SUPERTEL HOSPITALITY INC
DEF 14A, 1997-03-25
HOTELS & MOTELS
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                            SCHEDULE 14A INFORMATION

                    Proxy Statement Pursuant to Section 14(a)
             of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934 (Amendment No. )


Filed by the  Registrant [ X ]
Filed by a Party other than the Registrant [ ]

Check the appropriate box:

[  ]     Preliminary Proxy Statement
[  ]     Confidential, for Use of the Commisison Only (as permitted by
         Rule 14a-6(e)(2))
[XX]     Definitive Proxy Statement
[  ]     Definitive Additional Materials
[  ]     Soliciting Material Pursuant to Section 240.14a-11(c) 
         or Section 240.14a-12


                           SUPERTEL HOSPITALITY, INC.
________________________________________________________________________________
                (Name of Registrant as Specified In Its Charter)

________________________________________________________________________________
    (Name of Person(s) Filing Proxy Statement, if other than the Registrant)


Payment of Filing Fee (Check the appropriate box):

[XX] No fee required.
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         and 0-11.
         1)  Title of each class of securities to which transaction applies:
             ___________________________________________________________________
         2)  Aggregate number of securities to which transaction applies:
             __________________________________________________________________
         3)  Per unit price or other underlying value of transaction computed 
             pursuant to Exchange Act Rule 0-11 (Set forth the amount on which
             the filing fee is calculated and state how it was determined):
             ___________________________________________________________________
         4)  Proposed maximum aggregate value of transaction:
             ___________________________________________________________________
         5)  Total fee paid:
             ___________________________________________________________________

[  ] Fee paid previously with preliminary materials.

[  ] Check box if any part of the fee is offset as provided by Exchange Act
     Rule 0-11(a)(2) and identify the filing for which the offsetting fee was 
     paid previously. Identify the previous filing by registration statement
     number, or the form or Schedule and the date of its filing.

         1)       Amount Previously Paid:
                  ______________________________________________________________
         2)       Form, Schedule or Registration Statement No.:
                  ______________________________________________________________
         3)       Filing Party:
                  ______________________________________________________________
         4)       Date Filed:
                  ______________________________________________________________


<PAGE>



                                    NOTICE OF
                                 ANNUAL MEETING
                                 OF STOCKHOLDERS






                                 PROXY STATEMENT







                           SUPERTEL HOSPITALITY, INC.





                              309 North 5th Street
                             Norfolk, Nebraska 68701
                                 (402) 371-2520





                           SUPERTEL HOSPITALITY, INC.



<PAGE>



                           SUPERTEL HOSPITALITY, INC.

                              309 North 5th Street
                             Norfolk, Nebraska 68701
                                 (402) 371-2520

                                NOTICE OF MEETING


To Supertel Hospitality, Inc. Stockholders:


     The annual meeting of  stockholders of Supertel  Hospitality,  Inc. will be
held on May 2, 1997 at 2:00 p.m.  local  time,  at The Red Lion Inn,  1616 Dodge
Street, Omaha, Nebraska 68102.

     We hope you will be able to attend the Annual Stockholders' Meeting. If you
do not expect to be present and wish your stock to be voted,  please sign,  date
and mail the enclosed proxy form. If you later decide to attend the meeting, you
may withdraw your proxy at that time and vote your shares in person.

         Matters to be considered by the stockholders:

         Item 1.           Election of Directors.

         Item 2.           Approval of the 1997 Stock Plan.

         Item 3.           Approval of the appointment of the independent
                           accountants for fiscal year 1997.

     Stockholders  of record as of the close of  business  on March 14, 1997 are
eligible to vote at the Annual Stockholders' Meeting.

                                        By order of the Board of Directors



                                        Paul J. Schulte, President and 
                                          Chief Executive Officer





March 25, 1997

                                       -2-

<PAGE>



                                 PROXY STATEMENT

     Annual Meeting of Stockholders to be held May 2, 1997


To our Stockholders:

     The Board of Directors of Supertel Hospitality,  Inc. ("Supertel") solicits
your proxy in the form enclosed for use at the Annual Meeting of Stockholders to
be held on Friday, May 2, 1997.

     Stockholders  of  record  at the close of  business  on March 14,  1997 are
entitled  to vote at the  meeting.  Supertel  at March 14,  1997 had  issued and
outstanding  4,840,000  shares of common stock.  All holders of common stock are
entitled to one vote for each share of stock held by them.

