ATAT Atour Lifestyle Holdings Ltd

Atour Lifestyle Holdings Limited (“Atour” or the “Company”) (NASDAQ: ATAT), a leading hospitality and lifestyle company in China, today announced its unaudited financial results for the first quarter ended March 31, 2024.

First Quarter of 2024 Operational Highlights

As of March 31, 2024, there were 1,302 hotels with a total of 148,149 hotel rooms in operation across Atour’s hotel network, representing a rapid increase of 34.5% and 31.6% year-over-year in terms of the number of hotels and hotel rooms, respectively. As of March 31, 2024, there were 674 manachised hotels under development in our pipeline.

The average daily room rate4 (“ADR”) was RMB430 for the first quarter of 2024, compared with RMB443 for the same period of 2023 and RMB438 for the previous quarter.

The occupancy rate4 was 73.3% for the first quarter of 2024, compared with 72.5% for the same period of 2023 and 78.4% for the previous quarter.

The revenue per available room4 (“RevPAR”) was RMB328 for the first quarter of 2024, compared with RMB337 for the same period of 2023 and RMB358 for the previous quarter.

The GMV5 generated from our retail business was RMB495 million for the first quarter of 2024, representing an increase of 277.4% year-over-year.

“We delivered a solid performance in the first quarter of 2024,” said Mr. Haijun Wang, Founder, Chairman and CEO of Atour. “We maintained our rapid pace in hotel openings to close the quarter with a total of 1,302 hotels in operation, a year-over-year increase of 34.5%. We also maintained a healthy RevPAR during the quarter. Furthermore, our retail business continued to thrive, with quarterly GMV soaring by 277.4% year-over-year to RMB495 million. We will remain dedicated to deepening our insights into customers’ needs and crafting distinctive products and services, thus elevating the ‘Chinese experience’ while creating a virtuous cycle and achieving greater synergies between the accommodation and retail businesses. Meanwhile, we have proudly published our 2023 Environmental, Social and Governance report in May. Looking ahead, we will holistically strengthen our commitment to ESG, augmenting our contributions to society and the industry’s sustainable development,” concluded Mr. Wang.

First Quarter of 2024 Unaudited Financial Results

(RMB in thousands)		Q1 2023	Q1 2024
Revenues:
Manachised hotels		446,798	836,111
Leased hotels		187,310	168,049
Retail		112,933	416,591
Others		26,895	47,542
Net revenues		773,936	1,468,293

Net revenues. Our net revenues for the first quarter of 2024 increased by 89.7% to RMB1,468 million (US$203 million) from RMB774 million for the same period of 2023, mainly driven by the growth in manachised hotel and retail businesses.

• Manachised hotels. Revenues from our manachised hotels for the first quarter of 2024 increased by 87.1% to RMB836 million (US$116 million) from RMB447 million for the same period of 2023. This increase was primarily driven by the ongoing expansion of our hotel network and rapid growth of the supply chain business. The total number of our manachised hotels increased from 935 as of March 31, 2023, to 1,271 as of March 31, 2024.  
• Leased hotels. Revenues from our leased hotels for the first quarter of 2024 decreased by 10.3% to RMB168 million (US$23 million) from RMB187 million for the same period of 2023. This decrease was primarily due to the decrease in RevPAR, as well as the impact from the renovation of one leased hotel. RevPAR of our leased hotels was RMB455 for the first quarter of 2024, compared with RMB464 for the same period of 2023.  
• Retail. Revenues from retail for the first quarter of 2024 increased by 268.9% to RMB417 million (US$58 million) from RMB113 million for the same period of 2023. This increase was driven by widespread recognition of our retail brands and compelling product offerings, as well as improved product development and distribution capabilities.  
• Others. Revenues from others for the first quarter of 2024 increased by 76.8% to RMB48 million (US$7 million) from RMB27 million for the same period of 2023. This increase was driven by the fast-growing membership business.

