<ARTICLE>                     5
<LEGEND>
THIS SCHEDULE CONTAINS SUMMARY FINANCIAL INFORMATION EXTRACTED FROM THE
QUARTERLY REPORT 10-Q AND IS QUALIFIED IN ITS ENTIRETY BY REFERENCE TO SUCH
FINANCIAL STATEMENTS.
</LEGEND>
<CIK>                0000357226         
<NAME>               POTOMAC HOTEL LIMITED PARTNERSHIP         
<MULTIPLIER>                                   1,000
<CURRENCY>                                     U.S. DOLLAR
       
                             
<PERIOD-TYPE>                   6-MOS
<FISCAL-YEAR-END>                              DEC-31-1997
<PERIOD-START>                                 JAN-01-1997
<PERIOD-END>                                   JUN-20-1997
<EXCHANGE-RATE>                                1.00
<CASH>                                         15,971
<SECURITIES>                                   4,746<F1>
<RECEIVABLES>                                  11,647
<ALLOWANCES>                                   0
<INVENTORY>                                    0
<CURRENT-ASSETS>                               32,364
<PP&E>                                         227,950
<DEPRECIATION>                                 (71,706)
<TOTAL-ASSETS>                                 188,608
<CURRENT-LIABILITIES>                          7,053
<BONDS>                                        322,664
<PREFERRED-MANDATORY>                          0
<PREFERRED>                                    0
<COMMON>                                       0
<OTHER-SE>                                     (141,109)
<TOTAL-LIABILITY-AND-EQUITY>                   188,608
<SALES>                                        0
<TOTAL-REVENUES>                               28,376
<CGS>                                          0
<TOTAL-COSTS>                                  13,698
<OTHER-EXPENSES>                               0
<LOSS-PROVISION>                               0
<INTEREST-EXPENSE>                             11,490
<INCOME-PRETAX>                                3,188
<INCOME-TAX>                                   0
<INCOME-CONTINUING>                            3,188
<DISCONTINUED>                                 0
<EXTRAORDINARY>                                0
<CHANGES>                                      0
<NET-INCOME>                                   3,188
<EPS-PRIMARY>                                  0
<EPS-DILUTED>                                  0

<FN>
<F1>THIS IS OTHER ASSETS.
</FN>