EXHIBIT 24.1

                                POWER OF ATTORNEY



         The  undersigned  Director of Supertel  Hospitality,  Inc.,  a Delaware
corporation, hereby constitutes and appoints Paul J. Schulte as Attorney-in-Fact
in his name,  place and stead to execute  Supertel's  Annual Report on Form 10-K
for  the  fiscal  year  ended  December  31,  1998,  together  with  any and all
subsequent amendments thereof, in his capacity as a director and hereby ratifies
all that said Attorney-in-Fact may do by virtue thereof.

         In witness  whereof,  the undersigned has hereunto signed this power of
attorney this 19th day of March, 1999.


                                             /s/ Loren Steele
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                                              Loren Steele