     The  presence  of a majority  of the  outstanding  shares of common  stock,
represented  in person or by proxy at the  meeting,  will  constitute  a quorum.
Common shares  represented by proxies that are marked  "abstain" will be counted
as shares present for purposes of determining the presence of a quorum.  Proxies
relating to "street  name" shares that are voted by brokers on some matters will
be treated as shares  present for  purposes  of  determining  the  presence of a
quorum, but will not be treated as shares entitled to vote at the annual meeting
on those  matters  as to  which  authority  to vote is  withheld  by the  broker
("broker non-votes").

     The five  nominees  receiving  the  highest  vote totals will be elected as
directors of Supertel.  Accordingly,  abstentions and broker  non-votes will not
affect the outcome of the election of  directors.  All other matters to be voted
on will be decided by the  affirmative  vote of a majority of the common  shares
present or  represented at the meeting and entitled to vote. On any such matter,
an abstention  will have same effect as a negative vote. A broker  non-vote will
not be counted as an affirmative  vote or a negative vote because shares held by
brokers  will not be  considered  entitled  to vote on  matters  as to which the
brokers withhold authority.

     A stockholder  giving a proxy may revoke it before the meeting by mailing a
signed instrument revoking the proxy to: Secretary, Supertel Hospitality,  Inc.,
309 North 5th Street, Norfolk,  Nebraska, 68701. To be effective, the revocation
must be received by the Secretary prior to May 2, 1997. A stockholder may attend
the meeting in person,  and at that time  withdraw  his or her proxy and vote in
person.  This proxy  statement is being mailed to stockholders on or about March
25, 1997.

     The cost of solicitation of proxies,  including the cost of reimbursing the
banks  and  brokers  for  forwarding  proxies  and  proxy  statements  to  their
principals, will be borne by Supertel.



                                       -3-

<PAGE>



                              CERTAIN STOCKHOLDERS

     The  following  table sets forth  information  relating  to the  beneficial
ownership of Supertel's  common stock by each person known to Supertel to be the
beneficial  owner of more than 5% of the outstanding  shares of common stock, by
each  director,  by each executive  officer,  and by all directors and executive
officers as a group.


Name and Address of                      Beneficial           Percent
Beneficial Owner                         Ownership as of      of Class
                                         March 14, 1997
- --------------------------------------------------------------------------------

Paul Schulte                             715,651(1)           14.8%(1)
309 North 5th Street
Norfolk, NE 68701

Steve Borgmann                           767,639(1)           15.9%(1)
309 North 5th Street
Norfolk, NE 68701

Loren Steele                               6,000(1)            (2)

Joseph Caggiano                            6,500(1)            (2)

Richard Herink                            25,500(1)            (2)

Troy Beatty                                  200(1)            (2)

KPM Investment Management, Inc.
  10250 Regency Circle
  Omaha, Nebraska 68114                  421,600(3)            8.7%(3)

Wellington Management
  Company, LLP                           467,000(4)            9.7%(4)

All Executive Officers and
Directors as a Group                   1,523,990              31.5%
(6 persons)

- ----------------------------

(1)      Beneficial ownership includes shares owned by spouses and minor
         children and shares which the persons indicated have the right to
         acquire through the exercise of stock options as follows: Mr. Steele
         and Mr. Caggiano, 4,500 shares each; Mr. Schulte and Mr. Borgmann,
         10,000 shares each; Mr. Schulte's spouse, 4,000 shares; and Mr.
         Herink, 3,000 shares. Beneficial ownership also includes shares
         indirectly owned through corporations as follows: Mr. Schulte,
         37,504 shares; and Mr. Borgmann, 82,932 shares.

(2)      Less than 1% of the outstanding common stock.

(3)      Based on a Schedule 13G dated February 3, 1997 filed with the
         Securities and Exchange Commission.

(4)      Based on a Schedule 13G dated January 24, 1997 filed with the
         Securities and Exchange Commission.



                                       -4-

<PAGE>



                              ELECTION OF DIRECTORS

     Supertel's  Board of Directors  is composed of five  members  elected on an
annual basis.

     The  following  table  sets  forth  Supertel's  nominees  for the  Board of
Directors.  Each  nominee is a member of the  present  Board of  Directors.  Mr.
Schulte  and Mr.  Borgmann  have  served  as  directors  of  Supertel  since its
formation.  Mr. Steele and Mr.  Caggiano have served as directors since February
1994. Mr. Herink became a director in February 1997.  Supertel became subject to
the  reporting  requirements  of  the  Securities  Exchange  Act  of  1934  upon
completion  of its  initial  public  offering  on May 3, 1994.  For  information
concerning the ownership of Supertel common stock by the nominees,  see "Certain
Stockholders".

