EQUITY INNS INC
10-Q, 1999-08-13
REAL ESTATE INVESTMENT TRUSTS
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<PAGE>

                       SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION

                             WASHINGTON, D.C. 20549

                                    FORM 10-Q

X             Quarterly Report Pursuant to Section 13 or 15(d) of
                       The Securities Exchange Act of 1934


For The Quarterly Period Ended June 30, 1999     Commission File Number 01-12073


                                EQUITY INNS, INC.
                                -----------------
             (Exact Name of Registrant as Specified in its Charter)


       Tennessee                                                  62-1550848
       ---------                                             -------------------
(State or Other Jurisdiction of                               (I.R.S. Employer)
Incorporation or Organization                                Identification No.)


                 7700 Wolf River Boulevard, Germantown, TN 38138
               --------------------------------------------------
               (Address of Principal Executive Office) (Zip Code)


                                 (901) 754-7774
              ----------------------------------------------------
              (Registrant's Telephone Number, Including Area Code)


                                 Not Applicable
              ----------------------------------------------------
              (Former Name, Former Address and Former Fiscal Year,
                         if Changed Since Last Report)

         Indicate  by check  mark  whether  the  Registrant:  (i) has  filed all
reports  required to be filed by Section 13 or 15(d) of the Securities  Exchange
Act of 1934 during the preceding 12 months (or for such shorter  period that the
Registrant was required to file such reports),  and (2) has been subject to such
filing requirements for the past 90 days.

                          X    Yes                No
                        -----              -----

         The number of shares of the Registrant's  Common Stock, $.01 par value,
outstanding on August 11, 1999 was 37,240,207.


                                     1 of 23


<PAGE>



                                EQUITY INNS, INC.

                                      INDEX


                                                                            PAGE

PART I.           Financial Information

   Item 1.  Financial Statements


          Condensed Consolidated Balance Sheets - June 30, 1999
            (unaudited) and December 31, 1998                                  3

          Condensed Consolidated Statements of Operations
            (unaudited) - For the three months and six months
            ended June 30, 1999 and 1998                                       4

          Condensed Consolidated Statements of Cash Flows
            (unaudited) - For the three months and six months
            ended June 30, 1999 and 1998                                       5

          Notes to Condensed Consolidated Financial Statements                 7


   Item 2.    Management's Discussion and Analysis of Financial
              Condition and Results of Operations                             11

   Item 3.    Quantitative and Qualitative Disclosure About Market Risk       19


PART II.      Other Information

   Item 4.    Submission of Matters to a Vote of Security Holders             20

   Item 6.    Exhibits and Reports on Form 8-K                                20


                                        2

<PAGE>



PART I.  Financial Information
   Item 1.  Financial Statements

                                EQUITY INNS, INC.
                      CONDENSED CONSOLIDATED BALANCE SHEETS
<TABLE>
<CAPTION>

                                                           June 30,       December 31,
                                                            1999              1998
                                                        -------------    -------------
                                                         (unaudited)
<S>                                                      <C>              <C>
ASSETS

Investment in hotel properties, net                     $ 825,262,906    $ 790,132,156
Cash and cash equivalents                                      88,955          399,952
Due from Lessees                                           11,917,215        6,288,402
Note receivable                                             2,634,052        2,884,052
Deferred expenses, net                                      7,673,530        6,312,495
Deposits and other assets                                   3,725,022        1,005,508
                                                        -------------    -------------

       Total assets                                     $ 851,301,680    $ 807,022,565
                                                        =============    =============

LIABILITIES AND SHAREHOLDERS' EQUITY

Debt                                                    $ 382,428,745    $ 331,393,822
Accounts payable and accrued expenses                      15,285,172       12,315,770
Distributions payable                                      13,049,287       12,978,727
Minority interest in Partnership                           12,981,601       19,070,568
                                                        -------------    -------------

       Total liabilities                                  423,744,805      375,758,887
                                                        -------------    -------------

Commitments and contingencies

Shareholders' equity:

Preferred Stock, $.01 par value, 10,000,000 shares
  authorized, 2,750,000 shares issued and outstanding      68,750,000       68,750,000
Common Stock, $.01 par value, 50,000,000
  shares authorized, 37,238,992 and 36,438,535
  shares issued and outstanding                               372,390          364,385
Additional paid-in capital                                415,765,608      407,833,313
Unearned directors' and officers' compensation             (2,801,124)      (2,006,442)
Predecessor basis assumed                                  (1,263,887)      (1,263,887)
Distributions in excess of net earnings                   (53,266,112)     (42,413,691)
                                                        -------------    -------------

       Total shareholders' equity                         427,556,875      431,263,678
                                                        -------------    -------------

Total liabilities and shareholders' equity              $ 851,301,680    $ 807,022,565
                                                        =============    =============
</TABLE>

                     The accompanying notes are an integral
           part of these condensed consolidated financial statements.


                                        3

<PAGE>



                                EQUITY INNS, INC.
                 CONDENSED CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF OPERATIONS
                                   (unaudited)

<TABLE>
<CAPTION>

                                                Three Months Ended          Six Months Ended
                                                     June 30,                    June 30,
                                                1999          1998          1999          1998
                                             -----------   -----------   -----------   -----------
<S>                                          <C>           <C>            <C>           <C>
Revenue
   Percentage lease revenues                 $31,496,183   $28,050,668   $57,356,251   $49,457,602
   Gain on sale of hotel properties              269,211                     269,211
   Other income                                  178,351       186,261       394,274       356,579
                                             -----------   -----------   -----------   -----------

       Total revenue                          31,943,745    28,236,929    58,019,736    49,814,181
                                             -----------   -----------   -----------   -----------

Expenses
   Real estate and personal property taxes     3,319,508     2,922,571     6,819,406     5,355,934
   Depreciation and amortization               9,475,888     7,287,011    18,218,433    13,969,130
   Amortization of loan costs                    207,952       210,201       415,906       423,198
   Interest                                    6,359,879     5,027,133    12,411,851     9,317,763
   General and administrative                  1,654,699     1,631,544     4,076,802     3,271,353
                                             -----------   -----------   -----------   -----------

       Total expenses                         21,017,926    17,078,460    41,942,398    32,337,378
                                             -----------   -----------   -----------   -----------

Income before minority interest and change
   in accounting                              10,925,819    11,158,469    16,077,338    17,476,803

Minority interest                                317,225       558,741       443,393       872,865
                                             -----------   -----------   -----------   -----------

Income before change in accounting            10,608,594    10,599,728    15,633,945    16,603,938

Change in accounting for corporate
   organizational costs                                                      133,193
                                             -----------   -----------   -----------   -----------

Net income                                    10,608,594    10,599,728    15,500,752    16,603,938

Preferred stock dividends                      1,632,813       108,854     3,265,626       108,854
                                             -----------   -----------   -----------   -----------

Net income applicable to common
  shareholders                               $ 8,975,781   $10,490,874   $12,235,126   $16,495,084
                                             ===========   ===========   ===========   ===========

Net income per common share - basic
   and diluted                               $       .24   $       .29   $       .33   $       .46
                                             ===========   ===========   ===========   ===========

Weighted average number of common
   shares and units outstanding - diluted     38,583,000    38,237,000    38,568,000    37,696,000
                                             ===========   ===========   ===========   ===========
</TABLE>




                     The accompanying notes are an integral
           part of these condensed consolidated financial statements.

                                        4

<PAGE>



                                EQUITY INNS, INC.
                 CONDENSED CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF CASH FLOWS
                                   (unaudited)
<TABLE>
<CAPTION>
                                                                    For the Six Months Ended
                                                                            June 30,
                                                                    1999             1998
                                                                -------------    -------------
<S>                                                             <C>               <C>
Cash flows from operating activities:
  Net income                                                    $ 15,500,752     $ 16,495,084
  Adjustments to reconcile net income to net cash
    provided by operating activities:
     Gain on sale of hotel properties                               (269,211)
      Depreciation and amortization                               18,218,433       13,969,130
      Amortization of loan costs                                     415,906          423,198
      Change in accounting for corporate organizational costs        133,193
     Amortization of unearned directors' compensation                422,118           39,762
     Directors' compensation                                          36,213           29,943
     Minority interest                                               443,393          872,865
      Changes in assets and liabilities:
        Due from Lessees                                          (5,628,813)      (7,266,695)
        Deferred expenses                                            (25,000)          (8,750)
        Deposits and other assets                                 (2,719,514)      (1,616,306)
        Accounts payable and accrued expenses                      3,957,643        1,395,962
        Preferred dividends payable                                                   108,854
                                                                ------------     ------------
               Net cash provided by operating activities          30,485,113       24,443,047
                                                                ------------     ------------

Cash flows from investing activities:
  Investment in hotel properties                                 (55,950,134)    (145,583,927)
  Improvements and additions to hotel properties                 (18,105,557)     (14,464,854)
  Payments received on note receivable                               250,000
  Cash paid for franchise applications                              (166,725)        (179,437)
  Proceeds from sale of hotel properties                          21,318,262
                                                                ------------     ------------
                Net cash used in investing activities            (52,654,154)    (160,228,218)
                                                                ------------     ------------

Cash flows from financing activities:
  Gross proceeds from public offering of common stock                              20,144,615
  Gross proceeds from public offering of preferred stock                           68,750,000
  Payment of offering expenses                                                     (3,450,515)
  Proceeds from exercise of stock options                                             112,500
  Distributions paid                                             (27,115,927)     (22,248,134)
  Borrowings under revolving credit facilities                   114,775,000      123,475,000
  Payments on revolving credit facilities                       (159,475,000)     (49,725,000)
  Payments on CMBS credit facility                                (1,155,255)      (1,078,418)
  Borrowings under GMAC Term Loan                                 97,020,000
  Payments on debt assumed                                          (127,039)         (39,158)
  Cash paid for loan costs                                        (2,060,952)         (17,582)
  Payments on capital lease obligations                               (2,783)          (1,720)
                                                                ------------     ------------
                Net cash provided by financing activities         21,858,044      135,921,588
                                                                ------------     ------------

Net increase (decrease) in cash and cash equivalents                (310,997)         136,417

Cash and cash equivalents at beginning  of period                    399,952          190,458
                                                                ------------     ------------

Cash and cash equivalents at end of period                      $     88,955     $    326,875
                                                                ============     ============
</TABLE>



                                        5

<PAGE>



Supplemental disclosure of noncash investing and financing activities:

During  January 1999, the Company issued 98,824 shares of common stock at $10.00
per share to officers  under the 1994 Stock  Incentive Plan in lieu of cash as a
performance bonus. Additionally,  during the six months ended June 30, 1999, the
Company  issued 1,556  shares of common stock at $9.63 per share,  402 shares of
common stock at $9.31 per share, 1,764 shares of common stock at $8.50 per share
and 264 shares of common stock at $9.44 per share to the  independent  directors
of the Company in lieu of cash as compensation.

During January 1999,  the Company  issued  124,800  shares of restricted  common
stock to its  officers  under the 1994 Stock  Incentive  Plan.  The shares  were
valued at $9.75,  and the  restriction  periods are tied to employment and range
from three to five years.  In addition,  572,847 units were exchanged for common
stock by a limited partner.

At June 30, 1999,  $11,960,745  in  distributions  to  shareholders  and limited
partners had been declared but not paid. The  distributions  were paid on August
2, 1999. At December 31, 1998,  $11,890,186 in distributions to shareholders and
limited partners had been declared but not paid.

At June 30, 1998,  $11,839,638  in  distributions  to  shareholders  and limited
partners had been declared but not paid. The  distributions  were paid on August
3, 1998. At December 31, 1997,  $10,645,348 in distributions to shareholders and
limited partners had been declared but not paid.















                     The accompanying notes are an integral
           part of these condensed consolidated financial statements.


                                        6

<PAGE>



                                EQUITY INNS, INC.
              NOTES TO CONDENSED CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS
                                   (unaudited)
                              --------------------

1.     Organization and Basis of Presentation

       Equity Inns, Inc. (the "Company") was  incorporated on November 24, 1993.
       The Company is a self-administered  real estate investment trust ("REIT")
       for federal income tax purposes.  The Company,  through its  wholly-owned
       subsidiary,  Equity Inns Trust (the "Trust"), is the sole general partner
       of Equity Inns Partnership, L.P. (the "Partnership") and at June 30, 1999
       owned an approximate  96.5% interest in the Partnership.  The Company was
       formed to acquire  equity  interests in hotel  properties and at June 30,
       1999 owned, through the Partnership, 100 hotel properties with a total of
       12,745 rooms in 35 states.

       At June 30, 1999, the  Partnership  or its  affiliates,  under  operating
       leases  providing  for the payment of  percentage  rent (the  "Percentage
       Leases"),  leased 79 of the Company's  hotels to affiliates of Interstate
       Hotels Corporation  (formerly named Interstate Hotels  Management,  Inc.)
       ("IHC"),  which was recently divested from Patriot American  Hospitality,
       Inc.  ("Patriot").  IHC is referred to herein as the "Interstate Lessee."
       All  payments  due  under  these  Percentage  Leases  are  guaranteed  by
       Interstate Hotels, L.L.C., a subsidiary of IHC, and IHC (except for three
       hotels where Patriot rather than IHC is the  guarantor).  The Partnership
       leased  19  hotels  to  wholly-owned  subsidiaries  of Prime  Hospitality
       Corporation  (collectively,  the  "Prime  Lessee").  The Prime  Lessee is
       required,  under the terms of its master  lease  agreements,  to maintain
       capitalization  of 20% of the expected annual  percentage  rents. The IHC
       Lessee and the Prime  Lessee are referred to herein  collectively  as the
       "Lessees," and  individually as a "Lessee." The Lessees operate and lease
       hotels  owned  by the  Partnership  and its  affiliates  pursuant  to the
       Percentage  Leases,  which provide for rent payments equal to the greater
       of (i) a fixed base rent ("Base Rent") or (ii)  percentage  rent based on
       the revenues of the hotels ("Percentage  Rent"). The remaining two hotels
       are operated pursuant to management agreements,  one of which is operated
       by a  subsidiary  of  Interstate  and  one  of  which  is  operated  by a
       wholly-owned subsidiary of MeriStar Hotels & Resorts, Inc.

       During  the  quarter  ended  June 30,  1999,  the  Company  acquired  the
       following hotel properties:
<TABLE>
<CAPTION>
        Date of                                               # of      Cost
       Acquisition                 Property                   Rooms   (millions)
       -----------                 --------                   -----   ----------
       <S>                         <C>                        <C>    <C>
       April 18, 1999  Homewood Suites -- Chicago, Illinois    235      $30.6
       June 25, 1999   Homewood Suites -- Orlando, Florida     232      $23.4
</TABLE>

       Additionally,  during the quarter  ended June 30, 1999,  the  Partnership
       sold  four  hotels  (Comfort  Inn,  Enterprise,   Alabama;  Hampton  Inn,
       Brentwood  [Nashville],  Tennessee;  Hampton  Inn,  Southaven  [Memphis],
       Tennessee;  and Hampton  Inn,  Destin,  Florida) to third  parties for an
       aggregate  sales price of $21.7 million.  The Company  realized a gain of
       approximately  $269,000 as a result of these sales. The sales prices were
       paid with cash.

                                        7

<PAGE>


                                EQUITY INNS, INC.
         NOTES TO CONDENSED CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS, Continued
                                   (unaudited)
                              --------------------


1.     Organization and Basis of Presentation, Continued

       Effective January 1, 1999 the Company  implemented  Statement of Position
       98-5 which  requires  organizational  costs to be expensed  as  incurred.
       Accordingly,   the  Company   recognized  a  charge  to  income  for  its
       unamortized  balance of corporate  organizational  costs as of January 1,
       1999 as a cumulative  effect of the change in  accounting  in the quarter
       ended March 31, 1999.

       These unaudited  condensed  consolidated  financial  statements have been
       prepared  pursuant to the rules and  regulations  of the  Securities  and
       Exchange  Commission  ("SEC") and should be read in conjunction  with the
       financial  statements  and notes  thereto of the Company  included in the
       Company's  Annual  Report on Form 10-K for the year  ended  December  31,
       1998.  The  accompanying   condensed  consolidated  financial  statements
       reflect,  in the opinion of management,  all adjustments  necessary for a
       fair presentation of the interim financial statements.
       All such adjustments are of a normal and recurring nature.

2.     Net Income Per Common Share

       Statement of Financial Accounting Standards No. 128, "Earnings Per Share"
       (SFAS 128),  requires the  presentation of basic and diluted earnings per
       share.  A  reconciliation  of the numerator and  denominator  used in the
       basic  earnings per share  computation  to the numerator and  denominator
       used in the diluted earnings per share computation is presented below for
       the three and six months ended June 30, 1999 and 1998.

<TABLE>
<CAPTION>

                                                For the Three Months Ended June 30,
                                           1999                                    1998
                          -------------------------------------   --------------------------------------
                            Income        Shares      Per Share     Income        Shares       Per Share
                          (Numerator)  (Denominator)    Amount    (Numerator)   (Denominator)   Amount
                          -----------  -------------  ---------   -----------   -------------  ---------
<S>                       <C>          <C>            <C>         <C>           <C>             <C>
Net income - basic         $8,975,781    37,238,487     $.24      $10,490,874     36,236,749     $0.29
Dilutive effect of
   potential conversion
   of partnership units
   and elimination of
   minority interest          317,225     1,344,056                   558,741      1,939,037
Dilutive effect of stock
   options outstanding
   using the treasury
   stock method                                                                       60,871
                           ----------    ----------     ----      -----------     ----------     -----

Net income-diluted         $9,293,006    38,582,543     $.24      $11,049,615     38,236,657     $0.29
                           ==========    ==========     ====      ===========     ==========     =====
</TABLE>



                                        8

<PAGE>


                                EQUITY INNS, INC.
         NOTES TO CONDENSED CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS, Continued
                                   (unaudited)
                              --------------------


2.     Net Income Per Common Share, Continued

<TABLE>
<CAPTION>

                                                  For the Six Months Ended June 30,
                                            1999                                    1998
                           -------------------------------------  ---------------------------------------
                             Income        Shares      Per Share    Income         Shares       Per Share
                           (Numerator)  (Denominator)    Amount   (Numerator)    (Denominator)    Amount
                           -----------  -------------  ---------  -----------    -------------  ---------
<S>                        <C>          <C>            <C>        <C>            <C>            <C>

Net income - basic         $12,235,126    37,205,020      $.33    $16,495,084      35,731,863     $0.46
Dilutive effect of
   potential conversion
   of partnership units
   and elimination of
   minority interest           443,393     1,363,046                  872,865       1,891,045
Dilutive effect of stock
   options outstanding
   using the treasury
   stock method                                                                        73,055
                           -----------   -----------      ----    -----------      ----------     -----

Net income-diluted         $12,678,519    38,568,066      $.33    $17,367,949      37,695,963     $0.46
                           ===========   ===========      ====    ===========      ==========     =====
</TABLE>

       For the three  and six  months  ended  June 30,  1999,  the  Company  had
       approximately  570,000  options that were not included in the calculation
       of dilutive common shares because they were anti-dilutive.

3.     Debt

       Debt is comprised of the following at June 30, 1999:
<TABLE>
           <S>                                                   <C>
           Commercial Mortgage Bonds                             $ 82,933,246
           GMAC Term Loan                                          97,020,000
           Unsecured Lines of Credit                              191,900,000
           Other                                                   10,575,499
                                                                 ------------

                                                                 $382,428,745
                                                                 ============
</TABLE>

       On June 23, 1999, the Company amended its $250 million  unsecured line of
       credit (the "Bank One Line")  primarily to allow for the  measurement  of
       certain  ratios and  covenants  against a trailing  twelve month  period,
       which  is  consistent  with  industry  practice.  At that  time,  certain
       participant  banks  elected to reduce  their  exposure to lodging  REITs,
       resulting in the Bank One Line being reduced to $219.5 million.

       The  Company's  Bank One Line bears  interest at a variable rate of LIBOR
       plus 1.5%,  1.75%,  2.00%,  2.25% or 2.50% as determined by the Company's
       percentage of total debt to the total value of the  Company's  investment
       in hotel properties, as defined in the loan agreement (the "Percentage").
       The Percentage is reviewed  quarterly,  and the interest rate is adjusted
       as

                                        9

<PAGE>


                                EQUITY INNS, INC.
         NOTES TO CONDENSED CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS, Continued
                                   (unaudited)
                              --------------------


3.     Debt, Continued

       necessary.  At June 30, 1999,  the interest rate on the Bank One Line was
       LIBOR  (5.24%  at June  30,  1999)  plus  2.25%.  The Bank One Line has a
       three-year term, expiring in October 2000.

       In March 1999, the Company  obtained an additional $25 million  unsecured
       line of credit (the "NationsBank Line") from NationsBank. The NationsBank
       Line bears  interest  at a variable  rate of LIBOR plus  1.775%,  1.875%,
       2.00%,  or 2.25% as determined by the Company's  percentage of total debt
       to total  value of the  Company's  investment  in  hotel  properties,  as
       defined in the loan agreement.  The percentage is reviewed quarterly, and
       the  interest  rate is  adjusted  as  necessary.  At June 30,  1999,  the
       interest rate on the NationsBank  Line was LIBOR (5.24% at June 30, 1999)
       plus 2.25%. The NationsBank Line expires in October 2000.

       On June 21, 1999, the Company  financed  $97,020,000 with GMAC Commercial
       Mortgage  Company at an interest rate of 8.37%.  The principal  amount of
       the loan is  amortized  over 25 years,  with the unpaid  balance  due and
       payable in July 2024. Proceeds from the completion of this loan were used
       to repay  existing debt under the Bank One Line. In connection  with this
       transaction,  19 of the Company's hotel  properties with a carrying value
       of approximately $182 million collateralize the loan.

4.     Subsequent Events

       On July 31, 1999, a subsidiary  of Hudson Hotels  Corporation  ("Hudson")
       defaulted on its obligation to make a $250,000  principal payments to the
       Company under a promissory  note, which note was issued to the Company in
       connection with the sale of nine of the Company's  hotels to a subsidiary
       of Hudson in October  1997.  This is the second  principal  payment under
       this promissory note under which Hudson has defaulted in 1999. The unpaid
       principal balance on the note is approximately $2.6 million.  The Company
       has accelerated the full loan amount upon such default in accordance with
       the terms of the note,  but has agreed not to exercise any remedies  with
       respect to such default  until the Company gives Hudson one days' written
       notice thereof.  The Company may modify the payment terms with respect to
       principal. Hudson continues to pay interest at the regular interest rate.
       The  promissory  note is  secured  by a pledge of two  million  shares of
       Hudson's common stock.



                                       10

<PAGE>



Item 2.  Management's Discussion and Analysis of
         Financial Condition and Results of Operations



                                   BACKGROUND

The Company commenced operations on March 1, 1994 upon completion of its initial
public  offering (the "IPO") and the  simultaneous  acquisition of eight Hampton
Inn hotels with 995 rooms.  Since the IPO, the Company has actively  implemented
its acquisition strategy.  The following chart summarizes  information regarding
the Company's hotels at June 30, 1999:
<TABLE>
<CAPTION>

                                               Number of              Number of
     Franchise Affiliation                  Hotel Properties        Rooms/Suites
     ---------------------                  ----------------        ------------
     <S>                                    <C>                      <C>
     Premium Limited Service Hotels:
       Hampton Inn                                 52                   6,552
       Hampton Inn & Suites                         1                     125
       Comfort Inn                                  1                     104
                                                  ---                  ------
         Sub-total                                 54                   6,781
                                                  ---                  ------

     All-Suite Hotels:
       AmeriSuites                                 19                   2,403

     Premium Extended Stay Hotels:
       Residence Inn                               12                   1,431
       Homewood Suites                              9                   1,295
                                                  ---                  ------
         Sub-total                                 21                   2,726
                                                  ---                  ------

     Full Service Hotels:
       Holiday Inn                                  3                     397
       Comfort Inn                                  1                     177
                                                  ---                  ------
         Sub-total                                  4                     574
                                                  ---                  ------

     Independent Hotels:                            2                     261
                                                  ---                  ------

           Total                                  100                  12,745
                                                  ===                  ======
</TABLE>

The  Partnership  leases  98 of  the  hotels  to  the  Lessees  pursuant  to the
Percentage  Leases. The remaining two hotels are operated by third parties under
management agreements. The Partnership's, and therefore the Company's, principal
source of revenue is lease payments by the Lessees under the Percentage  Leases.
Percentage  Rent is based  primarily  upon the hotels'  room  revenue,  and to a
lesser extent, when applicable, food and beverage revenue.



                                       11

<PAGE>


                     Management's Discussion and Analysis of
            Financial Condition and Results of Operations, Continued




RESULTS OF OPERATIONS

Three Months Ended June 30, 1999 and 1998

For the three months  ended June 30, 1999 and 1998,  the Company had revenues of
$31,943,745  and  $28,236,929,  respectively,  consisting  of  Percentage  Lease
revenue of $31,496,183 and $28,050,668. The increase in Percentage Lease revenue
for the three  months ended June 30, 1999 over the  comparable  period last year
resulted  from an  increase in the number of hotel  properties  owned the entire
quarter  for the  period  ended June 30,  1999 over the hotels  owned the entire
quarter for the period ended June 30, 1998 from 82 to 95. On a same store basis,
revenue per available room ("REVPAR") for hotels owned by the Company throughout
both periods decreased by 2.0% from $55.25 to $54.16.  In addition,  for hotels,
on a  comparable  hotel basis,  which were in operation  for the full quarter in
both 1999 and 1998 with the same or comparable brand affiliation,  regardless of
ownership  last year,  REVPAR (on a pro forma basis)  decreased from $56.63 from
$55.92, a decrease of 1.3%.

Real  estate and  personal  property  taxes and  depreciation  and  amortization
increased  over the  comparable  period in 1998 due primarily to the increase in
the number of hotel  properties  owned the entire  quarter for the period  ended
June 30, 1999 over the hotels owned the entire quarter for the period ended June
30, 1998 from 82 properties to 95 properties.

Interest  expense  increased  $1,332,746 in the three months ended June 30, 1999
over the  comparable  period  in 1998.  The  increase  was due  primarily  to an
increase  in the average  outstanding  balance of the  Company's  debt from $270
million for the three months ended June 30, 1998 to $345.9 million for the three
months ended June 30, 1999. Average interest rates decreased slightly, from 7.5%
to 7.4% for the quarter ended June 30, 1999.

Funds From Operations (as defined below) were  $18,385,608 or $.48 per share for
the three months ended June 30, 1999, compared to $18,262,667 or $0.48 per share
for the three  months  ended June 30,  1998.  The Company  considers  Funds From
Operations to be a key measure of a REIT's  performance  and believes that Funds
From Operations  should be considered  along with, but not as an alternative to,
net income and cash flows as a measure of the  Company's  operating  performance
and liquidity.



                                       12

<PAGE>


                     Management's Discussion and Analysis of
            Financial Condition and Results of Operations, Continued



                        RESULTS OF OPERATIONS, Continued

Six Months Ended June 30, 1999 and 1998

For the six months  ended June 30, 1999 and 1998,  the  Company had  revenues of
$58,019,736  and  $49,814,181,  respectively,  consisting  of  Percentage  Lease
revenue  of  $57,356,251  and  $49,457,602.  The  increase  is the  result of an
increase in the number of hotels  owned the entire six month period of 1999 over
1998 from 82 to 98. On a same store basis, revenue per available room ("RevPAR")
for hotels owned by the Company  throughout both periods  decreased by 2.3% from
$51.92 to $50.73. In addition,  for hotels,  on a comparable hotel basis,  which
were in  operation  for the full  quarter in both 1999 and 1998 with the same or
comparable brand  affiliation,  regardless of ownership last year,  RevPAR (on a
pro forma basis) decreased from $53.18 to $52.22, a decrease of 1.8%.

Real  estate and  personal  property  taxes and  depreciation  and  amortization
increased  over the  comparable  period in 1998 due primarily to the increase in
the number of hotel  properties  owned by the  Company  for the entire six month
period in 1998 and 1999 from 82 properties to 98 properties.

General  and  administrative  expenses  increased  primarily  as a result of (i)
increased legal and professional fees and shareholder  expenses,  resulting from
the Company's growth and (ii) increased corporate staff and related expenses.

Interest expense increased $3,094,088 in the six months ended June 30, 1999 over
the comparable  period in 1998. The increase was due primarily to an increase in
the average  outstanding balance of the Company's debt from $252 million for the
six months  ended June 30, 1998 to $340.8  million for the six months ended June
30, 1999.  Average  interest rates decreased  slightly from 7.5% to 7.4% for the
quarter ended June 30, 1999.

Funds From Operations (as defined below) were $30,573,291 or $0.79 per share for
the six months ended June 30, 1999,  compared to  $31,192,443 of $0.83 per share
for the six months  ended June 30, 1998.  The  decrease is due  primarily to the
decrease in RevPAR as compared to the same period last year.

Funds From Operations

Industry  analysts  generally  consider Funds From  Operations  ("FFO") to be an
appropriate measure of the performance of an equity REIT. In accordance with the
resolution adopted by the Board of Governors of the National Association of Real
Estate Investment Trusts ("NAREIT"),  FFO represents net income (loss) (computed
in accordance with generally accepted  accounting  principles),  excluding gains
(or losses) from debt restructuring or sales of property, plus depreciation, and
after adjustments for  unconsolidated  partnerships and joint ventures.  For the
periods presented,

                                       13

<PAGE>


                     Management's Discussion and Analysis of
            Financial Condition and Results of Operations, Continued



                        RESULTS OF OPERATIONS, Continued

depreciation,  minority  interest  and the charge  from  write-off  of  deferred
organizational costs were the only adjustments.  FFO should not be considered an
alternative  to net  income  or  other  measurements  under  generally  accepted
accounting  principles as an indicator of operating performance or to cash flows
from operating, investing or financing activities as a measure of liquidity. FFO
does  not  reflect  working  capital  changes,  cash  expenditures  for  capital
improvements or principal payments with respect to indebtedness on the hotels.

FFO  presented  herein is not  necessarily  comparable to FFO presented by other
real estate companies due to the fact that not all real estate companies use the
same  definition.  However,  the  Company's FFO is comparable to the FFO of real
estate companies that use the current definition of NAREIT.

The following is a  reconciliation  of income before minority  interest to Funds
From Operations under the NAREIT definition:

<TABLE>
<CAPTION>
                                               Three Months Ended            Six Months Ended
                                                    June 30,                      June 30,
                                           --------------------------    --------------------------
                                              1999           1998           1999           1998
                                           -----------    -----------    -----------    -----------
<S>                                        <C>            <C>            <C>            <C>
Income before minority interest            $10,925,819    $11,158,469    $16,077,338    $17,476,803
Less:
    Preferred stock dividends               (1,632,813)      (108,854)    (3,265,626)      (108,854)
    Gain on sale of hotel properties          (269,211)      (269,211)
Add:
    Depreciation of buildings, furniture
         and equipment                       9,361,813      7,213,052     18,030,790     13,824,494
                                           -----------    -----------    -----------    -----------

    Funds From Operations                  $18,385,608    $18,262,667    $30,573,291    $31,192,443
                                           ===========    ===========    ===========    ===========

    Weighted average number of
        common shares and units
        outstanding -- diluted              38,582,543     38,236,657     38,568,066     37,695,963
                                           ===========    ===========    ===========    ===========

    Funds From Operations per share
         and unit                          $       .48    $       .48    $       .79    $       .83
                                           ===========    ===========    ============   ===========
</TABLE>


                         LIQUIDITY AND CAPITAL RESOURCES

The Company's principal source of cash to meet its cash requirements,  including
distributions  to  its  shareholders,   is  its  cash   distributions  from  the
Partnership. The Partnership receives cash payments from the Lessees pursuant to
the Percentage  Leases. The Company's  liquidity,  including its ability to make
distributions  to  shareholders,  is dependent upon the Lessees' ability to make
payments  under the  Percentage  Leases.  All of the  Interstate  Lessee's lease
obligations are guaranteed  by Interstate  except for three hotels where Patriot

                                       14

<PAGE>


                     Management's Discussion and Analysis of
            Financial Condition and Results of Operations, Continued



                   LIQUIDITY AND CAPITAL RESOURCES, Continued

is the  guarantor.  The  Company's  other Lessee, Prime, is required,  under the
terms of its master lease agreement,  to maintain  20% of  its  expected  annual
percentage  rents  generated  from  the  Percentage Leases in cash or marketable
securities.

Cash and cash equivalents as of June 30, 1999 were $88,955, compared to $399,952
at December 31, 1998.  Additionally,  all of the June 30, 1999  receivables  due
from the Lessees were received  prior to the filing of this Form 10-Q.  Net cash
provided by  operating  activities  for the three months ended June 30, 1999 was
$30,485,113.

The Company intends to make additional  investments in hotel  properties and may
incur, or cause the Partnership to incur,  indebtedness to make such investments
or to meet  distribution  requirements  imposed  on a REIT  under  the  Internal
Revenue Code to the extent that working capital and cash flow from the Company's
investments are insufficient to make such distributions.  The Company's Board of
Directors has adopted a debt  limitation  policy  currently  limiting  aggregate
indebtedness to 45% of the Company's investment in hotel properties at its cost.
The Board of Directors can amend, modify or terminate the debt limitation policy
at any time without shareholder approval.

At June 30,  1999,  the Company had  outstanding  debt of  approximately  $382.4
million,  including  $191.9  million under its combined  lines of credit,  $82.9
million  under the  Commercial  Mortgage  Bonds (the  "Bonds") and $97.0 million
under the GMAC Term Loan,  leaving  approximately  $54.3 million available under
the combined lines of credit,  after  consideration  of  outstanding  letters of
credit.  Additionally,  the Company had $10.6 million of mortgage  notes payable
assumed in  connection  with the purchase of two hotels in 1998.  The  Company's
consolidated  indebtedness  was 42.0% of its investments in hotels,  at cost, at
June 30, 1999.

In  December  1997,  the Company  arranged  an interest  rate swap on a notional
amount of $75 million with Bank One as a hedge against floating rate debt, which
resulted in a fixed  interest  rate of 8.15% on the notional  amount.  On May 3,
1999, the Company  entered into a second interest rate swap on a notional amount
of $40 million with Bank One,  which  resulted in a fixed interest rate of 7.49%
on the notional amount. These swap agreements will expire in October 2000.

During the six months ended June 30, 1999,  the Company  invested  approximately
$18.1 million to fund capital improvements to its hotels,  including replacement
of  carpets,  drapes,  renovation  of  common  areas  and  improvement  of hotel
exteriors.  In  addition,  the Company has  committed to fund  approximately  $4
million during the remainder of 1999 for capital improvements.



                                       15

<PAGE>


                     Management's Discussion and Analysis of
            Financial Condition and Results of Operations, Continued



                   LIQUIDITY AND CAPITAL RESOURCES, Continued

The  Company  intends  to  fund  such  improvements  out  of  future  cash  from
operations,  present cash balances and  borrowings  under its combined  lines of
credit.  Under the Bank One Line, the  NationsBank  Line, the GMAC Term Loan and
the Bonds,  the Partnership is obligated to fund 4% of room revenues per quarter
on a cumulative  basis,  to a separate room  renovation  account for the ongoing
replacement or refurbishment of furniture, fixtures and equipment at the hotels.
Recurring repairs and maintenance are performed by the Lessees.

The Company has entered into an agreement to purchase a hotel for  approximately
$33 million.  The hotel is projected to open in August 1999.  Additionally,  the
Company owns land for the  possible  development  of an Embassy  Suites hotel in
Salt Lake City,  Utah.  Funds needed to acquire and complete these projects,  if
needed,  may be obtained from borrowings  under its combined lines of credit and
other sources of debt or equity financing.

During  the  six  months  ended  June  30,  1999,   the   Partnership   declared
distributions  in the aggregate of  $11,960,745  to its partners,  including the
Trust, of $.31 per Unit, and the Company declared distributions in the aggregate
of $11,544,088,  or $.31 per share to its shareholders,  with such distributions
being payable on August 2, 1999.

The Company  expects to meet its  short-term  liquidity  requirements  generally
through  net cash  provided  by  operations,  existing  cash  balances  and,  if
necessary,  short-term borrowing under its lines of credit. The Company believes
that its net cash provided by operations will be adequate to fund both operating
requirements  and payment of dividends to preferred and common  shareholders  by
the Company in accordance with REIT requirements.

The  Company  expects  to meet its  long-term  liquidity  requirements,  such as
scheduled debt maturities and property  acquisitions,  through long-term secured
and unsecured  borrowings,  the issuance of additional  equity securities of the
Company,  or, in connection with acquisitions of hotel  properties,  issuance of
Units  in  the  Partnership.  Pursuant  to the  Partnership  Agreement  for  the
Partnership,  holders  of Units  have the right to require  the  Partnership  to
redeem  their Units.  During the six months  ended June 30, 1999,  no Units were
tendered for redemption.  Pursuant to the Partnership Agreement, the Company has
the option to redeem Units  tendered for  redemption on a one-for-one  basis for
shares  of  Common  Stock  or for an  equivalent  amount  of cash.  The  Company
anticipates  that it will  acquire  any Units  tendered  for  redemption  in the
foreseeable  future in  exchange  for  shares of Common  Stock and has agreed to
register such shares so as to be freely tradeable by the recipient.




                                       16

<PAGE>


                     Management's Discussion and Analysis of
            Financial Condition and Results of Operations, Continued



                                    INFLATION

Operators of hotels,  including the Lessees and any third-party manager retained
by the Lessees,  in general,  possess the ability to adjust room rates  quickly.
However,  competitive  pressures  have  limited and may in the future  limit the
ability of the Lessees and any  third-party  manager  retained by the Lessees to
raise room rates in response to inflation.

                           FORWARD-LOOKING STATEMENTS

This Management's  Discussion and Analysis of Financial Condition and Results of
Operations contains forward-looking statements within the meaning of Section 27A
of the  Securities  Act of 1933, as amended,  and Section 21E of the  Securities
Exchange Act of 1934,  as amended,  including,  without  limitation,  statements
containing the words  "believes",  "anticipate",  "expects" and words of similar
import. Such  forward-looking  statements relate to future events and the future
financial  performance  of the  Company,  and involve  known and unknown  risks,
uncertainties and other factors which may cause the actual results,  performance
or  achievements  of the Company to be materially  different from the results or
achievement  expressed  or  implied  by such  forward-looking  statements.  Risk
factors  relating  to  such  forward-looking  statements  are  contained  in the
Company's  Current  Report on Form 8-K dated  March 23, 1999 and filed under the
Securities  Exchange Act of 1934,  as amended.  The Company is not  obligated to
update any such factors.

                              YEAR 2000 COMPLIANCE

Many  existing  computer  programs  have been designed to use only two digits to
identify  a year in the  date  field,  without  considering  the  impact  of the
upcoming  change in the century.  If not corrected,  many computer  applications
could fail or create  erroneous  results by or at the Year 2000.  The  Company's
assessment of its Year 2000 compliance is not complete.  The Company has engaged
its  hardware  and software  contractors  to  implement a compliance  program to
address  the  challenges  the Year 2000 may present to the  Company's  corporate
systems and applications.  This program includes an analysis of computer systems
and  applications  operated by the Company and computer systems of third parties
upon whose data or services the Company relies (including the Lessees).

The  Company's  management,  as a result of  discussions  with its  hardware and
software  contractors,  has modified its systems,  and is now in full compliance
with Year 2000 issues. As part of its compliance  program,  the Company has also
surveyed its customers,  franchisors, vendors, and the Lessees, whose failure to
convert their systems in a timely  fashion could have an impact on the Company's
operations.  Although  the  Company  does not  believe  the Year 2000 issue will
materially affect its business,  financial conditions and results of operations,
there can be no  assurance  that its Year 2000  remediation  efforts  will fully
prevent  problems  that could  affect the  Company's  business or that any third
party  upon  whose  data  or  services  the  Company  relies  will be  fully  in
compliance.

