RFS Reports Second Quarter Results

Press Release: RFS Hotel Investors Inc.
August 2, 2002
MEMPHIS, TN -- RFS Hotel Investors, Inc. (NYSE:RFS) yesterday announced funds from operations (FFO) for the second quarter 2002 of $11.4 million, or $0.38 per share, compared to $16.9 million, or $0.62 per share, for the same quarter a year ago. FFO for the six months ended June 30, 2002, was $19.2 million, or $0.66 per share, compared to 2001 FFO of $31.9 million or $1.16 per share. Operating results were in line with reduced guidance given by the Company on June 27, 2002.

Second Quarter Highlights

Hotel revenue per available room (RevPAR) declined 10.6% for the second quarter. The following represents changes in RevPAR as compared to the prior year comparable periods by market segment:

                                        RevPAR Change
                                        -------------
                               Quarter            Year to Date
                               --------           ------------

Full Service                     (16.6%)                (22.0%)
Extended Stay                    ( 6.5%)                ( 6.9%)
Limited Service                  ( 5.9%)                ( 7.5%)
                               --------               --------
    Total                        (10.6%)                (13.5%)

Operating Results

Randy Churchey, president and chief operating officer, said, "As expected, the industry has experienced a significant downturn in business travel which began in the spring of 2001 and was exacerbated by the events of September 11. During the quarter, we experienced some improvement in the San Francisco market due to an increase in the number of leisure travelers. However, RevPAR at our four hotels in and around Silicon Valley was down 32.7% compared to a decline of 36.6% during the first quarter.

RevPAR for the entire portfolio declined 10.6% indicating some sequential improvement from the first quarter results which reflected a decrease of 16.6%. We began to experience quarterly declines in RevPAR during the third quarter of 2001 and RevPAR for the second quarter of 2001 was unchanged from the prior year. Therefore, quarterly RevPAR comparisons should improve over the balance of the year."

Capital

Despite the reduction in FFO and RevPAR, the Company:

Kevin Luebbers, RFS executive vice president and chief financial officer, stated, "The repurchase of $25 million in preferred stock with the proceeds of our recent common stock offering reduces our aggregate dividends by $1.1 million and eliminates the required future redemption of the Series B Preferred Stock. This transaction, together with our successful sales of $125 million in unsecured senior notes and 1.15 million shares of common stock in the first quarter, positions us with in excess of $100 million of available capital to withstand this difficult operating environment and to opportunistically acquire hotels which meet our strategic and financial criteria."

Outlook and Dividends

The Company declared a dividend of $0.25 per share, payable September 16, 2002, to shareholders of record September 6, 2002. RFS expects to pay an annual dividend in 2002 of $1.00 per share. Based upon preliminary estimates, approximately 75% of the dividend is expected, for tax purposes, to be characterized as a return of capital, and; therefore, not taxable as ordinary income for federal income tax purposes.

Robert Solmson, chairman and chief executive officer, stated, "It has been, and continues to be, extremely difficult to predict lodging demand in the current economic environment. In recent months, the U.S. economy has shown renewed growth following last year's recession. Recently, we have seen improving RevPAR trends for our hotels, and we expect this trend to continue. Our best estimate is that RevPAR growth, year over year, during the second half of 2002 will be consistent with industry forecasts of 2% to 6% and that FFO per share for 2002 will range from $1.35 to $1.40.

Fortunately, the Company's balance sheet remains strong with total debt equal to only 36% of the costs of our assets, no significant debt maturities until 2008, and operating cash flow (EBITDA less interest expense) for the trailing 12 months of $44.4 million. This combination of low leverage and strong cash flows enables the Company to pay meaningful dividends to our shareholders during this difficult operating environment. Management will continue to do everything in its power to: protect the dividend; maintain low levels of debt; and, maximize return on investment."

The Company also announced that, effective in 2003, it would include in compensation the expense associated with the fair value of stock option grants made subsequent to January 1, 2003. The impact of this change in accounting policy, if adopted in prior years, would have increased annual compensation costs by approximately $.01 per share on an annual basis.