PAUL J. SCHULTE

          Mr.  Schulte,  age 63, is  President  and Chief  Executive  Officer of
     Supertel. Mr. Schulte has been involved in acquiring,  developing,  owning,
     managing and  operating  economy  motels for  Supertel or its  predecessors
     since 1978.

STEVE H. BORGMANN

          Mr. Borgmann,  age 51, is Executive Vice President and Chief Operating
     Officer  of  Supertel.   Mr.  Borgmann  has  been  involved  in  acquiring,
     developing,  owning,  managing and operating economy motels for Supertel or
     its predecessors since 1978.

LOREN STEELE

          Mr. Steele,  age 56, is a director of Super 8 Motels,  Inc., a wholly-
     owned subsidiary of Hospitality  Franchise Systems, Inc. (a publicly- owned
     franchisor  of hotels  and  motels).  Mr.  Steele is also  Chairman  of the
     International  Franchise  Association.  From 1988 through  April 1993,  Mr.
     Steele was Vice Chairman and Chief Executive Officer of Super 8 Enterprises
     Motel System, Inc. (franchisor of Super 8 Motels).

JOSEPH CAGGIANO

          Mr. Caggiano,  age 71, has served as Vice Chairman Emeritus of Bozell,
     Jacobs,  Kenyon & Eckhardt,  Inc.  from 1991 to the  present.  From 1974 to
     1991, Mr. Caggiano  served as Chief Financial  Officer and Vice Chairman of
     the  Board of  Bozell & Jacobs  (advertising  and  public  relations).  Mr.
     Caggiano is also a director of First Omaha Funds.

RICHARD HERINK

          Mr.  Herink,  age 43, became  Executive  Vice President of Supertel in
     August  1995.  From  April  1993 to  August  1995,  he was  Executive  Vice
     President of FirsTier Bank,  N.A.,  Norfolk.  Prior to April 1993, he was a
     Division President with Farm Credit Services of the Midlands.

     The proxies will be voted for the election of these nominees;  however,  in
the event any nominee  should become  unavailable,  which the Board of Directors
has no  reason  to  believe  will be the  case,  the  proxy  holders  will  have
discretionary authority in that instance to vote the proxies for a substitute.

                                       -5-

<PAGE>



                       DIRECTOR MEETINGS AND COMPENSATION

     The Board of Directors meets on a regularly  scheduled  basis. The Board of
Directors met six times during 1996. The Board of Directors has assigned certain
responsibilities  to  committees.  Supertel does not have a standing  Nominating
Committee.

     The Audit  Committee,  which met four  times in 1996,  is  responsible  for
recommending  the  appointment  of Supertel's  independent  public  accountants,
reviewing  the  scope  of  the  audits  recommended  by the  independent  public
accountants,  and  consulting  with  the  independent  public  accountants  on a
periodic basis on matters relating to financing controls and procedures. Members
of the Audit Committee are Joseph Caggiano (Chairman) and Loren Steele.

     The Compensation  Committee,  which met five times in 1996,  determines the
amounts  and  types  of  remuneration  to be paid to  management  employees  and
administers  compensation  plans  for  management  employees.   Members  of  the
Compensation Committee are Loren Steele (Chairman) and Joseph Caggiano.

     Directors  who are not  employees of Supertel  receives fees of $12,000 per
annum plus $750 per board and committee meeting attended (other than meetings by
written consent or telephone  communications).  In addition,  each  non-employee
director receives an option to acquire 1,500 shares of common stock, exercisable
at the market price of the shares on the grant date,  each year  following  such
director's election at the annual stockholders' meeting.

                           SUMMARY COMPENSATION TABLE

     The  following  Summary  Compensation  Table  shows  compensation  paid  by
Supertel for services rendered during calendar years 1996, 1995 and 1994 for the
executive  officers  of  Supertel  whose  salary  and  bonus  for 1996  exceeded
$100,000.

