RLJ Lodging Trust (NYSE: RLJ) CFO receives 51,640 restricted shares grant

Rhea-AI Filing Summary

Bhalla Nikhil reported acquisition or exercise transactions in this Form 4 filing.

RLJ Lodging Trust senior executive Nikhil Bhalla, SVP, CFO & Treasurer, received a grant of 51,640 restricted common shares at $8.23 per share under the RLJ Lodging Trust 2021 Equity Incentive Plan. These shares vest ratably over three years on each anniversary of the grant date, bringing his direct holdings to 195,597 common shares.

SEC Form 4

FORM 4

UNITED STATES SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION
Washington, D.C. 20549

STATEMENT OF CHANGES IN BENEFICIAL OWNERSHIP

Filed pursuant to Section 16(a) of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934
or Section 30(h) of the Investment Company Act of 1940

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Check this box if no longer subject to Section 16. Form 4 or Form 5 obligations may continue. See Instruction 1(b).

Check this box to indicate that a transaction was made pursuant to a contract, instruction or written plan for the purchase or sale of equity securities of the issuer that is intended to satisfy the affirmative defense conditions of Rule 10b5-1(c). See Instruction 10.

1. Name and Address of Reporting Person^*

Bhalla Nikhil

(Last) (First) (Middle)

C/O RLJ LODGING TRUST

7373 WISCONSIN AVE., SUITE 1500

(Street)

BETHESDA MD 20814

(City) (State) (Zip)

2. Issuer Name and Ticker or Trading Symbol
RLJ Lodging Trust [ RLJ ]

5. Relationship of Reporting Person(s) to Issuer
(Check all applicable)

	Director		10% Owner
X	Officer (give title below)		Other (specify below)
	SVP, CFO & Treasurer

3. Date of Earliest Transaction (Month/Day/Year)
02/20/2026

4. If Amendment, Date of Original Filed (Month/Day/Year)

6. Individual or Joint/Group Filing (Check Applicable Line)

X	Form filed by One Reporting Person
	Form filed by More than One Reporting Person

Table I - Non-Derivative Securities Acquired, Disposed of, or Beneficially Owned
1. Title of Security (Instr. 3)	2. Transaction Date (Month/Day/Year)	2A. Deemed Execution Date, if any (Month/Day/Year)	3. Transaction Code (Instr. 8)		4. Securities Acquired (A) or Disposed Of (D) (Instr. 3, 4 and 5)			5. Amount of Securities Beneficially Owned Following Reported Transaction(s) (Instr. 3 and 4)	6. Ownership Form: Direct (D) or Indirect (I) (Instr. 4)	7. Nature of Indirect Beneficial Ownership (Instr. 4)
			Code	V	Amount	(A) or (D)	Price
Common Shares	02/20/2026		A		51,640(1)	A	$8.23	195,597	D

Table II - Derivative Securities Acquired, Disposed of, or Beneficially Owned (e.g., puts, calls, warrants, options, convertible securities)
1. Title of Derivative Security (Instr. 3)	2. Conversion or Exercise Price of Derivative Security	3. Transaction Date (Month/Day/Year)	3A. Deemed Execution Date, if any (Month/Day/Year)	4. Transaction Code (Instr. 8)		5. Number of Derivative Securities Acquired (A) or Disposed of (D) (Instr. 3, 4 and 5)		6. Date Exercisable and Expiration Date (Month/Day/Year)		7. Title and Amount of Securities Underlying Derivative Security (Instr. 3 and 4)		8. Price of Derivative Security (Instr. 5)	9. Number of derivative Securities Beneficially Owned Following Reported Transaction(s) (Instr. 4)	10. Ownership Form: Direct (D) or Indirect (I) (Instr. 4)	11. Nature of Indirect Beneficial Ownership (Instr. 4)
				Code	V	(A)	(D)	Date Exercisable	Expiration Date	Title	Amount or Number of Shares

Explanation of Responses:

1. These restricted shares, vesting ratably over three years on the yearly anniversary of the date of grant, were granted to the reporting person pursuant to the RLJ Lodging Trust 2021 Equity Incentive Plan.

	/s/ Leslie D. Hale, Attorney-in-Fact	02/24/2026
	** Signature of Reporting Person	Date
Reminder: Report on a separate line for each class of securities beneficially owned directly or indirectly.
* If the form is filed by more than one reporting person, see Instruction 4 (b)(v).
** Intentional misstatements or omissions of facts constitute Federal Criminal Violations See 18 U.S.C. 1001 and 15 U.S.C. 78ff(a).
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FAQ

What insider transaction did RLJ (RLJ Lodging Trust) report for Nikhil Bhalla?

RLJ Lodging Trust reported that SVP, CFO & Treasurer Nikhil Bhalla received a grant of 51,640 restricted common shares. The award was made at $8.23 per share and is part of the company’s 2021 Equity Incentive Plan, with shares vesting over three years.

Was the RLJ Form 4 transaction a purchase or an award of shares?

The RLJ Form 4 transaction was an award of restricted common shares, not an open-market purchase. The filing classifies it as a grant or other acquisition, reflecting equity compensation rather than a discretionary buy in the market.

What is the vesting schedule for Nikhil Bhalla’s RLJ restricted share grant?

The 51,640 restricted shares granted to Nikhil Bhalla vest ratably over three years. Vesting occurs on the yearly anniversary of the grant date, meaning one-third of the award becomes vested each year under the RLJ Lodging Trust 2021 Equity Incentive Plan.

How many RLJ common shares does Nikhil Bhalla hold after this Form 4 transaction?

After this award, Nikhil Bhalla directly holds 195,597 RLJ common shares. This total includes the newly granted restricted shares reported in the Form 4 and reflects his direct ownership following the equity grant under the 2021 plan.

Under which plan were the RLJ restricted shares granted to Nikhil Bhalla?

The restricted shares were granted under the RLJ Lodging Trust 2021 Equity Incentive Plan. This plan authorizes the company to issue equity-based awards such as restricted shares to executives, with Bhalla’s grant vesting annually over three years from the grant date.

What role does Nikhil Bhalla hold at RLJ Lodging Trust according to the Form 4?

According to the Form 4, Nikhil Bhalla serves as Senior Vice President, Chief Financial Officer and Treasurer of RLJ Lodging Trust. The reported grant of 51,640 restricted common shares represents part of his equity compensation package from the company.