                                       17

<PAGE>


                     Management's Discussion and Analysis of
            Financial Condition and Results of Operations, Continued



                         YEAR 2000 COMPLIANCE, Continued

In  addition,  although  the Company has no reasons to believe  that the Lessees
will not be in compliance  by the Year 2000,  the Company is unable to determine
the extent to which the Year 2000 will affect the operations of the hotels.  The
Company continues to discuss with the Lessees the need for implementing adequate
procedures,  including  contingency  plans,  to address  this issue and has been
assured that each Lessee is on schedule to complete these  compliance  issues in
the next few months.

Management  does not consider the incurred or estimated  costs of the  Company's
compliance program to be material.

                                   SEASONALITY

The hotel industry is seasonal in nature.  The hotels'  operations  historically
reflect  higher  occupancy  rates and ADR during the second and third  quarters.
This  seasonality  can be expected to cause  fluctuations  in the  Partnership's
quarterly revenue to the extent that it receives  Percentage Rent. To the extent
that  cash flow from  operating  activities  from the  hotels  for a quarter  is
insufficient to generate  Percentage Lease revenue  necessary to fund all of the
distributions for such quarter, the Company may maintain the annual distribution
rate by funding  seasonal-related  shortfalls  with  available cash or borrowing
under its lines of credit.



                                       18

<PAGE>




Item 3.  Quantitative and Qualitative Disclosures About Market Risk



Pursuant to the General  Instructions  to Rule 305 of SEC  Regulation  S-K,  the
quantitative and qualitative  disclosures  called for by this Item 3 and by Rule
305 of SEC Regulation S-K are inapplicable to the Company at this time.

                                       19

<PAGE>




                           PART II - OTHER INFORMATION


Item 4.  Submission of Matters to a Vote of Security Holders.

The 1999 annual  meeting of  shareholders  (the "1999  Annual  Meeting")  of the
Company was held on May 7, 1999 for the Company's shareholders to take action on
each of three proposals:  (1) to elect two Class I directors (Raymond E. Schultz
and Howard A. Silver),  two Class II directors  (James A. Thomas III and William
W. Deupree,  Jr.), and one Class III director  (Donald H. Dempsey),  to serve on
the Board of Directors  until the Company's  annual meeting of  shareholders  in
2000 (Class III),  2001 (Class I) and 2002 (Class II) or until their  successors
have been duly elected and  qualified;  (2) to consider and vote upon a proposal
to amend the 1994 Plan to,  among other  things,  increase  the number of shares
that may be issued as awards under the 1994 Plan, remove certain  limitations on
vesting  and  exercisability  of awards  and  reflect  certain  securities  laws
changes;  and (3) to consider  and vote on a proposal to approve an amendment to
the  Directors'  Plan to, among other  things,  add new option and stock awards,
reflect  certain  securities  laws changes and provide  accelerated  vesting and
exercisability of awards in certain circumstances.

The results of the  shareholders'  votes,  approving  each of the above  matters
submitted  before the 1999 Annual  Meeting,  were  summarized  in the  Company's
Current  Report on Form 8-K dated May 7, 1999 and filed  with the SEC on May 24,
1999.

Item 6.  Exhibits and Reports on Form 8-K.

(a) Exhibits -- The  following  exhibits are filed in this  Quarterly  Report on
Form 10-Q:

10.1     Amended and Restated  Unsecured  Revolving Credit Agreement dated as of
         June 23,  1999,  by and among  Equity Inns  Partnership,  L.P.,  Equity
         Inns/West  Virginia  Partnership,  L.P. and Equity Inns Partnership II,
         L.P.  as  Borrowers  and The First  National  Bank of  Chicago,  Credit
         Lyonnais New York Branch,  NationsBank  N.A.,  AmSouth Bank,  PNC Bank,
         National Association,  National Bank of Commerce,  Chang Hwa Commercial
         Bank, Ltd., New York Branch, Union Planters Bank, National Association,
         and First Tennessee Bank as Lenders.

27       Financial Data Schedule (filed only electronically with the SEC).

(b)      Reports on Form 8-K -- The Company filed the following  Current Reports
         on Form 8-K during the period covered by this Quarterly  Report on Form
         10-Q:

         (1) Current  Report on Form 8-K dated March 29, 1999 and filed with the
         SEC on May 7, 1999,  reporting the Company's $25 million unsecured line
         of credit with  NationsBank,  N.A.  and the  Consolidated  Amendment to
         Lease Agreements and Master Agreement dated March 31, 1999 with Patriot
         American Hospitality, Inc. (no financial information required); and

                                       20

<PAGE>



         (2) Current Report on Form 8-K dated May 7, 1999 and filed with the SEC
         on May 24, 1999,  reporting  each of the matters  submitted  before the
         1999 Annual Meeting (no financial information required).




                                       21

<PAGE>



                                   SIGNATURES


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



                                          Equity Inns, Inc.



    August 11, 1999                       By:  /s/Donald H. Dempsey
- -----------------------                   --------------------------------------
         Date                             Donald H. Dempsey
                                          Executive Vice President, Secretary,
                                          Treasurer, and Chief Financial Officer
                                          (Principal Financial and Accounting
                                          Officer)



                                       22

<PAGE>


                                    EXHIBITS


Exhibit
Number            Description

10.1       Amended and Restated Unsecured Revolving Credit Agreement dated as of
           June  23,  1999,  by and  among Equity Inns Partnership, L.P., Equity
           Inns/West  Virginia Partnership, L.P. and Equity Inns Partnership II,
           L.P. as  Borrowers  and  The  First  National Bank of Chicago, Credit
           Lyonnais  New  York Branch, NationsBank N.A., AmSouth Bank, PNC Bank,
           National Association, National Bank of Commerce, Chang Hwa Commercial
           Bank,  Ltd.,  New  York  Branch,  Union   Planters   Bank,   National
           Association, and First Tennessee Bank as Lenders.

27         Financial Data Schedule (filed only electronically with the SEC)



                                       23



                                                                    EXHIBIT 10.1

                              AMENDED AND RESTATED
                      UNSECURED REVOLVING CREDIT AGREEMENT
                            DATED AS OF JUNE 23, 1999
                                      AMONG
                         EQUITY INNS PARTNERSHIP, L.P.,
                   EQUITY INNS/WEST VIRGINIA PARTNERSHIP, L.P.
                                       AND
                        EQUITY INNS PARTNERSHIP II, L.P.,
                                   AS BORROWER
                                       AND
                       THE FIRST NATIONAL BANK OF CHICAGO,
                        CREDIT LYONNAIS NEW YORK BRANCH,
                               NATIONSBANK, N.A.,
                                  AMSOUTH BANK,
                         PNC BANK, NATIONAL ASSOCIATION,
                           NATIONAL BANK OF COMMERCE,
                CHANG HWA COMMERCIAL BANK, LTD., NEW YORK BRANCH
                    UNION PLANTERS BANK, NATIONAL ASSOCIATION
                                       AND
                              FIRST TENNESSEE BANK,
                                   AS LENDERS
                                       AND
                       THE FIRST NATIONAL BANK OF CHICAGO
                                       AND
                        CREDIT LYONNAIS NEW YORK BRANCH,
                                 AS BOOKRUNNERS,
                       THE FIRST NATIONAL BANK OF CHICAGO,
                             AS ADMINISTRATIVE AGENT

                        CREDIT LYONNAIS NEW YORK BRANCH,
                              AS SYNDICATION AGENT,
                                       AND
                               NATIONSBANK, N.A.,
                             AS DOCUMENTATION AGENT


<PAGE>

            AMENDED AND RESTATED UNSECURED REVOLVING CREDIT AGREEMENT

         THIS UNSECURED  REVOLVING  CREDIT  AGREEMENT is entered into as of June
23, 1999, by and among the following:

         EQUITY INNS PARTNERSHIP,  L.P., a Tennessee limited  partnership having
its  principal  place of  business  at c/o Equity  Inns,  Inc.,  7700 Wolf River
Boulevard,  Germantown,  Tennessee  38138  (AOperating  Partnership@),  the sole
general partner of which is Equity Inns Trust;

         EQUITY  INNS/WEST  VIRGINIA  PARTNERSHIP,  L.P.,  a  Tennessee  limited
partnership  having its principal place of business c/o Equity Inns,  Inc., 7700
Wolf River Boulevard,  Germantown,  Tennessee 38138 ("EIP/WV"), the sole general
partner of which is Equity Inns Services, Inc., a Tennessee corporation which is
wholly-owned by Equity Inns, Inc.;

         EQUITY INNS  PARTNERSHIP  II,  L.P.,  a Tennessee  limited  partnership
having its principal place of business c/o Equity Inns, Inc., 7700 Wolf River
Boulevard,  Germantown,  Tennessee 38138 ("Equity II"), the sole general partner
of which is Equity  Inns  Trust and the sole  limited partner  of  which  is the
Operating   Partnership   (the   Operating Partnership, EIP/WV and Equity II
being referred to herein collectively as  the  "Borrower");

         THE  FIRST  NATIONAL  BANK  OF  CHICAGO  ("First Chicago"), a  national
bank  organized  under the laws of the  United States  of  America  having an
office  at One  First  National  Plaza, Chicago,  Illinois  60670;  CREDIT
LYONNAIS  NEW YORK BRANCH  ("Credit Lyonnais"), the New York branch of a French
banking corporation, having an office at 1301 Avenue of the  Americas, New York,
New York 10019;

         NATIONSBANK,  N.A.  ("Nationsbank"),  having an office at 600 Peachtree
Street, 6th Floor, Atlanta, Georgia 30308;

         AMSOUTH BANK ("AmSouth"), a state banking corporation, having an office
at 1900 Fifth Avenue North, AmSouth-Sonat  Tower, 9th Floor,  Birmingham,
Alabama 35203;

         PNC BANK, NATIONAL ASSOCIATION, having an office at Mail Stop P1-1-
Popp-19-2, 249 Fifth Avenue, 19th Floor, Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania 15222;

         NATIONAL BANK OF  COMMERCE,  having an  office  at 7770  Poplar Avenue,
Suite  105, Germantown,  Tennessee 38138;

         CHANG HWA COMMERCIAL BANK, LTD., NEW YORK BRANCH,  having an office at
One World Trade  Center,  Suite 3211,  New York, New York 10048;

         UNION PLANTERS BANK, NATIONAL ASSOCIATION, having an office at 6200
Poplar Avenue, 4th Floor, Memphis,  Tennessee 38119;

         FIRST  TENNESSEE  BANK,  having an office at 165 Madison  Avenue,  1st
Floor, Memphis,  Tennessee 38101;

<PAGE>

         FIRST CHICAGO and CREDIT LYONNAIS, as Bookrunners;

         CREDIT  LYONNAIS, as Syndication Agent ("Syndication Agent");

         NATIONSBANK, as Documentation Agent ("Documentation Agent"); and

         FIRST CHICAGO, as Administrative Agent ("Administrative Agent") for the
Lenders (as defined below).

                                    RECITALS

    A.   The Borrower is primarily engaged in the business of acquiring,
developing and owning premium limited service, premium extended stay and all-
suite and full service hotel properties.

    B.   The Borrower, the Administrative Agent, the Syndication Agent, First
Chicago, Credit Lyonnais and AmSouth have previously entered into an Unsecured
Revolving Credit Agreement dated as of October 10, 1997 (the "Original
Agreement"), which Original Agreement has been amended by (i) First Amendment to
Unsecured Revolving Credit Agreement dated as of November 24, 1997 and (ii)
Second Amendment to Unsecured Revolving Credit Agreement dated as of September
28, 1998 (as so amended, the "Existing Agreement").

    C.   Borrowers,   the  Syndication  Agent,  the  Administrative  Agent,  the
Documentation  Agent and the Lenders (as defined below) desire to amend the
Existing  Agreement by amending and  restating it in its  entirety.

         NOW, THEREFORE, in consideration of the mutual covenants and agreements
herein contained, the parties hereto agree that the Existing Agreement is hereby
amended and restated in its entirety to read as follows:

                                   Article I.

                        DEFINITIONS AND ACCOUNTING TERMS

Section  I.1  Definitions.  As used in this Agreement,  the following terms have
the meanings set forth below:

         "ABR Applicable  Margin" means, as of any date with  respect to any
Adjusted Alternate Base Rate Advance, the Applicable Margin  in effect  for such
Adjusted  Alternate  Base Rate Advance as determined in accordance with Section
2.6 hereof.

         "Adjusted Alternate Base Rate" means a floating interest rate  equal to
the Alternate Base Rate plus the ABR Applicable Margin changing when and as the
Alternate Base Rate and ABR Applicable Margin changes.

         "Adjusted Alternate Base Rate Advance" means an Advance that bears
interest at the Adjusted  Alternate Base Rate.

<PAGE>

         "Adjusted  EBITDA"  means, for any Person for any  period,  EBITDA  for
such Person under GAAP for such period adjusted to exclude (i) all extraordinary
items, (ii) all gains or losses from the sale of assets and (iii) the Agreed
FF&E Reserve for such  period.

         "Adjusted  LIBOR Rate" means,  with  respect to a LIBOR Advance for any
day during the relevant LIBOR Interest Period,  the sum of (i) the quotient of
(a) the Base LIBOR Rate applicable to such LIBOR Interest  Period,  divided  by
(b) one  minus the  Reserve  Requirement (expressed as a decimal) applicable to
such LIBOR Interest Period, plus the LIBOR Applicable Margin  in  effect on such
day.

         "Administrative Agent" means First Chicago,  acting  as  agent  for the
Lenders in connection with the transactions contemplated by this Agreement,  and
its successors in such capacity.

         "Advance" means a Loan to the Borrower hereunder by one or more of the
Lenders pursuant to Section 2.1(a) hereof (including Swingline Loans), whether
such Advances are from time to time,  Adjusted  Alternate  Base Rate  Advances,
LIBOR  Advances or Swingline  Loans.

          "Affiliate"  means any Person directly or indirectly controlling,
controlled by or under direct or indirect  common control with any other Person.
A Person  shall be deemed to  control  another Person if the controlling  Person
owns ten percent (10%) or more of any class of voting  securities  of the
controlled  Person  or  possesses, directly or  indirectly,  the power to direct
or cause the direction of the management or policies of the controlled  Person,
whether  through ownership of stock, by contract or otherwise.

         "Aggregate Commitment" means, as of any date, the sum of all of the
Lenders'  then-current  Commitments, which  initially   shall   be $219,500,000,
subject to Borrower's right to reduce the Aggregate Commitment  pursuant to
Section 2.17 and which shall  otherwise only be increased with the consent of
all Lenders.

         "Agreed FF&E Reserve" means, with respect to any period,  4%  of  gross
room revenues of the Consolidated  Group during such period.

         "Agreement" means this Amended and Restated  Unsecured Revolving Credit
Agreement and all amendments, modifications and supplements hereto.

         "Agreement Execution Date" shall mean June 23, 1999,  the date on which
all of the parties  hereto have executed this  Agreement.

         "Allocated Facility Amount" means, at any time, the sum of all then
outstanding Advances (including all Swingline Loans) and the then Facility
Letter of Credit Obligations.

         "Alternate Base Rate"  means, for any day, a rate of interest per annum
equal to the higher of (i) the Corporate Base Rate for such day and (ii) the sum
of  Federal  Funds  Effective  Rate for such day plus  1/2% per  annum.

         "Applicable  Commitment  Fee  Percentage"  means,  as of any date,  the
percentage  then in effect  pursuant to the chart shown in Section 2.6.

<PAGE>

         "Applicable Margin" means the applicable margins set forth in the table
in Section 2.6 used to calculate  the interest  rate  applicable to the  various
types of  Advances,  which  may vary  from time to time in the manner set forth
in Section 2.6.

         "Arranger" means First Chicago Capital Markets,  Inc.  and Credit
Lyonnais,  collectively.

          "Base LIBOR Rate" means,  with respect to a LIBOR Advance for the
relevant LIBOR Interest Period, the rate reasonably  determined by the
Administrative  Agent to be the rate at which deposits in immediately available
funds in Dollars are offered by the  Administrative  Agent to first-class  banks
in the London interbank  eurodollar market at approximately  11:00 a.m. London
time two Business Days prior to the first day of such LIBOR  Interest Period, in
the approximate amount of the relevant LIBOR Advance and having a maturity
approximately  equal to such LIBOR Interest  Period.

         "Borrower" means, collectively the Operating Partnership and EIP/WV, on
a joint and  several  basis,  along  with  their respective permitted successors
and assigns.

         "Borrowing Base" means, as of any date, the then-current  Value of
Unencumbered  Assets, provided that (i) no more than  10% of the Borrowing  Base
shall be attributable to a single Property,  (ii)  no  more  than  25% of the
Borrowing Base shall be attributable  to  Properties  located in the same state,
(iii) no more than 45% of the  Borrowing  Base shall be  attributable  to
Properties which are operated by, or leased under Permitted  Operating Leases to
a single tenant or a single group of tenants which are affiliates of each other,
excluding Interstate Hotels Management, Inc. and its Affiliates, but  including,
without  limitation,  Prime  Hospitality Corporation, or a  subsidiary  thereof,
(iv) at least 80% of the Borrowing Base shall be attributable to premium limited
service hotels, premium  extended stay hotels,  all-suite hotels or full service
hotels and (v) at least 80% of the  Borrowing  Base shall be  attributable  to
hotels operated as Hampton Inns, Homewood Suites, Residence Inns or AmeriSuites.

         "Borrowing Date" means a Business Day on which an Advance is made to
the  Borrower.

         "Borrowing Notice" is defined in Section 2.11(a)  hereof.

         "Business Day" means a day, other than a Saturday, Sunday or  holiday,
on which banks are open for business in Chicago, Illinois,  New York, New York
and, where such term is used in reference to the  selection  or  determination
of the Adjusted LIBOR Rate, in London, England.

         "Capital Stock" means any and all shares,  interests, participations or
other equivalents (however  designated) of capital stock of a corporation, any
and all equivalent ownership interests in a Person which is not a  corporation
and any and all warrants or options to purchase any of the  foregoing.

         "Cash Equivalents" shall mean (i) short-term obligations of, or fully
guaranteed by, the United States of America,  (ii)  commercial  paper rated A-1
or better by  Standard  and Poor"s Corporation or P-1 or better by Moody's
Investors Service, Inc., or (iii)  certificates  of  deposit  issued by and time
deposits with commercial  banks (whether  domestic  or foreign)  having  capital
and surplus in excess of  $100,000,000.

<PAGE>

         "Code" means the Internal  Revenue Code of 1986 as amended from time to
time, or any replacement or successor statute, and the regulations promulgated
thereunder from time to time.

         "Commitment" means the obligation of each Lender,  subject to the terms
and conditions of this Agreement and in reliance upon the representations  and
warranties  herein, to make Advances not exceeding in the aggregate the amount
set forth opposite its signature  below, or the amount stated in any subsequent
amendment hereto.

         "Commitment Fee" is defined in Section 2.7.

         "Consolidated Group" means the Borrower, the Guarantors and any other
subsidiary partnerships or entities of any of them which are required under GAAP
to be consolidated with the Borrower and the Guarantors for financial  reporting
purposes.

         "Consolidated Group Pro Rata Share" means, with respect to any
Investment Affiliate, the  percentage  of the total equity  ownership  interests
held by the Consolidated Group in the aggregate, in such  Investment  Affiliate,
determined  by calculating  the greater of (i) the  percentage of the issued and
outstanding  stock,  partnership  interests  or  membership interests in such
Investment  Affiliate held by the Consolidated Group in the  aggregate  and (ii)
the percentage of the total book value of such Investment Affiliate  that would
be received by the Consolidated Group in the aggregate, upon liquidation of such
Investment Affiliate after repayment in full of all Indebtedness of such
Investment  Affiliate.

         "Consolidated Secured Debt" as of any date of determination, the sum of
(a) the aggregate principal amount  of  all  Indebtedness  of  the Consolidated
Group outstanding at such date which is secured by a Lien on any asset or
Capital Stock of any member of the Consolidated  Group, including  without
limitation  loans secured by mortgages,  stock,  or partnership  interests,  and
(b) the aggregate  principal amount of all unsecured  Indebtedness of any member
of the Consolidated Group other than the Borrower and the Guarantors outstanding
at such date, without duplication of any Indebtedness included under clause (a).

         "Consolidated Senior Unsecured Debt" as of any date, means all
Indebtedness of the Consolidated  Group other than (i) Indebtedness  expressly
subordinated to the Obligations and (ii) that portion of the  Consolidated
Secured  Debt  described in clause (a) of the  definition  thereof.

         "Controlled Group" means all members  of a  controlled  group  of
corporations and all trades or businesses  (whether or not  incorporated)  under
common control which, together with all or any of the entities in the
Consolidated Group, are treated as a single  employer  under Sections  414(b) or
414(c) of the Code.

         "Corporate Base Rate" means a rate per annum equal to the corporate
base rate of interest announced by First Chicago from time to time, changing
when and as such corporate  base rate changes.

         "Credit Requirement"  means, as of any date,  the sum of (i) the  then-
current Allocated  Facility  Amount  plus  (ii) the  then-current  Consolidated
Senior Unsecured Debt plus (iii) the then-current  FF&E Deficiency,  if any.

<PAGE>

         "Debt Service" means for any period, (a) Interest Expense for such
period plus (b) the aggregate amount of regularly  scheduled  principal payments
of Indebtedness  (excluding  optional prepayments and balloon principal payments
due on  maturity  in respect of any  Indebtedness) required to be made during
such period by the Consolidated Group plus (c) the Consolidated Group Pro  Rata
Share  of all  such  regularly scheduled  principal payments required to be made
during such period by any Investment Affiliation Indebtedness (excluding
optional  prepayments and balloon principal payments due on  maturity in respect
of any Indebtedness) taken into account in calculating Interest Expense, without
duplication.

         "Default" means an  event  which,  with  notice  or lapse of time or
both,  would become an Event of Default.  ADefault  Rate@ means with  respect to
any Advance, a rate equal to the interest rate applicable to such Advance plus
four percent (4%) per annum.

         "Defaulting Lender" means any Lender which fails or refuses to perform
its obligations  under this Agreement within the time period  specified for
performance of such  obligation, or, if no time frame is specified, if such
failure or refusal continues for a period  of five  Business Days after  written
notice  from the Administrative  Agent;  provided that if such Lender cures such
failure or  refusal,  such  Lender  shall  cease  to  be a  Defaulting  Lender.

         "Dollars"  and "$" mean United  States  Dollars.

         "Duff & Phelps" means Duff & Phelps  Credit  Rating  Company.

         "EBITDA" means income before extraordinary items  (reduced to eliminate
any income from  Investment Affiliates),  as reported by the Consolidated  Group
in accordance with GAAP, plus Interest Expense, depreciation,  amortization and
income tax (if any) expense plus the  Consolidated  Group Pro Rata Share of such
income (adjusted as described above) of any Investment Affiliate (provided that
no item of income or expense shall be included more than once in such
calculation even if it falls within more than one of the foregoing categories).

         "Effective Date" means each Borrowing Date and, if no Borrowing Date
has occurred in the preceding  calendar month,  the first Business Day of each
calendar  month.

         "Environmental Laws" means any and all Federal, state, local or
municipal laws, rules, orders, regulations, statutes, ordinances, codes,
decrees, requirements of any Governmental  Authority having  jurisdiction  over
any member of the Consolidated Group or any Investment Affiliate, or their
respective assets, and regulating or imposing  liability or standards of conduct
concerning protection of human health or the environment, as now or may at any
time hereafter be in effect, in each case to the extent the foregoing are
applicable to the  operations of such member of the Consolidated Group or
Investment Affiliate,  or any of their respective assets or Properties.

         "Equity  Inns" means Equity Inns, Inc., a Tennessee  corporation.

         "ERISA" means the Employee  Retirement  Income Security  Act  of  1974,
as amended, and regulations promulgated thereunder  from time to time.

<PAGE>

         "Event of Default"  means any event set forth in Article X hereof.

         "Facility"  means the  unsecured  revolving credit facility  described
in Section 2.1.

         "Facility Letter of Credit" means a Letter of  Credit  issued  pursuant
to  Article  III of this Agreement.

         "Facility  Letter of Credit Fee" is defined in Section 3.8.

         "Facility  Letter  of  Credit  Obligations"  means,  as at the  time of
determination  thereof, all liabilities,  whether actual or contingent, of the
Borrower with respect to Facility  Letters of Credit,  including the  sum of (a)
the  Reimbursement Obligations and (b) the  aggregate undrawn face amount of the
then outstanding Facility Letters of Credit.

         "Facility Letter of Credit Sublimit" means $20,000,000.

         "Federal Funds Effective Rate" means, for any day, an interest rate per
annum equal to the weighted average of the rates  on  overnight   Federal  funds
transactions  with members of the Federal  Reserve  System  arranged by Federal
funds brokers on such day, as published for such day (or, if such day is not a
Business Day, for the immediately  preceding Business Day) by the Federal
Reserve Bank of New York, or, if such rate is not so published for any day which
is a Business Day, the average of the quotations at  approximately  10  a.m.
(Chicago  time) on such day on such transactions received by the  Administrative
Agent from three Federal funds brokers of  recognized  standing  selected by the
Administrative Agent in its sole discretion.

         "FF&E  Deficiency" means the amount, if any, by which 4% of the gross
room revenues of the  Consolidated  Group during the preceding four fiscal
quarters, on a rolling basis, exceeds the actual expenditures by the
Consolidated Group for FF&E replacements or capital items at the Consolidated
Group's Properties during the same period.

         "Financeable Ground Lease" means a Major Ground Lease satisfactory  to
the Required Lenders and the Administrative  Agent's counsel in their reasonable
discretion, which must provide protections for a potential leasehold mortgagee
("Mortgagee") which include, among other things (i) a remaining  term of no less
than 25 years from the Effective  Date, (ii) that the lease will not be
terminated  until the Mortgagee has received  notice of a default and has had a
reasonable opportunity to cure or complete foreclosure, and fails to do so,
(iii)  provision  for a new lease on the same terms to the  Mortgagee  as tenant
if the  ground  lease is  terminated  for any reason, (iv) non-merger of the fee
and leasehold estates, (v) transferability of the tenant's interest under the
ground lease,  without the ground lessor's prior consent except for restrictions
based on the satisfaction of certain  objective criteria  acceptable to
Administrative  Agent, and (vi) that insurance  proceeds and condemnation awards
(from  the fee  interest  as  well  as the  leasehold interest)  will be applied
pursuant to the terms of a leasehold  mortgage. The existing Major Ground Leases
described on Exhibit C attached  hereto have been reviewed and  approved  for
inclusion  as  "Financeable  Ground  Leases" by the Required Lenders as of the
Agreement Execution Date, notwithstanding deviations from the standards set
forth in the preceding sentence.

         "First Chicago" means The First National Bank of Chicago.


<PAGE>

         "Fitch" means Fitch Investors Services, L.P.

         "Fixed Charges" means, for any period, the sum of (i) Debt Service for
such period plus (ii) Preferred Stock Expense of the Guarantors for such period
plus (iii) Ground Lease Expense for such period.

         "Free Cash Flow" means, for any period, Funds From Operations less (i)
the Agreed FF&E Reserve for such period and less (ii) scheduled principal
amortization (excluding balloon payments due on maturity) on all Indebtedness of
the Consolidated Group for such period.

         "Funds From Operations" for any period, means GAAP net income, as
adjusted by (i) excluding gains and losses from property sales, debt
restructurings and property write-downs and adjusting for the non-cash effect of
straight-lining of rents, (ii) straight-lining various ordinary operating
expenses which are payable less frequently than monthly (e.g. real estate taxes
and Ground Lease Expense) and (iii) adding back depreciation, amortization and
all non-cash items.  Annualized Funds from Pperations for such Person will be
calculated for the four most recent fiscal quarters for which financial  results
are  available.

         "GAAP" means generally accepted  accounting  principles  in the  United
States of America  consistent  with  those utilized  in  preparing  the  audited
financial  statements of the  Consolidated  Group  required  hereunder.

         "GMAC Loan" means that certain  $97,020,000  loan from  General  Motors
Acceptance  Corporation to GMAC Partnership.

         "GMAC Partnership" means EQI Financing  Partnership  II, L.P., the
borrower under the GMAC Loan.

         "Ground Lease Expense" means, for any period, all payments due from any
member of the Consolidated Group under a lease of land underlying a Property for
such  period.

         "Guarantee Obligation" means, as to any Person (the "guaranteeing
person"), any obligation (determined without duplication) of (a) the
guaranteeing  person or (b)  another  Person (including, without limitation, any
bank under any letter of credit) to induce  the  creation  of which the
guaranteeing  person  has issued a reimbursement,  counter indemnity or similar
obligation, in either case guaranteeing  or  in  effect  guaranteeing  any
Indebtedness, leases, dividends or other obligations (the "primary obligations")
of any other third Person (the "primary  obligor") in any manner, whether
directly or indirectly, including, without limitation, any obligation of the
guaranteeing  person,  whether or not contingent,  (i) to purchase any such
primary  obligation  or any property  constituting  direct or indirect  security
therefor, (ii) to advance or supply funds (1) for the purchase or payment of any
such primary  obligation or (2) to maintain working capital or equity capital of
the primary  obligor or  otherwise  to maintain the net worth or solvency of the
primary obligor,  (iii) to purchase  property,  securities or services primarily
for the  purpose of assuring  the owner of any such  primary  obligation  of the
ability of the primary  obligor to make  payment of such primary  obligation  or
(iv)  otherwise  to  assure  or hold  harmless  the  owner of any  such  primary
obligation  against loss in respect thereof;  provided,  however,  that the term
Guarantee  Obligation shall not include  endorsements of instruments for deposit
or  collection in the ordinary  course of business.  The amount of any Guarantee
Obligation of any  guaranteeing  person shall be deemed to be the maximum stated
amount of the primary obligation  relating to such Guarantee  Obligation (or, if
less,  the maximum stated  liability set forth in the instrument  embodying such
Guarantee Obligation),  provided,  that in the absence of any such stated amount
or stated  liability,  the  amount of such  Guarantee  Obligation  shall be such
guaranteeing  person's  maximum  reasonably  anticipated  liability  in  respect
thereof as determined by such Person in good faith.

<PAGE>

         "Guarantors" means Equity Inns Trust, a Maryland real estate investment
trust,  Equity Inns Services,  Inc. and Equity Inns, Inc., which is the holder
of 100% of the  beneficial  interests  in  Equity  Inns  Trust, jointly and
severally.

         "Guaranty" means the Guaranty executed by the Guarantors in the form
attached hereto as Exhibit D.

         "Indebtedness" of any Person at any date means without duplication, (a)
all indebtedness of such Person for borrowed  money, (b) all obligations of such
Person for the  deferred  purchase  price of property or services  (other than
current  trade  liabilities  and other  accounts  payable,  and accrued expenses
incurred in the  ordinary  course of business  and payable in accordance with
customary  practices),  to the extent such  obligations constitute indebtedness
for the purposes of GAAP, (c) any other indebtedness  of such Person which is
evidenced by a note, bond, debenture or similar instrument,  (d) all obligations
of such Person under financing leases and capital leases, (e) all obligations of
such Person in respect of acceptances issued or created for the account of such
Person, (f) all Guarantee  Obligations of such Person  (excluding in any
calculation of consolidated indebtedness of such  Person, Guarantee  Obligations
of such  Person in respect of  primary obligations of any of its  Subsidiaries),
(g) all reimbursement  obligations of such  Person for  letters of credit and
other  contingent  liabilities,  (h) all liabilities secured by any Lien  (other
than  Liens for taxes not yet due and payable)  on any  property  owned by such
Person even though such Person has not assumed or otherwise become liable for
the payment  thereof,  (i) any repurchase obligation or liability of such Person
or any of its  Subsidiaries  with respect to accounts or notes receivable sold
by such Person or any of its Subsidiaries, and (j) such Person's pro rata share
of debt in Investment Affiliates and any loans where such Person is liable as a
general partner.

         "Insolvency"   means   insolvency  as  defined  in  the  United  States
Bankruptcy  Code, as amended.  "Insolvent"  when used with respect to a Person,
shall  refer to a  Person  who  satisfies  the  definition  of Insolvency.

         "Interest Expense" all interest expense of the Consolidated Group
determined in accordance with GAAP plus (i) capitalized  interest not covered by
an interest reserve from a loan facility, plus (ii) the allocable portion (based
on liability) of any accrued or paid interest incurred  on any  obligation  for
which any member of the  Consolidated Group is wholly or partially liable under
repayment, interest carry, or performance guarantees,  or other relevant
liabilities,  plus (iii) the Consolidated Group Pro Rata Share of any accrued or
paid interest incurred on any Indebtedness of any Investment Affiliate, whether
recourse or non-recourse, provided that no expense  shall be included  more than
once in such calculation even if it falls within more than one of the  foregoing
categories.

<PAGE>

         "Interest Period" means a LIBOR Interest Period.

         "Investment Affiliate" means  any  Person  in which  any member  of the
Consolidated  Group, directly or  indirectly,  has an ownership  interest, whose
financial results are not consolidated  under GAAP with the financial results of
the Consolidated Group on the consolidated  financial statements of the
Consolidated  Group.
         "Issuance Date" is defined in Section  3.4(a)(2).

         "Issuance  Notice" is defined in Section 3.4(c).

         "Issuing Bank" means, with respect to each Facility Letter of Credit,
the Lender which issues such Facility Letter of Credit. First Chicago shall be
the sole Issuing Bank.

         "Lenders" means, collectively, First Chicago, Credit Lyonnais and the
other Persons  executing this  Agreement in such  capacity,  or any Person which
subsequently executes and delivers any amendment hereto in such capacity and
each of their respective permitted  successors  and assigns.  Where reference is
made to "the Lenders" in any Loan Document it shall be read to mean "all of the
Lenders".

         "Lending Installation" means any U.S. office of any Lender authorized
to make loans similar to the Advances  described herein.

         "Letter of Credit" of a Person means a letter  of  credit  or  similar
instrument which is issued  upon the application  of such  Person or upon  which
such Person is an account party or for which such Person is in any way liable.

         "Letter of Credit Collateral  Account"  is  defined  in  Section  3.9.

         "Letter of Credit Request" is defined in Section 3.4(a).

         "LIBOR Advance" means an Advance that bears  interest  at the  Adjusted
LIBOR Rate.

         "LIBOR Applicable Margin" means,  as of any date with respect to any
LIBOR  Advance,  the Applicable  Margin in effect for such LIBOR  Advance as
determined  in accordance with Section 2.6 hereof.

         "LIBOR Interest Period" means, with respect to a LIBOR Advance,  a
period of one, two, three, six or twelve months,  as selected  in advance by the
Borrower.

         "Lien" means any mortgage, pledge, security interest, encumbrance, lien
or charge of any kind  (including,  without  limitation, any conditional sale or
other title retention agreement or lease in the nature thereof, any filing or
agreement to file a financing statement  as debtor  under the Uniform Commercial
Code on any  property  leased to any  Person  under a lease which is not in the
nature of a conditional sale or title retention agreement,  or any subordination
agreement in favor of another Person).

         "Loan" means,  with respect to a Lender,  such Lender's  portion of any
Advance.
<PAGE>

         "Loan Documents" means this Agreement, the Notes, the Guaranty and  any
and all  other  agreements  or  instruments required  and/or provided to Lenders
hereunder or thereunder, as any of the foregoing may be amended from time to
time.

         "Major Ground Lease" means a ground lease demising to one of the
Borrowers or a Wholly-Owned Subsidiary all of the land  included in any Property
or any portion of such land which the Administrative  Agent, in its reasonable
judgment,  deems necessary for the  continued  operation  of a hotel on such
Property.

         "Majority Lenders" means Lenders in the aggregate  having in excess of
50% of the Aggregate   Commitment  or,  if  the  Aggregate  Commitment has  been
terminated, Lenders in the  aggregate  holding in excess of 50% of the aggregate
unpaid principal amount of the outstanding Advances.

         "Margin Stock" has the meaning  ascribed to it in  Regulation U of the
Board of Governors of the Federal  Reserve  System.

         "Material  Adverse  Effect" means,  with  respect to any matter,  that
such matter in the Required Lenders' good faith judgment may (x) materially  and
adversely affect the  business,  properties, condition or results of  operations
of the Consolidated  Group taken as a whole, or (y) constitute a non-frivolous
challenge to the validity or enforceability  of any material  provision of any
Loan Document against any obligor party thereto.

         "Material Adverse Financial Change" shall be deemed to have  occurred
if the Required  Lenders,  in their  good  faith  judgment,  determine  that a
material  adverse  financial  change has occurred  which could  prevent  timely
repayment  of  any  Advance   hereunder  or  materially  impair Borrower's
ability to perform  its  obligations  under any of the Loan Documents.

         "Materials of Environmental Concern" means any gasoline or petroleum
(including  crude oil or any fraction  thereof) or petroleum products or any
hazardous  or toxic  substances,  materials or wastes, defined or  regulated  as
such in or  under  any  Environmental  Law, including,   without  limitation,
asbestos,  radon,   polychlorinated biphenyls and  urea-formaldehyde insulation.

         "Maturity Date" means October 9, 2000.

         "Monetary Default" means any Default involving  Borrower=s failure to
pay any of the Obligations when due.

         "Moody's" means Moody's Investors Service, Inc. and its successors.

         "New Property" means, as of any date, any  Property  then owned by a
member of the  Consolidated  Group or an Investment   Affiliate   which  (i) was
owned  by  a  member  of  the Consolidated Group or an Investment Affiliate on
the date such Property was first  opened for  business  and such opening date is
less than six (6) full fiscal  quarters prior to the date of  determination,  or
(ii) was owned by an entity other than a member of the Consolidated Group or  an
Investment Affiliate on the date such Property was first opened for business,
was acquired by such member of the Consolidated Group or Investment  Affiliate
within six (6) months after such opening date and such opening date is less than
six (6) full  fiscal  quarters  prior to the date of determination, or (iii) was
owned by an entity  other  than a member  of the Consolidated  Group or an
Investment  Affiliate  on the date such  Property was first opened for business,
was acquired by such member of the Consolidated Group or Investment Affiliate
more than six (6) months after such opening date and the acquisition  date of
such Property by such member of the  Consolidated  Group or Investment Affiliate
is less than four (4) full fiscal  quarters  prior to the date of determination.

<PAGE>

         "Note" means the promissory note payable to the order of each Lender in
the amount of such  Lender's  maximum  Commitment  in the form attached hereto
as Exhibit B (collectively,  the "Notes").

         "Obligations"  means the Advances, the Facility Letter of Credit
Obligations and all accrued and  unpaid  fees  and  all  other   obligations  of
Borrower to the Administrative Agent or any or all of the Lenders arising  under
this Agreement or any of the other Loan Documents.

         "Participants" is defined in Section 13.2.1  hereof.

         "PBGC" means the Pension  Benefit  Guaranty Corporation  or any entity
succeeding  to any or all of its  functions under ERISA.

         "Percentage"  means,  with  respect to each  Lender,  the applicable
percentage  of  the  then-current   Aggregate   Commitment represented  by  such
Lender's  then-current  Commitment.

