Travel + Leisure - 10-K annual report

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

None

 

 

 

Indicate by check mark if the registrant is a well-known seasoned issuer, as defined in Rule 405 of the Securities Act.  Yes þ  No o

 

Indicate by check mark if the registrant is not required to file reports pursuant to Section 13 or Section 15(d) of the Act.  Yes o  No þ

 

Indicate by check mark whether the Registrant (1) has filed all reports required to be filed by Section 13 or 15(d) of the Securities and 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 þ     No o

 

Indicate by check mark if disclosure of delinquent filers pursuant to Item 405 ofRegulation S-K(§ 229.405 of this chapter) is not contained herein, and will not be contained, to the best of Registrant’s knowledge, in definitive proxy or information statements incorporated by reference in Part III of thisForm 10-Kor any amendment to thisForm 10-K.  þ

 

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

 

 

Indicate by check mark whether the registrant is a shell company (as defined inRule 12b-2of the Act).  Yes o     No þ

 

The aggregate market value of the Registrant’s common stock held by non-affiliates of the Registrant on June 30, 2007, was $6,398,946,804. All executive officers and directors of the Registrant have been deemed, solely for the purpose of the foregoing calculation, to be “affiliates” of the Registrant.

 

As of January 31, 2008, the Registrant had outstanding 177,020,748 shares of common stock.

 

 

Portions of the Proxy Statement prepared for the 2008 Annual Meeting of Shareholders are incorporated by reference into Part III of this report.

 

 

 

 

 

As one of the world’s largest hospitality companies, we offer individual consumers and business customers a broad suite of hospitality products and services across various accommodation alternatives and price ranges through our premier portfolio of world-renowned brands. With more than 20 brands, which include Wyndham Hotels and Resorts, Ramada, Days Inn, Super 8, TripRewards, RCI, The Registry Collection, Endless Vacation Rentals, Landal GreenParks, English Country Cottages, Novasol, Wyndham Vacation Resorts and WorldMark by Wyndham, we have built a significant presence in most major hospitality markets in the United States and throughout the rest of the world. For 2008, total spending by domestic and international travelers in the United States is expected to be $778 billion, an increase of approximately 5.2% from projected full-year spending levels in 2007. Globally, travel spending was expected to grow by 3.9% in 2007 to approximately $4.8 trillion.

 

We operate primarily in the lodging, vacation exchange and rentals, and vacation ownership segments of the hospitality industry:

 

 

We provide directly to individual consumers our high quality products and services, including the various accommodations we market, such as hotels, vacation resorts, villas and cottages, and products we offer, such as vacation ownership interests. We also provide valuable products and services to our business customers, such as franchisees, hotel owners, affiliated resort developers and prospective developers. These products and services include marketing and central reservation systems, inventory networks and distribution channels, back office services and loyalty programs. We strive to provide value-added products and services that are intended to both enhance the travel experience of the individual consumer and drive revenue to our business customers. The depth and breadth of our businesses across different segments of the hospitality industry provide us with the opportunity to expand our relationships with our existing individual consumers and business customers in one or more segments of our business by offering them additional or alternative products and services from our other segments. Historically, we have pursued what we believe to be financially-attractive entrance points in the major global hospitality markets to strengthen our portfolio of products and services.

 

The largest portion of our revenues comes from fees we receive in exchange for providing services and products. For example, we receive fees in the form of royalties for our customers’ utilization of our brands and for our provision of hotel and resort management and vacation exchange and rentals services. The remainder of our revenues comes from the proceeds received from sales of products, such as vacation ownership interests and related services.

 

Our lodging, vacation exchange and rentals and vacation ownership businesses all have operations outside of the United States. During 2007, we derived 78% of our revenues in the United States and 22% internationally and held 78% of our long-lived assets in the United States and 22% internationally. The table below provides our net revenues and long-lived assets for the more significant countries in which we operate ($ in millions).

 

 

 

Previously, we were a wholly owned subsidiary of Cendant Corporation (which changed its name to Avis Budget Group, Inc. in September 2006). Cendant Corporation was created in December 1997 through the merger of CUC International, Inc., or CUC, and HFS Incorporated, or HFS. Prior to the merger, HFS was a major hospitality, real estate and car rental franchisor. At the time of the merger, HFS franchised hotels worldwide through brands, such as Ramada, Days Inn, Super 8, Howard Johnson and Travelodge. Subsequent to the merger, Cendant took a number of steps and completed a number of transactions to grow its Hospitality Services business and to develop its Timeshare Resorts (vacation ownership) business, including the following:

 

 

Each of our lodging, vacation exchange and rentals and vacation ownership businesses has a long operating history. Our lodging business began operations in 1990 with the acquisition of the Howard Johnson and Ramada brands, each of which opened its first hotel in 1954. RCI, the best known brand in our vacation exchange and rentals business, was established more than 30 years ago, and our vacation ownership brands, Wyndham Vacation Resorts and Wyndham Resort Development Corporation, which operates as WorldMark by Wyndham, began vacation ownership operations in 1980 and 1989, respectively.

Prior to July 31, 2006, Cendant transferred to Wyndham Worldwide all of the assets and liabilities of Cendant’s Hospitality Services (including Timeshare Resorts) businesses and, on July 31, 2006, Cendant distributed all of the shares of Wyndham common stock to the holders of Cendant common stock issued and outstanding on July 21, 2006, the record date for the distribution. The separation was effective on July 31, 2006. On August 1, 2006, we commenced “regular way” trading on the New York Stock Exchange under the symbol “WYN.”

 

Subsequent to our separation from Cendant, we further expanded our presence in the Lodging industry by acquiring a 30% equity interest in CHI Limited, a joint venture that provides management services to luxury and upscale hotels in Europe, the Middle East and Africa. As of December 31, 2007, we were providing hotel management services to 14 hotels through this joint venture, the majority of which have already been, or will be in early 2008, re-branded as a Wyndham brand.

 

 

The hospitality industry is a major component of the travel industry, which is the third-largest retail industry in the United States after the automotive and food stores industries. The general health of the hospitality industry is affected by the performance of the U.S. economy. In 2007, the U.S. economy experienced real GDP growth of approximately 2%. In 2008, U.S. real GDP is expected to grow by approximately 2.5%, however, some economists believe that recent increased default rates on sub-prime and adjustable rate mortgages and the associated negative impact on credit and housing markets may adversely affect 2008 GDP and may even lead to a recession.

 

The hospitality industry includes the segments in which Wyndham Worldwide operates—lodging, vacation exchange and rentals, and vacation ownership. In spite of the challenges faced by the hospitality industry, including terrorism, pandemics and natural disasters, the industry is growing. In 2007, domestic and international travelers spent in the United States an estimated $740 billion, which represents a nearly 5.7% increase from 2006.

 

 

The $143 billion domestic lodging industry is a growing segment of the hospitality industry. Companies in the lodging industry generally operate in one or more of the various lodging segments, including luxury, upscale, midscale and economy, and generally operate under one or more business models, including franchise, managementand/orownership. The lodging industry is an important component of the U.S. hospitality industry. In 2007, the U.S. lodging industry boasted approximately 49,000 properties, which represented approximately 4.5 million guest rooms, which are comprised of approximately 3.0 million rooms in franchised hotels and approximately 1.5 million rooms in independent hotels. According to PricewaterhouseCoopers’ forecast, the U.S. lodging industry is expected to gross $28.1 billion in pre-tax profits in 2007, which represents a 5% increase from the prior year, followed by $29.6 billion in 2008 and $32.5 billion in 2009. We generally obtain our industry data from either PricewaterhouseCoopers or Smith Travel Research. The most recent data available from these sources was issued on February 8, 2008; however, such report was abridged and did not contain all the industry data used in this Annual Report on Form 10-K, including profits of the lodging industry. Therefore, the lodging industry profits data contained herein reflects the most recent data received from PricewaterhouseCoopers, which was the August 2007 Hospitality Directions Report. We believe that the lodging industry profits data may change when the December 2007 Hospitality Directions Report is released based upon a 20 basis point reduction in the overall industry RevPAR growth from 5.7% per the August 2007 report to 5.5% per PricewaterhouseCoopers most recent forecast issued on February 8, 2008.

 

Growth in demand in the lodging industry is driven by two main factors: (i) the general health of the travel and tourism industry and (ii) the propensity for corporate spending on business travel. Demand for lodging in the United States grew by a 1.9% Compound Annual Growth Rate (CAGR) for the five year period from 2003 through 2007. During this five year period, the industry added approximately 523,600 rooms.

Performance in the lodging industry is measured by certain key metrics, such as average daily rate, or ADR, average occupancy rate and revenue per available room, or RevPAR, which is calculated by multiplying ADR by the average occupancy rate. In 2007, ADR in the United States was $103.46, which is 5.7% higher than the rate in the prior year, the average occupancy rate was 63.2%, which is relatively unchanged versus the rate in the prior year, and RevPAR was $65.38, which is 5.5% higher than RevPAR in the prior year. The following table demonstrates the trends in the key performance metrics:

 

 

 

Performance in the lodging industry is also measured by revenues earned by companies in the industry and by the number of new rooms added on a yearly basis. In 2007, the lodging industry earned revenues of $143 billion and added 141,200 new rooms. The following table demonstrates trends in revenues and new rooms:

 

 

 

The lodging industry generally can be divided into four main segments: (i) luxury; (ii) upscale, which also includes upper upscale properties; (iii) midscale, which is often further sub-divided into midscale with food and beverage and midscale without food and beverage; and (iv) economy. Luxury and upscale hotels typically offer a full range of on-property amenities and services including restaurants, spas, recreational facilities, business centers, concierges, room service and local transportation (shuttle service to airport, local attractions and shopping). Midscale segment properties typically offer limited breakfast service, vending, selected business services, partial recreational facilities (either a pool or fitness equipment) and limited transportation (airport shuttle). Economy properties typically offer a swimming pool and airport shuttle. The following table sets forth the information on ADR and supply and demand for each segment and associated subsegments:

 

 

 

Typically, companies in the lodging industry operate under one or more of the following three business models:

 

 

 

The estimated $42.5 billion global vacation exchange and rentals industry is a growing segment of the hospitality industry. Industry providers offer products and services to both leisure travelers and vacation property owners, including owners of second homes and vacation ownership interests. The vacation exchange and rentals industry offers leisure travelers access to a range of fully-furnished vacation properties, which include privately-owned vacation homes, apartments and condominiums, vacation ownership resorts, inventory at hotels and resorts, villas, cottages, boats and yachts. Providers offer leisure travelers flexibility (subject to availability) as to time of travel and a choice of lodging options in regions to which such travelers may not typically have ease of access to such choices. For vacation property owners, affiliations with vacation exchange companies or vacation rental companies allow such owners to exchange their interests in vacation properties for vacation time at other properties or for other various products and services. Additionally, such affiliation provides property owners the ability to have

their properties marketed and rented, as desired and, with respect to vacation properties for rental, to transfer the responsibility of managing such properties.

 

The vacation exchange industry provides to owners of intervals flexibility with respect to vacations through vacation exchanges. Companies that offer vacation exchange services include, among others RCI (our global vacation exchange business and the world’s largest vacation exchange network), Interval International, Inc. (a third-party exchange company), and companies that develop vacation ownership resorts and market vacation ownership interests and offer exchanges through internal networks of properties. To participate in a vacation exchange, an owner generally contributes intervals to an exchange company’s network and then indicates the particular resort or geographic area to which the owner would like to travel, the size of the unit desired and the period during which the owner would like to vacation. The exchange company then rates the owner’s contributed intervals based upon a number of factors, including the location and size of the unit or units, the quality of the resort or resorts and the time period or periods during which the intervals entitle the owner to vacation. The exchange company then generally offers the owner a vacation with a comparable rating to the vacation that the owner contributed. Exchange companies generally derive revenues from owners of intervals by charging exchange fees for exchanges and through annual membership dues. In 2006, 73% of owners of intervals were members of vacation exchange companies, and approximately two-thirds of such owners exchanged their intervals through such exchange companies.

 

The overall trend in the vacation exchange industry is growth in the number of members of vacation exchange companies. We believe that the vacation exchange industry will be favorably impacted by the growth in the premium and luxury segments of the vacation ownership industry through the increased sales of vacation ownership interests at high-end luxury resorts and the continued development of vacation ownership properties and products around the world. In 2006, there were more than five million members industry-wide who completed approximately 3.5 million exchanges. We believe that existing trends within the vacation exchange industry reflect that timeshare vacation ownership developers are selling more multiyear products, whereby the members have access to the product every second or third year and, in addition, are enrolling members in private label clubs, whereby the members have the option to exchange within the club or through external exchange channels. Such trends have a positive impact on the average number of members but an offsetting effect on the number of exchange transactions per average member.

 

The vacation rental industry offers vacation property owners the opportunity to rent their properties to leisure travelers for periods of time when the properties are unoccupied. The vacation rental industry is not as organized as the lodging industry in that the vacation rental industry, we believe, has no global rental companies and no vacation rental-specific global reservation systems or brands. The global supply of vacation rental inventory is highly fragmented with much of it being made available by individual property owners (as contrasted with commercial hospitality providers). Although these owners sometimes rent their properties directly, with or without the assistance of property managers and brokers, vacation rental companies often assist in renting owners’ properties without the benefit of globally recognized brands or international marketing and reservation systems. Sales by vacation rental companies are growing more rapidly than sales by other suppliers of inventory in the vacation rental industry. Typically, vacation rental companies collect rent in advance and, after deducting the applicable commissions, remit the net amounts due to the property ownersand/orproperty managers. In addition to commissions, vacation rental companies earn revenues from rental customers through fees that are incidental to the rental of the properties, such as fees for travel services, local transportation,on-siteservices and insurance or similar types of products.

 

We believe that as of December 31, 2007, there were approximately 1.5 million and 2.7 million vacation properties available for rental in the United States and Europe, respectively. In the United States, the vacation properties available for rental are primarily condominiums or stand-alone houses. In Europe, the vacation properties available for rental include individual homes and apartments, campsites and vacation park bungalows. Individual owners of vacation properties in the United States and Europe principally own their properties as investments and often use such properties for portions of the year.

 

We believe that the overall demand for vacation rentals has been growing for the following reasons: (i) the continuing growth of low-cost airline operations; (ii) the increased use of the Internet as a tool for facilitating vacation rental transactions; (iii) the emergence of attractive, low-cost destinations, such as Eastern Europe and the Middle East; and (iv) increasing awareness of vacation rental options among Americans. The demand per year for vacation rentals in Europe, the United States, South Africa and Australia is approximately 50 million vacation weeks, 32 million of which are rented by leisure travelers from Europe. Demand for vacation rental properties is often regional in that leisure travelers who rent properties often live relatively close to such properties. Some leisure travelers, however, travel relatively long distances from their homes to vacation properties in domestic or international destinations.

The destinations where leisure travelers from Europe, the United States, South Africa and Australia generally rent properties vary by country of origin of the leisure travelers. Leisure travelers from Europe generally rent properties in European destinations, including Spain, France, Italy and Portugal, which are the most popular destinations for European leisure travelers. Demand from European leisure travelers has recently been shifting beyond traditional Western Europe, based on political stability across Europe, increased accessibility of Eastern Europe, expansion of the European Union and expansion of tourism in southern Mediterranean destinations. Demand by leisure travelers from the United States is focused on rentals in traditional destinations, such as Florida; Las Vegas, Nevada; San Francisco, California; and New York City.

 

We believe that the overall supply of vacation rental properties has been growing as a result of the growth in ownership of second homes and the increasing desire among many owners to rent their properties for additional income. Growth in ownership of second homes, however, could adversely affect demand for vacation rental properties to the extent that owners of such homes no longer are as likely to rent vacation properties as such owners were before they bought second homes.

 

 

The $13 billion global vacation ownership industry, which is also referred to as the timeshare industry, is one of the fastest-developing segments of the domestic and international hospitality industry. The vacation ownership industry enables customers to share ownership of a fully-furnished vacation accommodation. Typically, a vacation ownership purchaser acquires either a fee simple interest in a property, which gives the purchaser title to a fraction of a unit, or a right to use a property, which gives the purchaser the right to use a property for a specific period of time. Generally, a vacation ownership purchaser’s fee simple interest in or right to use a property is referred to as a “vacation ownership interest.” For many vacation ownership interest purchasers, vacation ownership is an attractive vacation alternative to traditional lodging accommodations at hotels or owning vacation properties. Owners of vacation ownership interests are not subject to the variance in room rates to which lodging customers are subject, and vacation ownership units are, on average, more than twice the size of traditional hotel rooms and typically have more amenities, such as kitchens, than do traditional hotel rooms.

 

The vacation ownership concept originated in Europe during the late 1960s and spread to the United States shortly thereafter. The vacation ownership industry expanded slowly in the United States until the mid-1980s; since then, the vacation ownership industry has grown at a double-digit CAGR. The American Resort Development Association, or ARDA, indicates that sales of vacation ownership interests grew in excess of 16% CAGR from 1995 to 2006. Based on ARDA research, domestic sales of vacation ownership interests were approximately $10 billion in 2006 compared to $4.2 billion in 2000 and $1.9 billion in 1995. ARDA estimated that on January 1, 2007, there were approximately 4.4 million households that owned one or more vacation ownership interests in the United States.

 

Based on published industry data, we believe that the following factors have contributed to the substantial growth, particularly in North America, of the vacation ownership industry over the past two decades:

 

 

Demographic factors explain, in part, the growth of the industry. A 2006 study of recent vacation ownership purchasers revealed that the average purchaser was 52 years of age and had a median household income of $74,000.

The average purchaser in the United States, therefore, is a baby boomer who has disposable income and interest in purchasing vacation products. We expect that baby boomers will continue to have a positive influence on the future growth of the vacation ownership industry.

 

According to information compiled by the ARDA, the four primary reasons consumers cite for purchasing vacation ownership interests are: (i) flexibility with respect to different locations, unit sizes and times of year, (ii) the certainty of quality accommodations, (iii) credibility of the timeshare company and (iv) the opportunity to exchange into other resort locations. According to a 2006 ARDA study, nearly 80% of owners of vacation ownership interests indicated high levels of satisfaction. With respect to exchange opportunities, most owners of vacation ownership interests can exchange vacation ownership interests through exchange companies and through the applicable vacation ownership company’s internal network of properties.

 

 

Throughout this Annual Report onForm 10-K,we use the term “hotels” to apply to hotels, motelsand/or other accommodations, as applicable. In addition, the term “franchise system” refers to a system through which a franchisor licenses a brand and provides services to hotels whose independent owners pay to receive such license and services from the franchisor under the specific terms of a franchise or similar agreement. The services provided through a franchise system typically include reservations, sales leads, marketing and advertising support, training, quality assurance inspections, operational support and information, pre-opening assistance, prototype construction plans, and national or regional conferences.

