Executive at RLJ Lodging Trust (NYSE: RLJ) receives 103,280-share award

Rhea-AI Filing Summary

RLJ Lodging Trust reported that EVP and COO Thomas Bardenett acquired 103,280 common shares through a grant/award on February 20, 2026. The award was priced at $8.23 per share and consists of restricted shares that vest ratably over three years on each yearly anniversary of the grant date.

Following this equity grant under the RLJ Lodging Trust 2021 Equity Incentive Plan, Bardenett’s direct holdings increased to 487,435 common shares, aligning a portion of his compensation with the company’s long-term performance.

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^*

Bardenett Thomas

(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)
	EVP and COO

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		103,280(1)	A	$8.23	487,435	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).
Note: File three copies of this Form, one of which must be manually signed. If space is insufficient, see Instruction 6 for procedure.
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FAQ

What insider transaction did RLJ Lodging Trust EVP and COO Thomas Bardenett report?

Thomas Bardenett reported an acquisition of 103,280 RLJ Lodging Trust common shares via an equity award. The shares were granted as restricted stock and form part of his compensation package, increasing his direct ownership stake in the company.

How many RLJ (RLJ Lodging Trust) shares does Thomas Bardenett own after this Form 4?

After the reported grant, Thomas Bardenett directly owns 487,435 RLJ Lodging Trust common shares. This total reflects the addition of 103,280 restricted shares awarded on February 20, 2026, under the company’s 2021 Equity Incentive Plan.

What type of shares did RLJ Lodging Trust grant to EVP and COO Thomas Bardenett?

RLJ Lodging Trust granted restricted common shares to Thomas Bardenett. These 103,280 restricted shares vest ratably over three years, on each yearly anniversary of the February 20, 2026 grant, under the RLJ Lodging Trust 2021 Equity Incentive Plan.

At what price were the RLJ Lodging Trust shares granted to Thomas Bardenett?

The 103,280 restricted common shares granted to Thomas Bardenett were valued at $8.23 per share. This grant reflects a non-cash equity award structure rather than an open-market purchase, aligning compensation with RLJ Lodging Trust’s share performance.

How do the RLJ Lodging Trust restricted shares granted to Thomas Bardenett vest?

The restricted shares granted to Thomas Bardenett vest ratably over three years. Vesting occurs on each yearly anniversary of the February 20, 2026 grant date, tying the realization of this equity compensation to continued service and long-term company performance.

Under which plan were the RLJ Lodging Trust shares granted to EVP and COO Thomas Bardenett?

The award to Thomas Bardenett was granted under the RLJ Lodging Trust 2021 Equity Incentive Plan. This plan provides restricted share grants that vest over time, supporting long-term alignment between executive compensation and shareholder interests.