. The Trust does not charge interest on accounts receivable balances and these receivables are unsecured. The following is a reconciliation of the allowance for doubtful accounts for the three months ended April 30, 2019 and the fiscal year ended January 31, 2019.

 

Period Ended  

Balance at the Beginning

of Period

    Discontinued Operations Adjustment     Charged to Expense     Deductions     Balance at the End of Year  
                                         
April 30, 2019   $ (5,943 )   $ -       -     $ -     $ (5,943 )
January 31, 2019   $ (28,564 )   $ 25,000             $ (2,379 )   $ (5,943 )

 

LEASE ACCOUNTING

 

The Trust determines, at the inception of a contract, if the arrangement is a lease and whether it meets the classification criteria for a finance or operating lease. ROU assets represent the Trust’s right to use an underlying asset during the lease term and lease liabilities represent the Trust’s obligation to make lease payments arising from the lease. ROU assets and lease liabilities are recognized at commencement date based on the present value of fixed lease payments over the lease term. ROU assets also include any advance lease payments and exclude lease incentives. As most of the Trust’s operating leases do not provide an implicit rate, the Trust uses its incremental borrowing rate based on information available at commencement date in determining the present value of lease payments. Finance lease agreements generally include an interest rate that is used to determine the present value of future lease payments. Operating fixed lease expense and finance lease depreciation expense are recognized on a straight-line basis over the lease term (see Note 16).

 

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STOCK-BASED COMPENSATION

 

The Trust has an employee equity incentive plan, which is described more fully in Note 17 - “Share-Based Payments.” For the three months ended April 30, 2019 and 2018, the Trust has paid the annual fees due to its Trustees by issuing Shares of Beneficial Interest out of its authorized but unissued Shares. Upon issuance, the Trust recognizes the shares as outstanding. The Trust recognizes expense related to the issuance based on the fair value of the shares upon the date of the restricted share grant and amortizes the expense equally over the period during which the shares vest to the Trustees.

 

During the three months ended April 30, 2019, the Trust granted restricted stock awards of 18,000 Shares to 3 independent members of the Board of Trustees, of which 4,500 shares vested during that period resulting in stock-based compensation of $8,100. During three months ended April 30, 2018, the Trust granted restricted stock awards of 18,000 Shares to members of the Board of Trustees, of which 4,500 shares vested during that period resulting in stock-based compensation of $8,100. The remaining shares vested through the end of fiscal year ended January 31, 2019 on a monthly basis at a rate of approximately 500 shares for each outside Trustee or a total of 1,500 per month for 3 independent Trustees.

 

TREASURY STOCK

 

Treasury stock is carried at cost, including any brokerage commissions paid to repurchase the shares. Any shares issued from treasury stock are removed at cost, with the difference between cost and fair value at the time of issuance recorded against Shares of Beneficial Interest.

 

(LOSS) PER SHARE

 

Basic and diluted income (loss) per Share of Beneficial Interest is computed based on the weighted-average number of Shares of Beneficial Interest and potentially dilutive securities outstanding during the period. Dilutive securities are limited to the Class A and Class B units of the Partnership, which are convertible into 3,185,746 Shares of the Beneficial Interest, as discussed in Note 1.

 

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For the three months ended April 30, 2019 and 2018, there were Class A and Class B Partnership units outstanding, which are convertible into Shares of Beneficial Interest of the Trust. Assuming conversion at the beginning of each period, the aggregate weighted-average of these Shares of Beneficial Interest would have been 3,185,746 and 3,473,085 in addition to the basic shares outstanding for the three months ended April 30, 2019 and 2018, respectively. These Shares of Beneficial Interest issuable upon conversion of the Class A and Class B Partnership units were dilutive during the three months ended April 30, 2019 and 2018 and are included in the calculation of diluted earnings per share for those periods below.

 

    For the Three Months Ended  
    April 30,  
    2019     2018  
Net Loss attributable to controlling interest   $ (328,854 )   $ (652,015 )
Plus: Net Income attributable to non-controlling interests     59,024       362,054  
Net Loss   $ (269,830 )   $ (289,961 )
                 
Weighted average common shares outstanding     9,362,857       9,612,139  
Plus: Weighted average incremental shares resulting from unit conversion    

3,185,746

      3,473,085  
Weighted average common shares outstanding after unit conversion    

12,548,603

     

13,085,223

 
                 
Diluted Loss Per Share   $ (0.02 )   $ (0.02 )

 

ADVERTISING COSTS

 

Amounts incurred for advertising costs are expensed as incurred. Advertising expense for continuing and discontinued operations totaled approximately $83,000 and $206,000 for the three months ended April 30, 2019 and 2018, respectively.

 

CONCENTRATION OF CREDIT RISK

 

Credit risk is the risk of an unexpected loss if a third party to a financial instrument fails to meet its contractual obligations. Financial instruments that potentially subject the Trust to a concentration of credit risk consist primarily of cash and cash equivalents. Management’s assessment of the Trust’s credit risk for cash and cash equivalents is low as cash and cash equivalents are held in financial institutions believed to be credit worthy. The Trust limits its exposure to credit loss by placing its cash with major financial institutions and invests only in short-term obligations.

 

While the Trust is exposed to credit losses due to the non-performance of its counterparties, the Trust considers the risk of this remote. The Trust estimates its maximum credit risk for accounts receivable at the amount recorded on the balance sheet.

 

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FAIR VALUE OF FINANCIAL INSTRUMENTS

 

For disclosure purposes, fair value is determined by using available market information and appropriate valuation methodologies. Fair value is defined as the price that would be received from the sale of an asset or paid to transfer a liability (an exit price) in an orderly transaction between market participants in the principal or most advantageous market for the asset or liability. The fair value framework specifies a hierarchy of valuation techniques, which is based on whether the inputs into the valuation technique are observable or unobservable. The fair value hierarchy levels are as follows:

 

  Level 1 – Valuation techniques in which all significant inputs are unadjusted quoted prices from active markets for assets or liabilities that are identical to the assets or liabilities being measured.
     
  Level 2 – Valuation techniques in which significant inputs include quoted prices from active markets for assets or liabilities that are similar to the assets or liabilities being measured and / or quoted prices for assets or liabilities that are identical or similar to the assets or liabilities being measured from markets that are not active. Also, model-derived valuations in which all significant inputs and significant value drivers are observable in active markets are level 2 valuation techniques.
     
  Level 3 – Valuation techniques in which one or more significant inputs or significant value drivers are unobservable. Unobservable inputs are valuation technique inputs that reflect a company’s own judgments about the assumptions that market participants would use in pricing an asset or liability.

 

The Trust has no assets or liabilities that are carried at fair value on a recurring basis and had no fair value re-measurements during the three months ended April 30, 2019 and the year ended January 31, 2019.

 

Due to their short maturities, the carrying value of cash and cash equivalents, accounts receivable, accounts payable and accrued expenses approximate fair value. The fair value of mortgage notes payable, notes payable to banks and notes and advances payable to related parties is estimated by using the current rates which would be available for similar loans having the same remaining maturities and are based on level 3 inputs.

 

3. SALE OF OWNERSHIP INTERESTS IN SUBSIDIARIES

 

The Trust has sold non-controlling interests in certain subsidiaries, including Albuquerque Suite Hospitality, LLC (the “Albuquerque entity”), Tucson Hospitality Properties, LP (the “Tucson entity”), Ontario Hospitality Properties, LP (the “Ontario entity”), and Yuma Hospitality Properties, Limited Partnership (the “Yuma entity”), which sales are described in detail in our Annual Report on Form 10-K filed on June 19, 2019 with the Securities and Exchange Commissions. Generally, interests have sold for $10,000 per unit with a two-unit minimum subscription. The Trust maintains at least 50.1% of the units in one of the entities and intends to maintain this minimum ownership percentage. Generally, the units in the each of the entities are allocated to three classes with differing cumulative discretionary priority distribution rights through a certain time period. Class A units are owned by unrelated third parties and have first priority for distributions. Class B units are owned by the Trust and have second priority for distributions. Class C units are owned by Rare Earth or other affiliates of Mr. Wirth and have the lowest priority for distributions. Priority distributions of $700 per unit per year are cumulative until a certain date; however, after that date, generally Class A unit holders continue to hold a preference on distributions over Class B and Class C unit holders. As of February 1, 2017, the Trust no longer accrues for these distributions as the preference period generally has expired.

 

On February 15, 2017, the Trust and Partnership entered into a restructuring agreement with Rare Earth Financial, LLC (“REF”) to allow for the sale of non-controlling partnership units in Albuquerque Suite Hospitality LLC (“Albuquerque”) for $10,000 per unit, which operates the Best Western InnSuites Albuquerque Hotel and Suites Airport hotel property, a 100 unit hotel in Albuquerque, New Mexico (the “Property”). REF and IHT are restructuring the Albuquerque Membership Interest by creating 250 additional Class A membership interests from General Member majority-owned to accredited investor member-owned. In the event of sale of 250 Class A Interests, total interests outstanding will change from 550 to 600 with Class A, Class B and Class C Limited Liability Company Interests (referred to collectively as “Interests”) restructured with IHT selling approximately 200 Class B Interests to accredited investors as Class A Interest. REF, as a General Partner of Yuma, will coordinate the offering and sale of Class A Interests to qualified third parties. REF and other REF Affiliates may purchase Interests under the offering. This restructuring is part of the Trust’s Equity Enhancement Plan to comply with Section 1003(a)(iii) of the NYSE American Company Guide.

 

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On February 15, 2017, the Trust and Partnership entered into a restructuring agreement with Rare Earth to allow for the sale of non-controlling partnership units in the Yuma entity for $10,000 per unit. Rare Earth and the Trust are restructuring the Yuma Partnership Interest from General Partner majority-owned to accredited investor majority-owned. Total interests outstanding will remain unchanged at 800 with Class A, Class B and Class C Limited Liability Limited Partnership Interests (referred to collectively as “Interests”) restructured with the Yuma entity purchasing 300 existing IHT Class B Interests and reissuing 300 Class A units to accredited investors as Class A Interests causing the Yuma entity to offer and sell up to approximately 300 Class A (2017 series) Interests. Rare Earth, as a General Partner of the Yuma entity, will coordinate the offering and sale of Class A Interests to qualified third parties. Rare Earth and other Rare Earth affiliates may purchase Interests under the offering. This restructuring is part of the Trust’s Equity Enhancement Plan to comply with Section 1003(a)(iii) of the NYSE American Company Guide.

 

During the year ended January 31, 2019, there were 15 Class A units sold ($10,000/unit), of which 13.50 came from the Trust’s Class B units, and no C units of the Albuquerque entity sold. There were no units sold in the three months ended April 30, 2019. As of April 30, 2019 and January 31, 2019, the Trust held a 20.53% and 20.53 % ownership interest, or 123.50 Class B units, in the Albuquerque entity, Mr. Wirth and his affiliates held a 0.17% interest, or 1 Class C unit, and other third parties held a 79.30% interest, or 477 Class A units. The Trust no longer accrues for these distributions as the preference period has expired.

 

During the three months ended April 30, 2019, there were no Class A, B or C units of the Tucson entity sold. As of April 30, 2019 and January 31, 2019, the Partnership held a 51.01% ownership interest, or 404 Class B units, in the Tucson entity, Mr. Wirth and his affiliates held a 0.38% interest, or 3 Class C units, and other parties held a 48.61% interest, or 385 Class A units. The Trust no longer accrues for these distributions as the preference period has expired.

 

As of April 30, 2019, the Trust has sold its entire ownership interest in the Yuma entity which occurred in October 2018.

 

4. VARIABLE INTEREST ENTITIES

 

Management evaluates the Trust’s explicit and implicit variable interests to determine if they have any variable interests in VIEs. Variable interests are contractual, ownership, or other pecuniary interests in an entity whose value changes with changes in the fair value of the entity’s net assets, exclusive of variable interests. Explicit variable interests are those which directly absorb the variability of a VIE and can include contractual interests such as loans or guarantees as well as equity investments. An implicit variable interest acts the same as an explicit variable interest except it involves the absorbing of variability indirectly, such as through related party arrangements or implicit guarantees. The analysis includes consideration of the design of the entity, its organizational structure, including decision making ability over the activities that most significantly impact the VIE’s economic performance. GAAP requires a reporting entity to consolidate a VIE when the reporting entity has a variable interest, or combination of variable interest, that provides it with a controlling financial interest in the VIE. The entity that consolidates a VIE is referred to as the primary beneficiary of that VIE.

