Company Description
Ashford Hospitality Trust, Inc. (AHT) is a real estate investment trust (REIT) that focuses on investing predominantly in upper upscale, full-service hotels. According to company disclosures and recent press releases, its portfolio consists of hotel properties in the United States, and the business is organized around owning and financing hotel real estate rather than operating a diversified mix of unrelated asset types.
The company is incorporated in Maryland and its common stock trades on the New York Stock Exchange under the symbol AHT. Ashford Hospitality Trust describes itself as a REIT with a focus on upper upscale, full-service hotels, which reflects a strategy centered on higher-quality lodging assets. The company has historically owned hotels that operate under well-known global brands, and it has engaged in transactions to acquire, develop, refinance, and sell hotel properties through its subsidiaries and operating partnership structures.
Business model and hotel investment focus
Ashford Hospitality Trust’s business model, as described in public information, is based on direct hotel investments. The company invests in hotel properties and related real estate, with an emphasis on upper upscale, full-service hotels. Its activities include acquiring and disposing of hotel assets, refinancing mortgage loans secured by hotels, and managing its capital structure through common and preferred equity and secured debt.
In its Polygon profile and other disclosures, Ashford Hospitality Trust is identified as a REIT that invests in full-service upscale and upper-upscale hotel properties in the U.S. The company owns and operates its assets through Ashford Hospitality Limited Partnership, and its hotels operate under major lodging brands. Ashford’s primary segment is described as Direct Hotel Investments, through which it owns hotels by acquisition or development.
The company’s disclosed revenue streams include room revenue, food and beverage revenue, and other revenue, with room revenue accounting for the majority of total revenue. This reflects a typical lodging REIT structure in which income is derived from hotel operations at properties in the portfolio, while the REIT itself focuses on ownership, financing, and strategic decisions around those assets.
Capital structure, preferred stock, and financing
Ashford Hospitality Trust uses a combination of common equity, multiple series of preferred equity, and secured mortgage financing to fund its hotel investments. The company has several series of preferred stock listed on the New York Stock Exchange, including Series D, F, G, H, and I preferred stock, with separate trading symbols disclosed in its SEC filings. It has also issued non-traded and redeemable preferred stock series such as Series J, K, L, and M, which are referenced in its dividend and redemption announcements.
Recent SEC filings and press releases describe actions related to the company’s capital structure and financing arrangements. For example, an 8-K filed on January 12, 2026, and an accompanying press release report that Ashford Hospitality Trust extended its Highland mortgage loan secured by 18 hotels, with a final maturity date of July 9, 2026. As a condition to the extension, the loan was partially paid down. The same disclosure notes that the company suspended preferred dividends on multiple series of preferred stock to preserve liquidity while it evaluates strategic alternatives, with previously declared but unpaid dividends accruing in accordance with governing documents.
In another 8-K, the company reports a refinancing of the mortgage loan secured by the Renaissance Nashville Hotel. The new loan is described as a non-recourse, interest-only facility with a floating rate over SOFR and a multi-year term with extension options, replacing a prior loan with a higher spread. This illustrates Ashford Hospitality Trust’s use of secured, property-level financing and its focus on managing interest expense and maturity profiles.
Hotel portfolio transactions and asset sales
Ashford Hospitality Trust regularly evaluates its portfolio and has engaged in sales of individual hotels and small portfolios. Press releases and corresponding 8-K filings describe several transactions:
- The company signed definitive agreements to sell Le Pavillon, New Orleans, a Tribute Portfolio Hotel, the Embassy Suites by Hilton Austin Arboretum, and the Embassy Suites by Hilton Houston Near the Galleria, with the stated goal of deleveraging the balance sheet, improving cash flow after debt service, and reducing future capital expenditure obligations.
- An 8-K dated October 20, 2025, reports completion of the sale of the Residence Inn San Diego Sorrento Mesa in San Diego, California, following an earlier agreement to sell the property. The company’s press release describes the sale as part of an ongoing strategy to deleverage the portfolio and increase financial flexibility.
