**

Previously filed.

Exhibit 1.1

RLJ LODGING TRUST

(a Maryland real estate investment trust)

Common Shares of Beneficial Interest, $0.01 par value per share

PURCHASE AGREEMENT

Dated:                 , 2011

RLJ LODGING TRUST

(a Maryland real estate investment trust)

Common Shares of Beneficial Interest

PURCHASE AGREEMENT

       , 2011

Merrill Lynch, Pierce, Fenner & Smith
Incorporated

Barclays Capital Inc.

Wells Fargo Securities, LLC

as Representatives of the several Underwriters

c/o  Merrill Lynch, Pierce, Fenner & Smith
Incorporated

One Bryant Park
New York, New York 10036

Barclays Capital Inc.

745 Seventh Avenue

New York, New York 10019

Wells Fargo Securities, LLC

375 Park Avenue

4th Floor

New York, New York 10152

Ladies and Gentlemen:

RLJ Lodging Trust, a Maryland real estate investment trust (the “Company”), and RLJ Lodging Trust, L.P., a Delaware limited partnership (the “Operating Partnership,” and together with the Company, the “Transaction Entities”), confirm their respective agreements with Merrill Lynch, Pierce, Fenner & Smith Incorporated (“Merrill Lynch”), Barclays Capital Inc. (“Barclays”) and Wells Fargo Securities, LLC (“Wells Fargo”) and each of the other Underwriters named in Schedule A hereto (collectively, the “Underwriters,” which term shall also include any underwriter substituted as hereinafter provided in Section 10 hereof), for whom Merrill Lynch, Barclays and Wells Fargo are acting as representatives (in such capacity, the “Representatives”), with respect to (i) the sale by the Company and the purchase by the Underwriters, acting severally and not jointly, of the respective numbers of common shares of beneficial interest, $0.01 par value per share, of the Company (“Common Shares”) set forth in Schedule A hereto and (ii) the grant by the Company to the Underwriters, acting severally and not jointly, of the option described in Section 2(b) hereof to purchase all or any part of               additional Common Shares to cover overallotments, if any.  The aforesaid               Common Shares (the “Initial Securities”) to be purchased by the Underwriters and all or any part of the               Common Shares subject to the option described in Section 2(b) hereof (the “Option Securities”) are hereinafter called, collectively, the “Securities.”

The Transaction Entities understand that the Underwriters propose to make a public offering of the Securities as soon as the Representatives deem advisable after this Agreement has been executed and delivered.

Concurrently with or immediately prior to the Closing Time (as defined below), the Transaction Entities will complete a series of actions and transactions (the “Formation Transactions”) described in the Registration Statement, the General Disclosure Package and the Prospectus (as each term is defined below) under the captions “Summary—Our Structure and Formation” and “Structure and Formation of Our Company—Formation Transactions,” including the acquisition of ownership interests in the 140 properties (the “Initial Properties”) indentified in Schedule B hereto (which Schedule also identifies the percentage of the ownership interests in the Initial Properties that the Transaction Entities will indirectly own upon the completion of the Formation Transactions). As part of the Formation Transactions, the Transaction Entities have entered into, or will enter into as of the Closing Time, as the case may be, the agreements identified on Schedule C hereto.  Such agreements are hereinafter called, collectively, the “Transaction Documents” and, singly, a “Transaction Document.”

The Transaction Entities and the Underwriters agree that up to               of the Initial Securities to be purchased by the Underwriters (the “Reserved Securities”) shall be reserved for sale by the Underwriters to certain persons designated by the Company (the “Invitees”), as part of the distribution of the Securities by the Underwriters, subject to the terms of this Agreement, the applicable rules, regulations and interpretations of the Financial Industry Regulatory Authority, Inc. (“FINRA”) and all other applicable laws, rules and regulations.  The Company solely determined, without any direct or indirect participation by the Underwriters, the Invitees who will purchase Reserved Securities (including the amount to be purchased by such persons) sold by the Underwriters.  To the extent that such Reserved Securities are not orally confirmed for purchase by Invitees by 8:00 A.M. (New York City time) on the first business day after the date of this Agreement, such Reserved Securities may be offered to the public as part of the public offering contemplated hereby.

The Company has filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission (the “Commission”) a registration statement on Form S-11 (No. 333-172011), including the related preliminary prospectus or prospectuses, covering the registration of the offer and sale of the Securities under the Securities Act of 1933, as amended (the “1933 Act”). Promptly after execution and delivery of this Agreement, the Company will prepare and file a prospectus in accordance with the provisions of Rule 430A (“Rule 430A”) of the rules and regulations of the Commission under the 1933 Act (the “1933 Act Regulations”) and Rule 424(b) (“Rule 424(b)”) of the 1933 Act Regulations. The information included in such prospectus that was omitted from such registration statement at the time it became effective but that is deemed to be part of such registration statement at the time it became effective pursuant to Rule 430A(b) is hereinafter called the “Rule 430A Information.” Such registration statement, including the amendments, exhibits and any schedules thereto, as well as the Rule 430A Information, as of the time it became effective, is hereinafter called the “Registration Statement.” Any registration statement filed pursuant to Rule 462(b) of the 1933 Act Regulations is hereinafter called the “Rule 462(b) Registration Statement” and, after such filing, the term “Registration Statement” shall include the Rule 462(b) Registration Statement. Each prospectus used prior to the effectiveness of the Registration Statement, and each prospectus that omitted the Rule 430A Information that was used after such effectiveness and prior to the execution and delivery of this Agreement, if any, is hereinafter called a “preliminary prospectus.” The final prospectus, in the form first furnished to the Underwriters for use in connection with the offering of the Securities, is hereinafter called the “Prospectus.” For purposes of this Agreement, all references to the Registration Statement, any preliminary prospectus, the Prospectus or any amendment or supplement to any of the foregoing shall be deemed to include the copy filed with the Commission pursuant to its Electronic Data Gathering, Analysis and Retrieval system (“EDGAR”).

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As used in this Agreement:

“Applicable Time” means               [A.M./P.M.], New York City time, on              , 2011 or such other time as agreed by the Company and the Representatives.

“General Disclosure Package” means any Issuer General Use Free Writing Prospectuses (as defined below) issued prior to the Applicable Time, the prospectus that is included in the Registration Statement as of the Applicable Time and the information included on Schedule D-1 hereto, all considered together.

“Issuer Free Writing Prospectus” means any “issuer free writing prospectus,” as defined in Rule 433 of the 1933 Act Regulations (“Rule 433”), including, without limitation, any “free writing prospectus” (as defined in Rule 405 of the 1933 Act Regulations (“Rule 405”)) relating to the Securities that is (i) required to be filed with the Commission by the Company, (ii) a “road show that is a written communication” within the meaning of Rule 433(d)(8)(i), whether or not required to be filed with the Commission, or (iii) exempt from filing with the Commission pursuant to Rule 433(d)(5)(i) because it contains a description of the Securities or of the offering of the Securities that does not reflect the final terms, in each case in the form filed or required to be filed with the Commission or, if not required to be filed, in the form retained in the Company’s records pursuant to Rule 433(g).

“Issuer General Use Free Writing Prospectus” means any Issuer Free Writing Prospectus that is intended for general distribution to prospective investors (other than a “bona fide electronic road show,” as defined in Rule 433 (the “Bona Fide Electronic Road Show”)), as specified in Schedule D-2 hereto.

“Issuer Limited Use Free Writing Prospectus” means any Issuer Free Writing Prospectus that is not an Issuer General Use Free Writing Prospectus.

SECTION 1.           Representations and Warranties.

(a)           Representations and Warranties by the Transaction Entities.  Each of the Transaction Entities, jointly and severally, represents and warrants to each Underwriter as of the date hereof, the Applicable Time, the Closing Time and each Date of Delivery (as defined below), if any, and agrees with each Underwriter, as follows:

(i)            Registration Statement and Prospectuses.  Each of the Registration Statement and any post-effective amendment thereto has become effective under the 1933 Act. No stop order suspending the effectiveness of the Registration Statement or any post-effective amendment thereto has been issued under the 1933 Act, no order preventing or suspending the use of any preliminary prospectus or the Prospectus has been issued and no proceedings for any of those purposes have been instituted or are pending or, to the Company’s knowledge, contemplated. The Company has complied with each request, if any, from the Commission for additional information.

Each of the Registration Statement and any post-effective amendment thereto, at the time it became effective, at the Closing Time and at each Date of Delivery, if any, complied and will comply in all material respects with the requirements of the 1933 Act and the 1933 Act Regulations. The preliminary prospectus that is included in the General Disclosure Package, at the time it was filed, complied, and the Prospectus and each amendment or supplement thereto, as of their respective issue dates, complied and will

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comply, in all material respects with the 1933 Act and the 1933 Act Regulations.  Each preliminary prospectus and the Prospectus delivered to the Underwriters for use in connection with the offering of the Securities were or will be substantially identical to the electronically transmitted copies thereof filed with the Commission pursuant to EDGAR, except to the extent permitted by Regulation S-T. Any preliminary prospectus, the Prospectus and any amendment or supplement thereto (including any prospectus wrapper) prepared in connection with the offering and sale of the Reserved Securities, at their respective issue dates, at the Closing Time and at each Date of Delivery, if any, complied and will comply in all material respects with any applicable laws or regulations of foreign jurisdictions in which such preliminary prospectus, the Prospectus or such amendment or supplement, as the case may be, are distributed in connection with such offering.

(ii)           Accurate Disclosure.  Neither the Registration Statement nor any amendment thereto, at the respective times it became effective, at the Closing Time or at any Date of Delivery, contained, contains or will contain an untrue statement of a material fact or omitted, omits or will omit to state a material fact required to be stated therein or necessary to make the statements therein not misleading.  At the Applicable Time, at the Closing Time and at each Date of Delivery, if any, neither (A) the General Disclosure Package nor (B) any individual Issuer Limited Use Free Writing Prospectus, when considered together with the General Disclosure Package, included, includes or will include an untrue statement of a material fact or omitted, omits or will omit to state a material fact necessary in order to make the statements therein, in the light of the circumstances under which they were made, not misleading. Neither the Prospectus nor any amendment or supplement thereto (including any prospectus wrapper), as of its issue date, at the time of any filing with the Commission pursuant to Rule 424(b), at the Closing Time or at any Date of Delivery, included, includes or will include an untrue statement of a material fact or omitted, omits or will omit to state a material fact necessary in order to make the statements therein, in the light of the circumstances under which they were made, not misleading.

The representations and warranties in this Section 1(a)(ii) shall not apply to statements in or omissions from the Registration Statement (or any amendment thereto), the General Disclosure Package or the Prospectus (or any amendment or supplement thereto) made in reliance upon and in conformity with written information furnished to the Company by any Underwriter through the Representatives expressly for use therein. For purposes of this Agreement, the only information so furnished shall be the information in the first paragraph under the heading “Underwriting (Conflicts of Interest)—Commissions and Discounts,” the information in the last paragraph under the heading “Underwriting (Conflicts of Interest)—Determination of Offering Price,” the information in the second, third  and fourth paragraphs under the heading “Underwriting (Conflicts of Interest)—Price Stabilization, Short Positions and Penalty Bids” and the information under the heading “Underwriting (Conflicts of Interest)—Electronic Offer, Sale and Distribution of Shares” in the Registration Statement, the General Disclosure Package and the Prospectus (collectively, the “Underwriter Information”).

(iii)          Issuer Free Writing Prospectuses.  No Issuer Free Writing Prospectus conflicts or will conflict with the information contained in the Registration Statement or the Prospectus, or any preliminary or other prospectus deemed to be a part thereof that has not been superseded or modified. Each Issuer Free Writing Prospectus conformed or

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will conform in all material respects to the requirements of the 1933 Act and the 1933 Act Regulations on the date of first use, and the Company has complied with any filing requirements applicable to such Issuer Free Writing Prospectus pursuant to the 1933 Act Regulations. The Company has not made any offer relating to the Securities that would constitute an Issuer Free Writing Prospectus without the prior written consent of the Representatives; provided, that such consent is deemed to have been given with respect to each Issuer Free Writing Prospectus identified on Schedule D-2. The Company has retained in accordance with the 1933 Act Regulations all Issuer Free Writing Prospectuses that were not required to be filed pursuant to the 1933 Act Regulations. The Company has made available a Bona Fide Electronic Road Show in compliance with Rule 433(d)(8)(ii) such that no filing of any “road show” (as defined in Rule 433(h)) is required in connection with the offering of the Securities.  [The first sentence of this Section 1(a)(iii) shall not apply to statements in or omissions from any Issuer Free Writing Prospectus in reliance upon and in conformity with written information furnished to the Company by any Underwriter through the Representatives specifically for use therein, it being understood and agreed that the only such information furnished by any Underwriter consists of              .]

(iv)          Company Not Ineligible Issuer.  At the time of filing the Registration Statement and any post-effective amendment thereto, and at the date hereof, the Company was not and is not an “ineligible issuer,” as defined in Rule 405, without taking account of any determination by the Commission pursuant to Rule 405 that it is not necessary that the Company be considered an ineligible issuer.

(v)           Independent Accountants.  The accountants who certified the financial statements and supporting schedules included in the Registration Statement, the General Disclosure Package and the Prospectus are independent public accountants with respect to the Company as required by the 1933 Act, the 1933 Act Regulations and the Public Accounting Oversight Board.