 

 

Wyndham Hotel Group, our lodging business, franchises hotels and provides hotel management services to owners of luxury, upscale and midscale hotels. Through steady organic growth and acquisitions of established lodging franchise systems over the past 17 years, our lodging business has become the world’s largest lodging franchisor as measured by the number of franchised hotels. Our lodging business has over 6,500 franchised hotels, which represents over 550,000 rooms on six continents. Our lodging business has a strong presence across the economy and midscale segments of the lodging industry and a developing presence in the upscale segment, thus providing individual consumers who are traveling for leisure or business with options across various price ranges. Our franchised hotels operate under one of our ten lodging brands, which are Wyndham Hotels and Resorts, Wingate by Wyndham, Ramada, Baymont, Days Inn, Super 8, Howard Johnson, AmeriHost Inn, Travelodge and Knights Inn. The breadth and diversity of our lodging brands provide potential franchisees with a range of options for affiliating their properties with one or more of our brands. Our franchised hotels represent approximately 10% of the U.S. hotel room inventory. In 2007, our franchised hotels sold 8.3%, or approximately 85.8 million, of the one billion hotel room nights sold in the United States. In 2007, our franchised hotels sold approximately 18.8% of all hotel room nights sold in the United States in the economy and midscale segments. Our franchised hotels are dispersed internationally, which reduces our exposure to any one geographic region. Approximately 80% of the hotel rooms, or approximately 443,000 rooms, in our franchised hotels are located throughout the United States, and approximately 20% of the hotel rooms, or approximately 108,000 rooms, are located outside of the United States. In addition, our franchise systems are dispersed among numerous franchisees, which reduces our exposure to any one lodging franchisee. Of our approximately 5,400 lodging franchisees, no one franchisee accounts for more than 2% of our franchised hotels. Our lodging business franchises under two models. In North America, we generally employ a direct franchise model whereby we contract with and provide services and assistance with reservations directly to independent owner-operators of hotels. In other parts of the world, we employ either a direct franchise model or a master franchise model whereby we contract with a qualified, experienced third party to build a franchise enterprise in such third party’s country or region.

 

Our lodging business provides our franchised hotels with a suite of operational and administrative services, including access to a central reservations system, advertising, promotional and co-marketing programs, referrals, technology, training and volume purchasing. We also provide our franchisees, as well as our managed hotels, with the TripRewards loyalty program, which is the world’s largest hotel rewards program as measured by the number of participating hotels. As of December 31, 2007, we were providing hotel management services to 32 hotels associated with either the Wyndham Hotels and Resorts brand or the CHI joint venture. Our hotel management business offers owners of hotels professional oversight and comprehensive operations support. We expect to expand our hotel management business by strategically entering into hotel management agreements with new and existing hotels.

 

Our lodging business derives the majority of its revenues from franchising hotels. The sources of revenues from franchising hotels are initial franchise fees, which relate to services provided to assist a franchised hotel to open for

business under one of our brands, and ongoing franchise fees, which are comprised of royalty fees, marketing and reservation fees and other related fees. The royalty fees are intended to cover the use of our trademarks and our operating expenses, such as expenses incurred for franchise services, including quality assurance and administrative support, and to provide us with operating profits. The marketing and reservation fees are intended to reimburse us for expenses associated with operating a central reservations system, advertising and marketing programs and other related services. Because franchise fees generally are based on percentages of the franchisees’ gross room revenues, expanding our portfolio of franchised hotels and growing RevPAR at franchised hotels are important to our revenue growth.

 

We also earn revenue providing hotel management services, which revenues include management fees, service fees and reimbursement revenues. Our management fees are comprised of base fees, which typically are calculated based upon a specified percentage of gross revenues from hotel operations, and incentive fees, which typically are calculated based upon a specified percentage of a hotel’s gross operating profit. Service fees include fees derived from accounting, design, construction and purchasing services and technical assistance provided to managed hotels. Reimbursement revenues are intended to cover expenses incurred by the hotel management business on behalf of the managed hotels, primarily consisting of payroll costs for operational employees who work at the hotels. Revenues from our lodging business represented approximately 17%, 17% and 15% of total company net revenues during 2007, 2006 and 2005, respectively. EBITDA from our lodging business represented approximately 25%, 28% and 26% of total company EBITDA during 2007, 2006 and 2005, respectively. Please see Note 19 to the Consolidated and Combined Financial Statements for a discussion of our results of operations by segment and geographic region.

 

We also earn revenue from the TripRewards program when a member stays at a participating hotel. These revenues are derived from a fee charged to the franchisee/managed property owner based upon a percentage of room revenue generated from such stay.

 

 

We franchise ten widely-known lodging brands:

 

 

 

The following table provides operating statistics for our brands and for unmanaged, affiliated and managed non-proprietary hotels. The table includes information as of and for the year ended December 31, 2007. We derived occupancy, ADR and RevPAR from information we received from our franchisees.

 

 

 

The following table provides a summary description of our system size (including managed non-proprietary hotels) by geographic region as of and for the year ended December 31, 2007.

 

 

 

 

Under our direct franchise model, we principally market our lodging brands to independent hotel owners and to hotel owners who have the right to terminate their franchise affiliations with other lodging brands. We also market franchises under our lodging brands to existing franchisees because many own, or may own in the future, other hotels that can be converted to one of our brands. Under our master franchise model, we principally market our lodging brands to third parties that assume the principal role of franchisor, which entails selling individual franchise

agreements and providing quality assurance, marketing and reservations support to franchisees. As part of our franchise development strategy, we employ national and international sales forces that we compensate in part through commissions. Because of the importance of existing franchised hotels to our sales strategy, a significant part of our franchise development efforts is to ensure that our franchisees provide quality services to maintain the satisfaction of customers.

 

 

Our standard franchise agreement grants a franchisee the right to non-exclusive use of the applicable franchise system in the operation of a single hotel at a specified location, typically for a period of 15 to 20 years, and gives the franchisor and franchisee certain rights to terminate the franchise agreement before the conclusion of the term of the agreement under certain circumstances, such as upon designated anniversaries of the franchised hotel’s opening or the date of the agreement. Early termination options in franchise agreements give us flexibility to eliminate or re-brand franchised hotels if such properties become weak performers, even if there is no contractual failure by the franchisees. We also have the right to terminate a franchise agreement for failure by a franchisee to (i) bring its properties into compliance with contractual or quality standards within specified periods of time, (ii) pay required franchise fees or (iii) comply with other requirements of its franchise agreement.

 

Master franchise agreements, which are individually negotiated and vary among our different brands, typically contain provisions that permit us to terminate the agreement if the other party to the agreement fails to meet specified development schedules. Our master franchise agreements generally are competitive with industry averages within industry segments.

 

 

We use the marketing/reservation fees that our franchisees pay to us to promote our brands through media advertising, direct marketing, direct sales, promotions and publicity. A portion of the funds contributed by the franchisees of any one particular brand is used to promote that brand, whereas the remainder of the funds is allocated to support the cost of multibrand promotional efforts and to our marketing and global sales team, which includes, among others, our worldwide sales, public relations and direct marketing teams.

 

In 2007, the efforts of our global sales team contributed approximately 12% of the annual hotel room nights sold at our franchised and managed hotels. To supplement the global sales team’s efforts, our public relations team extends the reach and frequency of our paid advertising by generating extensive, unpaid exposure for our brands in trade and consumer media including USA TODAY, The New York Times,Lodging Hospitality, Hotel/Motel Management and other widely-read publications.

 

In addition to the traditional sales efforts, we plan to develop and market mixed-use hotel and vacation ownership properties in conjunction with Wyndham’s vacation ownership business. The mixed-use properties would generate room revenues at the managed hotel and increased spending at the hotel restaurants and facilities by visiting timeshare guests.

 

 

In 2007, we booked on behalf of our franchised and managed hotels approximately 4.3 million rooms by telephone, approximately 12.5 million rooms through the Internet and approximately 2.7 million rooms through global distribution systems, with a combined value of approximately $1.5 billion in bookings. Additionally, our global sales team generated leads for bookings from group and meeting planners, tour operators, travel agents, government and military clients, and corporate and small business accounts. We maintain contact centers in Saint John and Fredericton, New Brunswick, Canada; Aberdeen, South Dakota; and Manila, Philippines that handle bookings generated through our toll-free brand numbers. We maintain numerous brand websites to process online room reservations, and we utilize global distribution systems to process reservations generated by travel agents and third-party Internet booking sources, including Orbitz.com, CheapTickets.com and Travelocity.com. To ensure we receive bookings by travel agents and third-party Internet booking sources, we also provide direct connections between our central reservations system and some third-party Internet booking sources. The majority of hotel room nights are sold by our franchisees to guests who seek accommodations on a walk-in basis or through calls made directly to hotels, which we believe is attributable in part to the strength of our lodging brands.

 

Since 2003, bookings made directly by customers on our brand websites have been increasing at a CAGR (over the five year period) of approximately 28%, and increased to over 6.9 million room nights per year in 2007. Since

2003, bookings made through third-party Internet booking sources increased 27% while bookings made through global distribution systems declined 3%.

 

 

The TripRewards program, which was introduced in 2003, has grown steadily to become the lodging industry’s largest loyalty program as measured by the number of participating hotels. As of December 31, 2007, there were over 6,500 hotels participating in the program. With almost 40 other partners participating in the program, TripRewards offers its members several options to accumulate points. Members, for example, may accumulate points by staying in hotels franchised under one of our brands or by purchasing everyday products and services from the various businesses that participate in the program. When staying at hotels franchised under one of our brands, TripRewards members may elect to earn airline miles or rail points instead of TripReward points. Businesses where points can be earned generally pay a fee to participate in the program; such fees are then used to support the program’s marketing and operating expenses. TripRewards members have over 400 options to redeem their points. Members, for example, may redeem their points for hotel stays, airline tickets, resort vacations, electronics, sporting goods, movie and theme park tickets, and gift certificates. As of December 31, 2007, TripRewards had more than 6.8 million active members, which we define as any customer who has enrolled in the TripRewards program or earned or redeemed points in the program over the past 18 months, and the program added approximately 280,000 active members per month in 2007.

 

 

As of December 31, 2007, our lodging business was providing hotel management services to 32 properties associated with the either the Wyndham Hotels and Resorts brand or the CHI joint venture. Our hotel management business offers owners of hotels professional oversight and comprehensive operations support, including hiring, training, purchasing, revenue management, sales and marketing, and food and beverage services; financial management and analysis; and information systems management and integration. Our management fee is generally based on a percentage of each hotel’s gross revenue plus, in the majority of properties, an incentive fee based on operating performance. The terms of our management agreements are for various periods and generally contain renewal options, subject to certain termination rights. In general, under our management agreements, all operating and other expenses are paid by the owner and we are reimbursed for our out-of-pocket expenses.

 

 

We intend to continue to accelerate growth of our lodging business by (i) maintaining our leadership position in the economy segment through sales and retention efforts and RevPAR growth; (ii) achieving room growth in the domestic midscale and upscale segments; and (iii) expanding our international presence through increasing the number of properties within the Wyndham Hotels and Resorts, Ramada, Days Inn, Super 8 and Howard Johnson brands. Our plans generally focus on pursuing these strategies organically. In addition, in appropriate circumstances, we will consider both domestic and international acquisition opportunities.

 

 

Our strategy for maintaining our leadership position in the economy segment revolves around (i) enhancing our value to franchisees by improving rate and inventory management capabilities, investing in systems and training and growing the TripRewards loyalty program, (ii) improving the customer’s experience by developing and implementing brand standard enhancements, (iii) optimizing system growth by adding franchised hotels in markets where brands are underrepresented and (iv) optimizing brand RevPAR performance by helping franchisees manage their rates and inventory, enrolling more TripRewards members and introducing seasonal promotions.

 

Our approach for expanding our domestic midscale and upscale presence is to (i) optimize system growth in the midscale segment by adding franchised hotels in markets where brands are underrepresented and by complementing Wingate by Wyndham product quality with Wyndham brand recognition and (ii) utilize hotel management services to attract developers in the upscale segment and establish and implement the Wyndham master brand plan with upscale products.

 

 

Our strategy for international growth is to expand the presence of our Wyndham, Ramada, Days Inn, Super 8 and Howard Johnson brands and selectively utilize direct/master franchising, management agreements and joint venture models primarily in Europe and Asia-Pacific.

In Europe, we intend to expand the Days Inn brand in the United Kingdom and in new markets that exhibit strong growth for value brands. We intend to expand the Ramada brand beyond its established base of properties in the United Kingdom and Germany into new markets that exhibit strong growth in the middle market. We intend to expand the Wyndham brand in gateway and destination cities in Europe that exhibit strong growth for upscale and luxury product. We intend to pursue these opportunities by increasing the number of franchised hotels through our direct franchise model for our Days Inn and Wyndham brands and through both models for our Ramada brand. In addition, we intend to pursue growth in the number of managed hotels through new agreements with hotels franchised under our Ramada and Wyndham brands. We may also pursue growth in the number of franchised and managed hotels through the use of joint ventures.

 

In the Asia-Pacific region, our strategy is to expand the Super 8, Ramada, Days Inn and Howard Johnson brands primarily within China, India and the Middle East. In the near future, we will introduce the Wyndham brand to China. We intend to pursue these opportunities by increasing the number of franchised hotels through our direct franchise model for our Ramada and Wyndham brands and through our master franchise model for our Super 8, Days Inn and Howard Johnson brands. In addition, we intend to pursue growth in the number of managed hotels through new agreements with hotels franchised under our Ramada and Wyndham brands. We may also pursue growth in the number of franchised and managed hotels through the use of joint ventures.

 

To further augment our international presence, we also intend to pursue growth in Latin America, particularly in Mexico and in the Caribbean, by expanding the Ramada and Wyndham brands and continuing to support hotels franchised under the Howard Johnson brand. In Latin America, we intend to pursue growth in the number of franchised hotels through our direct franchise model for our Ramada and Wyndham brands and through our master franchise model and master developer agreements for our Howard Johnson brand.

 

 

Franchise and management fees are generally higher in the second and third quarters than in the first or fourth quarters of any calendar year. Because of increased leisure travel and the related ability to charge higher ADRs during the spring and summer months, hotels we franchise or manage typically generate higher revenue during these months. Therefore, any occurrence that disrupts travel patterns during the spring or summer could have a greater adverse effect on our franchised hotels’ and managed properties’ annual performances and consequently on our annual performance than occurrences that disrupt travel patterns in other seasons. We do not currently expect any change to these seasonal trends.

 

 

Competition among the national lodging brand franchisors to grow their franchise systems is robust. The lodging companies that we compete with in the upscale and midscale segments include Marriott International Inc., Hilton Hotels Corporation, Starwood Hotels & Resorts Worldwide, Inc., InterContinental Hotels Group PLC and Global Hyatt Corporation. The lodging companies that we compete with in the economy segment include Choice Hotels International, Inc., InterContinental Hotels Group PLC and Accor SA.

 

We believe that competition for the sales of franchises in the lodging industry is based principally upon the perceived value and quality of the brands and the services offered to franchisees. We believe that the perceived value of a brand name to prospective franchisees is, to some extent, a function of the success of the existing hotels franchised under the brands. We believe that prospective franchisees value a franchise based upon their views of the relationship between the costs, including costs of affiliation and conversion and future charges, to the benefits, including potential for increased revenue and profitability, and upon the reputation of the franchisor.

 

The ability of an individual franchisee to compete may be affected by the location and quality of its property, the number of competing properties in the vicinity, community reputation and other factors. A franchisee’s success may also be affected by general, regional and local economic conditions. The potential negative effect of these conditions on our results of operations is substantially reduced by virtue of the diverse geographical locations of our franchised hotels.

 

 

We own the trademarks “Wyndham Hotels and Resorts,” “Wingate by Wyndham,” “Ramada,” “Baymont,” “Days Inn,” “Super 8,” “Howard Johnson,” “AmeriHost Inn,” “Travelodge” (in North America only), “Knights Inn,” “TripRewards” and related trademarks and logos. Such trademarks and logos are material to the businesses that are part of our lodging business. Our franchisees and our subsidiaries actively use these marks, and all of the material

marks are registered (or have applications pending) with the United States Patent and Trademark Office as well as with the relevant authorities in major countries worldwide where these businesses have significant operations.

 

 

 

Group RCI, our vacation exchange and rentals business, provides vacation exchange products and services to developers, managers and owners of intervals of vacation ownership interests, and markets vacation rental properties. We are the world’s largest vacation exchange network and among the world’s largest global marketers of vacation rental properties. Our vacation exchange and rentals business has access for specified periods, in a majority of cases on an exclusive basis, to over 67,000 vacation properties, which are comprised of over 4,000 vacation ownership resorts around the world through our vacation exchange business and more than 63,000 vacation rental properties that are located principally in Europe, which we believe makes us one of the world’s largest marketers of European vacation rental properties as measured by the number of properties we market for rental. Each year, our vacation exchange and rentals business provides more than four million leisure-bound families with vacation exchange and rentals products and services. The properties available to leisure travelers through our vacation exchange and rentals business include hotel rooms and suites, villas, cottages, bungalows, campgrounds, vacation ownership condominiums, city apartments, second homes, fractional private residences, luxury destination clubs and yachts. We offer leisure travelers flexibility (subject to availability) as to time of travel and a choice of lodging options in regions that such travelers may not typically have such ease of access, and we offer property owners marketing services, quality control services and property management services ranging from key-holding to full property maintenance for such properties. Our vacation exchange and rentals business has over 70 worldwide offices. We market our products and services using eight primary consumer brands and other related brands.

 

Throughout this document, we use the term “inventory” in the context of our vacation exchange and rentals business to refer to intervals of vacation ownership interests and primarily independently owned properties, which include hotel rooms and suites, villas, cottages, bungalows, campgrounds, vacation ownership condominiums, city apartments, second homes, fractional private residences, luxury destination clubs and yachts. In addition, throughout this document, we refer to intervals of vacation ownership interests as “intervals” and individuals who purchase vacation rental products and services from us as “rental customers.”

 

Our vacation exchange and rentals business primarily derives its revenues from fees. Our vacation exchange business, RCI, derives a majority of its revenues from annual membership dues and exchange fees for transactions. Our vacation exchange business also derives revenues from ancillary services, including additional services provided to transacting members, programs with affiliates, club servicing, travel agency services and loyalty programs. Our vacation rentals business primarily derives its revenues from fees, which generally average between 45% and 65% of the gross booking fees depending upon product mix or seasonality. Our vacation rentals business also derives revenues from travel insurance sales in Europe, transportation fees, property management fees andon-siterevenue from ancillary services, including travel agency services. Revenues from our vacation exchange and rentals business represented approximately 28%, 29% and 31% of total company net revenues during 2007, 2006 and 2005, respectively. EBITDA from our vacation exchange and rentals business represented approximately 33%, 36% and 38% of total company EBITDA during 2007, 2006 and 2005, respectively. Please see Note 19 to the Consolidated and Combined Financial Statements for a discussion of our results of operations by segment and geographic region. The revenues generated in our vacation exchange and rentals business are substantially derived from the direct customer relationships we have with our 3.6 million vacation exchange members, our more than 40,000 independent property owners and the affiliated developers of more than 4,000 resorts. No one customer or developer accounts for more than 2% of our vacation exchange and rentals revenues.

 

 

Through our vacation exchange business, RCI, we have relationships with over 4,000 vacation ownership resorts in approximately 100 countries. Historically, our vacation exchange business consisted of the operation of worldwide exchange programs for owners of intervals. Today, our vacation exchange business also provides consulting services for the development of tourism-oriented real estate, loyalty programs, in-house and outsourced travel agency services, and third-party vacation club services.

 

We operate our vacation exchange business, RCI, through three worldwide exchange programs that have a member base of vacation owners who are generally well-traveled and who want flexibility and variety in their travel plans each year. Our vacation exchange business’ three exchange programs, which serve owners of intervals at affiliated resorts, are RCI Weeks, RCI Points and The Registry Collection. Participants in these exchange programs

pay annual membership dues. For additional fees, such participants are entitled to exchange intervals for intervals at other properties affiliated with our vacation exchange business. In addition, certain participants may exchange intervals for other leisure-related products and services. We refer to participants in these three exchange programs as “members.” In addition, the Endless Vacation^®magazine is the official travel publication of our RCI Weeks and RCI Points exchange programs, and certain members can obtain the benefits of participation in our RCI Weeks and RCI Points exchange programs only through a subscription to Endless Vacation^®magazine. The use of the terms “member” or “membership” with respect to either the RCI Weeks or RCI Points exchange program is intended to denote subscription to Endless Vacation^®magazine.

 

The RCI Weeks exchange program is the world’s largest vacation ownership exchange network and provides members with flexibility to trade week-long intervals in units at their resorts for week-long intervals in comparable units at the same resorts or at comparable resorts.