		Q1 2023		Q1 2024
(RMB in thousands)
Operating costs and expenses:
Hotel operating costs		(381,632	)	(662,169	)
Retail costs		(61,517	)	(206,103	)
Other operating costs		(10,137	)	(9,826	)
Selling and marketing expenses		(56,009	)	(174,711	)
General and administrative expenses		(193,204	)	(76,655	)
Technology and development expenses		(16,790	)	(24,181	)
Total operating costs and expenses		(719,289	)	(1,153,645	)

Operating costs and expenses for the first quarter of 2024 were RMB1,154 million (US$160 million), including RMB3 million share-based compensation expenses, compared with RMB719 million, including RMB142 million share-based compensation expenses for the same period of 2023.

• Hotel operating costs for the first quarter of 2024 were RMB662 million (US$92 million), compared with RMB382 million for the same period of 2023. The increase was mainly due to the increase in variable costs, such as supply chain costs, associated with the continued growth of our hotel business. Hotel operating costs accounted for 65.9% of manachised and leased hotels’ revenues for the first quarter of 2024, compared with 60.2% for the same period of 2023. The increase was attributable to a decreased RevPAR and an increased share of revenue generated by the lower-margin supply chain business.  
• Retail costs for the first quarter of 2024 were RMB206 million (US$29 million), compared with RMB62 million for the same period of 2023. The increase was associated with the rapid growth of our retail business. Retail costs accounted for 49.5% of retail revenues for the first quarter of 2024, compared with 54.5% for the same period of 2023. The decrease was attributable to an increasing contribution from higher-margin online sales.  
• Other operating costs for the first quarter of 2024 were RMB10 million (US$1.4 million), approximately flat compared to the same period of 2023.  
• Selling and marketing expenses for the first quarter of 2024 were RMB175 million (US$24 million), compared with RMB56 million for the same period of 2023. This increase was mainly due to the enhanced investment in brand recognition and effective online channel development along with the growth of retail business. Selling and marketing expenses accounted for 11.9% of net revenues for the first quarter of 2024, compared with 7.2% for the same period of 2023.  
• General and administrative expenses for the first quarter of 2024 were RMB77 million (US$11 million), including RMB3 million share-based compensation expenses, compared with RMB193 million, including RMB141 million share-based compensation expenses for the same period of 2023. Excluding the share-based compensation expenses, the increase was primarily due to the increase in labor costs. General and administrative expenses, excluding the share-based compensation expenses, accounted for 5.0% of net revenues for the first quarter of 2024, compared with 6.7% for the same period of 2023.  
• Technology and development expenses for the first quarter of 2024 were RMB24 million (US$3 million), compared with RMB17 million for the same period of 2023. The increase was mainly attributable to our increased investments in technology systems and infrastructure to support our expanding hotel network and retail business as well as improve the customer experience. Technology and development expenses accounted for 1.6% of net revenues for the first quarter of 2024, compared with 2.2% for the same period of 2023.

Other operating income, net for the first quarter of 2024, was RMB10 million (US$1.4 million), compared with RMB7 million for the same period of 2023.

Income from operations for the first quarter of 2024 was RMB325 million (US$45 million), compared with RMB62 million for the same period of 2023.

Income tax expense for the first quarter of 2024 was RMB89 million (US$12 million), compared with RMB53 million for the same period of 2023.

Net income for the first quarter of 2024 was RMB258 million (US$36 million), representing an increase of 1326.0% year-over-year compared with RMB18 million for the same period of 2023.

Adjusted net income (non-GAAP) for the first quarter of 2024 was RMB261 million (US$36 million), representing an increase of 63.4% year-over-year compared with RMB160 million for the same period of 2023.

Basic and diluted income per share/American depositary share (ADS). For the first quarter of 2024, basic income per share was RMB0.62 (US$0.09), and diluted income per share was RMB0.62 (US$0.09). Basic income per ADS for the first quarter of 2024 was RMB1.87 (US$0.26), and diluted income per ADS was RMB1.85 (US$0.26).

EBITDA (non-GAAP) for the first quarter of 2024 was RMB351 million (US$49 million), representing an increase of 291.3% year-over-year compared with RMB90 million for the same period of 2023.

Adjusted EBITDA (non-GAAP) for the first quarter of 2024 was RMB354 million (US$49 million), representing an increase of 53.1% year-over-year compared with RMB231 million for the same period of 2023.

Cash flows. Operating cash inflow for the first quarter of 2024 was RMB143 million (US$20 million). Investing cash inflow for the first quarter of 2024 was RMB37 million (US$5 million). Financing cash inflow for the first quarter of 2024 was RMB20 million (US$3 million).

Cash and cash equivalents and restricted cash. As of March 31, 2024, the Company had a total balance of cash and cash equivalents and restricted cash of RMB3 billion (US$422 million).

Debt financing. As of March 31, 2024, the Company had total outstanding borrowings of RMB92 million (US$13 million), and the unutilized credit facility available to the Company was RMB420 million.

_________________1 Adjusted net income (non-GAAP) is defined as net income excluding share-based compensation expenses.2 EBITDA (non-GAAP) is defined as earnings before interest expense, interest income, income tax expense and depreciation and amortization.3 Adjusted EBITDA (non-GAAP) is defined as EBITDA excluding share-based compensation expenses.4 Excludes hotel rooms that were previously requisitioned by the government for quarantine needs in response to the COVID-19 outbreak or otherwise became unavailable due to temporary hotel closures. ADR and RevPAR are calculated based on tax-inclusive room rates.“ADR” refers to the average daily room rate, which means room revenue divided by the number of rooms in use for a given period;“Occupancy rate” refers to the number of rooms in use divided by the number of available rooms for a given period;“RevPAR” refers to revenue per available room, which is calculated by total revenues during a period divided by the number of available rooms in our hotels during the same period.5 “GMV” refers to gross merchandise value, which is the total value of confirmed orders placed and paid for by our end customers with us or our franchisees, as the case may be, and sold as part of our retail business, where the ordered products have been dispatched, regardless of whether they are delivered or returned, calculated based on the prices of the ordered products net of any discounts offered to our end customers.

Conference Call

The Company will host a conference call at 7:00 AM U.S. Eastern time on Thursday, May 23, 2024 (or 7:00 PM Beijing/Hong Kong time on the same day). 

A live webcast of the conference call will be available on the Company’s investor relations website at https://ir.yaduo.com, and a replay of the webcast will be available following the session.

For participants who wish to join the conference call via telephone, please pre-register using the link provided below. Upon registration, each participant will receive a set of participant dial-in numbers and a personal PIN to join the conference call.

Details for the conference call are as follows: 

Event Title: Atour First Quarter 2024 Earnings Conference Call Pre-registration Link: https://register.vevent.com/register/BI99d7f8d3920a46dca89c706f4c0e575a

Use of Non-GAAP Financial Measures

To supplement the Company’s unaudited consolidated financial results presented in accordance with U.S. Generally-Accepted Accounting Principles (“GAAP”), the Company uses the following non-GAAP measures defined as non-GAAP financial measures by the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission: adjusted net income, which is defined as net income excluding share-based compensation expenses; EBITDA, which is defined as earnings before interest expense, interest income, income tax expense and depreciation and amortization; adjusted EBITDA, which is defined as EBITDA excluding share-based compensation expenses. The presentation of these non-GAAP financial measures is not intended to be considered in isolation or as a substitute for the financial information prepared and presented in accordance with U.S. GAAP. For more information on these non-GAAP financial measures, please see the table captioned “Reconciliations of GAAP and non-GAAP results” set forth at the end of this release.

The Company believes that EBITDA is widely used by other companies in the hospitality industry and may be used by investors as a measure of the financial performance. Given the significant investments that the Company has made in leasehold improvements and other fixed assets of leased hotels, depreciation and amortization comprises a significant portion of the Company’s cost structure. The Company believes that EBITDA will provide investors with a useful tool for comparability between periods because it eliminates depreciation and amortization attributable to capital expenditures. Adjusted net income and adjusted EBITDA provide meaningful supplemental information regarding the Company’s performance by excluding share-based compensation expenses, as the investors can better understand the Company’s performance and compare business trends among different reporting periods on a consistent basis, excluding share-based compensation expenses, which are not expected to result in cash payment. The Company believes that both management and investors benefit from referring to these non-GAAP financial measures in assessing the Company’s performance and when planning and forecasting future periods. These non-GAAP financial measures also facilitate management’s internal comparisons to the Company’s historical performance. The Company believes these non-GAAP financial measures are also useful to investors in allowing for greater transparency with respect to supplemental information used regularly by Company management in financial and operational decision-making. The accompanying tables provide more details on the reconciliations between GAAP financial measures that are most directly comparable to non-GAAP financial measures.

The use of these non-GAAP measures has certain limitations, as the excluded items have been and will be incurred, and are not reflected in the presentation of these non-GAAP measures. Each of these items should also be considered in the overall evaluation of the results. The Company compensates for these limitations by providing the disclosure of the relevant items both in its reconciliations to the U.S. GAAP financial measures and in its consolidated financial statements, all of which should be considered when evaluating the performance of the Company.

In addition, these measures may not be comparable to similarly titled measures utilized by other companies, as these companies may not calculate these measures in the same manner as the Company does.

About Atour Lifestyle Holdings Limited

Atour Lifestyle Holdings Limited (NASDAQ: ATAT) is a leading hospitality and lifestyle company in China, with a distinct portfolio of lifestyle hotel brands. Atour is the leading upper midscale hotel chain in China and is the first Chinese hotel chain to develop scenario-based retail business. Atour is committed to bringing innovations to China’s hospitality industry and building new lifestyle brands around hotel offerings. For more information, please visit https://ir.yaduo.com.

Investor Relations Contact

Atour Lifestyle Holdings Limited Email: ir@yaduo.com

Piacente Financial Communications Email: Atour@tpg-ir.com Tel: +86-10-6508-0677

—Financial Tables and Operational Data Follow—

ATOUR LIFESTYLE HOLDINGS LIMITED UNAUDITED CONDENSED CONSOLIDATED BALANCE SHEETS
(All amounts in thousands, except share data and per share data, or otherwise noted)
		As of		As of
		December 31,		March 31,
		2023		2024
		RMB		RMB		USD1
Assets
Current assets
Cash and cash equivalents		2,840,807		3,048,408		422,200
Short-term investments		751,794		711,525		98,545
Accounts receivable		162,101		164,553		22,790
Prepayments and other current assets		251,900		270,544		37,470
Amounts due from related parties		115,900		135,085		18,709
Inventories		119,078		105,711		14,641
Total current assets		4,241,580		4,435,826		614,355
Non-current assets
Restricted cash		946		946		131
Contract costs		98,220		105,440		14,603
Property and equipment, net		266,120		280,378		38,832
Operating lease right-of-use assets		1,712,580		1,662,001		230,184
Intangible assets, net		4,247		4,240		587
Goodwill		17,446		17,446		2,416
Other assets		100,939		93,435		12,942
Deferred tax assets		144,947		160,832		22,275
Total non-current assets		2,345,445		2,324,718		321,970
Total assets		6,587,025		6,760,544		936,325
Liabilities and shareholders’ equity
Current liabilities
Operating lease liabilities, current		295,721		316,113		43,781
Accounts payable		594,545		443,512		61,426
Deferred revenue, current		406,066		381,768		52,874
Salary and welfare payable		189,823		132,487		18,349
Accrued expenses and other payables		684,391		759,669		105,213
Income taxes payable		136,201		169,241		23,440
Short-term borrowings		70,000		90,000		12,465
Amounts due to related parties		1,104		1,979		274
Total current liabilities		2,377,851		2,294,769		317,822
Non-current liabilities
Operating lease liabilities, non-current		1,583,178		1,524,968		211,206
Deferred revenue, non-current		369,455		400,041		55,405
Long-term borrowings, non-current portion		2,000		2,000		277
Other non-current liabilities		194,452		210,318		29,129
Total non-current liabilities		2,149,085		2,137,327		296,017
Total liabilities		4,526,936		4,432,096		613,839

_______________________1 Translations of balances in the consolidated financial statements from RMB into US$ for the first quarter of 2024 and as of March 31, 2024 are solely for readers’ convenience and were calculated at the rate of US$1.00=RMB7.2203, representing the exchange rate set forth in the H.10 statistical release of the Federal Reserve Board on March 29, 2024.

