Exhibit 12 LA QUINTA INNS, INC. COMPUTATION OF RATIO OF EARNINGS TO FIXED CHARGES (in thousands, except ratios) Three Months Ended March 31 Years Ended December 31 --------------------- ------------------------------------------------------- 1997 1996 1996 1995 1994 1993 1992 ------ ------ ------- ------ ------ ------ ------- Earnings (loss) before income taxes, extraordinary items and cumulative effect of accounting change (1) ............ $26,426 $17,249 $ 96,379 $ 82,994 $ 61,991 $31,836 $(7,270) Partners' equity in earnings....... 233 443 1,499 10,227 11,406 12,965 15,081 Partners' equity in earnings of combined unincorporated ventures that do not have fixed charges..................... - (318) (770) (1,854) (1,577) (1,652) (1,504) Fixed charges...................... 13,925 11,405 48,983 42,797 40,814 32,477 34,270 Interest capitalized............... (2,120) (815) (5,429) (1,313) (889) - (50) Amortization of capitalized interest.......................... 240 210 893 803 772 799 799 ------- ------- -------- -------- -------- ------- ------- Earnings as adjusted............ $38,704 $28,174 $141,555 $133,654 $112,517 $76,425 $41,326 ------- ------- -------- -------- -------- ------- ------- ------- ------- -------- -------- -------- ------- ------- Fixed charges: Interest on long-term debt (before capitalized interest).. $13,642 $11,135 $ 47,897 $ 41,734 $ 39,749 $31,366 $33,137 Portion of rental expense allocated to interest.......... 283 270 1,086 1,063 1,065 1,111 1,133 ------- ------- -------- -------- -------- ------- ------- Total fixed charges.......... $13,925 $11,405 $ 48,983 $ 42,797 $ 40,814 $32,477 $34,270 ------- ------- -------- -------- -------- ------- ------- ------- ------- -------- -------- -------- ------- ------- Ratio of earnings to fixed charges........................... 2.8x 2.5x 2.9x 3.1x 2.8x 2.4x 1.2x ------- ------- -------- -------- -------- ------- ------- ------- ------- -------- -------- -------- ------- ------- (1) The Three Months Ended March 31, 1996 and Years Ended December 31, 1996 and 1995, include a non-cash provision for premature retirement of assets totaling $6,635, $18,076 and $12,630, respectively. 13