<TABLE>

===============================================================================================================================
                                                              Annual Compensation                           Long-Term
                                                                                                          Compensation
===============================================================================================================================
        Name and Principal Position                Year             Salary            Bonus             Number of Options
- -------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
<S>                                                <C>             <C>                  <C>               <C>  
Paul Schulte                                       1996            $250,000            -0-                5,000
  President and                                    1995            $250,000          $10,000              5,000
  Chief Executive Officer                          1994            $250,000          $10,000                -0-
- -------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Steve Borgmann                                     1996            $250,000            -0-                5,000
  Executive Vice President and                     1995            $250,000          $10,000              5,000
  Chief Operating Officer                          1994            $250,000          $10,000                -0-
- -------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Richard Herink                                     1996            $132,000            -0-                3,000
  Executive Vice President(1)                      1995            $41,015            $4,400                -0-
                                                   1994               ---              ---                  ---
===============================================================================================================================

     (1) Mr. Herink became an executive officer of Supertel in August 1995.
</TABLE>

                                       -6-

<PAGE>



                              OPTION GRANTS IN 1996

     The  following  table sets  forth  information  on grants of stock  options
during 1996  pursuant to the Supertel  1994 Stock  Option Plan to the  executive
officers named in the Summary  Compensation  Table. No stock appreciation rights
were granted during 1996.
<TABLE>

===================================================================================================================================
                                                  Percent of                                      Potential Realizable Value at
                                                 Total Options     Per Share                      Assumed Annual Rates of Stock
                                 Number of        Granted to       Exercise                       Price Appreciation for Option
                                  Options        Employees in        Price                        Term(2)
           Name                 Granted(1)        Fiscal 1996                     Expiration
                                                                                     Date
                                                                                                ===================================
                                                                                                       5%               10%
===================================================================================================================================
<S>                                <C>               <C>            <C>             <C> <C>           <C>               <C>    
       Paul Schulte                5,000             14.4%          $10.75          2-5-06            $33,863           $85,463
- -----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
      Steve Borgmann               5,000             14.4%          $10.75          2-5-06            $33,863           $85,463
- -----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
      Richard Herink               3,000              8.6%          $10.75          2-5-06            $20,318           $51,278
===================================================================================================================================

     (1) The  options  were  granted on February 5, 1996 at the then fair market
value of Supertel's common stock and became exercisable on February 5, 1997.

     (2) Potential  realizable  value is based on the assumption that the common
stock price appreciates at the annual rate shown (compounded  annually) from the
date of grant until the end of the ten-year option term. Supertel's common stock
price at the end of the ten-year term based on a 5% appreciation would be $17.52
and Supertel's common stock price at the end of the 10- year term based on a 10%
appreciation   would  be  $27.84.  The  numbers  are  calculated  based  on  the
requirements  promulgated by the Securities and Exchange Commission.  The actual
value,  if any, an executive  may realize will depend on the excess of the stock
price  over the  exercise  price on the date the  option  is  exercised  (if the
executive  were to sell  the  shares  on the date of  exercise),  so there is no
assurance  that the value  realized will be at or near the potential  realizable
value as calculated in this table.
</TABLE>


                                       -7-

<PAGE>



               OPTION EXERCISES IN FISCAL 1996 AND YEAR-END VALUES

     The following table sets forth information on aggregate option exercises in
1996 and  information  with  respect  to the  value of  unexercised  options  to
purchase Supertel's Common Stock for the executive officers named in the Summary
Compensation Table.
<TABLE>

==================================================================================================================================
                                                                                                    Value of Unexercised In-The-
                            Number of                        Number of Unexercised Options             Money Options Held at
                              Shares                           Held at December 31, 1996                December 31, 1996(1)
                           Acquired on        Value
         Name                Exercise       Realized
                                                                                              ------------------------------------
                                                        --------------------------------------------------------------------------
                                                            Exercisable       Unexercisable       Exercisable       Unexercisable
- ----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
<S>                             <C>             <C>            <C>                <C>                  <C>                <C>
Paul Schulte                   -0-             -0-             5,000              5,000               -0-                -0-
- ----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Steve Borgmann                 -0-             -0-             5,000              5,000               -0-                -0-
- ----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Richard Herink                 -0-             -0-              -0-               3,000               -0-                -0-
==================================================================================================================================

(1)      Value is common stock  closing  price on December  31,  1996,  less the
         option exercise price, multiplied by the number of shares.

</TABLE>

                       CERTAIN AGREEMENTS AND TRANSACTIONS

     Supertel is a party to employment agreements with Messrs. Schulte, Borgmann
and Herink.  Each employment  agreement is for a term extending through December
31, 1997,  is annually  renewable  thereafter,  and  requires  the  executive to
refrain from  competing  with  Supertel for one year  following  termination  of
employment.  Each  employment  agreement  provides  for payment of base  salary,
participation  in  bonus  and  option  plans  to the  extent  determined  by the
Compensation  Committee,  and payment of normal business  expenses.  If Supertel
terminates an executive without cause (as defined in each employment agreement),
Supertel is required to pay the  executive's  base salary for the remaining term
of the  employment  agreement,  but in no event for a period of less than twelve
months.



