Dalata Releases Results For Six Month Period That Ended On June 30, 2021

Dalata Hotel Group has released its results for the six month period that ended on June 30, 2021.

Results Report

A report published by Dalata stated, "Dalata Hotel Group plc ('Dalata' or the 'group'), the largest hotel operator in Ireland with a growing presence in the United Kingdom, announces its results for the six month period ended 30 June 2021.

 "PROTECTING OUR PEOPLE, CASH AND BUSINESS

• Hotels now fully reopened having remained operational for essential services throughout the period in line with government restrictions
• Positive Adjusted EBITDA of €1.4 million driven by strong operational management
• Cash outflow² of €24 million for the first six months
• Proactive working capital management and government support schemes allowed us to protect employment within the Group and preserve cash during periods of low occupancies
• Maintained engagement with our employees enabling the business to effectively ramp up with an engaged workforce as economies reopen

"WELL-POSITIONED FOR THE RECOVERY

• Increasing demand for staycations since hotels fully re-opened for leisure in May (UK) and June (ROI)
• Group occupancy³ of 44% in June 2021 - increasing to 58% in July and 68% in August
• Strong customer satisfaction scores since re-opening

"STRONG BALANCE SHEET PROVIDES SECURITY, FLEXIBILITY AND THE ENGINE FOR FUTURE GROWTH

• Robust balance sheet backed by €1.2 billion in property, plant and equipment (no significant change to property valuations since 31 December 2020)
• Liquidity remains strong with cash and undrawn committed debt facilities of €270 million at 30 June 2021
• Gearing remains conservative with net debt to value¹ of 27% (31 December 2020: 23%)

"REMAINING FOCUSED ON LONG-TERM GROWTH

• Current pipeline of over 2,600 rooms in prime locations which will see UK footprint surpass Dublin by 2025
• Opening of new Maldron Hotel Glasgow City in August 2021; further six hotels on track to open by May 2022
• Reputation with current and prospective landlords has been enhanced

"STRATEGIC AND OPERATING HIGHLIGHTS

"REOPENING DELIVERS STRONG RECOVERY

• Dalata hotels have fully reopened with trading improving markedly during the summer period. Our strategy to retain our core teams throughout the pandemic ensured a swift and smooth re-opening.
• The group earned positive adjusted EBITDA despite hotels only open for essential services for the majority of the period. The impact of reduced trading was mitigated through pro-active cost control measures and the utilisation of government supports.
• Really encouraging occupancy for the group of 44% in June, 58% in July and 68% in August as the recovery starts to take hold across all our markets. Occupancies at our Dublin and London hotels will remain lower until the return of international travel and large events, but this has been partially offset by staycations.

"RETENTION OF CORE TEAMS CRITICAL TO BUSINESS SUCCESS

• We continued to stay in constant contact with our people through our employee app and providing learning and development opportunities with over 44,000 courses completed on Dalata Online during the first six months of 2021. This ensured our people were well prepared and motivated when returning to work. This in turn allows us continue to provide our guests with the excellent Dalata experience they are accustomed to. Our hotels are achieving strong customer satisfaction scores since re-opening.
• We have renewed the accreditation of our Dalata Keep Safe Programme with Bureau Veritas, a world leader in health and safety testing, inspection and certification. This gives our guests, employees and suppliers the comfort that we are operating our hotels safely in line with best practice health and safety protocols.

"MAINTAINING STRONG CULTURE AND VALUES

• The board has appointed Dermot Crowley to succeed Pat McCann as CEO on 31 October 2021 following a rigorous selection process. Dermot has played a key role in the development of the business since 2012 and is committed to continuing to grow the business and protecting and enhancing the Dalata culture.
• Following Dermot's appointment as CEO, Carol Phelan was promoted to CFO. Since joining the business in 2014, Carol has been key member of the management team developing the finance and treasury function post IPO.
• The board, through the Nomination committee, is continuing to address the question of board composition. It is expected that a new non-executive director will be appointed before the end of 2021.
• ESG performance remains a top priority for management. We have accelerated our ESG initiatives despite the challenges from COVID-19 and are currently developing a 3-year ESG Strategy plan that will be launched by Q1 2022. Dalata achieved 36 gold and 8 silver awards with Green Tourism in 2021, representing significant progress on our 2019 scores.

