EXHIBIT 1.1

                                3,000,000 Shares
                          HOSPITALITY PROPERTIES TRUST
                    (a Maryland real estate investment trust)

                      9 1/2% Series A Cumulative Redeemable
                     Preferred Shares of Beneficial Interest


                             UNDERWRITING AGREEMENT
                                                                  April 7, 1999

MERRILL LYNCH & CO.
Merrill Lynch, Pierce, Fenner & Smith
                Incorporated
Salomon Smith Barney Inc.
A.G. Edwards & Sons, Inc.
Morgan Stanley & Co. Incorporated
Prudential Securities Incorporated
   as Representatives of the several Underwriters
   named in Schedule A hereto
c/o  Merrill Lynch, Pierce, Fenner & Smith
                    Incorporated
     North Tower
     World Financial Center
     New York, New York  10281-1209

Ladies and Gentlemen:

         Hospitality  Properties  Trust, a Maryland real estate investment trust
(the "Company"), confirms its agreement with Merrill Lynch & Co., Merrill Lynch,
Pierce, Fenner & Smith Incorporated ("Merrill Lynch"), Salomon Smith Barney Inc.
("Salomon"),  A.G. Edwards & Sons, Inc. ("A.G.  Edwards"),  Morgan Stanley & Co.
Incorporated ("Morgan") and Prudential Securities  Incorporated  ("Prudential"),
together  with  each of the  other  Underwriters  named  in  Schedule  A  hereto
(collectively,  the "Underwriters" which term shall also include any underwriter
substituted for an Underwriter),  for whom Merrill Lynch, Salomon, A.G. Edwards,
Morgan and Prudential are acting as representatives  (in such capacity,  Merrill
Lynch, Salomon, A.G. Edwards, Morgan and Prudential are hereinafter collectively
referred to as the "Representatives"), with respect to the issue and sale by the
Company and the purchase by each such Underwriter,  severally, of the respective
numbers of 9 1/2% Series A Cumulative  Redeemable Preferred Shares of Beneficial
Interest,  without par value (the "Preferred Shares"),  of the Company set forth
in Exhibit A hereto at a purchase price of $24.2125 per Preferred Share and with
respect to the grant by the Company to the  Underwriters of the option described
in  Section  2  hereof  to  purchase  all or any part of an  additional  450,000
Preferred Shares to cover  over-allotments.  The aforesaid  3,000,000  Preferred
Shares  (the  "Initial  Shares"),  together  with all or any part of the 450,000
Preferred  Shares  subject to the  option  described  in  Section 2 hereof  (the
"Option Shares"), are collectively hereinafter called the "Shares."



         The Company has filed with the Securities and Exchange  Commission (the
"Commission")  a  registration  statement  on  Form S3  (No.  33343573)  for the
registration  of debt  securities,  preferred  shares  of  beneficial  interest,
depositary shares,  common shares of beneficial  interest and warrants under the
Securities  Act of 1933, as amended (the "1933 Act"),  and the offering  thereof
from time to time in accordance  with Rule 415 of the rules and  regulations  of
the  Commission  under  the  1933  Act  (the  "1933  Act   Regulations").   Such
registration  statement has been declared effective by the Commission on January
15, 1998 and the Company has filed such post-effective amendments thereto as may
be required and each such  post-effective  amendment has been declared effective
by the Commission. Such registration statement (as so amended, if applicable) is
referred to herein as the "Registration Statement"; and the final prospectus and
the final prospectus  supplement  relating to the offering of the Shares, in the
form first  furnished to the  Underwriters  by the Company for use in connection
with the  offering of the  Shares,  are  collectively  referred to herein as the
"Prospectus";  provided,  however,  that  all  references  to the  "Registration
Statement"  and the  "Prospectus"  shall also be deemed to include all documents
incorporated  therein by reference  pursuant to the  Securities  Exchange Act of
1934, as amended (the "1934 Act"), prior to the date hereof; provided,  further,
that if the Company files a registration  statement with the Commission pursuant
to Rule  462(b)  of the 1933 Act  Regulations  (the  "Rule  462(b)  Registration
Statement"), then, after such filing, all references to "Registration Statement"
shall also be deemed to include  the Rule  462(b)  Registration  Statement.  For
purposes of this  Underwriting  Agreement,  all  references to the  Registration
Statement  and  Prospectus,  or to any  amendment or supplement to either of the
foregoing shall be deemed to include any copy filed with the Commission pursuant
to its Electronic Data Gathering Analysis and Retrieval system ("EDGAR").

         All references in this Underwriting  Agreement to financial  statements
and schedules and other information which is "contained," "included" or "stated"
(or other  references  of like  import)  in the  Registration  Statement  or the
Prospectus shall be deemed to mean and include all such financial statements and
schedules  and other  information  which is  incorporated  by  reference  in the
Registration  Statement  or the  Prospectus,  as the case  may be,  prior to the
execution  of  this   Underwriting   Agreement;   and  all  references  in  this
Underwriting   Agreement  to  amendments  or  supplements  to  the  Registration
Statement,  Prospectus  or  preliminary  prospectus  shall be deemed to mean and
include the filing of any document under the 1934 Act which is  incorporated  by
reference in the Registration Statement or Prospectus, as the case may be, after
the execution of this Underwriting Agreement.

         The 197 hotels  described in the Prospectus as being currently owned by
the  Company as of the date  hereof are  collectively  referred to herein as the
"Current Hotels".  The 7 hotels described in the Prospectus as being proposed to
be acquired by the  Company as of the date hereof are  collectively  referred to
herein as the "Additional  Hotels". The Current Hotels and the Additional Hotels
are  collectively  referred to herein as the "Hotels".  It is understood that in
connection with the proposed  acquisition of the Additional  Hotels, the Company
has entered  into  purchase and sale  agreements  and  agreements  to lease (the
"Acquisition  Agreements")  contemplating  consummation  of a series of  related
transactions  (the  "Acquisition   Transactions")  generally  described  in  the
Prospectus  Supplement  referred to below under the captions  "Summary -- Recent
Investments,"  pursuant  to which the Company  shall (i) acquire the  Additional
Hotels,  and (ii)  lease the  Additional  Hotels  to a  subsidiary  of  Marriott
International, Inc. on a combined basis.

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         SECTION 1. Representations and Warranties.

         (a)  Representations  and  Warranties  by  the  Company.   The  Company
represents and warrants to you, as of the date hereof, as follows:

                  (1) Compliance  with  Registration  Requirements.  The Company
         meets the  requirements  for use of Form S-3  under  the 1933 Act.  The
         Registration   Statement   (including  any  Rule  462(b)   Registration
         Statement)  has become  effective  under the 1933 Act and no stop order
         suspending the  effectiveness  of the  Registration  Statement (or such
         Rule 462(b) Registration  Statement) has been issued under the 1933 Act
         and no proceedings for that purpose have been instituted or are pending
         or,  to  the  knowledge  of  the  Company,   are  contemplated  by  the
         Commission,  and  any  request  on  the  part  of  the  Commission  for
         additional information has been complied with.

                  At the respective times the Registration  Statement (including
         any  Rule  462(b)   Registration   Statement)  and  any  post-effective
         amendments  thereto  (including the filing of the Company's most recent
         Annual Report on Form 10-K with the  Commission  (the "Annual Report on
         Form  10-K"))  became  effective  and  as  of  the  date  hereof,   the
         Registration   Statement   (including  any  Rule  462(b)   Registration
         Statement) and any amendments  thereto  complied and will comply in all
         material  respects with the  requirements  of the 1933 Act and the 1933
         Act Regulations and did not and will not contain an untrue statement of
         a material  fact or omit to state a material fact required to be stated
         therein or necessary to make the statements therein not misleading.  At
         the date of the  Prospectus  and at the Closing Time as defined  below,
         neither the  Prospectus  nor any  amendments  and  supplements  thereto
         included  or will  include an untrue  statement  of a material  fact or
         omitted or will omit to state a  material  fact  necessary  in order to
         make the statements  therein,  in the light of the circumstances  under
         which they were made, not  misleading.  Notwithstanding  the foregoing,
         the  representations  and warranties in this subsection shall not apply
         to statements in or omissions  from the  Registration  Statement or the
         Prospectus  made in reliance  upon and in conformity  with  information
         furnished  to the  Company in writing by you  expressly  for use in the
         Registration Statement or the Prospectus.

                  Each  preliminary  prospectus and prospectus  filed as part of
         the  Registration  Statement  as  originally  filed  or as  part of any
         amendment  thereto,  or filed  pursuant to Rule 424 under the 1933 Act,
         complied  when so  filed  in all  material  respects  with the 1933 Act
         Regulations  and the Prospectus  delivered to you for use in connection
         with the offering of the Shares will, at the time of such delivery,  be
         identical to any  electronically  transmitted copies thereof filed with
         the  Commission  pursuant to EDGAR,  except to the extent  permitted by
         Regulation S-T.

                  (2)  Incorporated  Documents.  The documents  incorporated  or
         deemed to be  incorporated by reference in the  Registration  Statement
         and the  Prospectus,  at the time they were or hereafter are filed with
         the Commission,  complied and will comply in all material respects with
         the  requirements  of the 1934 Act and the rules and regulations of the
         Commission  thereunder  (the  "1934 Act  Regulations")  and,  when read
         together with the other  information in the Prospectus,  at the date of
         the  Prospectus and at the Closing 

                                       3


         Time did not and will not  include  an untrue  statement  of a material
         fact or omit to state a material  fact  necessary  in order to make the
         statements  therein, in the light of the circumstances under which they
         were made, not misleading.

                  (3) Independent Accountants. The accountants who certified the
         financial  statements and any supporting  schedules thereto included in
         the  Registration  Statement and the Prospectus are independent  public
         accountants as required by the 1933 Act and the 1933 Act Regulations.

                  (4)  Financial  Statements.  The  financial  statements of the
         Company  included in the  Registration  Statement  and the  Prospectus,
         together  with  the  related  schedules  and  notes,  as well as  those
         financial statements,  schedules and notes of any other entity included
         therein,  present fairly the financial  position of the Company and its
         consolidated subsidiaries, or such other entity, as the case may be, at
         the dates  indicated  and the  statement of  operations,  shareholders'
         equity and cash flows of the Company and its consolidated subsidiaries,
         or such other  entity,  as the case may be, for the periods  specified.
         Such  financial  statements  have  been  prepared  in  conformity  with
         generally  accepted   accounting   principles  ("GAAP")  applied  on  a
         consistent  basis  throughout  the  periods  involved.  The  supporting
         schedules,  if any,  included  in the  Registration  Statement  and the
         Prospectus  present  fairly in  accordance  with  GAAP the  information
         required to be stated  therein.  The  selected  financial  data and the
         summary financial information included in the Prospectus present fairly
         the  information  shown  therein  and  have  been  compiled  on a basis
         consistent with that of the audited  financial  statements  included in
         the  Registration  Statement and the Prospectus.  In addition,  any pro
         forma financial  statements of the Company and its subsidiaries and the
         related notes thereto  included in the  Registration  Statement and the
         Prospectus  present fairly the  information  shown  therein,  have been
         prepared in accordance with the Commission's  rules and guidelines with
         respect  to pro  forma  financial  statements  and have  been  properly
         compiled on the bases described  therein,  and the assumptions  used in
         the preparation thereof are reasonable and the adjustments used therein
         are appropriate to give effect to the  transactions  and  circumstances
         referred to therein.