                                       -8-

<PAGE>



             COMPENSATION COMMITTEE REPORT ON EXECUTIVE COMPENSATION

     Supertel's   executive   compensation   program  is   administered  by  the
Compensation  Committee  of  the  Board  of  Directors  (the  "Committee").  The
Committee  is composed of  non-employee  directors.  The  Committee's  executive
compensation policies are designed to provide competitive levels of compensation
which  integrate pay with  Supertel's  annual and long-term  performance  goals,
reward above-average  corporate performance,  and assist Supertel in attracting,
motivating and retaining qualified executives.

     The program consists of three  components:  base salary,  annual incentives
and long-term incentives. The Committee recommended or established the executive
compensation  within  each of  these  components  during  1996.  In  determining
competitive   levels  of  compensation,   the  Committee  obtains  and  utilizes
information such as executive  compensation  surveys and comparative analyses of
compensation  data in proxy  statements  of  others.  The  Committee  intends to
structure  all executive  compensation  so that such payments will be deductible
under Section 162(m) of the Internal Revenue Code.

     BASE SALARY.  The Committee  targets base salary for  executives at a level
comparable  to  base  salaries  paid  by  competitive  businesses  in  the  same
geographic  area. The base salary paid during 1996 to Supertel's chief executive
officer and chief operating  officer was established  prior to the completion of
Supertel's  initial  public  offering  in May 1994  and has not  been  increased
following such date. The Committee  intends to annually review base salaries for
executive officers.

     ANNUAL INCENTIVES.  The Committee believes that an executive's contribution
to net income  should form the basis for annual  incentives,  since such results
maximize  earnings  in the best  interests  of the  corporation.  For 1996,  the
Committee did not authorize any cash bonuses.

     LONG-TERM   INCENTIVES.   Supertel's  long-term  incentives  for  executive
officers are provided  through stock options under  Supertel's 1994 Stock Option
Plan.  The  Committee  intends to grant stock options at the  prevailing  market
price of  Supertel's  common  stock,  and  therefore any option grants will have
value only if Supertel's  stock price  increases.  The size of option grants are
expected to be based upon competitive  practice and position level, the expected
contribution  of each  member  of the  executive  officer  group  to  Supertel's
strategic and operational  goals, and the Committee's  desire to provide certain
executive  officers with an opportunity to build a meaningful stake in Supertel.
Past stock option grants are not considered when determining the number of stock
options to grant in a given year.


                                       -9-

<PAGE>



     The Committee  granted  options to acquire an aggregate of 34,600 shares to
42 employees  during 1996. The grants to executive  officers are set forth under
"Option  Grants in 1996" above.  The grants  reflect the  Committee's  policy of
issuing  stock  options for 20% to 25% of the shares  authorized  under the 1994
Stock  Option  Plan on an  annual  basis,  and  issuing  options  to  Supertel's
executive  officers  at  a  level  substantially  above  the  grants  for  other
employees.

     COMPENSATION OF CHIEF EXECUTIVE  OFFICER.  The Committee  intends to review
the compensation of the Chief Executive Officer on an annual basis. During 1996,
the Committee did not make any change in the base salary of the Chief  Executive
Officer from that existing prior to Supertel's  initial  public  offering in May
1994.

                                      Supertel Hospitality, Inc.
                                        Compensation Committee


                                         Loren Steele, Chairman
                                         Joseph Caggiano
   
                                      -10-

<PAGE>



                          STOCK PRICE PERFORMANCE GRAPH

     The following  performance  graph  compares the  performance  of Supertel's
common stock to the Total Return Index for the NASDAQ Stock Market-United States
Companies (Broad Market Index) and the S & P Hotel/Motel  Index. The performance
graph shows cumulative  stockholder  returns.  The performance graph assumes the
value of the  investment in  Supertel's  common stock and each Index was $100 on
May 1, 1994  (immediately  prior to the completion of Supertel's  initial public
offering on May 3, 1994) and that any dividends were reinvested.

