As Ed Watkins pointed out yesterday, first-quarter results of Marriott, Wyndham, Starwood and Choice weren't good despite efforts to paint a positive spin. Choice, at the opposite end of the spectrum in offerings as Starwood, posted the best results of the four, at least by RevPAR standards. The economy and midscale franchisor saw domestic system-wide RevPAR fall 10.3 percent, not good, but better than the domestic results for Wyndham (13.4 percent), Marriott (16.2 percent) and Starwood (22.8 percent).
Choice's net income was off 12 percent and it projected a 16 percent drop in RevPAR for the second quarter. The news wasn't good for any of the lodging companies, but it certainly wasn't unexpected. Although all four did beat most financial analysts expectations, whatever that means.