<ARTICLE> 5
<CIK> 0000919640
<NAME> SUPERTEL HOSPITALITY, INC.
<MULTIPLIER> 1,000
<CURRENCY> U.S.
       
                             
<PERIOD-TYPE>                   12-MOS
<FISCAL-YEAR-END>                          DEC-31-1997
<PERIOD-START>                             JAN-01-1997
<PERIOD-END>                               DEC-31-1997
<EXCHANGE-RATE>                                      1
<CASH>                                       9,532,430
<SECURITIES>                                         0
<RECEIVABLES>                                1,157,372
<ALLOWANCES>                                         0
<INVENTORY>                                          0
<CURRENT-ASSETS>                            11,331,725
<PP&E>                                     108,740,409
<DEPRECIATION>                              18,365,073
<TOTAL-ASSETS>                             103,405,644
<CURRENT-LIABILITIES>                        6,047,217
<BONDS>                                     63,534,321
<PREFERRED-MANDATORY>                                0
<PREFERRED>                                          0
<COMMON>                                        48,400
<OTHER-SE>                                  32,812,195
<TOTAL-LIABILITY-AND-EQUITY>               103,405,644
<SALES>                                     46,344,815
<TOTAL-REVENUES>                            46,344,815
<CGS>                                                0
<TOTAL-COSTS>                               28,008,486
<OTHER-EXPENSES>                             7,215,515
<LOSS-PROVISION>                                     0
<INTEREST-EXPENSE>                           4,529,700
<INCOME-PRETAX>                              6,696,497
<INCOME-TAX>                                 2,594,832
<INCOME-CONTINUING>                          4,101,665
<DISCONTINUED>                                       0
<EXTRAORDINARY>                                      0
<CHANGES>                                            0
<NET-INCOME>                                 4,101,655
<EPS-PRIMARY>                                      .85
<EPS-DILUTED>                                      .85