RFS Hotel Investors, Inc. (RFS) is a real estate investment trust (REIT) that owns 58 hotels with approximately 8,400 rooms located in 24 states. RFS's hotel portfolio is diversified by geography, brand and segment. Leading brands under which RFS hotels are operated include Sheraton®, Residence Inn by Marriott®, Hilton®, Doubletree®, Holiday Inn®, Hampton Inn®, and Homewood Suites by Hilton®. By segment, RFS receives approximately 38% of its EBITDA from full service hotels, 35% from extended stay hotels, and 27% from limited service hotels. Additional information can be found on the Company's web site at www.rfshotel.com.

RFS invites you to listen to the Company's second quarter 2002 conference call. A recording of the call also will be archived and available at www.rfshotel.com.

Certain matters discussed in this press release are forward-looking statements within the meaning of federal securities regulations. All forward-looking statements involve known and unknown risks, uncertainties and other factors which may cause the actual transactions, results, performance or achievements to be materially different from any future transactions, results, performance or achievements expressed or implied by such forward-looking statements. General economic conditions, competition, and governmental actions will affect future transactions, results, performance, and achievements. These risks are presented in detail in our filings with the Securities and Exchange Commission. Although the Company believes the expectations reflected in such forward-looking statements are based upon reasonable assumptions, it can give no assurance that our expectations will be attained or that any deviations will not be material. The Company undertakes no obligation to publicly release the result of any revisions to these forward-looking statements that may be made to reflect any future events or circumstances.

                       RFS Hotel Investors, Inc.
                        Key Company Statistics
                      QUARTER ENDED JUNE 30, 2002

                         Operating Statistics

Total Revenues     $53.6 million   EBITDA                $19.4 million

% Decrease
 in Revenues        11.2%          % Decrease in EBITDA   21.1%

FFO                $11.4 million   % of Hotel EBITDA(1)
                                    Full Service Hotels     38%
% Decrease in FFO   32.9%           Extended Stay Hotels    35%
                                    Limited Service Hotels  27%
FFO per Share      $0.38

% Decrease in FFO
 per Share          38.7%


                          Capital Statistics

EBITDA/Interest(1)        2.8x              Debt/EBITDA(1)        4.3x

EBITDA/Interest and       2.5x              Percentage of fixed    97%
Preferred Dividends(1)                      interest rate debt

(1) EBITDA information is for the trailing twelve months ended
June 30, 2002.



                       RFS HOTEL INVESTORS, INC.
                 CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF OPERATIONS
       FOR THE THREE AND SIX MONTHS ENDED JUNE 30, 2002 AND 2001
                 (in thousands, except per share data)

                              Three Months Ended   Six Months Ended
                              June 30,  June 30,  June 30,   June 30,
                                2002      2001      2002      2001
                             --------- --------- ---------  ---------
Revenue:
  Rooms                       $ 46,374  $ 52,163  $ 87,066  $ 102,069
  Food and beverage              4,674     4,580     8,877      9,337
  Other operating departments    1,730     2,563     3,336      4,989
  Lease revenue (1)              1,234     1,429     2,868      3,317
  Deferred revenue (1)            (491)     (457)   (1,503)    (1,736)
  Other                            107       137       261        341
                             --------- --------- ---------  ---------
    Total hotel revenue         53,628    60,415   100,905    118,317
                             --------- --------- ---------  ---------

Hotel operating expenses by
 department:
  Rooms                          9,118     9,847    17,538     19,459
  Food and beverage              3,346     3,553     6,507      7,061
  Other operating departments      465       557       939      1,097
 Undistributed operating
  expenses:
  Property operating costs       5,445     5,670    10,779     11,461
  Property taxes, insurance
   and other                     3,174     2,896     6,533      6,141
  Franchise costs                4,388     4,621     8,230      9,011
  Maintenance and repair         2,500     2,616     4,815      5,198
  Management fees                1,270     1,532     2,528      2,883
  General and administrative     3,855     4,003     7,546      7,913
                             --------- --------- ---------  ---------
    Total hotel operating
     expenses                   33,561    35,295    65,415     70,224
                             --------- --------- ---------  ---------