         "Permitted Operating  Lease" means (i) a lease  between one of the
Borrowers or a Wholly-Owned   Subsidiary  and   Crossroads/Memphis   Partnership
LLC, Crossroads  Future Company LLC or another entity directly or indirectly
wholly-owned by Interstate Hotels Management, Inc. on substantially the same
lease form as has previously  been approved by the  Administrative Agent and the
Syndication  Agent (which includes  without  limitation a guaranty of the
tenant's  obligations by Interstate Hotels  Management, Inc. (or  Patriot
American  Hospitality,  Inc.)  and  Interstate  Hotels,  LLC and a cross-default
provision  with all other leases  between  either of the entities comprising the
Borrower or a  Wholly-Owned  Subsidiary and any of such tenants) and  with
specific rental terms for  each  lease  to  be  approved  by  the Administrative
Agent, or (ii) a lease between one of the entities comprising the Borrower or a
Wholly-Owned  Subsidiary and Prime Hospitality  Corporation,  or a subsidiary
thereof on substantially  the same lease form as has previously been approved by
the Administrative Agent and the Syndication Agent and with specific rental
terms for each lease to be approved by the Administrative Agent, or (iii)
similar  leases  with other  entities  similarly  approved  as to lease form and
specific  rental terms,  provided that the identity of each such other entity is
approved by either (A) the  Administrative  Agent and the  Syndication  Agent so
long as such other entity,  when aggregated with all other entities not named in
clauses (i) or (ii) above or previously  approved by the Required  Lenders under
clause (B) of this clause (iii),  does not lease  Properties  representing  more
than 5% of the total  rooms in all  Properties  then  owned by the  Consolidated
Group or (B) the  Required  Lenders if such entity is not  eligible for approval
under clause (A) of this clause (iii).

         "Permitted Liens" are defined in Section 9.6 hereof.

<PAGE>

         "Person" means an individual,  a  corporation,  a  limited  or  general
partnership,  an association,  a joint  venture  or any other  entity  or
organization, including a governmental  or  political  subdivision  or an  agent
or instrumentality  thereof.  APlan@  means an  employee  benefit  plan as
defined in Section 3(3) of ERISA,  whether  or not  terminated,  as to which the
Borrower or any member of the  Controlled  Group may have any liability.

         "Preferred  Stock":  for any Person,  any  preferred  stock issued by
such Person.

         "Preferred  Stock Expense":  for any period for any  Person,  the
aggregate  dividend  payments  due to the holders of Preferred Stock of such
Person, whether payable in cash or in kind, and whether or not actually paid
during such period.

         "Property":  means any real  estate  asset owned by a member of the
Consolidated  Group or an Investment Affiliate and operated as a premium limited
service, premium extended  stay or premium  all-suite or  full-service  hotel
property.

         "Property Operating Income":  means, with respect to any Property,  for
any  period,  earnings  from  rental  operations  attributable  to such Property
less all expenses  directly related to such Property,  such as real estate taxes
and  ground  lease  payments  plus   depreciation, amortization  and interest
expense  with respect to such  Property for such  period,  and,  if such  period
is less than a year,  adjusted  by straight lining various expenses which are
payable less frequently than monthly during every such period  (e.g. real estate
taxes, ground lease payments and insurance).

         "Purchasers" is defined in Section 13.3.1 hereof.

         "Qualified  Officer" means, with respect to any entity, the chief
financial officer,  chief accounting  officer or controller of such entity if it
is a corporation or of such  entity=s  general  partner  if it is a partnership.

         "Rate Option" means the Adjusted  Alternate  Base Rate or the Adjusted
LIBOR Rate.  The Rate  Option  in  effect  on any date  shall  always  be the
Adjusted  Alternate Base Rate unless the Borrower has properly selected the
Adjusted LIBOR Rate pursuant to Section 2.11 hereof.

         "Regulation  D" means  Regulation  D of the Board of  Governors of the
Federal Reserve System as from time to time in effect and any successor or other
regulation  or  official  interpretation  of said  Board  of Governors relating
to reserve  requirements  applicable to member banks of the Federal Reserve
System.

         "Reimbursement Obligations" means at any time, the aggregate of the
Obligations of the Borrower to the Lenders, the  Issuing  Bank  and the
Administrative Agent  in  respect  of all unreimbursed payments or disbursements
made by the Lenders, the Issuing Bank and the  Administrative  Agent under or in
respect of the Facility Letters of Credit.

         "REMIC Loan" means that certain $88,000,000 issuance of mortgage bonds
by the REMIC Partnership  pursuant to the terms of an Indenture dated as of
February 6, 1997.

<PAGE>

         "REMIC  Partnership"  means EQI Financing  Partnership I, L.P., the
borrower under the REMIC Loan which has  as its sole limited  partner,  holding
99%  of the  partnership interests  therein,  the Operating  Partnership and as
its sole general partner, holding 1% of the partnership interests therein, EQI
Financing Corporation  which is  wholly-owned by Equity Inns Trust.

         "Reportable Event" means a reportable event as defined in Section 4043
of ERISA and the regulations issued under such section,  with respect to a Plan,
excluding, however, such  events as to which  the PBGC by  regulation waived the
requirement of Section 4043(a) of ERISA that it be notified within 30 days of
the occurrence of such event, provided that a failure to meet the minimum
funding standard of Section 412 of the Code and of Section 302 of ERISA shall be
a Reportable Event regardless of the issuance of any such waivers in accordance
with either Section 4043(a) of ERISA or Section  412(d) of the Code.

         "Required Lenders" means,  as of any date,  those Lenders  holding,  in
the aggregate,  more than two-thirds (2/3) of the  then-current  Aggregate
Commitment or, if the Aggregate Commitment has been terminated, Lenders holding,
in the aggregate, more than two-thirds  (2/3) of the aggregate  unpaid principal
amount of the outstanding  Advances.

         "Reserve  Requirement" means, with respect to a LIBOR  Interest Period,
the  maximum aggregate  reserve  requirement (including all basic, supplemental,
marginal and other reserves) which is imposed under Regulation D on Eurocurrency
liabilities.

         "S&P" means Standard & Poor's Ratings Group and its successors.

         "Subsidiary" means as to any Person, a corporation, partnership or
other entity of which shares of stock or other  ownership  interests  having
ordinary voting power (other than stock or such other ownership  interests
having such power  only by reason of the  happening  of a  contingency) to elect
a majority  of  the  board  of  directors  or  other   managers  of  such
corporation, partnership or other entity are at the time owned, or the
management  of which is otherwise  controlled,  directly or  indirectly through
one or more intermediaries, or both, by such Person, and provided such
corporation,  partnership  or other  entity is  consolidated  with such Person
for  financial   reporting  purposes  under  GAAP.

         "Swingline Advances" means, as of any date, collectively, all Swingline
Loans then outstanding  under  this  Facility.

         "Swingline  Commitment" means the obligation  of the  Swingline  Lender
to  make  Swingline  Loans  not exceeding $7,500,000,  which is included in, and
is not in addition to, the Swingline Lender's total Commitment  hereunder.

         "Swingline Lender" shall mean First Chicago, in its capacity as a
Lender.

         "Swingline Loan" means  a Loan  made by  the Swingline Lender under the
special availability  provisions  described  in Sections  2.16  hereof.

         "Total Cost": means, as of any date, the sum of (i) the book value
under GAAP of all Properties  then owned by the  Consolidated  Group plus (ii)
all depreciation   on  such   Properties   previously   reflected   on  the
Consolidated Group's financial statements, in accordance with GAAP plus (iii)
the  Consolidated  Group Pro Rata Share of the book  value  under GAAP of all
Properties then owned by Investment Affiliates plus (iv) the Consolidated  Group
Pro Rata  Share of all  depreciation  on such Properties previously reflected on
such  Investment  Affiliates  financial  statements,  in accordance with GAAP.

<PAGE>

         "Total Indebtedness":  means, as of any date, the sum of (i) all
Indebtedness of the  Consolidated  Group in existence on such  date  plus  (ii)
the  Consolidated  Group  Pro Rata  Share of all Indebtedness of any Investment
Affiliate (to the extent not included in the Indebtedness described in clause
(i)), without duplication.

         "Total Value":  means,  as of any  date, the sum of (i)  all  cash  and
Cash Equivalents  then  held by the  Consolidated  Group  plus  (ii) for all
Properties,  other  than  New  Properties,  owned  by a  member  of the
Consolidated Group (A) the aggregate Property Operating Income for such
Properties during  the most  recent  four  fiscal  quarters  for which financial
results have then been reported less the Agreed FF&E Reserve applicable thereto
for such four fiscal quarters, divided by (B) 11.5%, plus (iii) for all New
Properties owned by a member of the  Consolidated  Group,  the book value, under
GAAP,  of such  Properties  plus (iv) for all  Properties,  other than New
Properties, owned by an Investment Affiliate (A) the Consolidated Group Pro Rata
Share of the aggregate  Property Operating Income for such Properties during the
four most recent fiscal  quarters for which results have then been reported less
the Agreed FF&E  Reserve that would be  applicable  thereto for such four fiscal
quarters,  divided by (B) 11.5% and plus (v) for all New Properties  owned by an
Investment  Affiliate,  the Consolidated Group Pro Rata Share of the book value,
under GAAP, of such Properties.

         "Transferee"  is defined in Section 13.4 hereof.

         "Unencumbered  Asset" means,  with respect to any Properties 100% of
which, in the aggregate, are  owned or  ground  leased  by one of the  entities
comprising  the Borrower or a Wholly-Owned Subsidiary at any date of
determination, the circumstance  that such Property on such date (a) is not
subject to any Liens  (including any Liens on the operating leases of such
Properties) other  than those in favor of the Lenders and those Permitted  Liens
described in clauses (i) through (v) of Section 9.6, (b) if subject to a Major
Ground  Lease,  (i) such Major Ground Lease is a  Financeable Ground Lease and
(ii) all such ground leased Properties  subject to Major Ground Leases do not
exceed 15% of the Value of Unencumbered Assets, (c) is not subject to any
agreement  (including any agreement  governing  Indebtedness  incurred in order
to finance or refinance  the  acquisition  of such asset) which  creates a
"negative pledge" which prohibits or limits the ability of the owner thereof, to
create,  incur, assume or suffer to exist any Lien upon any assets of such owner
(or the capital stock in such owner if the owner is a Wholly-Owned  Subsidiary),
(d)  is  not  subject  to  any  agreement  (including  any  agreement  governing
Indebtedness  incurred in order to finance or refinance the  acquisition of such
asset) which entitles any Person to the benefit of any Lien (but excluding liens
in favor of Lenders and those  Permitted  Liens described in clauses (i) through
(v) of Section 9.6) on any assets or capital stock of either of the Borrowers or
any of their Subsidiaries or would entitle any Person to the benefit of any Lien
(but excluding  liens in favor of Lenders and those Permitted Liens described in
clauses (i) through (v) of Section 9.6) on such assets or capital stock upon the
occurrence of any contingency  (including,  without  limitation,  pursuant to an
"equal and ratable" clause), (e) is free from any material structural defects as
evidenced  by a  certification  of  Borrowers,  (f) is free  from  any  material
environmental contamination or condition, as evidenced by a certification of the
Borrowers  and a current  detailed  environmental  assessment  delivered  to the
Administrative  Agent, (g) is subject to a Permitted Operating Lease, and (h) is
fully  operational  with  less  than  20% of the  rooms on such  Property  being
unavailable  for  occupancy due to casualty,  construction,  renovation or other
reason.  No  Property  of a  Wholly-Owned  Subsidiary  shall  be  deemed  to  be
unencumbered   unless  both  such   Property  and  all  capital  stock  of  such
Wholly-Owned Subsidiary is unencumbered and neither such Wholly-Owned Subsidiary
nor any other intervening  Subsidiary between the Borrower and such Wholly-Owned
Subsidiary has any Indebtedness for borrowed money (other than  Indebtedness due
to the Borrower).

<PAGE>

         "Value  of  Unencumbered  Assets"  means,  as of any date,  the  amount
determined (i) for all Unencumbered Assets (other than New Properties),  (A) the
sum of (x) Property  Operating Income  attributable  thereto for the most recent
four fiscal  quarters for which  financial  results have then been reported less
(y) the Agreed FF&E Reserve  attributable thereto for such period divided by (B)
11.5 % and (ii) for all Unencumbered  Assets which are New Properties,  the book
value, in accordance with GAAP, of such Properties.  If an Unencumbered Asset is
no longer owned as of the date of  calculation,  then no value shall be included
based on capitalizing Property Operating Income from such Unencumbered Asset.

         "Wholly-Owned Subsidiary" means a Subsidiary which is 100% owned by one
or both of the  entities  comprising  the  Borrower.

         The  foregoing definitions shall be equally  applicable  to both the
singular and the plural forms of the defined terms.

         Section I.2 Financial Standards. All financial computations required of
a Person under this Agreement shall be made, and all financial information
required under this Agreement shall be prepared,  in accordance  with GAAP,
except that if any Person's  financial   statements  are  not  audited,   such
Person's financial statements  shall be  prepared  in  accordance  with the same
sound accounting principles utilized in connection with the financial
information  submitted to Lenders  with  respect  to such  Person  or the
Properties  of such  Person  in connection  with  this  Agreement  and  shall be
certified  by  an  authorized representative of such Person.

                                  Article II.

                                  THE FACILITY

Section II.1  The Facility; Limitations on Borrowing.

(a)  Subject to the terms and conditions of this Agreement and in reliance upon
     the representations and warranties of the Borrower and the Guarantors
     contained herein, Lenders agree to make Advances through the Administrative
     Agent to Borrower from time to time prior to the Maturity Date and to
     support the issuance of Facility Letters of Credit under Article III of
     this Agreement, provided that the making of any such Advance or the
     issuance of such Facility Letter of Credit will not:

     (i)   cause the then-current Allocated Facility Amount to exceed the then-
           current Aggregate Commitment; or

     (ii)  cause the then-current Credit Requirement to exceed fifty percent
           (50%) of the then-current Borrowing Base; or

     (iii) cause the then-current outstanding Swingline Advances to exceed the
           Swingline Commitment; or

     (iv)  cause the then outstanding Facility Letters of Credit Obligations to
           exceed the Facility Letter of Credit Sublimit.

The Advances may be ratable Adjusted Alternate Base Rate Advances, ratable LIBOR
Advances or non-pro rata  Swingline  Loans.  Except as provided in Sections 2.16
and 12.16 hereof, each Lender shall fund its Percentage of each such Advance and
no Lender will be required to fund any amounts which when  aggregated  with such
Lender=s  Percentage  of (i) all  other  Advances  then  outstanding,  (ii)  all
Swingline  Advances and (iii) all Facility  Letter of Credit  Obligations  would
exceed such Lender's  then-current  Commitment.  This facility ("Facility") is a
revolving credit facility and, subject to the provisions of this Agreement,  the
Borrower  may request  Advances  hereunder,  repay such  Advances  and  reborrow
Advances  at  any  time  prior  to the  Maturity  Date.  Unless  and  until  the
Administrative  Agent is otherwise advised in writing to the contrary by both of
the entities comprising the Borrower,  all Loans shall be deemed to be requested
by the  Operating  Partnership  and shall be funded  directly  to the  Operating
Partnership and EIP/WV irrevocably  authorizes the Administrative Agent to honor
requests for Advances made by the Operating  Partnership  and to fund such Loans
directly to the Operating Partnership.

(b)  The  Facility  created by this  Agreement,  and the  Commitment  of each
     Lender to lend  hereunder, shall  terminate  on the Maturity  Date,  unless
     sooner terminated in accordance with the terms of this Agreement.

(c)  In no event shall the Aggregate  Commitment  exceed Two Hundred  Nineteen
     Million Five Hundred Thousand Dollars  ($219,500,000) without the approval
     of all of the Lenders.

Section II.2 Principal Payments.  If on any Business Day the then-current Credit
Requirement  should exceed 50% of the then-current  Borrowing Base, the Borrower
shall make a mandatory principal repayment on the immediately following Business
Day in the amount of such  excess.  Solely for purposes of applying the test set
forth in the  preceding  sentence  and in  Section  9.10  hereof,  the  Property
Operating Income attributable to Unencumbered Assets shall be revised,  and such
revision  shall  become  effective,  on  the  earlier  of  (i)  receipt  by  the
Administrative  Agent of the quarterly  certificate  described in Section 8.2 or
(ii) the forty-fifth (45th) day after the end of the most recent fiscal quarter.
Any outstanding  Advances not previously repaid and all other unpaid Obligations
shall be paid in full by the Borrower on the Maturity Date.

Section II.3  Requests for Advances; Responsibility for Advances.  Ratable
Advances shall be made available to Borrower by Administrative Agent in
accordance with Section 2.1(a) and Section 2.11(a) hereof.  The obligation of
each Lender to fund its Percentage of each ratable Advance shall be several and
not joint.

Section  II.4  Evidence  of  Credit  Extensions.  The  Advances  of each  Lender
outstanding  at any time shall be evidenced by the Notes.  Each Note executed by
the  Borrower  shall be in a maximum  principal  amount  equal to each  Lender's
Percentage  of the  current  Aggregate  Commitment.  Each  Lender  shall  record
Advances and principal payments thereof on the schedule attached to its Note or,
at its  option,  in its  records,  and each  Lender=s  record  thereof  shall be
conclusive absent Borrower  furnishing to such Lender conclusive and irrefutable
evidence of an error made by such Lender with respect to that Lender=s  records.
Notwithstanding  the  foregoing,  the failure to make, or an error in making,  a
notation  with respect to any Advance  shall not limit or  otherwise  affect the
obligations of Borrower  hereunder or under the Notes to pay the amount actually
owed by Borrower to Lenders.

<PAGE>

Section II.5 Ratable and Non-Pro Rata Loans.  Each Advance  hereunder  shall
consist of Loans made from the several Lenders ratably in proportion to their
Percentages,  except for Swingline  Loans which shall be made by the  Swingline
Lender in accordance with  Section  2.16.  The ratable Advances  may be Adjusted
Alternate  Base Rate  Advances,  LIBOR  Advances or a combination  thereof,
selected by the Borrower in accordance with Sections 2.10 and 2.11.

Section II.6 Applicable  Margins and Fees. The ABR Applicable Margin, the LIBOR
Applicable  Margin and the Applicable  Commitment Fee Percentage to be used in
calculating  the interest rate applicable to different types of Advances and the
Commitment Fee shall vary from  time to time in  accordance  with the percentage
of Total Value that Total Indebtedness comprises from time to time as follows:
<TABLE>
<CAPTION>

                                     LIBOR             ABR          Applicable
Total Indebtedness as a            Applicable       Applicable      Commitment
Percentage of Total Value            Margin           Margin      Fee Percentage
- -------------------------          ----------       ----------    --------------
<S>                                <C>              <C>           <C>
Less than 25%                         1.50%            0.50%          0.25%

25% or over, but less than 35%        1.75%            0.75%          0.30%

35% or over, but less than 40%        2.00%            1.00%          0.40%

40% or over, but less than 45%        2.25%            1.25%          0.50%

45% or over                           2.50%            1.50%          0.50%
</TABLE>

    The Applicable Margins and Applicable  Commitment Fee Percentage will change
only quarterly upon delivery of a compliance  certificate in the form of Exhibit
H attached hereto,  reflecting the Total Value and Total  Indebtedness as of the
last  day of  the  preceding  fiscal  quarter  as  disclosed  on  the  financial
statements for such fiscal quarter delivered to the Lenders.

Section II.7 Commitment  Fee. The Borrower  agrees to pay to the  Administrative
Agent for the account of each Lender a  commitment  fee (the  "Commitment  Fee")
from the Agreement Execution Date to and including the Maturity Date, calculated
at the then-current per annum Applicable  Commitment Fee Percentage  (calculated
for actual days elapsed on the basis of a 360 day year) on the daily  unborrowed
portion of such Lender's  Commitment  (which is equal to the difference  between
(a) such Lender's Commitment on such day and (b) the then outstanding Loans owed
to such Lender  plus the  Lender's  Percentage  of any  outstanding  and undrawn
Facility Letters of Credit) payable quarterly in arrears on the last day of each
calendar  quarter  hereafter  beginning  June 30, 1999 and on the Maturity Date.
Notwithstanding  the foregoing,  all accrued Commitment Fees shall be payable on
the effective date of any  termination of the obligations of the Lenders to make
Loans hereunder.  The Swingline  Commitment shall be treated in the same fashion
as the other  Commitments  for purposes of calculating  the Commitment  Fees and
only the actual Swingline Loans  outstanding on any day shall be included in the
aggregate amount of outstanding  Loans owed to the Swingline Lender on such day.

<PAGE>

Section II.8 Other Fees.

(a)  The Borrower agrees to pay all fees payable to the Administrative Agent and
     the Syndication Agent pursuant to the Borrower=s prior letter agreement
     with them.

(b)  The Borrower also agrees to pay the fees described in Section 3.8 below
     with respect to any Facility Letters of Credit.

(c)  The Borrower also agrees to pay to the Administrative Agent for the benefi
     of the Lenders a one-time amendment fee in connection with this Agreement
     equal to one-quarter of one percent (0.25%) of the Aggregate Commitment in
     effect as of the effective date of this Agreement.

Section II.9  Minimum Amount of Each Advance.  Each LIBOR Advance shall be in
the minimum amount of $2,000,000 (and in multiples of $100,000 if in excess
thereof), each Adjusted Alternate Base Rate Advance shall be in the minimum
amount of $1,000,000 (and in multiples of $100,000 if in excess thereof) and
each Swingline Advance shall be in the minimum amount of $100,000 (and in
multiples of $50,000 if in excess thereof), provided, however, that any Adjusted
Alternate Base Rate Advance may be in the amount of the unused Aggregate
Commitment.

Section II.10  Interest.

(a)  The outstanding  principal  balance under the Notes shall bear interest
     from  time to time at a rate  per  annum  equal  to:

     (i)   the Adjusted Alternate Base Rate; or

     (ii)  at the election of Borrower with respect to all or portions of the
           Obligations, the Adjusted LIBOR Rate.

(b)  All interest shall be calculated for actual days elapsed on the basis of a
     360-day year.  Interest accrued on each Adjusted Alternate Base Rate
     Advance, LIBOR Advance and Swingline Loan shall be payable in arrears from
     time to time on each of (i) the first day of each calendar month,
     commencing with the first such date to occur after the date hereof, (ii)
     the Maturity Date, and (iii) the effective date of any termination of the
     Aggregate Commitment in full pursuant to Section 2.17.  Interest shall not
     be payable for the day of any payment on the amount paid if payment is
     received by Administrative Agent prior to noon (Chicago time).  If any
     payment of principal or interest under the Notes shall become due on a day
     that is not a Business Day, such payment shall be made on the next
     succeeding Business Day and, in the case of a payment of principal, such
     extension of time shall be included in computing interest due in connection
     with such payment; provided that for purposes of Section 10.1 hereof, any
     payments of principal described in this sentence shall be considered to be
     "due" on such next succeeding Business Day.

Section II.11  Selection of Rate Options and LIBOR Interest Periods.

(a)  Borrower, from time to time, may select the Rate Option and, in the case
     of each LIBOR Advance, the commencement date (which shall be a Business
     Day) and the length of the LIBOR Interest Period applicable to each LIBOR
     Advance.  Borrower shall give Administrative Agent irrevocable notice (a
     "Borrowing Notice" not later than 11:00 a.m. (Chicago time) (i) at least
     one Business Day prior to an Adjusted Alternate Base Rate Advance, (ii) at
     least three (3) Business Days prior to a ratable LIBOR Advance, and (iii)
     not later than 11:00 a.m. (Chicago time) on the Borrowing Date for each
     Swingline Loan, specifying:

     (i)   the Borrowing Date, which shall be a Business Day, of such Advance,

     (ii)  the aggregate  amount of such  Advance,

     (iii) the type of Advance selected,  and

     (iv)  in the case of each LIBOR Advance, the LIBOR Interest Period
           applicable thereto.

         The Borrower shall also deliver together with each Borrowing Notice the
compliance  certificate  required in Section 5.2 and  otherwise  comply with the
conditions set forth in Section 5.2 for Advances. Administrative Agent shall
provide each Lender by facsimile with a copy of  each  Borrowing  Notice  and
compliance  certificate  on the  same Business Day it is received. Not later
than noon (Chicago time) on each Borrowing  Date, each Lender shall make
available its Loan or Loans, in funds  immediately  available in Chicago to the
Administrative  Agent. Administrative  Agent will promptly make the funds so
received from the Lenders available to the Borrower.

(b)  Administrative Agent shall, as soon as practicable after receipt of a
     Borrowing Notice, determine the Adjusted LIBOR Rate applicable to the
     requested ratable LIBOR Advance and inform Borrower and Lenders of the
     same.  Each determination of the Adjusted LIBOR Rate by Administrative
     Agent shall be conclusive and binding upon Borrower in the absence of
     manifest error.

(c)  If Borrower shall prepay a LIBOR Advance other than on the last day of the
     LIBOR Interest Period applicable thereto, Borrower shall be responsible to
     pay all amounts due to Lenders as required by Section 4.4 hereof.

(d)  As of the end of each LIBOR Interest Period selected for a ratable LIBOR
     Advance, the interest rate on the LIBOR Advance will become the Adjusted
     Alternate Base Rate, unless Borrower has once again selected a LIBOR
     Interest Period in accordance with the timing and procedures set forth in
     Section 2.11(g).



<PAGE>

(e)  The right of Borrower to select the Adjusted  LIBOR Rate for an Advance
     pursuant to this Agreement is subject to the availability to Lenders of
     a similar option. If Administrative  Agent determines that (i) deposits
     of Dollars in an amount  approximately  equal to the LIBOR  Advance for
     which the  Borrower  wishes to select the  Adjusted  LIBOR Rate are not
     generally  available  at such time in the London  interbank  eurodollar
     market, or (ii) the rate at which the deposits  described in subsection
     (i) herein are being offered will not adequately and fairly reflect the
     costs to Lenders of maintaining an Adjusted LIBOR Rate on an Advance or
     of funding the same in such market for such LIBOR Interest  Period,  or
     (iii)  reasonable  means do not exist for determining an Adjusted LIBOR
     Rate, or (iv) the Adjusted LIBOR Rate would be in excess of the maximum
     interest  rate  which  Borrower  may by law  pay,  then  in any of such
     events,  Administrative  Agent shall so notify Borrower and Lenders and
     such Advance shall bear interest at the Adjusted  Alternate  Base Rate.
     Notwithstanding  the  foregoing,  the Lenders shall not be obligated to
     match fund their LIBOR Advances.

(f)  In no event may Borrower elect a LIBOR Interest Period which would extend
     beyond the Maturity Date.  Unless Lenders agree thereto, in no event may
     Borrower have more than ten (10) different LIBOR Interest Periods for LIBOR
     Advances outstanding at any one time.

(g)  Conversion and Continuation.

     (i)   Borrower may elect from time to time, subject to the other provisions
           of this Section 2.11, to convert all or any part of a ratable Advance
           into any other type of Advance; provided that any conversion of a
           ratable LIBOR Advance shall be made on, and only on, the last day of
           the LIBOR Interest Period applicable thereto.

     (ii)  Adjusted  Alternate  Base Rate Advances shall continue as Adjusted
           Alternate Rate Advances unless and until such Adjusted Alternate Base
           Rate Advances are converted into ratable LIBOR Advances pursuant to a
           Conversion/Continuation  Notice  from  Borrower  in  accordance  with
           Section 2.11(g)(iv).  Ratable LIBOR Advances shall continue until the
           end of the then applicable LIBOR Interest Period  therefor,  at which
           time each  such  Advance  shall be  automatically  converted  into an
           Adjusted  Alternate  Base Rate Advance unless the Borrower shall have
           given the Administrative  Agent a  Conversion/Continuation  Notice in
           accordance with Section  2.11(g)(iv)  requesting  that, at the end of
           such LIBOR  Interest  Period,  such  Advance  either  continue  as an
           Advance of such type for the same or another LIBOR Interest Period.

     (iii) Notwithstanding anything to the contrary contained in Sections
           2.11(g)(i) or (g)(ii), no Advance may be converted into a LIBOR
           Advance or continued as a LIBOR Advance (except with the consent of
           the Required Lenders) when any Monetary Default or Event of Default
           has occurred and is continuing.

     (iv)  The  Borrower  shall  give the  Administrative  Agent  irrevocable
           notice (a "Conversion/Continuation  Notice") of each conversion of an
           Advance or  continuation of a LIBOR Advance not later than 11:00 a.m.
           (Chicago time) on the Business Day immediately  preceding the date of
           the  requested  conversion,  in the  case  of a  conversion  into  an
           Adjusted Alternate Base Rate Advance, or 11:00 a.m. (Chicago time) at
           least  three (3)  Business  Days  prior to the date of the  requested
           conversion  or  continuation,  in the  case of a  conversion  into or
           continuation  of  a  ratable  LIBOR  Advance,   specifying:  (1)  the
           requested date (which shall be a Business Day) of such  conversion or
           continuation;  (2) the amount and type of the Advance to be converted
           or  continued;  and (3) the amounts and  type(s) of  Advance(s)  into
           which such Advance is to be  converted or continued  and, in the case
           of a conversion into or continuation of a ratable LIBOR Advance,  the
           duration of the LIBOR Interest Period applicable thereto.

<PAGE>

Section II.12 Method of Payment. All payments of the Obligations hereunder shall
be made, without set-off,  deduction, or counterclaim,  in immediately available
funds  to  Administrative  Agent at  Administrative  Agent's  address  specified
herein, or at any other Lending  Installation of Administrative  Agent specified
in writing by Administrative Agent to Borrower, by noon (local time) on the date
when due and shall be applied  ratably by  Administrative  Agent among  Lenders.
Each  payment  delivered to  Administrative  Agent for the account of any Lender
shall be delivered  promptly by Administrative  Agent to such Lender in the same
type of funds that Administrative Agent received at its address specified herein
or at any Lending Installation  specified in a notice received by Administrative
Agent from such Lender.  Administrative Agent is hereby authorized to charge the
account of Borrower maintained with First Chicago for each payment of principal,
interest  and fees as it becomes due  hereunder.  Amounts paid to or held by the
Administrative  Agent for the  payment  of Loans  shall not be deemed  paid to a
Lender until the Business Day that such amounts are received by such Lender.  If
amounts are received by the Administrative  Agent from the Borrower prior to the
applicable  times  stated  herein and the  Administrative  Agent fails to make a
Lender's portion of such amount available to such Lender by close of business on
such  Business  Day, the Borrower  shall have no  obligation  to pay any further
interest on such payment and the  Administrative  Agent shall pay to such Lender
interest on such  payment to the date paid to such Lender by the  Administrative
Agent at a rate per annum  equal to the  then-current  Federal  Funds  Effective
Rate.

Section  II.13  Default.   Notwithstanding  the  foregoing,   during  the
continuance  of a Monetary  Default or an Event of Default,  Borrower  shall not
have the right to request a LIBOR Advance,  select a new LIBOR  Interest  Period
for an existing  ratable  LIBOR Advance or convert any Adjusted  Alternate  Base
Rate Advance to a ratable LIBOR  Advance.  During the  continuance of a Monetary
Default or an Event of Default,  at the  election of the  Required  Lenders,  by
notice to Borrower,  outstanding  Advances shall bear interest at the applicable
Default Rates until such Monetary Default or Event of Default ceases to exist or
the  Obligations  are paid in full.

Section II.14 Lending  Installations.  Each Lender may book its Advances at any
Lending Installation selected by such Lender and may change its  Lending
Installation  from time to time.  All terms of this Agreement shall apply to any
such Lending  Installation and the Notes shall be deemed held by each Lender for
the benefit of such Lending  Installation.  Each Lender may, by written or telex
notice to the Administrative Agent and Borrower, designate a Lending
Installation  through which Advances will be made by it and for whose account
payments are to be made.

<PAGE>

Section II.15 Non-Receipt of Funds by Administrative  Agent. Unless Borrower or
a Lender, as the case may be, notifies Administrative  Agent prior to the date
on which it is scheduled to make payment to Administrative  Agent of (i) in the
case of a Lender, an Advance, or (ii) in the case  of  Borrower,  a  payment  of
principal, interest or  fees to the Administrative Agent for the account of the
Lenders,  that it does not intend to make such  payment,  Administrative  Agent
may assume that such payment has been made.  Administrative Agent may, but shall
not be obligated to, make the amount of such  payment  available  to the
intended recipient in reliance upon such assumption. If such Lender or Borrower,
as the case may be, has not in fact made such payment to  Administrative  Agent,
the recipient of such payment shall, on demand by Administrative Agent, repay to
Administrative Agent the amount so made available together with interest thereon
in respect of each day during the period commencing  on  the  date  such  amount
was  so  made   available  by Administrative Agent until the date Administrative
Agent recovers such amount at a rate per annum  equal to (i) in the case of
payment by a Lender,  the  Federal Funds  Effective  Rate (as determined by
Administrative  Agent) for such day or (ii) in the case of payment by Borrower,
the interest  rate  applicable  to the relevant  Advance.

Section  II.16  Swingline  Loans.  In  addition to the other options  available
to Borrower  hereunder, up to  $7,500,000  of the  Swingline Commitment shall be
available for Swingline Loans subject to the following terms and conditions.
Swingline Loans shall be made available for same day borrowings provided  that
notice is given in accordance with  Section  2.11  hereof.  All Swingline  Loans
shall bear  interest at the  Adjusted  Alternate  Base Rate and shall be deemed
to be Adjusted  Alternate Base Rate Advances.  In no event shall the Swingline
Lender be required to fund a Swingline  Loan if it would increase the total
aggregate outstanding  Loans by Swingline  Lender  hereunder plus its Percentage
of Facility  Letter of Credit  Obligations  to an amount in excess of its
Commitment.  Borrower may repay  Swingline  Loans from  subsequent pro rata
Advances hereunder.  If any Swingline Loan is not so repaid, upon request of the
Swingline Lender made to all the Lenders,  which request must be given not later
than the fifth (5th)  Business  Day after such a Swingline  Loan was made if all
Swingline Advances then outstanding  exceed $1,000,000,  each Lender irrevocably
agrees to purchase its  Percentage of any  Swingline  Loan made by the Swingline
Lender  regardless of whether the conditions for  disbursement  are satisfied at
the time of such  purchase,  including  the  existence  of an  Event of  Default
hereunder  provided no Lender shall be required to have total  outstanding Loans
plus its Percentage of Facility  Letters of Credit exceed its  Commitment.  Such
purchase shall take place on the date of the request by Swingline Lender so long
as such request is made by noon  (Chicago  time),  otherwise on the Business Day
following such request. All requests for purchase shall be in writing.  From and
after the date it is so purchased, each such Swingline Loan shall, to the extent
purchased,  (i) be treated as a Loan made by the  purchasing  Lenders and not by
the selling  Lender for all purposes under this Agreement and the payment of the
purchase  price by a Lender  shall be deemed to be the  making of a Loan by such
Lender and shall constitute  outstanding principal under such Lender=s Note, and
(ii) shall no longer be  considered  a Swingline  Loan except that all  interest
accruing on or  attributable  to such Swingline Loan for the period prior to the
date  of  such  purchase  shall  be  paid  when  due  by  the  Borrower  to  the
Administrative  Agent  for the  benefit  of the  Swingline  Lender  and all such
amounts  accruing on or attributable to such Loans for the period from and after
the  date  of such  purchase  shall  be paid  when  due by the  Borrower  to the
Administrative  Agent for the  benefit of the  purchasing  Lenders.  If prior to
purchasing  its  Percentage of a Swingline  Loan one of the events  described in
Section 10.10 shall have occurred and such event  prevents the  consummation  of
the purchase contemplated by preceding provisions,  each Lender will purchase an

<PAGE>

undivided  participating interest in the outstanding Swingline Loan in an amount
equal to its Percentage of such Swingline  Loan. From and after the date of each
Lender's  purchase of its  participating  interest in a Swingline  Loan,  if the
Swingline Lender receives any payment on account  thereof,  the Swingline Lender
will  distribute  to such  Lender  its  participating  interest  in such  amount
(appropriately adjusted, in the case of interest payments, to reflect the period
of time during which such Lender=s  participating  interest was  outstanding and
funded); provided,  however, that in the event that such payment was received by
the Swingline Lender and is required to be returned to the Borrower, each Lender
will return to the Swingline Lender any portion thereof  previously  distributed
by the Swingline Lender to it. If any Lender fails to so purchase its Percentage
of any  Swingline  Loan,  such Lender shall be deemed to be a Defaulting  Lender
hereunder.

Section II.17 Voluntary  Reduction of Aggregate  Commitment  Amount.  Upon at
least  five (5) days prior  irrevocable  written  notice (or  telephonic notice
promptly  confirmed in writing) to the  Administrative  Agent,  Borrower shall
have the right,  without  premium or penalty,  to terminate  the Aggregate
Commitment  in whole or in part  provided  that (a)  Borrower may not reduce the
Aggregate  Commitment  below the Allocated  Facility  Amount at the time of such
requested  reduction,  and (b) any  such  partial  termination  shall  be in the
minimum  aggregate  amount of Two Million  Dollars (U.S.  $2,000,000.00)  or any
integral multiple of Two Million Dollars (U.S. $2,000,000.00) in excess thereof.
Any partial termination of the Aggregate Commitment shall be applied pro rata to
reduce each Lender's Commitment,  including,  unless otherwise agreed in writing
by the  Swingline  Lender,  to reduce the  Swingline  Commitment by a percentage
equal to the  percentage  reduction in the Aggregate  Commitment.  Section II.18
Application  of  Moneys  Received.  All  moneys  collected  or  received  by the
Administrative Agent on account of the Facility directly or indirectly, shall be
applied in the following order of priority:

     (i)   to the payment of all  reasonable  costs incurred in the collection
           of such moneys of which the Administrative  Agent  shall  have  given
           notice  to the  Borrower;

     (ii)  to the reimbursement of any yield protection due to any of the
           Lenders in accordance with Section 4.1;

     (iii) to the payment of any fee due pursuant to Section 3.8(b) in
           connection with the issuance of a Facility Letter of Credit to the
           Issuing Bank, to the payment of the Commitment Fee and Facility
           Letter of Credit Fee to the Lenders, if then due, and to the payment
           of all fees to the Administrative Agent;

     (iv)  to payment of the full amount of interest and principal on the
           Swingline Loans;

     (v)   first to interest until paid in full and then to principal for all
           Lenders (other than Defaulting Lenders) in accordance with the
           respective Percentages of the Lenders;

     (vi)  any other sums due to the Administrative Agent or any Lender under
           any of the Loan Documents; and

<PAGE>

     (vii) to the payment of any sums due to each Defaulting Lender as their
           respective Percentages appear (provided that Administrative Agent
           shall have the right to set-off against such sums any amounts due
           from such Defaulting Lender).

                                  Article III.

                        THE LETTER OF CREDIT SUBFACILITY

Section III.1  Obligation to Issue.  Subject to the terms and conditions of this
Agreement and in reliance upon the representations and warranties of the
Borrower herein set forth, the Issuing Bank hereby agrees to issue for the
account of either of the entities comprising the Borrower, one or more Facility
Letters of Credit in accordance with this Article III, from time to time during
the period commencing on the Agreement Execution Date and ending on a date one
Business Day prior to the Maturity Date.

Section III.2  Types and Amounts. The Issuing Bank shall not have any obligation
to:

     (i)   issue any Facility Letter of Credit if the aggregate maximum amount
           then available for drawing under Letters of Credit issued by such
           Issuing Bank, after giving effect to the Facility Letter of Credit
           requested hereunder, shall exceed any limit imposed by law or
           regulation upon such Issuing Bank;

     (ii)  issue any Facility Letter of Credit if, after giving effect thereto,
           either (1) the then applicable Allocated Facility Amount would exceed
           the then current Aggregate Commitment, (2) the then applicable Credit
           Requirement would exceed fifty percent (50%) of the then-current
           Borrowing Base, or (3) the Facility Letter of Credit Obligations
           would exceed the Facility Letter of Credit Sublimit; or

     (iii) issue any Facility Letter of Credit having an expiration date, or
           containing automatic extension provision to extend such date, to a
           date which is after the Business Day immediately preceding the
           Maturity Date.

