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    Patrick Scholes • Truist Securities

    Patrick Scholes's questions to Viking Holdings Ltd (VIK) leadership

    Patrick Scholes's questions to Viking Holdings Ltd (VIK) leadership • Q1 2025

    Question

    Patrick Scholes asked about non-price promotional activities, such as add-ons or cabin upgrades, and whether there have been any changes in strategy this spring. He also sought to confirm that booking trends accelerated in April with no softness.

    Answer

    Chairman and CEO Torstein Hagen stated that Viking's primary method is to 'market more' and that the company shies away from other promotional incentives, confirming no change in this strategy. President and CFO Leah Talactac confirmed his understanding was correct, stating, 'Yes, that's right,' in response to the observation of accelerating booking trends in April.

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    Patrick Scholes's questions to Viking Holdings Ltd (VIK) leadership • Q1 2025

    Question

    Patrick Scholes asked if there had been any change in non-price promotional activities, such as add-ons or cabin upgrades, compared to historical norms. He also sought direct confirmation that booking trends in April showed no softness and were, in fact, accelerating.

    Answer

    Chairman and CEO Torstein Hagen responded that Viking's strategy is to 'market more' and avoid such incentives, confirming there has been no change in their promotional approach. President and CFO Leah Talactac explicitly confirmed that booking trends in April were accelerating and showed no softness.

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    Patrick Scholes's questions to Viking Holdings Ltd (VIK) leadership • Q3 2024

    Question

    Patrick Scholes asked for an update on Viking's capital return strategy, noting the company's rapidly improving and soon-to-be underlevered balance sheet. He followed up by asking if Viking intends to maintain a more conservative long-term leverage profile than its peers.

    Answer

    CFO Leah Talactac reiterated the commitment to a balanced capital allocation framework, prioritizing reinvestment in the business and maintaining a large cash reserve for flexibility and potential acquisitions. She stated that dividends or share buybacks are not currently contemplated and that the company has not set specific leverage targets as it is in a growth period.

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    Patrick Scholes's questions to Marriott International Inc (MAR) leadership

    Patrick Scholes's questions to Marriott International Inc (MAR) leadership • Q1 2025

    Question

    Patrick Scholes from Truist Securities asked if the uptick in group booking attrition reported by other operators was a broader trend seen across Marriott's portfolio. He questioned how potential attrition might affect the reported 6% group pace for the current year.

    Answer

    CEO Tony Capuano stated that higher attrition is 'not a trend we're seeing across our broader state' and suggested it might be an issue specific to certain types of properties. CFO Leeny Oberg added that any moderation in the final group numbers typically results from 'in the year, for the year' booking patterns rather than cancellations.

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    Patrick Scholes's questions to Marriott International Inc (MAR) leadership • Q4 2024

    Question

    Patrick Scholes of Truist Securities asked about Marriott's appetite for tuck-in acquisitions in the coming year and whether the company was observing any travel pullback from Canadian and Mexican visitors due to political tensions.

    Answer

    CEO Tony Capuano stated that the company's capital allocation philosophy remains unchanged, with a focus on organic growth, but they will consider tuck-in acquisitions to fill strategic gaps. CFO Leeny Oberg noted it was too soon to see any impact from Canadian and Mexican travelers, emphasizing that they represent a very small portion of U.S. room nights.

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    Patrick Scholes's questions to Wyndham Hotels & Resorts Inc (WH) leadership

    Patrick Scholes's questions to Wyndham Hotels & Resorts Inc (WH) leadership • Q1 2025

    Question

    Patrick Scholes of Truist Securities questioned if the low-teens growth expectation for ancillary revenues still holds given declining consumer confidence and asked for a clarification of what constitutes 'contracted' revenue.

    Answer

    CFO Michele Allen reaffirmed the low-teens growth forecast for ancillary revenues in 2025, with further growth expected in 2026. She explained that a significant portion is contract-based, providing durability. The largest driver, the co-branded credit card, is insulated from RevPAR swings as only one-third of card spend is in the travel category. She clarified that 'contracted' revenue refers to agreements, like with licensees, that have a minimum payment floor, providing a stable base.

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    Patrick Scholes's questions to Wyndham Hotels & Resorts Inc (WH) leadership • Q3 2024

    Question

    Patrick Scholes asked for an update on the company's franchisee retention rate, whether it is approaching the 96% target, and if there is a difference between U.S. and international retention.

