Winston Hotels Reports Third Quarter 2000 Results

Reported FFO Per Share of $0.49 in Line with Expectations

Press Release: Winston Hotels, Inc.
November 1, 2000
RALEIGH, NC -- Winston Hotels, Inc., (NYSE: WXH), a real estate investment trust and owner of premium limited-service, high-end extended-stay and full-service hotels, yesterday announced results for the third quarter and nine months ended September 30, 2000. FFO totaled $8.9 million for the third quarter of 2000 and $9.3 million for the third quarter of 1999. On a per share basis, FFO for the third quarter of 2000 totaled $0.49 on 18.2 million weighted average shares outstanding compared to $0.51 on 18.1 million weighted average shares for the same quarter a year ago. Lease revenue prior to adoption of SAB 101 totaled $16.5 million for both the third quarter of 2000 and the third quarter of 1999.

       Summary of Third Quarter and YTD Unaudited Financial Highlights
                  ($ in thousands, except per share amounts)
                         For the Three Months       For the Nine Months
                            Ended Sept. 30,            Ended Sept. 30,
                         2000     1999    Change   2000       1999    Change
                               (proforma)                  (proforma)
     Percentage lease
      revenue Pre-
      SAB 101          $16,487  $16,490    0.0%  $48,757    $48,515    0.5%
     Deferred lease
      revenue           $2,257   $1,678   34.5%  $(9,789)  $(11,705)  16.4%
     Percentage lease
      revenue          $18,744  $18,168    3.2%  $38,968    $36,810    5.9%
     FFO                $8,914   $9,314   (4.3)% $24,803    $25,309   (2.0)%
     FFO per diluted
      common share       $0.49    $0.51   (3.9)%   $1.36     $ 1.40   (2.9)%

    Note:  The 1999 financial highlights above have been presented on a
    proforma basis as if the Company had adopted SAB 101 prior to 1999 in
    order to provide for a meaningful comparison.


Bob Winston, Chief Executive Officer, commented: ``Our third quarter FFO per share of $0.49 and RevPAR results were in line with expectations. This solid performance despite our sector's slower growth is testimony to the effectiveness of our strategy. Our commitment to investing in high-quality real estate has given us one of the youngest median property ages of any public-hotel REIT. This highly selective approach continues to serve us well.

``Additionally, we are making excellent progress in executing our multi-dimensional growth strategy, which permits us to apply our expertise in hotel development and participate in carefully structured joint ventures. Earlier this month we announced the opening of a Hilton Garden Inn in Windsor Connecticut, which is owned and operated under a joint venture agreement with Regent Partners. In addition we have two other joint venture projects under development which will provide us with additional sources of fee income and enable us to expand our affiliations with leading upscale brands. Finally, we are in the process of financing and developing two Hilton Garden Inn hotels with Noble Investment Group. This strategic alliance further documents Winston's ability to execute despite the market constraints currently confronting our sector,'' stated Mr. Winston.

Winston Hotels' President and Chief Operating Officer, James D. Rosenberg, added, ``Operating trends remained solid in the third quarter of 2000. As we stated earlier in the year, we expected RevPAR growth for our segment to be in the flat to one percent range. Accordingly, we are encouraged by our positive trend in RevPar growth, which was up one percent for the third quarter.''

Mr. Rosenberg went on to say, ``In addition to ramping up occupancy at our newest hotels and engaging in joint ventures, Winston continues to focus on driving internal growth by offering financing services as well. In fact, we continue to seek additional opportunities to provide mezzanine financing to other borrowers. It is important to note that Winston Hotels is not merely a financial investor. We are fully versed in all aspects of hotel development, finance and operations including selecting sites and markets, assessing investment potential, selecting architects and contractors and if necessary building and also managing hotels.''

Opening of Windsor, Conn. Hilton Garden Inn

On September 19, 2000, the Company opened a $16.5 million, full-service 158-room Hilton Garden Inn, which is owned and operated under a joint venture agreement with Regent Partners, a leading real estate development, investment and services firm. The hotel is leased to and operated by Bass Hotels & Resorts.