 

The Partnership has determined that the Albuquerque entity, and the Yuma entity, prior to its sale on October 24, 2018, were a variable interest entities with the Partnership as the primary beneficiary with the ability to exercise control, as determined under the guidance of ASC Topic 810-10-25. In its determination, management considered the following qualitative and quantitative factors:

 

a) The Partnership, Trust and their related parties, which share common ownership and management, have guaranteed material financial obligations of the Albuquerque and Yuma entities, including its distribution obligations.

 

b) The Partnership, Trust and their related parties have maintained, as a group, a controlling ownership interest in the Albuquerque entity and Yuma, with the largest ownership belonging to the Partnership.

 

c) The Partnership, Trust and their related parties have maintained control over the decisions which most impact the financial performance of the Albuquerque and Yuma entities, including providing the personnel to operate the property on a daily basis.

 

During the three months ended April 30, 2019 and the fiscal year ended January 31, 2019, neither the Trust nor the Partnership have provided any implicit or explicit financial support for which they were not previously contracted. Both the Partnership and the Trust provided mortgage loan guarantees which allow our properties to obtain new financing as needed.

 

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5. PROPERTY, PLANT, AND EQUIPMENT AND HOTEL PROPERTIES

 

As of April 30, 2019 and January 31, 2019, hotel properties consisted of the following:

 

    April 30, 2019     January 31, 2019  
Land   $ 2,500,000     $ 2,500,000  
Building and improvements     10,368,761       10,334,919  
Furniture, fixtures and equipment     3,934,595       3,860,574  
Total hotel properties     16,803,356       16,695,493  
Less accumulated depreciation     (7,511,503 )     (7,312,869 )
Hotel Properties in Service, net     9,291,853       9,382,625  
Construction in progress     64,585       43,657  
Hotel properties, net   $ 9,356,438     $ 9,426,282  

 

As of April 30, 2019 and January 31, 2019, corporate property, plant and equipment consisted of the following:

 

    April 30, 2019     January 31, 2019  
Land   $ 7,005     $ 7,005  
Building and improvements     75,662       75,662  
Furniture, fixtures and equipment     534,879       534,879  
Total property, plant and equipment     617,546       617,546  
Less accumulated depreciation     (518,720 )     (511,035 )
Property, Plant and Equipment, net   $ 98,826     $ 106,511  

 

6. PREPAID EXPENSES AND OTHER CURRENT ASSETS

 

Prepaid expenses and other current assets are carried at historical cost and are expected to be consumed within one year. As of April 30, 2019 and January 31, 2019, prepaid expenses and other current assets consisted of the following:

 

    April 30, 2019     January 31, 2019  
Tax and Insurance Escrow   $ 21,616     $ 57,810  
Deposits     3,000       3,000  
Prepaid Insurance     5,000       5,000  
Prepaid Workman’s Compensation     7,465       21,459  
Miscellaneous Prepaid Expenses     24,895       8,284  
Total Prepaid Expenses and Other Current Assets   $ 61,976     $ 95,553  

 

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7. ACCOUNTS PAYABLE AND ACCRUED EXPENSES

 

As of April 30, 2019 and January 31, 2019, accounts payable and accrued expenses consisted of the following:

 

    April 30, 2019     January 31, 2019(i)  
Accounts Payable   $ 226,306     $ 166,339  
Accrued Salaries and Wages     229,395       251,773  
Accrued Vacation     21,559       28,780  
Income Tax Payable     630,330       631,130  
Accrued Interest Payable     4,856       4,857  
Advanced Customer Deposits     59,858       60,322  
Accrued Property Taxes     90,236       79,516  
Accrued Land Lease     161,856       161,856  
Sales Tax Payable     251,607       114,753  
Deferred Revenue     31,240       31,239  
Accrued Other     131,142       108,238  
Total Accounts Payable and Accrued Expenses   $ 1,838,425     $ 1,638,803  
                 
(i) Includes current liabilities of discontinued operations.

 

8. MORTGAGE NOTES PAYABLE

 

At April 30, 2019 and January 31, 2019, the Trust had mortgage notes payable outstanding with respect to each of the Hotels except the Albuquerque property. The mortgage notes payable has various repayment terms and have scheduled maturity dates ranging from August 2022 to June 2042. Weighted average annual interest rates on the mortgage notes payable as of April 30, 2019 and January 31, 2019 were 4.85%, respectively.

 

The Trust’s mortgage note payable, net of debt discounts, as of April 30, 2019 and January 31, 2019 were $4,793,768 and $4,824,692, respectively. The mortgage note payable is due in monthly installments of $28,493, including interest at 4.69% per year, through June 19, 2042, secured by the Tucson Oracle property with a carrying value of $7.6 million at April 30, 2019 and January 31, 2019.

 

On June 29, 2017, Tucson Oracle entered into a $5.0 million Business Loan Agreement (“Tucson Loan”) as a first mortgage credit facility with KS State Bank to refinance the existing first mortgage credit facility with an approximate payoff balance of $3.045 million which will allow Tucson Hospitality Properties, LLLP funds for prior and future hotel improvements. The Tucson Loan has a maturity date of June 19, 2042. The Tucson Loan has an initial interest rate of 4.69% for the first five years and thereafter a variable rate equal to the US Treasury + 2.0% with a floor of 4.69% and no prepayment penalty. This credit facility is guaranteed by InnSuites Hospitality Trust, RRF Limited Partnership, Rare Earth Financial, LLC, James F. Wirth and Gail J. Wirth and the Wirth Family Trust dated July 14, 2016. As of April 30, 2019 and January 31, 2019, the mortgage loan balance was approximately $4,794,000 and $4,825,000, respectively, net of a discount of approximately $5,000.

 

See Note 11 – “Minimum Debt Payments” for scheduled minimum payments on the mortgage notes payable.

 

9. LINES OF CREDIT – RELATED PARTY

 

On December 1, 2014, the Trust entered into a $1,000,000 net maximum Demand/Revolving Line of Credit/Promissory Note with Rare Earth Financial, LLC, an entity which is wholly owned by Mr. Wirth and his family members. The Demand/Revolving Line of Credit/Promissory Note, as amended on June 19, 2017, bears interest at 7.0% per annum for both a payable and receivable, is interest only quarterly and matures on December 31, 2019, and renews annually for each calendar year. No prepayment penalty exists on the Demand/Revolving Line of Credit/Promissory Note. The balance fluctuates significantly through the period. The Demand/Revolving Line of Credit/Promissory Note has a net maximum borrowing/lending capacity of $1,000,000. As of April 30, 2019 and January 31, 2019, the Trust had an amount receivable of approximately $632,000, including accrued interest and $632,000, respectively. During the three months ended April 30, 2019 and 2018, the Trust accrued approximately $844 and $3,632, respectively, of interest income.

 

10. OTHER NOTES PAYABLE

 

As of April 30, 2019, the Trust had approximately $440,000 in promissory notes outstanding to unrelated third parties arising from the repurchase of 82,588 Class A Partnership units in privately negotiated transactions and the repurchase of 266,894 Shares of Beneficial Interest in privately negotiated transactions. These promissory notes bear interest at 7% per year and are due in varying monthly payments through July 2020.

 

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As of April 30, 2019, the Trust had a $100,000 note payable with an individual lender. The promissory note is payable on demand, or on June 30, 2021, whichever occurs first. The loan accrues interest at 7% and interest only payments shall be made monthly and are due on the first of the following month. The Trust may pay all of part of this note without any repayment penalties. As of July 1, 2019 IHT has verbal agreement to extend the note until June 30, 2021 at 4.5% interest only with similar terms (see Note 21).

 

On June 20, 2016, the Trust and the Partnership together entered into multiple unsecured loans totaling $270,000 with Guy C. Hayden III (“Hayden Loans”). As of July 1, 2019 IHT has verbal agreement to consolidate and extend the Hayden loans at 4.5% interest only, with similar terms to June 30, 2021 (see Note 21). The Trust and Partnership may call these with 90 day written notice. The total principal amount of the Hayden Loans was $270,000 as of April 30, 2019.

 

On December 5, 2016, the Trust and the Partnership together entered into eight unsecured loans for a total of $425,000 with H. W. Hayes Trust (“Hayes Loans”). On March 20, 2017, the Trust and Partnership added additional loans to Marriott Sweitzer Hayes (“Sweitzer Loans”), totaling $100,000. The total principal amount of the Sweitzer Loans is $100,000 as of April 30, 2019. The Sweitzer Loans are due on June 20, 2019, but as of July 1, 2019 IHT has verbal agreement to extend the note until June 30, 2021 at 4.0% interest only, with similar terms. The Hayes loan will be paid in full at maturity on July 1, 2019. As of April 30, 2019, total balance of the above loans is $425,000.

 

See Note 11 – “Minimum Debt Payments” for scheduled minimum payments on the mortgage notes payable.

 

11. MINIMUM DEBT PAYMENTS

 

Scheduled minimum payments of debt, net of debt discounts, as of April 30, 2019 are as follows in the respective fiscal years indicated:

 

FISCAL YEAR   MORTGAGES     NOTES PAYABLE RELATED PARTIES     OTHER NOTES PAYABLE     TOTAL  
                         

Remainder of

2020
    86,000       268,000       1,177,000       1,531,000  
2021     119,000       137,000       202,000       458,000  
2022     127,000       -       56,000       183,000  
2023     130,000       -       -       130,000  
2024     135,000       -       -       135,000  
Thereafter     4,197,000       -       -       4,197,000  
                                 
    $ 4,794,000     $ 405,000     $ 1,435,000     $ 6,634,000  

 

12. DESCRIPTION OF BENEFICIAL INTERESTS

 

Holders of the Trust’s Shares of Beneficial Interest are entitled to receive dividends when and if declared by the Board of Trustees of the Trust out of funds legally available. The holders of Shares of Beneficial Interest, upon any liquidation, dissolution or winding-down of the Trust, are entitled to share ratably in any assets remaining after payment in full of all liabilities of the Trust. The Shares of Beneficial Interest possess ordinary voting rights, each share entitling the holder thereof to one vote. Holders of Shares of Beneficial Interest do not have cumulative voting rights in the election of Trustees and do not have preemptive rights.

 

On January 2, 2001, the Board of Trustees approved a share repurchase program under Rule 10b-18 of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended, for the purchase of up to 250,000 Partnership units and/or Shares of Beneficial Interest in open market or privately negotiated transactions. On September 10, 2002, August 18, 2005 and September 10, 2007, the Board of Trustees approved the purchase of up to 350,000 additional Partnership units and/or Shares of Beneficial Interest in open market or privately negotiated transactions. Additionally, on January 5, 2009, September 15, 2009 and January 31, 2010, the Board of Trustees approved the purchase of up to 300,000, 250,000 and 350,000, respectively, of additional Partnership units and/or Shares of Beneficial Interest in open market or privately negotiated transactions. Acquired Shares of Beneficial Interest will be held in treasury and will be available for future acquisitions and financings and/or for awards granted under the Trust’s equity compensation plans/programs. Additionally, on June 19, 2017, the Board of Trustees approved a share repurchase program under Rule 10b-18 of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended, for the purchase of up to 750,000 Partnership units and/or Shares of Beneficial Interest in open market or privately negotiated transactions. Acquired Shares of Beneficial Interest will be held in treasury and will be available for future acquisitions and financings and/or for awards granted under the InnSuites Hospitality Trust 1997 Stock Incentive and Option Plan.

 

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For the three months ended April 30, 2019 and 2018, the Trust repurchased 32,732 and 149,603 Shares of Beneficial Interest at an average price of $1.77 and $1.92 per share, respectively. The average price paid includes brokerage commissions. The Trust intends to continue repurchasing Shares of Beneficial Interest in compliance with applicable legal and NYSE AMERICAN requirements. The Trust remains authorized to repurchase an additional 411,776 Partnership units and/or Shares of Beneficial Interest pursuant to the publicly announced share repurchase program, which has no expiration date. Repurchased Shares of Beneficial Interest are accounted for as treasury stock in the Trust’s Consolidated Statements of Shareholders’ Equity.

