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                                                                    EXHIBIT 23.1



CONSENT OF INDEPENDENT ACCOUNTANTS



We hereby consent to the incorporation by reference in this Registration
Statement on Form S-8 of our report dated January 24, 2001, except for Note 9 as
to which the date is February 20, 2001, relating to the financial statements of
RFS Hotel Investors, Inc., which appears in RFS Hotel Investors Inc.'s Annual
Report on Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 2000. We also consent to the
incorporation by reference of our report dated January 24, 2001, except for Note
9 as to which the date is February 20, 2001, relating to the financial statement
schedules, which appears in such Annual Report on Form 10-K.



PricewaterhouseCoopers LLP

Dallas, Texas
August 22, 2001