Section III.3  Conditions. In addition to being subject to the satisfaction of
the conditions contained in Article V hereof, the obligation of the Issuing Bank
to issue any Facility Letter of Credit is subject to the satisfaction in full of
the following conditions:

     (i)   the Borrower shall have delivered to the Issuing Bank at such times
           and in such manner as the Issuing Bank may reasonably  prescribe such
           documents and materials as may be reasonably required pursuant to the
           terms of the proposed  Facility Letter of Credit (it being understood
           that if any inconsistency  exists between such documents and the Loan
           Documents,  the terms of the Loan  Documents  shall  control) and the
           proposed  Facility Letter of Credit shall be reasonably  satisfactory
           to the Issuing Bank as to form and content;

     (ii)  as of the date of  issuance,  no order,  judgment or decree of any
           court,  arbitrator  or  governmental  authority  shall purport by its
           terms to  enjoin or  restrain  the  Issuing  Bank  from  issuing  the
           requested  Facility  Letter of Credit and no law,  rule or regulation
           applicable  to the Issuing Bank and no request or directive  (whether
           or not having the force of law) from any governmental  authority with
           jurisdiction over the Issuing Bank shall prohibit or request that the
           Issuing Bank refrain from the issuance of Letters of Credit generally
           or the  issuance  of the  requested  Facility  Letter  or  Credit  in
           particular; and

<PAGE>

     (iii) there  shall not exist any  Default or Event of Default.

Section III.4  Procedure for Issuance of Facility Letters of Credit.

(a)  Borrower  shall give the Issuing Bank and the  Administrative  Agent at
     least three (3) Business  Days= prior  written  notice of any requested
     issuance of a Facility Letter of Credit under this Agreement (a "Letter
     of Credit  Request"),  a copy of which shall be sent immediately to all
     Lenders (except that, in lieu of such written notice,  the Borrower may
     give the Issuing Bank and the Administrative Agent telephonic notice of
     such  request if  confirmed  in writing by delivery to the Issuing Bank
     and the  Administrative  Agent (i) immediately (A) of a telecopy of the
     written  notice  required   hereunder  which  has  been  signed  by  an
     authorized  officer,  or  (B) of a  telex  containing  all  information
     required to be contained in such written  notice and (ii) promptly (but
     in no event later than the  requested  date of issuance) of the written
     notice  required  hereunder  containing  the  original  signature of an
     authorized  officer);  such  notice  shall  be  irrevocable  and  shall
     specify:

     (1) the stated amount of the Facility Letter of Credit requested (which
         stated amount shall not be less than  $50,000);

     (2) the effective date (which  day shall be a  Business  Day) of  issuance
         of such  requested Facility Letter of Credit (the "Issuance Date");

     (3) the date on which such requested  Facility Letter of Credit is to
         expire;

     (4) the purpose for which  such  Facility  Letter of  Credit is to be
         issued;

     (5) the Person for whose benefit the requested  Facility Letter of Credit
         is to be issued; and

     (6) any special language required to be included in the Facility Letter of
         Credit.

At the time such request is made, the Borrower shall also provide the
Administrative Agent and the Issuing Bank with a copy of the form of the
Facility Letter of Credit that the Borrower is requesting be issued.  Such
notice, to be effective, must be received by such Issuing Bank and the
Administrative Agent not later than 2:00 p.m. (Chicago time) on the last
Business Day on which notice can be given under this Section 3.4(a).

(b)  Subject to the terms and conditions of this Article III and provided that
     the applicable conditions set forth in Article V hereof have been
     satisfied, the Issuing Bank shall, on the Issuance Date, issue a Facility
     Letter of Credit on behalf of the Borrower in accordance with the Letter of
     Credit Request and the Issuing Bank's usual and customary business
     practices unless the Issuing Bank has actually received (i) written notice
     from the Borrower specifically revoking the Letter of Credit Request with
     respect to such Facility Letter of Credit, (ii) written notice from a
     Lender, which complies with the provisions of Section 3.6(a), or (iii)
     written or telephonic notice from the Administrative Agent stating that the
     issuance of such Facility Letter of Credit would violate Section 3.2.

<PAGE>

(c)  The Issuing Bank shall give the Administrative Agent (who shall promptly
     notify Lenders) and the Borrower written or telex notice, or telephonic
     notice confirmed promptly thereafter in writing, of the issuance of a
     Facility Letter of Credit (the "Issuance Notice").

(d)  The Issuing Bank shall not extend or amend any Facility Letter of Credit
     unless the requirements of this Section 3.4 are met as though a new
     Facility Letter of Credit was being requested and issued.

Section III.5  Reimbursement Obligations; Duties of Issuing Bank.

(a)  The  Issuing   Bank  shall   promptly   notify  the  Borrower  and  the
     Administrative  Agent (who shall promptly  notify  Lenders) of any draw
     under a Facility Letter of Credit. Any such draw shall not be deemed to
     be a default  hereunder but shall constitute an Advance of the Facility
     in the  amount of the  Reimbursement  Obligation  with  respect to such
     Facility  Letter of Credit and shall bear interest from the date of the
     relevant  drawing(s) under the pertinent Facility Letter of Credit at a
     rate  selected by Borrower in  accordance  with  Section  2.11  hereof;
     provided  that if a Monetary  Default or an Event of Default  exists at
     the time of any such drawing(s),  then the Borrower shall reimburse the
     Issuing Bank for drawings  under a Facility  Letter of Credit issued by
     the Issuing Bank no later than the next  succeeding  Business Day after
     the payment by the  Issuing  Bank and until  repaid such  Reimbursement
     Obligation shall bear interest at the Default Rate.

(b)  Any action taken or omitted to be taken by the Issuing Bank under or in
     connection with any Facility Letter of Credit, if taken or omitted in the
     absence of willful misconduct or gross negligence, shall not put the
     Issuing Bank under any resulting liability to any Lender or, provided that
     such Issuing Bank has complied with the procedures specified in Section 3.4
     and such Lender has not given a notice contemplated by Section 3.6(a) that
     continues in full force and effect, relieve that Lender of its obligations
     hereunder to the Issuing Bank. In determining whether to pay under any
     Facility Letter of Credit, the Issuing Bank shall have no obligation
     relative to the Lenders other than to confirm that any documents required
     to be delivered under such Letter of Credit appear to have been delivered
     in compliance, and that they appear to comply on their face, with the
     requirements of such Letter of Credit.

Section III.6  Participation.

(a)  Immediately upon issuance by the Issuing Bank of any Facility Letter of
     Credit in accordance with the procedures set forth in Section 3.4, each
     Lender  shall  be  deemed  to  have  irrevocably  and   unconditionally
     purchased  and  received  from  the  Issuing  Bank,  without  recourse,
     representation  or warranty,  an undivided  interest and  participation
     equal to such Lender's  Percentage  in such  Facility  Letter of Credit
     (including,  without  limitation,  all obligations of the Borrower with
     respect  thereto)  and all  related  rights  hereunder  and  under  the
     Guaranty  and other Loan  Documents;  provided  that a Letter of Credit

<PAGE>

     issued by the Issuing Bank shall not be deemed to be a Facility  Letter
     of Credit for  purposes of this  Section 3.6 if the Issuing  Bank shall
     have received  written notice from any Lender on or before the Business
     Day prior to the date of its issuance of such Letter of Credit that one
     or  more  of the  conditions  contained  in  Section  5.2  is not  then
     satisfied,  and in the event the Issuing Bank receives such a notice it
     shall have no further obligation to issue any Facility Letter of Credit
     until such  notice is  withdrawn  by that  Lender or the  Issuing  Bank
     receives a notice from the Administrative Agent that such condition has
     been  effectively  waived in  accordance  with the  provisions  of this
     Agreement.  Each Lender's  obligation to make further Loans to Borrower
     (other  than  any  payments  such  Lender  is  required  to make  under
     subparagraph  (b) below) or to purchase  an  interest  from the Issuing
     Bank in any subsequent  letters of credit issued by the Issuing Bank on
     behalf of Borrower shall be reduced by such Lender's  Percentage of the
     undrawn portion of each Facility Letter of Credit outstanding.

(b)  In the event that the Issuing Bank makes any payment under any Facility
     Letter of Credit and the Borrower  shall not have repaid such amount to
     the Issuing Bank pursuant to Section 3.7 hereof, the Issuing Bank shall
     promptly notify the  Administrative  Agent, which shall promptly notify
     each  Lender  of such  failure,  and each  Lender  shall  promptly  and
     unconditionally pay to the Administrative  Agent for the account of the
     Issuing Bank the amount of such Lender's Percentage of the unreimbursed
     amount of such payment, and the Administrative Agent shall promptly pay
     such amount to the Issuing Bank. Lender's payments of its Percentage of
     such Reimbursement Obligation as aforesaid shall be deemed to be a Loan
     by such Lender and shall  constitute  outstanding  principal under such
     Lender's  Note.  The  failure  of any Lender to make  available  to the
     Administrative Agent for the account of the Issuing Bank its Percentage
     of the  unreimbursed  amount of any such payment  shall not relieve any
     other  Lender of its  obligation  hereunder  to make  available  to the
     Administrative   Agent  for  the  account  of  such  Issuing  Bank  its
     Percentage of the  unreimbursed  amount of any payment on the date such
     payment  is to be made,  but no  Lender  shall be  responsible  for the
     failure of any other  Lender to make  available  to the  Administrative
     Agent its Percentage of the  unreimbursed  amount of any payment on the
     date such  payment is to be made.  Any Lender  which  fails to make any
     payment required  pursuant to this Section 3.6(b) shall be deemed to be
     a Defaulting Lender hereunder.

(c)  Whenever the Issuing Bank receives a payment on account of a Reimbursement
     Obligation, including any interest thereon, the Issuing Bank shall promptly
     pay to the Administrative Agent and the Administrative Agent shall promptly
     pay to each Lender which has funded its participating interest therein, in
     immediately available funds, an amount equal to such Lender=s Percentage
     thereof.

(d)  Upon the request of the Administrative Agent or any Lender, the Issuing
     Bank shall furnish to such Administrative Agent or Lender copies of any
     Facility Letter of Credit to which the Issuing Bank is party and such other
     documentation as may reasonably be requested by the Administrative Agent or
     Lender.

(e)  The obligations of a Lender to make payments to the Administrative Agent
     for the account of the Issuing Bank with respect to a Facility Letter of
     Credit shall be absolute, unconditional and irrevocable, not subject to any
     counterclaim, set-off, qualification or exception whatsoever other than a
     failure of any such Issuing Bank to comply with the terms of this Agreement
     relating to the issuance of such Facility Letter of Credit, and such
     payments shall be made in accordance with the terms and conditions of this
     Agreement under all circumstances.

<PAGE>

Section III.7  Payment of Reimbursement Obligations.

(a)  The Borrower agrees to pay to the Administrative Agent for the account of
     the Issuing Bank the amount of all Advances for Reimbursement Obligations,
     interest and other amounts payable to the Issuing Bank under or in
     connection with any Facility Letter of Credit when due, irrespective of any
     claim, set-off, defense or other right which the Borrower may have at any
     time against any Issuing Bank or any other Person, under all circumstances,
     including without limitation any of the following circumstances:

     (i)   any lack of validity or enforceability of this Agreement or any of
           the other Loan Documents;

     (ii)  the existence of any claim,  setoff,  defense or other right which
           the Borrower may have at any time  against a  beneficiary  named in a
           Facility Letter of Credit or any transferee of any Facility Letter of
           Credit (or any Person for whom any such  transferee  may be  acting),
           the Administrative  Agent, the Issuing Bank, any Lender, or any other
           Person,  whether in  connection  with this  Agreement,  any  Facility
           Letter  of  Credit,  the  transactions  contemplated  herein  or  any
           unrelated transactions (including any underlying transactions between
           the Borrower  and the  beneficiary  named in any  Facility  Letter of
           Credit);

     (iii) any draft, certificate or any other document presented under the
           Facility Letter of Credit proving to be forged, fraudulent, invalid
           or insufficient in any respect of any statement therein being untrue
           or inaccurate in any respect;

     (iv)  the surrender or impairment of any security for the performance or
           observance of any of the terms of any of the Loan Documents; or

     (v)   the occurrence of any Default or Event of Default.

(b)  In the event any payment by the Borrower received by the Issuing Bank or
     the Administrative Agent with respect to a Facility Letter of Credit and
     distributed by the Administrative Agent to the Lenders on account of their
     participations is thereafter set aside, avoided or recovered from the
     Administrative Agent or Issuing Bank in connection with any receivership,
     liquidation, reorganization or bankruptcy proceeding, each Lender which
     received such distribution shall, upon demand by the Administrative Agent,
     contribute such Lender's Percentage of the amount set aside, avoided or
     recovered together with interest at the rate required to be paid by the
     Issuing Bank or the Administrative Agent upon the amount required to be
     repaid by the Issuing Bank or the Administrative Agent.


<PAGE>

Section III.8  Compensation for Facility Letters of Credit.

(a)  The Borrower  shall pay to the  Administrative  Agent,  for the ratable
     account of the Lenders  (including  the Issuing  Bank),  based upon the
     Lenders' respective Percentages,  a per annum fee (the "Facility Letter
     of Credit  Fee") as a  percentage  of the face amount of each  Facility
     Letter of Credit  equal to the LIBOR  Applicable  Margin in effect from
     time to time while such Facility Letter of Credit is outstanding  minus
     one-eighth of one percent  (0.125%).  The Facility Letter of Credit Fee
     relating to any  Facility  Letter of Credit shall be due and payable in
     arrears in equal  installments  on the first Business Day of each month
     following  the issuance of such  Facility  Letter of Credit and, to the
     extent any such fees are then due and unpaid,  on the Maturity  Date or
     any other  earlier  date that the  Obligations  are due and  payable in
     full.  The  Administrative  Agent shall  promptly  remit such  Facility
     Letter of Credit Fees,  when paid,  to the other  Lenders in accordance
     with  their  Percentages  thereof.  The  Borrower  shall  not  have any
     liability to any Lender for the failure of the Administrative  Agent to
     promptly  deliver  funds to any such Lender and shall be deemed to have
     made all such  payments on the date the  respective  payment is made by
     the  Borrower to the  Administrative  Agent,  provided  such payment is
     received by the time specified in Section 2.12 hereof.

(b)  The Issuing Bank also shall have the right to receive solely for its own
     account an issuance fee of one-eighth of one percent (0.125%) of the face
     amount of each Facility Letter of Credit, payable by the Borrower on the
     Issuance Date for each such Facility Letter of Credit.  The Issuing Bank
     shall also be entitled to receive its reasonable out-of-pocket costs and
     the Issuing Bank's standard charges of issuing, amending and servicing
     Facility Letters of Credit and processing draws thereunder.

Section III.9  Letter of Credit Collateral  Account.  The Borrower hereby agrees
that it will,  until the Maturity Date,  maintain a special  collateral  account
(the "Letter of Credit Collateral Account") at the Administrative Agent's office
at the address specified pursuant to Article XV, in the name of the Borrower but
under the sole dominion and control of the Administrative Agent, for the benefit
of the Lenders,  and in which the Borrower  shall have no interest other than as
set forth in Sectio 11.1. The Letter of Credit Collateral Account shall hold the
deposits  the  Borrower is required to make after an Event of Default on account
of any outstanding  Facility  Letters of Credit as described in Section 11.1. In
addition to the  foregoing,  the Borrower  hereby  grants to the  Administrative
Agent, for the benefit of the Lenders,  a security interest in and to the Letter
of Credit  Collateral  Account and any funds that may hereafter be on deposit in
such account, including income earned thereon. The Lenders acknowledge and agree
that the  Borrower  has no  obligation  to fund the Letter of Credit  Collateral
Account unless and until so required under Section 11.1 hereof.

                                  Article IV.

                             CHANGE IN CIRCUMSTANCES

Section IV.1  Yield  Protection.  If the adoption of or change in any law or any
governmental or quasi-governmental rule, regulation,  policy, guideline or
directive (whether or  not  having  the  force  of  law),  or any interpretation
thereof, or the compliance of any Lender therewith,

<PAGE>

     (i)   subjects any Lender or any applicable Lending  Installation to any
           tax, duty,  charge or  withholding  on or from  payments  due from
           Borrower (excluding  federal and state taxation of the overall net
           income of any Lender or  applicable  Lending  Installation),  or
           changes the basis of such taxation of payments to any Lender in
           respect of its Advances, its interest  in the  Facility  Letters of
           Credit or other  amounts  due it hereunder, or

     (ii)  imposes or increases or deems applicable  any reserve,  assessment,
           insurance  charge,  special  deposit  or similar requirement  against
           assets of, deposits with or for the account of, or credit extended
           by, any Lender or any applicable  Lending  Installation (other than
           reserves and assessments  taken into account in determining the
           interest rate applicable to LIBOR  Advances), or

     (iii) imposes any other  condition,  and the result is to increase the cost
           of any Lender or  any  applicable  Lending  Installation  of  making,
           funding  or maintaining the Loans or reduces any amount receivable by
           any Lender or any applicable  Lending  Installation  in connection
           with the Loans, or requires any Lender or any applicable Lending
           Installation to make any payment  calculated  by  reference  to the
           amount of the  Loans  held, Letters of Credit issued or participated
           in or interest received by it, by an amount  deemed  material by such
           Lender,

then, within  fifteen  (15)  days of demand by such  Lender, Borrower shall pay
such Lender that portion of such increased expense incurred or reduction in an
amount received which such Lender determines is attributable to making,  funding
and maintaining  its Advances and its Commitment.

Section IV.2  Changes in Capital Adequacy  Regulations.  If a Lender determines
the amount of capital required or expected to be  maintained  by such  Lender,
any Lending  Installation  of such Lender or any  corporate  entity  controlling
such Lender with  respect to this Facility is increased as a result of a Change
(as defined below),  then,  within fifteen (15) days of demand by such Lender,
Borrower  shall pay such Lender the amount  necessary to  compensate  for any
shortfall in the rate of return on the portion of such increased  capital which
such Lender  determines is attributable to this Agreement, its Advances, its
interest in the Facility Letters of Credit, or its obligation to make Advances
hereunder or participate in or issue Facility Letters of Credit hereunder (after
taking into account such Lender's policies as to  capital  adequacy).  "Change"
means (i) any change after the date of this Agreement in the Risk-Based  Capital
Guidelines (as defined below) or (ii) any adoption of or change in any other
law, governmental or quasi-governmental rule, regulation,  policy,  guideline,
interpretation, or directive (whether or not having  the force of law) after the
date of this  Agreement  which  affects  the amount of capital  required or
expected  to be  maintained  by any Lender or any Lending  Installation  or any
corporation  controlling  any Lender.  "Risk-Based Capital Guidelines" means (i)
the risk-based capital guidelines in effect in the United States on the date of
this Agreement, including transition  rules,  and (ii) the corresponding capital
regulations promulgated by regulatory authorities outside  the  United  States
implementing  the July  1988  report  of the Basle Committee   on   Banking
Regulation   and   Supervisory   Practices   Entitled "International Convergence
of Capital  Measurements  and  Capital  Standards", including transition rules,
and any amendments to such regulations adopted prior to the date of this
Agreement.

<PAGE>

Section IV.3 Availability of LIBOR Advances.  If any Lender  determines that
maintenance of any of its LIBOR Loans at a suitable Lending  Installation  would
violate any  applicable  law,  rule, regulation or directive of any Governmental
Authority having jurisdiction, the Administrative Agent shall suspend by written
notice to Borrower  the  availability  of LIBOR Advances  from such  Lender and
require any LIBOR  Advances to be  converted  to Adjusted Alternate Base Rate
Advances, or if the Required Lenders determine that (i) deposits of a type or
maturity  appropriate to match fund LIBOR Advances are not  available,  the
Administrative  Agent shall  suspend by written  notice to Borrower the
availability of LIBOR Advances with respect to any LIBOR Advances made after the
date of any  such  determination,  or (ii)  an  interest  rate applicable to a
LIBOR Advance does not  accurately  reflect the cost of making a LIBOR Advance,
and, if for any reason whatsoever the provisions of Section 4.1 are
inapplicable,  the  Administrative  Agent shall suspend by written notice to
Borrower the  availability  of LIBOR Advances with respect to any LIBOR Advances
made  after  the  date  of  any  such   determination.

Section IV.4  Funding Indemnification.  If any  payment of a ratable  LIBOR
Advance  occurs on a date which is not the last day of the applicable Interest
Period,  whether because of acceleration, prepayment or otherwise, or a ratable
LIBOR Advance is not made on the date specified by Borrower for any reason other
than default by one or more of the  Lenders, Borrower will indemnify each Lender
for any  loss or cost incurred by such Lender resulting therefrom,  including,
without limitation, any loss or cost in liquidating or employing  deposits
acquired to fund or maintain the  ratable  LIBOR  Advance.

Section IV.5  Lender Statements; Survival of Indemnity. To the extent reasonably
possible,  each Lender shall designate an alternate Lending  Installation with
respect to its LIBOR Advances to reduce any liability of Borrower to such Lender
under  Sections 4.1 and 4.2 or to avoid the unavailability of a  LIBOR  Advance,
so long  as such designation is  not disadvantageous to such Lender. Each Lender
shall deliver a written statement of such Lender as to the amount due, if any,
under Sections 4.1, 4.2 or 4.4 hereof.  Such written  statement  shall set forth
in reasonable  detail the  calculations upon which such Lender determined such
amount and shall be final, conclusive and binding on Borrower in the absence of
manifest error.  Determination  of amounts payable  under  such  Sections  in
connection  with a LIBOR  Advance  shall  be calculated as though each Lender
funded its LIBOR Advance  through the purchase of a deposit of the type and
maturity  corresponding  to the deposit  used as a reference in  determining the
Adjusted  LIBOR Rate  applicable to such Advance, whether in fact that is the
case or not. Unless otherwise  provided herein,  the amount specified in the
written statement shall be payable within ten (10) days after receipt by
Borrower of the written statement.  The obligations of Borrower under Sections
4.1, 4.2 and 4.4 hereof shall survive payment of the Obligations and termination
of this  Agreement.  Without in any way affecting the Borrower's obligation to
pay  compensation  actually claimed by a Lender under this Article IV or the
restrictions on the availability of LIBOR Advances under Section 4.3, the
Borrower  shall have the right to replace any Lender which has demanded such
compensation or restricted  such  availability  provided that Borrower  notifies
such Lender that it has elected to replace such Lender and notifies  such Lender
and the Administrative  Agent of the identity of the proposed replacement Lender
not more than six (6) months after the date of such  Lender's most recent demand
for  compensation  under this  Article  IV or most  recent  determination  under
Section 4.3.  The Lender  being  replaced  shall  assign its  Percentage  of the
Aggregate  Commitment and its rights and obligations  under this Facility to the
replacement  Lender in accordance  with the  requirements of Section 13.3 hereof
and the  replacement  Lender  shall  assume  such  Percentage  of the  Aggregate

<PAGE>

Commitment and the related obligations under this Facility prior to the Maturity
Date to be extended,  all pursuant to an assignment  agreement  substantially in
the form of Exhibit J hereto. The purchase by the replacement Lender shall be at
par (plus all accrued and unpaid interest and any other sums owed to such Lender
being replaced  hereunder) which shall be paid to the Lender being replaced upon
the execution and delivery of the assignment.

                                   Article V.

                              CONDITIONS PRECEDENT

Section V.1 Conditions  Precedent to Closing.  The Lenders shall not be required
to make the initial Advance hereunder, nor shall the Issuing Bank be required to
issue the initial Facility Letter of Credit  hereunder,  unless (i) the Borrower
shall have paid all fees then due and payable to the  Lenders,  the  Syndication
Agent and the  Administrative  Agent  hereunder,  (ii) all of the conditions set
forth in Section 5.2 are satisfied,  and (iii) the Borrower shall have furnished
to  the  Administrative  Agent,  in  form  and  substance  satisfactory  to  the
Administrative  Agent and  their  counsel  and with  sufficient  copies  for the
Lenders, the following:

(a)  Certificates of Limited Partnership/Incorporation.  A copy of the
     Certificate of Limited Partnership for each entity comprising the Borrower
     and a copy of the articles of incorporation of Equity Inns and the trust
     documents of Equity Inns Trust, each certified by the appropriate Secretary
     of State or equivalent state official.

(b)  Agreements of Limited Partnership/Bylaws.  A copy of the Agreement of
     Limited Partnership for each entity comprising the Borrower and a copy of
     the bylaws of each of the Guarantors, including all amendments thereto,
     each certified by the Secretary or an Assistant Secretary of such entity as
     being in full force and effect on the Agreement Execution Date.

(c)  Good Standing Certificates.  A certified copy of a certificate from the
     Secretary of State or equivalent state official of the states where each
     entity comprising the Borrower and the Guarantors are organized, dated as
     of the most recent practicable date, showing the good standing or
     partnership qualification (if issued) of (i) each entity comprising
     Borrower, and (ii) the Guarantors.

(d)  Resolutions. A copy of a resolution or resolutions and adopted by the Board
     of Directors of the general partner of each entity comprising the Borrower,
     certified by the Secretary or an Assistant Secretary thereof as being in
     full force and effect on the Agreement Execution Date, authorizing the
     Advances provided for herein and the execution, delivery and performance of
     the Loan Documents by such general partner to be executed and delivered by
     it hereunder on behalf of itself and Borrower, together with a similar
     resolution for each of the Guarantors.

(e)  Incumbency Certificate.  A certificate, signed by the Secretary or an
     Assistant Secretary of the general partner of each entity comprising the
     Borrower and dated the Agreement Execution Date, as to the incumbency, and
     containing the specimen signature or signatures, of the Persons authorized
     to execute and deliver the Loan Documents to be executed and delivered by
     it and Borrower hereunder, together with a similar resolution for each of
     the Guarantors.


<PAGE>

(f)  Loan Documents.  Originals of the Loan Documents (in such quantities as the
     Lenders may reasonably request), duly executed by authorized officers of
     the appropriate entity.

(g)  Opinion of Tennessee Counsel.  A written opinion, dated the Agreement
     Execution Date, from Tennessee outside counsel for the Borrower and the
     Guarantors which counsel is reasonably satisfactory to Administrative
     Agent, substantially in the form attached hereto as Exhibit E.

(h)  Opinion of Illinois Counsel.  A written opinion, dated the Agreement
     Execution Date, from Illinois outside counsel for the Borrower and the
     Guarantors which counsel is reasonably satisfactory to Administrative
     Agent, substantially in the form attached hereto as Exhibit F.

(i)  Existing Facilities.  Evidence that all amounts due under the two existing
     secured credit facilities of the Borrower agented by First Chicago have
     been repaid in full and terminated.

(j)  Financial and Related Information.  The following information:

     (i)   A certificate, signed by an officer of the general partners of each
           entity comprising the Borrower, stating that on the Agreement
           Execution Date no Default or Event of Default has occurred and is
           continuing and that all  representations  and  warranties  of the
           Borrower contained herein are true and correct as of the Agreement
           Execution  Date as and to the  extent  set  forth  herein;

     (ii)  The most recent financial statements of the Consolidated Group and a
           certificate from a Qualified Officer  of Equity  Inns that no  change
           in the  Consolidated  Group's financial  condition  that  would have
           a Material Adverse Effect has occurred since June 30, 1997;

     (iii) Evidence of sufficient Unencumbered Assets  (which  evidence may
           include  pay-off  letters  (together  with evidence of payment or a
           direction of Borrower to use a portion of the proceeds of the
           Advances to repay such Indebtedness), mortgage releases and/or  title
           policies) to  assist the  Administrative   Agent  in determining  the
           Borrower's  compliance with the covenants set forth in Article IX
           herein;

     (iv)  A pro forma compliance  certificate as of June 30, 1997  calculating
           the applicable status of Borrower's  financial covenants if they were
           effective as of such date;

     (v)   Written  money transfer  instructions, in substantially the form of
           Exhibit G hereto, addressed  to  the Administrative Agent and  signed
           by a  Qualified Officer, together with such other related money
           transfer authorizations as the Administrative  Agent may have
           reasonably  requested; and


<PAGE>

     (vi)  Operating  statements for the Unencumbered Assets and other evidence
           of income and expenses to assist the  Administrative  Agent in
           determining Borrower's  compliance  with the  covenants  set forth in
           Article  VIII herein.

(k)  GMAC Loan.  Such evidence as Lenders may require that the GMAC Loan has
     closed and been funded.

(l)  Other Evidence as any Lender May Require. Such other evidence as any Lender
     may reasonably request to establish the consummation of the transactions
     contemplated hereby, the taking of all necessary actions in any proceedings
     in connection herewith and compliance with the conditions set forth in this
     Agreement.

Section V.2 Conditions  Precedent to Subsequent Advances and Issuance.  Advances
after the initial Advance and issuances of Facility  Letters of Credit shall be
made from time to time as requested by Borrower,  and the  obligation  of each
Lender to make any  Advance (including  Swingline Loans) and of the Issuing Bank
to issue Facility Letters of Credit is subject to the following terms and
conditions:

(a)  prior to each such Advance or issuance no Default or Event of Default shall
     have occurred and be continuing under this Agreement or any of the Loan
     Documents  and, if required by  Administrative Agent,  Borrower shall
     deliver a certificate of Borrower to such effect; and

(b)  The representations  and warranties  contained in Article VI and VII are
     true and correct  as of such  borrowing  date,  Issuance  Date,  or date of
     conversion and/or  continuation  as and to the  extent  set forth  therein,
     except to the extent any such representation or warranty is stated to
     relate solely to an earlier  date,  in which case such  representation  or
     warranty shall be true and correct on and as of such earlier date.

         Subject  to the  last  grammatical  paragraphs  of  Article  VI and VII
hereof,    each   Borrowing    Notice,    Letter   of   Credit   Request,    and
Conversion/Continuation Notice shall constitute a representation and warranty by
the Borrower that the conditions  contained in Sections 5.2(a) and (b) have been
satisfied. Article VI.

                         REPRESENTATIONS AND WARRANTIES

         Each of the entities  comprising  the Borrower  hereby  represents  and
warrants that:

Section VI.1  Existence.  Operating  Partnership is a limited  partnership  duly
organized  and  existing  under  the laws of the  State of  Tennessee,  with its
principal  place of business in the State of  Tennessee  and EIP/WV is a limited
partnership  duly  organized  and  existing  under  the  laws  of the  State  of
Tennessee,  with its  principal  place of business in the State of Tennessee and
each of the  Operating  Partnership  and EIP/WV is duly  qualified  as a foreign
limited partnership,  properly licensed (if required),  in good standing and has
all requisite authority to conduct its business in each jurisdiction in which it
owns  Properties  and,  except where the failure to be so qualified or to obtain
such  authority  would  not  have a  Material  Adverse  Effect,  in  each  other
jurisdiction in which its business is conducted. Each of the Subsidiaries of the
entities comprising the Borrower is duly organized, validly existing and in good

<PAGE>

standing  under  the  laws  of its  jurisdiction  of  organization  and  has all
requisite  authority  to conduct its business in each  jurisdiction  in which it
owns Property, and except where the failure to be so qualified or to obtain such
authority would not have a Material Adverse Effect,  in each other  jurisdiction
in which it conducts business.

Section VI.2  Corporate/Partnership  Powers. The execution,  delivery  and
performance  of the  Loan  Documents  required  to be delivered by Borrower
hereunder are within the partnership authority of such entities and the
corporate  or trust  powers of the  general partners of such entities, have been
duly  authorized  by all requisite  action,  and are not in conflict with the
terms of any organizational instruments of such entity, or any instrument or
agreement to which either of the entities  comprising the Borrower is a party or
by which either of the entities  comprising the Borrower or any of their
respective  assets  may be  bound  or  affected.

Section VI.3  Power of  Officers. The officers of the general partner of each of
the entities comprising the  Borrower  executing  the Loan  Documents  required
to be  delivered by such entities hereunder have been duly elected or appointed
and were fully authorized to execute the same at the time each such  agreement,
certificate or instrument was executed.

Section VI.4 Government and Other Approvals. No approval, consent, exemption  or
other  action by, or notice to or filing  with,  any  governmental authority is
necessary in connection with the execution, delivery or performance of the Loan
Documents required hereunder.

Section VI.5 Solvency.
     (i)   Immediately  after the  Agreement  Execution  Date and  immediately
           following  the  making of each Loan and  after  giving  effect to the
           application of the proceeds of such Loans,  (a) the fair value of the
           assets of each entity comprising the Borrower and its Subsidiaries on
           a consolidated basis, at a fair valuation,  will exceed the debts and
           liabilities,  subordinated,  contingent  or  otherwise,  of the  such
           entity and its Subsidiaries on a consolidated  basis; (b) the present
           fair saleable value of the  Properties of each entity  comprising the
           Borrower and its Subsidiaries on a consolidated basis will be greater
           than the amount that will be required to pay the  probable  liability
           of such entity and its Subsidiaries on a consolidated  basis on their
           debts and other liabilities,  subordinated,  contingent or otherwise,
           as such debts and other liabilities become absolute and matured;  (c)
           each  entity  comprising  the  Borrower  and  its  Subsidiaries  on a
           consolidated  basis will be able to pay their debts and  liabilities,
           subordinated,  contingent or otherwise, as such debts and liabilities
           become  absolute  and  matured;  and (d) each entity  comprising  the
           Borrower and its  Subsidiaries on a consolidated  basis will not have
           unreasonably  small  capital with which to conduct the  businesses in
           which they are engaged as such  businesses  are now conducted and are
           proposed to be conducted after the date hereof.

     (ii)  Neither of the entities  comprising the Borrower intends to, or to
           permit any of its  Subsidiaries  to,  incur debts beyond its ability
           to pay such debts as they  mature,  taking into account the timing of
           and amounts of cash to be received by it or any such  Subsidiary  and
           the timing of the amounts of cash to be payable on or in respect of
           its  Indebtedness  or the  Indebtedness of any such Subsidiary.

<PAGE>


Section VI.6 Compliance With Laws. There is no judgment, decree or order or any
law, rule or regulation of any court or  governmental  authority binding on the
entities  comprising  the  Borrower or any of their  Subsidiaries which would be
contravened by the execution, delivery or performance of the Loan Documents
required  hereunder.

Section VI.7  Enforceability of Agreement.  This Agreement is the legal,  valid
and binding  agreement of each of the  entities comprising the Borrower, and the
Notes when executed and delivered will be the legal, valid and binding
obligations of such entities,  enforceable against such entities in  accordance
with their  respective  terms,  and the Loan  Documents required hereunder, when
executed and delivered, will be similarly legal, valid, binding and  enforceable
except to the  extent  that such  enforcement  may be limited by applicable
bankruptcy,  insolvency,  reorganization or other similar laws  affecting  the
rights  of  creditors  generally.

Section VI.8  Title to Property.  To  the  best of  Borrower's  knowledge  after
due  inquiry,  the Consolidated Group and the Investment  Affiliates have good
and marketable title to their Properties and assets reflected in the financial
statements as owned by them free and clear of Liens  except for the  Permitted
Liens.  The  execution, delivery or performance  of the Loan  Documents required
to be delivered by the Borrower  hereunder  will  not  result  in  the  creation
of  any  Lien  on the Properties.  No consent to the transactions  contemplated
hereunder is required from any ground lessor or mortgagee or beneficiary  under
a deed of trust or any other  party  except  as  has  been  delivered  to  the
Lenders.

Section  VI.9  Litigation.  There are no suits, arbitrations,  claims,  disputes
or  other proceedings (including, without limitation, any civil, criminal,
administrative or environmental proceedings),  pending or, to the best of
Borrower's knowledge, threatened  against or affecting  the Borrower or any of
their  Properties,  the adverse  determination  of which  individually or in the
aggregate would have a Material  Adverse Effect on the Borrower and/or any of
their  Properties  and/or would cause a Material Adverse Financial Change of
Borrower or materially impair the  Borrower's  ability  to  perform  its
obligations  hereunder  or under any instrument or agreement required hereunder,
except as disclosed on Schedule 6.9 hereto,  or otherwise  disclosed to Lenders
in accordance with the terms hereof.

Section VI.10 Events of Default. No Default or Event of Default has occurred and
is continuing or would result from the incurring of  obligations by the Borrower
under any of the Loan  Documents  or any other  document to which  Borrower is a
party.

Section VI.11 Investment Company Act of 1940. Borrower is not and will by such
acts as may be necessary  continue not to be, an investment  company within the
meaning of the Investment  Company Act of 1940.

Section VI.12 Public Utility Holding Company Act. The Borrower is not a "holding
company" or a "subsidiary company" of a "holding company," or an "affiliate" of
a "holding company," or of a "subsidiary  company" of a "holding  company,"
within the  definitions of the Public Utility Holding Company Act of 1935, as
amended.

<PAGE>


Section VI.13 Regulation U. The proceeds of the Advances  will not be used,
directly or  indirectly,  to purchase or carry any Margin Stock or to extend
credit to others for the purpose of purchasing or carrying any Margin  Stock.

Section VI.14  No Material  Adverse Financial Change. To the best knowledge of
Borrower,  there has been no Material Adverse  Financial Change in the condition
of Borrower  since the date of the financial  and/or operating  statements most
recently  submitted to the Lenders.

Section VI.15 Financial  Information.  All financial statements furnished to the
Lenders  by or at  the  direction  of  the  Borrower  and  all  other  financial
information  and data  furnished by the Borrower to the Lenders are complete and
correct in all  material  respects as of the date  thereof,  and such  financial
statements  have been  prepared in accordance  with GAAP and fairly  present the
consolidated financial condition and results of operations of the Borrower as of
such date. The Borrower has no contingent obligations,  liabilities for taxes or
other  outstanding  financial  obligations  which are material in the aggregate,
except as disclosed in such  statements,  information  and data.

Section VI.16  [Intentionally  Omitted].

Section VI.17  ERISA. (i) Borrower is not an entity deemed to hold "plan assets"
within the  meaning of ERISA or any  regulations promulgated  thereunder of an
employee  benefit plan (as defined in Section 3(3) of ERISA) which is subject to
Title I of ERISA or any plan within the meaning of Section 4975 of the Code, and
(ii) the  execution  of this  Agreement  and the transactions contemplated
hereunder do not give rise to a prohibited transaction within the meaning of
Section 406 of ERISA or Section 4975 of the Code.

Section VI.18  Taxes.  All  required  tax returns  have been filed by Borrower
with the appropriate  authorities  except to the extent that  extensions of time
to file have been  requested,  granted and have not expired or except to the
extent such taxes are being  contested  in good faith and for which  adequate
reserves, in accordance with GAAP, are being maintained.

Section VI.19 Environmental Matters.  Except as disclosed in Schedule 6.19, each
of the following  representations and warranties  is true and correct in all
material  respects  except to the extent that the facts and circumstances giving
rise to any such failure to be so true and  correct,  in the  aggregate,  could
not  reasonably  be  expected to have a Material Adverse Effect:

     (i)   To the knowledge of the Borrower, the Properties of Borrower, its
           Subsidiaries, and Investment Affiliates do not contain any Materials
           of Environmental Concern in amounts or concentrations which
           constitute a violation of, or could reasonably give rise to liability
           under, Environmental Laws.

     (ii)  Borrower has not received any written notice alleging that any or all
           of the Properties of Borrower and its Subsidiaries and Investment
           Affiliates and all operations at the Properties are not in compliance
           with all applicable Environmental Laws.  Further, Borrower has not
           received any written notice alleging the existence of any
           contamination at or under such Properties in amounts or
           concentrations which constitute a violation of any Environmental Law,
           or any violation of any Environmental Law with respect to such
           Properties for which Borrower, its Subsidiaries or Investment
           Affiliates is or could be liable.