Under the terms of the joint venture agreement, Winston provided development management services and capital design and purchasing capabilities, and will continue to provide ongoing asset management assistance to the joint venture. Winston has an ownership stake of 49 percent in the hotel, and the ability to acquire Regent's and other parties' ownership interest in the project, subject to the provisions of the joint venture agreement.

Sale of Duncanville, Texas Hampton Inn

The Company sold its 119-room Hampton Inn hotel in Duncanville, Texas effective September 29, 2000. The sale price was $3.0 million. The Company used the proceeds from this transaction for debt reduction. The sale of the Duncanville property was in keeping with the Company's strategy to market for sale certain non-core hotels that lie outside Winston's upscale segment focus and use the proceeds for debt reduction.

Pro Forma Lease Revenue

For the 50 hotels that were open during both quarters ended September 30, 2000 and September 30, 1999, including the Duncanville, Texas Hampton Inn which was sold effective September 29, 2000, lease revenues and related statistics were as follows (note that the Company does not exclude 'for sale' or 'under renovation' hotels when making these comparisons):

                                            Quarter Ended September 30,
                                      2000            1999           %Change
      Lease Revenues*               $16,487          16,374           0.7
      Average Daily Rate             $78.41          $75.22           4.2
      Occupancy                      71.36%         73.72 %           (3.2)
      RevPAR                         $55.96          $55.45           1.0
     (*Pre SAB 101, $ in thousands)



The Company portfolio at September 30, 2000 included an aggregate total of 49 operating hotel properties with 6,723 rooms in 12 states, as well as a 49% ownership interest in one operating hotel and two hotels under development through joint venture agreements.

Stock Repurchase Program

Regarding stock repurchases, on August 17, 2000, the Board authorized the repurchase of up to 1,000,000 shares of Winston's common stock. The Company is prepared to begin to execute this program when the right pricing opportunity arises.

Dividend Performance

During the third quarter, Winston Hotels announced its regular quarterly cash dividend of $0.28 per common share. The dividend was paid on October 16, 2000 to common shareholders of record as of September 30, 2000. The regular quarterly dividend is equivalent to $1.12 per share on an annualized basis. Also in the third quarter, the Company announced its regular quarterly cash dividend to preferred shareholders of $0.578125 per share. This dividend also was paid on October 16, 2000 to shareholders of record as of September 30, 2000.

In December 1999, the Securities and Exchange Commission issued Staff Accounting Bulletin No. 101 (``SAB 101'') which provides guidance on revenue recognition. SAB 101 is effective for fiscal years beginning after December 15, 1999. SAB 101 requires that a lessor not recognize contingent rental income until annual specified hurdles have been achieved by the lessee. During 1999 and prior years, consistent with industry practice, the Company recognized contingent rentals throughout the year since it was considered probable that the lessee would exceed the annual specified hurdles. The Company has reviewed the terms of its leases and has determined that the provisions of SAB 101 materially impact the Company's revenue recognition on an interim basis, effectively deferring the recognition of revenue from its leases from the first and second quarters of the calendar year to the third and fourth quarters. SAB 101 will impact the Company's revenue recognition on an annual basis, although to a much lesser degree, as seven of the Company's leases have fiscal year ends which differ from the Company's calendar year end. The Company has accounted for SAB 101 as a change in accounting principle effective January 1, 2000, and therefore has not restated prior year financial statements.

SAB 101 will have no impact on the Company's FFO, or its interim or annual cash flow from its third party lessees, and therefore, on its ability to pay dividends.

As of September 30, 2000, the Company's deferred lease revenue resulting from the adoption of SAB 101 totaled $10.5 million, at least 90% of which will be recognized in the fourth quarter of 2000. As noted above, the Company has seven leases with non-calendar year fiscal years. These seven leases generated $0.7 million deferred revenue as of December 31, 1999, which is shown as a ``cumulative effect of change in accounting principle'' on the accompanying Statement of Income for the Nine Months Ended September 30, 2000.