EDGAR REPRESENTATION OF DATA POINTS USED IN PRINTED GRAPHIC


                          Supertel             Nasdaq             S&P Hotel/
                      Hospitality, Inc.     Composite Index      Motel Index

    DATE               PRICE     INDEX     PRICE      INDEX     PRICE     INDEX

May 1, 1994           $10.00    100.00    $  740.68   100.00   $298.77    100.00

December 31, 1994      12.75    127.50       751.96   101.52    302.00    101.08

December 31, 1995      10.00    100.00     1,052.14   142.05    353.46    118.31

December 31, 1996       9.00     90.00     1,291.03   174.30    407.07    136.25






                                      -11-

<PAGE>




                    APPROVAL OF THE SUPERTEL 1997 STOCK PLAN

GENERAL

     Supertel's Board of Directors has adopted the Supertel 1997 Stock Plan (the
"Plan"),  subject to stockholder approval. The Board of Directors recognizes the
value of stock  incentives in assisting  Supertel in the hiring and retaining of
management  personnel  and in enhancing of the  long-term  mutuality of interest
between Supertel stockholders and its directors,  officers and employees.  Since
only 25,500 shares of common stock remain  available for grant under  Supertel's
current  stock  plan,  the  Board of  Directors  has  approved  the  Plan  which
authorizes the issuance of up to 250,000 shares of Supertel common stock.

     Under the Plan, the Compensation  Committee (the  "Committee") of the Board
may grant stock options,  stock appreciation rights,  restricted stock and stock
bonuses to officers and other  employees of Supertel and its  subsidiaries.  The
number of grantees may vary from year to year. The number of employees  eligible
to participate in the Plan is estimated to be  approximately  125. The Committee
administers  the Plan  and its  determinations  are  binding  upon  all  persons
participating in the Plan.

     The maximum number of shares of Supertel's  common stock that may be issued
under the Plan is 250,000.  Any shares of common stock subject to an award which
for any reason are  cancelled,  terminated  or  otherwise  settled  without  the
issuance of any common stock are again  available for awards under the Plan. The
maximum  number of shares of common  stock which may be issued under the Plan to
any one  employee  shall not  exceed  20% of the  aggregate  number of shares of
common  stock that may be issued  under the Plan.  The  shares  may be  unissued
shares  or  treasury  shares.  If  there  is  a  stock  split,  stock  dividend,
recapitalization  or other relevant change  affecting  Supertel's  common stock,
appropriate  adjustments  may be made by the  Committee  in the number of shares
issuable  in the  future  and in the  number  of  shares  and  price  under  all
outstanding grants made before the event.

GRANTS UNDER THE PLAN

     Stock Options for Employees. The Committee may grant employees nonqualified
options and options  qualifying as incentive stock options.  The option price of
either a nonqualified stock option or an incentive stock option will be the fair
market value of the common  stock on the date of grant.  Options  qualifying  as
incentive stock options must meet certain  requirements of the Internal  Revenue
Code,  including the  requirement  that the  aggregate  fair market value of the
common stock (determined at the time of the grant of the option) with respect to
which such options are  exercisable for the first time by an employee during any
calendar

                                      -12-

<PAGE>



year shall not exceed $100,000.  To exercise an option,  an employee may pay the
option price in cash, or if permitted by the Committee,  by  withholding  shares
otherwise  issuable on exercise of the option or by  delivering  other shares of
common  stock if such  shares have been owned by the  optionee  for at least six
months.  The term of each  option  will be fixed  by the  Committee  but may not
exceed ten years from the date of grant.  The Committee  will determine the time
or times when each option is  exercisable.  Options may be made  exercisable  in
installments,  and the  exercisability  of  options  may be  accelerated  by the
Committee.  All outstanding options become immediately  exercisable in the event
of a change-in-control of Supertel.

     Stock  Appreciation  Rights.  The Committee may grant a stock  appreciation
right  (an  "SAR")  in  conjunction  with an  option  granted  under the Plan or
separately  from any  option.  Each SAR  granted in tandem with an option may be
exercised  only to the extent that the  corresponding  option is exercised,  and
such SAR terminates upon  termination or exercise of the  corresponding  option.
Upon the exercise of an SAR granted in tandem with an option,  the corresponding
option will terminate.  SAR's granted  separately from options may be granted on
such terms and conditions as the Committee establishes. If an employee exercises
an SAR, the employee will generally receive a payment equal to the excess of the
fair market  value at the time of  exercise of the shares with  respect to which
the SAR is  being  exercised  over  the  price  of such  shares  as fixed by the
Committee  at the  time the SAR was  granted.  Payment  may be made in cash,  in
shares of Supertel  common stock,  or any  combination of cash and shares as the
Committee determines.