 

The RCI Points exchange program is a global points-based exchange network, which was developed and launched in 2000, allocates points to intervals that members cede to the exchange program. Under the RCI Points exchange program, members may redeem their points for the use of vacation properties in the exchange program or for other products, such as airfare, car rentals, cruises, hotels and other accommodations. When points are redeemed for these services, our vacation exchange business has the right to recoup the expense of providing the services by renting the use of vacation properties for which the members could have redeemed their points.

 

We believe that The Registry Collection exchange program is the industry’s first global exchange network of luxury vacation accommodations. The luxury vacation accommodations in The Registry Collection’s network include higher-end vacation ownership resorts, fractional ownership resorts, condo-hotels and yachts. The Registry Collection allows members to exchange their intervals for the use of other vacation properties within the network or for other products, such as airfare, car rentals, cruises, hotels and other accommodations. The members of The Registry Collection exchange program often own greater than two-week intervals at affiliated resorts.

 

We acquire substantially all members of our exchange programs indirectly. In substantially all cases, an affiliated resort developer buys the initial term of an RCI membership, generally ranging from 1 – 2 years that entitles the vacation ownership interval purchaser to receive periodicals and directories published by RCI and to use the applicable exchange program for an additional fee. The vacation ownership interval purchaser generally pays for membership renewals and any applicable exchange fees for transactions.

 

Our vacation exchange business also provides consulting services for the development of tourism-related real estate, loyalty programs, in-house and outsourced travel agency services, and third-party vacation club services. Our third-party vacation club business consists of private label exchange clubs that RCI operates and manages for certain of its larger affiliates. Club management is a growing trend in the vacation ownership industry and a growing piece of our vacation exchange business. Approximately 96% of the third-party vacation club members are points-based.

 

Our vacation exchange business operates in North America, Europe, Latin America, South Africa, the Asia Pacific region and the Middle East and tailors its strategies and operating plans for each of the geographical environments where RCI has or seeks to develop a substantial member base.

 

 

The rental properties we market are principally privately-owned villas, cottages, bungalows and apartments that generally belong to property owners unaffiliated with us. In addition to these properties, we market inventory from our vacation exchange business to developers of vacation ownership properties and other sources. We market rental properties under proprietary brand names, such as Endless Vacation Rentals, Landal GreenParks, Cottages 4 You, Novasol, Cuendet and Canvas Holidays, and through select private-label arrangements. Most of the rental activity under our brands takes place in Europe, the United States and Mexico, although we have the ability to source and rent inventory in approximately 100 countries. Our vacation rentals business currently has relationships with approximately 41,000 independent property owners in 26 countries, including the United States, United Kingdom, Mexico, France, Ireland, the Netherlands, Belgium, Italy, Spain, Portugal, Denmark, Norway, Sweden, Germany, Greece, Austria, Croatia, India and certain countries in Eastern Europe and the Pacific Rim. We currently make approximately 1.4 million vacation rental bookings a year. Our vacation rentals business also has the opportunity to provide inventory to our more than 3.6 million vacation exchange members. Property owners typically enter into one year, evergreen or multi-year contracts with our vacation rentals subsidiaries to market the rental of their properties within our rental portfolio. Our vacation rentals business also has an ownership interest in, or capital leases for, approximately 11% of the properties in our rental portfolio.

 

In our vacation exchange business, we affiliate with vacation ownership developers directly as a result of the efforts of our in-house sales teams. Affiliated developers typically sign long-term agreements with durations of five to ten years. Our members are acquired primarily through our affiliated developers as part of the vacation ownership purchase process. In our vacation rentals business, we primarily acquire exclusive rental agreements through direct interaction with owners of various types of vacation rental inventory. We have also developed specific branded websites such as EVrental.com to promote, sell and inform new customers about vacation rentals. Given the diversified nature of our rental brands, there is limited dependence on a single customer group or business partner.

 

 

Our vacation exchange business’ member loyalty program is RCI Elite Rewards, which offers a branded credit card, the RCI Elite Rewards credit card, that allows members to earn reward points that can be redeemed for items related to our exchange programs, including annual membership dues and exchange fees for transactions and other products offered by our vacation exchange business or certain third parties, including airlines and retailers.

 

 

Our vacation exchange and rentals business strives to provide superior service to members and rental customers through our call centers and online distribution channels, to offer certain members and rental customers in Canada, Europe, Latin America, South Africa, and the Asia Pacific region one-stop shopping through our retail travel agency business, and to target current and prospective members and rental customers through our marketing efforts.

 

 

Our vacation exchange and rentals business services its members and rental customers primarily through global call centers. The requests that we receive at our global call centers are handled by our vacation guides, who are highly skilled at fulfilling our members’ and rental customers’ requests for vacation exchanges and rentals. When our members’ and rental customers’ primary choices are unavailable in periods of high demand, our guides offer the next nearest match in order to fulfill the members’ and rental customers’ needs. Call centers are and are expected to continue to be a significant distribution channel and therefore we invest resources and will continue to do so to ensure that members and rental customers continue to receive a high level of personalized customer service through our call centers. We also continue to improve our capabilities on the Internet as a means for members to transact. See “Internet” below.

 

 

Given the interest of some of our members and rental customers in doing transactions on the Internet, we invest and will continue to invest in online technologies to ensure that our members and rental customers receive the same salesmanship and level of service online that we provide through our call centers. As our online distribution channels improve, members and rental customers may shift from transacting business through our call centers to transacting business online. As transacting business online becomes more popular, we expect to experience cost savings at our call centers. By offering our members and rental customers the opportunity to transact business either through our call centers or online, we allow our members and rental customers to use the distribution channel with which they are most comfortable. Regardless of the distribution channel our members and rental customers use, our goal is member and rental customer satisfaction and retention.

 

 

We have an established retail travel agency business outside the United States in such locations as, Europe, Latin America, South Africa and Australia. In these regions, our travel agencies provide certain members and rental customers of the vacation exchange and rentals business with one-stop shopping for planning vacations. As part of the one-stop shopping, the travel agencies can arrange for our members’ and rental customers’ transportation, such as flights, ferries and rental cars. In the United States and Canada, we have entered into outsourcing agreements, including one agreement with a former affiliate, to provide our members and rental customers with travel services.

 

 

We market to our members and rental customers through the use of brochures, magazines, direct marketing, such as direct mail ande-mail,third-party online distribution channels, tour operators and travel agencies. Our

vacation exchange and rentals business has over 50 publications involved in the marketing of the business. RCI publishesEndless Vacation^®magazine, a travel publication that has a circulation of over 1.7 million. Our vacation exchange and rentals business also publishes resort directories and other periodicals related to the vacation and vacation ownership industry and other travel-related services. We acquire the rental customers through our direct-to-consumer marketing, internet marketing and third-party agent marketing programs. We use our publications not only for marketing but also for member and rental customer retention.

 

 

We intend to grow our vacation exchange and rentals business by focusing on three core strategies: (i) optimize and expand our vacation exchange business; (ii) expand our rentals business; and (iii) pursue new business models. Our plans generally focus on pursuing these strategies organically. However, in appropriate circumstances, we will consider opportunities to acquire businesses, both domestic and international.

 

 

Our strategy for optimizing and expanding our vacation exchange business involves moving to more flexible offerings to maintain our global leadership position in the marketplace. We intend to accomplish this through enhancements to our base products, including RCI Weeks and RCI Points, expanding our presence in the growing luxury exchange segment via continued focus on The Registry Collection, and leveraging our extensive member database (currently over 3.6 million members) and co-marketing partnerships to drive additional revenue. We also plan to expand our online capabilities and maximize efficiencies by driving more exchange transactions to the Internet. This will improve overall member satisfaction and leverage our investment in information technology to drive cost savings. In addition, we intend to enhance our affiliate and member value propositions by adding new affiliates to our current portfolio and expanding our current affiliate relationships, and by improving marketing and communication with our growing member base. Finally, in order to provide member access to inventory to fuel transactions we plan to improve inventory acquisition. We will work more closely with our affiliates and members to secure a broad range of inventory to meet our members’ needs.

 

 

Our strategy for expanding our rentals business involves leveraging our successful European business model and creating a North American rentals platform outside of timeshare. We plan to continue to build our European rentals business by growing in existing geographies, expanding in high demand markets such as Southern Europe, and effectively leveraging our large consumer base. We will continue to grow our Novasol brand in its current geographies (Scandinavia, South Germany and Croatia), expand the Landal GreenParks model either organically or through strategic acquisitions and grow our Holiday Cottages Group of brands targeting the UK customer. We view Southern Europe as a key growth area for both source and destination markets for our rentals business. In addition, we will continue to improve our strong Internet presence by creating a unified regional ecommerce platform for all of our European rental brands.

 

In the U.S., we will leverage our European rental expertise to establish the vacation rental category, which is currently fragmented and unorganized. We will do this by building brand awareness and leveraging our investment in LeisureLink, a vacation rental distribution company. Our association with LeisureLink allows us to increase the online presence of global condominium and vacation rental inventory via new channels including online travel agents such as Travelocity and Orbitz. We will consider appropriate acquisition opportunities to help us establish a leadership position in the U.S. vacation rentals market.

 

 

We plan to selectively develop new business models by focusing on opportunities that support or build on our existing core vacation exchange and rentals businesses. One example of this is R&E (Rental and Exchange), our newest business model, which provides the whole ownership segment of the leisure real estate industry with shared ownership exchange and rental benefits. This enables owners of second homes to use their properties, generate rental income and gain access to our leading exchange network for travel around the globe.

 

 

Vacation exchange and rentals revenues are generally higher in the first and third quarters than in the second or fourth quarters. Vacation exchange transaction revenues are normally highest in the first quarter, which is generally when members of RCI plan and book their vacations for the year. Rental transaction revenues earned from booking

vacation rentals to rental customers are usually highest in the third quarter, when vacation rentals are highest. More than half of our vacation rental customers book their reservations within 10 weeks of departure dates and more than 70% of our rental customers book their reservations within 20 weeks of departure dates, however, we cannot predict whether this booking trend will continue in the future.

 

 

The vacation exchange and rentals business faces competition throughout the world. Our vacation exchange business competes with Interval International, Inc., which is a third-party international exchange company, with regional and local vacation exchange companies and with Internet-based business models. In addition, certain developers offer exchanges through internal networks of properties, which are operated by us or by the developer, that offer owners of intervals access to exchanges other than those offered by our vacation exchange business. Our vacation rentals business faces competition from a broad variety of marketers of vacation properties who use brokerage, direct marketing and the Internet to market and rent vacation properties.

 

 

We own the trademarks “RCI,” “RCI Points,” “The Registry Collection,” “Landal GreenParks,” “Cottages 4 You,” “Novasol,” “Cuendet,” “Canvas Holidays,” “Endless Vacation” and “Endless Vacation Rental” as well as other various trademarks and logos. Such trademarks and logos are material to the businesses that are part of our vacation exchange and rentals business. Our subsidiaries actively use these marks, and all of the material marks are registered (or have applications pending) with the U.S. Patent and Trademark Office as well as with the relevant authorities in major countries worldwide where these businesses have significant operations.

 

 

 

Wyndham Vacation Ownership, our vacation ownership business, includes marketing and sales of vacation ownership interests, consumer financing in connection with the purchase by individuals of vacation ownership interests, property management services to property owners’ associations, and development and acquisition of vacation ownership resorts. We operate our vacation ownership business through our two primary brands, Wyndham Vacation Resorts and WorldMark by Wyndham. We have the largest vacation ownership business in the world as measured by annual revenues associated with the sale of vacation ownership interests, the numbers of vacation ownership resorts, vacation ownership units and owners of vacation ownership interests. During 2007, we recorded almost $2.0 billion in vacation ownership interest sales. As of December 31, 2007, we have developed or acquired approximately 145 vacation ownership resorts in the United States, Canada, Mexico, the Caribbean and the South Pacific that represent more than 18,000 individual vacation ownership units and over 800,000 owners of vacation ownership interests. During 2007, Wyndham Vacation Ownership expanded its portfolio with the addition of five resorts in Oceanside, California; San Diego, California; Panama City Beach, Florida; San Antonio, Texas; and Wisconsin Dells, Wisconsin, and added additional inventory at locations in Florida, Tennessee and Hawaii.

 

Our primary vacation ownership brands, Wyndham Vacation Resorts and WorldMark by Wyndham, operate vacation ownership programs through which vacation ownership interests can be redeemed for vacations through points-based internal reservation systems that provide owners with flexibility (subject to availability) as to resort location, length of stay, unit type and time of year. The points-based reservation systems offer owners redemption opportunities for other travel and leisure products that may be offered from time to time, and the opportunity for owners to use our products for one or more vacations per year based on level of ownership. Our vacation ownership programs allow us to market and sell our vacation ownership products in variable quantities as opposed to the fixed quantity of the traditional, fixed-week vacation ownership, which is primarily sold on a weekly interval basis, and to offer to existing owners “upgrade” sales to supplement such owners’ existing vacation ownership interests. Although we operate Wyndham Vacation Resorts and WorldMark by Wyndham as separate brands, we have integrated substantially all of the business functions of Wyndham Vacation Resorts and WorldMark by Wyndham, including consumer finance, information technology, certain staff functions, product development and certain marketing activities.

 

Our vacation ownership business derives a majority of its revenues from sales of vacation ownership interests and derives other revenues from consumer financing and property management. Because revenues from sales of vacation ownership interests and consumer finance in connection with such sales depend on the number of vacation ownership units in which we sell vacation ownership interests, increasing the number of such units is important to our revenue growth. Because revenues from property management depend on the number of units we manage,

increasing the number of such units is also important to our revenue growth. Revenues from our vacation ownership business represented approximately 55%, 54% and 54% of total company net revenues during 2007, 2006 and 2005, respectively. EBITDA from our vacation ownership business represented approximately 42%, 45% and 38% of total company EBITDA during 2007, 2006 and 2005, respectively. Please see Note 19 to the Consolidated and Combined Financial Statements for a discussion of our results of operations by segment and geographic region.

 

 

 

As of December 31, 2007, we have largely completed the consumer branding transition of our former Fairfield Resorts and Trendwest vacation ownership businesses to Wyndham Vacation Resorts and WorldMark by Wyndham, respectively. This transition has included the implementation of the Wyndham Vacation Resorts and WorldMark by Wyndham brands throughout all sales and service channels as appropriate, including the application of the Wyndham brand at select resort properties as well as sales and service centers throughout our system.

 

 

Wyndham Vacation Resorts markets and sells vacation ownership interests in Wyndham Vacation Resorts’ portfolio of resort properties and uses a points-based reservation system called FairShare Plus to provide owners with flexibility (subject to availability) as to resort location, length of stay, unit type and time of year. Wyndham Vacation Resorts is involved in the development or acquisition of the resort properties in which Wyndham Vacation Resorts markets and sells vacation ownership interests. Wyndham Vacation Resorts also often acts as a property manager of such resorts. From time to time, Wyndham Vacation Resorts also sells home lots and other real estate interests at its resort properties.

 

Vacation Ownership Interests, Portfolio of Resorts and Maintenance Fees. The vacation ownership interests that Wyndham Vacation Resorts markets and sells consist of fixed weeks and undivided interests. A fixed week entitles an owner to ownership and usage rights with respect to a unit for a specific week of each year, whereas an undivided interest entitles an owner to ownership and usage rights that are not restricted to a particular week of the year. These vacation ownership interests each constitute a deeded interest in real estate and on average sold for approximately $18,600 in 2007. Of the more than 800,000 owners of vacation ownership interests in Wyndham Vacation Resorts and WorldMark by Wyndham resort properties as of December 31, 2007, approximately 496,000 owners held interests in Wyndham Vacation Resorts resort properties. Wyndham Vacation Resorts resort properties are located primarily in the United States and, as of December 31, 2007, consisted of 68 resorts that represented approximately 15,000 units.

 

The majority of the resorts in which Wyndham Vacation Resorts markets and sells vacation ownership and other real estate interests are destination resorts that are located at or near attractions such as the Walt Disney World^®Resort in Florida; the Las Vegas Strip in Nevada; Myrtle Beach in South Carolina; Colonial Williamsburg^®in Virginia; and the Hawaiian Islands. Most Wyndham Vacation Resorts properties are affiliated with Wyndham Worldwide’s vacation exchange subsidiary, RCI, which awards to the top 10% of RCI affiliated vacation ownership resorts throughout the world designations of an RCI Gold Crown Resort or an RCI Silver Crown Resort for exceptional resort standards and service levels. Among Wyndham Vacation Resorts’ 68 resort properties, 53 have been awarded designations of an RCI Gold Crown Resort or an RCI Silver Crown Resort.

 

Owners of vacation ownership interests pay annual maintenance fees to the property owners’ associations responsible for managing the applicable resorts. The annual maintenance fee associated with the average vacation ownership interest purchased ranges from approximately $400 to approximately $800. These fees generally are used to renovate and replace furnishings, pay operating, maintenance and cleaning costs, pay management fees and expenses, and cover taxes (in some states), insurance and other related costs. Wyndham Vacation Resorts, as the owner of unsold inventory at resorts, also pays maintenance fees to property owners’ associations in accordance with the legal requirements of the states or jurisdictions in which the resorts are located. In addition, at certain newly-developed resorts, Wyndham Vacation Resorts enters into subsidy agreements with the property owners’ associations to cover costs that otherwise would be covered by annual maintenance fees payable with respect to vacation ownership interests that have not yet been sold.

 

FairShare Plus. Wyndham Vacation Resorts uses a points-based internal reservation system called FairShare Plus to provide owners with flexibility (subject to availability) as to resort location, length of stay, unit type and time of year. With the launch of FairShare Plus in 1991, Wyndham Vacation Resorts became one of the first U.S. developers of vacation ownership properties to move from traditional, fixed-week vacation ownership to a

points-based program. Owners of vacation ownership interests in Wyndham Vacation Resorts resort properties that are eligible to participate in the program may elect, and with respect to certain resorts are obligated, to participate in FairShare Plus.

 

Owners who participate in FairShare Plus assign their rights to use fixed weeks and undivided interests, as applicable, to a trust in exchange for the right to reserve in the internal reservation system. The number of points that an owner receives as a result of the assignment to the trust of the owner’s right to use fixed weeks or undivided interests, and the number of points required to take a particular vacation, is set forth on a published schedule and varies depending on the resort location, length of stay, unit type and time of year associated with the interests assigned to the trust or requested by the owner, as applicable. Participants in FairShare Plus may choose (subject to availability) the Wyndham Vacation Resorts resort properties, length of stay, unit types and times of year, depending on the number of points to which they are entitled and the number of points required to take the vacations of their preference. Participants in the program may redeem their points not only for resort stays, but also for other travel and leisure products that may be offered from time to time. Wyndham Vacation Resorts offers various programs that provide existing owners with the opportunity to “upgrade,” or acquire additional vacation ownership interests to increase the number of points such owners can use in FairShare Plus.

 

Depending on the vacation ownership interest, Wyndham Vacation Resorts not only offers owners the option to make reservations through FairShare Plus, but also offers owners the opportunity to exchange their vacation ownership interests through our vacation exchange business, RCI, or through Interval International, Inc., which is a third-party international exchange.