Net hotel operating income
 (Hotel EBITDA)                 20,067    25,120    35,490     48,093

Corporate expenses:
  Depreciation                   7,612     7,483    14,933     14,877
  Amortization of deferred
   expenses and unearned
   compensation                    739       707     1,415      1,410
  Interest expense               6,511     6,216    12,555     12,772
  General and administrative     1,177     1,006     2,262      2,179
  Debt extinguishment and swap
   termination costs                --        --    10,122         --
  Hilton lease termination          --       600        --     65,496
  Loss (gain) on sale of assets     10    (1,200)     (962)    (1,200)
  Minority interest in income
   (loss) of Operating
   Partnership                     119       687      (676)    (1,759)
                             --------- --------- ---------  ---------

Income (loss) before income
 taxes                           3,899     9,621    (4,159)   (45,682)
Provision for (benefit from)
 income taxes                      130       (20)     (380)   (24,499)
                             --------- --------- ---------  ---------

Net income (loss)                3,769     9,641    (3,779)   (21,183)
Preferred stock dividends         (781)     (782)   (1,562)    (1,562)
Gain (loss) on redemption of
 preferred stock                (1,890)       --    (1,890)     5,141
                             --------- --------- ---------  ---------

Net income (loss) applicable
 to common shareholders        $ 1,098   $ 8,859  $ (7,231) $ (17,604)
                             ========= ========= =========  ==========

  Income (loss) per share
   - diluted                   $  0.04   $  0.35  $  (0.27) $   (0.71)
  Weighted average common
   shares outstanding - diluted 27,217    25,003    26,407     24,864

(1) Deferred revenue is recorded for the Company's hotels which are
    leased to third parties in accordance with Staff Accounting
    Bulletin 101 which requires deferral of certain revenue until the
    third and fourth quarters. For the three and six months ended
    June 30, 2002 and 2001, five hotels were leased to third-party
    lessees, respectively. SAB 101 has no effect on rent payments
    under the Company's third-party leases or the Company's cash flow
    and no impact on full year revenue.



                       RFS HOTEL INVESTORS, INC.
                     CALCULATION OF FFO AND EBITDA
       FOR THE THREE AND SIX MONTHS ENDED JUNE 30, 2002 AND 2001
                 (in thousands, except per share data)

                             Three Months Ended   Six Months Ended
                              June 30,  June 30,  June 30,   June 30,
                                2002      2001      2002       2001
                             --------- --------- ---------  ---------

Funds from operations:
Net income (loss)              $ 3,769   $ 9,641  $ (3,779) $ (21,183)
Minority interest in income
 (loss) of Operating
 Partnership                       119       687      (676)    (1,759)
Hilton lease termination            --       600        --     65,496
Deferred income tax provision
 (benefit)                         130        32      (380)   (24,499)
Debt extinguishment and swap
 termination costs                  --        --    10,122         --
Deferred revenue                   491       457     1,503      1,736
Loss (gain) on sale of assets       10    (1,200)     (962)    (1,200)
Preferred stock dividends         (781)     (782)   (1,562)    (1,562)
Depreciation                     7,612     7,483    14,933     14,877
                             --------- --------- ---------  ---------

    Funds from operations     $ 11,350  $ 16,918  $ 19,199   $ 31,906
                             ========= ========= =========  =========

Weighted average common
 shares, partnership units
 and potential dilutive
 shares outstanding             29,676    27,474    29,013     27,452

