FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE


                                                                        
                                                                              INVESTOR
                                                                   CONTACT:   RELATIONS
                                                                              (210) 302-6030


LA QUINTA MOTOR INNS LIMITED PARTNERSHIP ANNOUNCES
UNITHOLDER APPROVAL OF MERGER

    San  Antonio, Texas (January  24, 1994) .  . . La  Quinta Motor Inns Limited
Partnership (the "Partnership") (NYSE:LQP) today announced that its  unitholders
have  approved  the merger  of the  Partnership with  LQI Merger  Corporation, a
corporation  formed  at  the  direction  La  Quinta  Inns,  Inc.  ("La  Quinta")
(NYSE:LQI).  Approximately 87% of  the units of  limited partnership interest in
the Partnership that were outstanding and entitled to vote at a special  meeting
of  unitholders held today (including all 82% of the units beneficially owned by
La Quinta) were voted in favor of the merger.

    The merger will be  completed tomorrow upon the  filing of a certificate  of
merger  with  the  Delaware  Secretary  of  State.  The  payment  of  the merger
consideration of $13.00 net  in cash per unit,  without interest, will occur  as
promptly  as  practicable  through  The  First  National  Bank  of  Boston,  the
Partnership's exchange agent for the merger.

    The Partnership owns 31  inns in 15  states all of which  are managed by  La
Quinta.  La Quinta owns and/or operates more than 220 limited service inns in 29
states.