Winston Hotels' third quarter investor conference call is scheduled for 10 a.m. EST on October 31, 2000. This call also will be simulcast over the internet via the website www.winstonhotels.com , www.vcall.com and www.streetevents.com . The replay will be available on the Winston Hotels website for 30 days, and the Streetevents website for 90 days, or via the telephone by dialing 888-266-2086, passcode 4681597.

Forward-Looking Statements

The press release 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 but not limited to, statements referring to the anticipated benefits and development plans of the joint ventures and alliances. You can identify these statements by use of words like ``may,'' ``will,'' ``expect,'' ``anticipate,'' ``estimate,'' or ``continue'' or similar expressions. These statements represent the Company's judgment and are subject to risks and uncertainties that could cause actual operating results to differ materially from those expressed or implied in the forward looking statements including, but not limited to, development risks including risk of construction delay, cost overruns, occupancy and other governmental permits, zoning, the increase of development costs in connection with projects that are not pursued to completion, and the risk of non-payment of mezzanine loans. Other risks are discussed in the Company's filings with the Securities and Exchange Commission, including but not limited to its Form S-3 Registration Statement filed on September 2, 1999 as amended on September 29, 1999 and its Annual Report on Form 10-K, Quarterly Reports on Form 10-Q and its other periodic reports.

About the Company

Raleigh, North Carolina-based Winston Hotels, Inc., is a real estate investment trust specializing in the development, acquisition, and rehabilitation of premium limited-service, high-end extended-stay and full-service hotel properties, with a portfolio increasingly weighted toward the leading brands in the lodging industry's upscale segment.

For more information, call Patti Bell, Investor Relations Manager of Winston Hotels, Inc., at 919-510-8003.

For more information on Winston Hotels toll-free via fax, simply dial 800-PRO-INFO and enter company code 994 or the ticker symbol WXH on any touch tone phone, or visit the Winston Hotels page FRB's web site at www.frbinc.com .

Visit Winston Hotels at www.winstonhotels.com .

                             WINSTON HOTELS, INC.
                         CONSOLIDATED BALANCE SHEETS
                  ($ in thousands, except per share amounts)

                                    ASSETS
                                          September 30, 2000 December 31, 1999
                                                (unaudited)

    Land                                             $41,776        $42,704
    Buildings and improvements                       360,398        364,481
    Furniture and equipment                           39,855         38,348
        Operating properties                         442,029        445,533
    Less accumulated depreciation                     72,427         58,366
                                                     369,602        387,167
    Properties under development                         227          1,703
        Net investment in hotel properties           369,829        388,870
    Corporate FF&E, net                                1,327            871
    Cash                                                 117             28
    Lease revenue receivable                          10,256          7,611
    Notes receivable                                   3,892             --
    Investment in joint ventures                       4,283            184
    Deferred expenses, net                             3,366          4,072
    Prepaid expenses and other assets                  5,775          4,435
                Total assets                        $398,845       $406,071

                  LIABILITIES AND SHAREHOLDERS' EQUITY

    Long-term debt                                   $69,155        $69,975
    Due to banks                                     103,400        104,500
    Deferred percentage lease revenue                 10,508             --
    Accounts payable and accrued expenses              6,980          5,490
    Distributions payable                              6,829          6,806
    Minority interest in Partnership                   8,937         10,222
                Total liabilities                   $205,809       $196,993

    Shareholders' equity:
        Preferred stock, $.01 par value,
         10,000,000 shares authorized, 3,000,000
         shares issued and outstanding
         (liquidation preference of $76,734)              30             30
        Common stock, $.01 par value, 50,000,000
         shares authorized, 16,897,253 and
         16,813,823 shares issued and outstanding        169            168
        Additional paid-in capital                   229,804        229,106
        Unearned compensation                           (856)          (524)
        Distributions in excess of earnings          (36,111)       (19,702)
                Total shareholders' equity           193,036        209,078
                Total liabilities and
                 shareholders' equity               $398,845       $406,071