    FFO per share               $ 0.38    $ 0.62    $ 0.66     $ 1.16

Earnings before interest,
 taxes, depreciation and
 amortization (EBITDA):
FFO                             11,350    16,918    19,199     31,906
Interest expense                 6,511     6,216    12,555     12,772
Current income taxes                --       (52)       --         --
Amortization                       739       707     1,415      1,410
Preferred stock dividends          781       782     1,562      1,562
                             --------- --------- ---------  ---------

    Corporate EBITDA          $ 19,381  $ 24,571  $ 34,731   $ 47,650
                             ========= ========= =========  =========



                       RFS HOTEL INVESTORS, INC.
                      CONSOLIDATED BALANCE SHEETS
                            (in thousands)

                                                 June 30,    Dec. 31,
                                                   2002       2001
                                                 ---------  ---------
ASSETS
Investment in hotel properties, net               $605,326   $615,562
Cash and cash equivalents                           10,473      5,735
Restricted cash                                      5,375      6,817
Accounts receivable                                  5,105      5,533
Deferred expenses, net                               8,764      6,964
Other assets                                         3,674      3,517
Deferred income taxes                               25,114     24,734
                                                 ---------  ---------
    Total assets                                  $663,831   $668,862
                                                 ---------  ---------

LIABILITIES AND SHAREHOLDERS' EQUITY
Accounts payable and accrued expenses
 (including deferred rent)                         $24,918    $20,857
Borrowings on Line of Credit                         9,250     81,188
Long-term obligations                              285,530    219,947
Minority interest in Operating Partnership,
 2,459 units issued and outstanding at
 June 30, 2002 and December 31, 2001, respectively  29,244     31,059
                                                 ---------  ---------
    Total liabilities                              348,942    353,051
                                                 ---------  ---------

Preferred Stock, $.01 par value, 5,000 shares
 authorized, 250 shares issued and outstanding at
 December 31, 2001                                             25,000
                                                            ---------

Commitments and contingencies

Shareholders' equity:
  Common Stock, $.01 par value, 100,000 shares
   authorized, 29,041 and 25,811 shares issued
   at June 30, 2002 and December 31, 2001,
   respectively                                        290        258
  Additional paid-in capital                       409,333    368,361
  Other comprehensive income                            --     (3,220)
  Treasury stock, at cost, 576 shares               (8,100)    (8,100)
  Distributions in excess of earnings              (86,634)   (66,488)
                                                 ---------  ---------
    Total shareholders' equity                     314,889    290,811
                                                 ---------  ---------
      Total liabilities,
       preferred stock and
       shareholders' equity                       $663,831   $668,862
                                                 =========  =========



                       RFS Hotel Investors, Inc.
                    Market Segment Diversification


For the three months ended June 30, 2002

                         ADR          Occupancy             REVPAR
                 ----------------- ---------------- -----------------
                         Variance         Variance           Variance
                            vs.              vs.                vs.
    Segment        2002    2001     2002    2001      2002     2001
---------------- -------- -------  ------ --------- -------- --------

Full Service     $ 101.98 (11.6%)  69.2%  (4.1 pts) $ 70.52   (16.6%)
Extended Stay     $ 95.58  (2.6%)  78.8%  (3.2 pts) $ 75.28    (6.5%)
Limited Service   $ 69.61  (2.0%)  71.2%  (3.0 pts) $ 49.59    (5.9%)
                 -------- -------  ------ --------- -------- --------

Total             $ 88.10  (6.3%)  72.5%  (3.4 pts) $ 63.85   (10.6%)
                 ======== =======  ====== ========= ======== ========

For the six months ended June 30, 2002

                        ADR          Occupancy          REVPAR
                 ----------------- ---------------- -----------------
                         Variance         Variance           Variance
                            vs.              vs.                vs.
    Segment        2002    2001     2002    2001      2002     2001
---------------- -------- -------  -----  --------- -------  --------

Full Service      $101.47 (13.4%)  64.7%  (7.1 pts) $ 65.60   (22.0%)
Extended Stay     $ 95.99  (1.9%)  78.1%  (4.2 pts) $ 75.00    (6.9%)
Limited Service   $ 70.46  (1.6%)  66.1%  (4.1 pts) $ 46.54    (7.5%)
                 -------- ------   -----  --------  -------    ------

Total             $ 88.55  (6.9%)  68.7%  (5.3 pts) $ 60.86   (13.5%)
                 ======== ======   =====  ========  =======   ======

    Includes all 58 hotels owned.