"GROWTH STRATEGY REMAINS COMPELLING

• We opened our first hotel in Scotland, the 300-room Maldron Hotel Glasgow City in August. The hotel management team is made up of existing Dalata employees who will ensure that the Dalata culture and operating model are adopted from the outset.
• We are excited to open a further six hotels in Bristol, Manchester, Glasgow and Dublin between December this year and May 2022, totalling over 1,500 rooms. We have started the construction of Maldron Hotel Shoreditch in London. The remaining pipeline of four hotels, including one hotel in Ireland and three in the UK, are at the pre-construction phase. Our Acquisitions and Development team are continuously looking at opportunities to add to this pipeline.
• Dalata's robust balance sheet, backed by €1.2 billion of hotel assets, and strong financial position with cash and undrawn committed debt facilities of €293 million at the end of August, ensures the Group is well-positioned to avail of future opportunities for leases.
• We remain confident that our enhanced reputation as a strong reliable covenant will provide us with an advantage in securing new opportunities as we expand our pipeline in the future.

"UPDATED LTIP PERFORMANCE CONDITION

"In line with guidance from the Investment Association, the Group deferred the finalisation of the performance condition target ranges in respect of the 2021 share awards granted on 3 March 2021, in light of the uncertainty concerning future market conditions due to the impact of Covid-19. The Group confirms that the performance condition measures and targets in respect of the 2021 share awards made on 3 March 2021 are as set out below:

^A Total shareholder return (TSR) is measured against a bespoke comparator group of 20 listed peer companies in the travel and leisure sector. For performance between the median and upper quartile, vesting is determined by assessing between which two ranked companies Dalata's TSR falls and calculating vesting on a linear basis between the two companies.

^B Basic free cash flow per share (FCPS)¹ achieved in the year ending 31 December 2023. The adoption of FCPS instead of EPS (as initially set out in the annual report) follows careful consideration of the needs of the business as it recovers from the disruption of the pandemic and continues the execution of its growth strategy. We intend to consult with shareholders on this and other matters concerning the implementation of remuneration policy later this year.

"OUTLOOK

"Following the full reopening of the hospitality industry in May in the UK and June in Ireland, COVID-19 restrictions continue to be relaxed as the rollout of vaccines in both countries reaches an advanced stage with more than 60% of the entire population fully vaccinated in both countries. The UK has lifted many of the legal restrictions introduced to curb the spread of COVID-19. In Ireland non-essential international travel was permitted from 19 July but restrictions on large events remain in place. The Irish government has published a roadmap on the easing of the remaining COVID-19 restrictions with most restrictions expected to be lifted by 22 October.

"As expected, there was strong domestic demand for hotel stays once restrictions were lifted with occupancies improving month on month and hitting 68% in August. It is expected the improved trading environment will deliver an increase in earnings with adjusted EBITDA for July and August projected to be approximately €24 million. In addition, the group had combined cash resources and undrawn debt facilities of €293 million at the end of August 2021.

"While the emergence of new variants remains a threat, the progress being made on the rollout of vaccines across Europe and globally is very encouraging. The outlook for the near term remains uncertain at present. A strong recovery in domestic leisure is underway and we expect domestic corporate business to further recover this month given the progressive easing of restrictions. The timing of the recovery of international leisure and corporate travel is somewhat uncertain but the ongoing global rollout of vaccines is a very positive influencing factor. The recovery of international travel is important for our Dublin and London hotels.

"The group will continue to implement measures to combat the impact of COVID-19 on the business. In addition, our Acquisitions and Development team are assessing distressed opportunities as they arise. Our reputation as a strong reliable covenant has been enhanced through the course of the pandemic and we are confident that this will place Dalata in a stronger position to secure further growth opportunities.

"The group's asset backing and strong liquidity ensure it is well-positioned to withstand any remaining COVID-19 restrictions in 2021 and participate in the recovery of global tourism. The hospitality sector has historically shown tremendous resilience to recover from other demand shocks and crises. As a result, the board remain confident that Dalata is well placed to benefit with its strong balance sheet, young, well-invested portfolio and experienced and motivated teams at hotels and central office.