                             WINSTON HOTELS, INC.
                 UNAUDITED CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF INCOME
                   (in thousands, except per share amounts)

                                                (Post SAB 101)  (Pre SAB 101)
                                                 Three Months    Three Months
                                                     Ended          Ended
    Revenue:                                   Sept. 30, 2000 Sept. 30, 1999

      Percentage lease revenue (see Note below)                     $18,744
                                                     $16,490
      Interest, joint venture and other income           469             97
         Total revenue                                19,213         16,587
    Expenses:
      Real estate taxes and property and casualty
       insurance                                       1,473          1,197
      General and administrative                       1,139            872
      Interest                                         3,460          3,249
      Depreciation                                     5,293          5,185
      Amortization                                       236            221
         Total expenses                               11,601         10,724
    Income before loss on sale of property and
     allocation to minority interest                   7,612          5,863
    Loss on sale of property                             588            239
    Income before allocation to minority interest      7,024          5,624
    Income allocation to minority interest               379            373
         Net income                                    6,645          5,251
    Preferred stock distribution                      (1,734)        (1,734)
         Net income applicable to common
          shareholders                                $4,911         $3,517
    Earnings per share:
      Net income per common share                      $0.29          $0.21
      Net income per common share assuming dilution    $0.29          $0.21
      Weighted average number of common shares        16,897         16,373
      Weighted average number of common shares
       assuming dilution                              18,195         18,127

    Selected Pro Forma Financial Data:
     (see Note below)
      Percentage lease revenue - Pre SAB 101         $16,487        $16,490
      Deferred percentage lease revenue               $2,257         $1,678
      Percentage lease revenue                       $18,744        $18,168
      Net income                                      $6,645         $6,767
      Net income applicable to common shareholders    $4,911         $5,033
      Net income per common share                      $0.29          $0.31
      Net income per common share assuming dilution    $0.29          $0.31

    Note: The operating results for the three months ended September 30, 1999
    are presented on the basis of accounting used for revenue recognition
    prior to the adoption of SAB 101.  Accordingly, the Company has presented
    the information provided in the Selected Pro Forma Financial Data to
    reflect operating results as if the Company had adopted SAB 101 prior to
    January 1, 1999 in order to present a more meaningful comparison.


                             WINSTON HOTELS, INC.
                 UNAUDITED CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF INCOME
                   (in thousands, except per share amounts)

                                              (Post SAB 101)    (Pre SAB 101)
                                                Nine Months      Nine Months
                                                   Ended            Ended
    Revenue:                                  Sept. 30, 2000  Sept. 30, 1999
      Percentage lease revenue (see Note below)      $38,968        $48,515
      Interest, joint venture and other income           818            301
         Total revenue                                39,786         48,816
    Expenses:
      Real estate taxes and property and casualty
       insurance                                       5,260          4,878
      General and administrative                       3,558          3,470
      Interest                                        10,057          9,344
      Depreciation                                    15,829         15,300
      Amortization                                       694            612
         Total expenses                               35,398         33,604
    Income before loss on sale of property,
     allocation to minority interest, and cumulative
     effect of change in accounting principle          4,388         15,212
    Loss on sale of property                             850            239
      Income before allocation to minority interest
       and cumulative effect of change in accounting
       principle                                       3,538         14,973
    Income allocation to minority interest              (117)           938
      Income (loss) before cumulative effect of
       change in accounting principle                  3,655         14,035
    Cumulative effect of change in accounting
     principle - gross                                  (720)            --
    Cumulative effect of change in accounting
     principle - allocation to minority interest          52             --
    Cumulative effect of change in accounting
     principle - net                                    (668)            --
      Net income                                       2,987         14,035
    Preferred stock distribution                      (5,203)        (5,203)
      Net income (loss) applicable to common
       shareholders                                  $(2,216)        $8,832
    Earnings per share:
      Income (loss) before cumulative effect of
       change in accounting principle per common
       share                                         $(0.09)          $0.54
      Income (loss) before cumulative effect of
       change in accounting principle per common
       share assuming dilution                       $(0.09)          $0.54
      Net income (loss) per common share             $(0.13)          $0.54
      Net income (loss) per common share assuming
       dilution                                      $(0.13)          $0.54
        Weighted average number of common shares      16,886         16,353
        Weighted average number of common shares
         assuming dilution                            18,185         18,107