 

13. RELATED PARTY TRANSACTIONS

 

As of April 30, 2019 and January 31, 2019, Mr. Wirth and his affiliates held 2,974,038 Class B Partnership units, which represented 23.39% and 23.39% of the total outstanding Partnership units, respectively. As of April 30, 2019 and January 31, 2019, Mr. Wirth and his affiliates held 5,881,683 Shares of Beneficial Interest in the Trust, respectively, which represented 62.93% and 62.84% respectively, of the total issued and outstanding Shares of Beneficial Interest.

 

As of April 30, 2019 and January 31, 2019, the Trust owned 74.94% and 74.94% of the Partnership, respectively. As of April 30, 2019, the Partnership owned a 51.01% interest in the InnSuites® hotel located in Tucson. The Trust also owned a direct 20.53% interest in one InnSuites® hotel located in Albuquerque, New Mexico.

 

The Trust directly manages the Hotels through the Trust’s wholly-owned subsidiary, InnSuites Hotels Inc. Under the management agreements, InnSuites Hotels Inc. manages the daily operations of the two Hotels and the hotel owned by affiliates of Mr. Wirth. Revenues and reimbursements among the Trust, InnSuites Hotels Inc. and the Partnership have been eliminated in consolidation. The management fees for the Hotels and the hotel owned by affiliates of Mr. Wirth are set at 5.0% of room revenue and a monthly accounting fee of $2,000 per hotel. These agreements have no expiration date and may be cancelled by either party with 90-days written notice or 30-days written notice in the event the property changes ownership. For the three months ended April 30, 2019, the Trust recognized approximately $65,312 of revenue.

 

Pamela Barnhill, former Vice Chairperson and President of the Trust, resigned in June 2018, and is the daughter of Mr. Wirth, the Trust’s Chairman and Chief Executive Officer. Ms. Barnhill had compensation of $0 and $40,945 for the three months ended April 30, 2019 and 2018, respectively. The Trust also employs another immediate family member of Mr. Wirth, Brian James Wirth, who provides technology support services to the Trust, receiving a $36,000 annual salary.

 

On December 22, 2015, the Trust provided Advances to Affiliate – Related Party in the amount of $500,000 to Tempe/Phoenix Airport Resort LLC. Mr. Wirth, individually and thru one of his affiliates owns approximately 42% Tempe/Phoenix Airport Resort LLC. The note has a due date of December 31, 2019 and accrues interest of 7.0%. During the three months ended April 30, 2019 and 2018, the Trust received $1,970 and $0 of interest income, respectively, from Tempe/Phoenix Airport Resort LLC, respectively. As of April 30, 2019, the Advances from Affiliate – Related Party balance was $986,361 from Tempe/Phoenix Airport Resort LLC.

 

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14. STATEMENTS OF CASH FLOWS, SUPPLEMENTAL DISCLOSURES

 

The Trust paid $122,902 and $177,313 in cash for interest for the three months ended April 30, 2019 and 2018, respectively for continuing operations. The amounts paid related to Notes Payables - IHT Shares of Beneficial Interest and Partnership Units repurchases amounted to $189,320 and $113,000, respectively, for the three months ended April 30, 2019 and 2018. No cash was paid for taxes for the three months ended April 30, 2019 and 2018.

 

15. COMMITMENTS AND CONTINGENCIES

 

Restricted Cash:

 

The Trust is obligated under a loan agreement relating to the Tucson Oracle property to deposit 4% of the individual hotel’s room revenue into an escrow account to be used for capital expenditures. The escrow funds applicable to the Tucson Oracle property for which a mortgage lender escrow exists is reported on the Trust’s Consolidated Balance Sheet as “Restricted Cash.” Since a $0 cash balance existed in Restricted Cash as of April 30, 2019 and January 31, 2019, Restricted Cash line was omitted on the Trust’s Consolidated Balance Sheet.

 

Membership Agreements:

 

InnSuites Hotels has entered into membership agreements with Best Western International, Inc. (“Best Western”) for both of the hotel properties. In exchange for use of the Best Western name, trademark and reservation system, all Hotels pay fees to Best Western based on reservations received through the use of the Best Western reservation system and the number of available suites at the Hotels. The agreements with Best Western have no specific expiration terms and may be cancelled by either party. Best Western requires that the hotels meet certain requirements for room quality, and the Hotels are subject to removal from its reservation system if these requirements are not met. The Hotels with third-party membership agreements received significant reservations through the Best Western reservation system. Under these arrangements, fees paid for membership fees and reservations were approximately $42,000 and $63,000 for the three months ended April 30, 2019 and 2018, respectively. These costs are included in room operating expenses in the Unaudited Condensed Consolidated Statements of Operations.

 

The nature of the operations of the Hotels exposes them to risks of claims and litigation in the normal course of their business. Although the outcome of these matters cannot be determined and is covered by insurance, management does not expect that the ultimate resolution of these matters will have a material adverse effect on the consolidated financial position, results of operations or liquidity of the Trust.

 

Litigation:

 

The Trust is involved from time to time in various other claims and legal actions arising in the ordinary course of business. In the opinion of management, the ultimate disposition of these matters will not have a material adverse effect on the Trust’s consolidated financial position, results of operations or liquidity.

 

Indemnification:

 

The Trust has entered into indemnification agreements with all of our executive officers and Trustees. The agreements provide for indemnification against all liabilities and expenses reasonably incurred by an officer or Trustee in connection with the defense or disposition of any suit or other proceeding, in which he or she may be involved or with which he or she may be threatened, while in office or thereafter, because of his or her position at the Trust. There is no indemnification for any matter as to which an officer or Trustee is adjudicated to have acted in bad faith, with willful misconduct or reckless disregard of his or her duties, with gross negligence, or not in good faith in the reasonable belief that his or her action was in the Trust’s best interests. These agreements require the Trust, among other things, to indemnify the director or officer against specified expenses and liabilities, such as attorneys’ fees, judgments, fines and settlements, paid by the individual in connection with any action, suit or proceeding arising out of the individual’s status or service as our director or officer, other than liabilities arising from willful misconduct or conduct that is knowingly fraudulent or deliberately dishonest, and to advance expenses incurred by the individual in connection with any proceeding against the individual with respect to which the individual may be entitled to indemnification by us. The Trust may advance payments in connection with indemnification under the agreements. The level of indemnification is to the full extent of the net equity based on appraised and/or market value of the Trust. Historically, the Trust has not incurred any payments for these obligations and, therefore, no liabilities have been recorded for these indemnities in the accompanying consolidated balance sheets.

 

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See Note 16 – Leases, for discussion on lease payment commitments.

 

16. LEASES

 

The Company has operating leases for its corporate offices in Phoenix, Arizona, land leased in Albuquerque, New Mexico, and cable equipment leased for its Tucson, Arizona property. The Company’s lease terms include options to extend or terminate the leases and the Company includes these options in the lease term when it is reasonably certain to exercise that option.

 

Operating Leases

 

On August 4, 2017, the InnSuites Hospitality Trust (“IHT” or “the Company” or “the Trust”) entered into a five-year office lease agreement with Northpoint Properties for a commercial office lease at 1730 E Northern Ave, Suite 122, Phoenix, Arizona 85020 commencing on September 1, 2017. Base monthly rent of $4,100 increases 6% on a yearly basis. No rent is due for October 2018 and October 2022 months. The Trust also agreed to pay electricity and applicable sales tax. The office lease agreement provides early termination with a 90 day notification with an early termination fee of $12,000, $8,000, $6,000, $4,000 and $2,000 for years 1 - 5 of the lease term.

 

The Company’s Albuquerque Hotel is subject to non-cancelable ground lease. The Albuquerque Hotel non-cancelable ground lease was extended on January 14, 2014 and expires in 2058.

 

The Company’s Tucson, Arizona hotel property leases satellite television equipment for all of its 159 rooms and common areas. The lease commenced in November 2018 and expires 5 years from the date of commencement.

 

The following table presents the Company’s lease costs for the three months ended April 30, 2019:

 

    Three Months Ended  
    April 30, 2019  
Lease Costs:        
Operating lease cost*   $

64,334

 

 

* Short term lease costs were immaterial.

 

Supplemental cash flow information is as follows:

 

    Three Months Ended  
    April 30, 2019  
Cash paid for amounts included in the measurement of lease liabilities:        
Operating cash flows from operating leases   $ 57,985  
         
Right-of-use assets obtained in exchange for lease obligations:        
Operating leases, net   $ 2,791,249  

 

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The aggregate future lease payments for ROU assets as of April 30, 2019 are as follows:

 

For the Years Ending January 31,   ROU Assets  
Remaining in 2020   $ 173,956  
2021     231,941  
2022     231,941  
2023     208,829  
2024     168,691  
Thereafter     5,050,859  
Total minimum lease payments   $ 6,066,217  
Less: amount representing interest     3,210,634  
Total present value of minimum payments     2,855,583  
Less: current portion   $ 98,117  
Long-term obligations   $ 2,757,466  

 

Weighted average remaining lease terms and discount rates were as follows:

 

Weighted average remaining lease term (years)   April 30, 2019  
Operating leases     34.81  
         
Weighted average discount rate        
Operating leases     4.76 %

 

17. SHARE-BASED PAYMENTS

 

The Trust compensates its non-employee Trustees for their services through grants of restricted Shares. The aggregate grant date fair value of these Shares was $8,100. These restricted 18,000 shares vest in equal monthly amounts during fiscal year 2020.

 

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During fiscal year 1999, the shareholders of the Trust adopted the 1997 Stock Incentive and Option Plan (the “Plan”). Pursuant to the Plan, the Compensation Committee may grant options to the Trustees, officers, other key employees, consultants, advisors and similar employees of the Trust and certain of its subsidiaries and affiliates. The number of options that may be granted in a year is limited to 10% of the total Shares of Beneficial Interest and Partnership units in the Partnership (Class A and Class B) outstanding as of the first day of such year.

 

Generally, granted options expire 10 years from the date of grant, are exercisable during the optionee’s lifetime only by the recipient and are non-transferable. Unexercised options held by employees of the Trust generally terminate on the date the individual ceases to be an employee of the Trust.

 

There were no options granted during the three months ended April 30, 2019, and no options were outstanding as of that period end. The Plan currently has 1,000,000 options available to grant. See Note 19 for additional information on stock options. The Plan also permits the Trust to award stock appreciation rights, none of which, as of April 30, 2019, have been issued.

 

See Note 2 – “Summary of Significant Accounting Policies” for information related to grants of restricted shares under “Stock-Based Compensation.”

 

18. DISCONTINUED OPERATIONS

 

Sale of IBC Hospitality Technologies; IBC Hotels LLC (IBC)

 

Discontinued operations for the three months ended April 30, 2018 consist of the operations from the IBC Technology Segment (IBC Hotels LLC). On August 15, 2018 Innsuites Hospitality Trust (IHT) entered into a final sale agreement for its subsidiary IBC Hotels LLC (IBC) with an effective sale date as of August 1, 2018 to an unrelated third party buyer (Buyer). The buyer hired IHT’s former Chief Operating Officer, who is a family member of IHT’s CEO. The sale price was $3,000,000, to be paid to IHT as follows:

 

  1. $250,000 at closing, which was received on August 14, 2018;
     
  2. A secured promissory note in the principal amount of $2,750,000 with interest to be accrued at 3.75% per annum, recorded in the accompanying condensed balance sheet in continuing operations. Interest shall accrue for the first 10 months (starting August 2018), thereafter for month 11 and 12 principal and interest payments of 50% ($25,632 per month), then the remaining amount to be amortized over 59 months (payments of $52,054 per month) with maturity in June 2024. Future payments on this note are shown in the table below.

 

FISCAL YEAR      
2020   $ 229,167  
2021     550,000  
2022     550,000  
2023     550,000  
2024     550,000  
Thereafter     320,833  
    $ 2,750,000  

 

Note is secured by (1) pledge of the Buyer’s interest in IBC, and (2) a security interest in all assets of IBC provided IHT shall agree to subordinate such equity interest to commercially reasonable debt financing upon request.

 

If after effective date IBC closes an equity transaction with net proceeds to IBC in excess of $2,500,000, IBC/Buyer shall pay to IHT an amount equal to (a) 50% of the net proceeds received by IBC and (b) 50% of the sum of the unpaid balance of the note and accrued interest accrued but unpaid interest thereon, as the date of receipt of the net proceeds by IBC.