"Pat McCann, Dalata Hotel Group CEO, commented, 'I am pleased to report our hotels have successfully reopened to all guests in recent months. As a sense of normality returns to society, the demand for domestic leisure has increased across Ireland and the UK. Our people have skilfully managed the reopening and are once again providing our guests with an exceptional experience.

"'As I reflect on my time at Dalata, I am incredibly proud of what we have achieved as a group. Through good times and bad, the dedication and resilience shown by our teams has been admirable. This has never been tested to such a great degree as during the course of the last 18 months. Our values and beliefs have shone a light to guide us through this difficult time and we will come out the other side more confident than ever in our abilities and in how we operate our business. Our skilled and wonderful people will drive the business to new heights in the future.

"'It gives me great pleasure to be handing over the reins of the business to Dermot Crowley on 31 October 2021. Dermot has been instrumental in the development of the business and execution of our strategy since he joined in 2012 and has been selected by the Board to succeed me as CEO. I have known Dermot for over twenty years, and I am confident he will lead Dalata through the next phase of growth while maintaining the wonderful culture and people focus that we have built together at Dalata.

"'As I prepare to step aside from my time at Dalata, I will be watching its progress with great enthusiasm. The group has all the attributes to be a great success into the future, with superb people at its core. We are entering a period of great opportunity in the hotel industry. Dalata has a wonderful reputation with stakeholders across all areas of the business and is strongly positioned to take advantage of future opportunities in new and existing markets. I have full confidence in the Dalata team as it embarks on this pursuit.'

"Dermot Crowley, Dalata Hotel Group CEO designate, commented, 'I am honoured to have been chosen by the board to succeed Pat as CEO. I have known Pat for over 20 years, during which he has given me great guidance and support which I hugely appreciate. I plan to continue to uphold the strong culture and values we have built together at Dalata.

"'The rollout of vaccines in both Ireland, the UK and globally has been very encouraging to date. International travel in Ireland returned on 19 July and restrictions were relaxed in the UK earlier in the summer. This is an important development as our hotels in Dublin and London require the return of international travel for occupancies to recover more substantially.

"'The Irish and UK governments have provided tremendous supports to the hospitality industry over the last 18 months which have greatly helped us in weathering this crisis and protecting employment. As the hospitality industry begins to recover and these supports unwind, it is important to bear in mind that it will take some time for the industry to fully recover. One key support has been the reduced VAT rate of 9% in Ireland which should be extended further to support the industry and the large number of jobs that depend on it.

"'Our HR team have been instrumental in building a strong framework around how we recruit, retain and develop our people. Our Dalata Academy and the wealth of training opportunities available within the organisation allows our people to constantly grow and develop, making Dalata a great place to work in the hospitality industry in both Ireland and the UK. I am delighted to reveal that 2021 will see our largest ever graduate intake.

"'ESG considerations continue to be front and centre of everything we do at Dalata and we have made further progress in this area in the last six months. We believe that embedding sustainability across all areas of the business will give us a competitive advantage in the future. Following a rigorous tendering process, we have partnered with a leading ESG Advisory firm to support the development of our 3-year ESG Strategy plan which will be launched by Q1 2022. Our ESG strategy plan will be aligned with best practice and will bring together and complement our current actions and objectives. We are also committed to setting climate targets that align with TCFD (Task Force on Climate-Related Financial Disclosures). I am delighted that our hotels received 36 gold and 8 silver awards with Green Tourism in 2021 representing significant progress on our previous results. This provides us with a solid platform across all hotels from which we can build and improve.

"'Our financial position remains very strong and we have protected our cash through strong operational management, cutting non-essential costs and availing of government supports. Our asset backed balance sheet has continued to serve us well and will give us great flexibility and security as we look at opportunities that begin to arise.

"'I am delighted that we have opened our first hotel in Scotland with the Maldron Hotel Glasgow City on 3 August. This 300-room hotel is ideally located on Renfrew Street in the city centre. The project was successfully managed by our Acquisitions and Development team in conjunction with our development partners, before handing over to the management team at the hotel. As is the case with all our new hotels, the senior management team was promoted from within the group, highlighting our ability to provide our people with opportunities to grow and develop within Dalata while de-risking the execution of our growth plans.