<PAGE>

     (iii) Neither Borrower nor any of its Subsidiaries or Investment Affiliates
           has received any  written  notice  of  non-compliance,  liability  or
           potential liability regarding  Environmental Laws with regard to any
           of the Properties, nor does it have knowledge that any such notice
           will be received  or is being  threatened.

     (iv)  To the  knowledge of Borrower during the ownership of the  Properties
           by any or all of Borrower, its Subsidiaries and Investment
           Affiliates,  Materials of  Environmental Concern have not been
           transported or disposed of from the Properties of Borrower and its
           Subsidiaries  and Investment  Affiliates in violation of, or in a
           manner or to a location which could reasonably give rise to liability
           of Borrower,  any  Subsidiary,  or any  Investment  Affiliate under,
           Environmental Laws, nor during the ownership  of  the  Properties  by
           any  or  all  of  Borrower,   its Subsidiaries   and   Investment
           Affiliates   have  any  Materials  of Environmental  Concern been
           generated,  treated,  stored or disposed of at, on or under any of
           such  Properties in violation of, or in a manner that could give rise
           to liability of Borrower, any Subsidiary or any Investment  Affiliate
           under, any applicable Environmental Laws.

     (v)   No judicial proceedings or  governmental  or  administrative  action
           is pending,  or,  to the  knowledge of Borrower,  threatened,  under
           any Environmental Law to which Borrower, any of its Subsidiaries,  or
           any Investment  Affiliate,  is  named  as  a  party  with  respect to
           the Properties of such entity,  nor are there any consent  decrees or
           other decrees, consent orders, administrative order or other orders,
           or other administrative   or  judicial   requirements   outstanding
           under any Environmental Law with respect to such Properties for which
           Borrower, its Subsidiaries,  or any Investment  Affiliate is or could
           be liable.

     (vi)  To the knowledge of Borrower  during the ownership of the  Properties
           by any or all of Borrower, its Subsidiaries and Investment
           Affiliates, there has been no release or threat of release of
           Materials of  Environmental  Concern at or from the Properties of
           Borrower and its  Subsidiaries and Investment Affiliates, or arising
           from or related to the operations of such entity in connection with
           the Properties in violation of or in amounts or in a manner that
           could give rise to liability under Environmental Laws.

Section VI.20  Insurance.  Borrower has obtained the  insurance  which  Borrower
is required to furnish to Lenders  under Section 5.1(j) hereof.

Section VI.21  No Brokers. Borrower has dealt with no brokers in connection with
this Facility,  and no brokerage fees or commissions are payable by or to any
Person in connection  with this Agreement or the Advances.  Lenders shall not be
responsible  for the  payment  of any fees or  commissions  to any broker and
Borrower shall indemnify,  defend and hold Lenders harmless from and against any
claims,  liabilities,  obligations,  damages,  costs and  expenses (including
reasonable  attorneys'  fees  and  disbursements) made against  or incurred  by
Lenders as a result of claims  made or  actions  instituted  by any broker or
Person  claiming by, through or under Borrower in connection  with the Facility.

<PAGE>


Section VI.22  No Violation of Usury Laws.  No aspect of any of the transactions
contemplated herein violate or will violate any usury laws or laws regarding the
validity of agreements to pay interest in effect on the date hereof.

Section VI.23  Not a Foreign Person.  Borrower is not a "foreign person" within
the meaning of Section 1445 or 7701 of the Internal Revenue Code.S

Section VI.24  No Trade Name.  Except as otherwise  set forth on Schedule  6.24
attached hereto,  Borrower  does  not use any  trade  name  and has not and does
not do business under any name other than their actual  names set forth  herein.
The principal place of business of Borrower is as stated in the recitals hereto.

Section VI.25  Subsidiaries.  Schedule 6.25 hereto  contains an accurate list of
all of the  presently  existing  Subsidiaries  of Borrower,  setting forth their
respective  jurisdictions  of  formation,  the  percentage  of their  respective
Capital Stock owned by it or its  Subsidiaries and the Properties owned by them.
All of the issued and outstanding  shares of Capital Stock of such  Subsidiaries
have been duly  authorized  and issued  and are fully  paid and  non-assessable.

Section VI.26 Unencumbered Assets.  Schedule 6.26 hereto contains a complete and
accurate  description of Unencumbered  Assets as of the Agreement Execution Date
and as  supplemented  from  time to time  including  the  entity  that owns each
Unencumbered  Asset. With respect to each Property  identified from time to time
as an Unencumbered  Asset,  Borrower  hereby  represents and warrants as follows
except to the extent  disclosed  in writing to the Lenders  and  approved by the
Required Lenders (which approval shall not be unreasonably withheld):

(a)  No portion of any improvement on the Unencumbered Asset is located in an
     area identified by the Secretary of Housing and Urban Development or any
     successor thereto as an area having special flood hazards pursuant to the
     National Flood Insurance Act of 1968 or the Flood Disaster Protection Act
     of 1973, as amended, or any successor law, or, if located within any such
     area, Borrower has obtained and will maintain the insurance prescribed in
     Section 5.1(j) hereof.

(b)  To the Borrower's knowledge, except as shown on Schedule 6.9, the
     Unencumbered Asset and the present use and occupancy thereof are in
     material compliance with all applicable zoning ordinances (without reliance
     upon adjoining or other properties), building codes, land use and
     Environmental Laws, and other similar laws ("Applicable Laws").

(c)  The Unencumbered Asset is served by all utilities required for the current
     or contemplated use thereof.  All utility service is provided by public
     utilities and the Unencumbered Asset has accepted or is equipped to accept
     such utility service.

(d)  All public roads and streets necessary for service of and access to the
     Unencumbered Asset for the current or contemplated use thereof have been
     completed, are serviceable and all-weather and are physically and legally
     open for use by the public.

(e)  The Unencumbered Asset is served by public water and sewer systems or, if
     the Unencumbered Asset is not serviced by a public water and sewer system,
     such alternate systems are adequate and meet, in all material respects, all
     requirements and regulations of, and otherwise complies in all material
     respects with, all Applicable Laws with respect to such alternate systems.

<PAGE>

(f)  Borrower is not aware of any latent or patent structural or other
     significant deficiency of the Unencumbered Asset.  The Unencumbered Asset
     is free of damage and waste that would materially and adversely affect the
     value of the Unencumbered Asset, is in good repair and there is no deferred
     maintenance other than ordinary wear and tear.  The Unencumbered Asset is
     free from damage caused by fire or other casualty.  There is no pending or,
     to the actual knowledge of Borrower threatened condemnation proceedings
     affecting the Unencumbered Asset, or any material part thereof.

(g)  To Borrower's knowledge, all liquid and solid waste disposal, septic and
     sewer systems located on the Unencumbered Asset are in a good and safe
     condition and repair and to Borrower's knowledge, in material compliance
     with all Applicable Laws with respect to such systems.

(h)  All improvements on the Unencumbered Asset lie within the boundaries and
     building restrictions of the legal description of record of the
     Unencumbered Asset, no such improvements encroach upon easements
     benefitting the Unencumbered Asset other than encroachments that do not
     materially adversely affect the use or occupancy of the Unencumbered Asset
     and no improvements on adjoining properties encroach upon the Unencumbered
     Asset or easements benefitting the Unencumbered Asset other than
     encroachments that do not materially adversely affect the use or occupancy
     of the Unencumbered Asset.  All amenities, access routes or other items
     that materially benefit the Unencumbered Asset are under direct control of
     Borrower, constitute permanent easements that benefit all or part of the
     Unencumbered Asset or are public property, and the Unencumbered Asset, by
     virtue of such easements or otherwise, is contiguous to a physically open,
     dedicated all weather public street, and has the necessary permits for
     ingress and egress.

(i)  There are no delinquent  taxes,  ground rents,  water charges, sewer rents,
     assessments,  insurance premiums,  leasehold payments, or other outstanding
     charges affecting the Unencumbered Asset except to the extent such items
     are being  contested in good faith and as to which adequate  reserves have
     been  provided.

A breach  of any of the  representations  and  warranties contained in this
Section 6.26 with respect to a Property shall  disqualify such Property from
being an Unencumbered Asset for so long as such breach continues (unless
otherwise  approved by the Required Lenders) but shall not constitute a Default
(unless  the  elimination  of such  Property as an  Unencumbered  Asset results
in a Default under one of the other provisions of this Agreement).

Borrower  agrees that all of its  representations  and  warranties  set forth in
Article VI of this  Agreement and elsewhere in this  Agreement are true on the
Agreement  Execution Date, and will be true on each Effective Date in all
material  respects  (except with respect to matters which have been disclosed in
writing  to and  approved  by the  Required  Lenders),  and  will be true in all
material  respects  (except with respect to matters which have been disclosed in
writing  to  and  approved  by the  Required  Lenders)  upon  each  request  for
disbursement  of an Advance.  Each  request  for  disbursement  hereunder  shall
constitute a  reaffirmation  of such  representations  and  warranties as deemed
modified in accordance with the disclosures made and approved, as aforesaid,  as
of the date of such request and disbursement.

<PAGE>

                                  Article VII.

                    ADDITIONAL REPRESENTATIONS AND WARRANTIES

         Each of the Guarantors  hereby  represents  and warrants that:

Section VII.1 Existence.  Equity Inns is a corporation duly organized and
existing under the laws of the State of Tennessee,  with its principal place of
business in the State of Tennessee and Equity Inns Trust is a real estate
investment trust duly organized  and  existing  under  the  laws of the State of
Maryland,  with its principal place of business in the State of Tennessee and
each Guarantor is duly qualified as a foreign corporation and properly  licensed
(if required) and in good standing in each  jurisdiction  where the failure to
qualify or be licensed (if required) would constitute a Material Adverse
Financial Change with respect to  such  Guarantor  or  have a  Material  Adverse
Effect  on the  business  or properties  of such  Guarantor.

Section VII.2  Corporate or Trust  Powers.  The execution,  delivery  and
performance of the  Loan  Documents required  to be delivered by the  Guarantors
hereunder are within the  corporate  powers of the Guarantors, have been duly
authorized by all requisite corporate action, and are not in  conflict  with the
terms  of  any  organizational instruments  of the Guarantors, or any instrument
or agreement to which the either of the Guarantors is a party or by which either
of the Guarantors or any of its assets is bound or affected.

Section VII.3  Power of Officers.  The officers of the Guarantors executing  the
Loan  Documents  required  to be  delivered  by  the  Guarantors hereunder have
been duly  elected or  appointed and were fully  authorized  to execute the same
at the time each such agreement,  certificate or instrument was executed.

Section VII.4  Government and Other Approvals.  No approval,  consent, exemption
or other  action by, or notice to or filing  with,  any  governmental authority
is necessary in connection with the execution, delivery or performance of the
Loan Documents  required  hereunder.

Section VII.5  Compliance With Laws. There is no  judgment,  decree or order or
any law,  rule or  regulation  of any court  or governmental  authority  binding
on the  Guarantors  which  would be contravened  by the  execution,  delivery or
performance  of the Loan Documents required hereunder.

Section VII.6  Enforceability of Guaranty.  The Guaranty is the legal, valid and
binding agreement of the Guarantors,  enforceable  against the  Guarantors  in
accordance  with its terms,  except to the extent that such enforcement may be
limited by applicable bankruptcy, insolvency,  reorganization or other similar
laws affecting the rights of creditors generally.

Section VII.7  Liens; Consents.  The execution,  delivery or performance of the
Loan Documents required to be  delivered  by the  Guarantors  hereunder will not
result in the creation of any Lien on the Properties. No consent to the
transactions hereunder is required from any ground lessor or mortgagee or
beneficiary under a deed of trust or any other party except as has been
delivered  to the Lenders.

<PAGE>


Section VII.8  Litigation.  There are no suits,  arbitrations,  claims, disputes
or other proceedings (including, without limitation, any civil, criminal,
administrative or  environmental  proceedings), pending  or, to the  best of the
Guarantors' knowledge, threatened  against or affecting either of the Guarantors
or any of their  Properties,  the adverse  determination  of which  individually
or in the aggregate would have a Material  Adverse Effect on the Guarantors or
would cause a Material Adverse Financial Change with respect to the Guarantors
or materially impair the Guarantors'  ability to perform their obligations under
the Guaranty, except as  disclosed  on Schedule  7.8 hereto,  or  otherwise
disclosed  to the Lenders in accordance with the terms hereof.

Section VII.9  Investment Company Act of 1940.  Neither of the Guarantors is,
and the Guarantors will by such acts as may be necessary continue not to be, an
investment company within the meaning of the Investment  Company Act of 1940.

Section  VII.10  Public Utility Holding Company Act.  Neither of the Guarantors
is a "holding  company" or a "subsidiary company" of a "holding company," or an
"affiliate" of a "holding company," or of a "subsidiary  company" of a "holding
company,"  within the  definitions of the Public  Utility  Holding  Company  Act
of 1935,  as amended.

Section  VII.11  No Material Adverse Financial Change.  There has been no
Material Adverse Financial Change  in the  condition  of the  Guarantors  since
the last date on which the financial  and/or  operating  statements were
submitted to the Lenders.

Section VII.12 Financial Information.  All financial statements furnished to the
Lenders by or on behalf of the Guarantors and all other  financial  information
and data furnished by or on behalf of the Guarantors to the Lenders are complete
and correct in all  material  respects as of the date  thereof,  and such
financial statements  have been  prepared in accordance  with GAAP and fairly
present the consolidated  financial condition and results of operations of the
Guarantors as of such date. The Guarantors  have no contingent  obligations,
liabilities  for taxes or other  outstanding  financial  obligations  which are
material  in the aggregate, except as disclosed in such statements, information
and data.

Section VII.13 [Intentionally  Omitted].

Section VII.14 ERISA. (i) Neither Guarantor is an entity  deemed to hold  "plan
assets" within the meaning  of ERISA or any regulations  promulgated  thereunder
of an employee  benefit plan (as defined in Section  3(3) of ERISA)  which is
subject to Title I of ERISA or any plan within the  meaning of Section  4975 of
the  Code,  and  (ii) the  execution  of this Agreement  and the  transactions
contemplated hereunder do not give rise to a prohibited  transaction  within the
meaning of Section  406 of ERISA or Section 4975 of the Code.

Section VII.15 Taxes. All required tax returns have been filed by the Guarantors
with the  appropriate  authorities  except to the extent that extensions of time
to file have been requested,  granted and have not expired or except to the
extent such taxes are being  contested in good faith and for which adequate
reserves, in accordance with GAAP, are being maintained.

<PAGE>


Section VII.16 Subsidiaries.  Schedule  7.16 hereto contains  an  accurate  list
of all of the presently  existing  Subsidiaries of Guarantors,  setting forth
their respective jurisdictions of formation,  the percentage of their respective
Capital Stock owned by it or its  Subsidiaries and the Properties owned by them.
All of the issued and outstanding  shares of Capital Stock of such  Subsidiaries
have been duly authorized and issued and are fully paid and non-assessable.

Section VII.17 Status. Equity Inns is a corporation listed and in good standing
on the New York Stock Exchange ("NYSE").

         Each Guarantor  agrees that all of its  representations  and warranties
set forth in Article VII of this  Agreement are true on the Agreement  Execution
Date, and will be true on each Effective Date in all material  respects  (except
with respect to matters which have been  disclosed in writing to and approved by
the Required  Lenders),  and will be true in all material  respects (except with
respect to matters  which have been  disclosed in writing to and approved by the
Required  Lenders) upon each request for  disbursement of an Advance or issuance
of a Facility Letter of Credit.  Each such request  hereunder shall constitute a
reaffirmation  of such  representations  and  warranties  as deemed  modified in
accordance with the disclosures made and approved, as aforesaid,  as of the date
of such request and disbursement.

                                 Article VIII.

                              AFFIRMATIVE COVENANTS

         The Borrower and each of the Guarantors covenant and agree that so long
as the  Commitment  of any Lender shall remain  available and until the full and
final payment of all  Obligations  incurred  under the Loan Documents they will:
Section VIII.1  Notices.  Promptly give written notice to  Administrative  Agent
(who will promptly send such notice to Lenders) of:

(a)  all litigation or arbitration proceedings affecting any member of the
     Consolidated Group where the amount claimed is $5,000,000 or more;

(b)  any Default or Event of Default, specifying the nature and the period of
     existence thereof and what action has been taken or been proposed to be
     taken with respect thereto;

(c)  all claims filed against any Property owned by any member of the
     Consolidated Group which, if adversely determined, could have a Material
     Adverse Effect on the ability of the Borrower or the Guarantors to meet any
     of their obligations under the Loan Documents;

(d)  the occurrence of any other event which might have a Material Adverse
     Effect or cause a Material Adverse Financial Change on or with respect to
     the Borrower or the Guarantors;

(e)  any Reportable Event or any Aprohibited transaction@ (as such term is
     defined in Section 4975 of the Code) in connection with any Plan or any
     trust created thereunder, which may, singly or in the aggregate materially
     impair the ability of the Borrower or the Guarantors to repay any of the
     Obligations under the Loan Documents, describing the nature of each such
     event and the action, if any, the Borrower or the Guarantors, as the case
     may be, proposes to take with respect thereto;


<PAGE>


(f)  any notice from any federal, state, local or foreign authority regarding
     any Hazardous Material, asbestos, or other environmental condition,
     proceeding, order, claim or violation affecting any of the Properties of
     the Consolidated Group.

Section VIII.2  Financial Statements, Reports, Etc.  The Borrower and the
Guarantors will maintain, for the Consolidated Group, a system of accounting
established and administered in accordance with GAAP, and furnish to the
Lenders:

     (i)   as soon as available, but in any event not later than 45 days after
           the close of each fiscal quarter, for the Consolidated Group an
           unaudited quarterly financial statement (including a balance sheet
           and income statement) for such period and the portion of the fiscal
           year through the end of such period, setting forth in each case in
           comparative form the figures for the previous year, all certified by
           Equity Inns' chief financial officer or chief accounting officer;

     (ii)  As soon as  available,  but in any event  not  later  than 45 days
           after the close of each fiscal quarter,  for the Consolidated  Group,
           related  reports in form and substance  satisfactory  to the Lenders,
           all  certified  by Equity  Inns'  chief  financial  officer  or chief
           accounting  officer,  including a statement of Funds From Operations,
           calculation  of the financial  covenants  described  below, a summary
           listing of capital expenditures,  a report listing and describing all
           newly  acquired  Properties,  including  their  cash  flow,  cost and
           secured  Indebtedness,  if any, summary property  information for all
           Properties,  and  such  other  information  as  may be  requested  to
           evaluate any other certificates delivered hereunder;

     (iii) As soon as publicly available but in no event later than the date
           such reports are to be filed with the Securities Exchange Commission,
           copies of all Form 10Ks, 10Qs, 8Ks, and any other annual,  quarterly,
           monthly or other reports,  copies of all registration  statements and
           any other  public  information  filed  with the  Securities  Exchange
           Commission along with all other materials distributed to shareholders
           and limited  partners by the Borrower or the Guarantors,  including a
           copy of the Equity Inns annual report;

     (iv)  As soon as  available,  but in any event  not  later  than 90 days
           after the close of each fiscal  year,  reports in form and  substance
           satisfactory  to  the  Lenders,   certified  by  Equity  Inns'  chief
           financial  officer or chief accounting  officer  containing  Property
           Operating  Income and hotel  operating  statements from the operators
           under the Permitted  Operating  Leases for each  individual  Property
           owned by the Borrower or a  Wholly-Owned  Subsidiary  and included as
           Unencumbered  Assets,  provided that the Borrower and the  Guarantors
           shall in no event be  obligated  to furnish any such hotel  operating
           statement   any  earlier  than  five  (5)  Business  Days  after  the
           Borrower's receipt thereof from the applicable operator;

     (v)   Not later  than  forty-five  (45) days after the end of each of the
           first  three  fiscal  quarters,  and not later than  ninety (90) days


<PAGE>

           after  the  end of the  fiscal  year,  a  compliance  certificate  in
           substantially  the form of Exhibit H hereto  signed by the  Operating
           Partnership  and  Equity  Inns'  chief  financial  officer  or  chief
           accounting  officer  confirming  that the Borrower and the Guarantors
           are in compliance  with all of the  covenants of the Loan  Documents,
           showing the  calculations  and  computations  necessary  to determine
           compliance with the financial  covenants  contained in this Agreement
           (including such schedules and backup  information as may be necessary
           to demonstrate  such  compliance)  and stating that to such officer=s
           best knowledge, there is no other Default or Event of Default exists,
           or if any Default or Event of Default exists,  stating the nature and
           status thereof;

     (vi)  As soon as possible and in any event within 10 Business Days after
           any member of the Consolidated  Group knows that any Reportable Event
           has occurred  with  respect to any Plan,  a statement,  signed by the
           chief  financial  officer of Equity Inns,  describing said Reportable
           Event and within 20 days after such  Reportable  Event,  a  statement
           signed by such chief  financial  officer  describing the action which
           the Consolidated Group proposes to take with respect thereto; and (b)
           within 10  Business  Days of receipt,  any notice  from the  Internal
           Revenue  Service,  PBGC or Department of Labor with respect to a Plan
           regarding any excise tax, proposed termination of a Plan,  prohibited
           transaction  or  fiduciary  violation  under  ERISA or the Code which
           could result in any liability to the Consolidated  Group in excess of
           $100,000;  and (c) within 10 Business  Days of filing,  any Form 5500
           filed with respect to a Plan by any member of the Consolidated  Group
           which includes a qualified accountant's opinion.

     (vii) As  soon as  possible  and in any  event  within  30  days  after
           receipt,  a copy of (a) any  notice or claim to the  effect  that any
           member of the Consolidated Group is or may be liable to any Person as
           a result of the  release  by such  entity or any other  Person of any
           toxic or hazardous waste or substance into the  environment,  and (b)
           any notice  alleging any  violation  of any  federal,  state or local
           environmental,  health or safety law or  regulation  by any member of
           the  Consolidated  Group,  which, in either case, could be reasonably
           likely to have a Material Adverse Effect;

     (viii)Promptly upon the distribution thereof to the press or the public,
           copies of all press releases;

     (ix)  As soon as possible, and in any event within 10 days after the
           Borrower knows of any fire or other casualty or any pending or
           threatened condemnation or eminent domain proceeding with respect to
           all or any material portion of any Unencumbered Asset, a statement
           describing such fire, casualty or condemnation and the action
           Borrower intends to take with respect thereto;

     (x)   Such other information (including, without limitation, non-financial
           information) as the Administrative Agent or any Lender may from time
           to time reasonably request; and

     (xi)  Within ten (10) Business Days after the request of the Administrative
           Agent, a financial statement showing Adjusted EBITDA, Ground Lease
           Expense, Fixed Charges and Interest Expense for the period of twelve
           (12) full months ending immediately prior to the date of such
           request.

<PAGE>


Section VIII.3 Existence and Conduct of Operations;  Limitations on Investments.
Except as permitted herein,  maintain and preserve its existence and all rights,
privileges  and  franchises  now enjoyed and  necessary for the operation of its
business,  including  remaining in good standing in each  jurisdiction  in which
business is currently  operated.  The Borrower and the Guarantors shall carry on
and conduct their respective  businesses in substantially the same manner and in
substantially the same fields of enterprise as presently conducted. The Borrower
and the Guarantors will do, and will cause each of their Subsidiaries to do, all
things  necessary to remain duly  incorporated  and/or duly  qualified,  validly
existing and in good standing as a real estate  investment  trust,  corporation,
general partnership,  limited liability company or limited  partnership,  as the
case may be, in its  jurisdiction of  incorporation/formation.  The Borrower and
the Guarantors will maintain all requisite authority to conduct their businesses
in each  jurisdiction  in which the Properties are located and, except where the
failure to be so qualified  would not have a Material  Adverse  Effect,  in each
jurisdiction  required to carry on and conduct its  businesses in  substantially
the same manner as it is presently  conducted,  and,  specifically,  neither the
Borrower,  the  Guarantors  nor any of their  Subsidiaries  will  undertake  any
business  other than the  acquisition,  development,  ownership,  management and
operation of hotel  properties  (excluding  economy and budget hotels) which are
located in the United  States  provided  that the  Consolidated  Group shall not
invest more than the following  amounts with respect to the following  specified
categories of hotel assets:

     (i)   the aggregate book value, under GAAP, of all hotels under
           construction which are owned by the Consolidated Group shall not
           exceed 10% of Total Value;

     (ii)  the sum of (i) the aggregate book value, under GAAP, of all hotels
           under construction which are owned by the Consolidated Group and (ii)
           the aggregate obligations of the Consolidated Group to purchase
           hotels under construction shall not exceed 25% of Total Value;

     (iii) the percentage of the total rooms in all Properties of the
           Consolidated Group that are leased under Permitted Operating Leases
           shall not be less than 85%; and

     (iv)  that  portion of Total Value  attributable  to  Properties  of the
           Consolidated  Group leased to (A) a single tenant or any single group
           of  tenants  which  are  Affiliates  of  each  other  (other  than to
           Interstate  Hotels  Management,  Inc.  and  its  Affiliates)  under a
           Permitted  Operating  Lease or Permitted  Operating  Leases shall not
           exceed 40% of Total Value and (B) Crossroads/Memphis Partnership LLC,
           Crossroads   Future  Company  LLC  or  another  entity   directly  or
           indirectly  wholly-owned by Interstate Hotels Management,  Inc. under
           Permitted Operating Leases shall not exceed 80% of Total Value.

Section VIII.4  Maintenance of Properties.  Maintain, preserve, protect and keep
the Properties in good repair, working order and condition, and make all
necessary and proper repairs, renewals and replacements, normal wear and tear
excepted.

Section VIII.5 Insurance.  Provide a certificate of insurance from all insurance
carriers who maintain policies with respect to the Properties within thirty (30)
days after the end of each fiscal year,  evidencing that the insurance  required

<PAGE>


to be furnished to Lenders  pursuant to Section  5.1(j)  hereof is in full force
and effect.  Borrower shall timely pay, or cause to be paid, all premiums on all
insurance  policies  required under this  Agreement from time to time.  Borrower
shall  promptly  notify its insurance  carrier or agent therefor (with a copy of
such notification  being provided  simultaneously  to  Administrative  Agent) if
there is any occurrence  which,  under the terms of any insurance policy then in
effect with  respect to the  Properties,  requires  such  notification.

Section VIII.6 Payment of Obligations. Pay all taxes, assessments,  governmental
charges and other obligations when due, except such as may be contested in good
faith or as to which a bona fide dispute may exist, and for which adequate
reserves have been  provided  in  accordance  with  sound  accounting principles
used by the Consolidated  Group on the date hereof.

Section  VIII.7  Compliance  with Laws.  Comply in all material  respects with
all applicable laws,  rules,  regulations, orders and directions of any
governmental  authority having  jurisdiction  over Borrower, the Guarantors, or
any of their respective businesses,  subject to the right to contest such
compliance  obligations in good faith so long as adequate reserves are
established  for possible  liabilities  arising  therefrom  and an adverse
resolution  of such  noncompliance  would not have a  Material  Adverse Effect.

Section VIII.8 Adequate Books.  Maintain  adequate books,  accounts and records
in order to provide financial statements in accordance with GAAP and, if
requested by any Lender,  permit employees or  representatives of such Lender at
any  reasonable  time and upon  reasonable  notice  to  inspect  and  audit  the
properties of Borrower and of the  Consolidated  Group,  and to examine or audit
the inventory,  books,  accounts and records of each of them and make copies and
memoranda  thereof.

Section VIII.9 ERISA.  Comply in all material respects with all  requirements of
ERISA  applicable to it with respect to each Plan.

Section VIII.10  Maintenance  of Status.  Equity Inns shall at all times (i)
remain as a corporation  listed and in good standing on the New York Stock
Exchange (NYSE), and (ii) take all steps maintain its status as a real estate
investment trust in compliance  with  all  applicable  provisions  of  the  Code
(unless  otherwise consented to by the Required Lenders).

Section VIII.11 Use of Proceeds. Use the proceeds of the  Facility  for the
general  business  purposes of the  Borrower, including  without  limitation
repayment in full of the two  existing  secured facilities of the Borrower which
are agented by First  Chicago,  acquisition by the  Borrower of premium  limited
service,  premium  extended  stay and premium all-suite  and  full-service hotel
properties,  developments,  expansions  and renovations  of the  Borrower's
existing  hotel  properties  and other  general corporate  and  working  capital
needs.

Section   VIII.12   Pre-Acquisition Environmental  Investigations.  Cause to be
prepared prior to the acquisition of each project that it intends to acquire an
environmental report pursuant to a standard  scope of work  attached  as Exhibit
I hereto  and made a part  hereof.

<PAGE>


                                  Article IX.

                               NEGATIVE COVENANTS

         The Borrower covenants and agrees that, so long as the Commitment shall
remain  available and until full and final payment of all  obligations  incurred
under the Loan  Documents,  without the prior  written  consent of the  Required
Lenders (or the Administrative  Agent or a greater Percentage of the Lenders, if
so expressly provided),  the Borrower, the Guarantors and the Consolidated Group
will not:

Section  IX.1 Change of Borrower  Ownership.  Allow (i) Equity Inns Trust to own
less than one hundred percent (100%) of the general partnership interests in the
Operating Partnership and Equity II, (ii) Equity Inns Services, Inc. to own less
than one hundred percent (100%) of the general partnership  interests in EIP/WV,
(iii)  Equity Inns to own less than 100% of the  beneficial  interests in Equity
Inns Trust or 100% of the stock in Equity Inns Services,  Inc.,  (iv) any pledge
of, other encumbrance on, or conversion to limited partnership interests of, any
of the  general  partnership  interests  in the  Borrower,  or (v)  any  pledge,
hypothecation,  encumbrance,  transfer or other  change in the  ownership or the
partnership  interests in the REMIC  Partnership  (except for the pledge of such
partnership  interests to the lender under the REMIC Loan).

Section IX.2 Use of Proceeds.  Apply or permit to be applied any proceeds of any
Advance directly or indirectly, to the funding of any purchase of, or offer for,
any Margin Stock or any share of capital stock of any publicly held corporation
unless the board of directors of such  corporation  has  consented to such offer
prior to any public announcements relating thereto and the Lenders have
consented to such use of the proceeds of the  Facility.

Section IX.3 Sales,  Encumbrances  and  Transfers of Assets. Sell, encumber or
otherwise transfer (other than pursuant to a Permitted Operating Lease or any
other operating lease of any of the Properties) to anyone other than another
member of the  Consolidated  Group without  delivering  prior written notice of
such  proposed  sale,   encumbrance  or  transfer  to  the Administrative  Agent
along with a certification  to the Lenders that compliance with all of the
covenants in this  Agreement  will be  maintained  after giving effect  to such
proposed  action,  with  such  detail  and  projections  as the Administrative
Agent may require,  any  Properties  of the  Consolidated  Group (excluding any
Property sold by the Consolidated Group prior to,  simultaneously with or within
six months of the date such  Property was first opened to the public as a hotel)
or any  interests in entities  owning such  Properties if the value of such
Property or interest,  together  with the value of any other such Properties or
interests which have been sold,  encumbered or transferred  during the same
period,  exceeds for a period beginning at the Agreement Execution Date and
ending on the last day of the fourth full fiscal quarter of the Consolidated
Group thereafter and for subsequent  periods ending on the last day of each such
fiscal quarter  thereafter and consisting of the immediately  preceding four (4)
full fiscal  quarters,  a maximum of fifteen percent (15%) of the Total Value at
the  beginning of such  period.

Section IX.4  Dividends.  Permit the  aggregate amount of  dividends  paid by
Equity  Inns  (without  duplication)  for the most recent four fiscal quarters
for which financial  reports are available (i) on an unadjusted  basis, to
exceed 90% of the Funds From Operations of Equity Inns, or (ii) after  deduction
of all dividends  attributable  to stock issued during the most recent of such

<PAGE>


four fiscal  quarters,  to exceed 100% of Free Cash Flow, in each  case  as
determined  on a  consistent  basis  with  the  prior  financial statements of
Equity Inns,  as approved by the  Administrative  Agent,  provided that  Equity
Inns may,  so long as an Event of Default  does not exist,  pay the minimum
amount of dividends required to maintain its tax status as a real estate
investment  trust under the Code.

Section IX.5 Floating  Rate Debt.  Permit the Consolidated  Group to have
outstanding Indebtedness for borrowed  money that bears interest  at a  floating
rate  (including  this  Facility)  in excess of $150,000,000 at all times during
any six (6) month  period,  unless such excess shall thereafter be covered by a
swap,  interest rate cap or other interest rate protection product reasonably
satisfactory to the Administrative Agent.

Section IX.6 Liens. Create, incur, or suffer to exist (or permit any of the
Consolidated Group to create, incur, or suffer to exist) any Lien in, of or on
the Properties of the Consolidated Group except:

     (i)   Liens for taxes, assessments or governmental charges or levies on
           their Property if the same shall not at the time be delinquent or
           thereafter can be paid without penalty, or are being contested in
           good faith and by appropriate proceedings and for which adequate
           reserves shall have been set aside on their books;

     (ii)  Liens  which  arise  by  operation  of law,  such  as  carriers',
           warehousemen's,  landlords', materialmen and mechanics' liens and
           other similar liens arising in the ordinary  course of business which
           secure payment  of  obligations  not more  than 30 days  past due or
           which are being contested in good faith by appropriate  proceedings
           and for which adequate  reserves shall have been set aside on its
           books;

     (iii) Liens arising out of pledges or deposits  under worker's compensation
           laws, unemployment  insurance,  old age pensions, or other social
           security or retirement benefits,  or similar  legislation;

     (iv)  Utility easements, building  restrictions,  zoning restrictions,
           easements and such other encumbrances  or  charges  against  real
           property  as are of a  nature generally  existing with respect to
           properties of a similar  character and which do not in any  material
           way affect the  marketability  of the same or interfere  with the use
           thereof in the business of the Borrower or its Subsidiaries;

     (v)   Liens of any member of the Consolidated Group in favor of the
           Borrower  or the  Guarantors;

     (vi)  Liens arising in connection with any Indebtedness permitted hereunder
           to the extent such Liens will not result in a violation of any of the
           provisions of this Agreement; and

     (vii) Liens which are Permitted Operating  eases or other operating  leases
           of any of the  Properties,  to the extent the existence of such other
           operating leases will not result in a violation of Section 8.3(iii)
           hereof.

<PAGE>


Liens  permitted  pursuant to this Section 9.6 shall be deemed to be  "Permitted
Liens".

Section  IX.7  FF&E  Expenditures.  Permit,  as of the  last  day of any  fiscal
quarter,  the sum of (i) the actual  expenditures of the Consolidated  Group for
FF&E  replacement  and  capital  improvements  (of  the  types  approved  by the
Administrative  Agent) at the Properties  during the immediately  preceding four
(4) consecutive full fiscal quarters plus (ii) the amount of reserves maintained
by the Consolidated  Group for FF&E  replacement and capital  improvements as of
the last  day of such  fiscal  quarter  as  shown  on the  Consolidated  Group's
financial  statements  for such quarter to be less than four percent (4%) of the
gross room revenues from such Properties for such four (4) full fiscal quarters.

Section IX.8  Indebtedness, Coverage and Net Worth Covenants.  Permit or suffer:

(a)  as of any day, Consolidated Secured Debt less the outstanding principal
     balance under the REMIC Loan to exceed 15% of Total Value;

(b)  as of any day, Total Indebtedness to exceed the lesser of (i) 50% of Total
     Value or (ii) 50% of Total Cost;

(c)  as of any day, the "tangible net worth" of the Consolidated Group, as
     determined and defined under GAAP, to be less than the sum of (i) eighty-
     five percent (85%) of the Consolidated Group's tangible net worth as of
     June 30, 1997 plus (ii) fifty percent (50%) of the aggregate proceeds
     received (net of customary related fees and expenses) in connection with
     any offering or sale after June 30, 1997 of equity interests in the
     Borrower or the Guarantors, whether common stock, preferred stock, limited
     partnership units or other forms of equity ownership;

(d)  as of any day, the ratio of (A) the sum of (i) Adjusted EBITDA of the
     Consolidated Group for the most recent twelve (12) full calendar months
     plus (ii) Ground Lease Expense for such period to (B) Fixed Charges for
     such period to be less than 2.00 to 1;

(e)  as of any day, the ratio of Adjusted EBITDA of the Consolidated Group for
     the most recent twelve (12) full calendar months to Interest Expense for
     such period to be less than 2.5 to 1.

Section IX.9  Mergers.  Enter into any merger, consolidation, reorganization or
liquidation or transfer or otherwise dispose of all or a substantial portion of
the Consolidated Group=s Properties, except for such transactions that occur
between members of the Consolidated Group or as otherwise approved in advance by
the Required Lenders.

Section IX.10  Borrowing Base.  Permit, as of any day, the then-current Credit
Requirement to exceed 50% of the then-current Borrowing Base for a period of
more than one Business Day.


<PAGE>

                                   Article X.

                                    DEFAULTS

         The  occurrence  of any  one or  more  of the  following  events  shall
constitute an Event of Default:

Section X.1  Nonpayment of Principal.  The Borrower fails to pay any principal
portion of the Obligations when due, whether on the Maturity Date or otherwise.

Section X.2  Certain Covenants.  Any one or more of the Borrower, the Guarantors
and the Consolidated Group, as the case may be, is not in compliance with any
one or more of Sections 8.3 or 8.10 or any Section of Article IX hereof.

Section X.3  Nonpayment of Interest and Other Obligations. The Borrower fails to
pay any interest or other portion of the Obligations, other than payments of
principal, and such failure continues for a period of five (5) days after the
date such payment is due, provided that the first occurrence of any such non-
payment during any calendar year shall not constitute an Event of Default unless
such failure continues for one (1) Business Day after written  notice to the
Borrower from the Administrative Agent of such failure.

Section X.4  Cross Default.  Any monetary default occurs (after giving effect to
any applicable cure period) under any other Indebtedness (which includes
Guarantee Obligations) of any members of the Consolidated Group, singly or in
the aggregate, in excess of Ten Million Dollars ($10,000,000).

Section X.5  Loan Documents.  Any Loan Document is not in full force and effect
or a default has occurred and is continuing thereunder after giving effect to
any cure or grace period in any such document.

Section X.6  Representation  or  Warranty.  At any time or times  hereafter  any
representation  or warranty set forth in Articles VI or VII of this Agreement or
in any other Loan Document or in any  statement,  report or  certificate  now or
hereafter  made  by  the  Borrower  or the  Guarantors  to  the  Lenders  or the
Administrative  Agent is not true and correct in any  material  respect and such
noncompliance  is not cured within thirty (30) days after the Borrower  receives
written notice thereof,  provided,  however, that if such Default is susceptible
of cure but cannot by the use of reasonable  efforts be cured within such thirty
(30) day period,  such Default  shall not  constitute  an Event of Default under
this Section 10.6 so long as (i) the Borrower or the Guarantors, as the case may
be, have  commenced a cure within such  thirty-day  period and (ii)  thereafter,
Borrower or Guarantors,  as the case may be, are proceeding to cure such default
continuously and diligently and in a manner  reasonably  satisfactory to Lenders
and (iii)  such  default  is cured  not later  than  sixty  (60) days  after the
expiration of such thirty (30) day period.