(vi)          Financial Statements; Non-GAAP Financial Measures.  The financial statements of the RLJ Predecessor (the “Predecessor”) included in the Registration Statement, the General Disclosure Package and the Prospectus, together with the related schedules and notes, present fairly in all material respects the financial position of the Predecessor and its consolidated subsidiaries at the dates indicated and the statement of operations, owners’ equity and cash flows of the Predecessor and its consolidated subsidiaries for the periods specified, and such financial statements have been prepared in conformity with U.S. generally accepted accounting principles (“GAAP”) applied on a consistent basis throughout the periods presented.  The supporting schedules, if any, relating to the Predecessor and its consolidated subsidiaries present fairly in all material respects in accordance with GAAP the information required to be stated therein.  The balance sheet of the Company and its consolidated subsidiaries included in the Registration Statement, the General Disclosure Package and the Prospectus, together with the related schedules and notes, present fairly in all material respects the financial position of the Company and its consolidated subsidiaries at the dates indicated; said balance sheet has been prepared in conformity with GAAP. The supporting schedules, if any, relating to the Company and its consolidated subsidiaries present fairly in all material respects in accordance with GAAP the information required to be stated therein. The selected financial and operating data and the summary pro forma and operating data included in the Registration Statement, the General Disclosure Package and the Prospectus present fairly in all material respects the information shown therein and have

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been compiled on a basis consistent with that of the audited, or unaudited, as applicable, financial statements of the Predecessor included therein.  The pro forma financial statements and the related notes thereto included in the Registration Statement, the General Disclosure Package and the Prospectus present fairly in all material respects the information shown therein, have been prepared in all material respects in accordance with the Commission’s rules and guidelines with respect to pro forma financial statements and have been properly compiled on the bases described therein, and the assumptions used in the preparation thereof are reasonable and the adjustments used therein are appropriate to give effect to the transactions and circumstances referred to therein. Except as included in the Registration Statement, the General Disclosure Package and the Prospectus, no historical or pro forma financial statements or supporting schedules are required to be included in the Registration Statement, the General Disclosure Package or the Prospectus under the 1933 Act or the 1933 Act Regulations. All disclosures contained in the Registration Statement, the General Disclosure Package or the Prospectus regarding “non-GAAP financial measures” (as such term is defined by the rules and regulations of the Commission) comply in all material respects with Regulation G under the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended (the “1934 Act”), and Item 10 of Regulation S-K under the 1933 Act, in each case to the extent applicable.

(vii)         No Material Adverse Change in Business.  Except as otherwise stated in the Registration Statement, the General Disclosure Package and the Prospectus, since the respective dates as of which information is given in the Registration Statement, the General Disclosure Package or the Prospectus, (A) there has been no material adverse change in or affecting the Initial Properties considered as a whole or in the condition, financial or otherwise, or in the earnings, business affairs or business prospects of the Transaction Entities and their respective subsidiaries considered as one enterprise (and assuming completion of the Formation Transactions), whether or not arising in the ordinary course of business (a “Material Adverse Effect”), (B) there have been no transactions entered into by either of the Transaction Entities or any of their respective subsidiaries, other than those in the ordinary course of business, which are material with respect to the Transaction Entities and their respective subsidiaries considered as one enterprise, (C) there has been no liability or obligation, direct or contingent (including off-balance sheet obligations), which is material to the Transaction Entities and their respective subsidiaries considered as one enterprise, incurred by either of the Transaction Entities or any of their respective subsidiaries, except obligations incurred in the ordinary course of business, and (D) there has been no distribution of any kind declared, paid or made by either of the Transaction Entities on any class of its shares of beneficial interest, in the case of the Company, any units of limited partnership interest, in the case of the Operating Partnership (“OP Units”), or other form of ownership interests, as applicable.

(viii)        Good Standing of the Company.  The Company has been duly organized and is validly existing as a real estate investment trust in good standing under the laws of the State of Maryland, has all trust power and trust authority to own, lease and operate its properties, conduct its business as described in the Registration Statement, the General Disclosure Package and the Prospectus and enter into and perform its obligations under this Agreement and each of the Transaction Documents to which it is a party, and is duly qualified as a foreign real estate investment trust to transact business and is in good standing in each other jurisdiction in which such qualification is required, whether by reason of the ownership or leasing of property or the conduct of business, except where the failure so to qualify or to be in good standing would not, singly or in the aggregate, result in a Material Adverse Effect.

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(ix)           Good Standing of the Operating Partnership. The Operating Partnership has been duly formed and is validly existing as a limited partnership in good standing under the laws of the State of Delaware, has all limited partnership power and limited partnership authority to own, lease and operate its properties, conduct its business as described in the Registration Statement, the General Disclosure Package and the Prospectus and enter into and perform its obligations under this Agreement and each of the Transaction Documents to which it is a party, and is duly qualified as a foreign limited partnership to transact business and is in good standing in each other jurisdiction in which such qualification is required, whether by reason of the ownership or leasing of property or the conduct of business, except where the failure so to qualify or to be in good standing would not, singly or in the aggregate, result in a Material Adverse Effect. The Company, immediately following the Formation Transactions, will be the sole general partner of the Operating Partnership. At the Closing Time, the Amended and Restated Agreement of Limited Partnership of the Operating Partnership (the “Operating Partnership Agreement”), in the form filed as an exhibit to the Registration Statement, will be in full force and effect, and the aggregate percentage interests of the Company and the limited partners in the Operating Partnership will be as set forth in the Registration Statement, the General Disclosure Package and the Prospectus, provided that, to the extent any portion of the Underwriter’s overallotment option to purchase the Option Securities is exercised at the Closing Time, the percentage interest of such partners in the Operating Partnership will be adjusted accordingly.  Additionally, to the extent any portion of such overallotment option is exercised subsequent to the Closing Time, the Company will contribute the proceeds from the sale of the Option Securities to the Operating Partnership in exchange for a number of Common Units equal to the number of Option Securities issued.  The Company will own all of its outstanding OP Units free and clear of any security interest, mortgage, pledge, lien, encumbrance, claim or equity, except as described in the Registration Statement, the General Disclosure Package and the Prospectus.

(x)            Good Standing of Other Subsidiaries.  At the Closing Time, immediately after the consummation of the Formation Transactions, the Operating Partnership will be the only subsidiary of the Company that meet the definition of a “significant subsidiary” (as such term is defined in Rule 1-02 of Regulation S-X).  The only subsidiaries of the Company are (A) the subsidiaries listed on Exhibit 21 to the Registration Statement and (B) certain other subsidiaries which, considered in the aggregate as a single subsidiary, do not constitute a “significant subsidiary,” as defined in Rule 1-02 of Regulation S-X.

(xi)           Capitalization.  The authorized, issued and outstanding shares of beneficial interest of the Company are as set forth in the Registration Statement, the General Disclosure Package and the Prospectus in the column entitled “Historical” under the caption “Capitalization” (except for subsequent issuances, if any, pursuant to this Agreement, pursuant to reservations, agreements or employee benefit plans referred to in the Registration Statement, the General Disclosure Package and the Prospectus or pursuant to the exercise of convertible or exchangeable securities or options referred to in the Registration Statement, the General Disclosure Package and the Prospectus).  Except as disclosed in the Registration Statement, the General Disclosure Package and the Prospectus, (i) no shares of beneficial interest of the Company are reserved for any purpose, (ii) there are no outstanding securities convertible into or exchangeable for any shares of beneficial interest of the Company, and (iii) there are no outstanding options, rights (preemptive or otherwise) or warrants to purchase or subscribe for shares of beneficial interest or any other securities of the Company.  The outstanding shares of

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beneficial interest of the Company have been duly authorized and validly issued and are fully paid and non-assessable.  None of the outstanding Common Shares of the Company were issued in violation of the preemptive or other similar rights of any securityholder of the Company.

(xii)          No Equity Awards. Except for grants disclosed in the Registration Statement, the General Disclosure Package and the Prospectus, the Company has not granted to any person or entity a stock option or other equity-based award of or to purchase Common Shares pursuant to an equity-based compensation plan or otherwise.

(xiii)         Authorization of Agreement.  This Agreement has been duly authorized, executed and delivered by each of the Transaction Entities.

(xiv)        Authorization and Description of Securities.  The Securities have been duly authorized for issuance and sale to the Underwriters pursuant to this Agreement and, when the Securities have been issued and delivered by the Company pursuant to this Agreement against payment of the consideration set forth herein, the Securities will be validly issued and fully paid and non-assessable; and the issuance of the Securities is not subject to the preemptive or other similar rights of any securityholder of the Company.  The Common Shares conform in all material respects to all statements relating thereto contained in the Registration Statement, the General Disclosure Package and the Prospectus and such description conforms in all material respects to the rights set forth in the instruments defining the same.  No holder of Securities will be subject to personal liability by reason of being such a holder. The certificates to be used to evidence the Securities will, at the Closing Time, be in due and proper form and will comply in all material respects with all applicable legal requirements, the requirements of the declaration of trust and bylaws of the Company and the requirements of the New York Stock Exchange.

(xv)         Authorization and Description of OP Units.  The OP Units to be issued in the Formation Transactions have been duly authorized for issuance by the Operating Partnership and its general partner and, at the Closing Time, will be validly issued; and the issuance of such OP Units is not subject to the preemptive or other similar rights of any partner of the Operating Partnership.  The issuance and sale by the Operating Partnership of the OP Units in connection with the Formation Transactions are exempt from the registration requirements of the 1933 Act and applicable state securities, real estate syndication and blue sky laws.  The terms of the OP Units conform in all material respects to all statements relating thereto contained in the Registration Statement, the General Disclosure Package and the Prospectus and such description conforms in all material respects to the rights set forth in the instruments defining the same.  Except as disclosed in the Registration Statement, the General Disclosure Package and the Prospectus, (i) no OP Units are reserved for any purpose, (ii) there are no outstanding securities convertible into or exchangeable for any OP Units, and (iii) there are no outstanding options, rights (preemptive or otherwise) or warrants to purchase or subscribe for OP Units or any other securities of the Operating Partnership.

(xvi)        Authorization and Description of Formation Shares.  The Common Shares (other than the Securities) to be issued in connection with the Formation Transactions (the “Formation Shares”) have been duly authorized for issuance and sale to the applicable persons or their nominees pursuant to the applicable Transaction Documents and, when the Formation Shares have been issued and delivered by the

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Company pursuant to the applicable Transaction Documents against payment of the consideration set forth therein, the Formation Shares will be validly issued and fully paid and non-assessable; and the issuance of the Formation Shares is not subject to the preemptive or other similar rights of any securityholder of the Company.  The issuance and sale by the Company of the Formation Shares are exempt from the registration requirements of the 1933 Act and applicable state securities, real estate syndication and blue sky laws.  No holder of Formation Shares will be subject to personal liability by reason of being such a holder.

(xvii)       Authorization and Description of Transaction Documents.  Each Transaction Document has been, or as of the Closing Time will have been, duly authorized, executed and delivered by each of the Transaction Entities and, when duly executed and delivered in accordance with their terms by the other parties thereto, constitutes or will constitute, as the case may be, a valid and binding agreement of each of the Transaction Entities, enforceable against each of them in accordance with its terms, except, in each case, to the extent that enforceability may be limited by bankruptcy, insolvency, fraudulent conveyance, reorganization, moratorium or similar laws affecting creditors’ rights or remedies generally or by general equitable principles and, with respect to equitable relief, the discretion of the court before which any proceeding therefor may be brought (regardless of whether enforcement is sought in a proceeding at law or in equity) and, with respect to any indemnification provisions contained therein, except as rights under those provisions may be limited by applicable law or policies underlying such law.  Each Transaction Document conforms in all material respects to all statements relating thereto contained in the Registration Statement, the General Disclosure Package and the Prospectus and such description conforms in all material respects to the rights set forth in such Transaction Document.

(xviii)      Registration Rights.  Except as disclosed in the Registration Statement, the General Disclosure Package and the Prospectus, there are no persons with registration rights or other similar rights to have any securities registered for sale pursuant to the Registration Statement or otherwise registered for sale by either of the Transaction Entities under the 1933 Act.

(xix)         Absence of Violations, Defaults and Conflicts.  Neither of the Transaction Entities nor any of their respective subsidiaries is (A) in violation of its declaration of trust, bylaws, certificate of limited partnership, agreement of limited partnership or other organizational document, (B) in default in the performance or observance of any obligation, agreement, covenant or condition contained in any contract, indenture, mortgage, deed of trust, loan or credit agreement, note, lease, hotel management agreement, franchise agreement or other agreement or instrument to which either of the Transaction Entities or any of their respective subsidiaries is a party or by which it or any of them may be bound or to which any of the Initial Properties or any other properties or assets of the Transaction Entities or any of their respective subsidiaries is subject (collectively, “Agreements and Instruments”), except for such defaults that would not, singly or in the aggregate, result in a Material Adverse Effect (it being understood that the default on indebtedness with respect to the New York LaGuardia Airport Marriott disclosed in the Registration Statement, the General Disclosure Package and the Prospectus does not constitute and will not result in a Material Adverse Effect), or (C) in violation of any law, statute, rule, regulation, judgment, order, writ or decree of any arbitrator, court, governmental body, regulatory body, administrative agency or other authority, body or agency having jurisdiction over

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either of the Transaction Entities or any of their respective subsidiaries or the Initial Properties or any of their respective other properties, assets or operations (each, a “Governmental Entity”), except for such violations that would not, singly or in the aggregate, result in a Material Adverse Effect.  The execution, delivery and performance of this Agreement and each Transaction Document and the consummation of the transactions contemplated herein and therein and in the Registration Statement, the General Disclosure Package and the Prospectus (including the Formation Transactions, the issuance and sale of the Securities and the use of the proceeds from the sale of the Securities as described therein under the caption “Use of Proceeds”) and compliance by each of the Transaction Entities with their respective obligations hereunder and thereunder have been duly authorized by all necessary trust or limited partnership action, as applicable, and do not and will not, whether with or without the giving of notice or passage of time or both, conflict with or constitute a breach of, or default or Repayment Event (as defined below) under, or result in the creation or imposition of any lien, charge or encumbrance upon the Initial Properties or any other properties or assets of either of the Transaction Entities or any of their respective subsidiaries pursuant to, the Agreements and Instruments (except for such conflicts, breaches, defaults or Repayment Events or liens, charges or encumbrances that would not, singly or in the aggregate, result in a Material Adverse Effect), nor will such action result in any violation of (i) the provisions of the declaration of trust, bylaws, certificate of limited partnership, agreement of limited partnership or other organizational document, as applicable, of either of the Transaction Entities or any of their respective subsidiaries or (ii) any applicable law, statute, rule, regulation, judgment, order, writ or decree of any Governmental Entity, except in the case of clause (ii) only, for any such violation that would not, singly or in the aggregate, result in a Material Adverse Effect.  As used herein, a “Repayment Event” means any event or condition which gives the holder of any note, debenture or other evidence of indebtedness (or any person acting on such holder’s behalf) the right to require the repurchase, redemption or repayment of all or a portion of such indebtedness by either of the Transaction Entities or any of their respective subsidiaries.

(xx)          Absence of Labor Dispute.  No labor dispute with the employees of either of the Transaction Entities or any of their respective subsidiaries exists or, to the knowledge of either Transaction Entity, is imminent, which, in any such case, would, singly or in the aggregate, result in a Material Adverse Effect.