 

IHT has agreed to provide continuing working capital support for a period of six months in the amount of approximately $100,000 over a six month period to IBC for transitional purposes. IHT has no managerial control nor does IHT have the ability to direct the operations or capital requirements of IBC as of August 1, 2018. IHT has no rights to any benefits or losses from IBC as of August 1, 2018. During the fiscal year ended January 31, 2019 IHT had provided $100,000 to IBC.

 

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Default

 

If Buyer has not paid two or more payments on the note as scheduled, or if Buyer has not satisfied any other provisions in the note, IHT may give Buyer notice of default. If Buyer fails to cure the default within 30 days after notice (a) on or before February 5, 2020, then 75% of the issued and outstanding IBC interest shall be transferred to IHT, and (b) on or after February 5, 2020, then 51% of the issued and outstanding interest of the Company shall be transferred to IHT. Currently there has been no default.

 

Sale of Yuma Property

 

On July 31, 2018, IHT entered into a purchase and sale agreement to sell its Innsuites Yuma Hotel and Suites Best Western (Yuma), together with certain furniture, fixtures, equipment, operating supplies and other ancillary items pertaining to the daily operations to an unrelated third party. The sale was completed on October 24, 2018. The sales price, as revised, was approximately $16.05 million, of which the net proceeds (net of mortgage payoff, commissions and closing costs) received by the IHT was approximately $9.93 million

 

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    FOR THE THREE MONTHS ENDED  
    APRIL 30,  
    2019     2018  
REVENUE            
Room   $ -     $ 1,276,105  
Food and Beverage     -       12,540  
Reservation and Convention     -       311,242  
Other     -       11,553  
TOTAL REVENUE     -       1,611,440  
                 
OPERATING EXPENSES                
Room     -       301,058  
Food and Beverage     -       16,592  
Telecommunications     -       8,229  
General and Administrative     -       477,436  
Sales and Marketing     -       319,948  
Reservation Acquisition Costs     -       351,574  
Repairs and Maintenance     -       59,481  
Hospitality     -       63,993  
Utilities     -       43,451  
Depreciation     -       172,574  
Real Estate and Personal Property Taxes, Insurance and Ground Rent     -       18,886  
Other     -       4,076  
TOTAL OPERATING EXPENSES     -       1,837,298  
OPERATING LOSS     -       (225,858 )
Interest on Mortgage Notes Payable     -       67,666  
Interest on Notes Payable to Banks     -       3,148  
Interest on Other Notes Payable     -       12,556  
TOTAL INTEREST EXPENSE     -       83,370  
CONSOLIDATED NET LOSS OF DISCONTINUED OPERATIONS   $ -     $ (309,228 )

 

19. STOCK OPTIONS

 

Effective February 5, 2015, the Board of Trustees of the Trust adopted the 2015 Equity Incentive Plan (“2015 Plan”), subject to shareholder approval, under which up to 1,600,000 Shares of Beneficial Interest of the Trust are authorized to be issued pursuant to grant of stock options, stock appreciation rights, restricted shares, restricted share units or other awards.

 

The Board of Trustees of the Trust has decided to terminate the 2015 Plan. Effective October 31, 2016, it has been determined that the Shareholders will not approve the 2015 Plan and the proposed grants have been rescinded. During the 2017 Annual Meeting of Shareholders, the IHT Shareholders approved the InnSuites Hospitality Trust 2017 Equity Incentive Plan (“2017 Plan”). Management has not granted any options under the 2017 Plan.

 

20. INCOME TAXES

 

The Trust’s practice is to recognize interest and/or penalties related to income tax matters in income tax expense. The Trust has received various IRS and state tax jurisdiction notices which the Trust in the process of responding to in which management believes the notices are without merit and expect full remediation of all tax notices. However, the Trust has accrued approximately $200,000, respectively, for potential interest and/or penalties as of April 30, 2019 and January 31, 2019 related to these IRS and State tax jurisdiction notices.

 

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21. SUBSEQUENT EVENTS

 

On May 30, 2019 the Trust’s Board of Trustees approved a one cent semi-annual dividend, payable on July 31, 2019, on shares held of record a July 19, 2019. This continues the Trust’s recent practice of paying total annual dividends of two cents per share, payable one cent each semi-annually on July 31 and January 31. This dividend continues 49 consecutive uninterrupted fiscal years during which the Trust has paid annual dividends, since the formation of the Trust and the initial listing of its shares on the New York Stock Exchange in 1971.

 

The Trust’s listing of the Albuquerque Hotel for sale for $7.5 million expired on April 30, 2019. The Trust continues to entertain offers at this asking price, but decided not to relist the property at this time because management perceives that year-over-year increases in operating revenues and anticipated profits have occurred, which could command a higher listing price.

 

Effective May 31, 2019, the Trust listed the Tucson Hotel for sale at a price of $15.8 million with a real estate broker who successfully sold four other InnSuites hotels in the past three years. The Trust set forth this price as the asking price for the Tucson Hotel in its current Annual Report on Form 10-K, and management believes that that year-over-year increases in operating revenues and anticipated profits support this as a listing price.

 

As part of the Trust’s business strategy, and as described in the Trust’s current Annual Report on Form 10-K, management is actively seeking a larger company that is not listed on the NYSE AMERICAN as a potential partner for a merger. The Trust has begun limited discussions with potential candidates.

 

On May 30, 2019, the Trust’s Board of Trustees set a date of July 24, 2019 for the Annual Shareholder meeting, to be held at 11:00 AM MST at the Trust’s corporate office: 1730 East Northern Ave, Suite 122, Phoenix, AZ 85020. Shareholders of record of the Trust on June 24, 2019 will be entitled to vote at the meeting.

 

On June 25, 2019, the Trust’s Board of Trustees approved the repurchase of up to 750,000 share or units in addition to previously authorized but unused of approximately 200,000 shares or units.

 

On July 8, 2019, the Trust paid off the note due to Hayes Trust of $425,000.

 

On July 1, 2019 the Trust has a verbal agreement to extend a $200,000 note with an individual lender, to June 30, 2021 at 4.5% interest only (see note 10). Formal documents are in the process of being executed.

 

On July 1, 2019 the Trust has a verbal agreement to extend the note(s) payable with Guy C. Hayden III (“Haydens Loans”), totaling $270,000, to June 30, 2021 at 4.5% interest only (see note 10). Formal documents are in the process of being executed.

 

On July 1, 2019 the Trust has a verbal agreement to extend the note(s) payable with Marriott Sweitzer Hayes (“Sweitzer Loans”), totaling $100,000, to June 30, 2021 at 4% interest only (see note 10). Formal documents are in the process of being executed.

 

Subsequent to the three months ended April 30, 2019, the Trust repurchased 15,503  Shares of Beneficial Interest on the open market for a total cash repurchase price of approximately $25,000.

 

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ITEM 2. MANAGEMENT’S DISCUSSION AND ANALYSIS OF FINANCIAL CONDITION AND RESULTS OF OPERATIONS

 

GENERAL

 

The following discussion should be read in conjunction with our unaudited condensed consolidated financial statements and notes thereto appearing elsewhere in this Form 10-Q and our Form 10-K for the fiscal year ended January 31, 2019.

 

FORWARD-LOOKING STATEMENTS

 

Certain statements in this Form 10-Q, including statements containing the phrases “believes,” “intends,” “expects,” “anticipates,” “predicts,” “projects,” “will be,” “should be,” “looking ahead,” “may” or similar words, constitute “forward-looking statements” within the meaning of Section 27A of the Securities Act of 1933, as amended, and Section 21E of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended. We intend that such forward-looking statements be subject to the safe harbors created by such Acts. These forward-looking statements include statements regarding our intent, belief or current expectations in respect of (i) the declaration or payment of dividends; (ii) the leasing, management or operation of the Hotels; (iii) the adequacy of reserves for renovation and refurbishment; (iv) our financing plans; (v) our position regarding investments, acquisitions, developments, financings, conflicts of interest and other matters; (vi) expansion of IBC Hotels; (vii) our plans and expectations regarding future sales of hotel properties; and (viii) trends affecting our or any Hotel’s financial condition or results of operations.

 

These forward-looking statements reflect our current views in respect of future events and financial performance, but are subject to many uncertainties and factors relating to the operations and business environment of the Hotels that may cause our actual results to differ materially from any future results expressed or implied by such forward-looking statements. Examples of such uncertainties include, but are not limited to:

 

  local, national or international, political economic and business conditions, including, without limitation, conditions that may, or may continue to, affect public securities markets generally, the hospitality industry or the markets in which we operate or will operate;
     
  fluctuations in hotel occupancy rates;
     
  changes in room rental rates that may be charged by InnSuites Hotels in response to market rental rate changes or otherwise;
     
  seasonality of our hotel operations business;
     
  our ability to sell any of our Hotels at market value, listed sale price or at all;
     
  interest rate fluctuations;
     
  changes in, or reinterpretations of, governmental regulations, including, but not limited to, environmental and other regulations, the ADA and federal income tax laws and regulations;
     
  competition including supply and demand for hotel rooms and hotel properties;
     
  availability of credit or other financing;
     
  our ability to meet present and future debt service obligations;
     
  our ability to refinance or extend the maturity of indebtedness at, prior to, or after the time it matures;

 

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  any changes in our financial condition or operating results due to acquisitions or dispositions of hotel properties;
     
  insufficient resources to pursue our current strategy;
     
  concentration of our investments in the InnSuites Hotels® brand;
     
  loss of membership contracts;
     
  the financial condition of franchises, brand membership companies and travel related companies;
     
  ability to develop and maintain positive relations with “Best Western Plus” or “Best Western” and potential future franchises or brands;
     
  real estate and hospitality market conditions;
     
  hospitality industry factors;
     
  our ability to carry out our strategy, including our strategy regarding IBC Hotels;
     
  the Trust’s ability to remain listed on the NYSE American;
     
  effectiveness of the Trust’s software program;
     
  the need to periodically repair and renovate our Hotels at a cost at or in excess of our standard 4% reserve;
     
  tariffs may affect trade and travel

 

  our ability to cost effectively integrate any acquisitions with the Trust in a timely manner;
     
  increases in the cost of labor, energy, healthcare, insurance and other operating expenses as a result of changed or increased regulation or otherwise;
     
  terrorist attacks or other acts of war;
     
  outbreaks of communicable diseases attributed to our hotels or impacting the hotel industry in general;
     
  natural disasters, including adverse climate changes in the areas where we have or serve hotels;
     
  airline strikes;
     
  transportation and fuel price increases;
     
  adequacy of insurance coverage and increases in cost for health care coverage for employees and potential government regulation with respect to health care coverage;
     
  data breaches or cybersecurity attacks, including breaches impacting the integrity and security of employee and guest data; and
     
  loss of key personnel and uncertainties in the interpretation and application of the 2017 Tax Cuts and Jobs Act

 

We do not undertake any obligation to update publicly or revise any forward-looking statements whether as a result of new information, future events or otherwise except as may be required by law. Pursuant to Section 21E(b)(2)(E) of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended, the qualifications set forth hereinabove are inapplicable to any forward-looking statements in this Form 10-K relating to the operations of the Partnership.

 

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OVERVIEW

 

We are engaged in the ownership and operation of hotel properties. At April 30, 2019, the Trust had two moderate full-service hotels in Tucson, Arizona and Albuquerque, New Mexico with 267 hotel suites, and managed a third hotel in Tempe, Arizona. Both of our Hotels are branded through membership agreements with Best Western, and both are trademarked as InnSuites Hotels. We are also involved in various operations incidental to the operation of hotels, such as the operation of restaurants and meeting/banquet room rentals.

 

At April 30, 2019, we owned, through our sole general partner’s interest in the Partnership, a direct 20.53% interest in the Albuquerque, New Mexico Hotel, and, together with the Partnership, owned a 51.01% interest in the Tucson, Arizona. Hotel.

 

Our operations consist of one reportable segment – Hotel Operations & Hotel Management Services. Hotel Operations derives its revenue from the operation of the Trust’s two hotel properties with an aggregate of 267 suites in Arizona and New Mexico. Hotel management services, provides management services for the Trust’s two Hotels and a non-owned hotel in Tempe, Arizona. As part of our management services, we also provide trademark and licensing services.