Section X.7  Covenants,  Agreements and Other Conditions.  The Borrower fails to
perform or observe any of the other covenants,  agreements  and  conditions
contained in Articles  VIII (except for Sections 8.3, or 8.10) and elsewhere in
this  Agreement or any of the other Loan Documents  in  accordance  with the
terms  hereof or thereof,  not specifically referred to herein, and such Default


<PAGE>

continues unremedied for a period of thirty (30) days after written notice from
Administrative  Agent,  provided,  however, that if such Default is  susceptible
of cure but cannot by the use of reasonable efforts be cured  within such thirty
(30) day  period, such  Default shall not constitute an Event of  Default  under
this  Section  10.7 so long as (i) the Borrower or the General Partner, as the
case may be, has commenced a cure within such thirty-day period and (ii)
thereafter,  Borrower or General Partner, as the case may be, is proceeding to
cure such default  continuously and diligently and in a manner  reasonably
satisfactory to Lenders and (iii) such default is cured not later than sixty
(60) days after the  expiration  of such  thirty  (30) day period.

Section  X.8 No Longer  General  Partner.  Equity Inns shall no longer, directly
or indirectly,  hold 100% of the general  partnership  interests in the two
entities  constituting the Borrower.

Section X.9 Material Adverse Financial Change. Any one of the Operating
Partnership, EIP/WV, Equity Inns or Equity Inns Trust has suffered a Material
Adverse Financial Change or is Insolvent.

Section X.10 Bankruptcy.

(a)  Any member of the Consolidated Group shall (i) have an order for relief
     entered with respect to it under the Federal  bankruptcy laws as now or
     hereafter  in  effect,  (ii)  make an  assignment  for the  benefit  of
     creditors,  (iii) apply for,  seek,  consent to, or  acquiesce  in, the
     appointment of a receiver,  custodian, trustee, examiner, liquidator or
     similar  official for it or any  substantial  portion of its  Property,
     (iv)  institute  any  proceeding  seeking an order for relief under the
     Federal  bankruptcy  laws as now or  hereafter  in effect or seeking to
     adjudicate  it as a bankrupt  or  insolvent,  or  seeking  dissolution,
     winding up,  liquidation,  reorganization,  arrangement,  adjustment or
     composition  of it or its debts under any law  relating to  bankruptcy,
     insolvency  or  reorganization  or relief of debtors or fail to file an
     answer or other pleading  denying the material  allegations of any such
     proceeding filed against it, (v) take any corporate action to authorize
     or  effect  any of the  foregoing  actions  set  forth in this  Section
     10.10(a),  (vi)  fail to  contest  in good  faith  any  appointment  or
     proceeding  described in Section 10.10(b) or (vii) not pay, or admit in
     writing its inability to pay, its debts generally as they become due;

(b)  A receiver, trustee, examiner, liquidator or similar official shall be
     appointed for any member of the Consolidated Group or any substantial
     portion of any of their Properties, or a proceeding described in Section
     10.10(a)(iv) shall be instituted against any member of the Consolidated
     Group and such appointment continues undischarged or such proceeding
     continues undismissed or unstayed for a period of sixty (60) consecutive
     days.

Section  X.11  Legal  Proceedings.  Any  member  of the  Consolidated  Group  is
enjoined,  restrained  or in any way prevented by any court order or judgment or
if a notice of lien,  levy, or assessment is filed of record with respect to all
or any part of the Properties by any governmental department,  office or agency,
which could  materially  adversely  affect the performance of the obligations of
such parties  hereunder or under the Loan  Documents,  as the case may be, or if
any proceeding is filed or commenced  seeking to enjoin,  restrain or in any way
prevent the foregoing parties from conducting all or a substantial part of their
respective business affairs and failure to vacate,  stay, dismiss,  set aside or
remedy the same within sixty (60) days after the occurrence thereof.


<PAGE>

Section X.12  ERISA.  Any member of the Consolidated Group is deemed to hold
"plan assets" within the meaning of ERISA or any regulations promulgated
thereunder of an employee benefit plan (as defined in Section 3(3) of ERISA)
which is subject to Title I of ERISA or any plan (within the meaning of Section
4975 of the Code).

Section X.13 Failure to Satisfy Judgments.  Any member of the Consolidated Group
shall  fail  within  sixty (60) days to pay,  bond or  otherwise  discharge  any
judgments or orders for the payment of money in an amount  which,  when added to
all  other  judgments  or  orders   outstanding   against  such  member  of  the
Consolidated Group would exceed $2,000,000 in the aggregate, which have not been
stayed on appeal or otherwise  appropriately contested in good faith, unless the
liability is insured against and the insurer has not challenged coverage of such
liability.

Section X.14 Environmental Remediation.  Failure to remediate within the time
period required by law or governmental  order,  (or within a reasonable time in
light of the nature of the  problem  if no  specific  time  period is so
established),  environmental  problems in violation of applicable law related to
Properties of any member of the  Consolidated  Group where the estimated cost of
remediation is in the aggregate in excess of $2,000,000,  in each case after all
administrative  hearings  and appeals  have been  concluded.

Section  X.15 REIT Status.  Failure of either  Equity Inns or Equity Inns Trust
to maintain (i) its status as a real estate investment  trust under the Code and
(ii) Equity  Inns' listing on the New York Stock Exchange.

                                  Article XI.

                 ACCELERATION, WAIVERS, AMENDMENTS AND REMEDIES

Section XI.1  Acceleration.

         If any Event of Default  described in Section 10.10 hereof occurs,  the
obligation  of the Lenders to make  Advances  and of the  Issuing  Bank to issue
Facility  Letters of Credit  hereunder  shall  automatically  terminate  and the
Obligations  shall  immediately  become due and  payable.  If any other Event of
Default  described in Article X hereof occurs,  such obligation to make Advances
and to issue Facility  Letters of Credit shall be terminated and at the election
of the Required Lenders, the Obligations may be declared to be due and payable.

         In addition to the  foregoing,  following the occurrence of an Event of
Default  and so long as any  Facility  Letter of Credit has not been fully drawn
and has not been cancelled or expired by its terms,  upon demand by the Required
Lenders the Borrower  shall deposit in the Letter of Credit  Collateral  Account
cash in an amount equal to the aggregate  undrawn face amount of all outstanding
Facility  Letters  of  Credit  and all fees and other  amounts  due or which may
become due with respect  thereto.  The Borrower shall have no control over funds
in the Letter of Credit Collateral Account, which funds shall be invested by the
Administrative  Agent from time to time in its  discretion  in  certificates  of
deposit of First Chicago having a maturity not exceeding  thirty (30) days. Such
funds shall be promptly  applied by the  Administrative  Agent to reimburse  the


<PAGE>

Issuing Bank for drafts  drawn from time to time under the  Facility  Letters of
Credit. Such funds, if any, remaining in the Letter of Credit Collateral Account
following   the  payment  of  all   Obligations   in  full  shall,   unless  the
Administrative Agent is otherwise directed by a court of competent jurisdiction,
be promptly  paid over to the  Borrower.

Section XI.2  Preservation  of Rights; Amendments.  No delay or omission of the
Lenders in  exercising  any right under the Loan Documents shall impair such
right or be construed to be a waiver of any Default or an acquiescence therein,
and the making of an Advance notwithstanding the  existence  of a Default or the
inability  of the  Borrower  to satisfy the conditions  precedent  to such
Advance  shall  not  constitute  any  waiver  or acquiescence.  Any  single  or
partial exercise of any such right shall not preclude other or further  exercise
thereof or the exercise of any other right, and no  waiver,  amendment  or other
variation  of the  terms,  conditions  or provisions  of the Loan  Documents
whatsoever  shall be valid unless in writing signed by the Administrative  Agent
and the number of Lenders required hereunder and then only to the extent in such
writing specifically set forth. All remedies contained in the Loan  Documents or
by law afforded  shall be cumulative and all shall be available to the Lenders
until the Obligations  have been paid in full.

                                  Article XII.

                            THE ADMINISTRATIVE AGENT

Section  XII.1  Appointment.  First Chicago is hereby  appointed  Administrative
Agent  hereunder  and under each other Loan  Document,  and each of the  Lenders
authorizes  the  Administrative  Agent to act as the agent of such  Lender.  The
Administrative Agent agrees to act as such upon the express conditions contained
in this  Article  XII.  The  Administrative  Agent  shall  not have a  fiduciary
relationship in respect of any Lender by reason of this Agreement, except to the
extent the Administrative  Agent acts as an agent with respect to the receipt or
payment of funds hereunder.

Section XII.2 Powers. The Administrative Agent shall have and may exercise such
powers under the Loan  Documents as are  specifically delegated to the
Administrative  Agent by the terms of each  thereof,  together with such powers
as are reasonably  incidental thereto. The Administrative Agent shall have no
implied duties to the Lenders, or any obligation to the Lenders to take any
action thereunder except any action specifically  provided by the Loan Documents
to be taken by the Administrative Agent.

Section  XII.3  General Immunity.  Neither the  Administrative  Agent (in its
capacity as Administrative Agent) nor any of its directors,  officers, agents or
employees shall be liable to the Borrower, the Lenders or any Lender for any
action taken or omitted to be taken by it or them  hereunder or under any other
Loan Document or in connection herewith or therewith,  except for its or their
own gross  negligence or willful misconduct.

Section XII.4   No  Responsibility for Loans,  Recitals,  etc. Neither the
Administrative  Agent (in its capacity as Administrative  Agent) nor any of its
directors,  officers,  agents or employees  shall be responsible for or have any
duty to ascertain,  inquire into, or verify (i) any  statement,  warranty or
representation  made in  connection  with any  Loan  Document  or any  borrowing
hereunder;  (ii)  the  performance  or  observance  of any of the  covenants  or
agreements of any obligor under any Loan Document; (iii) the satisfaction of any
condition  specified  in  Article V,  except  receipt  of items  required  to be
delivered to the  Administrative  Agent; or (iv) the validity,  effectiveness or
genuineness of any Loan Document or any other instrument or writing furnished in
connection  therewith.



<PAGE>

Section  XII.5 Action on  Instructions  of Lenders.  The Administrative  Agent
shall exercise its rights on  behalf  of the  Lenders hereunder at the direction
of the Required Lenders or all of the Lenders, as the case  may be,  and  shall
in all  cases be fully  protected  in  acting,  or in refraining  from  acting,
hereunder  and  under  any  other  Loan  Document  in accordance  with  written
instructions  signed by the  Required  Lenders or all Lenders,  as the case may
be,  and such  instructions  and any  action  taken or failure to act  pursuant
thereto shall be binding on all of the Lenders and on all holders of Notes.  The
Administrative  Agent shall be fully  justified  in failing or refusing  to take
any  action  hereunder  and under any other  Loan Document unless it shall first
be indemnified to its satisfaction by the Lenders pro rata  against any and all
liability,  cost and expense that it may incur by reason of taking or continuing
to take any such action.

Section XII.6  Employment  of  Administrative  Agents and Counsel.   The
Administrative Agent may execute any of its  duties as  Administrative  Agent
hereunder  and  under  any other  Loan Document by or through employees, agents,
and attorneys-in-fact and shall not be answerable to the Lenders,  except as to
money or  securities received by it or its authorized  agents,  for the  default
or  misconduct  of any such agents or attorneys-in-fact  selected by it with
reasonable care. The Administrative Agent shall be entitled to advice of counsel
concerning all matters pertaining to the agency  hereby  created  and its duties
hereunder  and under  any  other  Loan Document. Section XII.7 Reliance on
Documents; Counsel. The Administrative Agent shall  be  entitled  to  rely  upon
any  Note, notice, consent, certificate, affidavit, letter, telegram, statement,
paper or document believed by it to be genuine  and  correct  and to have been
signed or sent by the proper  person or persons,  and, in respect to legal
matters,  upon the opinion of outside counsel selected by the  Administrative
Agent.

Section  XII.8  Administrative  Agent's Reimbursement and Indemnification.  The
Lenders agree to reimburse and indemnify the Administrative Agent ratably in
accordance with their respective Percentages (i) for any amounts not reimbursed
by the Borrower for which the  Administrative Agent is entitled to reimbursement
by the Borrower under the Loan Documents, (ii) for any other reasonable expenses
incurred by the Administrative  Agent on behalf of the Lenders, in connection
with the preparation, execution, delivery, administration and enforcement of the
Loan Documents,  if not paid by Borrower, and (iii) for any liabilities,
obligations, losses, damages, penalties, actions, judgments,  suits,  costs,
expenses  or  disbursements  of any kind and  nature whatsoever  which  may be
imposed  on,  incurred  by or  asserted  against  the Administrative  Agent  (in
its  capacity  as  Administrative Agent and not as a Lender) in any way relating
to or arising out of the Loan Documents or any other document  delivered in
connection  therewith or the  transactions  contemplated thereby,  or the
enforcement of any of the terms thereof or of any such other documents, provided
that no Lender shall be liable for any of the foregoing to the extent they arise
from the gross  negligence  or willful  misconduct of the Administrative  Agent.

Section  XII.9  Rights as a Lender.  With respect to the Commitment,  Advances
 made by it and the Note issued to it, the  Administrative Agent shall have the
same rights and powers hereunder and under any other Loan Document as any Lender
and may exercise the same as  though it were not the Administrative  Agent,  and
the term "Lender" or  "Lenders"  shall,  unless the context otherwise indicates,
include the Administrative Agent in its individual capacity.  The Administrative
Agent, in its individual capacity, may accept deposits from, lend money to, and
generally  engage in any kind of trust,  debt, equity or other transaction, in
addition to those contemplated by this Agreement or any other Loan  Document,
with the  Borrower or any of its  Subsidiaries  in which the Borrower or such
Subsidiary  is not  restricted  hereby from engaging with any other  Person.



<PAGE>

Section  XII.10  Lender  Credit  Decision.  Each Lender acknowledges   that  it
has, independently  and  without  reliance  upon  the Administrative  Agent or
any other Lender and based on the financial statements prepared by the  Borrower
and such other  documents  and  information  as it has deemed appropriate, made
its own credit analysis and decision to enter into this Agreement and the other
Loan Documents.  Each Lender also  acknowledges  that it will,  independently
and without reliance upon the  Administrative  Agent or any other  Lender  and
based on such  documents  and  information  as it shall  deem appropriate at the
time,  continue to make its own credit decisions in taking or not taking  action
under this  Agreement and the other Loan  Documents.

Section XII.11  Successor  Administrative  Agent.  Each Lender agrees that First
Chicago shall  serve  as  Administrative  Agent  at all  times  during  the term
of this Facility,  except that First Chicago may resign as  Administrative Agent
in the event (x) First Chicago and Borrower  shall  mutually agree in writing or
(y) an Event of Default shall occur under the Loan Documents  (irrespective  of
whether such  Event of Default  subsequently  is  waived),  or (z) First Chicago
shall determine, in its sole reasonable discretion,  that because of its other
banking relationships  with the  Consolidated  Group at the time of such
decision  First Chicago's  resignation  as  Administrative  Agent would be
necessary in order to avoid creating an appearance of impropriety on the part of
First Chicago.  First Chicago (or any successor Administrative Agent) may be
removed as Administrative Agent by written notice received by  Administrative
Agent from all of the other Lenders  at any time  with  cause  (i.e.,  a breach
by  First  Chicago  (or any successor   Administrative   Agent)  of  its  duties
as  Administrative   Agent hereunder).  Upon any such resignation or removal,
Credit Lyonnais shall be the successor  Administrative Agent (unless objected to
by the Required Lenders) or, if Credit  Lyonnais  declines or is so objected to,
the Required  Lenders  shall have the  right to  appoint,  on  behalf  of the
Borrower  and the  Lenders,  a successor  Administrative Agent with the consent
of the Borrower,  which consent shall not be  unreasonably  withheld  and shall
not be  required  if an Event of Default has occurred.  If no successor
Administrative  Agent shall have been so appointed  by the Required  Lenders and
shall have  accepted  such  appointment within thirty days after the retiring
Administrative  Agent's  giving notice of resignation,  then the retiring
Administrative  Agent may appoint, on behalf of the Borrower and the Lenders, a
successor  Administrative  Agent. Such successor Administrative  Agent shall be
a  commercial  bank having  capital and  retained earnings of at least
$100,000,000.  Upon the  acceptance of any  appointment as Administrative  Agent
hereunder  by  a  successor  Administrative  Agent,  such successor
Administrative Agent shall thereupon succeed to and become vested with all the
rights,  powers,  privileges  and duties of the retiring  Administrative Agent
(including the right to receive any fees for performing such duties which accrue
thereafter),  and the retiring  Administrative  Agent shall be discharged from
its duties and obligations  hereunder and under the other Loan  Documents. After
any retiring Administrative Agent's resignation hereunder as Administrative
Agent,  the  provisions  of this  Article XII shall  continue in effect for its
benefit and that of the other Lenders in respect of any actions taken or omitted
to be taken by it while it was  acting as the Administrative Agent hereunder and
under the other Loan  Documents.


<PAGE>

Section  XII.12 Notice of Defaults.  If a Lender  becomes  aware of a Default or
Event of  Default,  such Lender shall notify the Administrative  Agent of such
fact. Upon receipt of such notice that a Default or Event of Default has
occurred, the Administrative Agent shall  notify  each of the Lenders of such
fact.

Section  XII.13  Requests  for Approval.  If the  Administrative  Agent requests
in  writing  the  consent or approval of a Lender, such Lender shall respond and
either approve or disapprove definitively in writing to the Administrative Agent
within ten Business Days (or sooner if such notice specifies a shorter period,
but in no event less than five Business  Days  for  responses  based  on
Administrative   Agent=s  good  faith determination  that  circumstances  exist
warranting its request for an earlier response)  after such written request from
the Administrative Agent.  If the Lender does not so respond, that Lender  shall
be deemed to have  approved  the request.  Upon request,  the Administrative
Agent shall notify the Lenders which Lenders,  if any,  failed to respond to a
request for approval.

Section  XII.14   Copies of Documents.  Administrative  Agent  shall  promptly
deliver to each of the Lenders  copies of all  notices  of default  and other
formal  notices  sent or received and according to Section 15.1 of this
Agreement.  Administrative  Agent shall deliver to Lenders  within 15 Business
Days following  receipt,  copies of all financial statements,  certificates  and
notices  received  regarding  the Operating  Partnership=s or Equity Inns"
ratings except to the extent such items are  required to be  furnished  directly
to the Lenders by Borrower  hereunder. Within fifteen  Business Days after a
request by a Lender to the Administrative Agent for other documents furnished to
the Administrative Agent by the Borrower, the Administrative Agent shall provide
copies of such documents to such Lender except where this Agreement obligates
Administrative Agent to provide copies in a shorter period of time.

Section XII.15  Defaulting  Lenders.  At such time as a Lender becomes a
Defaulting  Lender, such Defaulting Lender's right to vote on matters  which are
subject to the consent or approval of the  Required  Lenders, such Defaulting
Lender or all Lenders shall be immediately  suspended until such time as the
Lender is no longer a Defaulting  Lender. If a Defaulting Lender has failed  to
fund its  Percentage  of any  Advance  and  until  such  time as such Defaulting
Lender  subsequently  funds  its  Percentage  of such  Advance,  all Obligations
owing to such Defaulting  Lender hereunder shall be subordinated in right of
payment, as provided in the following sentence, to the prior payment in full of
all principal  of,  interest on and fees relating to the Loans funded by the
other  Lenders in connection  with any such Advance in which the  Defaulting
Lender has not funded its Percentage  (such  principal,  interest and fees being
referred to as "Senior  Loans" for the  purposes of this  section).  All amounts
paid by the Borrower and otherwise due to be applied to the Obligations owing to
such Defaulting  Lender pursuant to the terms hereof shall be distributed by the
Administrative  Agent to the other Lenders in accordance  with their  respective
Percentages  (recalculated  for the  purposes  hereof to exclude the  Defaulting
Lender)  until all  Senior  Loans  have been paid in full.  At that  point,  the
"Defaulting  Lender"  shall no longer be deemed a Defaulting  Lender.  After the
Senior  Loans  have  been  paid in full  equitable  adjustments  will be made in
connection  with future  payments by the Borrower to the extent a portion of the
Senior  Loans had been  repaid  with  amounts  that  otherwise  would  have been
distributed to a Defaulting  Lender but for the operation of this Section 12.15.
This provision  governs only the relationship  among the  Administrative  Agent,
each Defaulting Lender and the other Lenders;  nothing hereunder shall limit the
obligation  of the Borrower to repay all Loans in  accordance  with the terms of
this  Agreement.  The  provisions  of this  Section  12.15  shall  apply  and be
effective  regardless  of  whether  a  Default  occurs  and is  continuing,  and
notwithstanding (i) any other provision of this Agreement to the contrary,  (ii)
any  instruction  of the Borrower as to its desired  application  of payments or
(iii) the  suspension of such  Defaulting  Lender=s  right to vote on matters as
provided above.


<PAGE>

                                 Article XIII.

                BENEFIT OF AGREEMENT; ASSIGNMENTS; PARTICIPATIONS

Section XIII.1  Successors and Assigns.

                  The  terms  and  provisions  of the  Loan  Documents  shall be
binding  upon and inure to the  benefit of  Borrower  and the  Lenders and their
respective  successors and assigns,  except that the Borrower shall not have the
right to assign its rights or obligations  under the Loan Documents  without the
consent of all the  Lenders  and any  assignment  by any Lender  must be made in
compliance  with Section 13.3. The  Administrative  Agent and Borrower may treat
the payee of any Note as the owner  thereof for all purposes  hereof  unless and
until such payee complies with Section 13.3 in the case of an assignment thereof
or, in the case of any other transfer, a written notice of the transfer is filed
with the Administrative Agent and Borrower. Any assignee or transferee of a Note
agrees by acceptance  thereof to be bound by all the terms and provisions of the
Loan Documents. Any request,  authority or consent of any Person who at the time
of making such request or giving such  authority or consent is the holder of any
Note,  shall be conclusive and binding on any subsequent  holder,  transferee or
assignee  of such  Note or of any Note or Notes  issued  in  exchange  therefor.

Section XIII.2 Participations.

                  13.2.1 Permitted Participants;  Effect. Any Lender may, in the
         ordinary  course of its business and in accordance with applicable law,
         at any time   sell  to  one  or  more   banks   or   other   entities
         ("Participants") participating  interests in any Advance owing to such
         Lender,  any Note held by such Lender, any Commitment of such Lender or
         any other  interest of such Lender under the Loan  Documents.  In the
         event of any such  sale by a Lender  of participating  interests  to a
         Participant, such Lender's  obligations under the Loan Documents shall
         remain  unchanged,  such Lender shall remain solely responsible to the
         other parties hereto for the performance of such obligations, such
         Lender shall remain the holder of any such Note for all purposes  under
         the Loan  Documents,  all  amounts  payable  by  Borrower  under  this
         Agreement shall be  determined  as if such  Lender  had not sold  such
         participating interests, and Borrower and the Administrative Agent and
         the other Lenders shall continue to deal solely and directly with such
         Lender in connection with such Lender's  rights and  obligations  under
         the Loan Documents. The Borrower shall not be obligated to pay any fees
         and expenses  incurred by any Lender in connection  with the sale of a
         participation pursuant to this Section.



<PAGE>

                  13.2.2 Voting Rights.  Each Lender shall retain the sole right
         to vote its Percentage of the Aggregate Commitment, without the consent
         of any Participant,  for the approval or disapproval of any amendment,
         modification or waiver of any provision of the Loan Documents, provided
         that such  Lender may grant such  Participant  the right to approve any
         amendment, modification or waiver which forgives principal, interest or
         fees or reduces the interest rate or fees payable hereunder, postpones
         any date fixed for any  regularly-scheduled payment of principal of or
         interest on the Obligations, or extends the Maturity Date.

Section XIII.3    Assignments.

                  13.3.1 Permitted  Assignments.  Any Lender may, with the prior
         written consent of Administrative Agent (plus,  during the  initial
         syndication, Credit Lyonnais) and Borrower (which consents shall not be
         unreasonably  withheld or delayed),  in accordance with applicable law,
         at  any  time   assign  to  one  or  more   banks  or  other   entities
         (collectively,  "Purchasers")  all  or  any  part  of  its  rights  and
         obligations  under  the  Loan  Documents,  except  that no  consent  of
         Borrower  shall be required if an Event of Default has  occurred and is
         continuing and that no consent of Administrative Agent, Credit Lyonnais
         or Borrower  shall ever be required for (i) any  assignment to a Person
         directly or  indirectly  controlling,  controlled by or under direct or
         indirect common control with the assigning Lender or (ii) the pledge or
         assignment by a Lender of such Lender's Note and other rights under the
         Loan  Documents  to  any  Federal   Reserve  Bank  in  accordance  with
         applicable  law. No  assignment  to a Purchaser  shall be for less than
         $10,000,000  of  the  Aggregate   Commitment.   Such   assignments  and
         assumptions shall be substantially in the form of Exhibit J hereto. The
         Borrower  shall  execute any and all  documents  which are  customarily
         required by such Lender (including,  without limitation,  a replacement
         promissory note or notes in the forms provided hereunder) in connection
         with any such  assignment,  but Borrower  shall not be obligated to pay
         any fees and  expenses  incurred by any Lender in  connection  with any
         assignment pursuant to this Section. Any Lender selling all or any part
         of its rights and obligation  hereunder in a transaction  requiring the
         consent of the  Administrative  Agent  shall pay to the  Administrative
         Agent a fee of $3,000.00 per assignee to reimburse Administrative Agent
         for its involvement in such assignment.

                  13.3.2 Effect; Effective Date of Assignment.  Upon delivery to
         the  Administrative  Agent  and  Borrower  of a  notice  of  assignment
         executed by the assigning  Lender and the  Purchaser,  such  assignment
         shall become  effective on the effective  date specified in such notice
         of assignment.  The notice of assignment shall contain a representation
         by the Purchaser to the effect that none of the  consideration  used to
         make the purchase of the  Commitment  and the Loan under the applicable
         assignment  agreement are "plan assets" as defined under ERISA and that
         the  rights  and  interests  of the  Purchaser  in and  under  the Loan
         Documents  will not be "plan  assets"  under  ERISA.  On and  after the


<PAGE>

         effective  date  of  such  assignment,  such  Purchaser  shall  for all
         purposes  be a  Lender  party  to this  Agreement  and any  other  Loan
         Document  executed  by the  Lenders  and shall  have all the rights and
         obligations of a Lender under the Loan Documents, to the same extent as
         if it were an original party hereto,  and no further  consent or action
         by Borrower,  the Lenders or the Administrative Agent shall be required
         to release the  transferor  Lender for matters  arising after such sale
         with respect to the percentage of the Commitment and Advances  assigned
         to  such  Purchaser.  Upon  the  consummation  of any  assignment  to a
         Purchaser  pursuant to this Section 13.3.2,  the transferor Lender, the
         Administrative  Agent and Borrower shall make appropriate  arrangements
         so that replacement  Notes are issued to such transferor Lender and new
         Notes  or,  as  appropriate,  replacement  Notes,  are  issued  to such
         Purchaser,   in  each  case  in  principal  amounts   reflecting  their
         respective Commitments, as adjusted pursuant to such assignment.

Section XIII.4 Dissemination of Information.  Borrower authorizes each Lender to
disclose to any  Participant  or  Purchaser  or any other  Person  acquiring  an
interest in the Loan Documents by operation of law (each a "Transferee") and any
prospective  Transferee  any and all  information  in such  Lender's  possession
concerning the  creditworthiness  of Borrower and  Guarantors.  Each  Transferee
shall agree in writing to keep  confidential any such  information  which is not
publicly available.  The Lenders agree not to make any transfers to a transferee
if such  transfer  would  constitute  a public  offering  which would impose any
obligation  on  the  Borrower  to  incur   liabilities  and  make   disclosures,
representations  or  undertakings  beyond those  expressly  provided for herein,
unless the  Borrower  has  consented  in  writing  thereto.

Section  XIII.5 Tax Treatment. If any interest in any Loan Document is
transferred to any Transferee which is  organized  under the laws of any
jurisdiction other  than the United States or any State thereof, the transferor
Lender shall cause such Transferee, concurrently  with  the  effectiveness  of
such  transfer,  to  comply  with all applicable  provisions  of the Code with
respect to  withholding  and other tax matters.

                                  Article XIV.

                               GENERAL PROVISIONS

Section XIV.1  Survival of Representations.  All representations and warranties
contained in this Agreement shall survive delivery of the Notes and the making
of the Advances herein contemplated.

Section XIV.2  Governmental Regulation.  Anything contained in this Agreement to
the contrary notwithstanding, no Lender shall be obligated to extend credit to
the Borrower in violation of any limitation or prohibition provided by any
applicable statute or regulation.

Section XIV.3  Taxes.  Any recording and other taxes (excluding franchise,
income or similar taxes) or other similar assessments or charges payable or
ruled payable by any governmental authority incurred in connection with the
consummation of the transactions contemplated by this Agreement shall be paid by
the Borrower, together with interest and penalties, if any.

Section XIV.4  Headings.  Section headings in the Loan Documents are for
convenience of reference only, and shall not govern the interpretation of any of
the provisions of the Loan Documents.


<PAGE>

Section XIV.5  No Third Party Beneficiaries.  This Agreement shall not be
construed so as to confer any right or benefit upon any Person other than the
parties to this Agreement and their respective successors and assigns.

Section  XIV.6  Expenses;  Indemnification.  Subject to the  provisions  of this
Agreement,  Borrower will pay (a) all out-of-pocket  costs and expenses incurred
by the  Administrative  Agent  (including  the  reasonable  fees,  out-of-pocket
expenses  and  other  reasonable  expenses  of  counsel,  which  counsel  may be
employees of Administrative Agent) in connection with the preparation, execution
and delivery of this  Agreement,  the Notes,  the Loan  Documents  and any other
agreements  or  documents  referred  to herein  or  therein  and any  amendments
thereto, (b) all out-of-pocket costs and expenses incurred by the Administrative
Agent and the Lenders (including the reasonable fees, out-of-pocket expenses and
other  reasonable  expenses  of  counsel  to the  Administrative  Agent  and the
Lenders,  which counsel may be employees of Administrative Agent or the Lenders)
in connection  with the  enforcement and protection of the rights of the Lenders
under this  Agreement,  the Notes,  the Loan Documents or any other agreement or
document  referred to herein or therein,  (c) all reasonable and customary costs
and expenses of periodic audits by the  Administrative  Agent's personnel of the
Borrower's  books  and  records  provided  that  prior to an  Event of  Default,
Borrower  shall be required to pay for only one such audit during any year,  and
(d) all  out-of-pocket  expenses  incurred by the Syndication Agent in arranging
for the joinder of Lenders in this  Agreement.  The Borrower  further  agrees to
indemnify  the Lenders,  their  directors,  officers and  employees  against all
losses,  claims,  damages,  penalties,  judgments,  liabilities  and  reasonable
expenses  (including,   without  limitation,   all  expenses  of  litigation  or
preparation therefor whether or not the Lenders is a party thereto) which any of
them may pay or incur  arising out of or relating to this  Agreement,  the other
Loan Documents,  the transactions  contemplated hereby or the direct or indirect
application or proposed  application  of the proceeds of any Advance  hereunder,
except that the  foregoing  indemnity  shall not apply to a Lender to the extent
that any losses,  claims,  etc. are the result of such Lender's gross negligence
or wilful  misconduct.  The obligations of the Borrower under this Section shall
survive  the  termination  of this  Agreement.

Section  XIV.7  Severability  of Provisions.  Any provision in any Loan Document
that is held to be  inoperative, unenforceable, or invalid in any jurisdiction
shall, as to that jurisdiction, be inoperative,   unenforceable,   or  invalid
without   affecting  the  remaining provisions in that jurisdiction or the
operation, enforceability, or validity of that provision in any other
jurisdiction,  and to this end the provisions of all Loan Documents are declared
to be severable.

Section XIV.8  Nonliability of the Lenders.  The relationship  between the
Borrower and the Lenders shall be solely that  of  borrower  and  lender.  The
Lenders  shall  not  have  any  fiduciary responsibilities to the Borrower. The
Lenders undertake no responsibility to the Borrower to review or inform the
Borrower of any matter in  connection  with any phase of the Borrower's business
or operations.

Section XIV.9 Choice of Law. THE LOAN  DOCUMENTS  (OTHER THAN THOSE  CONTAINING
A CONTRARY  EXPRESS CHOICE OF LAW PROVISION)  SHALL BE CONSTRUED IN ACCORDANCE
WITH THE INTERNAL LAWS (AND NOT THE LAW OF  CONFLICTS) OF THE STATE OF ILLINOIS,
BUT GIVING EFFECT TO FEDERAL LAWS APPLICABLE  TO NATIONAL  BANKS.


<PAGE>

Section  XIV.10  Consent to  Jurisdiction.  THE BORROWER HEREBY  IRREVOCABLY
SUBMITS TO THE  NON-EXCLUSIVE  JURISDICTION OF ANY UNITED STATES  FEDERAL OR
ILLINOIS  STATE COURT SITTING IN CHICAGO,  ILLINOIS IN ANY ACTION OR  PROCEEDING
ARISING OUT OF OR RELATING TO ANY LOAN  DOCUMENTS AND THE BORROWER HEREBY
IRREVOCABLY AGREES THAT ALL CLAIMS IN RESPECT OF SUCH ACTION OR  PROCEEDING  MAY
BE HEARD AND DETERMINED  IN ANY SUCH COURT AND  IRREVOCABLY WAIVES ANY OBJECTION
IT MAY NOW OR  HEREAFTER  HAVE AS TO THE VENUE OF ANY SUCH SUIT,  ACTION OR
PROCEEDING BROUGHT IN SUCH A COURT OR THAT SUCH  COURT IS AN INCONVENIENT FORUM.
NOTHING HEREIN SHALL LIMIT THE RIGHT OF THE LENDERS TO BRING PROCEEDINGS AGAINST
THE BORROWER IN THE COURTS OF ANY OTHER  JURISDICTION.  ANY JUDICIAL  PROCEEDING
BY THE BORROWER AGAINST THE LENDERS OR ANY AFFILIATE OF THE LENDERS INVOLVING,
DIRECTLY OR INDIRECTLY, ANY MATTER IN ANY WAY ARISING OUT OF, RELATED TO, OR
CONNECTED WITH ANY LOAN DOCUMENT SHALL BE BROUGHT ONLY IN A COURT IN CHICAGO,
ILLINOIS.

Section XIV.11 Waiver of Jury Trial.  THE BORROWER,  THE GUARANTORS,  THE
ADMINISTRATIVE AGENT AND THE LENDERS HEREBY WAIVE TRIAL BY JURY IN ANY  JUDICIAL
PROCEEDING  INVOLVING,  DIRECTLY  OR  INDIRECTLY,  ANY  MATTER (WHETHER
SOUNDING IN TORT, CONTRACT OR OTHERWISE)  IN ANY WAY ARISING OUT OF, RELATED TO,
OR CONNECTED WITH ANY LOAN DOCUMENT OR THE RELATIONSHIP  ESTABLISHED THEREUNDER.

Section XIV.12 Successors and Assigns.  The terms and provisions of the  Loan
Documents  shall be  binding  upon and  inure to the  benefit  of the Borrower
and the Lenders and their  respective  successors  and assigns,  except that the
Borrower  shall not have the right to assign its rights or obligations under the
Loan  Documents.  Any assignee or  transferee  of the Notes agrees by acceptance
thereof  to be bound by all the  terms  and  provisions  of the Loan Documents.
Any request,  authority or consent of any Person, who at the time of making such
request or giving such  authority  or consent is the holder of the Notes, shall
be conclusive and binding on any subsequent  holder,  transferee or assignee  of
such  Notes or of any note or notes  issued in  exchange  therefor.

Section XIV.13 Entire Agreement;  Modification of Agreement.  The Loan Documents
embody the  entire  agreement  among the  Borrower,  Guarantors,  Administrative
Agent,   and  Lenders  and  supersede  all  prior   conversations,   agreements,
understandings,  commitments  and term sheets  among any or all of such  parties
with respect to the subject matter hereof.  Any provisions of this Agreement may
be amended or waived if, but only if, such amendment or waiver is in writing and
is signed by the Borrower,  and Administrative  Agent if the rights or duties of
Administrative Agent are affected thereby, and

(a)  each of the Lenders if such amendment or waiver

     (i)   reduces or forgives any payment of principal or interest on the
           Obligations or any fees payable by Borrower to such Lender hereunder,
           or modifies the provisions of Section 2.6 regarding the calculation
           of such interest and fees; or




<PAGE>

     (ii)  postpones the date fixed for any payment of principal of or interest
           on the Obligations or any fees payable by Borrower to such Lender
           hereunder; or

     (iii) changes the amount of such Lender's Commitment (other than pursuant
           to a voluntary reduction of the Aggregate Commitment under Section
           2.17 or an assignment permitted under Section 13.3) or the unpaid
           principal amount of such Lender's Note; or

     (iv)  extends the Maturity Date; or

     (v)   releases or limits the liability of the Guarantors under the Loan
           Documents; or

     (vi)  changes the definition of Required Lenders or modifies any
           requirement for consent by each of the Lenders; or

     (vii) modifies or waives any covenant contained in Sections 9.8(b), 9.8(d)
           or 9.8(e) hereof; or

(b)  the Required Lenders, to the extent expressly provided for herein and in
the case of all other waivers or amendments if no percentage of Lenders is
specified herein.

Section XIV.14  Dealings with the Borrower. The Lenders and their affiliates may
accept deposits from, extend credit to and generally engage in any kind of
banking, trust or other business with the Borrower or the Guarantors or any
other member of the Consolidated Group regardless of the capacity of the Lenders
hereunder.

Section XIV.15  Set-Off.

(a)  If an Event of Default shall have occurred, each Lender shall have the
     right, at any time and from time to time without notice to the Borrower,
     any such notice being hereby expressly waived, to set-off and to
     appropriate or apply any and all deposits of money or property or any other
     indebtedness at any time held or owing by such Lender to or for the credit
     or the account of the Borrower against and on account of all outstanding
     Obligations and all Obligations which from time to time may become due
     hereunder and all other obligations and liabilities of the Borrower under
     this Agreement, irrespective of whether or not such Lender shall have made
     any demand hereunder and whether or not said obligations and liabilities
     shall have matured.

(b)  Each Lender agrees that if it shall, by exercising any right of set-off or
     counterclaim or otherwise, receive payment of a proportion of the aggregate
     amount of principal, interest or fees due with respect to any Note held by
     it which is greater than the proportion received by any other Lender in
     respect of the aggregate amount of principal, interest or fees due with
     respect to any Note held by such other Lender, the Lender receiving such
     proportionately greater payment shall purchase such participations in the
     Notes held by the other Lenders and such other adjustments shall be made as
     may be required so that all such payments of principal, interest or Fees
     with respect to the Notes held by the Lenders shall be shared by the
     Lenders pro rata according to their respective Commitments.


<PAGE>

Section XIV.16  Counterparts.  This Agreement may be executed in any number of
counterparts, all of which taken together shall constitute one agreement, and
any of the parties hereto may execute this Agreement by signing any such
counterpart.  This Agreement shall be effective when it has been executed by the
Borrower and each of the Lenders shown on the signature pages hereof.

Section XIV.17 Limitation on Liability of EIP/WV.  The liability of the Borrower
under this Agreement for the Obligations shall be joint and several. The Lenders
agree that,  the liability of EIP/WV under this  Agreement  shall not exceed the
amount by which (A) the portion of the then-current  Total Value attributable to
the  Properties  owned  by  EIP/WV  exceeds  (B)  the  then-current  outstanding
principal  balance of all  Indebtedness  (other than the  Obligations) of EIP/WV
permitted under this Agreement,  calculated in each case as of the Maturity Date
or the date of any earlier acceleration of the Obligations,  as applicable. Such
maximum  liability  of EIP/WV  shall be  allocated on a pro rata basis among the
Notes in accordance with the Lenders' respective Percentages.
Article XV.

