---
schema_version: "secwatch.filing_event.v1"
accession: "0001104659-24-131279"
form_type: "8-K"
ticker: "RLJ"
cik: "0001511337"
company_name: "RLJ Lodging Trust"
filed_at: "2024-12-23T23:59:59+00:00"
generated_at: "2026-05-28T23:35:35.888534+00:00"
event_type: "other"
sentiment: "neutral"
materiality_score: 0.2
calibrated_materiality_score: 0.2
confidence: "high"
source: SEC EDGAR
---

# RLJ Lodging Trust renews COO Bardenett's agreement; base salary $565K unchanged

## Summary
- New employment agreement with EVP/COO Thomas Bardenett effective Dec 20, 2024; initial term to Feb 1, 2028, with auto-renewal to Feb 2029 if no notice.
- Annual base salary remains $565,000; target cash bonus set at 100% of base salary; eligible for ongoing equity incentive awards.
- On termination without cause or for good reason: 12 months base salary continuation, 1x target bonus lump sum, and equity vesting acceleration.
- Includes 12-month post-termination non-competition and non-solicitation covenants; terms substantially same as prior agreement.
- Role as Executive Vice President and Chief Operating Officer unchanged; reports to President and CEO.

## SEC filing metadata
- accession: 0001104659-24-131279
- form_type: 8-K
- ticker: RLJ
- cik: 0001511337
- company_name: RLJ Lodging Trust
- filed_at: 2024-12-23T23:59:59+00:00
- event_type: other
- sentiment: neutral
- materiality_score: 0.2
- calibrated_materiality_score: 0.2
- confidence: high
- sec_items: 5.02, 9.01
- EDGAR index: https://www.sec.gov/Archives/edgar/data/1511337/000110465924131279/0001104659-24-131279-index.htm
- EDGAR primary document: https://www.sec.gov/Archives/edgar/data/1511337/000110465924131279/tm2431683d1_8k.htm

## Machine-readable alternates
- HTML: https://secwatch.observer/filing/0001104659-24-131279
- JSON: https://secwatch.observer/filing/0001104659-24-131279.json
- Plain text: https://secwatch.observer/filing/0001104659-24-131279.txt

This AI-assisted summary is a reading aid. Review the linked SEC EDGAR filing before relying on any specific claim.