                  (5)  No  Material  Adverse  Change  in  Business.   Since  the
         respective  dates as of which  information is given in the Registration
         Statement and the Prospectus,  except as otherwise stated therein,  (A)
         there has been no material  adverse change in the condition,  financial
         or  otherwise,  or  in  the  earnings,  business  affairs  or  business
         prospects  of  the  Company  and  its  subsidiaries  considered  as one
         enterprise,  whether or not arising in the ordinary  course of business
         (a "Material Adverse Effect" or a "Material Adverse Change"), (B) there
         have been no  transactions  entered  into by the  Company or any of its
         subsidiaries,  other  than  those  arising  in the  ordinary  course of
         business,  which are  material  with  respect  to the  Company  and its
         subsidiaries  considered as one  enterprise  and (C) except for regular
         dividends  on the  Company's  common  shares or  preferred  shares,  in
         amounts  per  share  that are  consistent  with  past  practice  or the
         applicable charter document or supplement thereto, respectively,  there
         has been no dividend or distribution of any kind declared, paid or made
         by the Company on any class of its capital shares.

                                       4



                  (6) Good  Standing of the  Company.  The Company has been duly
         organized and is validly existing as a real estate  investment trust in
         good standing under the laws of the State of Maryland and has power and
         authority to own,  lease and operate its  properties and to conduct its
         business as described in the  Prospectus  and to enter into and perform
         its  obligations  under, or as contemplated  under,  this  Underwriting
         Agreement. The Company is duly qualified to transact business and is in
         good standing in each other jurisdiction in which such qualification is
         required,  whether by reason of the ownership or leasing of property or
         the conduct of  business,  except where the failure to so qualify or be
         in good standing would not result in a Material Adverse Effect; and the
         Articles Supplementary relating to the Preferred Shares will be in full
         force and effect as of the Closing Time.

                  (7)  Good   Standing  of   Subsidiaries.   Each   "significant
         subsidiary"  of the  Company  (as such term is  defined in Rule 1-02 of
         Regulation  S-X  promulgated  under the 1933 Act) (each, a "Subsidiary"
         and, collectively, the "Subsidiaries"), if any, has been duly organized
         and is validly  existing as a corporation  or a real estate  investment
         trust,  as the  case may be,  in good  standing  under  the laws of the
         jurisdiction of its incorporation or formation, as the case may be, has
         corporate  power and authority to own, lease and operate its properties
         and to conduct its business as described in the  Prospectus and is duly
         qualified as a foreign  corporation or a real estate  investment trust,
         as the case may be, to  transact  business  and is in good  standing in
         each jurisdiction in which such  qualification is required,  whether by
         reason of the  ownership  or  leasing  of  property  or the  conduct of
         business, except where the failure to so qualify or be in good standing
         would not  result in a Material  Adverse  Effect.  Except as  otherwise
         stated in the  Registration  Statement and the  Prospectus,  all of the
         issued and outstanding  capital shares of each Subsidiary has been duly
         authorized and is validly issued,  fully paid and non-assessable and is
         owned by the Company, directly or through subsidiaries,  free and clear
         of any security interest, mortgage, pledge, lien, encumbrance, claim or
         equity.  None of the  outstanding  capital shares of any Subsidiary was
         issued  in  violation  of  preemptive  or other  similar  rights of any
         securityholder of such Subsidiary.

                  (8)  Capitalization.  The  authorized,  issued and outstanding
         capital  shares  of the  Company  (except  for  500  common  shares  of
         beneficial intrest, par value $0.1 per share (the "Common Shares"), 250
         of which are held by John A.  Mannix and 250 of which are held by David
         M. Lepore) have been duly  authorized and validly issued by the Company
         and are fully paid and non-assessable (except as otherwise described in
         the Registration Statement), and none of such capital shares was issued
         in   violation  of   preemptive   or  other   similar   rights  of  any
         securityholder of the Company.

                  (9)  Authorization  of  this  Underwriting   Agreement.   This
         Underwriting Agreement has been duly authorized, executed and delivered
         by the Company.

                  (10)  Authorization of the Shares. The Shares to be issued and
         sold pursuant to this  Agreement  have been duly  authorized  and, when
         issued and  delivered  to you  against  payment  therefor  as  provided
         hereunder,  will  have  been  validly  issued  and will be fully  paid,
         non-assessable  (except  as  otherwise  described  in the  Registration
         Statement)  and free of  preemptive  or similar  rights;  the Preferred
         Shares conform to the provisions of the 

                                       5



         Articles Supplementary; there are no outstanding subscriptions, rights,
         warrants,  options, calls, convertible securities,  commitments of sale
         or liens related to or entitling any person to purchase or otherwise to
         acquire  any Common  Shares  of, or other  ownership  interest  in, the
         Company, except as otherwise disclosed in the Registration Statement or
         the  Prospectus  and except for awards  under the  Company's  Incentive
         Share  Award  Plan  made  in  the  ordinary  course  of  business;  all
         outstanding  Common  Shares,  except for shares issued  pursuant to the
         Company's  Incentive  Share Award Plan and shares issued to the Advisor
         (as defined below) and its affiliates, are listed on the New York Stock
         Exchange,  Inc.  (the "NYSE") and the company knows of no reason or set
         of facts  which is likely to result  in the  delisting  of such  Common
         Shares or the inability to list the Shares;  and there are no rights of
         holders of  securities  of the  Company to the  registration  of Common
         Shares or other securities that would require  inclusion of such Common
         Shares or other securities in the offering of the Shares.

                  (11)  Descriptions  of the Shares.  The Shares will conform in
         all material  respects to the statements  relating thereto contained in
         the Prospectus.

                  (12)  Absence of Defaults and  Conflicts.  Neither the Company
         nor any of its  subsidiaries  is in  violation  of its  declaration  of
         trust,  charter  or  by-laws  or  in  default  in  the  performance  or
         observance  of  any  obligation,   agreement,   covenant  or  condition
         contained in any contract, indenture,  mortgage, deed of trust, loan or
         credit agreement, note, lease or other agreement or instrument to which
         the Company or any of its subsidiaries is a party or by which it or any
         of them may be bound,  or to which  any of the  assets,  properties  or
         operations  of  the  Company  or any of  its  subsidiaries  is  subject
         (collectively,  "Agreements and Instruments"), except for such defaults
         that would not  result in a Material  Adverse  Effect.  The  execution,
         delivery and performance of this  Underwriting  Agreement and any other
         agreement or instrument entered into or issued or to be entered into or
         issued by the Company in connection with the transactions  contemplated
         hereby or thereby or in the  Registration  Statement and the Prospectus
         and the consummation of the transactions contemplated herein and in the
         Registration  Statement and the Prospectus  (including the issuance and
         sale of the  Shares  and the use of the  proceeds  from the sale of the
         Shares as described under the caption "Use of Proceeds") and compliance
         by the Company with its obligations  hereunder and thereunder have been
         duly authorized by all necessary  corporate  action and do not and will
         not, whether with or without the giving of notice or passage of time or
         both,  conflict with or constitute a breach of, or default or Repayment
         Event (as defined below) under, or result in the creation or imposition
         of any lien,  charge or  encumbrance  upon any  assets,  properties  or
         operations of the Company or any of its  subsidiaries  pursuant to, any
         Agreements  and  Instruments,  nor  will  such  action  result  in  any
         violation of the  provisions of the charter or bylaws of the Company or
         any  of  its  subsidiaries  or  any  applicable  law,  statute,   rule,
         regulation,   judgment,  order,  writ  or  decree  of  any  government,
         government  instrumentality  or  court,  domestic  or  foreign,  having
         jurisdiction  over the  Company  or any of its  subsidiaries  or any of
         their assets,  properties or operations.  As used herein,  a "Repayment
         Event" means any event or condition which gives the holder of any note,
         debenture or other  evidence of  indebtedness  (or any person acting on
         such holder's  behalf) the right to require the repurchase,  redemption
         or repayment of all or a portion of such indebtedness by the Company or
         any of its subsidiaries.

                                       6


                  (13)  Absence  of  Labor  Dispute.  To  the  knowledge  of the
         Company,  no labor problem  exists or is imminent with employees of the
         Company or any of its  subsidiaries  that could have a Material Adverse
         Effect.

                  (14)  Absence  of  Proceedings.  There  is  no  action,  suit,
         proceeding,  inquiry or investigation before or brought by any court or
         governmental  agency or body,  domestic or foreign,  now pending, or to
         the  knowledge  of the Company  threatened,  against or  affecting  the
         Company or any of its subsidiaries which is required to be disclosed in
         the  Registration  Statement and the  Prospectus  (other than as stated
         therein), or which might reasonably be expected to result in a Material
         Adverse Effect, or which might reasonably be expected to materially and
         adversely  affect the  consummation  of the  transactions  contemplated
         under the Prospectus,  this Underwriting  Agreement, or the performance
         by the  Company of its  obligations  hereunder.  The  aggregate  of all
         pending legal or  governmental  proceedings to which the Company or any
         of its  subsidiaries  is a party  or of which  any of their  respective
         assets, properties or operations is the subject which are not described
         in the Registration  Statement and the Prospectus,  including  ordinary
         routine litigation incidental to the business,  could not reasonably be
         expected to result in a Material Adverse Effect.

                  (15) Accuracy of Exhibits. There are no contracts or documents
         which are required to be described in the Registration  Statement,  the
         Prospectus or the documents  incorporated by reference therein or to be
         filed as exhibits thereto which have not been so described and filed as
         required.

                  (16)  Absence  of Further  Requirements.  No filing  with,  or
         authorization,   approval,   consent,  license,  order,   registration,
         qualification  or decree of,  any court or  governmental  authority  or
         agency,  domestic  or foreign,  is  necessary  or required  for the due
         authorization,   execution   and   delivery  by  the  Company  of  this
         Underwriting  Agreement  or for the  performance  by the Company of the
         transactions  contemplated  under the  Prospectus or this  Underwriting
         Agreement,  except such as may be  required  and will be obtained at or
         prior to the Closing Time and such as may be required by the securities
         or Blue Sky laws or real estate  syndication laws of the various states
         in connection with the offer and sale of the Shares and, in the case of
         the  performance  thereof,  except as are  contemplated  by the express
         terms of such  documents to occur after the Closing Time and except (x)
         such as are otherwise described in the Prospectus and (y) such that the
         failure to obtain would not have a Material Adverse Effect.