                                     NOTICES

Section XV.1 Giving Notice. All notices and other communications provided to any
party hereto under this Agreement or any other Loan Document shall be in writing
or by telex or by  facsimile  and  addressed  or  delivered to such party at its
address set forth below or at such other  address as may be  designated  by such
party in a notice to the other  parties.  Any  notice,  if mailed  and  properly
addressed with postage prepaid, shall be deemed given when received; any notice,
if  transmitted  by telex or facsimile,  shall be deemed given when  transmitted
(answerback confirmed in the case of telexes). Notice may be given as follows:

                  To the Borrower:

                           Equity Inns, Inc.
                           7700 Wolf River Boulevard
                           Germantown, Tennessee  38138
                           Attention:  Howard A. Silver
                           Telecopy:   (901) 754-7668

                           To Guarantors:

                           Equity Inns, Inc.
                           7700 Wolf River Boulevard
                           Germantown, Tennessee  38138
                           Attention:  Howard A. Silver
                           Telecopy:   (901) 754-7668

                  Each of the above with a copy to:

                           Hunton & Williams
                           1751 Pinnacle Drive
                           Suite 1700
                           McLean, Virginia  22102
                           Attention:  Gerald R. Best
                           Telecopy:   (703) 714-7410


<PAGE>

                  To each Lender:
                           As shown below the Lenders' signatures.

                  To the Administrative Agent:

                           The First National Bank of Chicago
                           Corporate Real Estate Division
                           One First National Plaza
                           Chicago, Illinois  60670-0151
                           Attention:  Patricia Leung
                           Telecopy:   (312) 732-1117

                  With a copy to:

                           Sonnenschein Nath & Rosenthal
                           8000 Sears Tower
                           Chicago, Illinois  60606
                           Attention:  Patrick G. Moran, Esq.
                           Telecopy:   (312) 876-7934

                  To the Syndication Agent:

                           Credit Lyonnais
                           Lodging Group
                           1301 Avenue of the Americas
                           New York, New York  10019
                           Attention:  Joseph A. Asciolla
                           Telecopy:   (212) 261-7532

                  To the Documentation Agent:

                           Nationsbank, N.A.
                           600 Peachtree Street
                           6th Floor
                           Atlanta, Georgia  30308
                           Attention:  Frank Chiu
                           Telecopy:   (404) 607-4128

Section XV.2  Change of Address.  Each party may change the address for service
of notice upon it by a notice in writing to the other parties hereto.



<PAGE>


         IN WITNESS WHEREOF, the undersigned have executed this Agreement as of
the date first above written.

BORROWER:               EQUITY INNS PARTNERSHIP, L.P.

                        By:      EQUITY INNS TRUST, its General Partner

                                 By:  /s/ Donald H. Dempsey
                                 Title:  Executive VP & CFO

                        EQUITY INNS WEST VIRGINIA PARTNERSHIP, L.P.
                        By:      EQUITY INNS SERVICES, INC., its General Partner

                                 By:  /s/ Donald H. Dempsey
                                 Title:  Executive VP & CFO

                        EQUITY INNS PARTNERSHIP II, L.P.
                        By:     EQUITY INNS TRUST, its General Partner

                                By:  /s/ Donald H. Dempsey
                                Title:  Executive VP & CFO

LENDERS:                THE FIRST NATIONAL BANK OF CHICAGO

                        By:  /s/ Patricia Leung
                        Title:  Managing Director
                        Commitment:  $50,000,000.00
                        Percentage of Aggregate Commitment:  22.7790%

                        Address for Notices:
                        Corporate Real Estate Division
                        One First National Plaza
                        Chicago, Illinois  60670-0151
                        Attention:  Patricia Leung
                        Telephone:  312/732-8619
                        Telecopy:  312/732-1117

<PAGE>


                        CREDIT LYONNAIS NEW YORK BRANCH

                        By:  /s/ Joseph A. Asciolla
                        Title:  First Vice President
                        Commitment:  $30,000,000.00
                        Percentage of Aggregate Commitment:  13.6674%

                        Address for Notices:

                        Lodging Group
                        1301 Avenue of the Americas
                        New York, New York  10019
                        Attention:  Joseph A. Asciolla
                        Telephone:  212/261-7834
                        Telecopy:  212/261-7532

                        NATIONSBANK, N.A.

                        By:  /s/ Frank Chiu
                        Title:  Vice President
                        Commitment:  $30,000,000.00
                        Percentage of Aggregate Commitment:  13.6674%

                        Address for Notices:
                        600 Peachtree Street
                        6th Floor
                        Atlanta, Georgia  30308
                        Attention:  Frank Chiu
                        Telephone:  404/607-4128
                        Telecopy:  404/607-4145

                        AMSOUTH BANK
                        By:  /s/ Lawrence Clark
                        Title:  VP
                        Commitment:  $30,000,000.00
                        Percentage of Aggregate Commitment:  13.6674%

                        Address for Notices:
                        1900 Fifth Avenue North
                        AmSouth-Sonat Tower, 9th Floor
                        Birmingham, Alabama  35203
                        Attention:  Lawrence Clark
                        Telephone:  205/581-7493
                        Telecopy:  205/326-4075


<PAGE>

                        PNC BANK,  NATIONAL  ASSOCIATION
                        As successor  by  merger  to PNC Bank, Kentucky, Inc.

                        By:  /s/ Wayne Robertson
                        Title:  Vice President
                        Commitment:  $30,000,000.00
                        Percentage of Aggregate Commitment:  13.6674%

                        Address for Notices:
                        PNC Bank, N.A.
                        Mail Stop P1-Popp-19-2
                        19th Floor
                        249 Fifth Avenue
                        Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania  15222
                        Attention:  Wayne P. Robertson
                        Telephone:  412/762-8452
                        Telecopy:  412/762-6500


                        NATIONAL BANK OF COMMERCE

                        By:  /s/ Billy Frank
                        Title:  Vice President
                        Commitment:  $17,500,000.00
                        Percentage of Aggregate Commitment:  7.9727%

                        Address for Notices:
                        7770 Poplar Avenue
                        Suite 105
                        Germantown, Tennessee 38138
                        Attention:  William Frank
                        Telephone:  901/757-4874
                        Telecopy:  901/757-4883




<PAGE>

                        CHANG HWA COMMERCIAL BANK, LTD., New York Branch

                        By:  /s/ Wan-Tu Yeh
                        Title: VP & General Manager
                        Commitment:  $15,000,000.00
                        Percentage of Aggregate Commitment:  6.8337%

                        Address for Notices:
                        One World Trade Center
                        Suite 3211
                        New York, New York  10048
                        Attention:  Kevin Lee
                        Telephone:  212/390-7040
                        Telecopy:  212/390-0120


                        UNION PLANTERS BANK, NATIONAL ASSOCIATION

                        By:  /s/ Elizabeth Rouse
                        Title:  Vice President
                        Commitment:  $9,500,000.00
                        Percentage of Aggregate Commitment:  4.3280%
                        Address for Notices:
                        6200 Poplar Avenue
                        4th Floor
                        Memphis, Tennessee  38119
                        Attention:  Elizabeth Rouse
                        Telephone:  901/580-5470
                        Telecopy:  901/580-5451



<PAGE>

                        FIRST TENNESSEE BANK

                        By:  /s/ Robert Nieman
                        Title:  Vice President
                        Commitment:  $7,500,000.00
                        Percentage of Aggregate Commitment:  3.4169%

                        Address for Notices:
                        165 Madison Avenue
                        1st Floor
                        Memphis, Tennessee  38101
                        Attention:  Robert Nieman
                        Telephone:  901/523-4259
                        Telecopy:  901/523-4235

ADMINISTRATIVE AGENT    THE FIRST NATIONAL BANK OF CHICAGO
AND BOOKRUNNER:
                        By:  /s/ Patricia Leung
                        Title:  Managing Director

                        Address for Notices:
                        Corporate Real Estate Division
                        One First National Plaza
                        Chicago, Illinois 60670-0151
                        Attention: Patricia Leung
                        Telephone:  312/732-8619
                        Telecopy:  312/732-1117

SYNDICATION AGENT       CREDIT LYONNAIS NEW YORK BRANCH
AND BOOKRUNNER:
                        By:  /s/ Joseph A. Asciolla
                        Title:  First Vice President

DOCUMENTATION AGENT:    NATIONSBANK, N.A.

                        By: /s/ Frank Chiu
                        Title:  Vice President


<PAGE>




          The undersigned, Equity Inns, Inc. and Equity Inns Trust, join in this
Agreement for purposes of making the representations and warranties contained in
Article VII hereof and agreeing to perform certain of the covenants described in
Article VIII hereof.

                        EQUITY INNS, INC.

                        By:     /s/ Donald H. Dempsey
                        Title:  Executive VP & CFO

                        EQUITY INNS TRUST
                        By:     /s/ Donald H. Dempsey
                        Title:  Executive VP & CFO




<PAGE>



                                    EXHIBIT A

                                   PERCENTAGES

                            First Chicago B 22.7790%

                           Credit Lyonnais B 13.6674%

                               AmSouth B 13.6674%

                             Nationsbank B 13.6674%

                    PNC Bank, National Association B 13.6674%

                       National Bank of Commerce B 7.9727%

           Chang Hwa Commercial Bank, Ltd., New York Branch B 6.8337%

               Union Planters Bank, National Association B 4.3280%

                         First Tennessee Bank B 3.4169%




<PAGE>



                                    EXHIBIT B
                       FORM OF [AMENDED AND RESTATED] NOTE
$_________________________                                     June _____, 1999



         On or before the Maturity Date, as defined in that certain  Amended and
Restated  Unsecured  Revolving  Credit Agreement dated as of June ___, 1999 (the
"Agreement")   among  EQUITY  INNS   PARTNERSHIP,   L.P.,  a  Tennessee  limited
partnership,  EQUITY INNS/WEST VIRGINIA  PARTNERSHIP,  L.P., a Tennessee limited
partnership  and  EQUITY  INNS   PARTNERSHIP  II,  L.P.,  a  Tennessee   limited
partnership  (collectively,   "Borrower"),  Credit  Lyonnais  New  York  Branch,
individually and as Syndication Agent,  Nationsbank,  N.A.,  individually and as
Documentation  Agent,  The First  National  Bank of  Chicago,  a  national  bank
organized  under the laws of the United States of America,  individually  and as
Administrative  Agent  for  the  Lenders  (as  such  terms  are  defined  in the
Agreement),  and  the  other  Lenders  listed  on  the  signature  pages  of the
Agreement,  Borrower  promises to pay to the order of  _________________________
(the "Lender"),  or its successors and assigns,  the principal sum of AND NO/100
DOLLARS ($         ) or the aggregate  unpaid principal amount of all Loans made
by the Lender to the Borrower pursuant to Section 2.1 of the Agreement, in
immediately  available  funds at the  office of the  Administrative Agent in
Chicago,  Illinois,  together  with  interest  on the  unpaid principal  amount
hereof at the rates and on the dates set forth in the Agreement. The Borrower
shall pay this Promissory Note ("Note") in full on or before  the  Maturity Date
in  accordance with the terms of the Agreement.

[This Amended and Restated Note amends and restates in its entirety that certain
Note dated  ________________ in the amount of $_____________ made by Borrower in
favor of Lender.]

The Lender shall,  and is hereby authorized to, record on the schedule attached
hereto, or to otherwise record in accordance with its usual practice, the date
and amount  of each  Advance  and the date  and  amount  of each  principal
payment hereunder.

This Note is issued pursuant to, and is entitled to the security  under and
benefits of, the  Agreement  and the other Loan Documents,  to  which  Agreement
and  Loan  Documents,  as they may be amended from time to time,  reference is
hereby made for, inter alia, a statement of the terms and conditions under which
this Note may be prepaid or its maturity date accelerated. Capitalized terms
used herein and not otherwise defined herein are used with the meanings
attributed to them in the  Agreement.

If there is an Event of  Default or Default under the Agreement or any other
Loan Document and Lender exercises its remedies provided under the Agreement
and/or any of the Loan Documents, then in addition to all amounts  recoverable
by the Lender  under such documents,  Lender  shall be entitled to receive
reasonable  attorneys fees and  expenses  incurred  by Lender in  exercising
such  remedies.

         Borrower and all endorsers  severally  waive  presentment,  protest and
demand,  notice of protest,  demand and of dishonor and  nonpayment of this Note
(except  as  otherwise   expressly   provided  for  in  the Agreement),  and any
and all lack of diligence or delays in  collection or enforcement of this Note,
and expressly agree that this Note, or any payment  hereunder,  may be extended
from time to time,  and expressly consent to the release of any party liable for
the  obligation  secured by this Note, the release  of any of the  security  of
this  Note,  the  acceptance  of any  other security therefor,  or any other
indulgence or forbearance  whatsoever, all without notice to any party and
without  affecting the liability of the Borrower and any endorsers hereof.

This Note shall be governed and construed under the internal laws of the  State
of  Illinois.  All liability of the entities  comprising the Borrower  hereunder
shall be joint  and  several.   The  liability  of  Equity  Inns/West   Virginia
Partnership,  L.P.  under this Note is limited as  described in Section 14.17 of
the Agreement.

BORROWER AND LENDER, BY ITS ACCEPTANCE HEREOF, EACH  HEREBY  WAIVE  ANY  RIGHT
TO A TRIAL  BY JURY IN ANY  ACTION  OR PROCEEDING TO ENFORCE OR DEFEND ANY RIGHT
UNDER THIS PROMISSORY NOTE OR ANY OTHER LOAN DOCUMENT OR RELATING THERETO OR
ARISING FROM THE LENDING RELATIONSHIP  WHICH IS THE SUBJECT OF THIS NOTE AND
AGREE THAT ANY SUCH ACTION OR  PROCEEDING SHALL BE TRIED  BEFORE A COURT AND NOT
BEFORE A JURY.

                        EQUITY INNS PARTNERSHIP, L.P., a Tennessee limited
                        partnership

                        By:  Equity Inns Trust, its general partner

                             By:___________________________________
                             Its:__________________________________

                        EQUITY INNS/WEST VIRGINIA PARTNERSHIP, L.P., a Tennessee
                        limited partnership

                        By:  Equity Inns Services, Inc., its general partner

                             By:___________________________________
                             Its:__________________________________

                        EQUITY INNS PARTNERSHIP II, L.P., a Tennessee limited
                        partnership

                        By:  Equity Inns Trust, its general partner

                             By:___________________________________
                             Its:__________________________________


<PAGE>



                          PAYMENTS OF PRINCIPAL


                                 Unpaid
                                Principal                      Notation
Date                             Balance                       Made by





































<PAGE>



                                   EXHIBIT C
                FINANCEABLE GROUND LEASES -- CURRENTLY APPROVED


      1.   Mt. Brook, AL
      2.   Camelback, AZ
      3.   Atlanta, GA
      4.   Glen Burnie, MD
      5.   Traverse City, MI (Partial)
      6.   Tinton Falls, NJ
      7.   Nashville, TN
      8.   Sycamore, TN
      9.   Rutland, VT (Partial)
     10.   Norfolk, VA




<PAGE>



                                    EXHIBIT D
                                FORM OF GUARANTY


         This Guaranty made as of June ___, 1999, by Equity Inns, Inc., Equity
Inns Services, Inc. and Equity Inns Trust (collectively, "Guarantor"), to and
for the benefit of The First National Bank of Chicago, individually ("First
Chicago"), and as administrative agent for itself and the lenders listed on the
signature pages of the Revolving Credit Agreement (as defined below), all other
lenders which are parties thereto from time to time and their respective
successors and assigns (collectively, "Lender").


                                    RECITALS

         A. Equity Inns Partnership,  L.P., a Tennessee limited  partnership and
Equity  Inns/West  Virginia  Partnership,  L.P., a Tennessee limited partnership
and Equity Inns  Partnership II, L.P., a Tennessee  limited partnership
(collectively,  "Borrower"),  and Guarantor have requested that Lender make an
unsecured  revolving  credit facility  available to Borrower  in  the  aggregate
principal  amount  of up to  $219,500,000 ("Facility").

         B. Lender has agreed to make  available  the Facility to Borrower
pursuant to the terms and  conditions set forth in an Amended and Restated
Unsecured  Revolving Credit  Agreement  bearing even date herewith   between
Borrower  and  the  Lenders   ("Revolving  Credit Agreement").  All  capitalized
terms  used  herein  and not  otherwise defined shall have the meanings ascribed
to such terms in the Revolving Credit Agreement.

         C. Borrower has executed and delivered to Lender one or more Promissory
Notes or Amended and Restated  Promissory Notes each of even  date in the
aggregate  principal  amount of  $219,500,000  as evidence of its  indebtedness
to Lender with  respect to the  Facility (the promissory notes described above,
together with any amendments or allonges  thereto, or restatements, replacements
or renewals thereof, and/or new promissory  notes to new Lenders under the
Revolving Credit Agreement, are collectively referred to herein as the "Note").

         D. Equity Inns Trust is the sole general partner of two of the entities
comprising the Borrower, Equity Inns Services, Inc. is the sole general partner
of the other entity comprising the Borrower and Equity Inns, Inc. is the holder
of 100% of the stock of Equity Inns Services, Inc., and therefore, Guarantor
will derive financial benefit from the Facility evidenced by the Note, Revolving
Credit Agreement and the other Loan Documents.  The execution and delivery of
this Guaranty by Guarantor is a condition precedent to the performance by Lender
of its obligations under the Revolving Credit Agreement.

                                   AGREEMENTS

         NOW, THEREFORE, Guarantor, in consideration of the matters described in
the foregoing Recitals,  which Recitals are incorporated herein and made a part
hereof,  and for other good and valuable  consideration,  hereby agrees  as
follows:

         1)  Guarantor absolutely, unconditionally,  and irrevocably guarantees
to Lender:


<PAGE>

             (a)  the full and prompt payment of the principal of and interest
                  on the Note when due, whether at stated maturity, upon
                  acceleration or otherwise, and at all times thereafter, and
                  the prompt payment of all sums which may now be or may
                  hereafter become due and owing under the Note, the Revolving
                  Credit Agreement, and the other Loan Documents;

             (b)  the payment of all Enforcement Costs (as hereinafter defined
                  in Paragraph 7 hereof); and

             (c)  the full, complete, and punctual observance, performance, and
                  satisfaction of all of the obligations, duties, covenants, and
                  agreements of Borrower under the Revolving Credit Agreement
                  and the Loan Documents

                  1) In the event of any default by  Borrower in making  payment
         of the Facility Indebtedness,  or in performance of the Obligations, as
         aforesaid,  in each case beyond the expiration of any applicable  grace
         period,  Guarantor  agrees,  on demand  by Lender or the  holder of the
         Note,  to pay all the  Facility  Indebtedness  and to  perform  all the
         Obligations as are or then or thereafter become due and owing or are to
         be  performed  under  the  terms  of the  Note,  the  Revolving  Credit
         Agreement  and the  other  Loan  Documents,  and to pay any  reasonable
         expenses  incurred by Lender in  connection  with the Facility or under
         any  of  the  Loan  Documents,   including,   without  limitation,  all
         reasonable  attorneys' fees and costs.  Lender shall have the right, at
         its option,  either before, during or after pursuing any other right or
         remedy  against  Borrower or  Guarantor,  to perform any and all of the
         Obligations by or through any agent,  contractor or  subcontractor,  or
         any of  their  agents,  of its  selection,  all as  Lender  in its sole
         discretion deems proper,  and Guarantor shall indemnify and hold Lender
         free and  harmless  from and  against any and all loss,  damage,  cost,
         expense,  injury, or liability Lender may suffer or incur in connection
         with the exercise of its rights under this Guaranty or the  performance
         of the Obligations, except to the extent the same arises as a result of
         the  gross  negligence  or  wilful  misconduct  of  Lender.

All of the remedies set forth herein and/or  provided by any of the Loan
Documents or law or equity shall be equally  available to Lender, and the choice
by Lender of one such  alternative over another shall not be subject to question
or challenge by Guarantor or any other  person,  nor shall any such choice be
asserted as a defense,  set-off,  or failure to mitigate damages in any  action,
proceeding,  or  counteraction  by Lender to recover or seeking any other remedy
under this Guaranty, nor shall such choice  preclude  Lender  from  subsequently
electing  to  exercise a different remedy.  The  parties  have  agreed  to  the
alternative  remedies  hereinabove specified  in part  because  they  recognize
that the choice of remedies in the event of a failure hereunder will necessarily
be and should properly be a matter of business judgment,  which the passage of
time and events may or may not prove to have been the best choice to  maximize
recovery by Lender at the lowest cost to Borrower  and/or  Guarantor.  It is the
intention  of the parties  that such choice  by Lender  be given  conclusive
effect regardless of such subsequent developments.


<PAGE>

        2)   Guarantor  does  hereby  waive  (i)  notice of  acceptance  of this
             Guaranty  by Lender and any and all  notices  and  demands of every
             kind which may be required to be given by any statute, rule or law,
             (ii) any defense,  right of set-off or other claim which  Guarantor
             may have  against the  Borrower or which  Guarantor or Borrower may
             have against  Lender or the holder of the Note,  (iii)  presentment
             for payment,  demand for payment, notice of nonpayment or dishonor,
             protest and notice of protest,  diligence in collection and any and
             all formalities which otherwise might be legally required to charge
             Guarantor  with  liability,  (iv) any  failure  by Lender to inform
             Guarantor  of any facts  Lender  may now or  hereafter  know  about
             Borrower,  the Facility,  or the  transactions  contemplated by the
             Revolving  Credit  Agreement,  it being  understood and agreed that
             Lender  has no duty so to inform  and that the  Guarantor  is fully
             responsible for being and remaining informed by the Borrower of all
             circumstances  bearing on the existence or creation, or the risk of
             nonpayment   of  the   Facility   Indebtedness   or  the   risk  of
             nonperformance  of the  Obligations,  and (v) any and all  right to
             cause a  marshalling  of assets of the Borrower or any other action
             by any court or governmental body with respect thereto, or to cause
             Lender to proceed  against  any other  security  given to Lender in
             connection  with  the  Facility  Indebtedness  or the  Obligations.
             Credit may be granted or  continued  from time to time by Lender to
             Borrower  without  notice  to  or  authorization   from  Guarantor,
             regardless of the  financial or other  condition of the Borrower at
             the time of any such grant or  continuation.  Lender  shall have no
             obligation to disclose or discuss with  Guarantor its assessment of
             the financial condition of Borrower. Guarantor acknowledges that no
             representations  of any kind whatsoever have been made by Lender to
             Guarantor.  No  modification  or waiver of any of the provisions of
             this Guaranty  shall be binding upon Lender except as expressly set
             forth in a writing  duly signed and  delivered on behalf of Lender.
             Guarantor further agrees that any exculpatory language contained in
             the Revolving Credit Agreement and the Note shall in no event apply
             to this  Guaranty,  and will not  prevent  Lender  from  proceeding
             against Guarantor to enforce this Guaranty.

        3)   Guarantor  further agrees that  Guarantor's  liability as guarantor
             shall in nowise be impaired by any renewals or extensions which may
             be made from time to time, with or without the knowledge or consent
             of Guarantor of the time for payment of interest or principal under
             the Note or by any  forbearance or delay in collecting  interest or
             principal  under the  Note,  or by any  waiver by Lender  under the
             Revolving  Credit  Agreement  or any other  Loan  Documents,  or by
             Lender's  failure or election  not to pursue any other  remedies it
             may have against Borrower,  or by any change or modification in the
             Note, Revolving Credit Agreement or any other Loan Documents, or by
             the  acceptance  by  Lender  of  any  additional  security  or  any
             increase,  substitution  or change  therein,  or by the  release by
             Lender  of any  security  or any  withdrawal  thereof  or  decrease
             therein, or by the application of payments received from any source
             to  the  payment  of  any   obligation   other  than  the  Facility
             Indebtedness,  even though  Lender might  lawfully  have elected to
             apply  such   payments   to  any  part  or  all  of  the   Facility
             Indebtedness,  it being the  intent  hereof  that  Guarantor  shall
             remain liable as principal for payment of the Facility Indebtedness
             and performance of the Obligations  until all indebtedness has been
             paid in full and the other terms,  covenants and  conditions of the
             Revolving  Credit  Agreement  and  other  Loan  Documents  and this
             Guaranty  have  been  performed,  notwithstanding  any act or thing
             which might otherwise operate as a legal or equitable  discharge of
             a surety.  Guarantor further understands and agrees that Lender may


<PAGE>

             at any time enter into agreements with Borrower to amend and modify
             the Note,  Revolving Credit  Agreement or other Loan Documents,  or
             any thereof,  and may waive or release any  provision or provisions
             of  the  Note,  the  Revolving  Credit  Agreement  and  other  Loan
             Documents or any thereof,  and, with reference to such instruments,
             may make and enter into any such  agreement or agreements as Lender
             and Borrower may deem proper and  desirable,  without in any manner
             impairing this Guaranty or any of Lender's rights  hereunder or any
             of the Guarantor's obligations hereunder.

        4)   This  is  an  absolute,   unconditional,   complete,   present  and
             continuing   guaranty  of  payment  and   performance  and  not  of
             collection.  Guarantor agrees that this Guaranty may be enforced by
             Lender  without  the  necessity  at any  time  of  resorting  to or
             exhausting  any other  security or  collateral  given in connection
             herewith or with the Note, the Revolving Credit  Agreement,  or any
             of the other Loan Documents,  or resorting to any other guaranties,
             and  Guarantor  hereby  waives the right to require  Lender to join
             Borrower in any action brought  hereunder or to commence any action
             against or obtain any  judgment  against  Borrower or to pursue any
             other remedy or enforce any other right.  Guarantor  further agrees
             that nothing  contained  herein or otherwise  shall prevent  Lender
             from pursuing  concurrently or successively all rights and remedies
             available  to it at  law  and/or  in  equity  or  under  the  Note,
             Revolving  Credit  Agreement or any other Loan  Documents,  and the
             exercise  of any  of its  rights  or the  completion  of any of its
             remedies  shall not  constitute a discharge  of any of  Guarantor=s
             obligations  hereunder,  it being  the  purpose  and  intent of the
             Guarantor that the obligations of such Guarantor hereunder shall be
             primary, absolute,  independent and unconditional under any and all
             circumstances  whatsoever.  Neither  Guarantor's  obligations under
             this Guaranty nor any remedy for the  enforcement  thereof shall be
             impaired, modified, changed or released in any manner whatsoever by
             any impairment,  modification, change, release or limitation of the
             liability of Borrower under the Note, Revolving Credit Agreement or
             other Loan  Documents or by reason of  Borrower's  bankruptcy or by
             reason of any creditor or  bankruptcy  proceeding  instituted by or
             against Borrower.  This Guaranty shall continue to be effective and
             be deemed to have  continued in existence or be reinstated  (as the
             case may be) if at any time  payment  of all or any part of any sum
             payable  pursuant to the Note,  Revolving  Credit  Agreement or any
             other Loan  Document  is  rescinded  or  otherwise  required  to be
             returned  by  the  payee  upon  the  insolvency,   bankruptcy,   or
             reorganization  of the payor,  all as though such payment to Lender
             had not been made, regardless of whether Lender contested the order
             requiring the return of such payment.  The obligations of Guarantor
             pursuant to the preceding  sentence shall survive any  termination,
             cancellation, or release of this Guaranty.

        5)   This Guaranty shall be assignable by Lender to any assignee of all
             or a portion of Lender's rights under the Loan Documents.

        6)   If:  (i) this Guaranty, the Note or any other Loan Document is
             placed in the hands of an attorney for collection or is collected
             through any legal proceeding; (ii) an attorney is retained to
             represent Lender in any bankruptcy, reorganization, receivership,


<PAGE>

             or other proceedings affecting creditors= rights and involving a
             claim under this Guaranty, the Note, the Revolving Credit
             Agreement, or any Loan Document; (iii) an attorney is retained to
             provide advice or other representation with respect to the Loan
             Documents in connection  with an enforcement  action or potential
             enforcement  action;  or (iv) an attorney is retained to represent
             Lender  in any other  legal  proceedings  whatsoever  in connection
             with this Guaranty,  the Note, any Competitive Bid Loan Note, the
             Revolving Credit Agreement, any of the Loan Documents, or any
             property  subject  thereto (other than any action or proceeding
             brought by any Lender or  participant  against  the  Administrative
             Agent (as defined in the  Revolving  Credit  Agreement)  alleging a
             breach by the  Administrative  Agent of its  duties  under the Loan
             Documents),  then  Guarantor  shall pay to Lender  upon  demand all
             reasonable attorney's fees, costs and expenses,  including, without
             limitation,  court costs, filing fees, recording costs, expenses of
             foreclosure,  title insurance  premiums,  survey costs,  minutes of
             foreclosure,   and  all  other  costs  and  expenses   incurred  in
             connection  therewith  (all of which  are  referred  to  herein  as
             "Enforcement   Costs"),  in  addition  to  all  other  amounts  due
             hereunder.

        7)   The parties  hereto  intend that each  provision  in this  Guaranty
             comports  with all  applicable  local,  state and federal  laws and
             judicial decisions.  However, if any provision or provisions, or if
             any portion of any  provision or  provisions,  in this  Guaranty is
             found by a court of law to be in violation of any applicable local,
             state  or  federal  ordinance,   statute,  law,  administrative  or
             judicial  decision,  or public  policy,  and if such  court  should
             declare such  portion,  provision or provisions of this Guaranty to
             be illegal,  invalid,  unlawful,  void or unenforceable as written,
             then it is the  intent of all  parties  hereto  that such  portion,
             provision  or  provisions  shall  be  given  force  to the  fullest
             possible extent that they are legal,  valid and  enforceable,  that
             the  remainder  of this  Guaranty  shall  be  construed  as if such
             illegal,   invalid,   unlawful,   void  or  unenforceable  portion,
             provision or provisions  were not contained  therein,  and that the
             rights,  obligations  and  interest  of Lender or the holder of the
             Note under the  remainder of this Guaranty  shall  continue in full
             force and effect.

        8)   Any indebtedness of Borrower to Guarantor now or hereafter existing
             is hereby subordinated to the Facility Indebtedness.  Guarantor
             agrees that until the entire Facility Indebtedness has been paid in
             full, (i) Guarantor will not seek, accept, or retain for
             Guarantor's own account, any payment from Borrower on account of
             such subordinated debt, and (ii) any such payments to Guarantor on
             account of such subordinated debt shall be collected and received
             by Guarantor in trust for Lender and shall be paid over to Lender
             on account of the Facility Indebtedness without impairing or
             releasing the obligations of Guarantor hereunder.

        9)   Guarantor  waives and releases any claim  (within the meaning of 11
             U.S.C.  ' 101) which  Guarantor may have against  Borrower  arising
             from a payment made by Guarantor under this Guaranty and agrees not
             to assert or take advantage of any subrogation  rights of Guarantor
             or Lender or any right of  Guarantor  or Lender to proceed  against
             (i) Borrower for reimbursement,  or (ii) any other guarantor or any
             collateral  security  or guaranty or right of offset held by Lender
             for the payment of the Facility Indebtedness and performance of the


<PAGE>

             Obligations,  nor shall  Guarantor  seek or be entitled to seek any
             contribution or reimbursement  from Borrower or any other guarantor
             in respect of payments made by Guarantor hereunder. It is expressly
             understood  that the waivers and  agreements of Guarantor set forth
             above constitute additional and cumulative benefits given to Lender
             for its security and as an  inducement  for its extension of credit
             to Borrower.  Nothing contained in this Paragraph 10 is intended to
             prohibit Guarantor from making all distributions to its constituent
             shareholders  which are  required by law from time to time in order
             for  Guarantor to maintain  its status as a real estate  investment
             trust in compliance with all applicable  provisions of the Code (as
             defined in the Revolving Credit Agreement).

        10)  Any amounts received by Lender from any source on account of any
             indebtedness may be applied by Lender toward the payment of such
             indebtedness, and in such order of application, as Lender may from
             time to time elect.

        11)  The Guarantor hereby submits to personal jurisdiction in the State
             of Illinois for the enforcement of this Guaranty and waives any and
             all personal rights to object to such jurisdiction for the purposes
             of litigation to enforce this Guaranty.  Guarantor hereby consents
             to the jurisdiction of either the Circuit Court of Cook County,
             Illinois, or the United States District Court for the Northern
             District of Illinois, in any action, suit, or proceeding which
             Lender may at any time wish to file in connection with this
             Guaranty or any related matter.  Guarantor hereby agrees that an
             action, suit, or proceeding to enforce this Guaranty may be brought
             in any state or federal court in the State of Illinois and hereby
             waives any objection which Guarantor may have to the laying of the
             venue of any such action, suit, or proceeding in any such court;
             provided, however, that the provisions of this Paragraph shall not
             be deemed to preclude Lender from filing any such action, suit, or
             proceeding in any other appropriate forum.

        12)  All notices and other communications provided to any party hereto
             under this Agreement or any other Loan Document shall be in writing
             or by telex or by facsimile and addressed or delivered to such
             party at its address set forth below or at such other address as
             may be designated by such party in a notice to the other parties.
             Any notice, if mailed and properly addressed with postage prepaid,
             shall be deemed given when received; any notice, if transmitted by
             telex or facsimile, shall be deemed given when transmitted
             (answerback confirmed in the case of telexes).  Notice may be given
             as follows:

               To the Guarantor:

                        Equity Inns, Inc.
                        7700 Wolf River Boulevard
                        Germantown, Tennessee 38138
                        Attention:  Howard A. Silver
                        Telecopy:   (901) 754-7668

               With a copy to:

                        Hunton & Williams
                        1751 Pinnacle Drive
                        Suite 1700
                        McLean, Virginia 22102
                        Attention:  Gerald R. Best
                        Telecopy:   (703) 714-7410



<PAGE>

               To the Lender:

                        c/o The First National Bank of Chicago, as agent
                        Corporate Real Estate Division
                        One First National Plaza
                        Chicago, Illinois 60670-0151
                        Attention:  Patricia Leung
                        Telecopy:   (312) 732-1117

               With a copy to:

                        Sonnenschein Nath & Rosenthal
                        8000 Sears Tower
                        Chicago, Illinois 60606
                        Attention:  Patrick G. Moran, Esq.
                        Telecopy:   (312) 876-7934

             or at such  other  address as the party to be served  with  notice
             may have furnished in writing to the party seeking or desiring to
             serve notice as a place for the service of notice.

        13)  This Guaranty shall be binding upon the heirs,   executors,   legal
             and personal  representatives, successors and assigns of  Guarantor
             and shall inure to the benefit of Lender's  successors and assigns.

        14)  This Guaranty shall be construed and enforced  under the internal
             laws of the State of Illinois.

        15)  The liability of the entities  comprising the Guarantor  under this
             Guaranty shall be joint and several. The liability of Equity Inns
             Services,  Inc. under  this  Guaranty  shall  not  exceed  a
             percentage  (equal  to the percentage partnership interest of
             Equity Inns Services, Inc. in EIP/WV) of the amount by which (A)
             the portion of the  then-current  Total Value attributable  to  the
             Properties   owned  by  EIP/WV  exceeds  (B)  the then-current
             outstanding principal balance of all Indebtedness (other than the
             Obligations) of EIP/WV permitted under the Revolving Credit
             Agreement, calculated in each case as of the Maturity Date or the
             date of any earlier acceleration of the Obligations, as applicable.

        16)  GUARANTOR AND LENDER, BY ITS ACCEPTANCE HEREOF, EACH HEREBY WAIVE
             ANY RIGHT TO A TRIAL BY JURY IN ANY ACTION OR PROCEEDING TO ENFORCE
             OR DEFEND ANY RIGHT UNDER THIS GUARANTY OR ANY OTHER LOAN DOCUMENT
             OR RELATING THERETO OR ARISING FROM THE LENDING RELATIONSHIP WHICH
             IS THE SUBJECT OF THIS GUARANTY AND AGREE THAT ANY SUCH ACTION OR
             PROCEEDING SHALL BE TRIED BEFORE A COURT AND NOT BEFORE A JURY.


<PAGE>



    IN WITNESS  WHEREOF,  Guarantor has  delivered  this Guaranty as of the date
first written above.

                        EQUITY INNS, INC., a Tennessee corporation


                        By:
                        Its:


                        EQUITY INNS TRUST, a Maryland real estate
                        investment trust


                        By:
                        Its:


                        EQUITY INNS SERVICES, INC., a Tennessee corporation


                        By:
                        Its:





<PAGE>



STATE OF ___________)
                    )       SS.
COUNTY OF _________ )


    I, the undersigned, a Notary Public, in and for said County, in the State
aforesaid, DO HEREBY CERTIFY, that__________, ___________ of Equity Inns, Inc.,
personally known to me to be the same person whose name is subscribed to the
foregoing instrument, appeared before me this day in person and acknowledged
that he signed and delivered the said instrument as his own free and voluntary
act and as the free and voluntary act of said corporation, for the uses and
purposes therein set forth.

    GIVEN under my hand and Notarial Seal, this ______ day of June, 1999.




                                            ------------------------------------
                                            Notary Public




<PAGE>



STATE OF __________)
                   )       SS.
COUNTY OF _________)


    I, the undersigned, a Notary Public, in and for said County, in the State
aforesaid, DO HEREBY CERTIFY, that __________, ___________ of Equity Inns Trust,
personally known to me to be the same person whose name is subscribed to the
foregoing instrument, appeared before me this day in person and acknowledged
that he signed and delivered the said instrument as his own free and voluntary
act and as the free and voluntary act of said trust, for the uses and purposes
therein set forth.

    GIVEN under my hand and Notarial Seal, this _____ day of June, 1999.




                                            ------------------------------------
                                            Notary Public




<PAGE>



STATE OF __________)
                   )       SS.
COUNTY OF _________)



    I, the undersigned, a Notary Public, in and for said County, in the State
aforesaid, DO HEREBY CERTIFY, that ____________, ___________ of Equity Inns
Services, Inc., personally known to me to be the same person whose name is
subscribed to the foregoing instrument, appeared before me this day in person
and acknowledged that he signed and delivered the said instrument as his own
free and voluntary act and as the free and voluntary act of said trust, for the
uses and purposes therein set forth.

    GIVEN under my hand and Notarial Seal, this _____ day of June, 1999.




                                      ------------------------------------------
                                      Notary Public




<PAGE>



                                    EXHIBIT E
                          OPINION OF TENNESSEE COUNSEL





<PAGE>



                                    EXHIBIT F
                           OPINION OF ILLINOIS COUNSEL





<PAGE>



                                    EXHIBIT G
                               WIRING INSTRUCTIONS

       To:   The First National Bank of Chicago,
             as Administrative Agent (the "Agent")
             under the Credit Agreement Described Below

       Re:   Amended and Restated Unsecured Revolving Credit Agreement, dated as
             of June ___, 1999 (as amended, modified, renewed or extended from
             time to time, the "Agreement"), among Equity Inns Partnership, L.P.
             and Equity Inns/West Virginia Partnership, L.P. (collectively, the
             "Borrower"), The First National Bank of Chicago, individually and
             as Administrative Agent, Credit Lyonnais New York Branch,
             individually and as Syndication Agent, Nationsbank, N.A.,
             individually and as Documentation Agent, and the Lenders named
             therein.  Terms used herein and not otherwise defined shall have
             the meanings assigned thereto in the Credit Agreement.


    The Administrative Agent is specifically authorized and directed to act upon
the following standing money transfer  instructions with respect to the proceeds
of Advances or other extensions of credit from time to time until receipt by the
Administrative  Agent of a specific written  revocation of such  instructions by
the Borrower,  provided,  however,  that the Administrative  Agent may otherwise
transfer  funds as hereafter  directed in writing by the Borrower in  accordance
with Section 15.1 of the  Agreement  or based on any  telephonic  notice made in
accordance with the Agreement.