(xxi)         Absence of Proceedings.  Except as disclosed in the Registration Statement, the General Disclosure Package and the Prospectus, there is no action, suit, proceeding, inquiry or investigation pending, or, to the knowledge of either of the Transaction Entities, threatened, against or affecting the Transaction Entities or any of their respective subsidiaries, which is required to be disclosed in the Registration Statement or the Prospectus (other than as disclosed therein), or which would, singly or in the aggregate, result in a Material Adverse Effect, or which would materially and adversely affect the property or assets of the Transaction Entities and their respective subsidiaries, taken as a whole, or the consummation of the transactions contemplated in this Agreement or the Transaction Documents, or the performance by the Transaction Entities of their respective obligations hereunder or thereunder.  The aggregate of all pending legal or governmental proceedings to which either of the Transaction Entities or any of their respective subsidiaries is a party or of which any of their respective properties (including, without limitation, the Initial Properties) or assets is the subject which are not described in the Registration Statement, the General Disclosure Package

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and the Prospectus, including ordinary routine litigation incidental to the business, would not result in a Material Adverse Effect.

(xxii)        Accuracy of Exhibits.  There are no contracts or documents that are required to be described in the Registration Statement or the Prospectus or to be filed as exhibits to the Registration Statement that have not been so described or filed as required.

(xxiii)       Absence of Further Requirements.  No filing with, or authorization, approval, consent, license, order, registration, qualification or decree of, any Governmental Entity is necessary or required for the performance by either of the Transaction Entities of its respective obligations hereunder or in connection with the offering, issuance or sale of the Securities hereunder or the consummation of the transactions contemplated by this Agreement or the Transaction Documents or in connection with the consummation of the Formation Transactions, except (A) such as have been already obtained or as may be required under the 1933 Act, the 1933 Act Regulations, the rules of the New York Stock Exchange, the securities laws, real estate syndication laws of any U.S. state or non-U.S. jurisdiction or the rules of FINRA, (B) such as have been obtained under the laws and regulations of jurisdictions outside the United States in which the Reserved Securities were offered and (C) prior to the consummation of the Formation Transactions, the filing of a certificate of merger with respect to each of the mergers contemplated by the applicable Transaction Documents and acceptance of such certificate(s) by the secretary of state of the jurisdiction of incorporation of each party thereto, in each case, will be made at or prior to the Closing Time.

(xxiv)       Possession of Licenses and Permits.  Except as disclosed in the Registration Statement, the General Disclosure Package and the Prospectus, the Transaction Entities and their respective subsidiaries possess such permits, licenses, approvals, consents and other authorizations (collectively, “Governmental Licenses”) issued by the appropriate Governmental Entities necessary to conduct the business now operated by them, except where the failure so to possess would not, singly or in the aggregate, result in a Material Adverse Effect. The Transaction Entities and their respective subsidiaries are in compliance with the terms and conditions of all such Governmental Licenses, except where the failure so to comply would not, singly or in the aggregate, result in a Material Adverse Effect. All of the Governmental Licenses are valid and in full force and effect, except when the invalidity of such Governmental Licenses or the failure of such Governmental Licenses to be in full force and effect would not, singly or in the aggregate, result in a Material Adverse Effect. Except as disclosed in the Registration Statement, the General Disclosure Package and the Prospectus, neither of the Transaction Entities nor any of their respective subsidiaries has received any notice of proceedings relating to the revocation or modification of any such Governmental Licenses which, singly or in the aggregate, if the subject of an unfavorable decision, ruling or finding, would result in a Material Adverse Effect.

(xxv)        Title to Property.  (A) Upon consummation of the Formation Transactions, the Transaction Entities, any of their respective subsidiaries or any joint venture in which either of the Transaction Entities or any of their respective subsidiaries owns an interest (each such joint venture being referred to as a “Related Entity”), as the case may be, will have good and marketable fee or leasehold title to the Initial Properties, in each case, free and clear of all mortgages, pledges, liens, security interests, claims, restrictions or encumbrances of any kind, other than those that (1) are described in the

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Registration Statement, the General Disclosure Package and the Prospectus or (2) do not, singly or in the aggregate, materially affect the value of such property and do not materially interfere with the use made and proposed to be made of such property by the Transaction Entities, any of their respective subsidiaries or any Related Entity; (B) except as disclosed in the Registration Statement, the General Disclosure Package and the Prospectus, none of the Transaction Entities, any of their respective subsidiaries or any Related Entity owns any real property other than the Initial Properties; (C) each of the ground leases, subleases and sub-subleases relating to an Initial Property, if any, material to the business of the Transaction Entities and their respective subsidiaries, considered as one enterprise, are in full force and effect, with such exceptions as do not materially interfere with the use made or proposed to be made of such Initial Property by either of the Transaction Entities, any of their respective subsidiaries or any Related Entity, and (1) no default or event of default has occurred under any ground lease, sublease or sub-sublease with respect to such Initial Property and none of the Transaction Entities, any of their respective subsidiaries or any Related Entity has received any notice of any event which, whether with or without the passage of time or the giving of notice, or both, would constitute a default under such ground lease, sublease or sub-sublease and (2) none of the Transaction Entities, any of their respective subsidiaries or any Related Entity has received any notice of any material claim of any sort that has been asserted by anyone adverse to the rights of the Transaction Entities, any of their respective subsidiaries or any Related Entity under any of the ground leases, subleases or sub-subleases mentioned above, or affecting or questioning the rights of the Transaction Entities, any of their respective subsidiaries or any Related Entity to the continued possession of the leased, subleased or sub-subleased premises under any such ground lease, sublease or sub-sublease; (D) all liens, charges, encumbrances, claims or restrictions on any of the Initial Properties and the assets of either of the Transaction Entities, any of their respective subsidiaries or any Related Entity that are required to be disclosed in the Registration Statement or the Prospectus are disclosed therein; (E) no tenant under any of the leases at the Initial Properties has a right of first refusal or an option to purchase the premises demised under such lease; (F) each of the Initial Properties complies with all applicable codes, laws and regulations (including, without limitation, building and zoning codes, laws and regulations and laws relating to access to the Initial Properties), except if and to the extent disclosed in the Registration Statement, the General Disclosure Package or the Prospectus and except for such failures to comply that would not, singly or in the aggregate, reasonably be expected to have a Material Adverse Effect; (G) the mortgages and deeds of trust that encumber certain of the Initial Properties are not convertible into equity securities of the entity owning such Initial Property and said mortgages and deeds of trust are not cross-defaulted or cross-collateralized with any property other than certain other Initial Properties; and (H) none of the Transaction Entities, any of their respective subsidiaries or any Related Entity or, to the knowledge of either of the Transaction Entities, any lessee of any of the Initial Properties is in default under any of the leases governing the Initial Properties and none of the Transaction Entities, any of their respective subsidiaries or any Related Entity knows of any event which, whether with or without the passage of time or the giving of notice, or both, would constitute a default under any of such leases, except such defaults that would not, singly or in the aggregate, result in a Material Adverse Effect.

(xxvi)       Joint Venture Agreements.  Each of the partnership agreements, limited liability company agreements or other joint venture agreements (each, a “Joint Venture Agreement”) to which either of the Transaction Entities or any of their respective subsidiaries is a party, and which relates to one or more of the Initial Properties, has been

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duly authorized, executed and delivered by each Transaction Entity or their respective subsidiaries, as applicable, and constitutes the legal, valid and binding agreement thereof, enforceable in accordance with its terms, except, in each case, to the extent that enforceability may be limited by bankruptcy, insolvency, fraudulent conveyance, reorganization, moratorium or similar laws affecting creditors’ rights or remedies generally or by general equitable principles, and, with respect to equitable relief, the discretion of the court before which any proceeding therefor may be brought (regardless of whether enforcement is sought in a proceeding at law or in equity), and with respect to any indemnification provisions contained therein, except as rights under those provisions may be limited by applicable law or policies underlying such law.

(xxvii)      Possession of Intellectual Property.  The Transaction Entities and their respective subsidiaries own or possess, or can acquire on reasonable terms, adequate patents, patent rights, licenses, inventions, copyrights, know-how (including trade secrets and other unpatented and/or unpatentable proprietary or confidential information, systems or procedures), trademarks, service marks, trade names or other intellectual property (collectively, “Intellectual Property”) reasonably necessary to conduct the business now operated by them, and neither of the Transaction Entities nor any of their respective subsidiaries has received any notice or is otherwise aware of any infringement of or conflict with asserted rights of others with respect to any Intellectual Property or of any facts or circumstances which would render any Intellectual Property invalid or inadequate to protect the interest of the Transaction Entities or any of their respective subsidiaries therein, and which infringement or conflict (if the subject of any unfavorable decision, ruling or finding) or invalidity or inadequacy, singly or in the aggregate, would reasonably be expected to result in a Material Adverse Effect.

(xxviii)     Environmental Laws.  Except as disclosed in the Registration Statement, the General Disclosure Package and the Prospectus and except as would not, singly or in the aggregate, result in a Material Adverse Effect, (A) none of the Transaction Entities, any of their respective subsidiaries, any Related Entity nor any of the Initial Properties is in violation of any Environmental Laws (as defined below), (B) the Transaction Entities, their respective subsidiaries, the Related Entities and the Initial Properties have all permits, authorizations and approvals required under any applicable Environmental Laws and are each in compliance with their requirements, (C) there are no pending or threatened administrative, regulatory or judicial actions, suits, demands, demand letters, claims, liens, notices of noncompliance or violation, investigation or proceedings relating to any Environmental Law or Hazardous Material (as defined below) against the Transaction Entities, any of their respective subsidiaries or any Related Entity or otherwise with regard to the Initial Properties, (D) there are no events or circumstances that would reasonably be expected to form the basis of an order for clean-up or remediation, or an action, suit or proceeding by any private party or governmental body or agency, against or affecting the Initial Properties, the Transaction Entities, any of their respective subsidiaries or any Related Entity relating to Hazardous Materials or any Environmental Laws, and (E) none of the Initial Properties is included or proposed for inclusion on the National Priorities List issued pursuant to CERCLA (as defined below) by the United States Environmental Protection Agency or on any similar list or inventory issued by any other federal, state or local governmental authority having or claiming jurisdiction over such properties pursuant to any other Environmental Laws.  As used herein, “Hazardous Material” shall mean any flammable explosives, radioactive materials, chemicals, pollutants, contaminants, wastes, hazardous wastes, toxic substances, mold and any hazardous material as defined by or regulated under any

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Environmental Law, including, without limitation, petroleum or petroleum products, and asbestos-containing materials.  As used herein, “Environmental Law” shall mean any applicable foreign, federal, state or local law (including statute or common law), ordinance, rule, regulation or judicial or administrative order, consent decree or judgment relating to the protection of human health, the environment (including, without limitation, ambient air, surface water, groundwater, land surface or subsurface strata) or wildlife, including, without limitation, the Comprehensive Environmental Response, Compensation and Liability Act of 1980, as amended, 42 U.S.C. Secs. 9601-9675 (“CERCLA”), the Hazardous Materials Transportation Act, as amended, 49 U.S.C. Secs. 5101-5127, the Solid Waste Disposal Act, as amended, 42 U.S.C. Secs. 6901-6992k, the Emergency Planning and Community Right-to-Know Act of 1986, 42 U.S.C. Secs. 11001-11050, the Toxic Substances Control Act, 15 U.S.C. Secs. 2601-2692, the Federal Insecticide, Fungicide and Rodenticide Act, 7 U.S.C. Secs. 136-136y, the Clean Air Act, 42 U.S.C. Secs. 7401-7671q, the Clean Water Act (Federal Water Pollution Control Act), 33 U.S.C. Secs. 1251-1387, and the Safe Drinking Water Act, 42 U.S.C. Secs. 300f-300j-26, as any of the above statutes may be amended from time to time, and the regulations promulgated pursuant to any of the foregoing.

(xxix)       Utilities and Access.  To the knowledge of the Transaction Entities, water, stormwater, sanitary sewer, electricity and telephone service are all available at the property lines of each Initial Property over duly dedicated streets or perpetual easements of record benefiting the applicable Initial Property.  To the knowledge of the Transaction Entities, each of the Initial Properties has legal access to public roads and all other roads necessary for the use of each of the Initial Properties.

(xxx)        No Condemnation.  Neither Transaction Entity has knowledge of any pending or threatened condemnation proceedings, zoning change or other proceeding or action that will materially affect the use or value of any of the Initial Properties.

(xxxi)       Accounting Controls and Disclosure Controls. The Company and its subsidiaries (i) have taken all necessary actions to ensure that, within the time period required, the Company and its subsidiaries will maintain effective internal control over financial reporting (as defined under Rules 13a-15 and 15d-15 of the rules and regulations of the Commission under the 1934 Act (the “1934 Act Regulations”)) and (ii) currently maintain a system of internal accounting controls sufficient to provide reasonable assurances that:  (A) transactions are executed in accordance with management’s general or specific authorization; (B) transactions are recorded as necessary to permit preparation of financial statements in conformity with GAAP and to maintain accountability for assets; (C) access to assets is permitted only in accordance with management’s general or specific authorization; and (D) the recorded accountability for assets is compared with the existing assets at reasonable intervals and appropriate action is taken with respect to any differences. Except as described in the Registration Statement, the General Disclosure Package and the Prospectus, since the inception of the Company (which, for purposes of this sentence, includes the Predecessor), there has been (1) no material weakness in the Company’s internal control over financial reporting (whether or not remediated) and (2) no change in the Company’s internal control over financial reporting that has adversely affected, or is reasonably likely to adversely affect, the Company’s internal control over financial reporting.  The auditors of the Company (which, for purposes of this sentence, includes the Predecessor) and the Audit Committee of the Board of Trustees of the Company or, if no such Audit Committee exists, the full Board of Trustees of the Company, have been advised of:  (i) all significant deficiencies

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and material weaknesses in the design or operation of internal control over financial reporting that have adversely affected, or are reasonably likely to adversely affect, the ability of the Company and its subsidiaries to record, process, summarize and report financial information; and (ii) any fraud, whether or not material, that involves management or other employees who have a significant role in the internal control over financial reporting of the Company and its subsidiaries.  The Company and its subsidiaries have established a system of disclosure controls and procedures (as defined in Rules 13a-15 and 15d-15 of the 1934 Act Regulations) that are designed to ensure that information required to be disclosed by the Company in the reports that it files or submits under the 1934 Act is recorded, processed, summarized and reported, within the time periods specified in the Commission’s rules and forms, and is accumulated and communicated to the Company’s management, including its principal executive officer or officers and principal financial officer or officers, as appropriate, to allow timely decisions regarding disclosure.

