UNITED STATES

SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION

Washington, D.C. 20549

FORM 8-K

CURRENT REPORT PURSUANT TO
SECTION 13 OR 15(d) OF THE
SECURITIES EXCHANGE ACT OF 1934

Date of Report (Date of earliest event reported):

January 12, 2016

(Exact name of registrant as specified in charter)

3 Bethesda Metro Center, Suite 1500
Bethesda, MD 20814
(Address of Principal Executive Offices)  (Zip Code)

(240) 744-1150
(Registrant’s telephone number, including area code)

Check the appropriate box below if the Form 8-K filing is intended to simultaneously satisfy the filing obligation of the registrant under any of the following provisions (see General Instruction A.2. below):

o    Written communications pursuant to Rule 425 under the Securities Act (17 CFR 230.425)

o    Soliciting material pursuant to Rule 14a-12 under the Exchange Act (17 CFR 240.14a-12)

o    Pre-commencement communications pursuant to Rule 14d-2(b) under the Exchange Act (17 CFR 240.14d-2(b))

o    Pre-commencement communications pursuant to Rule 13e-4(c) under the Exchange Act (17 CFR 240.13e-4(c))

This Current Report on Form 8-K (“Current Report”) contains forward-looking statements within the meaning of federal securities laws and regulations. These forward-looking statements are identified by their use of terms and phrases such as “believe,” “expect,” “intend,” “project,” “anticipate,” “position,”  and other similar terms and phrases, including references to assumptions and forecasts of future results.  Forward-looking statements are not guarantees of future performance and involve known and unknown risks, uncertainties and other factors which may cause the actual results to differ materially from those anticipated at the time the forward-looking statements are made.  These risks include, but are not limited to those risks and uncertainties associated with our business described from time to time in our filings with the Securities and Exchange Commission, including our Annual Report on Form 10-K filed on February 27, 2015. Although we believe the expectations reflected in such forward-looking statements are based upon reasonable assumptions, we can give no assurance that the expectations will be attained or that any deviation will not be material.  All information in this Current Report is as of the date of this Current Report, and we undertake no obligation to update any forward-looking statement to conform the statement to actual results or changes in our expectations.

Item 7.01.  Regulation FD Disclosure.

On January 12, 2016, the Company issued a press release announcing that the Company has prepaid the mortgage loan secured by the Chicago Marriott Downtown. A copy of that press release is furnished as Exhibit 99.1 to this Current Report.

The information in this Item 7.01 of this Current Report, including Exhibits 99.1 attached hereto, is being furnished and shall not be deemed “filed” for purposes of Section 18 of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended (the “Exchange Act”), or otherwise subject to the liabilities of that Section, nor shall such information be deemed incorporated by reference into any filing under the Securities Act of 1933, as amended, or the Exchange Act regardless of any general incorporation language in such filing.

Item 9.01.                            Financial Statements and Exhibits.

(d)  Exhibits

See Exhibits Index

2

SIGNATURE

Pursuant to the requirements of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, the registrant has duly caused this report to be signed on its behalf by the undersigned hereunto duly authorized.

3

EXHIBIT INDEX

4

Exhibit 99.1

COMPANY CONTACT

Sean Mahoney

(240) 744-1150

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

DIAMONDROCK PREPAYS CHICAGO MARRIOTT DOWNTOWN MAGNIFICENT MILE MORTGAGE LOAN SAVING $2.7 MILLION IN INTEREST

BETHESDA, Maryland, Tuesday, January 12, 2016 — DiamondRock Hospitality Company (the “Company”) (NYSE: DRH) announced today that it prepaid the $201.7 million mortgage loan secured by the Chicago Marriott Downtown Magnificent Mile. The Company funded the prepayment with proceeds from the 4.36% fixed interest rate, 10-year loan placed on the Boston Westin Waterfront Hotel in October 2015, as well as a portion of a $60 million draw on its senior unsecured credit facility. The mortgage was scheduled to mature in April 2016 and the prepayment will save the Company approximately $2.7 million in net interest expense. This transaction lowers the Company’s weighted average interest rate by 32 basis points to 4.08%.

After the completion of the prepayment, 18 of the Company’s 29 hotels are unencumbered by property-specific mortgage debt. Moreover, the Company only has one remaining debt maturity in 2016, which is the $48 million mortgage loan secured by the Courtyard New York Manhattan / Fifth Avenue. The Company expects to refinance this loan during the first half of 2016. Following this refinancing, the Company will have successfully completed its comprehensive refinancing plan to ladder its debt maturities and lower its overall borrowing costs.

About the Company

DiamondRock Hospitality Company is a self-advised real estate investment trust (REIT) that is an owner of a leading portfolio of geographically diversified hotels concentrated in top gateway markets and destination resort locations.  The Company owns 29 premium quality hotels with approximately 10,900 rooms. The Company has strategically positioned its hotels to generally be operated under leading global brands such as Hilton, Marriott, and Westin, as well as boutique brands in the lifestyle segment. For further information on the Company and its portfolio, please visit DiamondRock Hospitality Company’s website at www.drhc.com.

This press release contains forward-looking statements within the meaning of federal securities laws and regulations. These forward-looking statements are generally identifiable by use of the words “will,” “believe,” “expect,” “intend,” “anticipate,” “estimate,” “project” or similar expressions, whether in the negative or affirmative and include statements related to the Company’s expectations regarding estimated EBITDA, profit margin improvements, and future refinancing initiatives. Forward-looking statements are based on management’s current expectations and assumptions and are not guarantees of future performance.  Factors that may cause actual results to differ materially from current expectations include those risk factors and other factors discussed from time to time in our periodic filings with the Securities and Exchange Commission, including our Annual Report on Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 2014. Accordingly, there is no assurance that our expectations will be realized. Except as

1

otherwise required by the federal securities laws, we expressly disclaim any obligations or undertaking to publicly release any updates or revisions to any forward-looking statement contained in this press release to reflect events, circumstances or changes in expectations after the date of this press release.

2