                  (17) Possession of Intellectual Property. The Company and each
         of its  subsidiaries  owns,  or possesses  adequate  rights to use, all
         patents, trademarks,  trade names, service marks, copyrights,  licenses
         and  other  rights  necessary  for  the  conduct  of  their  respective
         businesses  as  described  in  the  Registration  Statement  and in the
         Prospectus,  and neither the  Company nor any of its  subsidiaries  has
         received any notice of conflict with, or infringement  of, the asserted
         rights of others with respect to any such  patents,  trademarks,  trade
         names, service marks, copyrights, licenses and other such rights (other
         than  conflicts  or  infringements  that,  if proven,  would not have a
         Material  Adverse  Effect),  and  neither  the  Company  nor any of its
         subsidiaries knows of any basis therefor.

                                       7


                  (18) Possession of Licenses and Permits. To the best knowledge
         of the  Company,  each lessee of the Current  Hotels has, and as of the
         Closing Time will have, all permits, licenses, approvals, certificates,
         franchises and authorizations of governmental or regulatory authorities
         ("Approvals")  as may be  necessary  to lease,  operate  or manage  the
         Current  Hotels  in the  manner  described  in or  contemplated  by the
         Prospectus,  except for those  Approvals the absence of which would not
         have a Material Adverse Effect.

                  (19) Title to Property.  The Company and its subsidiaries have
         good and marketable title to all real property owned by the Company and
         its  subsidiaries and good title to all other properties owned by them,
         in each case, free and clear of all mortgages, pledges, liens, security
         interests, claims, restrictions or encumbrances of any kind, except (A)
         as otherwise stated in the  Registration  Statement and the Prospectus,
         (B) in the case of personal property located at certain Hotels, such as
         are subject to equipment lease financing  arrangements  which have been
         entered into in the  ordinary  course of business and have an aggregate
         outstanding  balance  not in excess of $1 million or (C) those which do
         not,  singly or in the aggregate,  materially  affect the value of such
         property and do not interfere with the use made and proposed to be made
         of such property by the Company or any of its subsidiaries.  All of the
         leases and  subleases  material to the  business of the Company and its
         subsidiaries considered as one enterprise,  and under which the Company
         or  any  of  its  subsidiaries   holds  properties   described  in  the
         Prospectus,  are in full force and effect,  and neither the Company nor
         any of its  subsidiaries  has received any notice of any material claim
         of any sort that has been  asserted by anyone  adverse to the rights of
         the  Company  or any of its  subsidiaries  under  any of the  leases or
         subleases  mentioned  above,  or affecting or questioning the rights of
         the  Company or such  subsidiary  of the  continued  possession  of the
         leased or subleased premises under any such lease or sublease.

                  (20) Investment  Company Act. The Company is not, and upon the
         issuance  and  sale  of the  Shares  as  herein  contemplated  and  the
         application  of  the  net  proceeds   therefrom  as  described  in  the
         Prospectus  will not be, an "investment  company" within the meaning of
         the Investment Company Act of 1940, as amended (the "1940 Act").

                  (21) Environmental Laws. The Company has received and reviewed
         certain environmental reports on (which included physical inspection of
         the surface of) each Current Hotel's  property and has obtained certain
         representations and warranties  relating to environmental  matters from
         the  sellers of the  Current  Hotels set forth in  purchase  agreements
         therefor. Except as described in the Prospectus,  (i) the Company, and,
         to its  knowledge,  each Current  Hotel's  property,  is, and as of the
         Closing Time will be, in compliance with all applicable federal,  state
         and local laws and  regulations  relating  to the  protection  of human
         health and safety,  the environment,  hazardous or toxic substances and
         wastes,  pollutants and contaminants  ("Environmental  Laws"), (ii) the
         Company, or, to its knowledge,  its lessees have received, or as of the
         Closing Time will  receive,  all permits,  licenses or other  approvals
         required under applicable  Environmental Laws to conduct the respective
         hotel businesses  presently  conducted at each Current Hotel's property
         and (iii) the Company or, to its  knowledge,  its lessees are, or as of
         the Closing Time will be, in compliance  with all terms and  conditions
         of any such permit, license or approval,  except, in respect of clauses
         (i),  (ii) and (iii),  as otherwise  disclosed in the  

                                       8


         Prospectus or as would not, singly or in the aggregate, have a Material
         Adverse  Effect.  To the  best  knowledge  of the  Company,  except  as
         described  in  the  Prospectus,  there  are  no  costs  or  liabilities
         associated with Environmental Laws (including,  without limitation, any
         capital or operating expenditures required for clean-up, remediation or
         closure of  properties or compliance  with  Environmental  Laws and any
         potential  liabilities  to third  parties) that, as of the date hereof,
         would, or as of the Closing Time will, singly or in the aggregate, have
         a Material  Adverse  Effect.  The Company  has  received  and  reviewed
         engineering  reports on each  Current  Hotel's  property,  has obtained
         certain  representations and warranties from the sellers of the Current
         Hotels set forth in  purchase  agreements  therefor  and has  conducted
         physical  inspections of each Current Hotel's  property.  In respect of
         each Current  Hotel,  (i) each Current Hotel is not in violation of any
         applicable  building code, zoning ordinance or other law or regulation,
         except where such  violation of any applicable  building  code,  zoning
         ordinance  or other  law or  regulation  would  not,  singly  or in the
         aggregate,  have a Material  Adverse  Effect;  (ii) the Company has not
         received  notice of any proposed  material  special  assessment  or any
         proposed  change  in any  property  tax,  zoning  or land  use  laws or
         availability  of water  affecting  any  Current  Hotel that would have,
         singly or in the aggregate,  a Material Adverse Effect; (iii) except as
         disclosed  in  the  Prospectus,  there  does  not  exist  any  material
         violation of any declaration of covenants,  conditions and restrictions
         with  respect to any Current  Hotel that would  have,  singly or in the
         aggregate,  a  Material  Adverse  Effect,  or any  state  of  facts  or
         circumstances  or condition  or event which  could,  with the giving of
         notice or passage of time, or both,  constitute  such a violation;  and
         (iv) the improvements comprising any portion of each Current Hotel (the
         "Improvements") are free of any and all material physical,  mechanical,
         structural,  design and construction defects that would have, singly or
         in the  aggregate,  a  Material  Adverse  Effect  and  the  mechanical,
         electrical and utility systems  servicing the Improvements  (including,
         without limitation,  all water,  electric,  sewer,  plumbing,  heating,
         ventilation, gas and air conditioning) are in good condition and proper
         working order and are free of defects that would have, singly or in the
         aggregate, a Material Adverse Effect.

                  (22)  REIT   Qualification.   The  Company  is   organized  in
         conformity with the requirements for qualification, and, as of the date
         hereof the Company  operates,  and as of Closing  Time the Company will
         operate,  in a manner  that  qualifies  the  Company as a "real  estate
         investment  trust" under the Internal  Revenue Code of 1986, as amended
         (the "Code"),  and the rules and regulations  thereunder,  for 1999 and
         subsequent  years.  The Company  qualified as a real estate  investment
         trust under the Code for each of the taxable  years ended  December 31,
         1995 through December 31, 1998.

                  (23)  Possession  of  Insurance.  The  Company and its Current
         Hotels are, and as of the Closing  Time will be,  insured in the manner
         described  in  the  Prospectus  by  insurers  of  recognized  financial
         responsibility against such losses and risks and in such amounts as are
         customary  in the  businesses  in which  the  Company  is  engaged  and
         proposes to engage and the Company has no reason to believe  that it or
         its tenants  will not be able to renew such  insurance  coverage as and
         when such  coverage  expires or to obtain  similar  coverage  as may be
         necessary to continue its business at  economically  viable rates.  The
         Company and/or its  subsidiaries,  as applicable,  has obtained an ALTA
         Extended  Coverage  Owner's  Policy  of Title  Insurance  or its  local
         equivalent (or an 

                                       9


         irrevocable  commitment  to issue such a policy) on all of the  Current
         Hotels  owned  by  the  Company  or its  subsidiaries  and  such  title
         insurance is in full force and effect.

                  (24)  Acquisition   Agreements.   The  Acquisition  Agreements
         pursuant to which the Company expects to acquire the Additional  Hotels
         (including  any  Additional  Hotels which the Company may  determine to
         acquire  after the  Closing  Time) are in full  force and  effect.  The
         Company  intends and reasonably  expects to consummate the  acquisition
         and lease of all  Additional  Hotels not owned or  acquired by it as of
         the Closing Time as  expeditiously  as possible after the Closing Time,
         including as and when the construction of certain of such properties is
         completed.

                  (25) Absence of Indebtedness. At the Closing Time, the Company
         will  have no  indebtedness  for  money  borrowed  except  (i)  amounts
         outstanding under the Company's $300 million aggregate principal amount
         credit facility (the "Credit  Facility"),  (ii) the Company's 7% Senior
         Notes due 2008,  (iii) the Company's 8 1/4% Monthly Income Senior Notes
         due 2005,  (iv) the  Company's 8 1/2% Monthly  Income  Senior Notes due
         2009,  (v)  equipment  financing  arrangements  in respect of  personal
         property located at certain Current Hotels which have been entered into
         in the ordinary  course of business  and have an aggregate  outstanding
         balance not in excess of $1 million,  and (vi) any  indebtedness  as to
         which you shall have given your prior written consent.

                  (26)  Good  Standing  of  the  Advisor.  Except  as  otherwise
         disclosed in the  Prospectus,  since the  respective  dates as of which
         information  is given in the  Prospectus,  there  has been no  material
         adverse  change  in  the  business,  operations,  earnings,  prospects,
         properties or condition  (financial or otherwise) of REIT  Management &
         Research, Inc. (the "Advisor"),  whether or not arising in the ordinary
         course of  business,  that would have a Material  Adverse  Effect.  The
         Advisor (A) is a corporation  duly organized,  validly  existing and in
         good standing under the laws of the State of Delaware,  and (B) has the
         requisite  corporate  power and  authority  to conduct its  business as
         described  in the  Prospectus  and  to own  and  operate  its  material
         properties.  The Advisory  Agreement,  dated as of January 1, 1998 (the
         "Advisory  Agreement"),  between the Company and the Advisor,  has been
         duly  authorized,  executed and  delivered  by the parties  thereto and
         constitutes the valid agreement of the parties thereto,  enforceable in
         accordance  with its  terms,  except as  limited  by (a) the  effect of
         bankruptcy, insolvency, reorganization, moratorium, fraudulent transfer
         or other  similar laws  relating to or affecting the rights or remedies
         of  creditors  or (b)  the  effect  of  general  principles  of  equity
         (regardless of whether  enforcement is sought in a proceeding in equity
         or at law).