(xxxii)      Compliance with the Sarbanes-Oxley Act.  The Company has taken all necessary actions to ensure that it will be in compliance with all applicable provisions of the Sarbanes-Oxley Act of 2002 and all rules and regulations promulgated thereunder or implementing the provisions thereof (the “Sarbanes-Oxley Act”) that are then in effect and with which the Company is required to comply as of the initial filing or effectiveness, as the case may be, of the Registration Statement and is actively taking steps to ensure that they will be in compliance with other provisions of the Sarbanes-Oxley Act not currently in effect, upon the effectiveness of such provisions.

(xxxiii)     Payment of Taxes.  All United States federal income tax returns of the Transaction Entities and their respective subsidiaries (which, for purposes of this representation and warranty, includes the Predecessor, but only to the extent that any of the Transaction Entities will succeed to any United States federal income tax liability of the Predecessor) required by law to be filed have been filed, and all taxes shown by such returns or otherwise assessed, which are due and payable, have been paid, except assessments against which appeals have been or will be promptly taken and as to which adequate reserves have been provided. The Transaction Entities and their respective subsidiaries have filed all other tax returns that are required to have been filed by them pursuant to applicable foreign, state, local or other law except insofar as the failure to file such returns would not, singly or in the aggregate, result in a Material Adverse Effect, and all taxes shown by such returns or otherwise assessed, which are due and payable, have been paid, except assessments against which appeals have been or will be promptly taken and as to which adequate reserves have been provided.  The charges, accruals and reserves on the books of the Transaction Entities and their respective subsidiaries in respect of any tax liability for any years not finally determined are adequate to meet any assessments or re-assessments for additional tax for any years not finally determined, except to the extent of any inadequacy that would not, singly or in the aggregate, result in a Material Adverse Effect.

(xxxiv)     ERISA. Each Transaction Entity is in compliance in all material respects with all applicable provisions of the Employee Retirement Income Security Act of 1974, as amended, including the regulations and published interpretations thereunder (“ERISA”).  No “reportable event” (as defined in ERISA) has occurred with respect to any “pension plan” (as defined in ERISA) for which either Transaction Entity would have any liability.  Neither Transaction Entity has incurred or expects to incur liability under (i) Title IV of ERISA with respect to termination of, or withdrawal from, any

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“pension plan” or (ii) Sections 412, 403, 431, 432 or 4971 of the Internal Revenue Code of 1986, as amended (the “Code”).  Each “pension plan” for which either Transaction Entity would have any liability that is intended to be qualified under Section 401(a) of the Code is so qualified in all material respects and nothing has occurred thereunder, whether by action or by failure to act, which would cause the loss of such qualification, except where the failure to be so qualified would not, singly or in the aggregate, result in a Material Adverse Effect.

(xxxv)      Business Insurance.  The Transaction Entities and their respective subsidiaries carry or are entitled to the benefits of insurance, with financially sound and reputable insurers, in such amounts and covering such risks as is generally maintained by companies of established repute engaged in the same or similar business, and all such insurance is in full force and effect. Neither of the Transaction Entities has any reason to believe that it or any of their respective subsidiaries will not be able to (A) renew, if desired, its existing insurance coverage as and when such policies expire or (B) obtain comparable coverage from similar institutions as may be necessary or appropriate to conduct its business as now conducted and at a cost that would not, singly or in the aggregate, result in a Material Adverse Effect. Neither of the Transaction Entities nor any of their respective subsidiaries has been denied any insurance coverage which it has sought or for which it has applied.

(xxxvi)     Title Insurance.  Each of the Transaction Entities and their respective subsidiaries and each Related Entity carries or is entitled to the benefits of title insurance on the fee interests and/or leasehold interests (in the case of a ground lease interest) with respect to each Initial Property with financially sound and reputable insurers, in an amount not less than such entity’s cost for the real property comprising such Initial Property, insuring that such party is vested with good and insurable fee or leasehold title, as the case may be, to each such Initial Property.

(xxxvii)    Investment Company Act.  Neither of the Transaction Entities is required, or upon the issuance and sale of the Securities and the Formation Shares as contemplated herein or in the applicable Transaction Documents and the application of the net proceeds therefrom as described in the Registration Statement, the General Disclosure Package and the Prospectus will be required, to register as an “investment company” under the Investment Company Act of 1940, as amended (the “1940 Act”).

(xxxviii)   Absence of Manipulation.  Neither of the Transaction Entities nor any of their respective subsidiaries or other affiliates has taken or will take, directly or indirectly, any action which is designed, or would reasonably be expected, to cause or result in, or which constitutes, the stabilization or manipulation of the price of any security of the Company to facilitate the sale or resale of the Securities.

(xxxix)      Foreign Corrupt Practices Act.  None of the Transaction Entities, any of their respective subsidiaries or, to the knowledge of either of the Transaction Entities, any trustee, officer, agent, employee, affiliate or other person acting on behalf of either of the Transaction Entities or any of their respective subsidiaries is aware of or has taken any action, directly or indirectly, that would result in a violation by such persons of the Foreign Corrupt Practices Act of 1977, as amended, and the rules and regulations thereunder (the “FCPA”), including, without limitation, making use of the mails or any means or instrumentality of interstate commerce corruptly in furtherance of an offer, payment, promise to pay or authorization of the payment of any money, or other

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property, gift, promise to give, or authorization of the giving of anything of value to any “foreign official” (as such term is defined in the FCPA) or any foreign political party or official thereof or any candidate for foreign political office, in contravention of the FCPA.  Each of the Transaction Entities and their respective subsidiaries and, to the knowledge of each of the Transaction Entities, their respective affiliates have conducted their businesses in compliance with the FCPA and have instituted and maintain policies and procedures designed to ensure, and which are reasonably expected to continue to ensure, continued compliance therewith.

(xl)           Money Laundering Laws.  The operations of each of the Transaction Entities and their respective subsidiaries are and have been conducted at all times in compliance with applicable financial recordkeeping and reporting requirements of the Currency and Foreign Transactions Reporting Act of 1970, as amended, the money laundering statutes of all jurisdictions, the rules and regulations thereunder and any related or similar rules, regulations or guidelines issued, administered or enforced by any Governmental Entity (collectively, the “Money Laundering Laws”).  No action, suit or proceeding or, to the knowledge of either of the Transaction Entities, inquiry or investigation by or before any Governmental Entity involving either of the Transaction Entities or any of their respective subsidiaries with respect to the Money Laundering Laws is pending and, to the knowledge of either of the Transaction Entities, no such action, suit, proceeding, inquiry or investigation is threatened.

(xli)          OFAC.  None of the Transaction Entities, any of their respective subsidiaries nor, to the knowledge of either of the Transaction Entities, any trustee, officer, agent, employee, affiliate or other person acting on behalf of either of the Transaction Entities or any of their respective subsidiaries is currently subject to any U.S. sanctions administered by the Office of Foreign Assets Control of the U.S. Treasury Department (“OFAC”).  The Company will not directly or indirectly use the proceeds of the sale of the Securities, or lend, contribute or otherwise make available such proceeds to any of its subsidiaries, joint venture partners or other persons, for the purpose of financing the activities of any person currently subject to any U.S. sanctions administered by OFAC.

(xlii)         Sales of Reserved Securities.  Neither of the Transaction Entities has offered, or caused the Representatives to offer, Reserved Securities to any person with the specific intent to unlawfully influence (i) a tenant, customer or supplier of either of the Transaction Entities or any of their respective subsidiaries to alter the level or type of business from such tenant, customer or supplier with any such entity or (ii) a trade journalist or publication to write or publish favorable information about either of the Transaction Entities or any of their respective subsidiaries, or their respective businesses or products.  No offers or sales of Reserved Securities will be made outside the United States.

(xliii)        Statistical and Market-Related Data.  Any statistical and market-related data included in the Registration Statement, the General Disclosure Package or the Prospectus are based on or derived from sources that the Company believes to be reliable and accurate in all material respects and, to the extent required, the Company has obtained the written consent to the use of such data from such sources.

(xliv)       Real Estate Investment Trust. Commencing with its taxable year ending December 31, 2011, the Company will be organized in conformity with the requirements

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for qualification and taxation as a real estate investment trust (a “REIT”) under Sections 856 through 860 of the Code.  The Company will elect to be taxed as a REIT under the Code effective for its taxable year ending December 31, 2011.  The proposed method of operation of the Company as described in the Registration Statement, the General Disclosure Package and the Prospectus will enable the Company to meet the requirements for qualification and taxation as a REIT under the Code for its taxable year ending December 31, 2011 and thereafter. All statements regarding the Company’s qualification and taxation as a REIT and descriptions of the Company’s organization and proposed method of operation (inasmuch as they relate to the Company’s qualification and taxation as a REIT) set forth in the Registration Statement, the General Disclosure Package and the Prospectus are accurate and fair summaries of the legal or tax matters described therein in all material respects.

(xlv)        Prior Sales of Common Shares or OP Units. Except as disclosed in the Registration Statement, the General Disclosure Package and the Prospectus, the Company has not issued, sold or distributed any Common Shares and the Operating Partnership has not issued, sold or distributed any OP Units.

(xlvi)       Approval of Listing. The Securities have been approved for listing on the New York Stock Exchange, subject to official notice of issuance.

(xlvii)      Distributions.  Except as disclosed in the Registration Statement, the General Disclosure Package and the Prospectus, (A) the Company is not currently prohibited, directly or indirectly, from making any distributions to its shareholders and (B) neither the Operating Partnership nor any subsidiary thereof is prohibited, directly or indirectly, from making any distributions to the Company or any other subsidiary of the Operating Partnership, from making any other distribution on any of its equity interests or from repaying any loans or advances made by the Company, the Operating Partnership or any other subsidiary of the Operating Partnership.

(xlviii)     Finder’s Fees. Except as disclosed in the Registration Statement, the General Disclosure Package and the Prospectus, the Company has not incurred any liability for any finder’s fees or similar payments in connection with the transactions contemplated in this Agreement or the Transaction Documents, except as may otherwise exist with respect to the Underwriters pursuant to this Agreement.

(xlix)        Certain Relationships.  No relationship, direct or indirect, exists between or among either of the Transaction Entities, on the one hand, and the trustees, officers, shareholders, partners, customers or suppliers of the Transaction Entities, on the other hand, which is required to be described in the Registration Statement, the General Disclosure Package or the Prospectus which is not so described.

(l)            No Ratings.  No securities issued by or loans to the Company or any of its subsidiaries are rated by any “nationally recognized statistical rating organization” (as defined for purposes of Rule 436(g) under the 1933 Act).

(b)           Officer’s Certificates.  Any certificate signed by any officer or other representative of either of the Transaction Entities or any of their respective subsidiaries delivered to the Representatives or to counsel for the Underwriters shall be deemed a representation and warranty by such Transaction Entity to each Underwriter as to the matters covered thereby.

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SECTION 2.           Sale and Delivery to Underwriters; Closing.

(a)           Initial Securities.  On the basis of the representations and warranties herein contained and subject to the terms and conditions herein set forth, the Company agrees to sell to each Underwriter, severally and not jointly, and each Underwriter, severally and not jointly, agrees to purchase from the Company, at the price per share set forth in Schedule A the number of Initial Securities set forth in Schedule A opposite the name of such Underwriter, plus any additional number of Initial Securities which such Underwriter may become obligated to purchase pursuant to the provisions of Section 10 hereof, subject, in each case, to such adjustments among the Underwriters as Merrill Lynch in its sole discretion shall make to eliminate any sales or purchases of fractional shares.

(b)           Option Securities.  In addition, on the basis of the representations and warranties herein contained and subject to the terms and conditions herein set forth, the Company hereby grants an option to the Underwriters, severally and not jointly, to purchase up to an additional               Common Shares at the price per share set forth in Schedule A, less an amount per share equal to any distributions declared by the Company and payable on the Initial Securities but not payable on the Option Securities.  The option hereby granted will expire 30 days after the date hereof and may be exercised in whole or in part from time to time only for the purpose of covering overallotments made in connection with the offering and distribution of the Initial Securities upon notice by the Representatives to the Company setting forth the number of Option Securities as to which the several Underwriters are then exercising the option and the time and date of payment and delivery for such Option Securities.  Any such time and date of delivery (a “Date of Delivery”) shall be determined by the Representatives, but shall not be later than seven full business days after the exercise of said option, nor in any event prior to the Closing Time.  If the option is exercised as to all or any portion of the Option Securities, each of the Underwriters, acting severally and not jointly, will purchase that proportion of the total number of Option Securities then being purchased which the number of Initial Securities set forth in Schedule A opposite the name of such Underwriter bears to the total number of Initial Securities, subject, in each case, to such adjustments as the Representatives in their discretion shall make to eliminate any sales or purchases of fractional shares.

(c)           Payment.  Payment of the purchase price for, and delivery of certificates for or book-entry credits representing, the Initial Securities shall be made at the offices of Sidley Austin LLP, 787 Seventh Avenue, New York, New York 10019, or at such other place as shall be agreed upon by the Representatives and the Company, at 9:00 A.M. (New York City time) on the third (fourth, if the pricing occurs after 4:30 P.M. (New York City time) on any given day) business day after the date hereof (unless postponed in accordance with the provisions of Section 10), or such other time not later than ten business days after such date as shall be agreed upon by the Representatives and the Company (such time and date of payment and delivery being hereinafter called the “Closing Time”).

In addition, in the event that any or all of the Option Securities are purchased by the Underwriters, payment of the purchase price for, and delivery of certificates for or book-entry credits representing, such Option Securities shall be made at the above-mentioned offices, or at such other place as shall be agreed upon by the Representatives and the Company, on each Date of Delivery as specified in the notice from the Representatives to the Company.

Payment shall be made to the Company by wire transfer of immediately available funds to a bank account designated by the Company against delivery to the Representatives for the respective accounts of the Underwriters of certificates for or book-entry credits representing the Securities to be purchased by them.  It is understood that each Underwriter has authorized the Representatives, for its account, to accept delivery of, receipt for, and make payment of the purchase price for, the Initial Securities and the Option Securities, if any, which it has agreed to purchase.  Each of the Representatives, individually and not as a representative of the Underwriters, may (but shall not be obligated to) make payment of the purchase

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price for the Initial Securities or the Option Securities, if any, to be purchased by any Underwriter whose funds have not been received by the Closing Time or the relevant Date of Delivery, as the case may be, but such payment shall not relieve such Underwriter from its obligations hereunder.