                       RFS Hotel Investors, Inc.
                         Brand Diversification

                             Second     Year
                             Quarter   to Date             Percentage
                   Hotel     RevPAR    RevPAR     Hotel      of Total
                 Properties vs. 2001  vs. 2001  EBITDA (1)  EBITDA (1)
                 ---------- --------  --------  ---------  -----------
Marriott
 International, Inc.
  Residence Inn          14    (6.1%)    (6.5%)  $ 23,196          32%
  TownePlace
   Suites                 3    (6.9%)    (9.1%)     2,162           3%
  Courtyard               1   (14.5%)   (20.2%)     1,020           1%
                                                           -----------
                                                                   36%
                                                           -----------
Hilton Hotels
 Corporation
  Hampton Inn            17    (4.4%)    (4.9%)    13,641          19%
  Doubletree              1   (13.0%)   (16.4%)     2,832           4%
  Hilton                  1   (13.8%)   (20.7%)     1,599           2%
  Homewood Suites         1   (15.6%)   (11.9%)       494           1%
                                                           -----------
                                                                   26%
                                                           -----------
Starwood Hotels
 & Resorts
  Sheraton                4   (15.5%)   (24.0%)     8,382          12%
  Four Points             2   (13.5%)   (18.2%)     3,905           5%
                                                           -----------
                                                                   17%
                                                           -----------
Six Continents PLC
  Holiday Inn             5    (3.5%)    (8.8%)     8,200          11%
  Holiday Inn
   Express                5   (12.8%)   (17.5%)     3,794           5%
                 ---------- --------  --------  ---------  -----------
                                                                   16%
                                                           -----------

Top Four
 Frachisors              54    (8.6%)   (11.8%)    69,225          95%
  Other                   4   (31.9%)   (32.2%)     3,947           5%
                 ---------- --------  --------  ---------  -----------

    Portfolio
     Total               58   (10.6%)   (13.5%)  $ 73,172         100%
                 ========== ========  ========  =========  ===========

(1) For the trailing twelve months ended June 30, 2002, in thousands.



                       RFS Hotel Investors, Inc.
                      Geographic Diversification

                             Second     Year
                             Quarter   to Date             Percentage
                   Hotel     RevPAR    RevPAR     Hotel      of Total
                 Properties vs. 2001  vs. 2001  EBITDA (1)  EBITDA (1)
                 ---------- --------  --------  ---------  -----------

California
 (see below)             10   (21.5%)   (25.0%)  $ 23,347          32%
Florida                   7   (15.2%)   (14.1%)     7,018          10%
Texas                     6    (1.4%)    (2.7%)     5,890           8%
Michigan                  3   (14.3%)   (16.0%)     4,231           6%
Illinois                  3   (10.5%)   (15.4%)     3,981           5%
New York                  1    15.6%     15.5%      3,592           5%
Minnesota                 3   (15.4%)   (16.9%)     2,684           4%
Missouri                  2     1.7%     (9.7%)     2,593           4%
Georgia                   2    (5.6%)    (4.4%)     1,983           3%
Rhode Island              1    (0.4%)    (2.7%)     1,786           2%
Oklahoma                  2    (4.9%)    (4.3%)     1,762           2%
Louisiana                 1     0.7%     (7.2%)     1,637           2%
Delaware                  1     3.5%      1.6%      1,528           2%
Others (2)               16    (0.6%)    (3.3%)    11,140          15%
                 ---------- --------  --------  ---------  -----------

  Portfolio Total        58   (10.6%)   (13.5%)  $ 73,172         100%
                 ========== ========  ========  =========  ===========