         (b) Officers'  Certificates.  Any certificate  signed by any officer of
the Company or any of its  subsidiaries  and delivered to you or to your counsel
in connection  with the offering of the Shares shall be deemed a  representation
and warranty by the Company to you as to the matters covered thereby on the date
of such certificate.

                                       10


         SECTION 2. Sale and Delivery to Underwriters; Closing.

         (a) Shares.  Your  commitment  to purchase  the Shares  pursuant to the
terms   hereof  shall  be  deemed  to  have  been  made  on  the  basis  of  the
representations, warranties and agreements herein contained and shall be subject
to the terms and conditions herein set forth.

         (b)   Over-allotment   Option.  In  addition,   on  the  basis  of  the
representations  and  warranties  herein  included  and subject to the terms and
conditions  herein  set forth,  the  Company  hereby  grants an option to you to
purchase up to an additional  450,000  Shares at the purchase price set forth on
the first page of this Agreement.  The option hereby granted will expire 30 days
after the date of this  Agreement  and may be exercised in whole or in part from
time to time only for the purpose of covering  over-allotments which may be made
in  connection  with the offering and  distribution  of the Initial  Shares upon
notice by you to the  Company  setting  forth the number of Option  Shares as to
which you are then exercising the option and the time, date and place of payment
and delivery for such Option Shares. Any such time and date of delivery (a "Date
of Delivery")  shall be determined by you but shall not be later than seven full
business days,  nor earlier than two full business  days,  after the exercise of
said option,  nor in any event prior to Closing Time,  unless  otherwise  agreed
upon by you and the Company.

         (c) Payment.  Payment of the  purchase  price for, and delivery of, the
Initial Shares shall be made at the offices of Sullivan & Worcester LLP, Boston,
Massachusetts,  or at such  other  place as shall be agreed  upon by you and the
Company, at 9:00 A.M. (Eastern time) on the third (fourth, if the pricing occurs
after 4:30 P.M. (Eastern time) on any given day) business day following the date
of this  Agreement,  or such other time not later than ten  business  days after
such date as shall be agreed upon by you and the Company  (such time and date of
payment and delivery being herein called "Closing  Time").  In addition,  in the
event that the over-allotment option described in (b) above is exercised by you,
payment of the underwriting price for and delivery of the Option Shares shall be
made at the above-mentioned office of Sullivan & Worcester LLP, or at such other
place as shall be agreed upon by you and the Company on each Date of Delivery as
specified in the notice to the Company.  Payment shall be made to the Company by
wire transfer of immediately available funds to a bank account designated by the
Company,  against delivery to you of certificates for the Shares to be purchased
by you.

         (d)  Registration.  The Shares shall be issued and  registered  in such
names as you shall  request not later than one business day prior to the Closing
Time or the  Date of  Delivery,  as the case may be.  The  Shares  shall be made
available  for  inspection  not later  than  10:00  a.m.  (Eastern  Time) on the
business day prior to the Closing Time or the Date of Delivery,  as the case may
be, at the office of The Depository Trust Company or its designated custodian.

         SECTION 3. Covenants of the Company.  The Company covenants with you as
follows:

         (a) Immediately following the execution of this Agreement,  the Company
will prepare a Prospectus  Supplement setting forth the number of Shares covered
thereby and their terms not otherwise  specified in the Prospectus,  your names,
the price at which the Shares are to be purchased  by you from the Company,  and
such other  information  as you and the Company deem  appropriate  in connection
with the offering of the Shares;  and the Company will promptly  

                                       11


transmit  copies of the  Prospectus  Supplement  to the  Commission  for  filing
pursuant to Rule 424(b) of the 1933 Act  Regulations  and will furnish to you as
many copies of the  Prospectus  (including  such  Prospectus  Supplement) as you
shall reasonably request.

         (b) Until the  termination of the initial  offering of the Shares,  the
Company will notify you immediately,  and confirm the notice in writing,  (i) of
the  effectiveness of any amendment to the Registration  Statement,  (ii) of the
transmittal  to the  Commission for filing of any supplement or amendment to the
Prospectus  or any document to be filed  pursuant to the 1934 Act,  (iii) of the
receipt of any comments from the Commission with respect to the Shares,  (iv) of
any request by the Commission for any amendment to the Registration Statement or
any amendment or supplement to the Prospectus  with respect to the Shares or for
additional  information  relating  thereto,  and  (v)  of  the  issuance  by the
Commission of any stop order  suspending the  effectiveness  of the Registration
Statement or the  initiation of any  proceedings  for that purpose.  The Company
will make every reasonable effort to prevent the issuance of any such stop order
and, if any stop order is issued,  to obtain the lifting thereof at the earliest
possible moment.

         (c) Until the  termination of the initial  offering of the Shares,  the
Company  will  give  you  notice  of  its  intention  to  file  or  prepare  any
posteffective  amendment  to the  Registration  Statement  or any  amendment  or
supplement to the Prospectus (including any revised prospectus which the Company
proposes  for use by you in  connection  with the  offering of the Shares  which
differs  from the  prospectus  on file at the  Commission  at the time  that the
Registration Statement becomes effective, whether or not such revised prospectus
is  required to be filed  pursuant to Rule 424(b) of the 1933 Act  Regulations),
will furnish you with copies of any such  amendment  or  supplement a reasonable
amount of time  prior to such  proposed  filing or use,  as the case may be, and
will not file any such  amendment or  supplement  or use any such  prospectus to
which your counsel shall reasonably object.

         (d)  The  Company  will  deliver  to  you  a  conformed   copy  of  the
Registration  Statement as originally filed and of each amendment  thereto filed
prior to the  termination  of the  initial  offering  of the  Shares  (including
exhibits filed therewith or incorporated by reference  therein and the documents
incorporated by reference into the Prospectus pursuant to Item 12 of Form S3).

         (e) The  Company  will  furnish  to you,  from time to time  during the
period when the Prospectus is required to be delivered under the 1933 Act or the
1934 Act, such number of copies of the Prospectus  (as amended or  supplemented)
as you may reasonably request for the purposes contemplated by the 1933 Act, the
1933 Act Regulations, the 1934 Act or 1934 Act Regulations.

         (f) Until the termination of the initial offering of the Shares, if any
event shall occur as a result of which it is  necessary,  in the opinion of your
counsel,  to amend or supplement  the Prospectus in order to make the Prospectus
not  misleading  in the light of the  circumstances  existing  at the time it is
delivered,  the Company will either (i) forthwith  prepare and furnish to you an
amendment of or supplement to the Prospectus or (ii) make an appropriate  filing
pursuant  to  Section  13,  14 or 15 of the  1934  Act,  in form  and  substance
reasonably  satisfactory  to your counsel,  which will amend or  supplement  the
Prospectus so that it will not include an untrue statement of a material fact or
omit to state a material fact necessary in order to make the statements therein,
in the light of the  circumstances  existing  at the time it is  delivered,  not
misleading.

                                       12



         (g) The Company will endeavor in good faith,  in cooperation  with you,
to qualify the Shares for offering and sale under the applicable securities laws
and real estate  syndication laws of such states and other  jurisdictions of the
United States as you may designate;  provided that, in connection therewith, the
Company shall not be required to qualify as a foreign corporation or trust or to
file any general  consent to service of process.  In each  jurisdiction in which
the Shares have been so  qualified  the Company  will file such  statements  and
reports as may be required  by the laws of such  jurisdiction  to continue  such
qualification  in effect for so long as  required  for the  distribution  of the
Shares.

         (h) The Company will make generally  available to its security  holders
as soon as reasonably practicable, but not later than 90 days after the close of
the  period  covered  thereby,  an earning  statement  of the  Company  (in form
complying with the provisions of Rule 158 of the 1933 Act Regulations)  covering
a period of at least twelve months beginning not later than the first day of the
Company's  fiscal quarter next following the effective date of the  Registration
Statement.  "Earning statement," "make generally available" and "effective date"
will have the meanings contained in Rule 158 of the 1933 Act Regulations.

         (i) The Company will use the net proceeds  received by it from the sale
of the Shares in the manner  specified in the Prospectus  under the caption "Use
of Proceeds" in all material respects.

         (j) The  Company  currently  intends to  continue to qualify as a "real
estate investment trust" under the Code, and use its best efforts to continue to
meet the requirements to qualify as a "real estate  investment  trust" under the
Code.

         (k) The Company will timely file any  document  which it is required to
file  pursuant to the 1934 Act prior to the  termination  of the offering of the
Shares.

         (l) The Company  will use its best efforts to effect the listing of the
Shares on the NYSE.

         (m) The Company  will not,  during a period of 30 days from the date of
this Agreement,  without Merrill Lynch's prior written consent, register, offer,
sell,  contract to sell,  grant any option to purchase or  otherwise  dispose of
Preferred   Shares  or  any  securities   convertible  into  or  exercisable  or
exchangeable for Preferred  Shares,  or warrants to purchase  Preferred  Shares,
other than the Shares which are to be sold pursuant to this Agreement.

         SECTION 4. Payment of Expenses.

         (a)  Expenses.  The  Company  will  pay all  expenses  incident  to the
performance of its obligations under this Underwriting Agreement,  including (i)
the preparation,  printing and filing of the Registration  Statement  (including
financial  statements  and exhibits) as originally  filed and of each  amendment
thereto,  (ii) the  preparation,  issuance  and  delivery  of the Shares and any
certificates  for the Shares to you,  including any transfer taxes and any stamp
or other  duties  payable  upon the sale,  issuance or delivery of the Shares to
you, (iii) the fees and disbursements of the Company's counsel,  accountants and
other  advisors  or  agents,  as well as  their  respective  counsel,  (iv)  the
qualification  of the Shares under state  securities laws in accordance with the
provisions of Section 3(g) hereof, including filing fees and the reasonable fees
and disbursements of counsel in connection  therewith and in connection with the
preparation,  printing  and delivery 

                                       13


of any Blue Sky Survey, and any amendment thereto, (v) the printing and delivery
to you of copies of the Prospectus  and any  amendments or supplements  thereto,
(vi) the fees and expenses incurred in connection with the listing of the Shares
on the NYSE,  (vii) the filing fees  incident  to, and the  reasonable  fees and
disbursements  of your counsel in connection  with,  the review,  if any, by the
National  Association of Securities  Dealers,  Inc. (the "NASD") of the terms of
the sale of the  Shares  and  (viii)  the cost of  providing  any CUSIP or other
identification numbers for the Shares.

         (b)  Termination  of  Agreement.  If  this  Underwriting  Agreement  is
terminated  by you in  accordance  with the  provisions  of Section 5 or Section
9(a)(i)  hereof,  the Company shall  reimburse  you for all of your  outofpocket
expenses, including the reasonable fees and disbursements of your counsel.