(d)           Denominations; Registration.  Certificates for the Initial Securities and the Option Securities, if any, shall be in such denominations and registered in such names as the Representatives may request in writing at least one full business day before the Closing Time or the relevant Date of Delivery, as the case may be.  The certificates for the Initial Securities and the Option Securities, if any, will be made available for examination and packaging by the Representatives in The City of New York not later than 10:00 A.M. (New York City time) on the business day prior to the Closing Time or the relevant Date of Delivery, as the case may be.

SECTION 3.           Covenants of the Company.  Each of the Transaction Entities, jointly and severally, covenants with each Underwriter as follows:

(a)           Compliance with Securities Regulations and Commission Requests.  The Company, subject to Section 3(b), will comply with the requirements of Rule 430A, and will notify the Representatives promptly, and confirm the notice in writing, (i) when any post-effective amendment to the Registration Statement shall become effective or any amendment or supplement to the Prospectus shall have been filed, (ii) of the receipt of any comments from the Commission, (iii) of any request by the Commission for any amendment to the Registration Statement or any amendment or supplement to the Prospectus or for additional information, (iv) of the issuance by the Commission of any stop order suspending the effectiveness of the Registration Statement or any post-effective amendment or of any order preventing or suspending the use of any preliminary prospectus or the Prospectus, or of the suspension of the qualification of the Securities for offering or sale in any jurisdiction, or of the initiation or threatening of any proceedings for any of such purposes or of any examination pursuant to Section 8(e) of the 1933 Act concerning the Registration Statement and (v) if the Company becomes the subject of a proceeding under Section 8A of the 1933 Act in connection with the offering of the Securities.  The Company will effect all filings required under Rule 424(b), in the manner and within the time period required by Rule 424(b) (without reliance on Rule 424(b)(8)), and will take such steps as it deems necessary to ascertain promptly whether the form of prospectus transmitted for filing under Rule 424(b) was received for filing by the Commission and, in the event that it was not, it will promptly file such prospectus.  The Company will make reasonable efforts to prevent the issuance of any stop, prevention or suspension order and, if any such order is issued, to obtain the lifting thereof at the earliest possible moment.

(b)           Continued Compliance with Securities Laws.  The Company will comply with the 1933 Act and the 1933 Act Regulations so as to permit the completion of the distribution of the Securities as contemplated in this Agreement and in the General Disclosure Package and the Prospectus.  If at any time when a prospectus relating to the Securities is (or, but for the exception afforded by Rule 172 of the 1933 Act Regulations (“Rule 172”), would be) required by the 1933 Act to be delivered in connection with sales of the Securities, any event shall occur or condition shall exist as a result of which it is necessary, in the opinion of counsel for the Underwriters or for the Company, to (i) amend the Registration Statement in order that the Registration Statement will not include an untrue statement of a material fact or omit to state a material fact required to be stated therein or necessary to make the statements therein not misleading, (ii) amend or supplement the General Disclosure Package or the Prospectus in order that the General Disclosure Package or the Prospectus, as the case may be, will not include any untrue statement of a material fact or omit to state a material fact necessary in order to make the statements therein not misleading in the light of the circumstances existing at the time it is delivered to a purchaser or (iii) amend the Registration Statement or amend or supplement the General Disclosure Package or the Prospectus, as the case may be, in order to comply with the requirements of the 1933 Act or the 1933 Act

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Regulations, the Company will promptly (A) give the Representatives notice of such event, (B) prepare, as applicable, any amendment or supplement as may be necessary to correct such statement or omission or to make the Registration Statement, the General Disclosure Package or the Prospectus comply with such requirements and furnish the Representatives with copies of any such amendment or supplement a reasonable amount of time prior to its proposed filing or use, and (C) file with the Commission any such amendment or supplement; provided, however, that the Company shall not file or use any such amendment or supplement to which the Representatives or counsel for the Underwriters shall reasonably object.  The Company will furnish to the Underwriters such number of copies of such amendment or supplement as the Underwriters may reasonably request. The Company will give the Representatives notice of its intention to make any filings pursuant to the 1934 Act or the 1934 Act Regulations from the Applicable Time to the Closing Time and will furnish the Representatives with copies of any such documents a reasonable amount of time prior to such proposed filing, as the case may be, and will not file or use any such document to which the Representatives or counsel for the Underwriters shall reasonably object.

(c)           Delivery of Registration Statements.  The Company has furnished or will deliver to the Representatives and counsel for the Underwriters, without charge, signed copies of the Registration Statement as originally filed and of each amendment thereto (including exhibits filed therewith) and signed copies of all consents and certificates of experts, and will also deliver to the Representatives, without charge, a conformed copy of the Registration Statement as originally filed and of each amendment thereto (without exhibits) for each of the Underwriters.  The copies of the Registration Statement and each amendment thereto furnished to the Underwriters will be substantially identical to the electronically transmitted copies thereof filed with the Commission pursuant to EDGAR, except to the extent permitted by Regulation S-T.

(d)           Delivery of Prospectuses.  The Company has delivered to each Underwriter, without charge, as many copies of each preliminary prospectus as such Underwriter reasonably requested, and the Company hereby consents to the use of such copies for purposes permitted by the 1933 Act.  The Company will furnish to each Underwriter, without charge, during the period when a prospectus relating to the Securities is (or, but for the exception afforded by Rule 172, would be) required to be delivered under the 1933 Act, such number of copies of the Prospectus (as amended or supplemented) as such Underwriter may reasonably request.  The Prospectus and any amendments or supplements thereto furnished to the Underwriters will be identical to the electronically transmitted copies thereof filed with the Commission pursuant to EDGAR, except to the extent permitted by Regulation S-T.

(e)           Blue Sky Qualifications.  The Company will use its reasonable best efforts, in cooperation with the Underwriters, to qualify the Securities for offering and sale under the applicable securities laws of such states and other jurisdictions (domestic or foreign) as the Representatives may designate and to maintain such qualifications in effect so long as required to complete the distribution of the Securities; provided, however, that the Company shall not be obligated to file any general consent to service of process or to qualify as a foreign corporation or as a dealer in securities in any jurisdiction in which it is not so qualified or to subject itself to taxation in respect of doing business in any jurisdiction in which it is not otherwise so subject.

(f)            Rule 158.  The Company will timely file such reports pursuant to the 1934 Act as are necessary in order to make generally available to its securityholders as soon as practicable an earnings statement for the purposes of, and to provide to the Underwriters the benefits contemplated by, the last paragraph of Section 11(a) of the 1933 Act.

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(g)           Use of Proceeds.  The Company will use the net proceeds received by it from the sale of the Securities in the manner specified in the Registration Statement, the General Disclosure Package and the Prospectus under “Use of Proceeds.”

(h)           Listing.  The Company will use its reasonable best efforts to effect and maintain the listing of the Common Shares (including the Securities) on the New York Stock Exchange.

(i)            Restriction on Sale of Securities.  During a period of 180 days from the date of the Prospectus (the “Lock-Up Period”), neither Transaction Entity will, without the prior written consent of the Representatives (i) directly or indirectly, offer, pledge, sell, contract to sell, sell any option or contract to purchase, purchase any option or contract to sell, grant any option, right or warrant to purchase or lend or otherwise transfer or dispose of any Common Shares or any securities convertible into or exercisable or exchangeable for Common Shares (including, without limitation, OP Units) or file any registration statement under the 1933 Act with respect to any of the foregoing (except for a registration statement on Form S-8 relating to the Company’s equity incentive plan) or (ii) enter into any swap or any other agreement or any transaction that transfers, in whole or in part, directly or indirectly, the economic consequence of ownership of the Common Shares, whether any such swap or transaction described in clause (i) or (ii) above is to be settled by delivery of Common Shares or such other securities, in cash or otherwise.  The foregoing sentence shall not apply to (A) the Securities to be sold hereunder, (B) any Common Shares issued or options to purchase Common Shares granted pursuant to existing employee benefit plans of the Company referred to in the Registration Statement, the General Disclosure Package and the Prospectus, (C) any Common Shares issued pursuant to any non-employee trustee share plan or distribution reinvestment plan referred to in the Registration Statement, the General Disclosure Package and the Prospectus, or (D) the Formation Shares; provided, that, for the avoidance of doubt, this clause (D) shall apply only to transfers made in connection with the Formation Transactions and not to any subsequent transfer by the Company of Common Shares received as a result of any indemnification claim against a contributor receiving Formation Shares pursuant to the applicable Transaction Document(s).  Notwithstanding the foregoing, if (1) during the last 17 days of the Lock-Up Period the Company issues an earnings release or material news or a material event relating to the Company occurs or (2) prior to the expiration of the Lock-Up Period, the Company announces that it will issue an earnings release or becomes aware that material news or a material event will occur during the 16-day period beginning on the last day of the Lock-Up Period, the restrictions imposed in this clause (i) shall continue to apply until the expiration of the 18-day period beginning on the date of issuance of the earnings release or the occurrence of the material news or material event, unless the Representatives waive, in writing, such extension.

(j)            Reporting Requirements.  The Company, during the period when a prospectus relating to the Securities is (or, but for the exception afforded by Rule 172, would be) required to be delivered under the 1933 Act, will file all documents required to be filed with the Commission pursuant to the 1934 Act within the time periods required by the 1934 Act and the 1934 Act Regulations.  Additionally, the Company shall report the use of proceeds from the issuance of the Securities as may be required under Rule 463 under the 1933 Act.

(k)           Issuer Free Writing Prospectuses.  The Company agrees that, unless it obtains the prior written consent of the Representatives, it will not make any offer relating to the Securities that would constitute an Issuer Free Writing Prospectus or that would otherwise constitute a “free writing prospectus,” or a portion thereof, required to be filed by the Company with the Commission or retained by the Company under Rule 433; provided, that the Representatives will be deemed to have consented to the Issuer Free Writing Prospectuses listed on Schedule D-2 hereto and any “road show that is a written communication” within the meaning of Rule 433(d)(8)(i) that has been reviewed and approved by the Representatives. Any such free writing prospectus consented to by the Representatives is hereinafter

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referred to as a “Permitted Free Writing Prospectus.”  The Company represents that it has treated or agrees that it will treat each such Permitted Free Writing Prospectus as an “issuer free writing prospectus,” as defined in Rule 433, and that it has complied and will comply with the applicable requirements of Rule 433 with respect thereto, including timely filing with the Commission where required, legending and record keeping.  If at any time following the issuance of an Issuer Free Writing Prospectus there occurred or occurs an event or development as a result of which such Issuer Free Writing Prospectus conflicted or would conflict with the information contained in the Registration Statement, the Prospectus or any preliminary prospectus or other prospectus deemed to be part thereof that has not been superseded or modified, or included or would include an untrue statement of a material fact or omitted or would omit to state a material fact necessary in order to make the statements therein, in the light of the circumstances existing at that subsequent time, not misleading, the Company will promptly notify the Representatives and will promptly amend or supplement, at its own expense, such Issuer Free Writing Prospectus to eliminate or correct such conflict, untrue statement or omission; [provided, that this sentence shall not apply to statements in or omissions from any Issuer Free Writing Prospectus based upon and in conformity with                 .]

(l)            Compliance with FINRA Rules.  The Company hereby agrees that it will ensure that the Reserved Securities will be restricted as required by FINRA or the FINRA rules from sale, transfer, assignment, pledge or hypothecation for a period of three months following the date of this Agreement.  The Underwriters will notify the Company as to which persons will need to be so restricted.  At the request of the Underwriters, the Company will direct the transfer agent to place a stop transfer restriction upon such Reserved Securities for such period of time.  Should the Company release, or seek to release, from such restrictions any of the Reserved Securities, the Company agrees to reimburse the Underwriters for any reasonable expenses (including, without limitation, legal expenses) they incur in connection with such release.

(m)          Absence of Manipulation.  Except as contemplated in the Registration Statement, the General Disclosure Package and the Prospectus, neither of the Transaction Entities will take, directly or indirectly, any action designed to or that would constitute or that might reasonably be expected to cause or result in, stabilization or manipulation of the price of any securities of the Company to facilitate the sale or resale of the Securities.

(n)           REIT Qualification.  The Company will use its best efforts to qualify and to elect to qualify as a REIT, effective for its taxable year ending December 31, 2011 and the Company will use its best efforts to continue to meet the requirements to qualify as a REIT under the Code until the Board of Trustees of the Company determines that it is no longer in the best interests of the Company and its shareholders to qualify as a REIT.

(o)           Compliance with the Sarbanes-Oxley Act.  Each of the Transaction Entities will comply in all material respects with all applicable provisions of the Sarbanes-Oxley Act that are in effect.

(p)           Stop Transfer Instructions for Formation Shares and Other Common Shares.  The Company will enter stop transfer instructions with the transfer agent and registrar of the Common Shares against the transfer of Formation Shares and other Common Shares that are subject to the agreements described in Section 5(i) hereof except in compliance with the restrictions set forth in such agreements.

SECTION 4.           Payment of Expenses.

(a)           Expenses.  Each of the Transaction Entities, jointly and severally, agrees to pay all expenses incident to the performance of their obligations under this Agreement, including (i) the preparation, printing and filing of the Registration Statement (including financial statements and exhibits

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thereto) as originally filed and of each amendment thereto, (ii) the preparation, printing and delivery to the Underwriters of this Agreement, (iii) the preparation, issuance and delivery of the certificates for the Securities to the Underwriters, including any share or other transfer taxes and any stamp or other duties payable upon the sale, issuance or delivery of the Securities to the Underwriters, (iv) the fees and disbursements of the Company’s counsel, accountants and other advisors, (v) the qualification of the Securities under securities laws in accordance with the provisions of Section 3(e) hereof, including filing fees and the reasonable fees and disbursements of counsel for the Underwriters in connection therewith and in connection with the preparation of the Blue Sky Survey and any supplement thereto (not to exceed $10,000), (vi) the preparation, printing and delivery to the Underwriters of copies of each preliminary prospectus, each Issuer Free Writing Prospectus and the Prospectus and any amendments or supplements thereto, and any costs associated with electronic delivery of any of the foregoing by the Underwriters to investors, (vii) the fees and expenses of any transfer agent or registrar for the Securities, (viii) the costs and expenses of the Company relating to investor presentations on any “road show” undertaken in connection with the marketing of the Securities, including without limitation, expenses associated with the production of road show slides and graphics, fees and expenses of any consultants engaged in connection with the road show presentations, travel and lodging expenses of the representatives and officers of the Company and any such consultants, and one-half of the cost of any aircraft chartered in connection with the road show, (ix) the filing fees incident to, and the reasonable fees and disbursements of counsel to the Underwriters in connection with, the review by FINRA of the terms of the sale of the Securities, (x) the fees and expenses incurred in connection with the listing of the Securities on the New York Stock Exchange, (xi) the costs and expenses (including, without limitation, any damages or other amounts payable in connection with legal or contractual liability) associated with the reforming of any contracts for sale of the Securities made by the Underwriters caused by a breach of the representation contained in the third sentence of Section 1(a)(ii) and (xii) all costs and expenses of the Underwriters, including the reasonable fees and disbursements of counsel for the Underwriters, in connection with matters related to the Reserved Securities which are designated by the Company for sale to Invitees.  Except as explicitly provided in this Section 4(a), Section 4(b), Section 6 and Section 7, the Underwriters shall pay their own expenses, including the fees and disbursements of their counsel and other advisors.