     Restricted  Stock.  The Committee  may grant awards of restricted  stock to
employees  under the Plan. The  restrictions on such shares shall be established
by  the  Committee,   which  may  include  restrictions  relating  to  continued
employment  and Supertel  financial  performance.  The  Committee may issue such
restricted  stock awards without any cash payment by the employee,  or with such
cash payment as the  Committee  may  determine.  The  Committee has the right to
accelerate the vesting of restricted shares and to waive any  restrictions.  All
restrictions lapse in the event of a change-in-control of Supertel.

     Stock Bonuses. The Committee may grant a bonus in shares of Supertel common
stock to  employees  under the Plan.  Such stock  bonuses may be in lieu of cash
compensation  otherwise payable to such employee,  or may be in addition to such
cash compensation.

     Director  Participation.  Each non-employee director will receive under the
Plan an annual grant of a  nonstatutory  stock option to acquire 1,500 shares of
common  stock  exercisable  at the fair market  value of the common stock on the
date of grant.  The annual  stock  option  grant will first be made  immediately
following the 1998 annual stockholders' meeting. Each non-employee director

                                      -13-

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currently receives such an option grant pursuant to the terms of Supertel's 1994
Stock Option Plan.

     Tax Withholding. The Committee may permit an employee to satisfy applicable
federal,  state  and local  income  tax  withholding  requirements  through  the
delivery to Supertel of previously-acquired  shares of common stock or by having
shares otherwise issuable under the Plan withheld by Supertel.

     Other  Information.  The Board may  terminate the Plan at any time but such
termination shall not affect any stock options, SAR's, restricted stock or stock
bonuses then  outstanding  under the Plan.  Unless  terminated  by action of the
Board,  the Plan will  continue in effect until  December  31, 2006,  but awards
granted  prior to such  date  will  continue  in  effect  until  they  expire in
accordance  with  their  terms.  The Board  may also  amend the Plan as it deems
advisable. Amendments which materially modify the requirements for participation
in the Plan or increase the number of shares of common stock subject to issuance
under the Plan must be submitted to stockholders for approval.

FEDERAL INCOME TAX CONSEQUENCES

     With respect to incentive  stock  options,  if the holder of an option does
not dispose of the shares  acquired  upon exercise of the option within one year
from the transfer of such shares to such employee,  or within two years from the
date the  option to acquire  such  shares is  granted,  for  federal  income tax
purposes  (i) the  optionee  will not  recognize  any  income at the time of the
exercise of the option;  (ii) the excess of the fair market  value of the shares
as of the date of exercise  over the option  price will  constitute  an "item of
adjustment"  for  purposes  of  the  alternative  minimum  tax;  and  (iii)  the
difference between the option price and the amount realized upon the sale of the
shares by the  optionee  will be treated as a  long-term  capital  gain or loss.
Supertel  will not be allowed a  deduction  for federal  income tax  purposes in
connection  with the  granting of an  incentive  stock option or the issuance of
shares thereunder.

     With respect to the grant of options which are not incentive stock options,
the person receiving an option will recognize no income on receipt thereof. Upon
the exercise of the option,  the optionee will recognize  ordinary income in the
amount of the  difference  between the option price and the fair market value of
the  shares on the date the  option  is  exercised.  Supertel  will  receive  an
equivalent deduction at that time.

     With respect to  restricted  stock awards and bonuses of common  stock,  an
amount equal to the fair market value of the Supertel shares  distributed to the
employee  (in  excess  of any  purchase  price  paid  by the  employee)  will be
includable  in the  employee's  gross  income at the time of receipt  unless the
award is not transferable and subject to a substantial  risk of forfeiture as 

                                      -14-

<PAGE>



defined in Section 83 of the Internal Revenue Code (a "Forfeiture Restriction").
If an  employee  receives  an award  subject to a  Forfeiture  Restriction,  the
employee  may elect to include  in gross  income  the fair  market  value of the
award.  In the absence of such an election,  the employee  will include in gross
income the fair market value of the award subject to a Forfeiture Restriction on
the earlier of the date such  restrictions  lapse or the date the award  becomes
transferable.  Supertel is entitled to a deduction at the time and in the amount
income is included in the gross income of an employee.

     With respect to stock  appreciation  rights, the amount of any cash (or the
fair market  value of any common  stock)  received  upon the exercise of a stock
appreciation right will be subject to ordinary income tax in the year of receipt
and Supertel will be entitled to a deduction for such amount.