 

Program and Property Management. In exchange for management fees, Wyndham Vacation Resorts, itself or through a Wyndham Vacation Resorts affiliate, manages FairShare Plus, the majority of property owners’ associations at resorts in which Wyndham Vacation Resorts markets and sells vacation ownership interests, and property owners’ associations at resorts developed by third parties. On behalf of FairShare Plus, Wyndham Vacation Resorts or its affiliate manages the reservation system for FairShare Plus and provides owner services and billing and collections services. The term of the trust agreement of FairShare Plus runs through December 31, 2025, and the term is renewable if FairShare Plus is extended by a majority of the members of the program (including Wyndham Vacation Resorts). The term of the management agreement, under which Wyndham Vacation Resorts manages the FairShare Plus program, is for five years and is automatically renewed annually for successive terms of five years, provided the trustee under the program does not serve notice of termination to Wyndham Vacation Resorts at the end of any calendar year. On behalf of property owners’ associations, Wyndham Vacation Resorts or its affiliates generally provide day-to-day management for vacation ownership resorts, including oversight of housekeeping services, maintenance and refurbishment of the units, and provides certain accounting and administrative services to property owners’ associations. The terms of the property management agreements with the property owners’ associations at resorts in which Wyndham Vacation Resorts markets and sells vacation ownership interests vary; however, the vast majority of the agreements provide a mechanism for automatic renewal upon expiration of the terms. At some established sites, the property owners’ associations have entered into property management agreements with professional management companies other than Wyndham Vacation Resorts or its affiliates.

 

 

WorldMark by Wyndham markets and sells vacation ownership interests, which are called vacation credits (holiday credits in the South Pacific), in resorts owned by the vacation ownership programs WorldMark, The Club and WorldMark South Pacific Club, which we refer to collectively as the Clubs, which WorldMark by Wyndham formed in 1989 and 2000, respectively. The Clubs provide owners with flexibility (subject to availability) as to resort location, length of stay, unit type, the day of the week and time of year. WorldMark by Wyndham is usually involved in the development of the resorts owned by the Clubs. In addition to developing resorts and marketing and selling vacation credits, WorldMark by Wyndham manages the Clubs and the majority of resorts owned by the Clubs.

 

In October 1999, WorldMark by Wyndham formed Wyndham Vacation Resorts Asia Pacific Pty. Ltd., a New South Wales corporation, or Wyndham Asia Pacific, as its direct wholly owned subsidiary for the purpose of conducting sales, marketing and resort development activities in the South Pacific. Wyndham Asia Pacific is currently the largest vacation ownership business in Australia, with approximately 39,000 owners of vacation credits as of December 31, 2007. Resorts in the South Pacific typically are owned and operated through WorldMark South Pacific Club, other than 66 units at Denarau Island, Fiji, which are owned by WorldMark, The Club.

 

Vacation Credits, Portfolio of Resorts and Maintenance Fees. Vacation credits in the Clubs entitle the owner of the credits to reserve units at the resorts that are owned and operated by the Clubs. WorldMark by Wyndham and Wyndham Asia Pacific are the developers or acquirers of the resorts that the Clubs own and operate. After

WorldMark by Wyndham or Wyndham Asia Pacific develops or acquires resorts, it conveys the resorts to WorldMark, The Club or WorldMark South Pacific Club, as applicable. In exchange for the conveyances, WorldMark by Wyndham or Wyndham Asia Pacific receives the exclusive rights to sell the vacation credits associated with the conveyed resorts and to receive the proceeds from the sales of the vacation credits. Although vacation credits, unlike vacation ownership interests in Wyndham Vacation Resorts resort properties, do not constitute deeded interests in real estate, vacation credits are regulated in most jurisdictions by the same agency that regulates vacation ownership interests evidenced by deeded interests in real estate. In 2007, the average purchase by a new owner of vacation credits was approximately $12,000. Of the more than 800,000 owners of vacation ownership interests in Wyndham Vacation Resorts and WorldMark by Wyndham resorts as of December 31, 2007, over 309,000 owners held vacation credits in the Clubs.

 

WorldMark by Wyndham resorts are located primarily in the Western United States, Canada, Mexico and the South Pacific and, as of December 31, 2007, consisted of 81 resorts that represented approximately 6,500 units. Of the WorldMark by Wyndham resorts and units, Wyndham Asia Pacific has a total of 16 resorts with approximately 600 units. During 2007, WorldMark by Wyndham expanded its portfolio of resorts to include properties in San Diego, California; McCall, Idaho; West Yellowstone, Montana; Red River, New Mexico; Canmore, Alberta (Canada); Marcoola Beach (Australia), Perth (Australia) and Lake Wanaka (New Zealand); and added additional inventory at locations in California and Illinois.

 

The resorts in which WorldMark by Wyndham markets and sells vacation credits are primarily drive-to resorts. Most WorldMark by Wyndham resorts are affiliated with Wyndham Worldwide’s vacation exchange subsidiary, RCI. Among WorldMark by Wyndham’s 81 resorts, 59 have been awarded designations of an RCI Gold Crown Resort or an RCI Silver Crown Resort.

 

Owners of vacation credits pay annual maintenance fees to the Clubs. The annual maintenance fee associated with the average vacation credit purchased is approximately $500. The maintenance fee that an owner pays is based on the number of the owner’s vacation credits. These fees are intended to cover the Clubs’ operating costs, including the dues to the property owners’ associations, which are generally the Clubs’ responsibility. Fees paid to property owners’ associations are generally used to renovate and replace furnishings, pay maintenance and cleaning costs, pay management fees and expenses, and cover taxes (in some states), insurance and other related costs. Maintenance of common areas and the provision of amenities typically is the responsibility of the property owners’ associations. WorldMark by Wyndham has a minimal ownership interest in the Clubs that results from WorldMark by Wyndham’s ownership of unsold vacation credits in the Clubs. As the owner of unsold vacation credits, WorldMark by Wyndham pays maintenance fees to the Clubs.

 

WorldMark, The Club and WorldMark South Pacific Club. The Clubs provide owners of vacation credits with flexibility (subject to availability) as to resort location, length of stay, unit type and time of year. Depending on how many vacation credits an owner has purchased, the owner may use the vacation credits for one or more vacations annually. The number of vacation credits that are required for each day’s stay at a unit is listed on a published schedule and varies depending upon the resort location, unit type, time of year and the day of the week. Owners may also redeem their credits for other travel and leisure products that may be offered from time to time.

 

Owners of vacation credits are able to carry over unused vacation credits in one year to the next year and to borrow vacation credits from the next year for use in the current year. Owners of vacation credits are also able to purchase bonus time from the Clubs for use when space is available. Bonus time gives owners the opportunity to use available resorts on short notice and at a reduced rate and to obtain usage beyond owners’ allotments of vacation credits. In addition, WorldMark by Wyndham offers owners the opportunity to “upgrade,” or acquire additional vacation credits to increase the number of credits such owners can use in the Clubs.

 

Owners of vacation credits can make reservations through the Clubs, or may elect to join and exchange their vacation ownership interests through our vacation exchange business, RCI, or Interval International, Inc., which is a third-party exchange company.

 

Club and Property Management. In exchange for management fees, WorldMark by Wyndham, itself or through a WorldMark by Wyndham affiliate, serves as the exclusive property manager and servicing agent of the Clubs and all resort units owned or operated by the Clubs. On behalf of the Clubs, WorldMark by Wyndham or its affiliate provides day-to-day management for vacation ownership resorts, including oversight of housekeeping services, maintenance and refurbishment of the units, and provides certain accounting and administrative services. WorldMark by Wyndham or its affiliate also manages the reservation system for the Clubs and provides owner services and billing and collections services.

 

Wyndham Vacation Ownership employs a variety of marketing channels as part of Wyndham Vacation Resorts and WorldMark by Wyndham marketing programs to encourage prospective owners of vacation ownership interests to tour Wyndham Vacation Resorts and WorldMark by Wyndham resort properties, as applicable, and to attend sales presentations at resort locations and off-site sales offices. These channels include direct mail,e-commerce,in-person solicitations, referral programs and inbound and outbound telemarketing. The marketing offers we make through these channels are local and travel-based offers. Our local offers are designed to produce tour flow in regions where prospective owners reside or are currently visiting, and our travel-based offers are designed to solicit the purchase by prospective owners of overnight vacation packages to destinations in which Wyndham Vacation Ownership operates. We believe that marketing through both local and travel-based offers enhances our ability to market successfully to prospective owners.

 

Wyndham Vacation Resorts and WorldMark by Wyndham offer a variety of entry-level programs and products as part of their sales strategies. One such program allows prospective owners to acquire one-year’s worth of points or credits with no further obligations; another such product is a biennial interest, which prospective owners can buy, that provides for vacations every other year. As part of their sales strategies, Wyndham Vacation Resorts and WorldMark by Wyndham rely on their points/credits-based programs, which provide prospective owners with the flexibility to buy relatively small packages of points or credits, which can be upgraded at a later date. To facilitate upgrades among existing owners, Wyndham Vacation Resorts and WorldMark by Wyndham market opportunities for owners to purchase additional points or credits through periodic marketing campaigns and promotions to owners while those owners vacation at Wyndham Vacation Resorts or WorldMark by Wyndham resort properties, as applicable.

 

The marketing and sales activities of Wyndham Vacation Resorts and WorldMark by Wyndham are often facilitated through marketing alliances with other travel, hospitality, entertainment, gaming and retail companies that provide access to such companies’ present and past customers through co-branded marketing offers, in-bound call transfer programs, in-store promotions, on-line advertising, sweepstakes programs and other highly integrated marketing platforms.

 

Wyndham Vacation Resorts Sales and Marketing.Wyndham Vacation Resorts sells its vacation ownership interests and other real estate interests at 39 resort locations and nine off-site sales centers.On-sitesales accounted for approximately 90% of all new sales during 2007.On-sitesales presentations typically follow a resort tour led by a Wyndham Vacation Resorts salesperson. Wyndham Vacation Resorts conducted approximately 668,000 and 623,000 tours in 2007 and 2006, respectively.

 

Wyndham Vacation Resorts’on-sitesales centers, which are located in popular travel destinations throughout the United States, generate substantial tour flow through providing travel-based offers. The sales centers sell overnight vacation packages to popular travel destinations throughout the United States and when the purchasers of such packages redeem the packages, Wyndham Vacation Resorts sales representatives provide the purchasers with tours of Wyndham Vacation Resorts resort properties. Wyndham Vacation Resorts utilizes direct mail, on-line campaigns and outbound and inbound telemarketing to market for sale the overnight vacation packages to prospective owners of vacation ownership interests, many of whom are also past or prospective customers for our travel, hospitality, entertainment and gaming marketing alliances. Wyndham Vacation Resorts often co-brands the vacation packages with third parties with whom it has marketing alliances and features products or services provided by those third parties as part of the vacation packages.

 

Wyndham Vacation Resorts’ resort-based sales centers also generate substantial tour flow through providing local offers. The sales centers enable Wyndham Vacation Resorts to market to tourists already visiting destination areas. Wyndham Vacation Resorts’ marketing agents, which often operate on the premises of the hospitality, entertainment, gaming and retail companies with which Wyndham Vacation Resorts has alliances within these markets, solicit local tourists with offers relating to activities and entertainment in exchange for the tourists’ visiting the local resorts and attending sales presentations. An example of a marketing alliance through which Wyndham Vacation Resorts markets to tourists already visiting destination areas is Wyndham Vacation Resorts’ current arrangement with Harrah’s Entertainment in Las Vegas, Nevada, which enables Wyndham Vacation Resorts to operate several concierge-style marketing kiosks throughout Harrah’s Casino that permit Wyndham Vacation Resorts to solicit patrons to attend tours and sales presentations with Harrah’s-related rewards and entertainment offers, such as gaming chips, show tickets and dining certificates. Wyndham Vacation Resorts also operates its primary Las Vegas sales center within Harrah’s Casino and regularly shuttles prospective owners targeted by such sales centers to and from Wyndham Vacation Resorts’ nearby resort property. Wyndham Vacation Resorts also has marketing alliances with Trump Casino Resorts and Outrigger Hotels & Resorts.

Wyndham Vacation Resorts’ resort-based sales centers enable Wyndham Vacation Resorts to actively solicit upgrade sales to existing owners of vacation ownership interests while such owners vacation at Wyndham Vacation Resorts resort properties. Sales of vacation ownership interests relating to upgrades represented approximately 48%, 46% and 42% of Wyndham Vacation Resorts’ net sales of vacation ownership interests in 2007, 2006 and 2005, respectively.

 

WorldMark by Wyndham Sales and Marketing.WorldMark by Wyndham sells its vacation credits in the United States primarily at 73 sales offices, 33 of which are located off-site in metropolitan areas. Wyndham Asia Pacific conducts its international sales and marketing efforts throughon-site and off-site sales offices, telemarketing and road shows. As of December 31, 2007, Wyndham Asia Pacific had 10 sales offices throughout the east coast of Australia, the North Island of New Zealand and Fiji. Off-site sales offices generated approximately 40% and 41% of WorldMark by Wyndham’s sales of new vacation credits in 2007 and 2006, respectively. WorldMark by Wyndham conducted approximately 476,000 and 423,000 tours in 2007 and 2006, respectively.

 

WorldMark by Wyndham’s off-site sales offices market vacation credits through local offers to prospective owners in areas where such purchasers reside. WorldMark by Wyndham’s off-site sales offices provide WorldMark by Wyndham with access to large numbers of prospective owners and a convenient, local venue at which to preview and sell vacation credits. The location of off-site sales offices in metropolitan areas provides WorldMark by Wyndham with access to a wide group of qualified sales personnel.

 

WorldMark by Wyndham uses a variety of marketing programs to attract prospective owners, including sponsored contests that offer vacation packages or gifts, targeted mailings, outbound and inbound telemarketing efforts, and various other promotional programs. WorldMark by Wyndham also co-sponsors sweepstakes, giveaways and other promotional programs with professional teams at major sporting events and with other third parties at other high-traffic consumer events. Where permissible under state law, WorldMark by Wyndham offers existing owners cash awards or other incentives for referrals of new owners.

 

WorldMark by Wyndham and Wyndham Asia Pacific periodically encourage existing owners of vacation credits to acquire additional vacation credits through various methods. Sales of vacation credits relating to upgrades represented approximately 38%, 35% and 31% of WorldMark by Wyndham’s net sales of vacation credits in 2007, 2006 and 2005, respectively. Sales of vacation credits relating to upgrades represented approximately 20%, 16% and 13% of Wyndham Asia Pacific’s net sales of vacation credits in 2007, 2006 and 2005, respectively.

 

 

Wyndham Vacation Resorts and WorldMark by Wyndham offer financing to purchasers of vacation ownership interests. By offering consumer financing, we are able to reduce the initial cash required by customers to purchase vacation ownership interests, thereby enabling us to attract additional customers and generate substantial incremental revenues and profits. Wyndham Vacation Ownership funds and services loans extended by Wyndham Vacation Resorts and WorldMark by Wyndham through our consumer financing subsidiary, Wyndham Consumer Finance, a wholly owned subsidiary of Wyndham Vacation Resorts based in Las Vegas, Nevada that performs loan financing, servicing and related administrative functions. As of December 31, 2007, we serviced a portfolio of approximately 277,000 loans that totaled $3,264 million in aggregate principal amount outstanding, with an average interest rate of 12.5%.

 

Wyndham Vacation Resorts and WorldMark by Wyndham do not require a credit investigation or other review or inquiry into every purchaser’s credit history before offering to finance a portion of the purchase price of the vacation ownership interests. However, Wyndham Vacation Resorts offers purchasers an enhanced financing option whereby purchasers may obtain financing on more favorable terms if they agree to permit Wyndham Vacation Resorts to obtain their credit scores. The interest rate offered to participating purchasers is determined from automated underwriting based upon the purchaser’s credit score, the amount of the down payment and the size of purchase. As of December 31, 2007, this enhanced financing option was in the process of being implemented at WorldMark by Wyndham sales offices. In addition, WorldMark by Wyndham, through certain upgrade sales programs, may offer existing owners of vacation credits who purchase additional vacation credits financing on more favorable terms based on such owner’s payment history with WorldMark by Wyndham. Both Wyndham Vacation Resorts and WorldMark by Wyndham offer purchasers an interest rate reduction if they participate in their pre-authorized checking, or PAC, programs, pursuant to which our consumer financing subsidiary each month debits a purchaser’s bank account or major credit card in the amount of the monthly payment by a pre-authorized fund transfer on the payment date. As of December 31, 2007, approximately 84% of purchaser financing serviced by our consumer financing subsidiary participated in the PAC program.

Wyndham Vacation Resorts and WorldMark by Wyndham generally require a minimum down payment of 10% of the purchase price on all sales of vacation ownership interests and offer consumer financing for the remaining balance for up to ten years. The vast majority of the receivables are paid in equal monthly installments that fully amortize the principal due by the final due date (i.e., no teaser rates, no interest rate adjustments, no balloon payments). Both Wyndham Vacation Resorts and WorldMark by Wyndham offer programs through which prospective owners may accumulate the required 10% down payment over a period of time not greater than six months. The prospective owner is placed in “pending” status until the required 10% down payment amount is received.

 

Similar to other companies that provide consumer financing, we securitize a majority of the receivables originated in connection with the sales of our vacation ownership interests. We initially place the financed contracts into a revolving warehouse securitization facility generally within 30 to 90 days after origination. Many of the receivables are subsequently transferred from the warehouse securitization facility and placed into term securitization facilities. As of December 31, 2007, the aggregate principal amount outstanding of receivables in the warehouse securitization facility and the term securitization facilities was $970 million and $1,495 million, respectively.

 

 

Our consumer financing subsidiary is responsible for the maintenance of accounts receivables files and all customer service, billing and collection activities related to the domestic loans we extend. Our consumer financing subsidiary also places loans pledged in our warehouse and term securitization facilities. As of December 31, 2007, our consumer financing subsidiary had approximately 500 employees, the majority of whom work in customer service, account placement and maintenance, and loan collection functions.

 

Since April 2005, Wyndham Vacation Resorts and WorldMark by Wyndham have used a single computerized online data system to maintain loan records and service the loans. This system permits access to customer account inquiries and is supported by our information technology department.

 

The collection methodologies for both brands are similar and entail a combination of mailings and telephone calls which are supported by an automated dialer. As of December 31, 2007, the loan portfolios of both Wyndham Vacation Resorts and WorldMark by Wyndham were approximately 95% current (i.e., not more than 30 days past due).

 

We assess the performance of our loan portfolio by monitoring certain metrics on a daily, weekly, monthly and annual basis. These metrics include, but are not limited to, collections rates, account roll rates, defaults by state residency of the obligor and bankruptcies. We define defaults as accounts that are 120 days or more past due plus bankrupt accounts. One of the means of assessing defaults and portfolio performance is through the application of static pool methodology that tracks defaults based on the receivables’ year of origination. There are various methods of calculating static pool defaults. In previous years, we used the method of calculating defaults that included originations with less than a full year of history, which provided for an average expected cumulative gross default rate of 17.0% and 16.5% as of December 31, 2007 and 2006, respectively. During 2007, we modified our method of calculating static pool defaults that included originations for which we have a full year of history, which provided for an average expected cumulative gross default rate of 17.9% and 17.8% as of December 31, 2007 and 2006, respectively.

 

 

We intend to grow our vacation ownership business by increasing sales of vacation ownership interests to new owners and sales of upgrades to existing owners by expanding our marketing and sales efforts, strengthening our product offerings and further developing our consumer financing activities. We plan to leverage the Wyndham brand in our marketing efforts, add new resorts, expand our marketing alliances and increase ouron-sitesales activities to existing owners. Our plans generally focus on pursuing these strategies organically. In addition, in appropriate circumstances, we will consider opportunities to acquire businesses, both domestic and international.

 

 

We plan to expand sales and marketing to new and existing owners, including marketing and selling through in-person solicitation, direct mail,e-commerce,referral programs, inbound and outbound telemarketing and upgrade sales programs. We plan to continue to leverage the Wyndham brand in our marketing efforts to strengthen our position in the higher-end segment of the vacation ownership industry, to attract prospective new owners in higher income demographics through Wyndham-branded marketing campaigns, and to increase upgrade sales through the application of the Wyndham brand within existing and new higher-end products and product features.