"'We will add a further six hotels to the Dalata portfolio between December 2021 and May 2022. This includes our first ever hotel in Bristol, two hotels in Manchester city centre, a Clayton Hotel in Glasgow to complement our existing Maldron hotel in the city and two hotels in Dublin. These new openings along with the future openings planned for 2023 and 2024 are transforming our portfolio. Our teams will continue to work on sourcing and securing additional projects to add to our pipeline in the future.'"

Additional Crowley Statements

Additionally, Crowley reportedly told The Irish Independent, "As I take over as CEO, I’d be very disappointed in my term if we don't establish some sort of presence in Europe."

Crowley reported added, "It is something we're looking at. It's very much an educational process, but we wouldn't be afraid to take an opportunity on in Europe. That kind of acquisition and development in terms of deals is very dependent on people meeting face to face. That will take a while to get all that up and running again."

Crowley reportedly also said that it is still too difficult to predict how demand will play out in the short term, and, "It's so hard to predict. If you told me we'd get close to 60% occupancy in August back at the start of June, I wouldn't have believed it. The strength of the domestic market was far stronger than what we would have expected. You'll naturally see a reduction in domestic demand with the kids back at school during the week. The weekends, we would still expect to be strong."

Executive Director Stephen McNally To Retire From Company

Dalata has also announced that executive director Stephen McNally will retire from the company.

In a separate statement published by the group, Dalata said, "Dalata Hotel Group plc ('Dalata' or the 'group' or the 'company'), the largest hotel operator in Ireland with a growing presence in the United Kingdom, announces that group deputy chief executive officer Stephen McNally has informed the board of his intention to retire from his executive role and the board. Mr. McNally was a founding executive of Dalata and has held his current position since 2007.

"Mr. McNally will remain in his executive position as the Group completes a succession process and will step down from the board in early 2022.

"John Hennessy, group chairman commented, 'Stephen has played a central role in the success of Dalata, joining the business as a founding executive in 2007 and acting as a key figure in our leadership team for 14 years. He has been instrumental in the development of Dalata across Ireland and the UK and ensuring the business's effective operation during its growth to a portfolio of over 9,500 rooms at 45 hotels. He has also been essential to developing and maintaining the strong culture we see in the Company today. Stephen has been a tremendous contributor as a senior executive and a director, and he will be missed by colleagues in Dalata and across our Clayton, Maldron and partner hotels.

"'On behalf of the board, I would like to acknowledge our deep and sincere appreciation for his dedication and commitment to the group and wish him well for the future.'

"Pat McCann, group CEO added, 'I have worked with Stephen for over thirty years initially in Jurys and later in Dalata where Stephen became one of the founding directors. Not alone has he been a colleague over all those years, he is also my friend. His passion and commitment to Dalata and its people has played a big part in the success of the group. Without him, Dalata would be a much poorer place.

"'I would like to say a big thank you to Stephen for all the support he has given me over the many years and wish him well in whatever direction life takes him over the coming years. He still has a lot to offer. I am sure his wife, Edel, his daughter, Roisin, and son, Luke, are looking forward to seeing much more of him.'

"Dermot Crowley, group CEO designate added, 'I would like to sincerely thank Stephen for the huge contribution that he has made to Dalata since he joined Pat to launch the company back in 2007. It has been a pleasure to work with Stephen over the last nine years. He leaves behind a very strong operations team, for which I am very grateful. I wish Stephen and his family the very best for the future.''

"Stephen McNally concluded, 'After much careful thought and consideration, I have decided to retire from Dalata. It has been a privilege to have been part of this wonderful organisation for 14 years, as a founding executive and board member. I have had an extremely fulfilling career with Dalata and I am immensely proud of what we have built and the culture we have created.

"'I would like to take this opportunity to thank the board, past and present, for their support over the years and in particular, I would like to wish Dermot Crowley the best of luck in his new role as CEO.'"

© 2021 Hospitality Ireland – your source for the latest industry news. Article by Dave Simpson. Click subscribe to sign up for the Hospitality Ireland print edition.