VOTE REQUIRED

     The favorable vote of the holders of a majority of the  outstanding  shares
of  Supertel's  common stock  present in person or  represented  by proxy at the
meeting is required for approval of the Plan.

                  The Board of Directors recommends a vote FOR
                  the approval of the Supertel 1997 Stock Plan.


                         INDEPENDENT PUBLIC ACCOUNTANTS

     The firm of KPMG Peat Marwick has been  appointed by the Board of Directors
to conduct  the 1997 audit of  Supertel's  financial  statements.  The same firm
conducted the 1996 audit. The Board of Directors requests  stockholder  approval
of their  appointment.  A representative of KPMG Peat Marwick will be present at
the  Annual  Stockholders'  Meeting  and  will  have the  opportunity  to make a
statement and to respond to appropriate questions.


                              STOCKHOLDER PROPOSALS

     Stockholder proposals intended to be included in Supertel's proxy statement
for the 1998 annual  meeting must be received by Supertel no later than December
1, 1997 in order for such proposals to be considered for inclusion in Supertel's
proxy statement relating to such meeting.

     Supertel's  bylaws set forth certain  procedures  which  stockholders  must
follow in order to  nominate a  director  or present  any other  business  at an
annual stockholders'  meeting.  Generally, a stockholder must give timely notice
to the Secretary of Supertel.

                                      -15-

<PAGE>



     To be timely,  such  notice  must be  received by Supertel at 309 North 5th
Street, Norfolk,  Nebraska, 68701, not less than thirty nor more than sixty days
prior to the meeting.  The bylaws specify the  information  which must accompany
any such  stockholder  notice.  Details on these provisions of the bylaws may be
obtained by any stockholder from the Secretary of Supertel.


                                  OTHER MATTERS

     The  Board  of  Directors  does not know of any  other  matter  that may be
presented for action an the annual meeting of stockholders.  If any other matter
or proposal  should be presented and should properly come before the meeting for
action,  the persons named in the accompanying  proxy will vote upon such matter
and upon such proposal in accordance with their best judgment.

                                    By Order of the Board of Directors


                                    Steve H. Borgmann, Secretary
                                    Supertel Hospitality, Inc.


                                      -16-

<PAGE>


- --------------------------------------------------------------------------------

                           Supertel Hospitality, Inc.

              Proxy for Annual Meeting of Stockholders May 2, 1997


     The  undersigned  hereby  constitutes  and appoints  Paul Schulte and Steve
Borgmann,  or either of them,  with full power of  substitution in each of them,
for and on  behalf  of the  undersigned  to vote as  proxies,  as  directed  and
permitted herein at the Annual Meeting of Stockholders of Supertel to be held at
The Red Lion Inn, 1616 Dodge Street, Omaha,  Nebraska,  68102, on May 2, 1997 at
2:00 p.m. and at any  adjournment  thereof,  upon matters set forth in the Proxy
Statement,  and, in their judgment and  discretion,  upon such other business as
may properly come before the meeting.

                                     ITEM 1.

Election of Directors - FOR the following nominees for Director: Paul
Schulte, Steve Borgmann, Richard Herink, Loren Steele and Joseph
Caggiano.

     VOTE FOR             WITHHOLD          WITHHOLD VOTE FOR
     ALL NOMINEES         VOTE FOR ALL      ONLY THE FOLLOWING
                          NOMINEES          NOMINEE(S):

          |_|                |_|            -----------------------

                                     ITEM 2.

Approval of the 1997 Stock Plan:

          FOR               AGAINST             ABSTAIN

          |_|                 |_|                  |_|

                                     ITEM 3.

Approval of appointment of independent  accountants KPMG Peat Marwick for fiscal
1997:

          FOR               AGAINST              ABSTAIN

          |_|                 |_|                  |_|

THIS PROXY IS SOLICITED ON BEHALF OF THE BOARD OF  DIRECTORS.  This proxy,  when
properly  executed,  will  be  voted  in  the  manner  directed  herein  by  the
undersigned  stockholder.  If properly  executed and no direction is made,  this
proxy will be voted FOR proposals 1, 2 and 3.

Dated this ___ day of _______________, 1997.


Signature______________________________________


Signature______________________________________
         (When signing as attorney, executor,  administrator,  trustee,
         guardian or conservator, designate full title. All joint tenants must 
         sign.)
- --------------------------------------------------------------------------------


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