         SECTION 5. Conditions of Underwriters' Obligations. Your obligations to
purchase and pay for the Shares  pursuant to the terms hereof are subject to the
accuracy of the  representations  and  warranties  of the Company  contained  in
Section 1 hereof or in  certificates of any officer of the Company or any of its
subsidiaries  delivered pursuant to the provisions hereof, to the performance by
the  Company  of its  covenants  and  other  obligations  hereunder,  and to the
following further conditions:

         (a)   Effectiveness   of  Registration   Statement.   The  Registration
Statement,   including  any  Rule  462(b)  Registration  Statement,  has  become
effective under the 1933 Act and no stop order  suspending the  effectiveness of
the  Registration  Statement  shall have been  issued  under the 1933 Act and no
proceedings  for that  purpose  shall  have been  instituted  or be  pending  or
threatened by the Commission,  and any request on the part of the Commission for
additional   information  shall  have  been  complied  with  to  the  reasonable
satisfaction of your counsel. A prospectus  containing  information  relating to
the description of the Shares,  the specific method of distribution  and similar
matters  shall have been  filed  with the  Commission  in  accordance  with Rule
424(b)(1),  (2),  (3),  (4) or (5), as  applicable.  At Closing  Time the rating
assigned by any nationally  recognized  statistical  rating  organization to any
preferred  shares  of the  Company,  as of the date  hereof  shall not have been
lowered  since such date nor shall any such rating  organization  have  publicly
announced  that is has placed  any  preferred  shares of the  Company on what is
commonly termed a "watch list" for possible downgrading.

         (b) Opinion of Counsel for  Company.  At Closing  Time,  you shall have
received  the  favorable  opinion,  dated as of  Closing  Time,  of  Sullivan  &
Worcester,  LLP, counsel for the Company, in form and substance  satisfactory to
your counsel,  to the effect set forth in Exhibit B hereto.  In rendering  their
opinion,  such counsel may rely on an opinion  dated the Closing Time of Ballard
Spahr Andrews & Ingersoll,  LLP, as to matters governed by the laws of the State
of Maryland.  In addition,  in rendering  their opinion,  such counsel may state
that  their  opinion  as to laws of the  State of  Delaware  is  limited  to the
Delaware General  Corporation Law. Such counsel may also state that,  insofar as
such opinion involves factual matters, they have relied, to the extent they deem
proper,  upon  certificates of officers of the Company and its  subsidiaries and
certificates of public officials.

         (c) Opinion of Special Maryland  Counsel for Company.  At Closing Time,
you shall have  received the  favorable  opinion,  dated as of Closing  Time, of
Ballard  Spahr  Andrews &  

                                       14


Ingersoll,  LLP, special Maryland counsel for the Company, in form and substance
satisfactory  to your  counsel,  to the effect as your  counsel  may  reasonably
request.

         (d) Opinion of Counsel for  Underwriters.  At Closing  Time,  you shall
have received the favorable  opinion,  dated as of Closing Time, of Brown & Wood
LLP,  counsel  for the  Underwriters,  with  respect to the matters set forth in
paragraphs  (7),  (8),  (9),  (17),  and (18) of Exhibit B and to the  following
effect: nothing has come to their attention that would lead them to believe that
the Registration Statement (including any Rule 462(b) Registration Statement) or
any  post-effective  amendment  thereto  (except for  financial  statements  and
supporting  schedules  and other  financial  data  included  therein  or omitted
therefrom,  as to which they make no  statement),  at the time the  Registration
Statement   (including   any  Rule  462(b)   Registration   Statement)   or  any
post-effective  amendment thereto  (including the filing of the Company's Annual
Report on Form 10K with the Commission)  became  effective,  contained an untrue
statement of a material  fact or omitted to state a material fact required to be
stated  therein or necessary to make the  statements  therein not  misleading or
that the Prospectus or any amendment or supplement thereto (except for financial
statements and supporting schedules and other financial data included therein or
omitted  therefrom,  as to  which  they  make no  statement),  at the  time  the
Prospectus was issued,  at the time any such amended or supplemented  prospectus
was issued or at the Closing Time, included or includes an untrue statement of a
material fact or omitted or omits to state a material fact necessary in order to
make the statements  therein, in the light of the circumstances under which they
were made, not misleading.

         In giving  such  opinion,  such  counsel  may rely,  as to all  matters
governed  by the laws of  jurisdictions  other  than the law of the State of New
York,  the federal law of the United States and the General  Corporation  Law of
the State of Delaware,  upon the opinions of counsel satisfactory to you and may
rely on an  opinion  dated  the  Closing  Time of  Ballard,  Spahr  Andrews  and
Ingersoll, LLP as to matters governed by the laws of the State of Maryland. Such
counsel may also state that,  insofar as such opinion  involves factual matters,
they have relied, to the extent they deem proper,  upon certificates of officers
of the Company and its subsidiaries and certificates of public officials.

         (e) Officers' Certificate.  At Closing Time, there shall not have been,
since the date hereof or since the respective  dates as of which  information is
given in the  Prospectus,  any  Material  Adverse  Change,  and you  shall  have
received a certificate  of the President or a Vice  President of the Company and
of the chief financial officer or chief accounting officer of the Company, dated
as of Closing  Time,  to the effect that (i) there has been no Material  Adverse
Change,  (ii) the  representations  and  warranties in Section 1(a) are true and
correct with the same force and effect as though expressly made at and as of the
Closing Time,  (iii) the Company has complied with all  agreements and satisfied
all  conditions  on its part to be  performed  or  satisfied  at or prior to the
Closing  Time,  and  (iv) no stop  order  suspending  the  effectiveness  of the
Registration  Statement has been issued and no proceedings for that purpose have
been instituted,  are pending or, to the best of such officers'  knowledge,  are
threatened by the Commission.

         (f) Advisor's Certificate.  At Closing Time, there shall not have been,
since the respective  dates as of which  information is given in the Prospectus,
any material adverse change in the business,  operations,  earnings,  prospects,
properties or condition (financial or otherwise) of the Advisor,  whether or not
arising in the ordinary  course of  business;  and you shall have  

                                       15


received, at Closing Time, a certificate of the President or a Vice President of
the Advisor evidencing compliance with this subsection (f).

         (g) Accountants'  Comfort Letter.  At the time of the execution of this
Underwriting  Agreement,  you shall have  received  from Arthur  Andersen  LLP a
letter dated such date, in form and substance  satisfactory  to you,  containing
statements  and  information  of the type  ordinarily  included in  accountants'
"comfort letters" to underwriters  with respect to the financial  statements and
certain financial  information  contained in the Registration  Statement and the
Prospectus.

         (h) Bring-down Comfort Letter. At Closing Time, you shall have received
from Arthur Andersen LLP a letter,  dated as of Closing Time, to the effect that
they reaffirm the statements made in the letter furnished pursuant to subsection
(g) of this  Section 5, except that the  specified  date  referred to shall be a
date not more than three business days prior to the Closing Time.

         (i) No Objection.  If the Registration Statement or the offering of the
Shares has been filed with the NASD for  review,  the NASD shall not have raised
any  objection  with  respect  to  the  fairness  and   reasonableness   of  the
underwriting terms and arrangements.

         (j) Additional Documents. At Closing Time, your counsel shall have been
furnished with such  documents and opinions as they may  reasonably  require for
the purpose of enabling them to pass upon the issuance and sale of the Shares as
herein  contemplated,  or in  order  to  evidence  the  accuracy  of  any of the
representations  or warranties,  or the  fulfillment  of any of the  conditions,
herein  contained;  and all proceedings  taken by the Company in connection with
the issuance and sale of the Shares as herein  contemplated  shall be reasonably
satisfactory in form and substance to you and your counsel.

         (k) Date of  Delivery  Documentation.  In the  event you  exercise  the
option  described  in  Section 2 hereof to  purchase  all or any  portion of the
Option Shares, the representations and warranties of the Company included herein
and the statements in any certificates  furnished by the Company hereunder shall
be true and correct as of the Date of Delivery (except those which speak as of a
certain date, in which case as of such date), and you shall have received:

                  (i) A certificate  of the President or a Vice President and of
         the chief financial officer or chief accounting officer of the Company,
         dated  such  Date  of  Delivery,   confirming  that  their  certificate
         delivered at Closing Time pursuant to Section 5(e) hereof  remains true
         as of such Date of Delivery,  except with respect to transactions as to
         which you shall have given your prior written consent.

                  (ii)  Certificate  of the  President or Vice  President of the
         Advisor  confirming  that his  certificate  delivered  at Closing  Time
         pursuant  to  Section  5(f)  hereof  remains  true as of  such  Date of
         Delivery.

                  (iii) The  favorable  opinion  of  Sullivan &  Worcester  LLP,
         counsel for the Company,  in form and  substance  satisfactory  to your
         counsel, dated such Date of Delivery, relating to the Option Shares and
         otherwise  to the same effect as the opinion  required by Section  5(b)
         hereof.

                                       16


                  (iv) The  favorable  opinion of Brown & Wood LLP,  counsel for
         the Underwriters,  dated such Date of Delivery,  relating to the Option
         Shares and  otherwise  to the same  effect as the  opinion  required by
         Section 5(d) hereof.

                  (v) A letter  from  Arthur  Andersen  LLP,  dated such Date of
         Delivery,  substantially  the same in scope and substance as the letter
         furnished to you pursuant to Section 5(h) hereof.

         (l) Termination of this Agreement.  If any condition  specified in this
Section 5 shall not have been  fulfilled  when and as required to be  fulfilled,
this Underwriting Agreement may be terminated by you by notice to the Company at
any time at or prior to the Closing Time, and such termination  shall be without
liability  of any party to any other  party  except as provided in Section 4 and
except that Sections 1, 6, 7 and 8 shall survive any such termination and remain
in full force and effect.

         SECTION 6. Indemnification.