(b)           Termination of Agreement.  If this Agreement is terminated by the Representatives in accordance with the provisions of Section 5, Section 9(a)(i) or (iii) or Section 10 hereof, the Company shall reimburse the Underwriters (or, in the case of Section 10, solely the non-defaulting Underwriters), for all of their out-of-pocket expenses, including the reasonable fees and disbursements of counsel for the Underwriters.

SECTION 5.           Conditions of Underwriters’ Obligations.  The obligations of the several Underwriters hereunder are subject to the accuracy of the representations and warranties of the Transaction Entities contained in Section 1(a) hereof or in certificates of any officer of either of the Transaction Entities or any of their respective subsidiaries delivered pursuant to the provisions hereof, to the performance by the Transaction Entities of their respective covenants and other obligations hereunder, and to the following further conditions:

(a)           Effectiveness of Registration Statement; Rule 430A Information.  The Registration Statement, including any Rule 462(b) Registration Statement, has become effective and at the Closing Time no stop order suspending the effectiveness of the Registration Statement or any post-effective amendment thereto shall have been issued under the 1933 Act, no order preventing or suspending the use of any preliminary prospectus or the Prospectus has been issued and no proceedings for any of those purposes have been instituted or are pending or, to the Company’s knowledge, contemplated; and the Company has complied with each request, if any, from or proceedings therefor initiated or threatened by the Commission, and any request on the part of the Commission for additional information shall have been complied with to the reasonable satisfaction of counsel to the Underwriters.  A prospectus

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containing the Rule 430A Information shall have been filed with the Commission in the manner and within the time frame required by Rule 424(b) without reliance on Rule 424(b)(8) or a post-effective amendment providing such information shall have been filed with, and declared effective by, the Commission in accordance with the requirements of Rule 430A.

(b)           Opinion of Counsel for Company.  At the Closing Time, the Representatives shall have received the favorable opinion and negative assurance letter, each dated the Closing Time, of Hogan Lovells US LLP, counsel for the Company, each in form and substance reasonably satisfactory to counsel for the Underwriters, together with signed or reproduced copies of such letters for each of the other Underwriters substantially to the effect set forth in Exhibits A-1 and A-2 hereto and to such further effect as counsel to the Underwriters may reasonably request; provided, however, other counsel for the Company, reasonably acceptable to the Representatives, may deliver certain opinions set forth in Exhibit A-1.

(c)           Opinion of Counsel for Underwriters.  At the Closing Time, the Representatives shall have received the favorable opinion, dated the Closing Time, of Sidley Austin LLP, counsel for the Underwriters, together with signed or reproduced copies of such letter for each of the other Underwriters with respect to such matters as the Representatives shall reasonably request.  In giving such opinion such counsel may rely upon the opinion of Hogan Lovells US LLP, as to all matters governed by the laws of the State of Maryland, and, to the extent necessary, such other counsel for the Company referred to in Section 5(b) above.  Such counsel may also state that, insofar as such opinion involves factual matters, they have relied, to the extent they deem proper, upon certificates of officers and other representatives of the Transaction Entities and their respective subsidiaries and certificates of public officials.

(d)           Officers’ Certificate.  At the Closing Time, there shall not have been, since the date hereof, since the Applicable Time or since the respective dates as of which information is given in the Registration Statement, the General Disclosure Package or the Prospectus, any material adverse change in the condition, financial or otherwise, or in the earnings, business affairs or business prospects of the Transaction Entities and their respective subsidiaries considered as one enterprise, whether or not arising in the ordinary course of business, and the Representatives shall have received a certificate of the Executive Chairman or the Chief Executive Officer and President of the Transaction Entities and of the chief financial or chief accounting officer of the Transaction Entities, dated the Closing Time, to the effect that (i) there has been no such material adverse change, (ii) the representations and warranties of the Transaction Entities in Section 1(a) hereof are true and correct with the same force and effect as though expressly made at and as of the Closing Time, (iii) the Transaction Entities have complied in all material respects with all agreements and satisfied all conditions on their part to be performed or satisfied at or prior to the Closing Time, and (iv) no stop order suspending the effectiveness of the Registration Statement under the 1933 Act has been issued, no order preventing or suspending the use of any preliminary prospectus or the Prospectus has been issued and no proceedings for any of those purposes have been instituted or are pending or, to their knowledge, contemplated by any Governmental Entity.

(e)           Accountant’s Comfort Letters.  At the time of the execution of this Agreement, the Representatives shall have received from PricewaterhouseCoopers LLP a letter, dated such date, in form and substance reasonably satisfactory to the Representatives, together with signed or reproduced copies of such letter for each of the other Underwriters containing statements and information of the type ordinarily included in accountants’ “comfort letters” to underwriters with respect to the financial statements and certain financial information contained in the Registration Statement, the General Disclosure Package and the Prospectus.

(f)            Bring-down Comfort Letters.  At the Closing Time, the Representatives shall have received from PricewaterhouseCoopers LLP a letter, dated the Closing Time, to the effect that they

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reaffirm the statements made in the letter furnished pursuant to subsection (e) of this Section, except that the specified date referred to shall be a date not more than three business days prior to the Closing Time.

(g)         Approval of Listing.  At the Closing Time, the Securities shall have been approved for listing on the New York Stock Exchange, subject only to official notice of issuance.

(h)         No Objection.  FINRA has confirmed that it has not raised any objection with respect to the fairness and reasonableness of the underwriting terms and arrangements relating to the offering of the Securities.

(i)          Lock-up Agreements.  At the date of this Agreement, the Representatives shall have received (A) an agreement substantially in the form of Exhibit B hereto signed by each person listed on Schedule E hereto other than Common Pension Fund E, Robert L. Johnson, Thomas J. Baltimore, Jr., Ross H. Bierkan, Leslie D. Hale, Howard Isaacson, Carl Mayfield, Kate Henriksen, Frederick McKalip and the trustees of the Company, (B) an agreement substantially in the form of Exhibit C hereto signed by Common Pension Fund E, (C) an agreement substantially in the form of Exhibit D hereto signed by Robert L. Johnson, Thomas J. Baltimore, Jr. and Ross H. Bierkan, (D) an agreement substantially in the form of Exhibit E hereto signed by Leslie D. Hale, Howard Isaacson, Carl Mayfield, Kate Henriksen and Frederick McKalip and (E) an agreement substantially in the form of Exhibit F hereto signed by the trustees of the Company.

(j)          Formation Transactions.  All of the Transaction Documents shall have been executed and delivered, and all of the transactions that are to occur in order to consummate the Formation Transactions shall have been consummated on terms reasonably satisfactory to the Representatives, contemporaneously with or prior to the sale of the Securities.

(k)           Conditions to Purchase of Option Securities.  In the event that the Underwriters exercise their option provided in Section 2(b) hereof to purchase all or any portion of the Option Securities, the representations and warranties of the Transaction Entities contained herein and the statements in any certificates furnished by the Transaction Entities or any of their respective subsidiaries hereunder shall be true and correct as of each Date of Delivery and, at the relevant Date of Delivery, the Representatives shall have received:

(i)            Officers’ Certificate.  A certificate, dated such Date of Delivery, of the Executive Chairman or the Chief Executive Officer and President of the Transaction Entities, and of the chief financial or chief accounting officer of the Transaction Entities, confirming that the certificate delivered at the Closing Time pursuant to Section 5(d) hereof remains true and correct as of such Date of Delivery.

(ii)           Opinion of Counsel for Company.  The favorable opinion and negative assurance letter of Hogan Lovells US LLP, counsel for the Company, in form and substance reasonably satisfactory to counsel for the Underwriters, dated such Date of Delivery, relating to the Option Securities to be purchased on such Date of Delivery and otherwise to the same effect as the opinion and negative assurance letter required by Section 5(b) hereof; provided, however, such other counsel for the company referred to in Section 5(b) hereof may deliver certain opinions to the same effect as the applicable opinions described in Section 5(b) hereof.

(iii)          Opinion of Counsel for Underwriters.  The favorable opinion of Sidley Austin LLP, counsel for the Underwriters, dated such Date of Delivery, relating to the

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Option Securities to be purchased on such Date of Delivery and otherwise to the same effect as the opinion required by Section 5(c) hereof.

(iv)          Bring-down Comfort Letters.  A letter from PricewaterhouseCoopers LLP in form and substance satisfactory to the Representatives and dated such Date of Delivery, substantially in the same form and substance as the letter furnished to the Representatives pursuant to Section 5(f) hereof, except that the “specified date” in the letter furnished pursuant to this paragraph shall be a date not more than three business days prior to such Date of Delivery.

(l)            Additional Documents.  At the Closing Time and at each Date of Delivery, if any, counsel for the Underwriters shall have been furnished with such documents and opinions as they may require for the purpose of enabling them to pass upon the issuance and sale of the Securities as herein contemplated, or in order to evidence the accuracy of any of the representations or warranties, or the fulfillment of any of the conditions, herein contained; and all proceedings taken by the Transaction Entities in connection with the issuance and sale of the Securities as herein contemplated shall be reasonably satisfactory in form and substance to the Representatives and counsel for the Underwriters.

(m)          Termination of Agreement.  If any condition specified in this Section shall not have been fulfilled when and as required to be fulfilled, this Agreement, or, in the case of any condition to the purchase of Option Securities on a Date of Delivery which is after the Closing Time, the obligations of the several Underwriters to purchase the relevant Option Securities, may be terminated by the Representatives by notice to the Company at any time at or prior to the Closing Time or such Date of Delivery, as the case may be, and such termination shall be without liability of any party to any other party except as provided in Section 4 and except that Sections 1, 6, 7, 8, 14 and 15 shall survive any such termination and remain in full force and effect.

SECTION 6.           Indemnification.

(a)           Indemnification of Underwriters.  Each of the Transaction Entities, jointly and severally, agrees to indemnify and hold harmless each Underwriter, its affiliates (as such term is defined in Rule 501(b) under the 1933 Act (each, an “Affiliate”)), its selling agents and each person, if any, who controls any Underwriter within the meaning of Section 15 of the 1933 Act or Section 20 of the 1934 Act as follows:

(i)            against any and all loss, liability, claim, damage and expense whatsoever, as incurred, arising out of any untrue statement or alleged untrue statement of a material fact contained in the Registration Statement (or any amendment thereto), including the Rule 430A Information, or the omission or alleged omission therefrom of a material fact required to be stated therein or necessary to make the statements therein not misleading or arising out of any untrue statement or alleged untrue statement of a material fact included in any preliminary prospectus, any Issuer Free Writing Prospectus, the General Disclosure Package or the Prospectus (or any amendment or supplement thereto), or the omission or alleged omission therefrom of a material fact necessary in order to make the statements therein, in the light of the circumstances under which they were made, not misleading;

(ii)           against any and all loss, liability, claim, damage and expense whatsoever, as incurred, to the extent of the aggregate amount paid in settlement of any litigation, or any investigation or proceeding by any governmental agency or body, commenced or threatened, or of any claim whatsoever, in each case based upon any such untrue

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statement or omission, or any such alleged untrue statement or omission; provided, that (subject to Section 6(d) below) any such settlement is effected with the written consent of the Transaction Entities; and

(iii)          against any and all expense whatsoever, as incurred (including the fees and disbursements of one counsel chosen by the Representatives), reasonably incurred in investigating, preparing or defending against any litigation, or any investigation or proceeding by any governmental agency or body, commenced or threatened, or any claim whatsoever based upon any such untrue statement or omission, or any such alleged untrue statement or omission, to the extent that any such expense is not paid under (i) or (ii) above;

provided, however, that this indemnity agreement shall not apply to any loss, liability, claim, damage or expense to the extent arising out of any untrue statement or omission or alleged untrue statement or omission made in the Registration Statement (or any amendment thereto), including the Rule 430A Information, any preliminary prospectus, the General Disclosure Package or the Prospectus (or any amendment or supplement thereto), in reliance upon and in conformity with the Underwriter Information.

(b)           Indemnification of Transaction Entities, Trustees and Officers.  Each Underwriter severally agrees to indemnify and hold harmless each Transaction Entity, the Company’s trustees, each of the Company’s officers who signed the Registration Statement, and each person, if any, who controls either of the Transaction Entities within the meaning of Section 15 of the 1933 Act or Section 20 of the 1934 Act, against any and all loss, liability, claim, damage and expense described in the indemnity contained in subsection (a) of this Section, as incurred, but only with respect to untrue statements or omissions, or alleged untrue statements or omissions, made in the Registration Statement (or any amendment thereto), including the Rule 430A Information, any preliminary prospectus, any Issuer Free Writing Prospectus, the General Disclosure Package or the Prospectus (or any amendment or supplement thereto), in reliance upon and in conformity with the Underwriter Information.

