Ashford Hospitality is in with the inn crowd. A self-administered real estate investment trust (REIT), Ashford owns and has interests in about 100 upscale hotels with more than 20,000 rooms in some two dozen states and Washington, DC; most operate under the Hilton, Hyatt, Marriott, and Starwood nameplates. Nearly half of Ashford's properties are managed by firms owned by company chairman Archie Bennett and his son, CEO Monty Bennett, with the rest overseen by other third-party management companies. In addition to making direct investments in hotels, the REIT also originates loans secured by hotel properties.

Chatham Lodging Trust was formed in 2009 to acquire upscale extended-stay hotels, including Residence Inn by Marriott, Homewood Suites by Hilton, and Summerfield Suites by Hyatt. To a lesser extent, the firm will also buy select-service and full-service hotels. The REIT seeks properties being sold at a discount, particularly hotels located in the largest US metropolitan markets. The REIT operates through its Chatham Lodging, L.P. subsidiary. Chatham went public in 2010 and within months used proceeds from the offering to build up a portfolio of more than 10 Homewood Suites and other properties.

DiamondRock Hospitality must be an investor's best friend. Operating as an umbrella partnership real estate investment trust (UPREIT), DiamondRock primarily functions through its taxable REIT subsidiary Bloodstone TRS. It owns (but does not operate) about 20 upper upscale full-service hotels with more than 9,500 rooms in North America, with an emphasis on such markets as New York, Los Angeles, Chicago, Boston, and Atlanta. Its hotels are all operated under brands owned by Marriott International, Starwood Hotels & Resorts Worldwide, and Hilton Worldwide.

FelCor Lodging welcomes weary North American travelers. One of the top hotel real estate investment trusts (REIT) in the US, FelCor owns interests in more than 80 properties with roughly 25,000 rooms in nearly two dozen states and Canada. Most are upscale hotels operating under the Embassy Suites, Holiday Inn, Doubletree, Sheraton, Westin, Renaissance, and Hilton brands, with a concentration of its portfolio in major metropolitan areas of Florida, California, and Texas. FelCor's properties are managed by Hilton Worldwide, InterContinental Hotels, Marriott International, and Starwood Hotels & Resorts.

Host Hotels & Resorts will leave the chandelier on for you. The largest hotel real estate investment trust (REIT) in the US, Host Hotels owns some 120 luxury and upscale hotels in North America, South America, and Europe. Most of its hotels operate under the Marriott and Ritz-Carlton brands and are managed by sister firm Marriott International. Other brands include Four Seasons and Hyatt. To maintain its REIT status, the company operates through majority-owned Host Hotels & Resorts LP. All properties are leased to management firms. Host Hotels holds interests in several partnerships, including a 49% stake in Tiburon Golf Ventures, which operates a golf course in Florida.

Innkeepers USA Trust is a self-administered real estate investment trust (REIT) that primarily invests in upscale and extended-stay hotel properties. (IT also invests in full-service hotels and mid-priced lodgings.) The REIT owns stakes in about 75 hotels with some 10,000 rooms in more than 20 states. Nearly all are leased by management company Island Hospitality. About half of its hotels are operated under the Residence Inn by Marriott brand. Other brands include Hampton Inn and Summerfield Suites. Laden with more than $1 billion in debt, the REIT filed for Chapter 11 bankruptcy protection in July 2010.

InnSuites Hospitality Trust wholly-owns and operates five studio and two-room suite hotels in Arizona, New Mexico, and southern California, four of which are co-branded as Best Westerns. The company also provides management services for nine hotels and trademark license services for 11 hotels. InnSuites Hospitality Trust primarily operates through the InnSuites Hotels & Suites and InnSuites Boutique Hotel Collection brands. InnSuites Hospitality Trust operates through its majority-owned affiliate RRF Limited Partnership, which in turn operates through subsidiary InnSuites Hotels.

InnVest has an inncredible grasp on Canada's hotel market. The real estate investment trust (REIT) owns some 145 hotels containing about 19,000 guest rooms -- the largest hotel portfolio in Canada. Its holdings consist of limited service and midscale full-service hotels; most operate under Choice Hotels International brands, including Comfort Inn, Quality Hotel, and Quality Suites. InnVest also owns some hotels under the Travelodge, Holiday Inn, and other names. The REIT owns a 50% interest in hotel franchiser Choice Hotels Canada. In addition to its hotel assets, InnVest owns office, retail and retirement home properties. More than three-quarters of the REIT's portfolio is held in Ontario and Quebec.

LaSalle Hotel Properties is a self-administered and self-managed real estate investment trust (REIT) that invests in, renovates, and leases luxury full-service hotel properties in the US. It owns about 35 hotels in about a dozen states. Its hotels, which together have about 8,500 rooms, are typically located in major urban markets near convention centers, business districts, and resorts. The properties are managed by outside hotel operators under such brand names as Marriott, Sheraton, and Hilton. Among its properties are Hilton San Diego Resort and Spa and Hotel Deca in Seattle. LaSalle Hotel Properties became self-managing in 2001 after three years under the wing of Jones Lang LaSalle.

MHI Hospitality owns seven full-service hotels operating under the Hilton, Holiday Inn, Sheraton, and Crowne Plaza brands in the mid-Atlantic and southeastern US. The company also holds a minority stake in another hotel, has two under development, and owns leasehold interests in common areas of the Shell Island Resort in Wilmington, North Carolina. MHI Hotel Services, which spun off MHI Hospitality in 2004, manages the REIT's properties. Executive officers and board members of MHI Hospitality collectively own more than a quarter of the company.

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