EXHIBIT 23.5


               CONSENT OF MICHAEL S. WATERS, PROSPECTIVE DIRECTOR



         The  undersigned,  a  prospective  director of Apple  Suites,  Inc.,  a
Virginia corporation (the "Company"), hereby (i) consents to being nominated for
the  position of  director  of the Company and to serve as such if elected,  and
(ii)  consents  to  being  named  as a  prospective  director  in the  Company's
Registration  Statement on Form S-11  relating to the Company's  initial  public
offering of its common shares, and in the Prospectus  contained therein proposed
to be circulated with such offering, and all amendments thereto.


Executed this 13th day of July, 1999.


                                                        /s/ Michael S. Waters
                                                        ------------------------
                                                        Michael S. Waters