 

Our results are significantly affected by occupancy and room rates at the Hotels, our ability to manage costs, changes in room rates, and changes in the number of available suites caused by the Trust’s disposition activities. Results are also significantly impacted by overall economic conditions and conditions in the travel industry. Unfavorable changes in these factors could negatively impact hotel room demand and pricing, which would reduce our profit margins on rented suites. Additionally, our ability to manage costs could be adversely impacted by significant increases in operating expenses, resulting in lower operating margins and higher hourly labor costs. Either a further increase in supply or a further decline in demand could result in increased competition, which could have an adverse effect on the rates and revenue of the Hotels in their respective markets.

 

We experienced stronger economic conditions during fiscal year 2019. We anticipate that a strong economy will exist during all of fiscal 2020. We expect the major challenge for fiscal year 2020 to be the continuation of strong competition for corporate leisure group and government business in the markets in which we operate, which may affect our ability to increase room rates while maintaining market share. We believe that we have positioned the Hotels to remain competitive through refurbishment, by offering a relatively large number of two-room suites at each location, and by maintaining a robust complementary guest items and a free Internet access system.

 

Our strategic plan is to obtain the full benefit of our real estate equity, by marketing the Hotels at attractive current prices. In addition, the Trust is seeking a large private merger partner that may benefit from a merger that would afford that partner access to our listing on the NYSE AMERICAN. For more information on our strategic plan, including information on our progress in disposing of our hotel properties, see “Future Positioning” in this Management’s Discussion and Analysis of Financial Condition and Results of Operations.

 

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HOTEL OPERATIONS

 

Our expenses consist primarily of property taxes, insurance, corporate overhead, interest on mortgage debt, professional fees, depreciation of the Hotels and hotel operating expenses. Hotel operating expenses consist primarily of payroll, guest and maintenance supplies, marketing and utilities expenses. Under the terms of its Partnership Agreement, the Partnership is required to reimburse us for all such expenses. Accordingly, management believes that a review of the historical performance of the operations of the Hotels, particularly with respect to occupancy, which is calculated as rooms sold divided by total rooms available, average daily rate (“ ADR ”), calculated as total room revenue divided by number of rooms sold, and revenue per available room (“ REVPAR ”), calculated as total room revenue divided by number of rooms available, is appropriate for understanding revenue from the Hotels. In the three months ended April 30, 2019, as compared with the comparable three months ended in 2018, occupancy increased 20.10% occupancy points to 94.91% from 74.81% in the prior fiscal year quarter end. ADR increased by $0.91 or 1.13% to $80.98 in the three months ended April 30, 2019 from $80.07 in the comparative period for 2018. The increased occupancy and ADR resulted in an increase in REVPAR of $16.79 or 27.95% to $76.86 in the three months ended April 30, 2019 from $60.07 in the three months ended April 30, 2018. The increased occupancy reflects an improved product and improved economy resulting in the increase in REVPAR. We anticipate in the current fiscal year 2020, with the completion of refurbishments in our Hotels, that further steady demand will exist.

 

The following table shows certain historical financial and other information for the periods indicated:

 

    For the Three Months Ended  
    April 30,  
    2019     2018  
Occupancy     94.91 %     74.81 %
Average Daily Rate (ADR)   $ 80.98     $ 80.07  
Revenue Per Available Room (REVPAR)   $ 76.86     $ 60.07  

 

No assurance can be given that occupancy, ADR and REVPAR will not increase or decrease as a result of changes in national or local economic or hospitality industry conditions.

 

We enter into transactions with certain related parties from time to time. For information relating to such related party transactions see the following:

 

  For a discussion of management and licensing agreements with certain related parties, see “Item 1 – Business – Management and Licensing Contracts.”
     
  For a discussion of guarantees of our mortgage notes payable by certain related parties, see Note 8 to our Condensed Consolidated Financial Statements – “Mortgage Notes Payable.”

 

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  For a discussion of our equity sales and restructuring agreements involving certain related parties, see Notes 3 to our Condensed Consolidated Financial Statements – “Sale of Ownership Interests in Subsidiaries”.
     
  For a discussion of other related party transactions, see Note 13 to our Condensed Consolidated Financial Statements – “Related Party Transactions.”

 

RESULTS OF OPERATIONS FOR THE THREE MONTHS ENDED APRIL 30, 2019 COMPARED TO THE THREE ENDED APRIL 30, 2018

 

A summary of total operating results of the Trust for the three months ended April 30, 2019 and 2018 is as follows:

 

    2019     2018     Change     % Change  
Total Revenues from Continuing Operations   $ 2,093,018     $ 1,863,840     $ 229,178       12.30 %
Operating Expenses from Continuing Operations     (2,242,760 )     (1,754,262 )     488,498     27.85 %
Operating (Loss) Income from Continuing Operations     (149,742 )     109,578       (259,320 )     (236.65 )%
Interest Income from Continuing Operations     2,814       3,632       (818 )     (22.52 )%
Interest Expense from Continuing Operations     (122,902 )     (93,943 )     28,959       30.83 %
Income Tax Provision from Continuing Operations     -       -       -       - %
Consolidated Net (Loss) Income from Continuing Operations     (269,830 )     19,267       (289,097 )     (1500.47 )%

 

As a result of the sale of IBC (see Note 18), the Chief Operating Decision Maker (“CODM”), Mr. Wirth, CEO of the Trust, has determined that the Trust operations are comprised of one reportable segment, Hotel Operations & Corporate Overhead (continuing operations) segment that has ownership interest in three hotel properties with an aggregate of 267 suites in Arizona and New Mexico. The Trust has a concentration of assets in the southwest United States and the southern Arizona market. Prior to the sale of IBC, the Trust had previously determined that its operations were comprised of two reportable segments, a Hotel Operations & Corporate Overhead segment, and the IBC Hospitality segment serving 2,000 unrelated hotel properties. In connection with the sale of IBC, the historical financial information presented in this Form 10-Q reflects this change with IBC being reported as discontinued operation.

 

The Trust has its hotel investments in the southwest region of the United States. The CODM does not review assets by geographical region; therefore, no income statement or balance sheet information by geographical region is provided.

 

REVENUE – CONTINUING OPERATIONS:

 

For the three months ended April 30, 2019, we had total revenue of approximately $2.1 million compared to approximately $1.9 million for the three months ended April 30, 2018, an increase of approximately $0.2 million. In the prior fiscal years ended January 31, 2019, 2018 and 2017, we made significant improvements to our Albuquerque, New Mexico and Tucson, Arizona properties which allowed us to increase rates with increased occupancy. For comparability purposes, the revenues do not include our Ontario, California and Yuma, Arizona properties which were sold June 2, 2017 and October 24, 2018, respectively, and our IBC Technology Division which was sold in August of 2018.

 

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We realized a 12.6% increase in room revenues during the three months ended April 30, 2019 as room revenues were approximately $2.0 million for the three months ending April 30, 2019 as compared to approximately $1.8 million for the three months ending April 30, 2018. With additional hotel occupancy and change in our food and beverage offerings, our food and beverage revenue increased by 81.2% to approximately $18,000 for the three months ending April 30, 2019 as compared to approximately $10,000 during the three months ending April 30, 2018, an increase of approximately $8,000. During fiscal year 2019, we expect improvements in occupancy, modest improvements in rates and steady food and beverage revenues. We also realized an approximate 5% decrease in management and trademark fee revenues during the three months ended April 30, 2019 to approximately $64,000 as compared to approximately $67,000 during the three months ended April 30, 2018. Management and trademark fee revenues decreased during the three months ending April 30, 2019 as a result of the sale of the Yuma hotel. On May 1, 2017, the Trust increased the management fees charged from 3% to 5%. During the remainder of fiscal year 2020, we expect management and trademark fee revenues to grow and be comparable to fiscal year 2019 management and trademark fee revenues. We realized an approximate 4% increase in other revenues from the hotel properties during the three months ended April 30, 2019 to $16,317 as compared to $15,687 during the three months ended April 30, 2018.

 

EXPENSES – CONTINUING OPERATIONS:

 

Total expenses net of interest expense and income tax provision was approximately $2.2 million for the three months ended April 30, 2019 reflecting an increase of approximately $0.5 million compared to total expenses net of interest expense and income tax provision of approximately $1.8 million for the three months ended April 30, 2018. The increase was primarily due to an increase in operating expenses due to increased occupancy at the hotel properties.

 

Room expenses consisting of salaries and related employment taxes for property management, front office, housekeeping personnel, reservation fees and room supplies were approximately $541,000 for the three months ended April 30, 2019 compared to approximately $486,000 in the prior period for an increase of approximately $55,000, or 11% increase in costs. Room expenses increased as occupancy at the hotels increased, and additional expenses were incurred with the increased occupancy.

 

Food and beverage expenses included food and beverage costs, personnel and miscellaneous costs to provide banquet events. For the three months ended April 30, 2019, food and beverage expenses increased approximately $4,600, or 24%, to approximately $24,000 for the three months ended April 30, 2019, compared to approximately $19,400 for the three months ended April 30, 2018. This increase is consistent with an increase to the food and beverage revenue.

 

Telecommunications expense, consisting of telephone and Internet costs, decreased 100% for the three months ended April 30, 2019 which were $0 as compared to the three months ended April 30, 2018 which were approximately $3,200.

 

General and administrative expenses include overhead charges for management, accounting, shareholder and legal services. General and administrative expenses of approximately $838,000 for the three months ended April 30, 2019, increased approximately $343,000 from approximately $494,000 for the three months ended April 30, 2018 primarily due to changes in corporate staff in support of the hotels and property sales efforts.

 

Sales and marketing expense decreased approximately $17,000, or 12%, to approximately $128,000 for the three months ended April 30, 2019 from approximately $145,000 for the three months ended April 30, 2018. Management added additional sales and marketing resources at our properties to increase the marketing exposure in the local community leading to additional hotel room revenues.

 

Repairs and maintenance expense decreased by approximately $6,000, or 6%, from approximately $106,000 reported for the three months ended April 30, 2018 compared to approximately $100,000 for the three months ended April 30, 2019. We completed property improvements at our Tucson, Arizona property during the fiscal year ended January 31, 2019. We anticipate that this expense will decrease significantly during the remaining fiscal year ending January 31, 2020 with the completion of the improvements. Management also believes the improvements which complies with the increasing Best Western standards, leads to improved guest satisfaction and will drive additional revenue growth through increased occupancy and increased rates.

 

Hospitality expense increased by approximately $33,000, or 31%, from $107,000 for the three months ended April 30, 2018 to approximately $140,000 for the three months ended April 30, 2019. The increase was primarily due to the additional occupancy at the hotel properties and the additional product mix provided during the Hotels’ complimentary breakfast and happy hour required by Best Western.

 

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Utility expenses were essentially flat, increasing approximately $4,000 to approximately $92,000 reported for the three months ended April 30, 2019 compared with approximately $89,000 for the three months ended April 30, 2018.

 

Hotel property depreciation expenses increased by approximately $37,000 from approximately $205,000 reported for the three months ended April 30, 2018 compared to approximately $242,000 for the three months ended April 30, 2019. Increased depreciation resulted from the additional capital expenditures associated with the Tucson hotel improvements and, to a lesser extent, improvements at the Albuquerque hotel.

 

REVENUE – DISCONTINUED OPERATIONS

 

There were no discontinued operations for the three months ended April 30, 2019.

 

For the three months ended April 30, 2018, we had total revenue of approximately $1.6 million related to discontinued properties. Mr. Wirth sold one of his hotels, which will put significant pressure on our management and trademark fee revenues as management and trademark revenues are primarily collected historically from Mr. Wirth’s three properties and now Mr. Wirth only has one hotel property.

 

During the first three months ended April 30, 2018, we continued building out the IBC software, expanded digital marketing services and sales efforts. Specifically, focus was centered on driving direct bookings to increase hotel’s net REVPAR including the patent-pending loyalty rewards program, central reservations system (CRS), booking engine, retargeting and meta software and services.

 

EXPENSES – DISCONTINUED OPERATIONS

 

There were no discontinued operations for the three months ended April 30, 2019.

 

Total operating expenses were $1.8 million for the three months ended April 30, 2018. The discontinued operating expenses were for our rooms, and depreciation of capital expenses due to product improvement plans (PIP).

 

Room expenses, consisting of salaries and related employment taxes for property management, front office, housekeeping personnel, reservation fees and room supplies, were approximately $301,000 for the three months ended April 30, 2018. For the discontinued operations, there was increased occupancy at several of our hotel properties, and we incurred additional room expenses which was anticipated and planned.