                      California Diversification

                             Second     Year
                             Quarter   to Date             Percentage
                   Hotel     RevPAR    RevPAR     Hotel      of Total
                 Properties vs. 2001  vs. 2001  EBITDA (1)  EBITDA (1)
                 ---------- --------  --------  ---------  -----------

Silicon Valley            4   (32.7%)   (35.5%)    10,489          14%
Los Angeles Area          2    (8.4%)   (10.2%)     5,189           7%
San Francisco             2   (17.2%)   (23.9%)     2,352           3%
San Diego                 1   (13.0%)   (16.4%)     2,717           4%
Sacramento                1    (6.9%)    (4.9%)     2,600           4%
                 ---------- --------  --------  ---------  -----------

  California Total       10   (21.5%)   (25.0%)  $ 23,347          32%
                 ========== ========  ========  =========  ===========

(1) For the trailing twelve months ended June 30, 2002, in thousands.

(2) We own hotels in each of the following states which individually
    represent less than 2% of total Hotel EBITDA: Alabama (1), Arizona
    (3), Colorado (2), Indiana (1), Kentucky (1), Mississippi (1),
    Nebraska (2), North Carolina (1), South Carolina (2), Tennessee
    (1) and Wisconsin (1).



                       RFS Hotel Investors, Inc.
                   RETURN ON INVESTMENT ANALYSIS (1)
                          As of June 30, 2002
                        (Amounts in thousands)

                   Unleveraged Return on Investment

                            Total
                          Investment,     EBITDA for the  Unleveraged
                            Before          TTM ended      Return on
                        Depreciation (2)   June 30, 2002   Investment
                        ----------------  --------------  ------------

Full Service                   $ 377,090        $ 27,594          7.3%

Extended Stay                  $ 221,687        $ 25,852         11.7%

Limited Service                $ 211,450        $ 19,726          9.3%
                        ----------------  --------------  ------------

Total                          $ 810,227        $ 73,172          9.0%
                        ================  ==============   ===========


                    Leveraged Return on Investment

EBITDA for the TTM ended June 30, 2002          $ 73,172
Less:  Interest expense                          (24,172)(3)
                                          --------------
                                                $ 49,000
                                          ==============

Equity investment after 36% leverage           $ 515,447
                                          ==============

Leveraged Return on Investment                      9.5%
                                          ==============


(1) Includes all 58 hotels owned at June 30, 2002.

(2) Total investment includes original cost and all capital
    expenditures since acquisition. Also includes the costs associated
    with the Hilton lease termination of approximately $60 million.
    These costs were required to be written-off as a cancellation of
    executory contracts and therefore are not included on the balance
    sheet. However, for return on investment analysis, this amount is
    included in the total investment.

(3) $294.8 million at an average annual rate of 8.2% (weighted average
    cost of debt at June 30, 2002).



                       RFS HOTEL INVESTORS, INC.
                           OUTSTANDING DEBT
                             June 30, 2002

                     Balance          Interest Rate        Maturity
                  ------------        -------------        --------
                 (in thousands)

Line of Credit         $ 9,250   LIBOR + 200bp  Variable     July 2004
Senior Notes           125,000     9.75%         Fixed      March 2012
Mortgage                91,348     7.83%         Fixed   December 2008
Mortgage                18,117     8.22%         Fixed   November 2007
Mortgage                51,065     8.00%         Fixed     August 2010
                    -----------

                     $ 294,780
                    ===========



                            Debt Maturities
                             (in millions)

                     2002                 $ 1.3
                     2003                   2.7
                     2004                  12.1
                     2005                   3.2
                     2006                   3.4
                  Thereafter              272.1
                                 --------------

                                        $ 294.8
                                 ==============

    Weighted average maturity of fixed rate debt is 8.1- years.

----------------------------------------
Contact: 
     RFS Hotel Investors Inc., Memphis
     Cheryl Stewart, 901/767-7005