- A press release on August 25, 2025, describes the sale of the Hilton Houston NASA Clear Lake in Houston, Texas, and the Residence Inn Evansville East in Evansville, Indiana. The company states that these transactions are intended to reduce leverage, improve loan coverage metrics, and increase portfolio cash flow after debt service.
Across these disclosures, Ashford Hospitality Trust emphasizes that strategic asset sales are an important component of its plan to reduce debt and manage its hotel portfolio, while also referencing an internal effort, GRO AHT, aimed at driving increased performance.
External advisory relationship
Ashford Hospitality Trust is externally advised. SEC filings describe an Advisory Agreement among Ashford Hospitality Trust, Ashford Hospitality Limited Partnership, Ashford TRS Corporation, Ashford Inc., and Ashford Hospitality Advisors LLC. An 8-K dated December 30, 2025, notes that Ashford Inc. and Ashford Hospitality Advisors LLC delivered written notice electing to extend the term of the Third Amended and Restated Advisory Agreement for an additional ten-year term beginning in 2031 and expiring in 2041, with all terms and conditions remaining in effect subject to certain fee renegotiation provisions.
Another 8-K dated December 9, 2025, details a retention agreement and related limited waiver under the Advisory Agreement involving the company’s President and Chief Executive Officer and the external advisor. These filings highlight that Ashford Hospitality Trust’s management, compensation, and certain strategic decisions are structured through its relationship with its external advisor.
Strategic alternatives and corporate governance actions
Ashford Hospitality Trust has publicly disclosed that its Board of Directors formed a Special Committee to evaluate strategic alternatives. A press release dated December 9, 2025, and the related 8-K state that the Special Committee of independent and disinterested directors is authorized to evaluate the availability of strategic alternatives involving the company to create and enhance value for stockholders, including a potential transaction. In conjunction with this process, the company terminated the primary offering of its Series L and M Redeemable Preferred Stock and suspended redemptions for all outstanding non-traded preferred stock series.
The same period includes the adoption of a Rights Agreement designed to preserve the company’s tax attributes. An 8-K dated December 16, 2025, describes a dividend of one preferred share purchase right for each outstanding share of common stock, with the Rights Agreement intended to prevent a substantial limitation on the company’s ability to use its tax benefits under Section 382 of the Internal Revenue Code. The filing explains key terms such as the definition of an “Acquiring Person,” the distribution date for the rights, flip-in and flip-over triggers, exchange provisions, redemption terms, and the expiration date of the rights.
Dividends and preferred stock activity
Ashford Hospitality Trust has multiple preferred stock series with distinct dividend terms. A press release dated October 14, 2025, details quarterly and monthly dividends declared on the company’s Series D, F, G, H, I, J, K, L, and M preferred stock for the fourth quarter of 2025, including the timing of payments and record dates. The release also discloses the number of shares outstanding for several preferred series as of September 30, 2025.
Subsequently, the January 13, 2026, press release and the related 8-K report that the company suspended preferred dividends, including dividends previously declared for recordholders of Series D, F, G, H, I, J, K, L, and M preferred stock that were payable on January 15, 2026. The company states that this suspension is intended to preserve liquidity while it evaluates strategic alternatives, and that previously declared but unpaid dividends will accrue in accordance with the applicable governing documents. The company indicates that it intends to pay these dividends as soon as reasonably practicable and will continue to evaluate potential future dividends on a quarterly basis.
Earnings releases and investor communications
Ashford Hospitality Trust regularly communicates with investors through earnings releases and conference calls. Press releases dated September 17, 2025, and January 7, 2026, describe plans for third and fourth quarter earnings releases and conference calls, including call details and references to webcasts hosted on the company’s website. An 8-K dated November 4, 2025, includes the company’s third quarter 2025 earnings release as an exhibit, and a subsequent 8-K dated November 5, 2025, attaches the transcript of the related earnings conference call.
These communications provide updates on operating performance, portfolio activity, and capital structure, and they are referenced in SEC filings under Items 2.02, 7.01, and 9.01 as results of operations, Regulation FD disclosures, and exhibits.