    Answer

    CFO Michele Allen and CEO Geoffrey Ballotti reported significant progress, with the global retention rate now at 95.7%, up 40 basis points year-over-year. They described the 96% level as a 'first stop' with room for further improvement. They emphasized a focus on improving the global rate by swapping lower-value terminations for higher-value new rooms, but did not provide a U.S. versus international breakout.

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    Patrick Scholes's questions to Carnival Corp (CCL) leadership

    Patrick Scholes's questions to Carnival Corp (CCL) leadership • Q1 2025

    Question

    Patrick Scholes of Truist Securities followed up on the company's comment about geopolitical volatility, asking if this had a tangible impact on the booking pace as the quarter progressed.

    Answer

    CEO Josh Weinstein acknowledged that while there were ups and downs, the overall result was strong, suggesting people are adapting to a 'new normal.' He highlighted that recent booking volumes were ahead year-over-year, and close-in bookings for the second quarter were 'off the charts,' indicating resilient demand despite the backdrop.

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    Patrick Scholes's questions to Carnival Corp (CCL) leadership • Q4 2024

    Question

    Patrick Scholes asked for an update on proposed passenger tax increases in Mexico and the potential impact on itineraries. He also noted a divergence in the growth rates of passenger ticket revenue and commissions, asking if this indicated a shift to more direct bookings.

    Answer

    CEO Josh Weinstein stated the Mexico tax is 'not a done deal' and that the company is in active dialogue with the government, which he believes was misinformed. The potential tax is not in the forecast and would affect less than 5% of 2025 itineraries. CFO David Bernstein addressed the revenue versus commission question, stating there was no significant channel shift to report and that minor quarterly variations can be caused by currency and air travel mix.

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    Patrick Scholes's questions to Carnival Corp (CCL) leadership • Q3 2024

    Question

    Patrick Scholes requested more granular, quarter-by-quarter detail on the expected increase in dry dock days for 2025. He also asked about long-term development plans for Half Moon Cay beyond the new pier, such as the addition of a water park.

    Answer

    CFO David Bernstein deferred the dry dock question, advising a follow-up with investor relations for specific details. CEO Josh Weinstein addressed the Half Moon Cay plans, stating there are more enhancements coming but "absolutely not" a water park. He emphasized that Half Moon Cay's appeal is its "naturally beautiful white sand beach," which they intend to preserve, contrasting it with the entertainment-focused Celebration Key.

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    Patrick Scholes's questions to Marriott Vacations Worldwide Corp (VAC) leadership

    Patrick Scholes's questions to Marriott Vacations Worldwide Corp (VAC) leadership • Q4 2024

    Question

    Patrick Scholes from Truist Securities asked for a granular breakdown of the 2025 G&A forecast, seeking to understand the net impact of various pushes and pulls—such as higher incentive compensation and IT spending versus cost savings—on the 2024 baseline G&A of $243 million.

    Answer

    Jason Marino, EVP and CFO, confirmed a ~$15-20 million increase from incentive compensation and higher IT project spending. John Geller, President and CEO, clarified that cost savings from the modernization initiative are spread across business lines, not just G&A. Marino then specified that approximately $10 million of the savings are expected to benefit the G&A line item.

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    Patrick Scholes's questions to Sunstone Hotel Investors Inc (SHO) leadership

    Patrick Scholes's questions to Sunstone Hotel Investors Inc (SHO) leadership • Q4 2024

    Question

    Patrick Scholes asked what level of total expense growth is assumed in the midpoint of the company's 2025 guidance.

    Answer

    Bryan Giglia, Chief Executive Officer, responded that the guidance bakes in total expense growth in the 4% to 4.5% range. This figure accounts for higher labor costs, easing real estate taxes, stable insurance costs from a mid-year renewal, and slightly higher utility expenses.

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    Patrick Scholes's questions to Park Hotels & Resorts Inc (PK) leadership

    Patrick Scholes's questions to Park Hotels & Resorts Inc (PK) leadership • Q4 2024

    Question

    Patrick Scholes asked if Park Hotels has observed any impact on Canadian travel to its Florida properties, given that Canada is a key international source market for the state.

    Answer

    Chairman and CEO Thomas Baltimore responded that they have not seen any softening or slowdown in demand from Canadian travelers at their Florida properties at this point, but they continue to monitor the situation.