         (a)  Indemnification  of Underwriters.  The Company agrees to indemnify
and hold harmless each  Underwriter  and each person,  if any, who controls each
Underwriter  within  the  meaning of Section 15 of the 1933 Act or Section 20 of
the 1934 Act as follows:

                  (i) against  any and all loss,  liability,  claim,  damage and
         expense whatsoever, as incurred, arising out of any untrue statement or
         alleged   untrue   statement  of  a  material  fact  contained  in  the
         Registration  Statement (or any amendment thereto),  or the omission or
         alleged  omission  therefrom of a material  fact  required to be stated
         therein or necessary to make the  statements  therein not misleading or
         arising out of any untrue  statement or alleged  untrue  statement of a
         material fact included in any preliminary  prospectus or the Prospectus
         (or any  amendment or supplement  thereto),  or the omission or alleged
         omission  therefrom of a material  fact  necessary in order to make the
         statements  therein, in the light of the circumstances under which they
         were made, not misleading;

                  (ii) against any and all loss,  liability,  claim,  damage and
         expense whatsoever,  as incurred, to the extent of the aggregate amount
         paid  in  settlement  of  any  litigation,   or  any  investigation  or
         proceeding by any governmental agency or body, commenced or threatened,
         or any  claim  whatsoever  based  upon any  such  untrue  statement  or
         omission,  or any such alleged untrue  statement or omission;  provided
         that  (subject to Section 6(d) below) any such  settlement  is effected
         with the written consent of the Company; and

                  (iii)  against  any and all  expense  whatsoever,  as incurred
         (including  the  fees  and  disbursements  of  counsel  chosen  by  the
         Underwriters),  reasonably  incurred  in  investigating,  preparing  or
         defending against any litigation, or any investigation or proceeding by
         any governmental agency or body, commenced or threatened,  or any claim
         whatsoever  based upon any such untrue  statement or  omission,  or any
         such alleged untrue statement or omission,  to the extent that any such
         expense is not paid under (i) or (ii) above;

provided,  however,  that this indemnity  agreement shall not apply to any loss,
liability,  claim,  damage or expense to the  extent  arising  out of any untrue
statement or omission or alleged  untrue  

                                       17


statement  or omission  made in reliance  upon and in  conformity  with  written
information  furnished to the Company by the  Underwriters  expressly for use in
the  Registration  Statement  (or any  amendment  thereto),  or any  preliminary
prospectus  or the  Prospectus  (or any amendment or  supplement  thereto);  and
provided,  further,  that the foregoing  indemnity agreement with respect to any
preliminary prospectus shall not inure to the benefit of any Underwriter, or the
benefit of any person  controlling any Underwriter,  if a copy of the Prospectus
(as then  amended  or  supplemented  if the  Company  shall have  furnished  any
amendments or supplements thereto and excluding documents incorporated or deemed
to be incorporated  by reference  therein) was not sent or given by or on behalf
of such Underwriter to such person asserting any such losses, claims, damages or
liabilities at or prior to the written  confirmation  of the sale of such Shares
to such  person,  if  required  by law so to  have  been  delivered,  and if the
Prospectus  (as so amended or  supplemented)  would have cured the defect giving
rise to such loss, claim, damage or expense.

         (b) Indemnification of Company, Trustees and Officers. Each Underwriter
agrees to indemnify  and hold harmless the Company,  its  trustees,  each of its
officers who signed the  Registration  Statement,  and each person,  if any, who
controls the Company within the meaning of Section 15 of the 1933 Act or Section
20 of the 1934 Act  against  any and all  loss,  liability,  claim,  damage  and
expense described in the indemnity  contained in subsection (a) of this Section,
as incurred, but only with respect to untrue statements or omissions, or alleged
untrue  statements  or  omissions,  made in the  Registration  Statement (or any
amendment  thereto),  or any  preliminary  prospectus or the  Prospectus (or any
amendment or supplement thereto) in reliance upon and in conformity with written
information  furnished to the Company by the  Underwriters  expressly for use in
the  Registration  Statement  (or any  amendment  thereto)  or such  preliminary
prospectus or the Prospectus (or any amendment or supplement thereto).

         (c) Actions against Parties; Notification. Each indemnified party shall
give notice as promptly as reasonably  practicable to each indemnifying party of
any action  commenced  against it in  respect of which  indemnity  may be sought
hereunder, but failure to so notify an indemnifying party shall not relieve such
indemnifying  party  from  any  liability  hereunder  to  the  extent  it is not
materially  prejudiced as a result thereof and in any event shall not relieve it
from any liability which it may have otherwise than on account of this indemnity
agreement.  The indemnifying  party shall assume the defense thereof,  including
the employment of counsel  reasonably  satisfactory to such indemnified  parties
and payment of all fees and  expenses.  The  indemnified  parties shall have the
right to employ  separate  counsel  in any such  action and  participate  in the
defense  thereof,  but the fees and  expenses  of such  counsel  shall be at the
expense of the  indemnified  parties  unless (i) the  employment of such counsel
shall have been  specifically  authorized in writing by the indemnifying  party,
(ii) the  indemnifying  party shall have failed to assume the defense and employ
counsel or (iii) the named parties to any such action  (including  any impleaded
parties) include both the indemnified parties and the indemnifying party and the
indemnified  parties  shall have been  advised by such counsel that there may be
one or more  legal  defenses  available  to them  which  are  different  from or
additional  to those  available  to the  indemnifying  party (in which  case the
indemnifying party shall not have the right to assume the defense of such action
on behalf of the indemnified  parties,  it being understood,  however,  that the
indemnifying party shall not, in connection with any one such action or separate
but substantially  similar or related actions in the same  jurisdiction  arising
out of the same general allegations or circumstances, be liable for the fees and
expenses of more than 

                                       18


one  separate  firm of  attorneys  (in  addition to any local  counsel)  for the
indemnified  parties,  which firm shall be  designed  in writing by  indemnified
parties  and that all such fees and  expenses  shall be  reimbursed  as they are
incurred). No indemnifying party shall, without the prior written consent of the
indemnified  parties,  settle  or  compromise  or  consent  to the  entry of any
judgment with respect to any litigation,  or any  investigation or proceeding by
any  governmental  agency  or  body,  commenced  or  threatened,  or  any  claim
whatsoever in respect of which  indemnification  or contribution could be sought
under this Section 6 or Section 7 hereof (whether or not the indemnified parties
are actual or potential parties thereto), unless such settlement,  compromise or
consent (i) includes an unconditional release of each indemnified party from all
liability arising out of such litigation, investigation, proceeding or claim and
(ii) does not include a statement as to or an admission of fault, culpability or
a failure to act by or on behalf of any indemnified party.

         (d) Settlement without Consent if Failure to Reimburse.  If at any time
an indemnified party shall have requested an indemnifying party to reimburse the
indemnified  party for fees and  expenses of counsel,  such  indemnifying  party
agrees that it shall be liable for any settlement of the nature  contemplated by
Section 6(a)(ii)  effected without its written consent if (i) such settlement is
entered into more than 45 days after receipt by such  indemnifying  party of the
aforesaid  request,  (ii) such indemnifying  party shall have received notice of
the terms of such  settlement  at least 30 days prior to such  settlement  being
entered into and (iii) such  indemnifying  party shall not have  reimbursed such
indemnified  party in  accordance  with such  request  prior to the date of such
settlement.

         SECTION 7. Contribution. If the indemnification provided for in Section
6 hereof is for any reason  unavailable to or  insufficient  to hold harmless an
indemnified  party in respect of any  losses,  liabilities,  claims,  damages or
expenses referred to therein,  then each indemnifying  party shall contribute to
the aggregate amount of such losses,  liabilities,  claims, damages and expenses
incurred by such  indemnified  party, as incurred,  (i) in such proportion as is
appropriate to reflect the relative benefits received by the Company, on the one
hand, and the  Underwriters,  on the other hand, from the offering of the Shares
pursuant  hereto  or  (ii)  if the  allocation  provided  by  clause  (i) is not
permitted by applicable law, in such proportion as is appropriate to reflect not
only the relative benefits referred to in clause (i) above but also the relative
fault of the Company, on the one hand, and the Underwriters,  on the other hand,
in connection  with the  statements or omissions  which resulted in such losses,
liabilities,  claims,  damages  or  expenses,  as  well  as any  other  relevant
equitable considerations.

         The relative benefits received by the Company, on the one hand, and the
Underwriters,  on the other hand, in connection  with the offering of the Shares
pursuant hereto shall be deemed to be in the same respective  proportions as the
total net proceeds from the offering of such Shares (before deducting  expenses)
received  by the  Company and the total  underwriting  discount  received by the
Underwriters,  in each case as set forth on the cover of the Prospectus, bear to
the aggregate  initial public offering price of such Shares as set forth on such
cover.

         The  relative  fault  of  the  Company,   on  the  one  hand,  and  the
Underwriters,  on the other hand,  shall be  determined  by reference  to, among
other things,  whether any such untrue or alleged untrue statement of a material
fact or  omission  or  alleged  omission  to state a  material  fact  relates to
information  supplied by the  Company or by the  Underwriters  and the  parties'
relative 

                                       19


intent,  knowledge,  access to information and opportunity to correct or prevent
such statement or omission.

         The  Company and the  Underwriters  agree that it would not be just and
equitable if contribution pursuant to this Section 7 were determined by pro rata
allocation or by any other method of  allocation  which does not take account of
the equitable  considerations referred to above in this Section 7. The aggregate
amount of losses,  liabilities,  claims,  damages  and  expenses  incurred by an
indemnified  party and  referred  to above in this  Section 7 shall be deemed to
include any legal or other  expenses  reasonably  incurred  by such  indemnified
party in investigating,  preparing or defending  against any litigation,  or any
investigation  or proceeding by any  governmental  agency or body,  commenced or
threatened, or any claim whatsoever based upon any such untrue or alleged untrue
statement or omission or alleged omission.

         Notwithstanding  the  provisions  of this  Section 7, the  Underwriters
shall not be required to contribute  any amount in excess of the amount by which
the  total  price at which  the  Shares  underwritten  by the  Underwriters  and
distributed  to the public were offered to the public  exceeds the amount of any
damages which the Underwriters  have otherwise been required to pay by reason of
any such untrue or alleged untrue statement or omission or alleged omission.

         No person guilty of fraudulent misrepresentation (within the meaning of
Section 11(f) of the 1933 Act) shall be entitled to contribution from any person
who was not guilty of such fraudulent misrepresentation.

         For purposes of this Section 7, each person,  if any, who controls each
Underwriter  within  the  meaning of Section 15 of the 1933 Act or Section 20 of
the 1934 Act shall have the same rights to contribution as such Underwriter, and
each  trustee  of the  Company,  each  officer  of the  Company  who  signed the
Registration Statement, and each person, if any, who controls the Company within
the  meaning  of  Section 15 of the 1933 Act or Section 20 of the 1934 Act shall
have the same rights to contribution as the Company.

         SECTION  8.  Representations,  Warranties  and  Agreements  to  Survive
Delivery.  All  representations,  warranties  and  agreements  contained in this
Underwriting  Agreement or in  certificates of officers of the Company or any of
its subsidiaries submitted pursuant hereto or thereto shall remain operative and
in full force and effect,  regardless of any investigation  made by or on behalf
of the Underwriters or controlling  persons,  or by or on behalf of the Company,
and shall survive delivery of and payment for the Shares.

         SECTION 9. Termination.