We plan to expand our marketing and sales distribution channels through the pursuit of additional integrated marketing alliances with lodging and entertainment companies. We currently have alliances with Harrah’s Entertainment in Las Vegas, Nevada; Trump Casino Resorts in Atlantic City, New Jersey; and Outrigger Hotels & Resorts throughout Hawaii, which permit us to conduct marketing and sales activities at properties owned by these companies. We will explore expanding our existing alliances and entering into new alliances.

 

 

We plan to strengthen the products that we offer by adding new resorts and resort locations and expanding our offering of higher-end products and product features. We plan to develop additional product in new domestic regions and in domestic regions we currently serve that are experiencing strong demand such as Orlando, Las Vegas, San Francisco, New Mexico, New Orleans and Hawaii. We plan to develop additional resorts in international regions in Canada, the Caribbean, Mexico, Australia and Asia. In addition, we may also acquire additional resorts that complement our current portfolio of resorts.

 

We are applying the Wyndham brand at new domestic and international resorts, as well as at select locations within our current portfolio of resorts. In addition, we plan to develop and market mixed-use hotel and vacation ownership properties in conjunction with the Wyndham brand. The mixed-use properties would afford us access to both hotel clients in higher income demographics for the purpose of marketing vacation ownership interests and hotel inventory for use in our marketing programs.

 

We plan to expand upon existing and create new higher-end, product offerings in conjunction with the Wyndham brand. We plan to associate the Wyndham brand with our existing high-end Presidential-style vacation ownership units, including new offerings made available to our owners who have attained enhanced membership status within our vacation ownership programs as a result of achieving substantial ownership levels. We are also exploring opportunities to apply the Wyndham brand to future higher-end luxury products.

 

 

We plan to increase our revenue from vacation ownership interest sales by enhancing our customers’ ability to purchase our products. Our consumer financing activities increase our sales of Wyndham Vacation Resorts and WorldMark by Wyndham vacation ownership interests by offering financing to prospective purchasers who might otherwise not purchase. Additionally, offering financing permits prospective purchasers to acquire larger vacation ownership interests than they might otherwise acquire. To further increase the number and size of sales of our vacation ownership interests, we plan to explore offering new financing products and terms that are desirable to prospective purchasers. We plan to increase our net interest income by growing our portfolio of vacation ownership contract receivables.

 

 

We rely, in part, upon tour flow to generate sales of vacation ownership interests; consequently, sales volume tends to increase in the spring and summer months as a result of greater tour flow from spring and summer travelers. Revenues from sales of vacation ownership interests therefore are generally higher in the second and third quarters than in other quarters. We cannot predict whether these seasonal trends will continue in the future.

 

 

The vacation ownership industry is highly competitive and is comprised of a number of companies specializing primarily in sales and marketing, consumer financing, property management and development of vacation ownership properties. In addition, a number of national hospitality chains develop and sell vacation ownership interests to consumers. Some of the well-known players in the industry include Disney Vacation Club, Hilton Grand Vacations Company LLC, Marriott Ownership Resorts, Inc. and Starwood Vacation Ownership, Inc.

 

 

We own the trademarks “Wyndham Vacation Ownership,” “Wyndham Vacation Resorts,” “WorldMark by Wyndham,” and “FairShare Plus” and related trademarks and logos, and such trademarks and logos are material to the businesses that are part of our vacation ownership business. Our subsidiaries actively use these marks, and all of the material marks are registered (or have applications pending) with the U.S. Patent and Trademark Office as well as with the relevant authorities in major countries worldwide where these businesses have significant operations. We own the “WorldMark” trademark pursuant to an assignment agreement with WorldMark, The Club. Pursuant to the

assignment agreement, WorldMark, The Club may request that the mark be reassigned to it only in the event of a termination of the WorldMark vacation ownership programs.

 

 

At December 31, 2007, we had approximately 33,200 employees, including approximately 10,000 employees outside of the United States. At December 31, 2007, our lodging business had approximately 5,700 employees, our vacation exchange and rentals business had approximately 9,300 employees and our vacation ownership business had approximately 17,700 employees. Approximately 1% of our employees are subject to collective bargaining agreements governing their employment with our company. We believe that our relations with employees are good.

 

 

Our businesses are either subject to or affected by international, federal, state and local laws, regulations and policies, which are constantly subject to change. The descriptions of the laws, regulations and policies that follow are summaries and should be read in conjunction with the texts of the laws and regulations described below. The descriptions do not purport to cover all present and proposed laws, regulations and policies that affect our businesses. We believe that we are in material compliance with these laws, regulations and policies.

 

 

Our businesses are subject to, among others, laws and regulations that affect privacy and data collection, marketing regulation and the use of the Internet, as described below:

 

Privacy and Data Collection. The collection and use of personal data of our customers and our ability to contact our customers, including through telephone, email or facsimile, as well as the sharing of our customer data with affiliates and third parties, are governed by privacy laws and regulations enacted in the United States and in other jurisdictions around the world. Privacy regulations continue to evolve and on occasion may be inconsistent from one jurisdiction to another. Accordingly, we have implemented a “best practices” approach to compliance with these numerous and sometimes divergent laws. Many states have introduced legislation or enacted laws and regulations that require compliance with standards for data collection and protection of privacy and, in some instances, provide for penalties for failure to notify customers when the security of a company’s electronic/computer systems designed to protect such standards are breached, even by third parties. The U.S. Federal Trade Commission, or FTC, adopted “do not call” and “do not fax” regulations in October 2003. Also “do not call” legislation became effective in Australia in May 2007. In compliance with such regulations, our affected businesses have developed and implemented plans to block phone numbers listed on the “do not call” and “do not fax” registries and have instituted new procedures for preventing unsolicited or otherwise unauthorized telemarketing calls. In response to “do not call” and “do not fax” regulations, our affected businesses have reduced their reliance on outbound telemarketing and also review any outbound lists against the constantly updated “do not call” list. In addition, our European businesses have adopted policies and procedures to comply with the European Union Directive on Data Protection. These policies and procedures require that unless the use of data is “necessary” for certain specified purposes, including, for example, the performance of a contract with the individual concerned, consent to use data other than in accordance with our stipulated privacy policies, or to transfer the data outside of the European Union, must be obtained.

 

Marketing Operations. The products and services offered by our various businesses are marketed through a number of distribution channels, including direct mail, telemarketing and online. These channels are regulated at the federal, state and local levels, and we believe that the effect of such regulations on our marketing operations will increase over time. Such regulations, which include anti-fraud laws, consumer protection laws, privacy laws, identity theft laws, anti-spam laws, telemarketing laws and telephone solicitation laws, may limit our ability to solicit new customers or to market additional products or services to existing customers. In addition, some of our business units use sweepstakes and contests as part of their marketing and promotional programs. These activities are regulated primarily by state laws that require certain disclosures and assurance that the prizes will be available to the winners.

 

Internet. A number of laws and regulations have been adopted to regulate the Internet. In addition, it is possible that existing laws may be interpreted to apply to the Internet in ways that the existing laws are not currently applied, particularly with respect to the imposition of state and local taxes on the use and reservation of accommodations through the Internet. Regulatory and legal requirements are particularly subject to change with respect to the Internet and may become more restrictive, which will increase the difficulty and expense of compliance or otherwise restrict our business units’ abilities to conduct operations as such operations are currently conducted.

We are also aware of, and are actively monitoring the status of, recently enacted and certain proposed federal, state and international legislation related to privacy, data security and marketing with respect to the onsite marketplace and the use and protection of customer data. It is unclear at this point what effect, if any, such federal, state and international legislation may have on our businesses. California, for example, has enacted legislation that requires enhanced disclosure on Internet web sites regarding consumer privacy and information sharing among affiliated entities. Other states have enacted similar laws or have legislation pending. We cannot predict with certainty whether these laws will affect our practices with respect to customer information and inhibit our ability to market our products and services nor can we predict whether additional states will enact similar laws. Because Internet reservations are more cost-effective than reservations taken over the phone, our costs may increase if Internet reservations are adversely affected by regulations.

 

Travel Agency Services. The travel agency products and services that our businesses provide are subject to various federal, state and local regulations. We must comply with laws and regulations that relate to our marketing and sales of such products and services, including laws and regulations that prohibit unfair and deceptive advertising or practices and laws that require us to register as a “seller of travel” to comply with disclosure requirements. In addition, we are indirectly affected by the regulation of our travel suppliers, many of which are heavily regulated by the United States and other governments. We are also affected by the European Union Directive applicable to the sale and provision of package holidays because some of our European businesses operate such that they are classified, for certain of their operations, as organizers of package holidays. This European Union Directive places liability for the package holiday sold with the organizer and requires that the organizer has security in place in order to refund to the consumer money paid by such consumer in the event of insolvency of the organizer.

 

Immigration. Our domestic business is subject to law and regulations regarding employment of immigrants, ensuring that we employ only U.S. work authorized individuals. This requires us to perform proper hiring procedures to confirm each new employee’s identity and authorization to work in the United States. Recent and anticipated changes in federal and state laws require employers to verify social security numbers as well, which will require us to devote additional resources to conducting the verification process, communicating with employees about verification issues, and, in some cases, terminating the employment of those who are not able to timely resolve verification issues, even if those employees are otherwise authorized to work in the United States. Strict compliance with the laws may result in complaints of discrimination on the basis of national origin, however, failure to comply with these laws may subject the company to significant penalties, such as the loss of a license to do business in certain states or municipalities, the imposition of fines, or reputational damage.

 

 

Our lodging business is subject to, among others, laws, regulations and policies that affect the sale of franchises, access for persons with disabilities and immigration, as described below:

 

Sale of Franchises. The FTC, various state laws and regulations and the laws of jurisdictions outside the United States regulate the offer and sale of franchises. The FTC requires that franchisors make extensive written disclosure in a prescribed format to prospective franchisees but does not require registration. The FTC recently approved new franchise regulations (the “FTC Rule”) that will affect sales practices and procedures and the content of disclosure documents that we use to sell franchises in the United States. The new FTC Rule became effective as of July 1, 2007 but franchisors may use their current FDD formats for one year from the effective date. Accordingly, the FTC rule takes effect on a mandatory basis on July 1, 2008. The state laws that affect our franchise business regulate the offer and sale of franchises, the termination, renewal and transfer of franchise agreements, and the provision of loans to franchisees as part of the sales of franchises. Currently, 14 states have laws that require registration in connection with offers and sales of franchises. In addition, 21 states currently have “franchise relationship” laws that limit the ability of franchisors to terminate franchise agreements or to withhold consent to the renewal or transfer of the agreements. California regulates the provision of loans to franchisees as part of the sales of the franchises but we are currently exempt from such law. The laws of jurisdictions outside the United States regulate pre-sale disclosure and the commencement of franchising. Three Canadian provinces and a number of foreign jurisdictions have adopted general franchises and pre-sale disclosure regulations.

 

Persons with Disabilities. The American with Disabilities Act, or ADA, prohibits places of public accommodation, such as lodging and restaurant facilities, from discriminating against an individual on the basis of disability as defined in the Act. The U.S. Department of Justice published “ADA Standards for Accessible Design” and “ADA Accessibility Guidelines for Buildings and Facilities,” collectively referred to as “ADAAG,” that, among other things, prescribe a specified number of handicapped accessible rooms, assistive devices for hearing, speech and visually impaired persons, and general standards of design applicable to all areas of facilities subject to the law. The ADAAG specifies the minimum room design and layout criteria for handicapped accessible rooms. Any newly

constructed facility (given a certificate of occupancy after January 26, 1993) must comply with ADAAG and be “readily accessible” to and useable by persons with disabilities. Owners, lessors, lessees and operators of public accommodations and their contractors are responsible for ADA and ADAAG compliance. States may impose additional laws that address accommodations and services for individuals with disabilities.

 

 

Our vacation exchange business is subject to, among other laws and regulations, statutes in certain jurisdictions that regulate vacation exchange services, and we must prepare and file annually disclosure guides with regulators in jurisdictions where such filings are required. Although our vacation exchange business is not generally subject to laws and regulations that govern the development of vacation ownership properties and the sale of vacation ownership interests, these laws and regulations directly affect the members of our vacation exchange program and resorts with units that participate in our vacation exchanges. These laws and regulations, therefore, indirectly affect our vacation exchange business. In addition, several states and localities are attempting to enact or have enacted laws or regulations that would impose or impose, as applicable, taxes on members that complete exchanges, similar to local transient occupancy taxes. Our vacation rentals business is subject to state and local regulation, including applicable seller of travel, travel club and real estate brokerage licensing statutes.

 

 

Our vacation ownership business is subject to, among others, the laws and regulations that affect the marketing and sale of vacation ownership interests, property management of vacation ownership resorts, travel agency services and the conduct of real estate brokers, described below:

 

Federal, State and International Regulation of Vacation Ownership Business. Our vacation ownership business is subject to federal legislation, including without limitation, Housing and Urban Development Department regulations, such as the Fair Housing Act; theTruth-in-LendingAct and Regulation Z promulgated thereunder, which require certain disclosures to borrowers regarding the terms of borrowers’ loans; the Real Estate Settlement Procedures Act and Regulation X promulgated thereunder, which require certain disclosures to borrowers regarding the settlement of real estate transactions and servicing of loans; the Equal Credit Opportunity Act and Regulation B promulgated thereunder, which prohibit discrimination in the extension of credit on the basis of age, race, color, sex, religion, marital status, national origin, receipt of public assistance or the exercise of any right under the Consumer Credit Protection Act; the Telemarketing and Fraud and Abuse Prevention Act; the Gramm-Leach-Bliley Act and the Fair Credit Reporting Act and other laws, which address privacy of consumer financial information; and the Civil Rights Acts of 1964, 1968 and 1991. Many states have laws that regulate our vacation ownership business’ operations, including those relating to real estate licensing, travel sales licensing, anti-fraud, telemarketing, restrictions on the use of predictive dialers, prize, gift and sweepstakes regulations, labor, and various regulations governing access and use of our resorts by disabled persons. In addition to regulation in the United States and Australia, our vacation ownership business is subject to regulation in other countries where we develop or manage resorts and where we market or sell vacation ownership interests, including Canada, Mexico, New Zealand and Fiji. The scope of regulation of our vacation ownership business in Canada, where we develop, market, sell and manage resorts, is similar to the scope of regulation of our vacation ownership business in the United States. In addition, in Australia, we are regulated by the Australian Securities and Investments Commission, which requires that all persons conducting vacation ownership sales and marketing and vacation ownership club activities hold an Australian Financial Services License and comply with the rules and regulations of the Commission. Unlike in the United States, where the vacation ownership industry is regulated primarily by state law, the vacation ownership industry in Australia is regulated under federal Australian securities law because Australian law regards a vacation ownership interest as a security. As we expand our vacation ownership business by entering new markets, we will become subject to regulation in additional countries.

 

The sale of vacation ownership interests is potentially subject to federal and state securities laws. However, most federal and state agencies generally do not regulate our sale of vacation ownership interests as securities, in part because we offer our vacation ownership interests for personal vacation use and enjoyment and not for investment purposes with the expectation of profit or in conjunction with a rental arrangement. In addition, the vacation ownership interests that we market and sell are real estate interests or are akin to real estate interests and therefore our vacation ownership business is extensively regulated by many states’ departments of commerceand/or real estate. Because of such extensive regulation, additional regulation of our vacation ownership products as securities generally does not occur. Some states in which we market and sell our vacation ownership interests regulate our products as securities. In those states, we comply with such regulation by either registering our vacation ownership interests for sale as securities or qualifying for an exemption from registration and by providing required disclosures to our purchasers. If federal and additional state agencies elected to regulate our vacation ownership

interest products as securities, we would comply with such regulation by either registering our vacation ownership interests for sale as securities or qualifying for an exemption from registration and by providing required disclosures to our purchasers.

 

State real estate foreclosure laws impact our vacation ownership business. We secure loans made to purchasers of vacation ownership interests that constitute real estate interests and that are deeded prior to loan repayment by requiring purchasers to grant a first priority mortgage lien in our favor, which is recorded against title to the vacation ownership interest. In the event of a purchaser’s default, the purchaser will often voluntarily deed the vacation ownership interest to us, in which event foreclosure is not necessary. If the purchaser does not do so, we may commence a judicial or non-judicial foreclosure proceeding. State real estate foreclosure laws normally require that certain conditions be satisfied prior to completing foreclosure, including providing to the purchaser both a notice and an opportunity to redeem the purchaser’s interest and conducting a foreclosure sale. While state real estate foreclosure laws impose requirements and expenses on us, we are able to comply with the requirements, bear the expenses and complete foreclosures. Several states have enacted anti-deficiency laws which generally prohibit a lender from recovering the portion of an outstanding loan in excess of the proceeds of a foreclosure sale of a borrower’s primary residence that secures repayment of the loan. Since purchasers of vacation ownership interests do not occupy a resort unit as a primary residence, state anti-deficiency laws generally do not impact us. Our sale of vacation ownership interests that are vacation credits is not impacted by state real estate foreclosure and anti-deficiency laws, since vacation credits are not direct real estate interests.

 

Marketing and Sale of Vacation Ownership Interests. We are subject to extensive regulation by states’ departments of commerceand/or real estate and international regulatory agencies, such as the European Commission, in locations where our resorts in which we sell vacation ownership interests are located or where we market and sell vacation ownership interests. Many states regulate the marketing and sale of vacation ownership interests, and the laws of such states generally require a designated state authority to approve a vacation ownership public report, which is a detailed offering statement describing the resort operator and all material aspects of the resort and the sale of vacation ownership interests. In addition, the laws of most states in which we sell vacation ownership interests grant the purchaser of such an interest the right to rescind a contract of purchase at any time within a statutory rescission period, which generally ranges from three to 15 days, depending on the state.

 

Property Management of Vacation Ownership Resorts.Our vacation ownership business includes property management operations that are subject to state condominiumand/orvacation ownership management regulations and, in some states, to professional licensing requirements.

 

Conduct of Real Estate Brokers. The marketing and sales component of our vacation ownership business is subject to numerous federal, state and local laws and regulations that contain general standards for and prohibitions relating to the conduct of real estate brokers and sales associates, including laws and regulations that relate to the licensing of brokers and sales associates, fiduciary and agency duties, administration of trust funds, collection of commissions, and advertising and consumer disclosures. The federal Real Estate Settlement Procedures Act and state real estate brokerage laws also restrict payments that real estate brokers and other parties may receive or pay in connection with the sales of vacation ownership interests and referral of prospective owners. Such laws may, to some extent, restrict arrangements involving our vacation ownership business.

 

Environmental Regulation. Because our vacation ownership business acquires, develops and renovates vacation ownership interest resorts, we are subject to various environmental laws, ordinances, regulations and similar requirements in the jurisdictions where our resorts are located. The environmental laws to which our vacation ownership business is subject regulate various matters, including pollution, hazardous and toxic substances and wastes, asbestos, petroleum and storage tanks.

 

 

Our business that relates to the management of property operations, which includes components of our lodging, vacation ownership and vacation rental businesses, is subject to, among others, laws and regulations that relate to health and sanitation, the sale of alcoholic beverages, facility operation and fire safety, including as described below, covering both U.S and non U.S jurisdictional requirements:

 

Health and Sanitation. Most jurisdictions have regulations or statutes governing the lodging business or its components, such as restaurants, swimming pools and health facilities. Lodging and restaurant businesses often require licensing by applicable authorities, and sometimes these licenses are obtainable only after the business passes health inspections to assure compliance with health and sanitation codes. Health inspections are performed on a recurring basis. Health-related laws affect the use of linens, towels, glassware and automatic defibrillators. Other

laws govern swimming pool use and operation and require the posting of notices, availability of certain rescue equipment and limitations on the number of persons allowed to use the pool at any time. These regulations typically impose civil fines or penalties for violations, which may lead to operating restrictions if uncorrected or in extreme cases of violations.

