<ARTICLE> 5
<LEGEND>
THIS SCHEDULE CONTAINS SUMMARY FINANCIAL INFORMATION EXTRACTED FROM CONSOLIDATED
BALANCE SHEET AT SEPTEMBER 30, 1996 AND CONSOLIDATED STATEMENT OF OPERATIONS 
FOR THE NINE MONTHS ENDED SEPTEMBER 30, 1996 AND IS QUALIFIED IN ITS ENTIRETY 
BY REFERENCE TO SUCH FINANCIAL STATEMENTS.
</LEGEND>
<CIK> 0001012624
<NAME> INTERSTATE HOTELS CO.
<MULTIPLIER> 1,000
       
                             
<PERIOD-TYPE>                   9-MOS
<FISCAL-YEAR-END>                          DEC-31-1996
<PERIOD-END>                               SEP-30-1996
<CASH>                                          24,300
<SECURITIES>                                         0
<RECEIVABLES>                                   23,582
<ALLOWANCES>                                         0
<INVENTORY>                                          0
<CURRENT-ASSETS>                                57,732
<PP&E>                                         536,654
<DEPRECIATION>                                (39,931)
<TOTAL-ASSETS>                                 591,817
<CURRENT-LIABILITIES>                           46,654
<BONDS>                                        294,291
<PREFERRED-MANDATORY>                                0
<PREFERRED>                                          0
<COMMON>                                           287
<OTHER-SE>                                     247,766
<TOTAL-LIABILITY-AND-EQUITY>                   248,053
<SALES>                                              0
<TOTAL-REVENUES>                                93,771
<CGS>                                                0
<TOTAL-COSTS>                                   78,337
<OTHER-EXPENSES>                                   329
<LOSS-PROVISION>                                     0
<INTEREST-EXPENSE>                               5,315
<INCOME-PRETAX>                                 10,448 
<INCOME-TAX>                                    11,145
<INCOME-CONTINUING>                              (697)
<DISCONTINUED>                                       0
<EXTRAORDINARY>                                (7,643)
<CHANGES>                                            0
<NET-INCOME>                                   (8,340)
<EPS-PRIMARY>                                        0
<EPS-DILUTED>                                        0<F1>
<FN>
<F1>
The Company believes historical earnings per share are not meaningful due to
predecessor entities being organized as S corporations, partnerships, and
limited liability companies. Rather, pro forma earnings per share are more
meaningful measure of the Company's results of operations for the period
presented. Pro forma earnings per share for the nine months ended September 30,
1996, and 1995 were $.70 and $.42, respectively.
</FN>