         (a) You may terminate this Agreement,  by notice to the Company, at any
time at or prior to  Closing  Time (i) if there has been,  since the  respective
dates  as of which  information  is given  in the  Registration  Statement,  any
material  adverse  change in the  condition,  financial or otherwise,  or in the
earnings,  business  affairs  or  business  prospects  of the  Company  and  its
subsidiaries considered as one enterprise or the Advisor, whether or not arising
in the  ordinary  course of  business,  which would make it, in your  reasonable
judgment, impracticable or inadvisable to market the Shares or enforce contracts
for the sale of the Shares,  (ii) if there has  occurred  any  material  adverse
change  in the  financial  markets  in the  United  States  or any  

                                       20


outbreak of hostilities or escalation of existing  hostilities or other calamity
or crisis the effect of which on the  financial  markets of the United States is
such  as  to  make  it,  in  the  your  reasonable  judgment,  impracticable  or
inadvisable  to market  the  Shares  or  enforce  contracts  for the sale of the
Shares,  (iii) if trading in the Company's  Common Shares has been  suspended by
the Commission, or if trading generally on either the New York Stock Exchange or
the American Stock Exchange has been suspended, or minimum or maximum prices for
trading have been fixed,  or maximum ranges for prices for securities  have been
required, by either of said exchanges or by order of the Commission or any other
governmental  authority, or if a banking moratorium has been declared by Federal
or New York authorities,  or (iv) if the ratings assigned to preferred shares or
unsecured  debt  securities  of  the  Company  by  any  "nationally   recognized
statistical  rating  organization" as that term is defined by the Commission for
purposes of Rule 436(g)(2)  under the 1933 Act, as of the date hereof shall have
been  lowered  since  such date or if any such  rating  organization  shall have
publicly  announced  that it has placed any  preferred  shares of the Company on
what is commonly termed a "watch list" for possible downgrading.

         (b) If this  Agreement is  terminated  pursuant to this Section 9, such
termination shall be without liability of any party to any other party except as
provided in Section 4, and provided  further that  Sections 6 and 7 hereof shall
survive such termination.

         SECTION 10. Default by One or More of the Underwriters.  If one or more
of the  Underwriters  shall fail at the  Closing  Time to  purchase  the Initial
Shares which it or they are  obligated  to purchase  hereunder  (the  "Defaulted
Securities"),  then  Merrill  Lynch  shall  have  the  right,  within  24  hours
thereafter,  to  make  arrangements  for  one  or  more  of  the  non-defaulting
Underwriters, or any other underwriters, to purchase all, but not less than all,
of the  Defaulted  Securities in such amounts as may be agreed upon and upon the
terms herein set forth; if, however, Merrill Lynch shall not have completed such
arrangements within such 24-hour period, then:

                  (a) if the number of Defaulted  Securities does not exceed 10%
         of the Initial Shares to be purchased on such date pursuant hereto, the
         nondefaulting  Underwriters  shall  be  obligated,  severally  and  not
         jointly,  to purchase the full amount thereof in the  proportions  that
         their  respective  underwriting   obligations  hereunder  bear  to  the
         underwriting obligations of all nondefaulting Underwriters, or

                  (b) if the number of Defaulted  Securities  exceeds 10% of the
         Initial  Shares to be  purchased  on such date  pursuant  hereto,  this
         Underwriting Agreement shall terminate without liability on the part of
         any nondefaulting Underwriter or the Company.

         No  action  taken  pursuant  to  this  Section  10  shall  relieve  any
defaulting Underwriter from liability in respect of its default.

         In the event of any such default which does not result in a termination
of this  Agreement,  either Merrill Lynch or the Company shall have the right to
postpone  the  Closing  Time for a period not  exceeding  seven days in order to
effect any required changes in the  Registration  Statement or the Prospectus or
in any other documents or arrangements.

                                       21



         SECTION 11.  Notices.  All notices and other  communications  hereunder
shall be in  writing  and shall be  deemed to have been duly  given if mailed or
transmitted by any standard form of  telecommunication.  Notices to you shall be
directed to Merrill Lynch,  World Financial  Center,  North Tower, New York, New
York 102811201,  attention of Tjarda van S. Clagett;  and notices to the Company
shall be directed to it at 400 Centre  Street,  Newton,  MA 02458,  attention of
John G. Murray.

         SECTION 12.  Parties.  This  Underwriting  Agreement shall inure to the
benefit of and be binding  upon the Company and you and its and your  respective
successors.  Nothing  expressed or mentioned in this  Underwriting  Agreement is
intended or shall be construed to give any person,  firm or  corporation,  other
than you and the  Company  and its  respective  successors  and the  controlling
persons  and  officers  and  trustees  referred to in Sections 6 and 7 and their
heirs and legal  representatives,  any legal or equitable right, remedy or claim
under or in respect  of this  Underwriting  Agreement  or any  provision  herein
contained.  This Underwriting Agreement and all conditions and provisions hereof
are intended to be for the sole and exclusive  benefit of the parties hereto and
their  respective  successors,  and said  controlling  persons and  officers and
trustees  and their heirs and legal  representatives,  and for the benefit of no
other person, firm or corporation.  No purchaser of the Shares from you shall be
deemed to be a successor by reason merely of such purchase.

         SECTION 13. GOVERNING LAW AND TIME. THIS  UNDERWRITING  AGREEMENT SHALL
BE GOVERNED BY AND  CONSTRUED  IN  ACCORDANCE  WITH THE LAWS OF THE STATE OF NEW
YORK. SPECIFIED TIMES OF DAY REFER TO NEW YORK CITY TIME.

         SECTION 14. Effect of Headings. The Article and Section headings herein
are for convenience only and shall not affect the construction hereof.

                                       22



         If the  foregoing  is in  accordance  with  your  understanding  of our
agreement, please sign and return to the Company a counterpart hereof, whereupon
this Underwriting Agreement, along with all counterparts,  will become a binding
agreement between you and the Company in accordance with its terms.


                                            Very truly yours,

                                            HOSPITALITY PROPERTIES TRUST


                                            By: /s/ John G. Murray
                                                Name:  John G. Murray
                                                Title: President

CONFIRMED AND ACCEPTED, 
as of the date first above written:

MERRILL LYNCH & CO.
Merrill Lynch, Pierce, Fenner & Smith
            Incorporated
Salomon Smith Barney Inc.
A.G. Edwards & Sons, Inc.
Morgan Stanley & Co. Incorporated
Prudential Securities Incorporated

By:    MERRILL LYNCH & CO.
       Merrill Lynch, Pierce, Fenner & Smith
                   Incorporated




By:  /s/ Elizabeth Anne Casey
     Name:  Elizabeth Anne Casey
     Title: Vice-President

     For themselves and as Representatives of the several 
     Underwriters named in Schedule A hereto.





                                                                    Exhibit A



                                                               Number of
                  Name of Underwriter                      Initial Securities
                  -------------------                      ------------------

Merrill Lynch, Pierce, Fenner & Smith
            Incorporated....................................     519,000
Salomon Smith Barney Inc. ..................................     519,000
A.G. Edwards & Sons, Inc....................................     519,000
Morgan Stanley & Co. Incorporated...........................     519,000
Prudential Securities Incorporated..........................     519,000
ABN AMRO Incorporated.......................................      15,000
BT Alex. Brown Incorporated.................................      15,000
Robert W. Baird & Co. Incorporated..........................      15,000
Bear, Stearns & Co. Inc.....................................      15,000
CIBC Oppenheimer Corp.......................................      15,000
Credit Lyonnaise Securities (USA) Inc.......................      15,000
Dain Rauscher Incorporated..................................      15,000
D.A. Davidson & Co..........................................      15,000
Donaldson, Lufkin & Jenrette Securities Corporation.........      15,000
Dresdner Kleinwort Benson North America LLC.................      15,000
EVEREN Securities, Inc......................................      15,000
Fahnestock & Co. Inc........................................      15,000
J.J.B Hilliard, W.L. Lyons, Inc.............................      15,000
Legg Mason Wood Walker, Incorporated........................      15,000
Lehman Brothers Inc.........................................      15,000
NationsBanc Montgomery Securities LLC.......................      15,000
NatWest Securities Limited..................................      15,000
Raymond James & Associates, Inc.............................      15,000
The Robinson-Humphrey Company, LLC..........................      15,000
Roney Capital Markets, A Division of
      First Chicago Capital Markets, Inc....................      15,000
SG Cowen Securities Corporation.............................      15,000
Schroder & Co. Inc..........................................      15,000
Sutro & Co. Incorporated....................................      15,000
Tucker Anthony Incorporated.................................      15,000
U.S. Bancorp Piper Jaffray Inc..............................      15,000
Warburg Dillon Read LLC.....................................      15,000
Wheat First Union, a Division of
      First Union Capital Markets Corp......................      15,000
                                                               ---------
Total.......................................................   3,000,000
                                                               =========


                                      A-1


                                                              
                                                                       Exhibit B


                      FORM OF OPINION OF COMPANY'S COUNSEL
                           TO BE DELIVERED PURSUANT TO
                                  SECTION 5(b)


         (1) The  Company is a real  estate  investment  trust  duly  formed and
validly existing under and by virtue of the laws of the State of Maryland and is
in good  standing  with the State  Department  of  Assessments  and  Taxation of
Maryland.

         (2) The Company has trust power to own and lease its  properties and to
conduct its business in all material respects as described in the Prospectus and
to enter into and perform its obligations under the Underwriting Agreement.

         (3) The Company is duly  qualified to transact  business and is in good
standing  in each  jurisdiction  other than the State of  Maryland  in which the
ownership or leasing of its properties requires such qualification, except where
the failure to so qualify or be in good standing  would not result in a Material
Adverse Effect.

         (4) Each Subsidiary (a) is a real estate  investment  trust duly formed
and  validly  existing  under and by virtue of the laws of the State of Maryland
and is in good standing with the State Department of Assessments and Taxation of
Maryland, (b) has the trust power to own and lease its properties and to conduct
its business,  in all material respects as described in the Prospectus,  and (c)
is  duly  qualified  to  transact  business  and is in  good  standing  in  each
jurisdiction  other than the State of Maryland in which the ownership or leasing
of its properties  requires such  qualification,  except where the failure to so
qualify or be in good standing would not result in a Material Adverse Effect.

         (5) Except as otherwise  stated in the  Registration  Statement and the
Prospectus,  all of the issued and outstanding capital shares of each Subsidiary
have  been  duly  and  validly   authorized  and  issued,  are  fully  paid  and
non-assessable,  and, to such  counsel's  knowledge,  are owned by the  Company,
directly or through  subsidiaries,  free and clear of any adverse claim. None of
such capital  shares of any Subsidiary was issued in violation of preemptive or,
to such counsel's knowledge,  other similar rights of any holder (other than the
Company) of capital shares of such Subsidiary.

         (6)  Except  as  otherwise  set  forth  in the  opinions  expressed  in
paragraph 4 of the opinion of Ballard Spahr Andrews & Ingersoll,  LLP, set forth
as  Exhibit  1 to  such  counsel's  opinion,  all  the  authorized,  issued  and
outstanding  capital shares of the Company have been duly authorized and validly
issued by the Company and are fully paid and non-assessable (except as otherwise
described in the  Registration  Statement),  and none of such capital shares was
issued in violation of preemptive or, to such counsel's knowledge, other similar
rights of any holder of capital shares of the Company.