Regulatory filings and listing information
In multiple 8-K filings, Ashford Hospitality Trust identifies itself as a Maryland corporation with a Commission File Number of 001-31775 and an Internal Revenue Service employer identification number of 86-1062192. The filings list the company’s principal executive offices in Dallas, Texas (with a zip code provided in the filings) and confirm that the company’s common stock and several preferred stock series are registered under Section 12(b) of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934 and listed on the New York Stock Exchange.
The company indicates that it is not an emerging growth company, as defined in the relevant SEC rules. Its periodic and current reports, including 8-K filings related to asset sales, financing transactions, advisory arrangements, and corporate governance actions, offer insight into the company’s ongoing operations and strategic decisions as a lodging-focused REIT.
FAQs about Ashford Hospitality Trust, Inc. (AHT)
- What type of company is Ashford Hospitality Trust?
Ashford Hospitality Trust, Inc. is a real estate investment trust (REIT) focused on investing predominantly in upper upscale, full-service hotels. Public descriptions and press releases consistently refer to it as a hotel-focused REIT. - Where is Ashford Hospitality Trust incorporated and where are its shares listed?
According to its SEC filings, Ashford Hospitality Trust is incorporated in Maryland. Its common stock is registered under Section 12(b) of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934 and trades on the New York Stock Exchange under the symbol AHT, alongside several series of preferred stock. - How does Ashford Hospitality Trust generate revenue?
Based on its company profile, Ashford Hospitality Trust’s revenue streams include room revenue, food and beverage revenue, and other revenue from its hotel properties, with room revenue accounting for the majority of total revenue. - What is the focus of Ashford Hospitality Trust’s hotel portfolio?
The company states that it is focused on investing predominantly in upper upscale, full-service hotels in the United States. Its properties have operated under major hotel brands, and its primary business segment is described as Direct Hotel Investments. - What recent strategic steps has Ashford Hospitality Trust taken?
Recent press releases and 8-K filings report that the Board formed a Special Committee to evaluate strategic alternatives, including a potential transaction, and that the company has engaged in strategic asset sales and refinancing of hotel mortgage loans to deleverage its balance sheet and manage liquidity. - Has Ashford Hospitality Trust made changes to its preferred stock dividends?
Yes. A press release and 8-K dated January 13, 2026, state that the company suspended preferred dividends on multiple series, including dividends previously declared for recordholders as of December 31, 2025, in order to preserve liquidity while strategic alternatives are evaluated. The company indicates that these dividends will accrue under the terms of the governing documents. - What is the Rights Agreement adopted by Ashford Hospitality Trust?
An 8-K dated December 16, 2025, describes a Rights Agreement under which the company declared a dividend of one preferred share purchase right for each outstanding share of common stock. The agreement is designed to help preserve the company’s tax benefits by discouraging ownership changes that could limit the use of tax attributes under Section 382 of the Internal Revenue Code. - How is Ashford Hospitality Trust managed and advised?
Ashford Hospitality Trust is externally advised. SEC filings describe a Third Amended and Restated Advisory Agreement among the company, its operating partnership and TRS, Ashford Inc., and Ashford Hospitality Advisors LLC. An 8-K dated December 30, 2025, notes that the advisor elected to extend the term of this agreement for an additional ten-year period beginning in 2031. - What kinds of transactions has Ashford Hospitality Trust completed recently?
Recent 8-K filings and press releases describe the sale of hotels such as Le Pavillon in New Orleans, Residence Inn San Diego Sorrento Mesa, Hilton Houston NASA Clear Lake, and Residence Inn Evansville East, as well as refinancing of the mortgage loan on the Renaissance Nashville Hotel. These actions are presented as part of the company’s efforts to deleverage and improve cash flow. - Does Ashford Hospitality Trust provide guidance or forward-looking statements?
Company press releases and SEC filings include forward-looking statements and cautionary language under federal securities regulations. They note that statements about strategy, future plans, and anticipated outcomes are subject to risks and uncertainties and are made pursuant to safe harbor provisions.