Facility Identification Number(s)

Customer/Account Name

Transfer Funds To


For Account No.

Reference/Attention To

Authorized Officer (Customer Representative)         Date_______________________


___________________                                  ___________________________
(Please Print)                                       Signature

Bank Officer Name                                    Date_______________________


___________________                                  ___________________________
(Please Print)                                       Signature


    (Deliver Completed Form to Credit Support Staff For Immediate Processing)




<PAGE>



                                    EXHIBIT H
                         FORM OF COMPLIANCE CERTIFICATE


Under Amended and Restated Credit Agreement dated as of June ___, 1999,  between
Equity Inns Partnership,  L.P. and Equity Inns / West Virginia Partnership, L.P.
as  Borrower  and The  First  National  Bank of  Chicago  ("First  Chicago")  as
Administrative  agent,  Credit  Lyonnais New York Branch as  Syndication  Agent,
Nationsbank, N.A., as Documentation Agent, and the Lenders defined there in (the
"Credit   Agreement").

The  undersigned,   as  _____________  of  Equity  Inns Partnership  L.P. and as
___________ of Equity Inn / West Virginia  Partnership L.P.,  pursuant to
Section 8.2 of the Credit  Agreement,  hereby,  certifies  to First Chicago as
Administrative Agent as follows:

1.       A review of the activities of Borrower during the most recent ended
         fiscal quarter (which quarter ended _______) of the Borrower has been
         made under my supervision.

2.       As of the date hereof, all of the representations and warranties of
         Borrower contained in the Credit Agreement and each of the Loan
         Documents (as defined in the Credit Agreement) are true and correct in
         all material respects (except to the extent that they speak to a
         specific date or are based on facts which have changed by transactions
         expressly contemplated or permitted by the Credit Agreement).

3.       No event has occurred and is continuing which constitutes a Default or
         a Potential Default

4.       The following Borrowing Base computation for the most recent ended
         fiscal quarter, together with the supporting schedule attached hereto
         is true and correct:

         A.   Value of the Borrowing Base                $______________________
         B.   50% of the Borrowing Base                  $______________________
         C.   Allocated Facility Amount                  $______________________
         D.   FF&E Deficiency                            $______________________
         E.   Consolidated Senior Unsecured Debt         $______________________
                                                          E must be less than or
                                                          Equal to B

5.       The following covenant computations, for the most recent ended fiscal
         quarter, together with the supporting schedule attached hereto, are
         true and correct:

9.3      Sales, Encumbrances and Transfers of Assets.

         A.   Total value of Properties sold, encumbered
              or transferred other than to members
              of the Consolidated Group for the past
              four quarters                              $______________________

         B.   15% of Total Value                         $______________________
                                                          A must be less than or
                                                          equal to B




<PAGE>



9.4      Dividends

I.       A.   Total dividends for the past
              four quarters                              $______________________

         B.   90% of the Funds From Operations
              for the past four quarters                 $______________________
                                                          A must be less than or
                                                          equal to B

II.      A.   Total dividends for the past
              four quarters                              $______________________
         B.   Dividends paid on stock issued
              in the past quarter                        $______________________
         C.   A minus B                                  $______________________
         E.   100% of Free Cash Flow                     $______________________
                                                          C must be less than or
                                                          equal to B

9.7      FF&E Expenditures.

         A.   Total actual expenditures of the
              Consolidated Group for FF&E replacement
              and approved capital improvements for
              the Properties for the past four
              quarters.                                  $______________________
         B.   Amount of reserves maintained on the
              balance sheet on the last day of the
              period by the Consolidated Group for
              FF&E replacement and approved capital
              improvements                               $______________________
         C.   Sum of A plus B                            $______________________
         D.   4% of gross room revenues for the past
              four quarters for the Properties           $______________________
                                                          C must be greater than
                                                          or equal to D
9.8(a)   Limitation on Secured Debt

         A.   Consolidated Secured Debt                  $______________________
         B.   Principal balance of REMIC Loan            $______________________
         C.   A minus B                                  $______________________
         D.   15% of Total Value                         $______________________
                                                          C must be less than or
                                                          equal to D

9.8(b)   Leverage Limitation

         A.   Consolidated Total Indebtedness            $______________________
         B.   50% of Total Value                         $______________________
         C.   50% of Total Cost                          $______________________
                                                          A must be less than or
                                                          equal to B
                                                          A must be less than or
                                                          equal to C

<PAGE>

9.8(c)   Minimum Tangible Net Worth.

         A.   Tangible Net Worth of the Consolidated
              Group                                      $______________________
         B.   85% of Tangible Net Worth at 6/30/97       $______________________
         C.   50% of equity interest issued after
              6/30/97                                    $______________________
         D.   Sum of B and C                             $______________________
                                                          A must be greater than
                                                          or equal to D

9.8(d)   Minimum Fixed Charge Coverage

         A.   Adjusted EBITDA for the most recent
              12 calendar months                         $______________________
         B.   Ground Lease Expense for the most
              recent 12 calendar months                  $______________________
         C.   Sum of A plus B                            $______________________
         D.   Fixed Charges for the most recent
              12 calendar months                         $______________________
         E.   C divided by D                             $______________________
                                                          E must be greater than
                                                          or equal to 2.00

9.8(e)   Minimum Interest Coverage

         A.   Adjusted EBITDA for the most recent
              12 calendar months                         $______________________
         B.   Interest Expense for the most recent
              12 calendar months                         $______________________
         C.   A divided by B                             $______________________
                                                        C should be greater than
                                                        or equal to 2.50

8.3(i)   Limitations on hotels under construction

         A.   Aggregate book value of all hotels
              under construction                         $______________________

         B.   10% of Total Value                         $______________________
                                                          A must be less than or
                                                          equal to B




<PAGE>



8.3(ii)  Limitation on contracts to purchase hotels under construction

         A.   Aggregate book value of all hotels
              under construction                         $______________________
         B.   Aggregate obligation to purchase
              hotels under construction                  $______________________
         C.   A plus B                                   $______________________
         D.   25% of Total Value                         $______________________
                                                          C must be less than or
                                                          equal to D
8.3(iii)

         A.   Total rooms in all Properties              $______________________
         B.   Total rooms leased under Permitted
              Operating Leases                           $______________________
         C.   B divided by A                             $______________________
                                                        C should be greater than
                                                        or equal to 85%
8.3(iv)

         A.   Total Value                                $______________________
         B.   40% of Total Value                         $______________________
         C.   Total Value attributable to a single
              tenant or single group of tenants which
              are Affiliates of each other (other than
              Interstate Hotels Management, Inc. and
              its affiliates) under Permitted Operating
              Leases                                     $______________________
         D.   80% of Total Value                         $______________________
         E.   Total Value attributable to Crossroads/
              Memphis Partnership LLC, Crossroads Future
              Company LLC or another entity directly or
              indirectly wholly owned by Interstate
              Hotels Management, Inc. under Permitted
              Operating Leases                           $______________________
                                                          E must be less than or
                                                          equal to D

6.       The following computation of the limits in inbedded in the definitions,
         together with the supporting schedule attached hereto, are true and
         correct.

         Limitations on Unencumbered Assets:

         A.   Value of Unencumbered Assets               $______________________
         B.   Value of Properties included in
              Unencumbered Assets subject to a
              Major Ground Lease                         $______________________




<PAGE>



         C.   B divided by A                              _____________________%
                                                          C must be less than or
                                                          equal to 15%

    Limitations in Borrowing Base

         A.   Value of Unencumbered Assets               $______________________
         B.   Value of largest single Property
              included in Value of Unencumbered
              Assets                                     $______________________
         C.   B divided by A                              _____________________%
                                                          C must be less than or
                                                          equal to 10%
         D.   Largest Value of all Properties
              located in a single state included
              in the Value of Unencumbered Assets        $______________________
         E.   D divided by A                             $______________________
                                                          E must be less than or
                                                          equal to 25%
         F.   Total Value of Properties operated by or
              leased under Permitted Operating Leases
              to a single tenant or single group of
              tenants which are affiliates of each other
              (excluding Interstate Hotels Management,
              Inc. and its affiliates but including Prime
              Hospitality Corporation or a subdidiary
              thereof)                                   $______________________
         G.   F divided by A                             $______________________
                                                          G must be less than or
                                                          equal to 45%
         H.   Total Value of Properties included in the
              Value of Unencumbered Assets which are
              premium limited service hotels             $______________________
         I.   Total Value of Properties included in the
              Value of Unencumbered Assets which
              are premium extended stay hotels           $______________________
         J.   Total Value of Properties included in the
              Value of Unencumbered Assets which are
              all-suite hotels                           $______________________
         K.   Total Value of Properties included in the
              Value of Unencumbered Assets which are
              full service hotels                        $______________________
         L.   Sum of H, I, J, and K                      $______________________
         M.   L divided by A                              _____________________%
                                                          M must be greater than
                                                          or equal to 80%




<PAGE>



         N.   Total Value of Properties included in
              the Value of Unencumbered Assets which
              are operated as Hampton Inns               $______________________
         O.   Total Value of Properties included in
              the Value of unencumbered Assets which
              are operated as Homewood Suites            $______________________
         P.   Total Value of Properties included in
              the Value of Unencumbered Assets which
              are operated as Residence Inns             $______________________
         Q.   Total Value of Properties included in
              the Value of Unencumbered Assets which
              are operated as AmeriSuites                $______________________
         R.   Sum of N, O, P, and Q                      $______________________
         S.   R divided by A                              _____________________%
                                                          S must be greater than
                                                          or equal to 80%


Date:_______________
                                      By:_______________________________________
                                      Name:_____________________________________
                                      Title:____________________________________




<PAGE>



                                   SCHEDULE I
                            CALCULATION OF COVENANTS


1.       Value of Unencumbered Assets

         A.   For Properties other than New Properties (see schedule B)

              1.  Property Operating Income              $______________________
              2.  Agreed FF&E Reserve                    $______________________
              3.  1 minus 2                              $______________________
              4.  3 divided by .115                      $______________________


         B.   Total Book Value of New Properties
              (see schedule B)                            ______________________

         C.   Sum of A (4) plus B is Value of
              Unencumbered Assets                        $______________________


Note:  Schedule B shall  contain a detailed  listing  of all  properties  in the
Unencumbered  Assets and will at a minimum  detail the  calculation  of Property
Operating Income, Agreed FF&E Reserve, book value or gross Room Revenues for the
past four quarters,  where applicable,  and actual FF&E replacement and approved
capital improvements.

2.       Total Value

         A.   Total cash and Cash Equivalents            _______________________

         B.   For all Properties  other than New
              Properties (See Schedules B and C)

              1.  Aggregate Property Operating Income    _______________________
              2.  Agreed FF&E Reserve                    _______________________
              3.  1 minus 2                              _______________________
              4.  3 divided by .115                      _______________________

         C.   Total Book Value of New Properties owned
              by a Member of the Consolidated Group
              (See Schedule B and C)                     _______________________

         D.   For Properties other than New Properties
              owned by an Investment Affiliate
              (See Schedule C)

              1. Consolidated Group Pro Rata Share
                 of aggregate Property Income            $______________________
              2. Applicable Agreed FF&E Reserve          $______________________
              3. 1 minus 2                               $______________________
              4. 3 divided by .115                       $______________________


<PAGE>


         E.   For New Properties owned by an
              Investment Affiliate, the Consolidated
              Group Pro Rata Share of the aggregate
              book value                                 $______________________

         F.   Sum of A, B(4), C, D(4) and E              $______________________


         (Note:  Schedule C shall contain a detailed  listing of all  properties
not in the  Unencumbered  Assets and will at a minimum detail the calculation of
Property  Operating  Income,  Agreed  FF&E  Reserve,  book  value or gross  Room
Revenues  for  the  past  four  quarters,  where  applicable,  and  actual  FF&E
replacement and approved capital improvements.

3.       Total Cost
         A.   Book Value of all Properties owned
              by the Consolidated Group                  $______________________

         B.   Accumulated Depreciation on such
              Properties                                 $______________________

         C.   Consolidated Group Pro Rata Share of
              the book value of all properties owned
              by Investment Affiliates                   $______________________

         D.   Consolidated Group Pro Rata Share of
              the depreciation associated with such
              Properties owned by Investment Affiliates  $______________________

         E.   Sum of A, B, C, and D                      $______________________

4.       Total Indebtedness

         A.   Indebtedness of the Consolidated Group

              1.  indebtedness for borrowed money        $______________________
              2.  obligations under financing and
                  capital leases                         $______________________
              3.  Guarantee Obligations                  $______________________
              4.  Letters of credit                      $______________________
              5.  Other items which constitute
                  Indebtedness not included in the
                  above                                  $______________________

         B.   Consolidated  Group Pro Rata Share of all  Indebtedness of
              any Investment Affiliate (to the extent not included in A)

              1.  Indebtedness for borrowed money        $______________________
              2.  Obligations under financing and
                  capital leases                         $______________________
              3.  Guarantee Obligations                  $______________________
              4.  Letters of Credit                      $______________________
              5.  Other items which constitute
                  Indebtedness not included in the
                  above                                  $______________________

         C.   Sum of A and B                             $______________________


<PAGE>


5.       Adjusted EBITDA for the most recent twelve full calendar months

         A.   EBITDA of the Consolidated Group
              excluding income from Investment
              Affiliates                                 $______________________

         B.   Consolidated Group Pro Rata Share
              of EBITDA of Investment Affiliates         $______________________

         C.   All extraordinary items included
              in A or B                                  $______________________

         D.   All gains or losses from sale of
              assets                                     $______________________

         E.   Gross Hotel Room Revenue                   $______________________

         F.   Sum of A and B less C, D and E             $______________________

6.       Interest Expense for the most recent twelve full calendar months

         A.   Interest Expense of the Consolidated
              Group                                      $______________________

         B.   Consolidated Group Pro Rata Share of
              any accrued or paid interest of an
              Investment Affiliate                       $______________________

         C.   Sum of A plus B                            $______________________

7.       Fixed Charges for the most recent twelve full calendar months

         A.   Interest Expense                           $______________________

         B.   Regularly scheduled principal payments
              of Indebtedness of the Consolidated
              Group                                      $______________________

         C.   Consolidated Group Pro Rata Share of
              any regularly scheduled principal
              payments of an Investment Affiliate        $______________________

         D.   Preferred Stock Expense                    $______________________

         E.   Ground Lease Expense                       $______________________

         F.   Sum of A, B, C, D, and E                   $______________________

8.       Free Cash Flow for the past four Quarters

         A.   Funds From Operations for the past
              four quarters                              $______________________


<PAGE>


         B.   Aggregate Room Revenue for the past
              four quarters on all Properties            $______________________

         C.   B multiplied by 4%.                        $______________________

         D.   Scheduled principal payments on all
              Indebtedness of the Consolidated
              Group for the past four quarters           $______________________

         E.   A minus C minus D                          $______________________




<PAGE>



                                    EXHIBIT I
                 SCOPE OF WORK FOR ENVIRONMENTAL INVESTIGATIONS




<PAGE>



                                    EXHIBIT J
                          FORM OF ASSIGNMENT AGREEMENT


         This Assignment Agreement (this "Assignment Agreement") between
______________ (the "Assignor") and __________________ (the "Assignee") is dated
as of _____________, 19___.  The parties hereto agree as follows:

         1. PRELIMINARY STATEMENT.  The Assignor is a party to an Amended and
Restated Unsecured Revolving Credit Agreement (which, as it may be amended,
modified, renewed or extended from time to time is herein called the "Credit
Agreement") described in Item 1 of Schedule 1 attached hereto ("Schedule 1").
Capitalized terms used herein and not otherwise defined herein shall have the
meanings attributed to them in the Credit Agreement.

         2. ASSIGNMENT AND ASSUMPTION.  The Assignor hereby sells and assigns to
the Assignee,  and the Assignee hereby  purchases and assumes from the Assignor,
an interest in and to the  Assignor's  rights and  obligations  under the Credit
Agreement  such that after giving effect to such  assignment  the Assignee shall
have purchased  pursuant to this  Assignment  Agreement the percentage  interest
specified  in Item 3 of  Schedule 1 of all  outstanding  rights and  obligations
under  the  Credit  Agreement  and  the  other  Loan  Documents.  The  aggregate
Commitment  (or  Loans,  if  the  applicable  Commitment  has  been  terminated)
purchased by the Assignee hereunder is set forth in Item 4 of Schedule 1.

         3. EFFECTIVE DATE. The effective date of this Assignment Agreement (the
"Effective Date") shall be the later of the date specified in Item 5 of Schedule
1  or  two  (2)  Business  Days  (or  such  shorter  period  agreed  to  by  the
Administrative Agent) after a Notice of Assignment  substantially in the form of
Exhibit "I" attached  hereto has been  delivered to the Agent.  In no event will
the Effective Date occur if the payments  required to be made by the Assignee to
the Assignor on the Effective Date under Sections 4 and 5 hereof are not made on
the proposed  Effective Date,  unless otherwise agreed to in writing by Assignor
and Assignee.  The Assignor  will notify the Assignee of the proposed  Effective
Date no later than the Business Day prior to the proposed  Effective Date. As of
the Effective  Date, (i) the Assignee shall have the rights and obligations of a
Lender  under the Loan  Documents  with  respect to the  rights and  obligations
assigned to the Assignee  hereunder and (ii) the Assignor  shall  relinquish its
rights  and be  released  from  its  corresponding  obligations  under  the Loan
Documents  with respect to the rights and  obligations  assigned to the Assignee
hereunder.

         4. PAYMENTS OBLIGATIONS.  On and after the Effective Date, the Assignee
shall be  entitled  to receive  from the  Administrative  Agent all  payments of
principal,  interest and fees with respect to the interest assigned hereby.  The
Assignee shall advance funds directly to the  Administrative  Agent with respect
to all Loans and reimbursement payments made on or after the Effective Date with
respect to the interest  assigned  hereby.  [In  consideration  for the sale and
assignment of Loans hereunder,  (i) the Assignee shall pay the Assignor,  on the
Effective  Date, an amount equal to the  principal  amount of the portion of all
Adjusted  Alternate Base Rate Loans assigned to the Assignee  hereunder and (ii)
with respect to each ratable  LIBOR Advance made by the Assignor and assigned to


<PAGE>

the Assignee  hereunder  which is outstanding on the Effective  Date, (a) on the
last day of the Interest  Period  therefor or (b) on such earlier date agreed to
by the  Assignor  and the  Assignee  or (c) on the date on which  any such  Loan
either  becomes due (by  acceleration  or  otherwise) or is prepaid (the date as
described in the foregoing clauses (a), (b) or (c) being hereinafter referred to
as the "Fixed Due Date"), the Assignee shall pay the Assignor an amount equal to
the principal  amount of the portion of such Loan assigned to the Assignee which
is  outstanding  on the Fixed Due Date.  If the Assignor and the Assignee  agree
that the  applicable  Fixed Due Date for such Loan shall be the Effective  Date,
they shall agree,  solely for purposes of dividing interest paid by the Borrower
on such Loan, to an alternate  interest  rate  applicable to the portion of such
Loan assigned hereunder for the period from the Effective Date to the end of the
related Interest Period (the "Agreed  Interest Rate") and any interest  received
by the Assignee in excess of the Agreed Interest Rate, with respect to such Loan
for such period, shall be remitted to the Assignor. In the event a prepayment of
any Loan which is existing on the Effective Date and assigned by the Assignor to
the Assignee hereunder occurs after the Effective Date but before the applicable
Fixed Due Date,  the  Assignee  shall  remit to the  Assignor  any excess of the
funding  indemnification  amount paid by the Borrower  under  Section 4.4 of the
Credit  Agreement an account of such  prepayment  with respect to the portion of
such Loan  assigned to the Assignee  hereunder  over the amount which would have
been paid if such prepayment amount were calculated based on the Agreed Interest
Rate and only  covered the portion of the Interest  Period  after the  Effective
Date.  The Assignee will  promptly  remit to the Assignor (i) the portion of any
principal payments assigned hereunder and received from the Administrative Agent
with  respect to any such Loan prior to its Fixed Due Date and (ii) any  amounts
of  interest  on Loans and fees  received  from the  Administrative  Agent which
relate to the  portion  of the Loans  assigned  to the  Assignee  hereunder  for
periods prior to the Effective Date, in the case of ratable  Adjusted  Alternate
Base Rate Loans or Fees, or the Fixed Due Date, in the case of LIBOR Loans,  and
not previously  paid by the Assignee to the Assignor.]* In the event that either
party  hereto  receives  any payment to which the other party hereto is entitled
under this  Assignment  Agreement,  then the party  receiving  such amount shall
promptly remit it to the other party hereto.

         5. FEES PAYABLE BY THE ASSIGNEE. The Assignee shall pay to the Assignor
a fee on each day on which a payment of interest or Commitment  Fees or Facility
Letter of Credit  Fees is made under the Credit  Agreement  with  respect to the
amounts assigned to the Assignee  hereunder (other than a payment of interest or
Commitment  Fees or Facility  Letter of Credit Fees  attributable  to the period
prior to the  Effective  Date or, in the case of LIBOR Loans,  the Payment Date,
which the Assignee is obligated to deliver to the Assignor pursuant to Section 4
hereof). The amount of such fee shall be the difference between (i) the interest
or fee, as applicable, paid with respect to the amounts assigned to the Assignee
hereunder  and (ii) the  interest or fee, as  applicable,  which would have been
paid with  respect to the amounts  assigned to the  Assignee  hereunder  if each
interest rate was calculated at the rate of % rather than the actual  percentage
used to calculate  the interest  rate paid by the Borrower or if the  Commitment
Fee or Facility Letter of Credit Fee was calculated at the rate of % rather than
the actual percentage used to calculate the Commitment Fee or Facility Letter of
Credit Fee paid by the Borrower, as applicable. In addition, the Assignee agrees
to pay ___% of the fee required to be paid to the Agent in connection  with this
Assignment  Agreement.  [This sentence can be revised appropriately based on how
the fee is being paid.] *Each  Assignor  may insert its standard  provisions  in
lieu of the payment terms included in Sections 4 and 5 of this Exhibit.


<PAGE>


         6.  REPRESENTATIONS  OF THE  ASSIGNOR;  LIMITATIONS  ON THE  ASSIGNOR'S
LIABILITY.  The  Assignor  represents  and  warrants  that it is the  legal  and
beneficial  owner of the interest  being  assigned by it hereunder and that such
interest is free and clear of any adverse claim  created by the Assignor.  It is
understood  and agreed that the  assignment  and  assumption  hereunder are made
without  recourse  to  the  Assignor  and  that  the  Assignor  makes  no  other
representation or warranty of any kind to the Assignee. Neither the Assignor nor
any  of its  officers,  directors,  employees,  agents  or  attorneys  shall  be
responsible  for (i)  the due  execution,  legality,  validity,  enforceability,
genuineness,  sufficiency  or  collectability  of any Loan  Document,  including
without  limitation,  documents  granting the  Assignor and the other  Lenders a
security  interest  in  assets  of the  Borrower  or  any  guarantor,  (ii)  any
representation,  warranty or statement made in or in connection  with any of the
Loan  Documents,  (iii)  the  financial  condition  or  creditworthiness  of the
Borrower or any guarantor, (iv) the performance of or compliance with any of the
terms or  provisions of any of the Loan  Documents,  (v)  inspecting  any of the
Property,  books or records of the  Borrower,  its  Subsidiaries  or  Investment
Affiliates, (vi) the validity, enforceability,  perfection, priority, condition,
value or  sufficiency  of any  collateral  securing or  purporting to secure the
Loans or (vii) any mistake,  error of judgment, or action taken or omitted to be
taken in connection with the Loans or the Loan Documents.

         7.  REPRESENTATIONS OF THE ASSIGNEE.  The Assignee (i) confirms that it
has  received  a copy of the  Credit  Agreement  and the other  Loan  Documents,
together with copies of the financial  statements  requested by the Assignee and
such other  documents and  information as it has deemed  appropriate to make its
own credit analysis and decision to enter into this Assignment  Agreement,  (ii)
agrees that it will,  independently and without reliance upon the Administrative
Agent, the Syndication Agent, the Assignor or any other Lender and based on such
documents and information at it shall deem appropriate at the time,  continue to
make its own  credit  decisions  in taking or not taking  action  under the Loan
Documents,  (iii) appoints and authorizes the Administrative  Agent to take such
action  as agent on its  behalf  and to  exercise  such  powers  under  the Loan
Documents as are  delegated to the  Administrative  Agent by the terms  thereof,
together with such powers as are reasonably incidental thereto, (iv) agrees that
it will perform in accordance with their terms all of the  obligations  which by
the terms of the Loan  Documents are required to be performed by it as a Lender,
(v) agrees  that its payment  instructions  and notice  instructions  are as set
forth in the  attachment  to Schedule 1, (vi)  confirms  that none of the funds,
monies,  assets  or other  consideration  being  used to make the  purchase  and
assumption  hereunder  are "plan  assets"  as defined  under  ERISA and that its
rights, benefits and interests in and under the Loan Documents will not be "plan
assets" under ERISA,  [and (vii)  attaches the forms  prescribed by the Internal
Revenue Service of the United States certifying that the Assignee is entitled to
receive  payments under the Loan Documents  without  deduction or withholding of
any United States federal  income  taxes].** **to be inserted if the Assignee is
not incorporated under the laws of the United States, or a state thereof.

         8. INDEMNITY.  The Assignee agrees to indemnify and hold the Assignor
harmless against any and all losses, costs and expenses (including, without
limitation, reasonable attorneys= fees) and liabilities incurred by the Assignor
in connection with or arising in any manner from the Assignee's non-performance
of the obligations assumed under this Assignment Agreement.



<PAGE>

         9. SUBSEQUENT ASSIGNMENTS. After the Effective Date, the Assignee shall
have the right pursuant to Section 13.3.1 of the Credit  Agreement to assign the
rights  which are  assigned to the  Assignee  hereunder to any entity or person,
provided  that (i) any such  subsequent  assignment  does not violate any of the
terms and conditions of the Loan Documents or any law, rule, regulation,  order,
writ,  judgment,  injunction or decree and that any consent  required  under the
terms of the Loan  Documents has been obtained and (ii) unless the prior written
consent of the Assignor is obtained,  the Assignee is not thereby  released from
its obligations to the Assignor hereunder, if any remain unsatisfied, including,
without limitation, its obligations under Sections 4, 5 and 8 hereof.

         10. REDUCTIONS OF AGGREGATE COMMITMENT.  If any reduction in the
Aggregate Commitment occurs between the date of this Assignment Agreement and
the Effective Date, the percentage interest specified in Item 3 of Schedule 1
shall remain the same, but the dollar amount purchased shall be recalculated
based on the reduced Aggregate Commitment.

         11. ENTIRE AGREEMENT. This Assignment Agreement and the attached Notice
of Assignment embody the entire agreement and understanding between the parties
hereto and supersede all prior agreements and understandings between the parties
hereto relating to the subject matter hereof.

         12.  GOVERNING LAW. This Assignment  Agreement shall be governed by the
internal law, and not the law of conflicts, of the State of Illinois.

         13.  NOTICES. Notices shall be given under this Assignment Agreement in
the manner set forth in the Credit Agreement.  For the purpose hereof, the
addresses of the parties hereto until notice of a change is delivered) shall be
the address set forth in the attachment to Schedule 1.

         IN WITNESS WHEREOF, the parties hereto have executed this Assignment
Agreement by their duly authorized officers as of the date first above written.


                                  [NAME OF ASSIGNOR]
                                  By:___________________________________
                                  Title:________________________________


                                  [NAME OF ASSIGNEE]
                                  By:___________________________________
                                  Title:________________________________





<PAGE>



                                  SCHEDULE 1 TO
                              ASSIGNMENT AGREEMENT


1.   Description and Date of Credit Agreement:

2.   Date of Assignment Agreement:__________, 19__

3.   Amounts (As of Date of Item 2 above):

     a.  Aggregate Commitment
         (Loans)* under
         Credit Agreement                                $______________________
     b.  Assignee's Percentage
         of the Aggregate Commitment
         purchased under this
         Assignment Agreement**                           _____________________%

4.   Amount of Assignee's Commitment (Loan Amount)*
     Purchased under this Assignment Agreement:          $______________________

5.   Amount of Assignor's Commitment (Loan Amount)
     After Purchase under this Assignment Agreement      $______________________

6.   Proposed Effective Date:                             ______________________


Accepted and Agreed:
[NAME OF ASSIGNOR]                               [NAME OF ASSIGNEE]


By:___________________________                   By:____________________________

Title:________________________                   Title:_________________________



 *     If a Commitment has been terminated, insert outstanding Loans in place of
       Commitment
**     Percentage taken to 10 decimal places




<PAGE>



                           ATTACHMENT TO SCHEDULE 1 TO
                              ASSIGNMENT AGREEMENT


         Attach Assignor's Administrative Information Sheet, which must
                 include notice address and account information
                       for the Assignor and the Assignee



<PAGE>



                                 EXHIBIT "I" TO
                              ASSIGNMENT AGREEMENT
                              NOTICE OF ASSIGNMENT

                                                         ________________, 19___


To:      [NAME OF ADMINISTRATIVE AGENT]

From:    [NAME OF ASSIGNOR] (the "Assignor")
         [NAME OF ASSIGNEE] (the "Assignee")

            i)  We refer to that Unsecured Revolving Credit Agreement (the
                "Credit Agreement") described in Item 1 of Schedule 1 attached
                hereto ("Schedule 1").  Capitalized terms used herein and not
                otherwise defined herein shall have the meanings attributed to
                them in the Credit Agreement.

           ii)  This Notice of Assignment (this "Notice") is given and delivered
                to the Administrative Agent pursuant to Section 13.3.1 of the
                Credit Agreement.

          iii)  The Assignor and the Assignee  have entered into an Assignment
                Agreement, dated as of ______________, 19__ (the  "Assignment"),
                pursuant  to which, among other  things,  he Assignor  has sold,
                assigned, delegated and transferred to the Assignee,  and the
                Assignee has purchased, accepted and assumed from the Assignor
                the percentage interest specified in Item 3 of Schedule 1 of all
                outstandings, rights and obligations under the Credit Agreement.
                From and after such  purchase, the  Assignee's Commitment  shall
                be the amount  specified  in Item 4 of  Schedule  1 and the
                Assignor's Commitment  shall be the amount  specified in Item 5
                of Schedule 1. The Effective  Date of the  Assignment  shall be
                the later of the date  specified  in Item 5 of Schedule 1 or two
                (2) Business Days (or such shorter period as agreed to by the
                Administrative Agent) after this Notice of  Assignment  and any
                fee required by Section  13.3.1 of the Credit  Agreement  have
                been delivered to the Administrative Agent, provided that the
                Effective Date shall not occur if any condition precedent agreed
                to by the Assignor and the  Assignee  or set  forth  in  Section
                13 of the  Credit Agreement has not been satisfied.

           iv)  The Assignor and the Assignee hereby give to the Administrative
                Agent notice of the assignment and delegation referred to
                herein.  The Assignor will confer with the Administrative Agent
                before the date specified in Item 6 of Schedule 1 to determine
                if the Assignment Agreement will become effective on such date
                pursuant to Section 3 hereof, and will confer with the
                Administrative Agent to determine the Effective Date pursuant to
                Section 3 hereof if it occurs thereafter.  The Assignor shall
                notify the Administrative Agent if the Assignment Agreement does
                not become effective on any proposed Effective Date as a result
                of the failure to satisfy the conditions precedent agreed to by
                the Assignor and the Assignee.  At the request of the
                Administrative Agent, the Assignor will give the Administrative
                Agent written confirmation of the satisfaction of the conditions
                present.


<PAGE>

            v)  The  Assignor or the  Assignee  shall pay to the  Administrative
                Agent on or before the Effective  Date the processing fee of
                $3,000 required by Section  13.3.1 of the Credit  Agreement.

           vi)  If Notes are outstanding  on the Effective  Date,  the  Assignor
                and  the Assignee request and direct that the  Administrative
                Agent prepare and cause the  Borrower  to execute  and  deliver
                new Notes or, as appropriate,  replacements notes, to the
                Assignor and the Assignee. The Assignor and, if applicable, the
                Assignee each agree to deliver to the  Administrative  Agent the
                original Note received by it from the  Borrower upon its receipt
                of a new Note in the  appropriate amount.

          vii)  The Assignee  advises the  Administrative  Agent that notice and
                payment instructions are set forth in the attachment to Schedule
                1.

         viii)  The Assignee hereby  represents and warrants that none of the
                funds, monies, assets or other consideration being used  to make
                the purchase  pursuant to the  Assignment are "plan assets" as
                defined under ERISA and that its rights, benefits, and interests
                in and under the Loan  Documents will not be "plan assets" under
                ERISA.
           ix)  The Assignee authorizes the Administrative  Agent to act  as its
                agent under the Loan Documents in accordance  with the terms
                thereof. The Assignee acknowledges that the Administrative Agent
                has no duty to supply  information  with respect to the Borrower
                or the Loan Documents to the Assignee until the Assignee becomes
                a party to the Credit Agreement.*

*May be eliminated if Assignee is a party to the Credit Agreement prior to the
Effective Date.


NAME OF ASSIGNOR                                 NAME OF ASSIGNEE


By:______________________________                By:____________________________

Title:___________________________                Title:_________________________


ACKNOWLEDGED AND CONSENTED TO
BY THE FIRST NATIONAL BANK OF CHICAGO
as Administrative Agent

By:______________________________

Title:___________________________


                 (Attach photocopy of Schedule 1 to Assignment)


<PAGE>



                                  SCHEDULE 6.19

                            ENVIRONMENTAL COMPLIANCE


                                      None.




<PAGE>



                                  SCHEDULE 6.24

                                   TRADE NAMES

                                      None.




<PAGE>



                                  SCHEDULE 6.25

                            SUBSIDIARIES (BORROWERS)



<TABLE>
<CAPTION>


      Name                      Entity Type             Percentage Ownership
- --------------------------   -------------------    ----------------------------
<S>                          <C>                     <C>
EQI Financing                    Tennessee          99% limited partner interest
Partnership I, L.P.          limited partnership      by Operating Partnership

Equity Inns/West                  Tennessee         99% limited partner interest
Virginia Partnership, L.P.   limited partnership      by Operating Partnership

</TABLE>




<PAGE>



                                  SCHEDULE 6.26

                               UNENCUMBERED ASSETS

                                   Albany, NY
                                Traverse City, MI
                                  Arlington, TX
                                  Beckley, WVA
                                 Bluefield, WVA
                                  Oak Hill, WVA
                                   Wilkesboro,
                                State College, PA
                                   Rutland, VT
                                  Scranton, PA
                                 Glen Burnie, MD
                                  Hartford, CN
                                 Scottsdale, AZ
                                 Chattanooga, TN
                                 Burlington, VT
                              Colorado Springs, CO
                                Oklahoma City, OK
                                  Savannah, GA
                                   Norfolk, VA
                                  Pickwick, TN
                                   Addison, TX
                              Atlanta-Northlake, GA
                               Mountain Brook, AL
                                  Vestavia, AL
                                 Chapel Hill, NC
                             Charleston-Airport, SC
                           Colorado Springs-I 25 N, CO
                                  Columbia, SC
                                Denver-Aurora, CO
                           Detroit-Madison Heights, MI
                                   Dublin, OH
                                 Little Rock, AR
                               Memphis-Poplar, TN
                            Memphis-Sycamore View, TN
                          Nashville-Briley Parkway, TN
                             St. Louis-Westport, MO
                                 Germantown, TN
                                   Augusta, GA
                               Mount Pleasant, SC
                             Jacksonville Beach, FL
                                Winston-Salem, NC
                            Cincinnati (Blue Ash), OH
                                Jacksonville, FL
                                    Miami, FL
                                    Tampa, FL
                          San Antonio (Hampton Inn), TX



<PAGE>

                                    Boise, ID
                              Barlett (Memphis), TN
                                Somers Point, NJ
                                 Albuquerque, NM
                                  Baltimore, MD
                                 Baton Rouge, LA
                          Birmingham (AmeriSuites), AL
                                  Las Vegas, NV
                               Miami (Kendall), FL
                                 Minneapolis, MN
                           Nashville (AmeriSuites), TN
                                   Seattle, WA

Borrower  represents and warrants that all of the foregoing  Unencumbered Assets
are  owned by the  Operating  Partnership,  except  for  those  located  in West
Virginia, which are owned by EIP/WV and those in Boise, ID and Somers Point, NJ,
which are owned by Equity II.



<PAGE>


                                  SCHEDULE 7.16

                            SUBSIDIARIES (GUARANTORS)


<TABLE>
<CAPTION>


         Name                     Entity Type             Percentage Ownership
- -------------------------     --------------------     -------------------------
<S>                           <C>                       <C>
Equity Inns Trust             Maryland real estate    100% by Equity Inns, Inc.
                                investment trust

Equity Inns                       Tennessee            approximately 96.5% by
Partnership, L.P.             limited partnership      by Equity Inns Trust

                                                       1% by EQI Financing
EQI Financing                     Tennessee            Corporation; 99% by
Partnership I, L.P.           limited partnership      Operating Partnership

EQI Financing Corporation     Tennessee corporation    100% by Equity Inns Trust

                                                       1% by Equity Inns
Equity Inns/West                  Tennessee            Services, Inc.; 99% by
Virginia Partnership, L.P.    limited partnership      by Operating Partnership

Equity Inns Services, Inc     Tennessee corporation    100% by Equity Inns, Inc.

                                                       1% by Equity Inns Trust;
Equity Inns Partnership           Tennessee            99% by Operating
II, L.P.                      limited partnership      Partnership

                                                       1% by EQI Financing
EQI Financing Partnership         Tennessee            Corporation II; 99% by
II, L.P.                      limited partnership      Operating Partnership

EQI Financing
Corporation II                Tennessee corporation    100% by Equity Inns Trust

                                                       1% by Equity Financing
EQI/WV Financing                  Tennessee            Corporation II; 99% by
Partnership, L.P.             limited partnership      Operating Partnership
</TABLE>

<TABLE> <S> <C>


<ARTICLE>                     5
<LEGEND>
This schedule contains summary financial information extracted from the
financial statements of Equity Inns, Inc. for the six months ended June
30, 1999, and is qualified in its entirety by reference to such financial
statements.
</LEGEND>

<S>                             <C>
<PERIOD-TYPE>                   6-MOS
<FISCAL-YEAR-END>               Dec-31-1999
<PERIOD-START>                  Jan-01-1999
<PERIOD-END>                    Jun-30-1999
<CASH>                               88,955
<SECURITIES>                              0
<RECEIVABLES>                    14,551,267
<ALLOWANCES>                              0
<INVENTORY>                               0
<CURRENT-ASSETS>                          0
<PP&E>                          825,262,906
<DEPRECIATION>                            0
<TOTAL-ASSETS>                  851,301,680
<CURRENT-LIABILITIES>                     0
<BONDS>                                   0
                     0
                      68,750,000
<COMMON>                            372,390
<OTHER-SE>                      358,434,485
<TOTAL-LIABILITY-AND-EQUITY>    851,301,680
<SALES>                                   0
<TOTAL-REVENUES>                 58,019,736
<CGS>                                     0
<TOTAL-COSTS>                             0
<OTHER-EXPENSES>                 41,942,398
<LOSS-PROVISION>                          0
<INTEREST-EXPENSE>               12,411,851
<INCOME-PRETAX>                  16,077,338
<INCOME-TAX>                              0
<INCOME-CONTINUING>                       0
<DISCONTINUED>                            0
<EXTRAORDINARY>                           0
<CHANGES>                                 0
<NET-INCOME>                     12,235,126
<EPS-BASIC>                           .33
<EPS-DILUTED>                           .33



</TABLE>


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