 

Sale of Alcoholic Beverages. Alcoholic beverage service is subject to licensing and extensive regulations that govern virtually all aspects of service. Compliance with these regulations at managed locations may impose obligations on the owners of managed hotels, Wyndham Hotel Management as the property manager or both. Managed hotel operations may be adversely affected by delays in transfers or issuances of alcoholic beverage licenses necessary for food and beverage services.

 

Facility Operation. The operation of lodging facilities is subject to innkeepers’ laws that (i) authorize the innkeeper to assert a lien against and sell, after observing certain procedures, the possessions of a guest who owes an unpaid bill for lodging or other services provided by the innkeeper, (ii) affect or limit the liability of an innkeeper who posts required notices or disclaimers for guest valuables if a safe is provided, guest property, checked or stored baggage, mail and parked vehicles, (iii) require posting of house rules and room rates in each guest room or near the registration area, (iv) may require registration of guests, proof of identity at check-in and retention of records for a specified period of time, (v) limit the rights of an innkeeper to refuse lodging to prospective guests except under certain narrowly defined circumstances, and (vi) may limit the right of the innkeeper to evict a guest who overstays the scheduled stay or otherwise gives a reason to be evicted. Federal and state laws applicable to places of public accommodation prohibit discrimination in lodging services on the basis of the race, creed, color or national origin of the guest. Some states prohibit the practice of “overbooking” and require the innkeeper to provide the reserved lodging or find alternate accommodations if the guest has paid a deposit, or face a civil fine. Some states and municipalities have also enacted laws and regulations governing no-smoking areas and guest rooms that are more stringent than our standards for no-smoking guest rooms.

 

Fire Safety. The federal Hotel and Motel Safety Act of 1990 requires all places of public accommodation to install hard wired, single station smoke detectors meeting National Fire Protection Association Standard 74 in each guest room and to install an automatic sprinkler system meeting National Fire Protection Association Standard 13 or 13-R in facilities taller than three stories, unless certain exceptions are met, for such places to be approved for lodging and meetings of federal employees. Travel directories published by the federal government and lists maintained by state officials will include only those facilities that comply with the Hotel and Motel Safety Act of 1990. Other state and local fire and life safety codes may require exit maps, lighting systems and other safety measures unique to lodging facilities.

 

Occupational Safety. The federal Occupational Safety and Health Act, or OSHA, requires that businesses comply with industry-specific safety and health standards, which are known collectively as OSHA standards, to provide a safe work environment for all employees and prevent work-related injuries, illnesses and deaths. Failure to comply with such OSHA standards may subject the lodging business to fines from the Occupational Safety and Health Administration.

 

Environmental Regulation. Our business that relates to the management of property operations is subject to various environmental laws, ordinances, regulations and similar requirements in the jurisdictions where the properties we manage are located. We must comply with environmental laws that regulate pollution, hazardous and toxic substances and wastes, asbestos, petroleum and storage tanks.

 

 

We file annual, quarterly and current reports, proxy statements and other information with the Securities and Exchange Commission. Our SEC filings are available to the public over the Internet at the SEC’s website athttp://www.sec.gov. Our SEC filings are also available on our website athttp://www.wyndhamworldwide.comas soon as reasonably practicable after they are filed with or furnished to the SEC. You may also read and copy any filed document at the SEC’s public reference room in Washington, D.C. at 100 F Street, N.E., Washington, D.C. 20549. Please call the SEC at1-800-SEC-0330for further information about public reference rooms.

 

We maintain and Internet site athttp://www.wyndhamworldwide.com. Our website and the information contained on or connected to that site are not incorporated into this annual report.

 

Before you invest in our securities you should carefully consider each of the following risk factors and all of the other information provided in this report. We believe that the following information identifies the most significant risk factors affecting us. However, the risks and uncertainties we face are not limited to those set forth in the risk factors described below. Additional risks and uncertainties not presently known to us or that we currently believe to be immaterial may also adversely affect our business. In addition, past financial performance may not be a reliable indicator of future performance and historical trends should not be used to anticipate results or trends in future periods.

 

If any of the following risks and uncertainties develops into actual events, these events could have a material adverse effect on our business, financial condition or results of operations. In such case, the trading price of our common stock could decline.

 

 

We will be adversely impacted if we cannot compete effectively in the highly competitive hospitality industry. Our continued success depends upon our ability to compete effectively in markets that contain numerous competitors, some of which may have significantly greater financial, marketing and other resources than we have. Competition may reduce fee structures, potentially causing us to lower our fees or prices, which may adversely impact our profits. New competition or existing competition that uses a business model that is different from our business model may put pressure on us to change our model so that we can remain competitive.

 

 

Declines in or disruptions to the travel industry may adversely impact us. Risks affecting the travel industry include: economic slowdown and recession, economic factors adversely impacting consumers’ decisions to use and consume leisure travel services and products, terrorist incidents and threats (and associated heightened travel security measures), acts of God (such as earthquakes, hurricanes, fires, floods and other natural disasters), war, bird flu and other pandemics, financial instability of air carriers, airline job actions and strikes, and increases in gas and other fuel prices.

 

 

Our business is subject to numerous operating or other risks common to the hospitality industry including:

 

 

 

We may not be able to achieve our objectives for increasing the number of franchisedand/ormanaged properties in our lodging business, the number of vacation exchange members acquired by our vacation exchange business, the number of rental weeks sold by our vacation rentals business and the number of tours generated and vacation ownership interests sold by our vacation ownership business.

 

We may be unable to identify acquisition targets that complement our businesses, and if we are able to identify suitable acquisition targets, we may not be able to complete acquisitions on commercially reasonable terms. Our ability to complete acquisitions depends on a variety of factors, including our ability to obtain financing on acceptable terms and requisite government approvals. If we are able to complete acquisitions, there is no assurance that we will be able to achieve the revenue and cost benefits that we expected in connection with such acquisitions or to successfully integrate the acquired businesses into our existing operations.

 

 

Our international operations are subject to numerous risks including: exposure to local economic conditions; potential adverse changes in the diplomatic relations of foreign countries with the United States; hostility from local populations; restrictions and taxes on the withdrawal of foreign investment and earnings; government policies against businesses owned by foreigners; investment restrictions or requirements; diminished ability to legally enforce our contractual rights in foreign countries; foreign exchange restrictions; fluctuations in foreign currency exchange rates;

local laws might conflict with U.S. laws; withholding and other taxes on remittances and other payments by subsidiaries; and changes in and application of foreign taxation structures including value added taxes.

 

 

We are subject to a number of legal actions and the risk of future litigation as described below under “Legal Proceedings”. We cannot predict with certainty the ultimate outcome and related damages and costs of litigation and other proceedings filed by or against us. Adverse results in litigation and other proceedings may harm our business.

 

 

We are a borrower of funds under our credit facilities, credit lines, senior notes and securitization financings. We are a lender of funds when we finance purchases of vacation ownership interests. In connection with our debt obligations, the securitization of certain of our assets and the extension of credit by us, we are subject to numerous risks including:

 

 

 

Our businesses are heavily regulated by the states or provinces (including local governments) and countries in which our operations are conducted. In addition, domestic and foreign federal, state and local regulators may enact new laws and regulations that may reduce our revenues, cause our expenses to increaseand/orrequire us to modify substantially our business practices. If we are not in substantial compliance with applicable laws and regulations, including, among others, franchising, timeshare, lending, privacy, marketing and sales, telemarketing, licensing, labor, employment and immigration, gaming, environmental and regulations applicable under the Office of Foreign Asset Control and the Foreign Corrupt Practices Act, we may be subject to regulatory actions, fines, penalties and potential criminal prosecution.

 

Due to 2007 revisions to the rules of the Federal Trade Commission relating to registration of franchisors and their offering documents, certain of our hotel brands will be required to obtain registration approvals for their franchise disclosure documents in approximately 13 states. As a result of the expected significant back log of state

regulatory review of these documents along with filings made by other franchisors, we may be unable to market and sell new franchises in these states for an extended period of time, negatively impacting our franchise sales.

 

 

We believe that our future growth depends, in part, on the continued services of our senior management team. Losing the services of any members of our senior management team could adversely affect our strategic and customer relationships and impede our ability to execute our growth strategies.

 

 

The weakening or unavailability of our trademarks, trade dress and other intellectual property rights could adversely affect our business. We generate, maintain, utilize and enforce a substantial portfolio of trademarks, trade dress and other intellectual property that are fundamental to the brands that we use in all of our businesses. There can be no assurance that the steps we take to protect our intellectual property will be adequate.

 

 

Any disaster, disruption or other impairment in our technology capabilities could harm our business. Our businesses depend upon the use of sophisticated information technologies and systems, including technology and systems utilized for reservation systems, vacation exchange systems, property management, communications, procurement, member record databases, call centers, operation of our loyalty programs and administrative systems. The operation, maintenance and updating of these technologies and systems is dependent upon third-party technologies, systems and services for which there is no assurance of uninterrupted availability.

 

 

The market price of our common stock may fluctuate depending upon many factors some of which may be beyond our control, including: our quarterly or annual earnings or those of other companies in our industry; actual or anticipated fluctuations in our operating results due to seasonality and other factors related to our business; changes in accounting principles or rules; announcements by us or our competitors of significant acquisitions or dispositions; the failure of securities analysts to cover our common stock; changes in earnings estimates by securities analysts or our ability to meet those estimates; the operating and stock price performance of other comparable companies; overall market fluctuations; and general economic conditions. Stock markets in general have experienced volatility that has often been unrelated to the operating performance of a particular company. These broad market fluctuations may adversely affect the trading price of our common stock.

 

 

Your percentage ownership in Wyndham Worldwide may be diluted in the future because of equity awards that we expect will be granted over time to our directors, officers and employees as well as due to the exercise of options issued. In addition, our Board may issue shares of common and preferred stock up to certain regulatory thresholds without shareholder approval.

 

 

Our certificate of incorporation, by-laws, stockholder rights plan and Delaware law contain provisions that are intended to deter coercive takeover practices and inadequate takeover bids by making such practices or bids unacceptably expensive and to encourage prospective acquirors to negotiate with our Board rather than to attempt a hostile takeover. These provisions include, among others: a Board of Directors that is divided into three classes with staggered terms; elimination of the right of our stockholders to act by written consent; rules regarding how stockholders may present proposals or nominate directors for election at stockholder meetings; the right of our Board to issue preferred stock without stockholder approval; and limitations on the right of stockholders to remove directors. Under our stockholder rights plan, our Board may issue shares of stock at a discount to market if a person or group attempts to acquire us on terms not approved by our Board. Unless our Board takes prior action, our stockholder rights plan will expire on April 24, 2008. Delaware law also imposes some restrictions on mergers and other business combinations between us and any holder of 15% or more of our outstanding common stock.

 

There can be no assurance that we will have sufficient surplus under Delaware law to be able to continue to pay dividends. This may result from extraordinary cash expenses, actual expenses exceeding contemplated costs, funding of capital expenditures, or increases in reserves. If we do not pay dividends, the price of our common stock must appreciate for you to receive a gain on your investment in Wyndham Worldwide. This appreciation may not occur.

 

 

Under the separation agreements we executed with Cendant (now Avis Budget Group) and former Cendant units, Realogy and Travelport, we and Realogy are responsible for 37.5% and 62.5%, respectively, of certain of Cendant’s contingent and other corporate liabilities including those relating to unresolved tax and legal matters and associated costs. We generally are responsible for the payment of our share of all taxes imposed on Cendant and certain other subsidiaries and certain contingent and other corporate liabilities of Cendantand/or its subsidiaries to the extent incurred on or prior to August 23, 2006, including liabilities relating to certain of Cendant’s terminated or divested businesses, liabilities relating to the Travelport sale, the Cendant litigation described below under “Cendant Litigation,” generally any actions with respect to the separation plan and payments under certain contracts that were not allocated to any specific party in connection with the separation.

 

If any party responsible for these liabilities were to default on its obligations, each non-defaulting party (including Avis Budget) would be required to pay an equal portion of the amounts in default. Accordingly, we may, under certain circumstances, be obligated to pay amounts in excess of our share of the assumed obligations related to such contingent and other corporate liabilities including associated costs. On or about April 10, 2007, Realogy Corporation was acquired by affiliates of Apollo Management VI, L.P. and no longer trades its common stock as an independent public company. The acquisition does not negate Realogy’s obligation to satisfy 62.5% of such contingent and other corporate liabilities of Cendant or its subsidiaries pursuant to the terms of the separation agreement. As a result of the acquisition, however, Realogy has greater debt obligations and its ability to satisfy its portion of these liabilities may be adversely impacted.

 

 

Not applicable.

 

Our corporate headquarters is located in a leased office at 7 Sylvan Way in Parsippany, New Jersey, which lease expires in 2011. We also lease other Parsippany-based offices, which leases have varying expiration dates. We have a leased office in Virginia Beach, Virginia for our Employee Service Center, which lease expires in 2011.

 

A new lease for corporate headquarters was signed in 2007, will commence in late 2008 or early 2009 and expires in 2024. Our intention, to the extent possible, is to relocate a portion of our corporate and Lodging personnel into the new site and allow certain of our existing Parsippany-based leases to expire.

 

 

Our lodging business has its main corporate operations at a leased office in Parsippany, New Jersey, pursuant to a lease that expires at the end of 2008. Our lodging business also leases space for its reservations centersand/or data warehouse in Aberdeen, South Dakota; Phoenix, Arizona; Fredericton, New Brunswick, Canada and Saint John, New Brunswick, Canada pursuant to leases that expire in 2010, 2010, 2012 and 2013, respectively. In addition, our lodging business leases office space in Rosemont, Illinois expiring in 2008; Atlanta, Georgia expiring in 2011; Dallas, Texas expiring in 2012; Mission Viejo, CA expiring in 2013; Hong Kong, China expiring in 2010; Hammersmith, United Kingdom expiring in 2012 and Shanghai, China expiring in 2010.

 

 

Our vacation exchange business has its main corporate operations at a leased office in Parsippany, New Jersey. Our vacation exchange business also owns five properties located in the following cities: Carmel, Indiana; Cork, Ireland; Kettering, United Kingdom; Mexico City, Mexico; and Albufeira, Portugal. Our vacation exchange business also has three leased offices located within the United States pursuant to leases that expire generally between 2 - 4 years and 48 additional leased spaces in various countries outside the United States pursuant to leases that expire generally between 1 - 3 years except for 8 leases that expire between 2011 - 2019. Our vacation rentals business’ operations are managed in seven owned locations (Earby, United Kingdom; Kettering, United Kingdom (co-located with our vacation exchange business above); Albufeira, Portugal; Monterrigioni, Italy; Saarburg, Germany; Romo and Aarhus, Denmark; and Cork, Ireland); three main leased locations (Leidschendam, Netherlands; Dunfermline, United Kingdom; and Hellerup, Denmark) and 17 smaller leased offices throughout Europe. Our main leased locations operate pursuant to leases that expire in 2015, 2012, and 2010, respectively. The vacation exchange and rentals business also occupies space in London, United Kingdom pursuant to a lease that expires in 2012.

 

 

Our vacation ownership business has its main corporate operations in Orlando, Florida pursuant to several leases, which expire beginning 2012. Our vacation ownership business also owns a facility in Redmond, Washington and leases space for call center and administrative functions in Redmond, Washington expiring in 2013, Las Vegas, Nevada expiring in 2012 and Margate, Florida expiring in 2010. In addition, the vacation ownership business leases approximately 145 marketing and sales offices, of which approximately 125 are throughout the United States with various expiration dates, 19 offices are in Australia expiring within approximately two years, one office in New Zealand expiring in 2009 and one in Canada expiring in 2010.

 

 

 

We are involved in claims and legal actions arising in the ordinary course of our business including but not limited to: for our lodging business—breach of contract, fraud and bad faith claims between franchisors and franchisees in connection with franchise agreements and with owners in connection with management contracts, as well as consumer protection claims and other statutory claims and negligence claims asserted in connection with alleged acts or occurrences at franchised or managed properties; for our vacation exchange and rentals business—breach of contract claims by both affiliates and members in connection with their respective agreements, bad faith, and consumer protection claims asserted by members and negligence claims by guests for alleged injuries sustained at resorts; for our vacation ownership business—breach of contract, bad faith, conflict of interest, fraud, consumer protection claims and other statutory claims by property owners’ associations, owners and prospective owners in connection with the sale or use of vacation ownership interests, land or the management of vacation ownership resorts, construction defect claims relating to vacation ownership units or resorts and negligence claims by guests for alleged injuries sustained at vacation ownership units or resorts; and for each of our businesses, bankruptcy

proceedings involving efforts to collect receivables from a debtor in bankruptcy, employment matters involving claims of discrimination and wage and hour claims, claims of infringement upon third parties’ intellectual property rights and environmental claims.

 

 

On December 21, 2007, Cendant Corporation (known as Avis Budget Group Inc. since August 29, 2006) and other parties entered into a settlement agreement with Ernst & Young LLP to settle all claims between the parties arising out of In Re Cendant Corporation Litigation, Master FileNo. 98-1664(WHW) (D.N.J.) (the “Securities Action”). Under the settlement agreement, Ernst & Young agreed to pay an aggregate of $298.5 million to settle all claims among the parties.

 

After satisfying obligations to various parties, including the plaintiff class members in the Securities Action and in the PRIDES securities class action and certain officers and directors of HFS Incorporated, Cendant received approximately $128 million of net proceeds under the settlement agreement. On December 28, 2007, Cendant distributed all of those net proceeds to Realogy and us in the following respective amounts: approximately $80 million pre-tax (or 62.5% of such net amount) and approximately $48 million pre-tax ($29 million net after tax) (or 37.5% of such net amount), in accordance with the terms of the Separation Agreement. Pursuant to the Separation Agreement, Realogy and we approved the terms of, and authorized Cendant to execute, the settlement agreement.

 

Under the Separation Agreement, we agreed to be responsible for 37.5% of certain of Cendant’s contingent and other corporate liabilities and associated costs. There is only one remaining lawsuit related to the acquisition of CUC International Inc. Such lawsuit is discussed in Note 20 to the financial statements and in our Current Report on aForm 8-Kfiled with the SEC on September 14, 2007.

 

 

Not applicable.

 

 

 

Our common stock is listed on the New York Stock Exchange (“NYSE”) under the symbol “WYN”. At January 31, 2008, the number of stockholders of record was approximately 5,980. The following table sets forth the quarterly high and low sales prices per share of WYN common stock as reported by the NYSE for the year ended December 31, 2007 and the period from July 31, 2006, the date of Separation, to December 31, 2006.

 

 

 

 

We initiated a quarterly dividend of $0.04 per share on each share of Common Stock issued and outstanding during the third quarter of 2007. The declaration and payment of future dividends to holders of our common stock will be at the discretion of our Board of Directors and will depend upon many factors, including our financial condition, earnings, capital requirements of our business, covenants associated with certain debt obligations, legal requirements, regulatory constraints, industry practice and other factors that our Board deems relevant. There can be no assurance that a payment of a dividend will or will not occur in the future.

 

 

Below is the summary of our Wyndham common stock repurchases by month for the quarter ended December 31, 2007:

 

On August 20, 2007, our Board of Directors authorized a stock repurchase program that enables us to purchase up to $200 million of our common stock. From the inception of the program through December 31, 2007, we repurchased 1.5 million shares at an average price of $29.07. In addition, we completed previous stock repurchase programs during 2007 by repurchasing 13 million shares at an average price of $34.92. The Board of Directors’ 2007 authorization included increased repurchase capacity for proceeds received from stock option exercises. From the inception of the program through December 31, 2007, repurchase capacity increased $5 million from proceeds received from stock option exercises. During the period January 1, 2008 through February 28, 2008, we repurchased an additional 472,800 shares at an average price of $22.19. As of February 28, 2008, we have $155 million remaining availability in our program. The amount and timing of specific repurchases are subject to market conditions, applicable legal requirements and other factors. Repurchases may be conducted in the open market or in privately negotiated transactions.

