Viceroy Hotels Ltd Q2 FY2026 Concall Summary & Transcript Notes

Source transcript PDF: https://www.stockscans.in/document/htbdaj4wsqt3qwgpqzlgw2iw.pdf

# 1. Financial Performance

## A. Key Figures
   * **Total Income:** **₹31.86 Cr** Q2 FY26 · **₹58.31 Cr** H1 FY26
   * EBITDA: ₹8.82 Cr Q2 FY26 (27.7% margin) · ₹13.64 Cr H1 FY26 (23.4% margin)
   * Profit Before Tax: ₹4.68 Cr H1 FY26 · ₹4.3 Cr Q2 FY26
   * Profit After Tax: ₹1.36 Cr H1 FY26 · ₹4.38 Cr Q2 FY26

## B. Revenue & EBITDA
   *   **Renovation-Driven Headwinds:** Revenue and EBITDA declines in Q2 and H1 primarily due to Courtyard renovation, including facade work rendering rooms unsellable.
   *   **Resilient Margins:** EBITDA margins remained stable despite courtyard occupancy below **50%** of prior-year levels, underscoring strong cost discipline.
   *   **Near-Term ROI Outlook:** Renovation payback expected in **under 2–3 years**, supported by facility upgrades and higher anticipated ADRs.

## C. Profitability Trends
   *   **PAT Volatility:** Q2 PAT declined sharply despite marginal PBT, driven by a **deferred tax adjustment**—management noted need for further clarification.
   *   **Lower Financing Costs:** Interest expenses reduced following refinancing via Kotak and repayment of promoter loan, with new rate at **25% lower**; most interest now capitalized on capex.

## D. Cash Flow Strength
   *   **Cash Flow Resilience:** H1 operating cash flows improved YoY despite lower reported profits, reflecting effective working capital and cost management during renovations.

## E. Balance Sheet Update
   *   **CIRP Completion:** Viceroy Hotels successfully exited CIRP process post-Resolution Plan approval (Oct 2023), settling all obligations ahead of schedule—a key milestone in turnaround.

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# 2. Occupancy & Pricing

## A. Key Figures
   *   **ADR:** **₹6,620** Marriott Q2 (+9%) · **₹6,837** Courtyard Q2 (+13%) · **₹6,807** Marriott H1 (+11%) · **₹6,748** Courtyard H1 (+14%)
   *   **RevPAR:** **₹4,726** Marriott Q2 · **₹2,156** Courtyard Q2 · **₹3,794** combined Q2 · **₹3,803** combined H1
   * Occupancy: 71.4% Marriott Q2 · 31.5% Courtyard Q2 · 56.9% combined Q2 · 56% combined H1

## B. ADR Growth
   *   **Pricing Power Intact:** Strong double-digit ADR growth across brands, sustained by limited competition and a near-monopoly in the five-star segment.
   *   **Value-Enhancing Upgrades:** Full room renovations—not just refurbishments—support durable rate increases by delivering modern, premium guest experiences.
   *   **Ancillary Revenue Potential:** Launch of a larger, higher-quality spa expected to boost **average per capita spending** on amenities.

## C. RevPAR Trends
   *   **Structural Demand Advantage:** Persistent demand-supply gap in Hyderabad’s luxury segment enables pricing and occupancy upside, underpinning RevPAR resilience.
   *   **Portfolio Resilience:** Combined RevPAR held steady in H1 despite significant renovation-related disruptions, signaling strong underlying demand.

## D. Occupancy Rates
   *   **Seasonal Rebound Expected:** Occupancy set to rise sharply in Q3 and Q4 on the back of festive and wedding season demand, aided by inventory normalization post-renovation.
   *   **Marriott Partnership Leverage:** Viceroy benefits from Marriott’s global operating standards and **Bonvoy loyalty program**, driving sequential occupancy improvement.

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# 3. Renovation & Capacity

## A. Key Figures
   *   **New Capacity:** **+56 rooms** (Courtyard) · **168 rooms** fully operational by Nov 30
   *   **Phase Two Budget:** **₹30–35 Cr** for Convention Center + partial refurbishment
   *   **Convention Center:** **20,000 sq. ft.** expansion · Start Apr 1, 2026 · Completion by Sep 30, 2026
   *   **Room Refurbishment:** **168 of 295 rooms** to be completed by Mar 31, 2027

## B. Phase One Completion
   *   **Substantial Delivery:** Phase One largely complete with **+56 rooms**, spa, gym, rooftop restaurant, and pool now open or nearing completion, enhancing asset quality.
   *   **Minimal Disruption Strategy:** Phased refurbishment of 295 rooms limits downtime to **20–30 rooms at a time**, preserving revenue flow.
   *   **Modernization Push:** Facility upgrades—including what management calls one of **Hyderabad’s best spas**—align with international standards to boost competitiveness.

## C. Phase Two Plan
   *   **MICE-Focused Expansion:** Phase Two centers on a **20,000 sq. ft. Convention Center** to capture high-growth MICE demand, with construction set to begin April 2026.
   *   **Staged Execution:** Full room refurbishment will be staggered, with **168 rooms** to be upgraded by mid-FY27, minimizing revenue impact through controlled pacing.
   *   **Offset Strategy:** Revenue from the newly completed Courtyard building will help **mitigate occupancy and event revenue loss** during Convention Center development.

## D. Greenfield Progress
   *   **Madhapur Greenfield in Motion:** Project advancing through land-use conversion and design phase, with construction to start immediately upon regulatory approval.
   *   **Strategic Portfolio Mix:** Growth strategy balances **Greenfield developments** and **Brownfield acquisitions**, targeting prime assets in high-demand micro markets.
   *   **Brand & Location Focus:** Future projects will partner with **international operators like Marriott**, focusing on business traveler demand and **Tier 1/Tier 2 city opportunities**.