    Selected Pro Forma Financial Data:
      (see Note below)
        Percentage lease revenue - Pre SAB 101       $48,757        $48,515
        Deferred percentage lease revenue           $ (9,789)      $(11,705)
        Percentage lease revenue                     $38,968        $36,810
        Net income                                    $3,655         $3,454
        Net loss applicable to common
         shareholders                               $ (1,548)      $ (1,749)
        Net loss per common share                    $(0.09)        $(0.11)
        Net loss per common share assuming
         dilution                                    $(0.09)        $(0.11)

    Note: The results for the nine months ended September 30, 1999 are
    presented on the basis of accounting used for revenue recognition prior to
    the adoption of SAB 101.  Accordingly, the Company has presented the
    information provided in the Selected Pro Forma Financial Data to reflect
    operating results as if the Company had adopted SAB 101 prior to January
    1, 1999 in order to present a more meaningful comparison.  Further, the
    cumulative effect of change in accounting principle has been removed for
    the nine months ended September 30, 2000 to aid in this comparison.


                             WINSTON HOTELS, INC.
                          THIRD QUARTER and YTD 2000
                   PRO FORMA REVPAR STATISTICAL HIGHLIGHTS
                                 (50 Hotels)

                                                   Third Quarter
                                  # of                               %
                                   Properties    2000       1999       Change
    Brand
    Comfort/Quality Inn/Suites         11       $39.90     $44.02     -9.36
    Hampton Inn/Suites                 18        56.26      55.35      1.64
    Hilton Garden                       3        70.47      65.32      7.88
    Holiday Inn/Express                 5        69.13      67.62      2.23
    Homewood                            7        65.02      62.20      4.53
    Marriott Products                   6        58.02      55.21      5.09

    Geographic
    East N/S Central                    2        77.76      70.40     10.45
    Northeast/Middle Atlantic           5        90.50      84.61      6.96
    Mountain                            3        39.07      37.89      3.11
    South Atlantic                     36        51.56      52.68     -2.13
    West South Central                  4        49.09      46.47      5.64

    Segment
    Midscale w/f&b                      3        83.94      83.97     -0.04
    Midscale w/out f&b                 30        49.00      49.78     -1.57
    Upscale                            17        61.44      58.74      4.60

    Service
    Extended Stay                       9        60.30      58.09      3.80
    Full Service                       11        68.27      66.04      3.38
    Limited Service                    30        49.00      49.78     -1.57

                                                     Year To Date
                                                                        %
                                            2000         1999        Change
    Brand
    Comfort/Quality Inn/Suites             $42.29       $44.82      -5.64
    Hampton Inn/Suites                      54.14        53.80       0.63
    Hilton Garden                           69.42        62.92      10.33
    Holiday Inn/Express                     66.06        63.42       4.16
    Homewood                                67.06        65.40       2.54
    Marriott Products                       58.59        58.05       0.93

    Geographic
    East N/S Central                        68.46        65.39       4.69
    Northeast/Middle Atlantic               82.22        74.74      10.01
    Mountain                                51.75        51.75       0.00
    South Atlantic                          51.95        52.77      -1.55
    West South Central                      49.41        48.16       2.60

    Segment
    Midscale w/f&b                          80.53        77.15       4.38
    Midscale w/out f&b                      48.39        49.05      -1.35
    Upscale                                 62.51        60.71       2.96

    Service
    Extended Stay                           64.14        63.77       0.58
    Full Service                            66.47        63.37       4.89
    Limited Service                         48.39        49.05      -1.35


SOURCE: Winston Hotels, Inc.