 

 

The following graph covers the period from August 1, 2006 to December 31, 2007 and assumes that $100 was invested on August 1, 2006 in each of our common stock, the S&P 500 Index, the S&P 500 Hotels, Resorts & Cruise Lines Index (consisting of Carnival plc, Marriott International Inc., Starwood Hotels & Resorts Worldwide, Inc. and Wyndham Worldwide Corporation) and a peer issuer index (consisting of Marriott International Inc., Choice Hotels International, Inc. and Starwood Hotels & Resorts Worldwide, Inc.). The graph assumes that all dividends were reinvested on the date of payment without payment of any commissions.

 

For 2006, the S&P 500 Index and the S&P 500 Hotels, Resorts & Cruise Lines Index included Hilton Hotels Corporation. Due to the fact that Hilton Hotels ceased to trade as a public company in 2007, it is not included in these indices for 2007.

 

 

 

 

In presenting the financial data above in conformity with general accepted accounting principles, we are required to make estimates and assumptions that affect the amounts reported. See “Management’s Discussion and Analysis of Financial Condition and Results of Operations—Financial Condition, Liquidity and Capital Resources—Critical Accounting Policies,” for a detailed discussion of the accounting policies that we believe require subjective and complex judgments that could potentially affect reported results.

 

Between January 1, 2003 and December 31, 2007, we completed a number of acquisitions, the results of operations and financial position of which have been included beginning from the relevant acquisition dates. During this period, our acquisitions included the Wyndham Hotels and Resorts and Baymont Inn & Suites brands, a vacation ownership and resort management business, Two Flags Joint Venture LLC, Ramada International, Landal GreenParks, Canvas Holidays Limited and FFD Development Company, LLC. See Note 4 to the Consolidated and Combined Financial Statements for a more detailed discussion of the acquisitions completed during 2005, 2006 and 2007.

 

During first quarter 2006, we recorded a non-cash charge of $65 million, after tax, to reflect the cumulative effect of accounting changes as a result of our adoption of Statement of Financial Standards (“SFAS”) No. 152, “Accounting for Real Estate Time-Sharing Transactions” (“SFAS No. 152”) and Statement of PositionNo. 04-2,“Accounting for Real Estate Time-Sharing Transactions”(“SOP 04-2”)on January 1, 2006. See Note 2 to the Consolidated and Combined Financial Statements for further details.

 

 

This report includes “forward-looking” statements, as that term is defined by the Securities and Exchange Commission in its rules, regulations and releases. Forward-looking statements are any statements other than statements of historical fact, including statements regarding our expectations, beliefs, hopes, intentions or strategies regarding the future. In some cases, forward-looking statements can be identified by the use of words such as “may,” “expects,” “should,” “believes,” “plans,” “anticipates,” “estimates,” “predicts,” “potential,” “continue,” or other words of similar meaning. Forward-looking statements are subject to risks and uncertainties that could cause actual results to differ materially from those discussed in, or implied by, the forward-looking statements. Factors that might cause such a difference include, but are not limited to, general economic conditions, our financial and business prospects, our capital requirements, our financing prospects, our relationships with associates, and those disclosed as risks under “Risk Factors” in Part I, Item 1A, above. We caution readers that any such statements are based on currently available operational, financial and competitive information, and they should not place undue reliance on these forward-looking statements, which reflect management’s opinion only as of the date on which they were made. Except as required by law, we disclaim any obligation to review or update these forward-looking statements to reflect events or circumstances as they occur.

 

 

We are a global provider of hospitality products and services and operate our business in the following three segments:

 

 

 

On July 31, 2006, Cendant Corporation (or “former Parent”) distributed all of the shares of Wyndham common stock to the holders of Cendant common stock issued and outstanding on July 21, 2006, the record date for the distribution. On August 1, 2006, we commenced “regular way” trading on the New York Stock Exchange under the symbol “WYN.”

 

Before our separation from Cendant, we entered into separation, transition services and several other agreements with Cendant, Realogy and Travelport to effect the separation and distribution, govern the relationships among the parties after the separation and allocate among the parties Cendant’s assets, liabilities and obligations attributable to periods prior to the separation. Under the Separation and Distribution Agreement, we assumed 37.5% of certain contingent and other corporate liabilities of Cendant or its subsidiaries which were not primarily related to our business or the businesses of Realogy, Travelport or Avis Budget, and Realogy assumed 62.5% of these contingent and other corporate liabilities. These include liabilities relating to Cendant’s terminated or divested businesses, the Travelport sale on August 22, 2006, taxes of Travelport for taxable periods through the date of the Travelport sale, certain litigation matters, generally any actions relating to the separation plan and payments under certain contracts that were not allocated to any specific party in connection with the separation.

 

On December 15, 2006, Realogy entered into an agreement and plan of merger with an affiliate of Apollo Management VI, L.P. (“Apollo”) and, on April 10, 2007, Realogy announced that affiliates of Apollo had completed the merger. Although Realogy no longer trades its common stock as an independent public company, the merger does not negate Realogy’s obligation to satisfy 62.5% of certain contingent and other corporate liabilities of Cendant or its subsidiaries pursuant to the terms of the separation agreement. As a result of the sale, Realogy’s senior debt credit rating was downgraded to below investment grade. Under the Separation Agreement, if Realogy experienced such a change of control and suffered such a ratings downgrade, it was required to post a letter of credit in an amount acceptable to us and Avis Budget Group to satisfy the fair value of Realogy’s indemnification obligations for

the Cendant legacy contingent liabilities in the event Realogy does not otherwise satisfy such obligations to the extent they become due. On April 26, 2007, Realogy posted a $500 million irrevocable standby letter of credit from a major commercial bank in favor of Avis Budget Group and upon which demand may be made if Realogy does not otherwise satisfy its obligations for its share of the Cendant legacy contingent liabilities. The letter of credit can be adjusted from time to time based upon the outstanding contingent liabilities. The issuance of this letter of credit does not relieve or limit Realogy’s obligations for these liabilities.

 

Because we now conduct our business as a separate stand-alone public company, our historical financial information does not reflect what our results of operations, financial position or cash flows would have been had we been a separate stand-alone public company during the periods presented. Therefore, the historical financial information for such periods may not necessarily be indicative of what our results of operations, financial position or cash flows will be in the future and may not be comparable to periods ending after July 31, 2006.

 

 

 

We enter into agreements to franchise our lodging franchise systems to independent hotel owners. Our standard franchise agreement typically has a term of 15 to 20 years and provides a franchisee with certain rights to terminate the franchise agreement before the term of the agreement under certain circumstances. The principal source of revenues from franchising hotels is ongoing franchise fees, which are comprised of royalty fees and other fees relating to marketing and reservation services. Ongoing franchise fees typically are based on a percentage of gross room revenues of each franchised hotel and are accrued as earned and upon becoming due from the franchisee. An estimate of uncollectible ongoing franchise fees is charged to bad debt expense and included in operating expenses on the Consolidated and Combined Statements of Income. Lodging revenue also includes initial franchise fees, which are recognized as revenue when all material services or conditions have been substantially performed, which is either when a franchised hotel opens for business or when a franchise agreement is terminated as it has been determined that the franchised hotel will not open.

 

Our franchise agreements also require the payment of fees for certain services, including marketing and reservations. With such fees, we provide our franchised properties with a suite of operational and administrative services, including access to (i) an international, centralized, brand-specific reservations system, (ii) advertising, (iii) promotional and co-marketing programs, (iv) referrals, (v) technology, (vi) training and (vii) volume purchasing. We are contractually obligated to expend the marketing and reservation fees we collect from franchisees in accordance with the franchise agreements; as such, revenues earned in excess of costs incurred are accrued as a liability for future marketing or reservation costs. Costs incurred in excess of revenues are expensed. In accordance with our franchise agreements, we include an allocation of costs required to carry out marketing and reservation activities within marketing and reservation expenses.

 

We also provide property management services for hotels under management contracts. Our standard management agreement typically has a term of up to 20 years. Our management fees are comprised of base fees, which are typically calculated based upon a specified percentage of gross revenues from hotel operations, and incentive fees, which are typically calculated based upon a specified percentage of a hotel’s gross operating profit. Management fee revenue is recognized when earned in accordance with the terms of the contract. We incur certain reimbursable costs on behalf of managed hotel properties and report reimbursements received from managed properties as revenue and the costs incurred on their behalf as expenses. Management fee revenues are recorded as a component of franchise fee revenues and reimbursable revenues are recorded as a component of service fees and membership revenue on the Consolidated and Combined Statements of Income. The costs, which principally relate to payroll costs for operational employees who work at the managed hotels, are reflected as a component of operating expenses on the Consolidated and Combined Statements of Income. The reimbursements from hotel owners are based upon the costs incurred with no added margin; as a result, these reimbursable costs have little to no effect on our operating income. Management fee revenue and revenue related to payroll reimbursements was $6 million and $92 million, respectively, during 2007, $4 million and $69 million, respectively, during 2006 and $1 million and $17 million, respectively, during the period October 11, 2005 (date of Wyndham Hotels and Resorts brand acquisition, which includes management contracts) through December 31, 2005.

 

We also earn revenue from administering the TripRewards loyalty program. When a member stays at a participating hotel, we charge our franchisee/managed property owner a fee based upon a percentage of room revenue generated from such stay. This fee is accrued as earned and upon becoming due from the franchisee.

Within our Lodging segment, we measure operating performance using the following key operating statistics: (i) number of rooms, which represents the number of rooms at lodging properties at the end of the year, (ii) weighted average rooms, which represents the weighted average number of hotel rooms available for rental for the year, (iii) RevPAR, which is calculated by multiplying the percentage of available rooms occupied for the year by the average rate charged for renting a lodging room for one day and (iv) royalty, marketing and reservation revenues, which are typically based on a percentage of the gross room revenues of each franchised hotel.

 

 

As a provider of vacation exchange services, we enter into affiliation agreements with developers of vacation ownership properties to allow owners of intervals to trade their intervals for certain other intervals within our vacation exchange business and, for some members, for other leisure-related products and services. Additionally, as a marketer of vacation rental properties, generally we enter into contracts for exclusive periods of time with property owners to market the rental of such properties to rental customers. Our vacation exchange business derives a majority of its revenues from annual membership dues and exchange fees from members trading their intervals. Annual dues revenue represents the annual membership fees from members who participate in our vacation exchange business and, for additional fees, have the right to exchange their intervals for certain other intervals within our vacation exchange business and, for certain members, for other leisure-related products and services. We record revenue from annual membership dues as deferred income on the Consolidated Balance Sheets and recognize it on a straight-line basis over the membership period during which delivery of publications, if applicable, and other services are provided to the members. Exchange fees are generated when members exchange their intervals for equivalent values of rights and services, which may include intervals at other properties within our vacation exchange business or other leisure-related products and services. Exchange fees are recognized as revenue when the exchange requests have been confirmed to the member. Our vacation rentals business derives its revenue principally from fees, which generally range from approximately 45% to 65% of the gross rent charged to rental customers. The majority of the time, we act on behalf of the owners of the rental properties to generate our fees. We provide reservation services to the independent property owners and receive theagreed-uponfee for the service provided. We remit the gross rental fee received from the renter to the independent property owner, net of ouragreed-uponfee. Revenue from such fees is recognized in the period that the rental reservation is made, net of expected cancellations. Upon confirmation of the rental reservation, the rental customer and property owner generally have a direct relationship for additional services to be performed. Cancellations for 2007, 2006 and 2005 each totaled less than 5% of rental transactions booked. Our revenue is earned when evidence of an arrangement exists, delivery has occurred or the services have been rendered, the seller’s price to the buyer is fixed or determinable, and collectibility is reasonably assured. We also earn rental fees in connection with properties we own or lease under capital leases and such fees are recognized when the rental customer’s stay occurs, as this is the point at which the service is rendered.

 

Within our Vacation Exchange and Rentals segment, we measure operating performance using the following key operating statistics: (i) average number of vacation exchange members, which represents members in our vacation exchange programs who pay annual membership dues and are entitled, for additional fees, to exchange their intervals for intervals at other properties affiliated within our vacation exchange business and, for certain members, for other leisure-related products and services, (ii) annual membership dues and exchange revenue per member, which represents the total annual dues and exchange fees generated for the year divided by the average number of vacation exchange members during the year, (iii) vacation rental transactions, which represents the gross number of transactions that are generated in connection with customers booking their vacation rental stays through us and (iv) average net price per vacation rental, which represents the net rental price generated from renting vacation properties to customers divided by the number of rental transactions.

 

 

We market and sell VOIs to individual consumers, provide property management services at resorts and provide consumer financing in connection with the sale of VOIs. Our vacation ownership business derives the majority of its revenues from sales of VOIs and derives other revenues from consumer financing and property management. Our sales of VOIs are either cash sales or seller-financed sales. In order for us to recognize revenues of VOI sales under the full accrual method of accounting described in SFAS No. 66, “Accounting of Sales of Real Estate” for fully constructed inventory, a binding sales contract must have been executed, the statutory rescission period must have expired (after which time the purchasers are not entitled to a refund except for nondelivery by us), receivables must have been deemed collectible and the remainder of our obligations must have been substantially completed. In addition, before we recognize any revenues on VOI sales, the purchaser of the VOI must have met the initial investment criteria and, as applicable, the continuing investment criteria, by executing a legally binding financing contract. A purchaser has met the initial investment criteria when a minimum down payment of 10% is received by us. As a result of the adoption of SFAS No. 152 andSOP 04-2on January 1, 2006, we must also take into

consideration the fair value of certain incentives provided to the purchaser when assessing the adequacy of the purchaser’s initial investment. In those cases where financing is provided to the purchaser by us, the purchaser is obligated to remit monthly payments under financing contracts that represent the purchaser’s continuing investment. The contractual terms of seller-provided financing agreements require that the contractual level of annual principal payments be sufficient to amortize the loan over a customary period for the VOI being financed, which is generally seven to ten years, and payments under the financing contracts begin within 45 days of the sale and receipt of the minimum down payment of 10%. If all of the criteria for a VOI sale to qualify under the full accrual method of accounting have been met, as discussed above, except that construction of the VOI purchased is not complete, we recognize revenues using the percentage-of-completion method of accounting provided that the preliminary construction phase is complete and that a minimum sales level has been met (to assure that the property will not revert to a rental property). The preliminary stage of development is deemed to be complete when the engineering and design work is complete, the construction contracts have been executed, the site has been cleared, prepared and excavated, and the building foundation is complete. The completion percentage is determined by the proportion of real estate inventory costs incurred to total estimated costs. These estimated costs are based upon historical experience and the related contractual terms. The remaining revenue and related costs of sales, including commissions and direct expenses, are deferred and recognized as the remaining costs are incurred. Until a contract for sale qualifies for revenue recognition, all payments received are accounted for as restricted cash and deposits within other current assets and deferred income, respectively, on the Consolidated Balance Sheets. Commissions and other direct costs related to the sale are deferred until the sale is recorded. If a contract is cancelled before qualifying as a sale, non-recoverable expenses are charged to operating expense in the current period on the Consolidated and Combined Statements of Income.

 

We also offer consumer financing as an option to customers purchasing VOIs, which are typically collateralized by the underlying VOI. Generally, the financing terms are for seven to ten years. An estimate of uncollectible amounts is recorded at the time of the sale with a charge to the provision for loan losses on the Consolidated and Combined Statements of Income. Upon the adoption of SFAS No. 152 andSOP 04-2on January 1, 2006, the provision for loan losses is classified as a reduction of vacation ownership interest sales on the Consolidated and Combined Statements of Income. The interest income earned from the financing arrangements is earned on the principal balance outstanding over the life of the arrangement.

 

We also provide day-to-day-management services, including oversight of housekeeping services, maintenance and certain accounting and administrative services for property owners’ associations and clubs. In some cases, our employees serve as officersand/ordirectors of these associations and clubs in accordance with their by-laws and associated regulations. Management fee revenue is recognized when earned in accordance with the terms of the contract and is recorded as a component of service fees and membership on the Consolidated and Combined Statements of Income. The costs, which principally relate to the payroll costs for management of the associations, clubs and the resort properties where we are the employer, are reflected as a component of operating expenses on the Consolidated and Combined Statements of Income. Reimbursements are based upon the costs incurred with no added margin and thus presentation of these reimbursable costs has little to no effect on our operating income. Management fee revenue and revenue related to reimbursements was $146 million and $164 million, respectively, during 2007, $112 million and $141 million, respectively, during 2006 and $91 million and $124 million, respectively, during 2005. During 2007, 2006 and 2005, one of the associations that we manage paid Group RCI $15 million, $13 million and $11 million, respectively, for exchange services.

 

During 2007, 2006 and 2005, gross sales of VOIs were reduced by $22 million, $22 million and $17 million, respectively, of revenue that is deferred under the percentage of completion method of accounting. Under the percentage of completion method of accounting, a portion of the total revenue from a vacation ownership contract sale is not recognized if the construction of the vacation resort has not yet been fully completed. Such revenue will be recognized in future periods in proportion to the costs incurred as compared to the total expected costs for completion of construction of the vacation resort.

 

Within our Vacation Ownership segment, we measure operating performance using the following key metrics: (i) gross VOI sales (including tele-sales upgrades, which are a component of upgrade sales) before deferred sales and loan loss provisions, (ii) tours, which represents the number of tours taken by guests in our efforts to sell VOIs and (iii) volume per guest, or VPG, which represents revenue per guest and is calculated by dividing the gross VOI sales, excluding tele-sales upgrades, which are a component of upgrade sales, by the number of tours.

 

 

We record lodging-related marketing and reservation revenues, TripRewards revenues, as well as property management services revenues for both our Lodging and Vacation Ownership segments, in accordance with

Emerging Issues Task Force Issue99-19,“Reporting Revenue Gross as a Principal versus Net as an Agent,” which requires that these revenues be recorded on a gross basis.

 

Discussed below are our consolidated and combined results of operations and the results of operations for each of our reportable segments. The reportable segments presented below represent our operating segments for which separate financial information is available and which is utilized on a regular basis by our chief operating decision maker to assess performance and to allocate resources. In identifying our reportable segments, we also consider the nature of services provided by our operating segments. Management evaluates the operating results of each of our reportable segments based upon revenue and “EBITDA,” which is defined as net income before depreciation and amortization, interest (excluding interest on securitized vacation ownership debt), income taxes, minority interest and cumulative effect of accounting change, net of tax, each of which is presented on the Consolidated and Combined Statements of Income. Our presentation of EBITDA may not be comparable to similarly-titled measures used by other companies.

 

EBITDA for periods prior to July 31, 2006 includes cost allocations from Cendant representing our portion of general corporate overhead. For the period January 1, 2006 to July 31, 2006 and the year ended December 31, 2005, Cendant allocated $20 million and $36 million, respectively, of general corporate overhead. Cendant allocated such costs to us based on a percentage of our forecasted revenues. General corporate expense allocations include costs related to Cendant’s executive management, tax, accounting, legal, treasury and cash management, certain employee benefits and real estate usage for common space. The allocations were not necessarily indicative of the actual expenses that would have been incurred had we been operating as a separate, stand-alone public company for the periods presented.

 

 

The following table presents our operating statistics for the years ended December 31, 2007 and 2006. See Results of Operations section for a discussion as to how these operating statistics affected our business for the periods presented.