ATOUR LIFESTYLE HOLDINGS LIMITED UNAUDITED CONDENSED CONSOLIDATED BALANCE SHEETS
(All amounts in thousands, except share data and per share data, or otherwise noted)
		As of			As of
		December 31,			March 31,
		2023			2024
		RMB			RMB			USD1
Shareholders’ equity
Class A ordinary shares		244			244			34
Class B ordinary shares		56			56			8
Additional paid in capital		1,555,773			1,558,915			215,907
Retained earnings		507,226			764,384			105,866
Accumulated other comprehensive income		4,769			12,278			1,700
Total equity attributable to shareholders of the Company		2,068,068			2,335,877			323,515
Non-controlling interests		(7,979	)		(7,429	)		(1,029	)
Total shareholders’ equity		2,068,089			2,328,448			322,486
Commitments and contingencies		—			—			—
Total liabilities and shareholders’ equity		6,587,025			6,760,544			936,325

ATOUR LIFESTYLE HOLDINGS LIMITED UNAUDITED CONDENSED CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF COMPREHENSIVE INCOME
(All amounts in thousands, except share data and per share data, or otherwise noted)
		Three Months Ended
		March 31,			March 31,
		2023			2024
		RMB			RMB			USD1
Revenues:
Manachised hotels		446,798			836,111			115,800
Leased hotels		187,310			168,049			23,275
Retail		112,933			416,591			57,697
Others		26,895			47,542			6,584
Net revenues		773,936			1,468,293			203,356
Operating costs and expenses:
Hotel operating costs		(381,632	)		(662,169	)		(91,709	)
Retail costs		(61,517	)		(206,103	)		(28,545	)
Other operating costs		(10,137	)		(9,826	)		(1,361	)
Selling and marketing expenses		(56,009	)		(174,711	)		(24,197	)
General and administrative expenses		(193,204	)		(76,655	)		(10,617	)
Technology and development expenses		(16,790	)		(24,181	)		(3,349	)
Total operating costs and expenses		(719,289	)		(1,153,645	)		(159,778	)
Other operating income, net		7,230			10,009			1,386
Income from operations		61,877			324,657			44,964
Interest income		4,843			13,519			1,872
Gain from short-term investments		5,354			9,592			1,328
Interest expense		(1,927	)		(673	)		(93	)
Other (expenses) income, net		551			(466	)		(65	)
Income before income tax		70,698			346,629			48,006
Income tax expense		(52,626	)		(88,921	)		(12,315	)
Net income		18,072			257,708			35,691
Less: net income attributable to non-controlling interests		197			550			76
Net income attributable to the Company		17,875			257,158			35,615
Net income		18,072			257,708			35,691
Other comprehensive income (loss)
Foreign currency translation adjustments, net of nil income taxes		(2,080	)		7,509			1,040
Other comprehensive income (loss), net of income taxes		(2,080	)		7,509			1,040
Total comprehensive income		15,992			265,217			36,731
Comprehensive income attributable to non-controlling interests		197			550			76
Comprehensive income attributable to the Company		15,795			264,667			36,655
Net income per ordinary share
—Basic		0.05			0.62			0.09
—Diluted		0.04			0.62			0.09
Weighted average ordinary shares used in calculating net income per ordinary share
—Basic		393,958,225			412,841,106			412,841,106
—Diluted		412,310,616			416,114,169			416,114,169

ATOUR LIFESTYLE HOLDINGS LIMITED UNAUDITED CONDENSED CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF CASH FLOWS
(In thousands of RMB, except share data and per share data, or otherwise noted)
		Three Months Ended
		March 31,			March 31,
		2023			2024
		RMB			RMB			USD1
Cash flows from operating activities:
Net cash generated from operating activities		361,657			143,236			19,838
Cash flows from investing activities:
Payment for purchases of property and equipment		(17,619	)		(12,615	)		(1,747	)
Payment for purchases of intangible assets		—			(282	)		(39	)
Payment for purchases of short-term investments		(1,328,350	)		(2,664,000	)		(368,959	)
Proceeds from maturities of short-term investments		1,332,460			2,713,861			375,865
Net cash generated from (used in) investing activities		(13,509	)		36,964			5,120
Cash flows from financing activities:
Proceeds from borrowings		40,000			20,000			2,770
Repayment of borrowings		(980	)		—			—
Net cash generated from financing activities		39,020			20,000			2,770
Effect of exchange rate changes on cash and cash equivalents and restricted cash		(1,402	)		7,401			1,025
Net increase in cash and cash equivalents and restricted cash		385,766			207,601			28,753
Cash and cash equivalents and restricted cash at the beginning of the period		1,590,107			2,841,753			393,578
Cash and cash equivalents and restricted cash at the end of the period		1,975,873			3,049,354			422,331