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    Patrick Scholes's questions to Park Hotels & Resorts Inc (PK) leadership • Q3 2024

    Question

    Patrick Scholes asked for expectations on inbound Japanese travel to Hawaii for Q4 and 2025, and whether Hilton is proactively notifying guests about the ongoing labor strikes.

    Answer

    Chairman and CEO Thomas Baltimore stated that the 2024 forecast for Japanese visitors is now around 720,000, down from earlier estimates due to weather but still up 22% year-over-year. He anticipates a full recovery to pre-pandemic levels by 2026-2027. Regarding guest notifications, he explained that the operator (Hilton) handles communications and that the strikes are publicly known. He also noted progress, with labor agreements reached in Boston and San Jose.

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    Patrick Scholes's questions to Choice Hotels International Inc (CHH) leadership

    Patrick Scholes's questions to Choice Hotels International Inc (CHH) leadership • Q4 2024

    Question

    Patrick Scholes from Truist Securities questioned why the 2025 EBITDA growth guidance is in the mid-single digits, below the previously communicated long-term target of high-single digits, and also asked about any observed impact from immigration issues on franchisee labor.

    Answer

    CEO Patrick Pacious attributed the moderated guidance primarily to the high-interest-rate environment muting new construction across the industry. He noted that a pickup in new construction and stronger RevPAR performance could push results to the higher end of the range. Regarding the second question, Pacious stated they have not heard of any impact on franchisees' ability to hire or retain employees due to immigration issues.

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    Patrick Scholes's questions to Choice Hotels International Inc (CHH) leadership • Q3 2024

    Question

    Patrick Scholes asked for a breakdown of the raised full-year RevPAR guidance, seeking to quantify how much of the improvement is attributable to organic strength versus hurricane-related demand.

    Answer

    CEO Patrick Pacious estimated that hurricane impact accounts for about 40-50 basis points of the full-year RevPAR. He emphasized the guidance increase is primarily driven by broad-based organic strength, including occupancy gains and performance in regions and segments unaffected by the storms.

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    Patrick Scholes's questions to Hyatt Hotels Corp (H) leadership

    Patrick Scholes's questions to Hyatt Hotels Corp (H) leadership • Q4 2024

    Question

    Patrick Scholes asked for the reasons behind the Q4 adjusted EBITDA miss despite strong RevPAR, and also inquired about the booking trends for the ALG Vacations business.

    Answer

    CFO Joan Bottarini explained the miss was primarily due to onetime G&A costs, including bad debt reserves, and lower-than-expected performance in the distribution business. The latter was impacted by a hurricane and softer bookings for lower-tier hotel chains served by ALG Vacations. She expects the distribution segment to be flat to incrementally positive in 2025.

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    Patrick Scholes's questions to Norwegian Cruise Line Holdings Ltd (NCLH) leadership

    Patrick Scholes's questions to Norwegian Cruise Line Holdings Ltd (NCLH) leadership • Q3 2024

    Question

    Patrick Scholes requested an update on the development of the new pier at the company's private island, Great Stirrup Cay, asking about the construction progress, expected opening timeline, and any potential future enhancements planned for the destination.

    Answer

    CEO Harry Sommer reported that construction of the new pier at Great Stirrup Cay is on schedule for a Q4 opening. He highlighted that the pier will allow the company to double the number of guests visiting the island starting in 2026, particularly during winter months, driving higher satisfaction and revenue. While no new projects were announced, Sommer confirmed the company constantly evaluates opportunities to enhance the guest experience and drive ROI on the island.

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    Patrick Scholes's questions to Vail Resorts Inc (MTN) leadership

    Patrick Scholes's questions to Vail Resorts Inc (MTN) leadership • Q3 2024

    Question

    Patrick Scholes of Truist Securities asked for an opinion on the performance gap between Epic Pass and the competitor Icon Pass, which is reportedly seeing sales growth. He also asked for the rationale behind Vail's centralized operating strategy versus a competitor's decentralized approach.

    Answer

    CEO Kirsten Lynch attributed the difference in pass sales growth to different stages in the product life cycle, noting Epic Pass is a more mature product now targeting lower-frequency skiers. Regarding operations, Lynch clarified that Vail centralizes support functions like HR and finance for efficiency, but core mountain operations decisions (terrain, labor, safety) are decentralized and managed at the resort level, a strategy she believes is highly successful.

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