Exhibit 23.1 CONSENT OF INDEPENDENT CERTIFIED PUBLIC ACCOUNTANTS Amerihost Properties, Inc. Des Plaines, Illinois We hereby consent to the incorporation by reference in the Prospectus constituting a part of this Registration Statement of our report dated March 20, 1997, relating to the consolidated financial statements of Amerihost Properties, Inc. appearing in the Company's Annual Report on Form 10-K and its amendment thereto on Form 10-K/A for the year ended December 31, 1996. We also consent to the reference to us under the caption "Experts" in the Prospectus. Chicago, Illinois BDO SEIDMAN, LLP September 19, 1997