(c)           Actions Against Parties; Notification.  Each indemnified party shall give notice as promptly as reasonably practicable to each indemnifying party of any action commenced against it in respect of which indemnity may be sought hereunder, but failure to so notify an indemnifying party shall not relieve such indemnifying party from any liability hereunder to the extent it is not materially prejudiced as a result thereof and in any event shall not relieve it from any liability which it may have otherwise than on account of this indemnity agreement.  If any such claim shall be brought against an indemnified party, and it shall notify the indemnifying party thereof, the indemnifying party shall be entitled to participate therein and, to the extent that it wishes, jointly with any other similarly notified indemnifying party, to assume the defense thereof with counsel reasonably satisfactory to the indemnified party (which shall not, except with the consent of the indemnified party, also be counsel to the indemnifying party). After notice from the indemnifying party to the indemnified party of its election to assume the defense of such claim or action, the indemnifying party shall not be liable to the indemnified party under this Section 6 for any legal or other expenses subsequently incurred by the indemnified party in connection with the defense thereof other than reasonable costs of investigation; provided, however, that the Representatives shall have the right to employ one counsel (in addition to local counsel) to represent jointly the Representatives and those other Underwriters and their respective directors, officers and controlling persons who may be subject to liability arising out of any claim or action in respect of which indemnity may be sought by the Underwriters against the Transaction Entities under this Section 6, and the Transaction Entities shall not be permitted to assume the defense of such claim or action, if (i) the Company and the Underwriters shall have so mutually agreed; (ii) the Company has failed within a reasonable time to retain counsel reasonably satisfactory to the Underwriters; (iii) the Underwriters and their respective directors, officers and controlling persons shall have reasonably concluded, after

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consultation with counsel, that there are or may be legal defenses available to them that are different from or in addition to those available to the Transaction Entities; or (iv) the named parties in any such proceeding (including any impleaded parties) include both the Underwriters or their respective directors, officers or controlling persons, on the one hand, and the Company or the Operating Partnership, on the other hand, and representation of both sets of parties by the same counsel would present actual or potential differing interests between them, and in any such event the fees and expenses of such separate counsel shall be paid by the Transaction Entities.  In no event shall the indemnifying parties be liable for fees and expenses of more than one counsel (in addition to any local counsel) separate from their own counsel for all indemnified parties in connection with any one action or separate but similar or related actions in the same jurisdiction arising out of the same general allegations or circumstances.  No indemnifying party shall, without the prior written consent of the indemnified parties, settle or compromise or consent to the entry of any judgment with respect to any litigation, or any investigation or proceeding by any governmental agency or body, commenced or threatened, or any claim whatsoever in respect of which indemnification or contribution could be sought under this Section 6 or Section 7 hereof (whether or not the indemnified parties are actual or potential parties thereto), unless such settlement, compromise or consent (i) includes an unconditional release of each indemnified party from all liability arising out of such litigation, investigation, proceeding or claim and (ii) does not include a statement as to or an admission of fault, culpability or a failure to act by or on behalf of any indemnified party.

(d)           Settlement Without Consent if Failure to Reimburse.  If at any time an indemnified party shall have requested an indemnifying party to reimburse the indemnified party for fees and expenses of counsel, such indemnifying party agrees that it shall be liable for any settlement of the nature contemplated by Section 6(a)(ii) or settlement of any claim in connection with any violation referred to in Section 6(e) effected without its written consent if (i) such settlement is entered into more than 45 days after receipt by such indemnifying party of the aforesaid request, (ii) such indemnifying party shall have received notice of the terms of such settlement at least 30 days prior to such settlement being entered into and (iii) such indemnifying party shall not have reimbursed such indemnified party in accordance with such request prior to the date of such settlement.

(e)           Indemnification for Reserved Securities.  In connection with the offer and sale of the Reserved Securities, each of the Transaction Entities, jointly and severally, agrees to indemnify and hold harmless the Underwriters, their Affiliates and selling agents and each person, if any, who controls any Underwriter within the meaning of either Section 15 of the 1933 Act or Section 20 of the 1934 Act, from and against any and all loss, liability, claim, damage and expense (including, without limitation, any legal or other expenses reasonably incurred in connection with defending, investigating or settling any such action or claim), as incurred, (i) arising out of the violation of any applicable laws or regulations of foreign jurisdictions where Reserved Securities have been offered; (ii) arising out of any untrue statement or alleged untrue statement of a material fact contained in any prospectus wrapper or other material prepared by or with the consent of the Company for distribution to Invitees in connection with the offering of the Reserved Securities or caused by any omission or alleged omission to state therein a material fact required to be stated therein or necessary to make the statements therein not misleading; (iii) caused by the failure of any Invitee to pay for and accept delivery of Reserved Securities which have been orally confirmed for purchase by any Invitee by 8:00 A.M. (New York City time) on the first business day after the date of this Agreement; or (iv) related to, or arising out of or in connection with, the offering of the Reserved Securities.

SECTION 7.           Contribution.  If the indemnification provided for in Section 6 hereof is for any reason unavailable to or insufficient to hold harmless an indemnified party in respect of any losses, liabilities, claims, damages or expenses referred to therein, then each indemnifying party shall contribute to the aggregate amount of such losses, liabilities, claims, damages and expenses incurred by such indemnified party, as incurred, (i) in such proportion as is appropriate to reflect the relative benefits

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 received by the Transaction Entities, on the one hand, and the Underwriters, on the other hand, from the offering of the Securities pursuant to this Agreement or (ii) if the allocation provided by clause (i) is not permitted by applicable law, in such proportion as is appropriate to reflect not only the relative benefits referred to in clause (i) above but also the relative fault of the Transaction Entities, on the one hand, and of the Underwriters, on the other hand, in connection with the statements or omissions, or in connection with any violation of the nature referred to in Section 6(e) hereof, which resulted in such losses, liabilities, claims, damages or expenses, as well as any other relevant equitable considerations.

The relative benefits received by the Transaction Entities, on the one hand, and the Underwriters, on the other hand, in connection with the offering of the Securities pursuant to this Agreement shall be deemed to be in the same respective proportions as the total net proceeds from the offering of the Securities pursuant to this Agreement (before deducting expenses) received by the Transaction Entities, on the one hand, and the total underwriting discount received by the Underwriters, on the other hand, in each case as set forth on the cover of the Prospectus, bear to the aggregate initial public offering price of the Securities as set forth on the cover of the Prospectus.

The relative fault of the Transaction Entities, on the one hand, and the Underwriters, on the other hand, shall be determined by reference to, among other things, whether any such untrue or alleged untrue statement of a material fact or omission or alleged omission to state a material fact relates to information supplied by the Transaction Entities or by the Underwriters and the parties’ relative intent, knowledge, access to information and opportunity to correct or prevent such statement or omission or any violation of the nature referred to in Section 6(e) hereof.

The Transaction Entities and the Underwriters agree that it would not be just and equitable if contribution pursuant to this Section 7 were determined by pro rata allocation (even if the Underwriters were treated as one entity for such purpose) or by any other method of allocation which does not take account of the equitable considerations referred to above in this Section 7.  The aggregate amount of losses, liabilities, claims, damages and expenses incurred by an indemnified party and referred to above in this Section 7 shall be deemed to include any legal or other expenses reasonably incurred by such indemnified party in investigating, preparing or defending against any litigation, or any investigation or proceeding by any governmental agency or body, commenced or threatened, or any claim whatsoever based upon any such untrue or alleged untrue statement or omission or alleged omission.

Notwithstanding the provisions of this Section 7, no Underwriter shall be required to contribute any amount in excess of the underwriting discounts received by such Underwriter in connection with the Securities underwritten by it and distributed to the public.

No person guilty of fraudulent misrepresentation (within the meaning of Section 11(f) of the 1933 Act) shall be entitled to contribution from any person who was not guilty of such fraudulent misrepresentation.

For purposes of this Section 7, each person, if any, who controls an Underwriter within the meaning of Section 15 of the 1933 Act or Section 20 of the 1934 Act and each Underwriter’s Affiliates and selling agents shall have the same rights to contribution as such Underwriter, and each trustee of the Company, each officer of the Company who signed the Registration Statement, and each person, if any, who controls either of the Transaction Entities within the meaning of Section 15 of the 1933 Act or Section 20 of the 1934 Act shall have the same rights to contribution as the Transaction Entities. The Underwriters’ respective obligations to contribute pursuant to this Section 7 are several in proportion to the number of Initial Securities set forth opposite their respective names in Schedule A hereto and not joint.

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SECTION 8.           Representations, Warranties and Agreements to Survive.  All representations, warranties and agreements contained in this Agreement or in certificates of officers of either of the Transaction Entities or any of their respective subsidiaries submitted pursuant hereto, shall remain operative and in full force and effect regardless of (i) any investigation made by or on behalf of any Underwriter or its Affiliates or selling agents, any person controlling any Underwriter, its officers or directors, or any person controlling either of the Transaction Entities and (ii) delivery of and payment for the Securities.

SECTION 9.           Termination of Agreement.

(a)           Termination.  The Representatives may terminate this Agreement without liability to the Transaction Entities, by notice to the Transaction Entities, at any time at or prior to the Closing Time (i) if there has been, in the judgment of the Representatives, since the time of execution of this Agreement or since the respective dates as of which information is given in the Registration Statement, the General Disclosure Package or the Prospectus, any material adverse change in or affecting the condition, financial or otherwise, or in the earnings, business affairs or business prospects of the Transaction Entities and their respective subsidiaries considered as one enterprise, whether or not arising in the ordinary course of business, or (ii) if there has occurred any material adverse change in the financial markets in the United States or the international financial markets, any outbreak of hostilities or escalation thereof or other calamity or crisis or any change or development involving a prospective change in national or international political, financial or economic conditions, in each case the effect of which is such as to make it, in the judgment of the Representatives, impracticable or inadvisable to proceed with the completion of the offering or to enforce contracts for the sale of the Securities, or (iii) if trading in any securities of the Company has been suspended or materially limited by the Commission or the New York Stock Exchange, or (iv) if trading generally on the New York Stock Exchange or in the Nasdaq Global Market has been suspended or materially limited, or minimum or maximum prices for trading have been fixed, or maximum ranges for prices have been required, by any of said exchanges or by order of the Commission, FINRA or any other governmental authority, or (v) if a material disruption has occurred in commercial banking or securities settlement or clearance services in the United States or with respect to Clearstream or Euroclear systems in Europe, or (vi) if a banking moratorium has been declared by either Federal or New York authorities.

(b)           Liabilities.  If this Agreement is terminated pursuant to this Section, such termination shall be without liability of any party to any other party except as provided in Section 4 hereof, and provided further that Sections 1, 6, 7, 8, 14 and 15 shall survive such termination and remain in full force and effect.

SECTION 10.         Default by One or More of the Underwriters.  If one or more of the Underwriters shall fail at the Closing Time or a Date of Delivery to purchase the Securities which it or they are obligated to purchase under this Agreement (the “Defaulted Securities”), the Representatives shall have the right, within 24 hours thereafter, to make arrangements for one or more of the non-defaulting Underwriters, or any other underwriters, to purchase all, but not less than all, of the Defaulted Securities in such amounts as may be agreed upon and upon the terms herein set forth; if, however, the Representatives shall not have completed such arrangements within such 24-hour period, then:

(i)            if the number of Defaulted Securities does not exceed 10% of the number of Securities to be purchased on such date, each of the non-defaulting Underwriters shall be obligated, severally and not jointly, to purchase the full amount thereof in the proportions that their respective underwriting obligations hereunder bear to the underwriting obligations of all non-defaulting Underwriters, or

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(ii)           if the number of Defaulted Securities exceeds 10% of the number of Securities to be purchased on such date, this Agreement or, with respect to each Date of Delivery, if any, which occurs after the Closing Time, the obligation of the Underwriters to purchase, and of the Company to sell the Option Securities to be purchased and sold on such Date of Delivery shall terminate without liability on the part of any non-defaulting Underwriter.

No action taken pursuant to this Section shall relieve any defaulting Underwriter from liability in respect of its default.

In the event of any such default which does not result in a termination of this Agreement or, in the case of a Date of Delivery which is after the Closing Time, which does not result in a termination of the obligation of the Underwriters to purchase and the Company to sell the relevant Option Securities, as the case may be, either the (i) Representatives or (ii) the Company shall have the right to postpone the Closing Time or the relevant Date of Delivery, as the case may be, for a period not exceeding seven days in order to effect any required changes in the Registration Statement, the General Disclosure Package or the Prospectus or in any other documents or arrangements.  As used herein, the term “Underwriter” includes any person substituted for an Underwriter under this Section 10.

SECTION 11.         Notices.  All notices and other communications hereunder shall be in writing and shall be deemed to have been duly given if mailed or transmitted by any standard form of telecommunication.  Notices to the Underwriters shall be directed to the Representatives at:  Merrill Lynch, Pierce, Fenner & Smith Incorporated at One Bryant Park, New York, New York 10036, attention of Syndicate Department, with a copy to ECM Legal; Barclays Capital Inc., 745 Seventh Avenue, New York, New York 10019, attention of Syndicate Registration (Fax: (646) 834-8133), with a copy to the Director of Litigation, Office of the General Counsel; and Wells Fargo Securities, LLC, 375 Park Avenue, New York, New York 10152, attention of Equity Syndicate Department (Fax: (212) 214-5918); notices to the Transaction Entities shall be directed to the Company at 3 Bethesda Metro Center, Suite 1000, Bethesda, Maryland 20814, attention of Thomas J. Baltimore, Jr. (Fax: (301) 280-7782), with a copy to Frederick D. McKalip.

SECTION 12.         No Advisory or Fiduciary Relationship.  Each of the Transaction Entities acknowledges and agrees that (a) the purchase and sale of the Securities pursuant to this Agreement, including the determination of the initial public offering price of the Securities and any related discounts and commissions, is an arm’s-length commercial transaction among the Transaction Entities, on the one hand, and the several Underwriters, on the other hand, (b) in connection with the offering of the Securities and the process leading thereto each Underwriter is and has been acting solely as a principal and is not the agent or fiduciary of either of the Transaction Entities or any of their respective subsidiaries or their respective shareholders, unitholders, creditors, employees or any other party, (c) no Underwriter has assumed or will assume an advisory or fiduciary responsibility in favor of the Transaction Entities with respect to the offering of the Securities or the process leading thereto (irrespective of whether such Underwriter has advised or is currently advising either of the Transaction Entities or any of their respective subsidiaries on other matters) and no Underwriter has any obligation to the Transaction Entities with respect to the offering of the Securities except the obligations expressly set forth in this Agreement, (d) the Underwriters and their respective Affiliates may be engaged in a broad range of transactions that involve interests that differ from those of each of the Transaction Entities, and (e) the Underwriters have not provided any legal, accounting, regulatory or tax advice with respect to the offering of the Securities and each of the Transaction Entities has consulted its own respective legal, accounting, regulatory and tax advisors to the extent it deemed appropriate.

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SECTION 13.         Parties.  This Agreement shall inure to the benefit of and be binding upon the Underwriters, the Transaction Entities and their respective successors.  Nothing expressed or mentioned in this Agreement is intended or shall be construed to give any person, firm or corporation, other than the Underwriters, the Transaction Entities and their respective successors and the controlling persons and officers and trustees referred to in Sections 6 and 7 and their heirs and legal representatives, any legal or equitable right, remedy or claim under or in respect of this Agreement or any provision herein contained.  This Agreement and all conditions and provisions hereof are intended to be for the sole and exclusive benefit of the Underwriters, the Transaction Entities and their respective successors, and said controlling persons and officers and trustees and their heirs and legal representatives, and for the benefit of no other person, firm or corporation.  No purchaser of Securities from any Underwriter shall be deemed to be a successor by reason merely of such purchase.