 

Food and beverage expenses included discontinued costs for food and beverage along with personnel and miscellaneous to provide small banquet events. For the first three months ended April 30, 2018, food and beverage expenses were approximately $17,000.

 

Telecommunications expense, consisting of telephone and Internet costs for the three months ended April 30, 2018 were approximately $8,000. The costs for this period of 2018 were for discontinued property internet costs incurred at our Best Western properties, for guest Wi-Fi services.

 

General and administrative expenses include overhead charges for management, accounting, shareholder and legal services. General and administrative expenses of approximately $477,000 for the three months ended April 30, 2018 were for discontinued property overhead.

 

Sales and marketing expense were approximately $320,000 for the three months ended April 30, 2018 for discontinued operations.

 

Repairs and maintenance expense was approximately $59,000 for the three months ended April 30, 2018. The costs were related to discontinued properties and focused on maintaining the properties and completing ongoing repairs and maintenance initiatives to ensure that the hotel properties exceeds our guests’ expectation.

 

Hospitality expense was approximately $64,000 for the three months ended April 30, 2018. The costs were due to the occupancy at our discontinued hotel properties.

 

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Utility expenses were approximately $43,000 for the three months ended April 30, 2018. The properties discontinued had increased occupancy which incurred utility costs.

 

Hotel property depreciation expense was approximately $173,000 for the three months ended April 30, 2018. There was depreciation due to our property improvements and the re-classification of properties from assets held for sale for our discontinued properties.

 

Real estate and personal property taxes, insurance and ground rent expense were approximately $19,000 for the three months ended April 30, 2018.

 

Interest expenses were approximately $83,000 for the three months ended April 30, 2018. The costs were primarily due to the refinancing of Yuma, AZ property which has since been discontinued.

 

Income tax provision was $-0- for the three months ended April 30, 2018.

 

LIQUIDITY AND CAPITAL RESOURCES

 

Overview – Hotel Operations & Corporate Overhead

 

Our principal source of cash to meet our cash requirements, including distributions to our shareholders, is our share of the Partnership’s cash flow of the Tucson hotel, quarterly distributions from the Albuquerque, New Mexico properties, management fees earned in the operation of the Trusts’ two hotels plus one affiliated hotel, and the sale of our hotel property in Yuma, Arizona, as well as potential future hotel sales. The Partnership’s principal source of revenue is hotel operations for the one hotel property it owns in Tucson, Arizona. Our liquidity, including our ability to make distributions to our shareholders, will depend upon our ability, and the Partnership’s ability, to generate sufficient cash flow from hotel operations and to service our debt.

 

Hotel operations are significantly affected by occupancy and room rates at the Hotels. We anticipate occupancy and ADR will grow during this coming year and capital improvements are expected to decrease from the prior year.

 

With approximately $2,667,000 of cash and short term investments as of April 30, 2019 and the availability of a $150,000 bank line of credit, a $1,000,000 related party Demand/Revolving Line of Credit/Promissory Note and the availability of our two available Advances to Affiliate credit facilities for a total of $1,000,000 maximum borrowing capacity, we believe that we will have enough cash on hand to meet all of our financial obligations as they become due for at least the next twelve months from the issuance date of the these consolidated financial statements. In addition, our management is analyzing other strategic options available to us, including raising additional funds, additional asset sales, increasing borrowings at either, or both, the Albuquerque and Tucson hotels and using the funds generated to pay intercompany loans (1) due from the Tucson hotel to the Partnership of approximately $2.2 million, and (2) due from the Albuquerque hotel due to the Trust of approximately $1.1 million (3) and other due from affiliates; however, such transactions may not be available on terms that are favorable to us, or at all.

 

There can be no assurance that we will be successful in refinancing debt or raising additional or replacement funds, or that these funds may be available on terms that are favorable to us. If we are unable to raise additional or replacement funds, we may be required to sell certain of our assets to meet our liquidity needs, which may not be on terms that are favorable.

 

We anticipate some additional new-build hotel supply during the remaining fiscal year 2020, and accordingly we anticipate some additional pressure on revenues and operating margins. We expect the major challenge for the upcoming fiscal year to be the continuation of strong competition for corporate, leisure, group, and government business in the markets in which we operate, which may affect our ability to increase room rates while maintaining market share.

 

Net cash provided by operating activities totaled approximately $532,000 during the three months ended April 30, 2019 as compared to approximately $162,000 during the prior quarter ended April 30, 2018. Consolidated net loss was approximately $270,000 for the three months ended April 30, 2019 as compared to consolidated net loss for the three months ended April 30, 2018 of approximately $290,000. Explanation of the differences between these fiscal years are explained above in the results of operations of the Trust.

 

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Changes in the adjustments to reconcile net loss for the three months ended April 30, 2019 and 2018, respectively, consist primarily of operating lease costs, stock based compensation, hotel property depreciation, and changes in assets and liabilities. Operating lease costs and stock-based compensation were approximately $34,000 and $8,100, respectively, during the three months ended April 30, 2019. Hotel property depreciation was approximately $242,000 during the three months ended April 30, 2019 compared to approximately $378,000 during the three months ended April 30, 2018, a decrease of $166,000 as the Trust recognized less depreciation as one of the hotel properties was sold during the fiscal year 2019.

 

Changes in assets and liabilities for accounts receivable, prepaid expenses and other assets and accounts payable and accrued expenses totaled approximately $518,000 and approximately $65,000 for the three months ended April 30, 2019 and 2018, respectively. This significant increase in changes in assets and liabilities for the three months ended April 30, 2019 compared to the three months ended April 30, 2018 was due to the increase in operating liabilities related to ongoing operations.

 

Net cash used in investing activities totaled approximately $145,000 for the three months ended April 30, 2019 compared to net cash used in investing activities of approximately $2 million for the three months ended April 30, 2018. The decrease in net cash used in investing activities during the three months ended April 30, 2019 was due to the no activity for net collections and lending on advances to affiliates – related party during the three months ended April 30, 2019 as compared to a net inflow of approximately $130,000 for the three months ended April 30, 2018. In addition, a significant decrease in net cash used in investing activities occurred in the three months ended April 30, 2019 as we purchased approximately $10,000 of marketable securities during the three months ended April 30, 2019 and versus the large purchase of approximately $2 million during the three months ended April 30, 2018.

 

Net cash used in financing activities totaled approximately $376,000 and $367,000, respectively, for the three months ended April 30, 2019 and 2018. The increase of approximately $9,000 was primarily due to the decreases in repurchases of treasury stock and distributions to non-controlling interest holders and increases in net payments on notes payable to banks, related parties; offset by increases in net borrowing/payments other notes payable.

 

Principal payments on mortgage notes payables for continuing operations was approximately $31,000 and $62,000 during the three months ended April 30, 2019 and 2018, respectively. Net payments and borrowings on notes payable to banks was approximately ($9,300) and approximately $47,000 during the three months ended April 30, 2019 and 2018, respectively.

 

Payments on notes payables – related party netted against borrowings on note payable – related party was approximately ($79,000) and ($78,000) of net cash used by financing activities during the three months ended April 30, 2019 and 2018, respectively.

 

Payments on other notes payables netted against borrowings on other note payable was approximately ($59,000) and $263,000 of net cash (used in) provided by financing activities during the three months ended April 30, 2019 and 2018, respectively.

 

Proceeds from sales of non-controlling ownership interests in subsidiaries decreased by approximately $103,000 as sales of non-controlling ownership interest was -0- for the three months ended April 30, 2019 and approximately $103,000 for the three months ended April 30, 2018. During the three months ended April 30, 2018, we primarily sold additional non-controlling interests in our Yuma, Arizona and Albuquerque, New Mexico property subsidiaries. We had no sales of our IHT stock for the three months ended April 30, 2019 and 2018.

 

During the three months ended April 30, 2019, our distributions to non-controlling interest holders was approximately $140,000 compared with approximately $257,000 for the three months ended April 30, 2018. The Trust provided additional distributions to the Yuma, Arizona and Ontario, California non-controlling interest holders after the sale of the Yuma, Arizona hotel property was sold, which explains why there was a larger outflow for the quarter ended 2018.

 

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We continue to contribute to a Capital Expenditures Fund (the “Fund”) an amount equal to 4% of the InnSuites Hotels’ revenues from operation of the Hotels. The Fund is restricted by the mortgage lender for one of our properties. As of April 30, 2019 and 2018, there were no monies held in these accounts reported on our Consolidated Balance Sheet as “Restricted Cash.” The Fund is intended to be used for capital improvements to the Hotels and refurbishment and replacement of furniture, fixtures and equipment. During the three months ended April 30, 2019 and 2018, the Hotels spent approximately $134,000 and $144,000, respectively, for capital expenditures. We consider the majority of these improvements to be revenue producing. Therefore, these amounts are capitalized and depreciated over their estimated useful lives. For the remaining fiscal year 2020 capital expenditures, we plan on spending less on capital improvements as we have completed our property improvements at our Tucson, Arizona hotel which required significant amounts of capital improvements during the three months ending April 30, 2019. Repairs and maintenance were charged to expense as incurred and approximated $100,000 and $106,000 for continued and discontinued operations for the three months ended April 30, 2019 and 2018, respectively.

 

We have minimum debt payments, net of debt discounts, of approximately $1,531,000 and approximately $458,000 due during fiscal years 2020 and 2021, respectively. Minimum debt payments due during fiscal year 2020 include approximately $86,000 of mortgage notes payable, approximately $268,000 for related party notes payable, and approximately $1,177,000 of other notes payable secured promissory notes outstanding to unrelated third parties arising from the Shares of Beneficial Interest and Partnership unit repurchases.

 

We may seek to negotiate additional credit facilities or issue debt instruments. Any debt incurred or issued by us may be secured or unsecured, long-term, medium-term or short-term, bear interest at a fixed or variable rate and be subject to such other terms as we consider prudent.

 

COMPETITION IN THE HOTEL INDUSTRY

 

The hotel industry is highly competitive. We expect the major challenge for the fiscal year ending January 31, 2020 (“fiscal year 2020”) to be the continuation of competition for corporate leisure group and government business in the markets in which we operate, which may affect our ability to increase room rates while maintaining market share. Each of the Hotels, and the Tempe Hotel faces competition primarily from other mid-market hotels located in its immediate vicinity, but also competes with hotel properties located in other geographic markets, and increasingly from alternative lodging facilities, such as Airbnb. While none of the Hotels’ competitors dominate any of their geographic markets, some of those competitors may have greater marketing and financial resources than the Trust.

 

Certain additional hotel property refurbishments have recently been completed by competitors in both of the Hotels’ markets, and additional hotel property developments may be built in the future. Such hotel developments have had, and could continue to have, an adverse effect on the revenue of our Hotels in their respective markets.

 

The Trust’s hotel investments are located in Arizona and New Mexico. With the completed renovations at our Tucson, Arizona and Albuquerque, New Mexico hotel properties, those hotels have seen additional demand as supply has been steady in those respective markets. Either an increase in supply or a decline in demand could result in increased competition, which could have an adverse effect on occupancy, room rates and revenues of our Hotels in their respective markets.

 

The Trust may also compete for investment opportunities with other entities that have greater financial resources. These entities also may generally accept more risk than the Trust can prudently manage. Competition may generally reduce the number of suitable future investment opportunities available to the Trust and increase the bargaining power of owners seeking to sell their properties.

 

CRITICAL ACCOUNTING POLICIES AND ESTIMATES

 

In our Annual Report on Form 10-K for the fiscal year ended January 31, 2019 filed with the SEC on June 19, 2019, we identified the critical accounting policies that affect our more significant estimates and assumptions used in preparing our condensed consolidated financial statements. We believe that the policies we follow for the valuation of our Hotel properties, which constitute the majority of our assets, are our most critical policies which has not changed in the period ended April 30, 2019. Those policies include methods used to recognize and measure any identified impairment of our Hotel property assets.

