Business: RLJ Lodging Trust is a hotel investment company focused on acquiring premium-branded, focused service and compact full-service hotels. The company invests in focused service and compact full-service hotels, which typically generate most of their revenue from room rentals, have limited food and beverage outlets and meeting space, and require fewer employees than larger hotels. Their hotels operate under well-recognized global brands, including Courtyard by Marriott, Residence Inn by Marriott, Hilton Garden Inn, Homewood Suites by Hilton, Hyatt Place and Embassy Suites. The properties are geographically diverse and concentrated in major urban areas and dense suburban markets that provide multiple demand generators by business, leisure and other travelers. At the same time, due to high construction costs in and the density of these markets, urban and suburban locales provide significant barriers to entry. The company is a self-advised and self administered Maryland real estate investment trust.