1 EXHIBIT 12 LA QUINTA INNS, INC. COMPUTATION OF RATIO OF EARNINGS TO FIXED CHARGES (in thousands, except ratios) Six Months Ended June 30 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) ........... $ 67,118 $ 49,245 $ 96,379 $ 82,994 $ 61,991 $ 31,836 $ (7,270) Partners' equity in earnings ....... 476 928 1,499 10,227 11,406 12,965 15,081 Partners' equity in earnings of combined unincorporated ventures that do not have fixed charges ................... -- (563) (770) (1,854) (1,577) (1,652) (1,504) Fixed charges ...................... 28,962 23,469 48,983 42,797 40,814 32,477 34,270 Interest capitalized ............... (4,033) (2,227) (5,429) (1,313) (889) -- (50) Amortization of capitalized interest ........................ 491 422 893 803 772 799 799 --------- --------- --------- --------- --------- --------- --------- Earnings as adjusted ........... $ 93,014 $ 71,274 $ 141,555 $ 133,654 $ 112,517 $ 76,425 $ 41,326 ========= ========= ========= ========= ========= ========= ========= Fixed charges: Interest on long-term debt (before capitalized interest) ..................... $ 28,359 $ 22,951 $ 47,897 $ 41,734 $ 39,749 $ 31,366 $ 33,137 Portion of rental expense allocated to interest ......... 603 518 1,086 1,063 1,065 1,111 1,133 --------- --------- --------- --------- --------- --------- --------- Total fixed charges .......... $ 28,962 $ 23,469 $ 48,983 $ 42,797 $ 40,814 $ 32,477 $ 34,270 ========= ========= ========= ========= ========= ========= ========= Ratio of earnings to fixed charges ......................... 3.2x 3.0x 2.9x 3.1x 2.8x 2.4x 1.2x ========= ========= ========= ========= ========= ========= ========= (1) The Six Months Ended June 30, 1996 and Years Ended December 31, 1996 and 1995, include a non-cash provision for premature retirement of assets totaling $9,062, $18,076 and $12,630, respectively.