 

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Asset Impairment

 

We believe that the policies we follow for the valuation of our hotel properties, which constitute the majority of our assets, are our most critical policies. The Financial Accounting Standards Board (“FASB”) has issued authoritative guidance related to the impairment or disposal of long-lived assets, codified in ASC Topic 360-10-35, which we apply to determine when it is necessary to test an asset for recoverability. On an events and circumstances basis, we review the carrying value of our hotel properties. We will record an impairment loss and reduce the carrying value of a property when anticipated undiscounted future cash flows and the current market value of the property do not support its carrying value. In cases where we do not expect to recover the carrying cost of hotel properties held for use, we will reduce the carrying value to the fair value of the hotel, as determined by a current appraisal or other acceptable valuation methods. We did not recognize a hotel properties impairment loss for the three months ended April 30, 2019 or 2018. As of April 30, 2019, our management does not believe that the carrying values of any of our hotel properties are impaired.

 

Sale of Hotel Assets

 

On August 1, 2015, the Trust finalized and committed to a plan to sell Hotel properties. The Trust listed Hotel properties with real estate hotel brokers, Effective October 24, 2018, the Trust sold the Yuma hotel to an unrelated third party for $16.05 million, and on June 2, 2017, the Trust sold its Ontario, California hotel to an unrelated third party for approximately $17.5 million. Management believes that our currently-owned Hotels are listed at prices that is reasonable in relation to their current fair value. The Trust believes that the plan to sell these assets will not be withdrawn. Through the Trust’s Form 10-Q for the quarter ended July 31, 2017 filed with the SEC on September 14, 2017, the Trust classified all the Hotel properties as Assets Held for Sale. As of October 31, 2017, the Trust has decided to reclassify these assets back into operations as many of these assets have been marketed for sale for more than one year. At this time, the Trust is unable to predict when, and if, any of these Hotel properties will be sold and the Trust no longer deems a sale to be probable. The Trust continues to list these properties with local real estate hotel brokers and, we believe, that each of the assets is being marketed at a price that is reasonable in relation to its current fair value. There have been no other material changes to our basis of presentation since October 31, 2017.

 

Revenue Recognition

 

ASU 2014-09 (Topic 606), “Revenue from Contracts with Customers” is effective for reporting period after January 1, 2018. ASU 2014-09 requires entities to recognize revenue through the application of a five-step model, which includes identification of the contract, identification of the performance obligations, determination of the transaction price, allocation of the transaction price to the performance obligations and recognition of revenue as the entity satisfies the performance obligations.

 

Revenues are primarily derived from the following sources and are recognized as services are rendered and when collectability is reasonably assured. Amounts received in advance of revenue recognition are considered deferred liabilities.

 

Revenues primarily consist of room rentals, food and beverage sales, management and trademark fees and other miscellaneous revenues from our properties. Revenues are recorded when rooms are occupied and when food and beverage sales are delivered. Management and trademark fees from non-affiliated hotels include a monthly accounting fee and a percentage of hotel room revenues for managing the daily operations of the Hotels and the one hotel owned by affiliates of Mr. Wirth.

 

Each room night consumed by a guest with a cancellable reservation represents a contract whereby the Company has a performance obligation to provide the room night at an agreed upon price. For cancellable reservations, the Company recognizes revenue as each performance obligation (i.e., each room night) is met. Such contract is renewed if the guest continues their stay. For room nights consumed by a guest with a non-cancellable reservation, the entire reservation period represents the contract term whereby the Company has a performance obligation to provide the room night or nights at an agreed upon price. For non-cancellable reservations, the Company recognizes revenue over the term of the performance period (i.e., the reservation period) as room nights are consumed. For these reservations, the room rate is typically fixed over the reservation period. The Company uses an output method based on performance completed to date (i.e., room nights consumed) to determine the amount of revenue it recognizes on a daily basis if the length of a non-cancellable reservation exceeds one night since consumption of room nights indicates when services are transferred to the guest. In certain instances, variable consideration may exist with respect to the transaction price, such as discounts, coupons and price concessions made upon guest checkout.

 

In evaluating its performance obligation, the Company bundles the obligation to provide the guest the room itself with other obligations (such as free WiFi, grab and go breakfast, access to on-site laundry facilities and parking), as the other obligations are not distinct and separable because the guest cannot benefit from the additional amenities without the consumed room night. The Company’s obligation to provide the additional items or services is not separately identifiable from the fundamental contractual obligation (i.e., providing the room and its contents). The Company has no performance obligations once a guest’s stay is complete.

 

We are required to collect certain taxes and fees from customers on behalf of government agencies and remit these back to the applicable governmental agencies on a periodic basis. We have a legal obligation to act as a collection agent. We do not retain these taxes and fees and, therefore, they are not included in revenues. We record a liability when the amounts are collected and relieve the liability when payments are made to the applicable taxing authority or other appropriate governmental agency.

 

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COMPLIANCE WITH CONTINUED LISTING STANDARDS OF NYSE AMERICAN

 

On January 19, 2017, the Trust received a letter from the NYSE AMERICAN informing the Trust that the staff of the NYSE AMERICAN’s Corporate Compliance Department had determined that the Trust is not in compliance with Section 1003(a)(iii) of the NYSE AMERICAN Company Guide due to the Trust having stockholders’ equity of less than $6.0 million and net losses from continuing operations in its five most recent fiscal years ended January 31, 2017.

 

The NYSE AMERICAN’s letter informed the Trust that, to maintain its listing, it must submit a plan of compliance by February 20, 2017, addressing how it intends to regain compliance with the NYSE AMERICAN’s continued listing standards within the maximum potential 18-month plan period available (the “ Plan Period ”). Elements of the compliance plan may include the sale of one or more of its assets (management believes IHT hotels have a much lower book value than market value), sale of additional Trust stock at market value, sale of minority interest in specific hotel properties and/or anticipated continuation of the current operational upward current trends in hotel gross operating profits.

 

On June 2, 2017, the Trust sold its Ontario, California hotel to an unrelated third party for approximately $17.5 million, which the Trust received in cash. The Trust has recognized a gain of approximately $11.4 million on its consolidated statement of operations for the fiscal year ended January 31, 2018. As of January 31, 2018, the Trust Shareholders’ Equity was approximately $8.2 million exceeding the minimum requirements of the NYSE American Company Guide.

 

On January 11, 2018, the Trust received a letter from the NYSE American LLC informing us that the Trust is back in compliance with all of the NYSE American LLC continued listing standards set forth in Part 10 of the NYSE American LLC Company Guide. Specifically, the Trust has resolved the continued listing deficiencies with respect to Section 1003(a)(iii) of the Company Guide reference in the Exchange’s letters dated January 19, 2017. The Trust’s shareholders equity as of January 31, 2018, October 31, 2017, and July 31, 2017 exceeded $8.2 million which met the minimum requirement of $6 million. The Trust will be subject to ongoing review for compliance with NYSE American LLC requirements as part of the Exchange’s routine monitoring.

 

On May 17, 2019, the Trust received a letter from NYSE AMERICAN giving an official notice of noncompliance of the Trust with continued listing standards of NYSE American LLC (the “Exchange”) because the Trust failed to timely file with the Securities and Exchange Commission (the “SEC”) its Annual Report on Form 10-K for the year ended January 31, 2019 (the “Delinquent Report”). This filing delinquency subjects the Trust to the procedures and requirements of Section 1007 of the NYSE American Company Guide. The requisite Form 8-K and associated press release were issued on May 23, 2019, and the Trust filed the annual Form 10-K on June 19, 2019.

 

NON-GAAP FINANCIAL MEASURES

 

The following non-GAAP presentations of earnings before interest, taxes, depreciation and amortization (“ EBITDA ”) and funds from operations (“ FFO ”) are made to assist our investors in evaluating our operating performance.

 

Adjusted EBITDA is defined as earnings before interest expense, amortization of loan costs, interest income, income taxes, depreciation and amortization, and non-controlling interests in the Trust. We present Adjusted EBITDA because we believe these measurements (a) more accurately reflect the ongoing performance of our hotel assets and other investments, (b) provide more useful information to investors as indicators of our ability to meet our future debt payments and working capital requirements, and (c) provide an overall evaluation of our financial condition. Adjusted EBITDA as calculated by us may not be comparable to Adjusted EBITDA reported by other companies that do not define Adjusted EBITDA exactly as we define the term. Adjusted EBITDA does not represent cash generated from operating activities determined in accordance with GAAP and should not be considered as an alternative to (a) GAAP net income or loss as an indication of our financial performance or (b) GAAP cash flows from operating activities as a measure of our liquidity.

 

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A reconciliation of net loss attributable to controlling interests to Adjusted EBITDA for the three months ended April 30, 2019 and 2018 is as follows:

 

    Three Months Ended April 30,  
    2019     2018  
Net loss attributable to controlling interests   $ (269,830 )   $ (652,015 )
Add back:                
Depreciation     241,755       377,738  
Interest expense     122,902       177,313  
Taxes     -       -  
Less:                
Interest Income     (2,814 )     (3,632 )
Adjusted EBITDA   $ 94,827   $ (100,596 )

 

FFO is calculated on the basis defined by the National Association of Real Estate Investment Trusts (“ NAREIT ”), which is net income (loss) attributable to common shareholders, computed in accordance with GAAP, excluding gains or losses on sales of properties, asset impairment adjustments, and extraordinary items as defined by GAAP, plus depreciation and amortization of real estate assets, and after adjustments for unconsolidated joint ventures and non-controlling interests in the operating partnership. NAREIT developed FFO as a relative measure of performance of an equity REIT to recognize that income-producing real estate historically has not depreciated on the basis determined by GAAP. The Trust is an unincorporated Ohio real estate investment trust; however, the Trust is not a real estate investment trust for federal taxation purposes. Management uses this measurement to compare itself to REITs with similar depreciable assets. We consider FFO to be an appropriate measure of our ongoing normalized operating performance. We compute FFO in accordance with our interpretation of standards established by NAREIT, which may not be comparable to FFO reported by other companies that either do not define the term in accordance with the current NAREIT definition or interpret the NAREIT definition differently than us. FFO does not represent cash generated from operating activities as determined by GAAP and should not be considered as an alternative to (a) GAAP net income or loss as an indication of our financial performance or (b) GAAP cash flows from operating activities as a measure of our liquidity, nor is it indicative of funds available to satisfy our cash needs, including our ability to make cash distributions. However, to facilitate a clear understanding of our historical operating results, we believe that FFO should be considered along with our net income or loss and cash flows reported in the consolidated financial statements.

 

A reconciliation of net loss attributable to controlling interests to FFO for the three months ended April 30, 2019 and 2018:

 

    Three Months Ended April 30,  
    2019     2018  
Net loss attributable to controlling interests   $ (328,854 )   $ (652,015 )
Add back:                
Depreciation     241,755       377,738  
Non-controlling interest     59,024       (362,054 )
FFO   $ (28,075 )   $ (636,331 )

 

IHT Trailing 12 Month Operation Increases  

 

Trailing 12 months revenue for the period May 1, 2018 through April 30, 2019 was approximately $8.6 million (including both continuing and discontinued operations). This is an decrease from the prior year which was approximately $10.2 million.

 

Total 12-month trailing net income for the same 12-month time period was $13.1 million, an increase of 143% from $6.5 million for the same 12-month period in the prior year, inclusive of the gain on the sale of the Trust’s Yuma hotel.

 

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Non-cash depreciation for the current 12-month trailing period was $1.3 million with the 12-month trailing profit before non-cash depreciation totaling $14.4 million.

 

FUTURE POSITIONING

 

In viewing the hotel industry cycles, the Board of Trustees determined that it was appropriate to actively seek buyers for our properties. We engaged the services of several hotel brokers and began independently advertising our Hotels for sale. We sold the Ontario hotel in June 2017, and the Yuma Hotel in October 2018. We continue to independently advertise and list our Hotels for sale, including on our website (www.suitehotelsrealty.com).

 

The table below provides book values, mortgage balances and listed asking price for the Hotels.

 

Hotel Property  

Book

Value

   

Mortgage

Balance

   

Estimated Market /

Listed

Asking Price

 
Albuquerque   $ 1,848,000     $ -     $ 7,500,000  
Tucson Oracle     7,640,000       4,850,000       15,800,000  
                         
    $ 9,488,000     $ 4,850,000     $ 23,300,000  

 

The “Estimated Market / Listed Asking Price” is the amount at which we would sell each of the Hotels and is adjusted to reflect recent hotel sales in the Hotels’ areas of operation and current earnings of each of the Hotels. The listed asking price is not based on appraisals of the properties.