                                      B-1



         (7) The Underwriting  Agreement has been duly authorized,  executed and
delivered by the Company.

         (8) The Shares have been duly authorized and, when issued and delivered
to the Underwriters against payment therefor in accordance with the terms of the
Underwriting  Agreement,  will be validly issued,  fully paid and non-assessable
(except as otherwise described in the Registration Statement),  and will be free
of any  preemptive or, to such  counsel's  knowledge,  other similar rights that
entitle  any  person  (other  than the  Underwriters  and their  successors  and
assigns) to acquire any Shares upon the issuance thereof by the Company.

         (9) The  Preferred  Shares  conform as to legal matters in all material
respects to the descriptions thereof in the Prospectus.

         (10)  (a)  The  statements   under  the  captions  (i)  "The  Company,"
"Management"  and  "Description  of  the  Series  A  Preferred  Shares"  in  the
Prospectus Supplement and (ii) "Description of Preferred Shares," "Limitation of
Liability;   Shareholder   Liability"  and   "Redemption;   Trustees;   Business
Combinations and Control Share Acquisitions" in the Prospectus,  in each case as
of the date of the  Prospectus,  and (b) the  statements  under the captions (i)
"Items  1 and 2.  Business  and  Properties  -- The  Company  --Principal  Lease
Features," "Items 1 and 2. Business and Properties -- Investment Advisor," "Item
5. Market for Our Common Equity and Related  Stockholder  Matters," and "Item 7.
Management's  Discussion  and  Analysis of  Financial  Condition  and Results of
Operations  --Overview"  and "Item 7.  Management's  Discussion  and Analysis of
Financial Condition and Results of Operations --Liquidity and Capital Resources"
in the  Annual  Report on Form  10-K,  and (ii)  "Other  Information  -- Certain
Relationships  and  Related  Transactions"  in  the  Company's  Proxy  Statement
relating to the May 18, 1999 Annual  Meeting of  Shareholders  (incorporated  by
reference  in the Form  10-K),  in each  case as of the date of  filing  of such
Incorporated Document,  insofar as such statements constitute a summary of legal
matters,  documents or  proceedings  referred to therein,  fairly present in all
material respects the information called for with respect to such legal matters,
documents and proceedings.

         (11)  The   statements   under  the   captions   "Federal   Income  Tax
Considerations" in the Prospectus Supplement,  as of the date of the Prospectus,
and the statements under the captions  "Federal Income Tax  Considerations"  and
"ERISA Plans, Keogh Plans and Individual  Retirement Accounts" under the caption
"Items 1 and 2. Business and  Properties"  in the Annual Report on Form 10-K, as
of the date of  filing  of the  Annual  Report  on Form  10-K,  insofar  as such
statements  constitute  a summary of legal  matters  or  documents  referred  to
therein, fairly present in all material respects the information called for with
respect to such legal matters and documents.

         (12) To such counsel's knowledge, except as disclosed in the Prospectus
neither the Company nor any  Subsidiary  is in violation of its  declaration  of
trust or by-laws and no default by the Company or any of the Subsidiaries exists
in the due performance or observance of any obligation,  agreement,  covenant or
condition contained in any contract, indenture,  mortgage, loan agreement, note,
lease or other  agreement or instrument  that is described or referred to in the
Registration  Statement or the Prospectus or filed or  incorporated by reference
as an exhibit to the  Registration  Statement and to which the Company or any of
its  subsidiaries  is a party  or by  

                                      B-2


which it or any of them may be bound or to which any of the  assets,  properties
or  operations  of the Company or any  Subsidiary  is  subject,  except for such
violations or defaults which would not result in a Material Adverse Effect.

         (13)  The  execution,  delivery  and  performance  of the  Underwriting
Agreement  and  the  consummation  of  the  transactions   contemplated  in  the
Underwriting  Agreement and in the  Registration  Statement  and the  Prospectus
(including  the issuance and sale of the Shares and the use of the proceeds from
the sale of the Shares as  described  under the caption "Use of Proceeds" in the
Prospectus  Supplement)  and  compliance  by the  Company  with its  obligations
thereunder do not and will not,  whether with or without the giving of notice or
passage of time or both,  conflict with or constitute a breach of, or default or
Repayment  Event  under,  or result in the creation or  imposition  of any lien,
charge or encumbrance  upon any assets,  properties or operations of the Company
or of any Subsidiary  pursuant to, any material contract,  indenture,  mortgage,
deed of trust, loan or credit  agreement,  note, lease or any other agreement or
instrument that is described or referred to in the Registration Statement or the
Prospectus  or  filed  or  incorporated  by  reference  as  an  exhibit  to  the
Registration  Statement and to which the Company or any of its subsidiaries is a
party or by which it or any of them may be bound or to which any of the  assets,
properties or operations of the Company or any  Subsidiary is subject,  nor will
such action result in any  violation of the  provisions  of the  declaration  of
trust or by-laws of the Company or any Subsidiary or in any material respect any
applicable law,  statute,  rule,  regulation,  judgment,  order, writ or decree,
known to such counsel, of any government,  government  instrumentality or court,
domestic  or  foreign,  having  jurisdiction  over  the  Company  or  any of its
subsidiaries  or any of their  assets,  properties or  operations,  in each case
except as disclosed in the Prospectus.

         (14) To such counsel's knowledge, except as disclosed in the Prospectus
there is not pending or  threatened  any action,  suit,  proceeding,  inquiry or
investigation  to which the Company or any Subsidiary is a party or to which the
assets,  properties or  operations of the Company or any  Subsidiary is subject,
before or by any court or government  agency or body which would,  if determined
adversely to the Company or such Subsidiary, result in a Material Adverse Effect
or  materially  and  adversely  affect  the  consummation  of  the  transactions
contemplated  under the  Underwriting  Agreement  or the right or ability of the
Company to perform its obligations thereunder.

         (15) To  such  counsel's  knowledge,  there  is no  contract  or  other
document which is required to be described in the Registration  Statement or the
Prospectus  that is not  described  therein  or is  required  to be  filed as an
exhibit to the Registration Statement which is not so filed.

         (16) To such counsel's knowledge,  there are no statutes or regulations
that are required to be described in the  Prospectus  that are not  described as
required.

         (17) The Registration  Statement has been declared  effective under the
1933 Act. Any required filing of the Prospectus pursuant to Rule 424(b) has been
made in the manner and within the time period  required by Rule 424(b).  To such
counsel's  knowledge,   no  stop  order  suspending  the  effectiveness  of  the
Registration Statement has been issued under the 1933 Act and no proceedings for
that purpose have been initiated or are pending or threatened by the Commission.

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         (18) The  Registration  Statement  and the  Prospectus,  excluding  the
documents incorporated by reference therein, and each amendment or supplement to
the Registration Statement and Prospectus,  excluding the documents incorporated
by reference  therein,  as of their  respective  effective or issue dates (other
than  financial   statements  and  other  financial  and  statistical  data  and
schedules,  as to which such counsel need not express any opinion),  complied as
to form in all material respects with the requirements of the 1933 Act.

         (19) Each  Incorporated  Document (other than financial  statements and
other  financial and  statistical  data and schedules,  as to which such counsel
need not express any opinion)  complied as to form in all material respects with
the 1934 Act when filed with the Commission.

         (20) The  relative  rights,  preferences,  interests  and powers of the
Preferred  Shares  are set  forth in the  Declaration  of Trust,  including  the
Articles Supplementary relating to the Preferred Shares, and all such provisions
relating to the Preferred Shares are valid under Title 8 of the Corporations and
Associations Article of the Annotated Code of Maryland.

         (21) No authorization,  approval, consent, license, order or decree of,
or filing,  registration  or  qualification  with,  any federal,  Massachusetts,
Delaware or Maryland court or  governmental  authority or agency is necessary or
required for the due authorization,  execution or delivery by the Company of the
Underwriting Agreement or for the performance by the Company of the transactions
contemplated  under the  Prospectus or the  Underwriting  Agreement,  other than
those which have already been made, obtained or rendered as applicable.

         (22) The Company is not,  and upon the  issuance and sale of the Shares
as  contemplated  by the  Underwriting  Agreement and the application of the net
proceeds  therefrom as described in the  Prospectus  will not be, an "investment
company" within the meaning of the Investment Company Act of 1940, as amended.

         (23) The Company has qualified to be taxed as a real estate  investment
trust  pursuant  to Sections  856-860 of the Code for each of the taxable  years
ended  December 31, 1995 through  December 31, 1998,  and the Company's  current
anticipated  investments  and its current  plan of  operation  will enable it to
continue  to meet the  requirements  for  qualification  and  taxation as a real
estate investment trust under the Code; actual qualification of the Company as a
real estate investment trust,  however, will depend upon the Company's continued
ability to meet, and its meeting,  through actual annual  operating  results and
distributions, the various qualification tests imposed under the Code.

         (24) The Advisor is a corporation duly organized,  validly existing and
in good standing under the laws of the State of Delaware,  and has the requisite
corporate  power and  authority  to conduct  its  business as  described  in the
Prospectus and to own and operate its material properties.

         (25) The  Advisory  Agreement  has been duly  authorized,  executed and
delivered  by the parties  thereto and  constitutes  the valid  agreement of the
parties thereto, enforceable in accordance with its terms.

         (26) No facts  have come to such  counsel's  attention  that would lead
them to believe that (x) the  Registration  Statement,  as of the time it became
effective under the 1933 Act,  

                                      B-4


contained an untrue  statement of a material fact or omitted to state a material
fact required to be stated  therein or necessary in order to make the statements
therein not misleading or (y) the Prospectus, as of the date of issuance thereof
or at the Closing Time,  included or includes an untrue  statement of a material
fact or  omitted  or  omits  to  state a  material  fact  necessary  to make the
statements  therein,  in the light of the  circumstances  under  which they were
made, not misleading,  except that such counsel need not express any views as to
the financial  statements and other financial and statistical data and schedules
included in the Registration Statement or the Prospectus.

         Such counsel  need not express any opinion as to  compliance  with,  or
filings  with  or  authorizations,   approvals,   consents,   licenses,  orders,
registrations,  qualifications or decrees under,  state securities or "Blue Sky"
laws. Such counsel's  opinions with respect to the validity or enforceability of
agreements  may be  qualified  to the extent  that the  obligations,  rights and
remedies   of   parties   may  be  limited   by  (i)   bankruptcy,   insolvency,
reorganization,  moratorium or other similar laws affecting generally creditors'
rights and  remedies,  and (ii)  general  principles  of equity  (regardless  of
whether  considered  in a proceeding  at law or in equity),  and  otherwise in a
manner acceptable to the Underwriter.


                                      B-5