 

 

 

 

 

Our consolidated and combined results comprised the following:

 

 

During 2007, our net revenues increased $518 million (13%) principally due to (i) a $205 million increase in net sales of VOIs at our vacation ownership businesses due to higher tour flow and an increase in VPG; (ii) an $83 million increase in net revenues from rental transactions primarily due to growth in rental transaction volume, an increase in the average net price per rental and the conversion of two of our Landal parks from franchised to managed; (iii) a $67 million increase in net consumer financing revenues earned on vacation ownership contract receivables due primarily to growth in the portfolio; (iv) a $64 million increase in net revenues in our lodging business, primarily due to RevPAR growth, incremental reimbursable revenues and incremental net revenues generated by our TripRewards loyalty program; (v) $57 million of incremental property management fees within our vacation ownership business primarily as a result of growth in the number of units under management; (vi) a $24 million increase in annual dues and exchange revenues due to growth in the average number of members and favorable transaction pricing, partially offset by a decline in exchange transactions per member and (vii) $13 million of incremental ancillary revenues from our vacation ownership and vacation exchange and rentals businesses. The net revenue increase at our vacation exchange and rentals business includes the favorable impact of foreign currency translation of $49 million.

 

Total expenses increased $385 million (12%) principally reflecting (i) a $336 million increase in operating and administrative expenses primarily related to incremental corporate costs incurred as a stand-alone public company, additional commission expense resulting from increased VOI sales, increased volume-related expenses and staffing costs due to growth in our vacation exchange and rentals and vacation ownership businesses, increased costs related to the property management services that we provide at our vacation ownership business, increased interest expense on our securitized debt, which is included in operating expenses, increased payroll costs paid on behalf of property owners in our lodging business, for which we are reimbursed by the property owners, increased costs related to sales incentives awarded to owners at our vacation ownership business, increased resort services expenses at our vacation exchange and rentals business as a result of converting two of our Landal parks from franchised to managed and increased expenses at our lodging business primarily related to higher information technology costs, expanding our international operations and providing ancillary services to our franchisees; (ii) an $87 million increase in marketing and reservation expenses primarily resulting from increased marketing initiatives across our lodging and vacation ownership businesses; (iii) $59 million of increased cost of sales primarily associated with increased VOI sales; and (iv) the unfavorable impact of foreign currency translation on expenses at our vacation exchange and rentals business of $39 million. These increases were partially offset by (i) $83 million of decreased costs related to our separation from Cendant; (ii) $46 million of a net benefit related to the resolution of and adjustment to certain contingent liabilities and assets; and (iii) the absence of a $21 million charge recorded at our vacation exchange and rentals business during the second quarter of 2006 related to local taxes payable to certain foreign jurisdictions.

The increase in depreciation and amortization of $18 million primarily resulted from technology and fixed asset investments placed into service during 2007. Other income, net primarily reflects an $8 million pre-tax gain on the sale of certain vacation ownership properties and related assets during 2007 that were no longer consistent with our development plans. Interest expense increased $6 million and interest income decreased $21 million during 2007 primarily due to our current capital structure as a result of our separation from Cendant. Our effective tax rate increased to 38.5% in 2007 from 35.1% in 2006 primarily due to an increase in nondeductible items and the absence of a state tax benefit recognized in 2006.

 

We recorded an after tax charge of $65 million during the first quarter of 2006 as a cumulative effect of an accounting change related to the adoption of SFAS No. 152. Such charge consisted of (i) a pre-tax charge of $105 million representing the deferral of revenue, costs associated with sales of VOIs that were recognized prior to January 1, 2006 and the recognition of certain expenses that were previously deferred and (ii) an associated tax benefit of $40 million.

 

As a result of these items, our net income increased $116 (40%) million during 2007 as compared to 2006.

 

Following is a discussion of the results of each of our segments, interest expense/income and other income net:

 

 

 

 

 

Net revenues and EBITDA increased $64 million (10%) and $15 million (7%), respectively, during 2007 compared with 2006 primarily reflecting strong RevPAR gains across the majority of our brands, the success of our TripRewards loyalty program and incremental property management reimbursable revenues. Such increases were partially offset in EBITDA by increased expenses, particularly for marketing activities.

 

The increase in net revenues includes (i) $23 million of incremental reimbursable revenues earned by our property management business, (ii) an $18 million (4%) increase in royalty, marketing and reservation revenues, which was primarily due to RevPAR growth of 4%, (iii) $12 million of incremental revenue generated by our TripRewards loyalty program primarily due to increased member stays and (iv) an $11 million increase in other revenue primarily due to fees generated upon execution of franchise contracts and ancillary services that we provide to our franchisees. The $23 million of incremental reimbursable revenues earned by our property management business primarily relates to payroll costs that we incur and pay on behalf of property owners, for which we are reimbursed by the property owner. As the reimbursements are made based upon cost with no added margin, the recorded revenue is offset by the associated expense and there is no resultant impact on EBITDA. The $18 million increase in royalty, marketing and reservation revenues was substantially driven by price increases, as well as occupancy increases, reflecting the beneficial impact of management and marketing initiatives and an increased focus on quality enhancements, including strengthening our brand standards, as well as an overall improvement in the economy and midscale lodging segments, which are the segments where we primarily compete.

EBITDA further reflects (i) $15 million of higher expenses primarily resulting from incremental revenues received from our franchisees, as discussed above, (ii) $5 million of increased information technology costs related to developing a more robust infrastructure to support current and future global growth and (iii) an increase of $6 million in other expenses primarily related to expanding our international operations and providing ancillary services to our franchisees. The $15 million of increased marketing spend is reflective of (i) incremental expenditures in our TripRewards loyalty program, (ii) higher fees received from our franchisees (where we are contractually obligated to expend these fees for marketing purposes) and (iii) additional campaigns in international regions that we have targeted for growth.

 

As of December 31, 2007, we had approximately 6,540 properties and approximately 550,600 rooms in our system. Additionally, our hotel development pipeline included approximately 930 hotels and approximately 105,000 rooms, of which approximately 32% were international and approximately 44% were new construction as of December 31, 2007.

 

 

Net revenues and EBITDA increased $99 million (9%) and $28 million (11%), respectively, during 2007 compared with 2006. The increase in net revenues primarily reflects an $83 million increase in net revenues from rental transactions, a $24 million increase in annual dues and exchange revenues, partially offset by an $8 million decrease in ancillary revenues. The increase in EBITDA also includes an increase in expenses, partially offset by the absence of a $21 million charge recorded in second quarter 2006 related to local taxes payable to certain foreign jurisdictions. Net revenue and expense increases include $49 million and $39 million, respectively, of currency translation from a weaker U.S. dollar compared to other foreign currencies.

 

Net revenues generated from rental transactions and related services increased $83 million (17%) during 2007 driven by (i) a 2% increase in rental transaction volume, (ii) a 10% increase in the average net price per rental (or 3%, excluding the favorable impact of foreign exchange movements) and (iii) the conversion of two of our Landal parks from franchised to managed, which contributed an incremental $16 million to revenues or 4% to average net price per rental. Excluding the favorable impact of foreign exchange movements and the conversion of two of our Landal parks from franchised to managed, the 3% increase in average net price per rental was primarily a result of mix shift of rental activity to higher premium destinations. The growth in rental transaction volume was driven by increased rentals at our Landal and Novasol European vacation rental businesses, which primarily resulted from (i) enhanced marketing programs initiated to support an expansion strategy to provide consumers with broader inventories and more destinations and (ii) improved local economies. The growth in rental transactions was also the result of increased rentals in Latin America due to increased marketing efforts and broader distribution channels. Such growth was partially offset by a decline in RCI member rentals in Europe, decreased cottage rentals in the domestic United Kingdom cottage market primarily due to severe weather conditions during 2007 and a decline in cottage and apartment rentals at French destinations. The increase in net revenues from rental transactions includes the translation effects of foreign exchange movements, which favorably impacted net rental revenues by $38 million.

 

Annual dues and exchange revenues increased $24 million (5%) during 2007 as compared with 2006 primarily due to a 5% increase in the average number of members. Annual dues and exchange revenue per member was relatively flat during 2007 as compared to 2006 as a result of favorable transaction pricing, which was offset by a decline in exchange transactions per average member. The timing of intervals and points deposits and the mix of intervals and points to be utilized during 2007 compared with 2006 contributed to the decline in exchange transactions per average member. In addition, we believe that trends among timeshare vacation ownership developers are (i) to sell multiyear products, whereby the members have access to the product every second or third year and (ii) to enroll members in private label clubs, whereby the members have the option to exchange within the club or through other RCI channels. Such trends have a positive impact on the average number of members but an offsetting effect on the number of exchange transactions per average member. Ancillary revenues decreased due to the absence of $6 million of consulting revenues in our Asia Pacific region recorded during 2006 but not repeated during 2007 and a $5 million adjustment recorded during the second quarter of 2007 relating to previously recorded consulting revenues in our Asia Pacific region. Such decreases were partially offset by $3 million of increased revenues during 2007 from various sources, which include fees from additional services provided to transacting members, club servicing revenues, fees from our credit card loyalty program and fees generated from programs with affiliates. The increase in annual dues and exchange revenues and ancillary revenues includes the translation effects of foreign exchange movements, which favorably impacted revenues by $11 million.

 

EBITDA further reflects an increase in expenses of $71 million (8%) primarily driven by (i) the unfavorable impact of foreign currency translation on expenses of $39 million, (ii) a $37 million increase in volume-related expenses, which was substantially comprised of incremental costs to support growth in rental transaction volume, as

discussed above, increased staffing costs to support member growth and increased call volumes as well as incremental investments in our information technology infrastructure, (iii) $15 million of increased resort services expenses as a result of converting two of our Landal parks from franchised to managed, as discussed above, (iv) $5 million of incremental employee incentive program expenses during 2007 and (v) $4 million of incremental severance related expenses recorded during 2007. These increases were partially offset by (i) the absence of a $21 million charge recorded during the second quarter of 2006 related to local taxes payable to certain foreign jurisdictions, (ii) the absence of $3 million of costs related to our separation from Cendant recorded during 2006 and (iii) the absence of $2 million of costs incurred during 2006 to close offices and consolidate certain call center operations.

 

 

Net revenues and EBITDA increased $357 million (17%) and $53 million (16%), respectively, during 2007 compared with 2006. The operating results reflect growth in vacation ownership sales, consumer finance income and property management fees, as well as the impact of operational changes made during 2006 that resulted in the recognition of revenues that would have otherwise been deferred until a later date under the provisions of SFAS No. 152. The impact of these operational changes in 2006 resulted in higher net revenues and EBITDA of $67 million and $34 million, respectively, that were not replicated during 2007. Such growth was partially offset by incremental expenses during 2007 as compared to 2006.

 

Gross sales of VOIs at our vacation ownership business increased $250 million (14%) during 2007, driven principally by a 9% increase in tour flow and an 8% increase in VPG. Tour flow was positively impacted by the continued development of our in-house sales programs and the opening of new sales locations. VPG benefited from a favorable tour mix, improved efficiency in our upgrade program and higher pricing. Net revenues were impacted during 2007 by (i) $57 million of incremental property management fees primarily as a result of growth in the number of units under management and (ii) $21 million of increased ancillary revenues resulting from higher VOI sales. Such revenue increases were partially offset by an increase of $46 million in our provision for loan losses primarily due to higher financed VOI sales during 2007 as compared to 2006. During both 2007 and 2006, gross sales of VOIs were reduced by $22 million of revenue that is deferred under the percentage of completion method of accounting. Under the percentage of completion method of accounting, a portion of the total revenue from a vacation ownership contract sale is not recognized if the construction of the vacation resort has not yet been fully completed. Such revenue will be recognized in future periods in proportion to the costs incurred as compared to the total expected costs for completion of construction of the vacation resort. Due to the strong sales pace and the timing of product construction, we anticipate an increase in deferred revenue of approximately $40 – $100 million during 2008. This deferred revenue is expected to be realized during future periods and there is no impact to our Consolidated Statement of Cash Flows.

 

In addition, net revenues and EBITDA increased $67 million and $27 million, respectively, during 2007 due to net interest income of $248 million earned on contract receivables during 2007 as compared to $221 million during 2006. Such increase was primarily due to growth in the portfolio, partially offset in EBITDA by higher interest costs during 2007. We incurred interest expense of $110 million on our securitized debt at a weighted average rate of 5.4% during 2007 compared to $70 million at a weighted average rate of 5.1% during 2006. Our net interest income margin decreased from 76% during 2006 to 69% during 2007 due to increased securitizations completed in 2007, a 36 basis point increase in interest rates, as described above, and approximately $32 million of increased average borrowings on our other securitized debt facilities during 2007 as compared to 2006. Our securitized debt increased by $618 million from December 31, 2006 to December 31, 2007, while our vacation ownership contract receivables increased by $564 million during the same periods. We were able to securitize a higher percentage of our vacation ownership contract receivables during 2007 as compared with 2006. Such improved borrowing efficiency against vacation ownership receivables shifted $13 million of what would have been interest expense below EBITDA into interest expense reflected within EBITDA, which decreased our net interest income margin. See Liquidity Risk for a description of the anticipated impact on our securitizations from the adverse conditions suffered by the United States asset-backed securities and commercial paper markets.

 

EBITDA further reflects an increase of approximately $306 million (18%) in operating, marketing and administrative expenses, exclusive of incremental interest expense on our securitized debt and the impact of the operational changes made in 2006 in conjunction with the adoption of SFAS No. 152, primarily resulting from (i) $78 million of increased cost of sales primarily associated with increased VOI sales, (ii) $72 million of incremental marketing expenses to support sales efforts, (iii) $48 million of additional commission expense associated with increased VOI sales, (iv) $44 million of increased costs related to the property management services, as discussed above, (v) $35 million of incremental costs primarily incurred to fund additional staffing needs to support continued growth in the business and (vi) $19 million of costs related to sales incentives awarded to owners.

Such increases were partially offset by a $9 million decrease in costs related to our separation from Cendant, primarily related to the absence of an impairment charge recorded during the fourth quarter of 2006 due to a rebranding initiative for our Fairfield and Trendwest trademarks. In addition, we recorded two items during the second quarter of 2007 related to a prior acquisition: an additional litigation settlement reserve of $7 million, partially offset by the reversal of a $5 million reserve due to the resolution of a vendor-related tax liability resulting from such acquisition. EBITDA also benefited from an $8 million pre-tax gain on the sale of certain vacation ownership properties and related assets during 2007 that were no longer consistent with our development plans. Such gain was recorded within other income, net on the Consolidated Statements of Income.

 

Our active development pipeline consists of approximately 4,000 units in 12 U.S. states, Washington D.C., Puerto Rico and four foreign countries. We expect the pipeline to support both new purchases of vacation ownership and upgrade sales to existing owners.

 

 

Corporate and Other expenses decreased $64 million in 2007 compared with 2006. Such decrease primarily includes (i) a $69 million decrease in separation and related costs due to the acceleration of vesting of Cendant equity awards and related equitable adjustments of such awards during the third quarter of 2006 and (ii) $46 million of a net benefit related to the resolution of and adjustment to certain liabilities and assets. Such amounts were partially offset by $55 million of incremental stand-alone, corporate costs, including personnel related and public company costs, incurred during 2007.

 

 

Interest expense increased $6 million during 2007 compared with the same period during 2006 primarily as a result of $42 million of incremental interest on the new borrowing arrangements that we entered into during July 2006 and December 2006, partially offset by (i) a decline of $18 million of interest on our vacation ownership asset-linked debt due to its elimination by our former Parent in July 2006, (ii) the absence of $11 million of interest on local taxes payable to certain foreign jurisdictions recorded during the second quarter of 2006 and (iii) a $7 million increase in capitalized interest at our vacation ownership business due to the increased development of vacation ownership inventory. Interest income decreased $21 million during 2007 compared with 2006 primarily as a result of a $24 million decrease in net interest income earned on advances between us and our former Parent, since those advances were eliminated upon our separation from Cendant, partially offset by a $5 million increase in interest income earned on invested cash balances as a result of an increase in cash available for investment.

 

 

Other income, net includes the $8 million pre-tax gain on the sale of certain vacation ownership properties and related assets, as discussed above, partially offset by $1 million primarily related to net losses from equity investments. All such amounts are included within our segment EBITDA results.

 

 

Our consolidated and combined results comprised the following:

 

During 2006, our net revenues increased $371 million (11%) principally due to (i) a $341 million increase in net sales of VOIs at our vacation ownership businesses primarily reflecting higher tour flow and an increase in VPG;

(ii) $109 million of incremental revenue generated by the acquisitions of the Wyndham Hotels and Resorts and Baymont Inn & Suites brands; (iii) a $57 million increase in net consumer financing revenues earned on vacation ownership contract receivables due primarily to growth in the portfolio; (iv) $41 million of incremental property management fees primarily as a result of growth in the number of units under management within our vacation ownership business; (v) a $31 million increase in net revenues from rental transactions primarily due to growth in rental transaction volume, an increase in the average net price per rental and the translation effects of foreign exchange movements, which favorably impacted rental revenues by $5 million; (vi) a $19 million increase in organic revenues in our lodging business, primarily due to RevPAR growth, partially offset by a decline in weighted average rooms; and (vii) a $19 million increase in annual dues and exchange revenues due to growth in the average number of members. These increases were partially offset by a decrease in revenues of $259 million as a result of the classification of the provision for loan losses as a reduction of revenues during the year ended December 31, 2006 in connection with the adoption of SFAS No. 152.

 

Total expenses increased $414 million (15%) principally reflecting (i) a $203 million increase in organic operating and administrative expenses primarily related to additional commission expense resulting from increased VOI sales, increased volume-related expenses and staffing costs due to growth in our vacation exchange and rentals call centers and vacation ownership business, increased costs related to the property management services that we provide at our vacation ownership business and increased interest expense on our securitized debt, which is included in operating expenses; (ii) $103 million of incremental expenses generated by the acquisitions of the Wyndham Hotels and Resorts and Baymont Inn & Suites brands; (iii) $99 million of costs related to our separation from Cendant; (iv) a $79 million increase in organic marketing and reservation expenses primarily resulting from increased marketing initiatives across all our businesses; (v) a $21 million charge recorded in the second quarter of 2006 related to local taxes payable to certain foreign jurisdictions within our European vacation rentals business; and (vi) the unfavorable impact of foreign currency translation on expenses of $6 million. These increases were partially offset by a decrease of (i) $128 million in provision for loan losses as a result of the reclassification of the provision for loan losses from expenses to net revenues required by the adoption of SFAS No. 152, which includes $12 million in 2005 to account for the impact of the hurricanes experienced in the Gulf Coast region of the U.S., and (ii) $24 million in cost of vacation ownership interests which was comprised of $115 million reduction of cost of sales of inventory as a result of our adoption of SFAS No. 152, partially offset by $91 million of increased cost of sales primarily associated with increased VOI sales.

 

The increase in depreciation and amortization of $17 million primarily resulted from an increase in information technology capital investments made in 2005, a trend that continued in 2006. Interest expense, net increased $41 million in 2006 primarily as a result of interest paid on our new borrowing arrangements resulting from our separation from Cendant and interest on local taxes payable to certain foreign jurisdictions, partially offset by increased capitalized interest at our vacation ownership business due to increased development of vacation ownership inventory. Our effective tax rate increased to 35.1% in 2006 from 31.2% in 2005 primarily due to the absence of an increase in the tax basis of certain foreign assets during 2005, partially offset by a $15 million benefit recognized in 2006 resulting from a change in our 2005 state effective tax rates.

 

We recorded an after tax charge of $65 million during the first quarter of 2006 as a cumulative effect of an accounting change related to the adoption of SFAS No. 152. Such charge consisted of (i) a pre-tax charge of $105 million representing the deferral of revenue, costs associated with sales of vacation ownership interests that were recognized prior to January 1, 2006 and the recognition of certain expenses that were previously deferred and (ii) an associated tax benefit of $40 million.

 

As a result of these items, our net income decreased $144 million (33%) during 2006 compared to 2005.

Following is a discussion of the results of each of our segments and interest expense (income), net: