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                       SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION

                             WASHINGTON, D.C. 20549

                                    FORM 8-K

     PURSUANT TO SECTION 13 OR 15(d) OF THE SECURITIES EXCHANGE ACT OF 1934


                        Date of Report: January 28, 1998
                                        -------------------

                             BOYKIN LODGING COMPANY
             ------------------------------------------------------
             (Exact Name of Registrant as Specified in Its Charter)


          Ohio                        001-11975               34-1824586
- -----------------------------    -----------------------    ---------------
(State or Other Jurisdiction     (Commission File Number)   (IRS Employer
of Incorporation)                                             Identification
                                                                Number)


Terminal Tower, Suite 1500, 50 Public Square,
- ---------------------------------------------
           Cleveland, Ohio                                        44113
           ---------------                                      -------
         (Address of Principal Executive Offices)              (Zip Code)


                             (216) 241-6375
          ------------------------------------------------------
          (Registrant's Telephone Number, Including Area Code)


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ITEM 7.           FINANCIAL STATEMENTS, PRO FORMA FINANCIAL INFORMATION AND
                  EXHIBITS.

A. On December 30, 1997, Boykin Lodging Company, an Ohio corporation (the
"Company"), entered into an Agreement and Plan of Merger with Red Lion Inns
Limited Partnership, a Delaware limited partnership (the "Partnership"), Red
Lion Properties, Inc., a Delaware corporation, Red Lion Inns Operating L.P., a
Delaware limited partnership, Boykin Hotel Properties, L.P., an Ohio limited
partnership, Boykin Acquisition Corporation I, Inc., an Ohio corporation and a
wholly owned subsidiary of the Company, Boykin Acquisition Corporation II, Inc.,
an Ohio corporation and a wholly owned subsidiary of the Company, and Boykin
Acquisition Partnership, L.P., a Delaware limited partnership ("Merger Sub"),
pursuant to which the Merger Sub will be merged with and into the Partnership
(the "Merger"). Attached are the following for the Partnership:

         1.       EXHIBIT 1 - The Partnership Form 10-K, without exhibits, for
                  the year ended December 31, 1996 including Consolidated
                  Balance Sheets as of December 31, 1996 and 1995 and
                  Consolidated Statements of Income, Partner's Capital and Cash
                  Flows for each of the three years in the period ended December
                  31, 1996, together with related Reports of Independent Public
                  Accountants.

         2.       EXHIBIT 2 - The Partnership Form 10-Q for the nine months 
                  ended September 30, 1997, including an unaudited Consolidated
                  Balance Sheet as of September 30, 1997, the unaudited
                  Consolidated Statements of Operations for the three and nine
                  month periods ended September 30, 1997 and 1996, the unaudited
                  Consolidated Statements of Cash Flows for the nine month
                  periods ended September 30, 1997 and 1996 and the unaudited
                  Consolidated Statement of Partners' Capital for the nine month
                  period ended September 30, 1997.

B. During 1997 the Company acquired several hotels that individually were
insignificant, but when considered on an aggregate basis, exceed 50% of one of
the Rule 3-05 tests of significance. The following financial statements are for
two individually insignificant hotels acquired in 1997 that when combined
represent the mathematical majority of the test deemed most significant:

         1.       EXHIBIT 3 - Marriott's Hunt Valley Inn audited financial
                  statements as of and for the year ended December 31, 1996,
                  together with Report of Independent Public Accountants and
                  unaudited financial statements as of June 30, 1997 and for the
                  six month periods ended June 30, 1997 and 1996.

         2.       EXHIBIT 4 - Holiday Inn Minneapolis West audited financial
                  statements as of and for the year ended December 31, 1996,
                  together with Report of Independent Public Accountants and
                  unaudited financial statements as of June 30, 1997 and for the
                  six month periods ended June 30, 1997 and 1996.




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                                   SIGNATURES

                  Pursuant to the requirements of the Securities Exchange Act of
1934, the registrant has duly caused this report to be signed on its behalf by
the undersigned hereunto duly authorized.

Dated: January 27, 1998

                                               BOYKIN LODGING COMPANY


                                         By:   /s/ Raymond P. Heitland
                                            ----------------------------------
                                               Raymond P. Heitland
                                               Chief Financial Officer




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                                  EXHIBIT INDEX


Exhibit Number                         Description
- --------------                         -----------

         1.              Red Lion Inns Limited Partnership Form 10-K, without
                         exhibits, for the year ended December 31, 1996
                         including Consolidated Balance Sheets as of December
                         31, 1996 and 1995 and Consolidated Statements of
                         Income, Partner's Capital and Cash Flows for each of
                         the three years in the period ended December 31, 1996,
                         together with related Reports of Independent Public
                         Accountants.

         2.              Red Lion Inns Limited Partnership Form 10-Q for the
                         nine months ended September 30, 1997, including an
                         unaudited Consolidated Balance Sheet as of September
                         30, 1997, the unaudited Consolidated Statements of
                         Operations for the three and nine month periods ended
                         September 30, 1997 and 1996, the unaudited
                         Consolidated Statements of Cash Flows for the nine
                         month periods ended September 30, 1997 and 1996 and
                         the unaudited Consolidated Statement of Partners'
                         Capital for the nine month period ended September 30,
                         1997.

         3.              Marriott's Hunt Valley Inn audited financial
                         statements as of and for the year ended December 31,
                         1996, together with Report of Independent Public
                         Accountants and unaudited financial statements as
                         of June 30, 1997 and for the six month periods ended
                         June 30, 1997 and 1996.

         4.              Holiday Inn Minneapolis West audited financial
                         statements as of and for the year ended December 31,
                         1996, together with Report of Independent Public
                         Accountants and unaudited financial statements as of
                         June 30, 1997 and for the six month periods ended June
                         30, 1997 and 1996.