Information on the buyers was not released. The firm expects proceeds to be used to partially fund its pending purchase of a portfolio of 38 hotels from Starwood Hotels & Resorts Worldwide Inc. Last year, Host Marriott entered into an agreement to purchase the sites in a cash and stock deal valued at approximately more than $4 billion. The sale includes 25 domestic and 13 international hotel properties aggregating a total of 18,964 rooms under the Westin, Sheraton, W Hotels, the Luxury Collection and St. Regis flags.
The 579-room Fort Lauderdale Marina is a 25-year-old property that consists of a 273-room main tower and two low-rise wings. The company says it sustained significant property damage and business interruption from Hurricane Wilma and currently is operating without the use of its main tower. Host expects to receive future insurance proceeds associated with these events--which could be meaningful--and will retain those proceeds under the terms of the sale.
The Drake is a 495-room hotel located on the corner of Park Avenue and 56th Street. It originally opened in 1927. Also conveying with the sale of the property are a small, adjacent building and certain other related assets.
"These strategic sales are indicative of the strategy we have articulated of capitalizing on value enhancement opportunities inherent in our world-class portfolio of real estate," says Christopher J. Nassetta, president and chief executive office. "The execution of these transactions also represents the first of our planned steps to finance the cash portion of our pending acquisition from Starwood."
The hotels' combined EBITDA was forecast to be approximately $23 million for full year 2005, prior to the effect of Hurricane Wilma. These sales will be incorporated into Host Marriott's updated 2006 guidance that will be released in conjunction with the release of its 2005 earnings on Feb. 23.
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