 

ATOUR LIFESTYLE HOLDINGS LIMITED UNAUDITED RECONCILIATION OF GAAP AND NON-GAAP RESULTS
(In thousands of RMB, except share data and per share data, or otherwise noted)
		Three Months Ended
		March 31,			March 31,
		2023			2024
		RMB			RMB			USD1
Net income (GAAP)		18,072			257,708			35,691
Share-based compensation expenses, net of tax effect of nil2		141,580			3,142			436
Adjusted net income (non-GAAP)		159,652			260,850			36,127
		Three Months Ended
		March 31,			March 31,
		2023			2024
		RMB			RMB			USD1
Net income (GAAP)		18,072			257,708			35,691
Interest income		(4,843	)		(13,519	)		(1,872	)
Interest expense		1,927			673			93
Income tax expense		52,626			88,921			12,315
Depreciation and amortization		21,897			17,149			2,375
EBITDA (non-GAAP)		89,679			350,932			48,602
Share-based compensation expenses		141,580			3,142			436
Adjusted EBITDA (non-GAAP)		231,259			354,074			49,038

_______________________2 The share-based compensation expenses were recorded at entities in PRC. Share-based compensation expenses were non-deductible expenses in PRC. Therefore, there is no tax impact for share-based compensation expenses adjustment for non-GAAP financial measures.

Key Operating Data

	Number of Hotels				Number of Rooms
	Opened in Q1 2024	Closed in Q1 2024	As of March 31, 2024		As of March 31, 2024
Manachised hotels	97	4	1,271		143,633
Leased hotels	-	1	31		4,516
Total	97	5	1,302		148,149

Brand	Positioning	As of March 31, 2024
		Properties		Rooms
		Manachised	Leased
A.T. House	Luxury	-	1	214
Atour S	Upscale	61	8	10,126
ZHOTEL	Upscale	1	-	52
Atour	Upper midscale	958	21	112,444
Atour X	Upper midscale	130	-	14,121
Atour Light	Midscale	121	1	11,192
Total		1,271	31	148,149

	All Hotels in Operation
	Three Months Ended March 31, 2023		Three Months Ended December 31, 2023		Three Months Ended March 31, 2024
Occupancy rate3 (in percentage)
Manachised hotels	72.1%		78.2%		73.1%
Leased hotels	80.4%		84.5%		79.3%
All hotels	72.5%		78.4%		73.3%
ADR3 (in RMB)
Manachised hotels	437.2		432.8		426.0
Leased hotels	544.8		557.9		541.6
All hotels	442.9		437.7		430.0
RevPAR3 (in RMB)
Manachised hotels	330.5		353.1		323.7
Leased hotels	463.7		495.3		455.2
All hotels	336.8		358.2		327.9

	Hotels in Operation for More Than 18 Months in Q1 20244
	Number of hotels			Same-hotel Occupancy3 (in percentage)			Same-hotel ADR3 (in RMB)			Same-hotel RevPAR3 (in RMB)
	Q1 2023	Q1 2024		Q1 2023	Q1 2024		Q1 2023	Q1 2024		Q1 2023	Q1 2024
Manachised hotels	813	813		73.1%	74.7%		438.4	431.5		335.8	335.3
Leased hotels	30	30		80.3%	79.3%		543.2	541.6		463.1	455.2
All hotels	843	843		73.4%	74.9%		443.8	436.9		341.8	340.8

_______________________3 Excludes hotel rooms that were previously requisitioned by the government for quarantine needs in response to the COVID-19 outbreak or otherwise became unavailable due to temporary hotel closures. ADR and RevPAR are calculated based on tax-inclusive room rates.4 For any given quarter, we define “same-hotel” to be a hotel that has operated for a minimum of 18 calendar months as of the 15th day (inclusive) of any month within that quarter. The OCC, ADR and RevPAR presented above represent such metrics generated by “same hotels” in the first quarter of 2024, compared to the corresponding metrics generated by these “same hotels” during the same period in 2023.