 

We have from time to time listed each of the properties with a local real estate hotel broker who has successfully sold four of our hotel properties and we believe that each of the assets are being marketed at a price that is reasonable in relation to its current fair value. We plan to sell our remaining two Hotel properties within two years, based on feedback received by our local hotel real estate property professional brokers and we have engaged hotel real estate brokers who specialize in the selling/buying hotel real estate properties for the sale of our Tucson and Albuquerque Hotel properties. We can provide no assurance that we will be able to sell either or both of the Hotel properties on terms favorable to us or within our expected time frame, or at all.

 

  41  
 

 

It is feasible, but we may be unable to realize the listed asking price for the individual Hotel properties or to sell them at all. However, we believe that the listed values are reasonable based on local market conditions, comparable sales, and strong upturns in occupancy, rates, and profits per hotel. Changes in market conditions have in part resulted, and may in the future result, in our changing one or all of the listed asking prices.

 

Our long-term strategic plan is to obtain the full benefit of our real estate equity and to pursue a merger with another company, likely a private larger entity that seeks to go public or list on the NYSE AMERICAN Exchange.

 

SHARE REPURCHASE PROGRAM

 

For information on the Trust’s Share Repurchase Program, see Part II, Item 5. “Market for the Registrant’s Common Equity, Related Stockholder Matters and Issuer Purchases of Equity Securities.” of our most recent 10-K Annual Report filed on June 19, 2019.

 

OFF-BALANCE SHEET ARRANGEMENTS

 

Other than lease commitments and legal contingencies incurred in the normal course of business, we do not have any off-balance sheet financing arrangements or liabilities. We do not have any majority-owned or controlled subsidiaries that are not included in our consolidated financial statements.

 

SEASONALITY

 

The Hotels’ operations historically have been somewhat seasonal. The Tucson Arizona hotel experience the highest occupancy in the first fiscal quarter (the winter season) and, to a lesser extent, the fourth fiscal quarter. The second fiscal quarter tends to be the lowest occupancy period at this Arizona hotel. This seasonality pattern can be expected to cause fluctuations in the Trust’s quarterly revenues. The hotel located in New Mexico historically experience their most profitable periods during the second and third fiscal quarters (the summer season), providing some balance to the general seasonality of the Trust’s hotel business.

 

The seasonal nature of the Trust’s business increases its vulnerability to risks such as labor force shortages and cash flow issues. Further, if an adverse event such as an actual or threatened terrorist attack, international conflict, data breach, regional economic downturn or poor weather conditions should at either of its two hotels, the adverse impact to the Trust’s revenues and profit could be significant.

 

INFLATION

 

We rely entirely on the performance of the Hotels and InnSuites Hotels’ ability to increase revenue to keep pace with inflation. Operators of hotels in general and InnSuites Hotels in particular can change room rates quickly, but competitive pressures may limit InnSuites Hotels’ ability to raise rates as fast as or faster than inflation

 

ITEM 3. QUANTITATIVE AND QUALITATIVE DISCLOSURES ABOUT MARKET RISK

 

Not required for smaller reporting companies.

 

  42  
 

 

ITEM 4. CONTROLS AND PROCEDURES

 

Evaluation of Disclosure Controls and Procedures

 

As of the end of the period covered by this report, we conducted an evaluation under the supervision and with the participation of our management, including our principal executive officer and principal financial officer, of the effectiveness of the design and operation of our disclosure controls and procedures. The term “disclosure controls and procedures,” as defined in Rules 13a-15(e) and 15d-15(e) under the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended (the “Exchange Act”), means controls and other procedures of a company that are designed to ensure that information required to be disclosed by the company in the reports it files or submits under the Exchange Act is recorded, processed, summarized and reported, within the time periods specified in the SEC’s rules and forms. Based on this evaluation, our principal executive officer and our principal financial officer concluded that our disclosure controls and procedures were effective as of April 30, 2019.

 

Our management, including our principal executive officer and principal financial officer, does not expect that our disclosure controls and procedures or our internal controls will prevent all error or fraud. A control system, no matter how well conceived and operated, can provide only reasonable, not absolute, assurance that the objectives of the control system are met. Further, the design of a control system must reflect the fact that there are resource constraints and the benefits of controls must be considered relative to their costs. Due to the inherent limitations in all control systems, no evaluation of controls can provide absolute assurance that all control issues and instances of fraud, if any, have been detected.

 

Management’s Report on Internal Control Over Financial Reporting

 

Management is responsible for establishing and maintaining adequate internal control over financial reporting and for the assessment of the effectiveness of internal control over financial reporting. Internal control over financial reporting is a process designed by, or under the supervision of the Company’s Principal Executive Officer and Principal Financial Officer and effected by the Company’s Board of Directors, management and other personnel, to provide reasonable assurance regarding the reliability of financial reporting and the preparation of financial statements for external purposes in accordance with U.S. generally accepted accounting principles and includes those policies and procedures that we determined to be material weaknesses, as follows:

 

  Pertain to the maintenance of records that in reasonable detail accurately and fairly reflect the transactions and dispositions of the assets of the Company;
     
  We have not properly implemented comprehensive entity-level internal controls;
     
  We have not properly implemented adequate system and manual controls;
     
  We do not have sufficient segregation of duties;
     
  We lack sufficient personnel with appropriate training and expertise in accounting principles generally accepted in the United States; and
     
  We had not implemented appropriate information technology controls related to access rights for certain financial spreadsheets that are relevant to the preparation of the consolidated financial statements and our system of internal control over financial reporting.

 

Because of its inherent limitations, internal control over financial reporting may not prevent or detect misstatements. Also, projections of any evaluation of effectiveness to future periods are subject to the risk that controls may become inadequate because of changes in conditions, or that the degree of compliance with the policies or procedures may deteriorate.

 

Assessment of Internal Control over Financial Reporting

 

Our management assessed the effectiveness of our internal control over financial reporting as of January 31, 2019. In making this assessment, management used the criteria set forth by the Committee of Sponsoring Organizations of the Treadway Commission (“COSO”) in Internal Control - Integrated Framework (2013). Based on management’s assessment, management concluded that the above material weaknesses have not been remediated and, accordingly, our internal control over financial reporting was not effective as of January 31, 2019.

 

Management’s Remediation Initiatives

 

In an effort to remediate the identified material weakness and other deficiencies and enhance the Company’s internal control over financial reporting, the Company made attempts to increase its technical accounting expertise by hiring a new Chief Financial Officer and Corporate Controller with public company reporting experience to assist with the Company’s technical accounting and internal control issues. The departure in December 2018 of the newly hired Chief Financial Officer, who was not replaced, has made this attempt non-effective.

 

  43  
 

 

We need to take appropriate and reasonable steps to make necessary improvements to our internal control over financial reporting, which will require management to support the hiring of sufficient personnel with appropriate training and expertise in accounting principles generally accepted in the United States. This increase to staffing will allow us to make the necessary improvements, including:

 

  Continuing to improve the control environment through (i) being staffed with sufficient number of personnel to address segregation of duties issues, ineffective controls and to perform control monitoring activities, (ii) increasing the level of GAAP knowledge by retaining additional technical accountants, (iii) implementing formal process to account for non-standard transactions, and (iv) implementing and formalizing management oversight of financial reporting at regular intervals;
     
  Continuing to update the documentation of our internal control processes, including implementing formal risk assessment processes and entity level controls;
     
  Implementing control activities that address relevant risks and assure that all transactions are subject to such control activities; Ensure systems that impact financial information and disclosures have effective information technology controls;
     
  Implementing plan to increase oversight and review of ad hoc spreadsheets while also working to reduce their use; and
     
  We are in the process of further enhancing the supervisory procedures to include additional levels of analysis and quality control reviews within the accounting and financial reporting functions.

 

We believe that the remediation measures described above will strengthen our internal control over financial reporting and remediate the material weaknesses we have identified. We expect these remediation efforts will be implemented throughout fiscal year 2020.

 

Despite the material weaknesses reported above, our management believes that our financial statements included in this Quarterly Report on Form 10-Q for the three months ended April 30, 2019 fairly present in all material respects our financial condition, results of operations and cash flows for the periods presented and that this report does not contain any untrue statement of a material fact or omit to state a material fact necessary to make the statements, in light of the circumstances under which such statements were made, not misleading with respect to the periods covered by this report.

 

Changes in Internal Control over Financial Reporting

 

There were no changes in our internal control over financial reporting during our most recently completed fiscal quarter that have materially affected, or are reasonably likely to materially affect, our internal control over financial reporting.

 

  44  
 

 

PART II

 

OTHER INFORMATION

 

ITEM 1. LEGAL PROCEEDINGS

 

None.

 

ITEM 1A. RISK FACTORS

 

Not required for smaller reporting companies.

 

ITEM 2. UNREGISTERED SALES OF EQUITY SECURITIES AND USE OF PROCEEDS

 

On January 2, 2001, the Board of Trustees approved a share repurchase program under Rule 10b-18 of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended, for the purchase of up to 250,000 Partnership units and/or Shares of Beneficial Interest in open market or privately negotiated transactions. On September 10, 2002, August 18, 2005 and September 10, 2007, the Board of Trustees approved the purchase of up to 350,000 additional Partnership units and/or Shares of Beneficial Interest in open market or privately negotiated transactions. Additionally, on January 5, 2009, September 15, 2009 and January 31, 2010, the Board of Trustees approved the purchase of up to 300,000, 250,000 and 350,000, respectively, additional Partnership units and/or Shares of Beneficial Interest in open market or privately negotiated transactions. Acquired Shares of Beneficial Interest will be held in treasury and will be available for future acquisitions and financings and/or for awards granted under the Trusts’ equity compensation plans/programs. During the three months ended April 30, 2019, the Trust acquired 32,732 Shares of Beneficial Interest in open market transactions at an average price of $1.77 per share. The average price paid includes brokerage commissions. The Trust intends to continue repurchasing Shares of Beneficial Interest in compliance with applicable legal and NYSE AMERICAN requirements. The Trust remains authorized to repurchase an additional 411,776 Partnership units and/or Shares of Beneficial Interest pursuant to the publicly announced share repurchase program, which has no expiration date. On June 25, 2019, the Trust’s Board of Trustee’s authorized the repurchase of up to 750,000 shares and units in addition to the above amounts previously authorized.

 

    Issuer Purchases of Equity Securities  
Period  

Total Number

of Shares Purchased

    Average Price Paid per Share    

Total Number

of Shares Purchased as Part of Publicly Announced Plans

    Maximum Number of Shares that May Yet Be Purchased Under the Plans  
                         
February 1 - February 28, 2019     10,449     $

1.86

      10,449       434,059  
March 1 - March 31, 2019     7,022     $

1.88

      7,022       427,037  
April 1 - April 30, 2019     15,261     $

1.67

      15,261       411,776  
Total     32,732               32,732          

 

ITEM 3. DEFAULTS UPON SENIOR SECURITIES

 

None.

 

ITEM 4. MINE SAFETY DISCLOSURES

 

None.

 

ITEM 5. OTHER INFORMATION

 

None.

 

  45  
 

 

ITEM 6. EXHIBITS

 

Exhibit No.   Exhibit
     
31.1   Section 302 Certification by Chief Executive Officer
     
31.2   Section 302 Certification by Chief Financial Officer
     
32.1 *   Section 906 Certification of Principal Executive Officer and Principal Financial Officer
     
101   XBRL Exhibits
     
101.INS   XBRL Instance Document
     
101.SCH   XBRL Schema Document
     
101.CAL   XBRL Calculation Linkbase Document
     
101.LAB   XBRL Labels Linkbase Document
     
101.PRE   XBRL Presentation Linkbase Document
     
101.DEF   XBRL Definition Linkbase Document

 

 

 

+ Management contract or compensation plan or arrangement.

 

* Furnished, note filed.

 

  46  
 

 

SIGNATURES

 

Pursuant to the requirements of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, the Registrant has duly caused this report to be signed on its behalf by the undersigned thereunto duly authorized.

 

  INNSUITES HOSPITALITY TRUST
   
Date: July 24, 2019 /s/ James F. Wirth
  James F. Wirth
  Chairman and Chief Executive Officer
  (Principal Executive Officer)
   
Date: July 24, 2019 /s/ Craig S. Miller
  Craig S. Miller
 

Craig Miller, Controller and Chief Accounting Officer

(Principal Financial and Accounting Officer)

 

  47  
 
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