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# 4. Segment & Revenue Mix

## A. Key Figures
   *   **F&B Revenue Mix:** **45%** of total revenue
   *   **Room Inventory:** **463 rooms** across two flagship properties · **56 newly added rooms** at Courtyard by Marriott
   *   **Convention Center Size:** **10,000 sq. ft.** current · **20,000 sq. ft.** planned post-expansion
   *   **Banquet Space:** **Nearly 10,000 sq. ft.** in CBD

## B. F&B Contribution
   *   **Core Revenue Driver:** F&B remains a dominant segment, contributing nearly half of total revenue, with plans to optimize performance toward a **40% contribution benchmark** despite current overperformance.
   *   **Demand Momentum:** H2 saw stronger footfall in Hyderabad, boosting conference activity and driving **robust F&B revenue growth** and higher facility utilization.

## C. MICE & Events
   *   **Strategic Growth Vector:** MICE positioned as a cornerstone segment, with expansion of the Convention Center expected to elevate its contribution toward a **close to 50% target**, reinforcing the property’s identity as the **Marriott Convention Center**.

## D. Room Inventory
   *   **Supply Advantage:** Operations concentrated in Hyderabad’s CBD, where **limited new supply** and **high land costs** create a structural barrier to entry, supporting pricing power and occupancy.
   *   **Operational Resilience:** Recent room additions enhance capacity buffer, ensuring maintenance cycles of **20–30 rooms** do not constrain available inventory or service delivery.
   *   **Related-Party Land Lease:** Land is owned by relatives of the MD and leased at **25% EBITDA-based rent**, with transaction affirmed as arm’s length and duly approved.

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# 5. Demand & Market Trends

## A. Key Figures
   *   **Demand Growth:** **10–12%** annual growth in mid-segment and upper-scale categories in Hyderabad
   *   **Supply Growth:** **3–4%** annual increase in non-luxury hotel supply in Hyderabad

## B. Corporate Travel
   *   **Favorable Macro Backdrop:** Robust economic growth, rising incomes, and strong domestic consumption underpin sustained hospitality demand.
   *   **Hyderabad as a Business Hub:** City’s prominence in IT and pharma, along with expanding Grade A office space and global capability centers, drives resilient corporate travel.
   *   **Strategic Segment Shift:** Management pivoting toward business-oriented hotels amid relatively weaker luxury demand, capitalizing on stable corporate mobility trends.
   *   **Geopolitical Resilience:** Temporary Q1 corporate cancellations due to global tensions had minimal impact, with swift recovery post-stabilization.

## C. Leisure & Weddings
   *   **Leisure and MICE Momentum:** Rising consumer appetite for travel, improved connectivity, and growing MICE activity are boosting demand, particularly in Hyderabad.
   *   **Wedding Destination Play:** Expansion enhances convention capacity and room inventory, positioning the property as a major social events and wedding hub.
   *   **Portfolio Diversification Explored:** Company evaluating entry into tourist and vacation-centric destinations, including Tiger Reserves for resort development, though subject to seasonality risks.

## D. Supply-Demand Gap
   *   **Pronounced Imbalance in Hyderabad:** Demand growing at double-digit rates while supply expands at less than half the pace, creating a structural supply-demand gap.
   *   **Pricing Power Intact:** Limited new supply over the next five years supports strong **RevPAR and ADR growth**, enhancing profitability for established players.
   *   **Seasonality in New Markets:** Resort opportunities in Tiger Reserves show promise due to high ADRs, but require disciplined site selection and cost control.
   *   **Operational Timing Advantage:** Ramp-up aligns with seasonally strongest quarters, providing near-term tailwinds to performance.

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# 6. Risks & Operational Pressures

## A. Renovation Impact
   *   **Revenue Disruption Ahead:** Phase two upgrade of the Convention Center to weigh on near-term revenue due to loss of leasing income and lower room occupancy.

## B. Cost Inflation
   *   **Margin Pressure Mounts:** Hospitality margins face headwinds from rising **food, beverage, staff, energy, compliance, and maintenance costs**.
   *   **Cost Mitigation Underway:** Multi-year focus on upgrading **back-of-house MEP systems** aimed at reducing structural operating expenses.

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# 7. Guidance & Outlook

## A. Key Figures
   *   **Growth Target:** **5–7%** near-term · **10%** aspirational (vs. industry 7–8% CAGR)
   *   **EBITDA Margin Target:** **>30%** portfolio-level (vs. **28%** prior year)

## B. Growth Target
   *   **Strategic Renovations Driving Long-Term Growth:** Phased upgrades, including Courtyard completion by **Q3 FY26**, are designed to boost ADR, occupancy, and revenue growth while minimizing disruption.
   *   **Seasonal Leverage Ahead:** Business is positioned to capture significantly stronger demand in **Q3 and Q4**, with Q2 strategically used to absorb renovation impacts ahead of expected rebound.
   *   **Outperformance Ambition:** Despite near-term headwinds from renovations, company targets to exceed industry growth trends over the medium term through enhanced asset quality and operating leverage.

## C. Margin Expectations
   *   **Margin Expansion Pathway:** Targeting EBITDA margins above **30%** driven by back-of-the-house efficiency gains and reduced cost outliers from modernized infrastructure.
   *   **Long-Term Asset Enhancement:** The upgraded **463-room facility** with a modern convention center is expected to structurally support higher margins and sustainable profitability.