DOW JONES NEWSWIRES 
 

Host Hotels & Resorts Inc. (HST) swung to a second-quarter loss on write-downs as demand tumbled with consumers and businesses continuing to cut spending.

That prompted the real-estate investment trust to lower its 2009 earnings outlook a second time. It now sees a loss of 46 cents to 53 cents a share and funds from operations of 43 cents to 50 cents, based on an 20% to 23% drop in revenue per available room (revpar). Host Hotels in April lowered its downbeat estimates to a loss of 34 cents to 41 cents and FFO - a key REIT profitability measurement - of 68 cents to 76 cents, based on an 18% to 20% drop in revpar.

Commercial REITs have slammed by the global recession. Hoteliers have been among the worst hit as they struggle to fill rooms with operators slashing expenses and reducing their capital spending plans to help offset the decline.

Host Hotels owns 126 hotels world-wide and hires operating companies such as Marriott International Inc. (MAR) or Hilton Hotels Corp. to manage them.

The highly leveraged REIT reported a loss of $68 million, or 12 cents a share, compared with prior-year earnings of $183 million or 34 cents a share. The latest period included 16 cents in write-downs. FFO tumbled to 12 cents from 55 cents amid 24 cents in write-downs and other charges.

Revenue decreased 23% to $1.06 billion.

Analysts polled by Thomson Reuters most recently were looking for earnings of 2 cents, FFO of 24 cents and revenue of $1.08 billion.

Shares closed at $8.36 on Tuesday and didn't trade premarket. The stock is down by roughly half in the past 10 months, though it's nearly tripled since hitting a low of $3.08 in March.

-By Tess Stynes, Dow Jones Newswires; 212-416-2481; tess.stynes@dowjones.com