SECTION 14.         Trial by Jury.  Each of the Transaction Entities (on its behalf and, to the extent permitted by applicable law, on behalf of its shareholders or unitholders, as applicable, and affiliates), and each of the Underwriters hereby irrevocably waives, to the fullest extent permitted by applicable law, any and all right to trial by jury in any legal proceeding arising out of or relating to this Agreement or the transactions contemplated hereby.

SECTION 15.         GOVERNING LAW.  THIS AGREEMENT AND ANY CLAIM, CONTROVERSY OR DISPUTE ARISING UNDER OR RELATED TO THIS AGREEMENT SHALL BE GOVERNED BY, AND CONSTRUED IN ACCORDANCE WITH, THE LAWS OF THE STATE OF NEW YORK WITHOUT REGARD TO ITS CHOICE OF LAW PROVISIONS.

SECTION 16.         TIME. TIME SHALL BE OF THE ESSENCE OF THIS AGREEMENT. EXCEPT AS OTHERWISE SET FORTH HEREIN, SPECIFIED TIMES OF DAY REFER TO NEW YORK CITY TIME.

SECTION 17.         Partial Unenforceability.  The invalidity or unenforceability of any Section, paragraph or provision of this Agreement shall not affect the validity or enforceability of any other Section, paragraph or provision hereof.  If any Section, paragraph or provision of this Agreement is for any reason determined to be invalid or unenforceable, there shall be deemed to be made such minor changes (and only such minor changes) as are necessary to make it valid and enforceable.

SECTION 18.         Counterparts.  This Agreement may be executed in any number of counterparts, each of which shall be deemed to be an original, but all such counterparts shall together constitute one and the same Agreement.

SECTION 19.         Effect of Headings.  The Section headings herein are for convenience only and shall not affect the construction hereof.

SECTION 20.         Patriot Act.  In accordance with the requirements of the USA Patriot Act (Title III of Pub. L. 107-56 (signed into law October 26, 2001)), the underwriters are required to obtain, verify and record information that identifies their respective clients, including the Company, which information may include the name and address of their respective clients, as well as other information that will allow the underwriters to properly identify their respective clients.

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If the foregoing is in accordance with your understanding of our agreement, please sign and return to the Company a counterpart hereof, whereupon this instrument, along with all counterparts, will become a binding agreement among the Underwriters and the Transaction Entities in accordance with its terms.

For themselves and as Representatives of the other Underwriters named in Schedule A hereto.

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Exhibit 3.1

RLJ LODGING TRUST

ARTICLES OF AMENDMENT AND RESTATEMENT OF DECLARATION OF TRUST

RLJ Lodging Trust, a Maryland real estate investment trust (the “Trust”), hereby certifies to the State Department of Assessments and Taxation of Maryland (the “SDAT”) that:

FIRST:  The Trust desires to amend and restate its declaration of trust as currently in effect and as hereinafter amended.

SECOND: The amendment to and restatement of the declaration of trust of the Trust as herein set forth has been duly approved and advised by the Board of Trustees by majority vote thereof and approved by the holders (collectively, the “Shareholders” and individually, a “Shareholder”) of shares of beneficial interest of the Trust (the “Shares”) as required by law and the declaration of trust of the Trust as currently in effect.  The following provisions are all the provisions of the declaration of trust of the Trust as hereby amended and restated (this “Declaration of Trust”):

ARTICLE I

FORMATION

The Trust is a real estate investment trust within the meaning of Title 8 of the Corporations and Associations Article of the Annotated Code of Maryland (the “Maryland REIT Law”).

ARTICLE II

NAME

The name of the Trust is: RLJ Lodging Trust. The Board of Trustees of the Trust (the “Board of Trustees”) may change the name of the Trust without approval of the Shareholders.

ARTICLE III

PURPOSES AND POWERS

Section 3.1  Purposes.  The purposes for which the Trust is formed are to engage in any lawful business or other activity, either directly or indirectly through subsidiaries of the Trust, including, without limitation or obligation, engaging in business as a real estate investment trust (“REIT”) under the Internal Revenue Code of 1986, as amended, or any successor statute (the “Code”), for which real estate investment trusts may be organized under the general laws of the State of Maryland as now or hereafter in effect.

Section 3.2  Powers.  The Trust shall have all of the powers granted to REITs by Maryland law and all other powers set forth in this Declaration of Trust that are not inconsistent with law and are appropriate to promote and attain its purposes.

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ARTICLE IV

PRINCIPAL OFFICE IN STATE AND RESIDENT AGENT

The address of the principal office of the Trust in the State of Maryland is 3 Bethesda Metro Center, Suite 1000, Bethesda, MD 20814.  The Trust may have such offices or places of business within or outside the State of Maryland as the Board of Trustees may from time to time determine.

The name of the resident agent of the Trust in the State of Maryland is National Registered Agents, Inc. of MD, whose address is 836 Park Avenue, 2nd Floor, Baltimore, MD 21201. The resident agent is a Maryland corporation.

ARTICLE V

BOARD OF TRUSTEES

Section 5.1  Powers.  Subject to any express limitations contained in this Declaration of Trust or in the bylaws of the Trust (the “Bylaws”), (a) the business and affairs of the Trust shall be managed under the direction of the Board of Trustees, (b) the Board of Trustees shall have full, exclusive and absolute power, control and authority over the Trust and any and all property of the Trust and (c) all powers of the Trust may be exercised by or under authority of the Board of Trustees except as expressly conferred on or expressly reserved to the Shareholders by law or by this Declaration of Trust or Bylaws.  The Board of Trustees may take any action as in its sole judgment and discretion is necessary or appropriate in the conduct of the business and affairs of the Trust or in the furtherance of the interests of the Trust and the owners of its shares of beneficial interest.  This Declaration of Trust shall be construed with the presumption in favor of the grant of power and authority to the Board of Trustees.  Any construction of this Declaration of Trust or determination made in good faith by the Board of Trustees concerning its powers and authority hereunder shall be conclusive.  The enumeration and definition of particular powers of the Board of Trustees included in this Declaration of Trust or in the Bylaws shall in no way be limited or restricted by reference to or inference from the terms of this or any other provision of this Declaration of Trust or the Bylaws or construed or deemed by inference or otherwise in any manner to exclude or limit the powers conferred upon the Board of Trustees (collectively, the “Trustees” and, individually, a “Trustee”) under the general laws of the State of Maryland or any other applicable laws.

Section 5.2  Number of Trustees.  The number of Trustees constituting the entire Board of Trustees is currently set at two (2), but may hereafter be increased or decreased only by the Board of Trustees in accordance with the provisions set forth in the Bylaws, but shall never be fewer than two nor more than fifteen (15). The names of the Trustees who shall serve until the first annual meeting of Shareholders and until their successors are duly elected and qualify are:

Robert L. Johnson

Thomas J. Baltimore, Jr.

It shall not be necessary to list in this Declaration of Trust the names of any Trustees hereinafter elected.

The Trust elects, at such time as it becomes eligible to make the election provided for under Section 3-804(c) of the MGCL, that, except as may be provided by the Board of Trustees in setting the

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terms of any class or series of Shares and subject to Section 5.3 hereof, any and all vacancies on the Board of Trustees may be filled only by the affirmative vote of a majority of the remaining Trustees in office, even if the remaining Trustees do not constitute a quorum, and any Trustee elected to fill a vacancy shall serve for the remainder of the full term of the trusteeship in which such vacancy occurred and until a successor is elected and qualifies.

Section 5.3  Resignation or Removal of Trustees.  Any Trustee may resign at any time by delivering written notice to the Board of Trustees, effective upon execution and delivery to the Trust of such written notice or upon any future date specified in the notice.  Subject to the rights of holders of one or more classes or series of Preferred Shares, as hereinafter defined, to elect or remove one or more Trustees, any Trustee may be removed at any time, but only for cause and then only by the affirmative vote of the holders of not less than two-thirds of the votes entitled to be cast generally in the election of Trustees. For the purpose of this paragraph, “cause” shall mean, with respect to any particular Trustee, conviction of a felony or a final judgment of a court of competent jurisdiction holding that such Trustee caused demonstrable, material harm to the Trust through gross negligence, willful misconduct, bad faith or active and deliberate dishonesty.

Section 5.4             REIT Qualification.  The Board of Trustees, without any action by the Shareholders, shall have the authority to cause the Trust to elect to qualify for U.S. federal income tax purposes as a REIT.  Following such election, if the Board of Trustees determines that it is no longer in the best interests of the Trust to continue to be qualified as a REIT, the Board of Trustees, without any action by the Shareholders, may revoke or otherwise terminate the Trust’s REIT election pursuant to Section 856(g) of the Code or through such other means as the Board determines appropriate.  In addition, the Board of Trustees, without any action by the Shareholders of the Trust, shall have and may exercise, on behalf of the Trust, without limitation, the power to determine that compliance with any restriction or limitation on ownership and transfers of Shares set forth in Article VII is no longer required in order for the Trust to qualify as a REIT.

Section 5.5  Term. The Trustees shall be elected at each annual meeting of the Shareholders and shall serve until the next annual meeting of the Shareholders and until their successors are duly elected and qualify.

Section 5.6  Determinations by Board. The determination as to any of the following matters, made in good faith by or pursuant to the direction of the Board of Trustees consistent with this Declaration of Trust, shall be final and conclusive and shall be binding upon the Trust and every holder of Shares: the amount of the net income of the Trust for any period and the amount of assets at any time legally available for the payment of dividends, redemption of Shares or the payment of other distributions on Shares; the amount of paid-in surplus, net assets, other surplus, annual or other cash flow, funds from operations, net profit, net assets in excess of capital, undivided profits or excess of profits over losses on sales of assets; the amount, purpose, time of creation, increase or decrease, alteration or cancellation of any reserves or charges and the propriety thereof (whether or not any obligation or liability for which such reserves or charges shall have been created shall have been paid or discharged); any interpretation of the terms, preferences, conversion or other rights, voting powers or rights, restrictions, limitations as to dividends or distributions, qualifications or terms or conditions of redemption of any class or series of Shares; the fair value, or any sale, bid or asked price to be applied in determining the fair value, of any asset owned or held by the Trust or of any Shares; the number of Shares of any class of the Trust; any matter relating to the acquisition, holding and disposition of any assets by the Trust; or any other matter relating to the business and affairs of the Trust or required or permitted by applicable law, this Declaration of Trust or Bylaws or otherwise to be determined by the Board of Trustees.

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Section 5.7  Approval of Extraordinary Actions.  Except as specifically provided in Section 5.3 (relating to removal of directors), Article VII, Article X and Section 12.2, notwithstanding any provision of law permitting or requiring any action to be taken or approved by the affirmative vote of the holders of shares entitled to cast a greater proportion of votes, any such action shall be effective and valid if declared advisable by a majority of the Board of Trustees and taken or approved by the affirmative vote of holders of shares entitled to cast a majority of all the votes entitled to be cast on the matter.

ARTICLE VI

SHARES OF BENEFICIAL INTEREST

Section 6.1  Authorized Shares.  The beneficial interest of the Trust shall be divided into Shares.  The total number of Shares of all classes that the Trust has authority to issue is Five Hundred Million (500,000,000), consisting of Four Hundred and Fifty Million (450,000,000) common shares of beneficial interest, $0.01 par value per share (“Common Shares”), and Fifty Million (50,000,000) preferred shares of beneficial interest, $0.01 par value per share (“Preferred Shares”).  The aggregate par value of all authorized Shares having par value is Five Million Dollars ($5,000,000).The Board of Trustees may amend this Declaration of Trust from time to time to increase or decrease the aggregate number of shares or the number of shares of any class or series that the Trust has the authority to issue, without approval of any Shareholder.

Section 6.2  Common Shares.  Subject to the provisions of Article VII, each Common Share shall entitle the holder thereof to one vote on each matter upon which holders of Common Shares are entitled to vote. The Board of Trustees may reclassify any unissued Common Shares from time to time in one or more classes or series of Common Shares or Preferred Shares.

Section 6.2.1  Dividends and Distributions.  The Board of Trustees may from time to time authorize and declare (or cause the Trust to declare) to holders of Common Shares such dividends or distributions in cash or other assets of the Trust or in securities of the Trust or from any other source as the Board of Trustees in its discretion shall determine, but only out of funds legally available therefor.  The Board of Trustees shall endeavor to authorize, and the Trust shall declare and pay, such dividends and distributions as shall be necessary for the Trust to qualify as a REIT under the Code (unless the Board of Trustees has determined that it is no longer in the best interests of the Trust to continue to be qualified as a REIT); however, Shareholders shall have no right to any dividend or distribution unless and until authorized by the Board of Trustees and declared by the Board of Trustees or the Trust, but subject to any conditions established by the Board in connection with the declaration of any such dividend.  The exercise of the powers and rights of the Board of Trustees pursuant to this Section 6.2.1 shall be subject to the preferences of any class or series of Shares at the time outstanding.

Section 6.2.2          Liquidation Rights.  In the event of any voluntary or involuntary liquidation, dissolution or winding up of, or any distribution of the assets of, the Trust, the holders of Common Shares shall be entitled to participate in the distribution of any assets of the Trust remaining after the Trust shall have paid, or provided for payment of, all debts and liabilities of the Trust and after the Trust shall have paid, or set aside for payment, amounts due to the holders of any class of stock having preference over the Common Shares as to distributions in the event of dissolution, liquidation or winding up of the Trust.

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Section 6.3  Preferred Shares.  The Board of Trustees may classify any unissued Preferred Shares and reclassify any previously classified but unissued Preferred Shares of any series from time to time, in one or more classes or series of Common Shares or Preferred Shares.

Section 6.4  Classification and Reclassification of Shares.  Prior to issuance of classified or reclassified Shares of any class or series, the Board of Trustees (a) by resolution shall: (i) designate that class or series to distinguish it from all other classes and series of Shares; (ii) specify the number of Shares to be included in the class or series; and (iii) set or change, subject to the provisions of Article VII and subject to the express terms of any class or series of Shares outstanding at the time, the preferences, conversion or other rights, voting powers, restrictions, limitations as to dividends or other distributions, qualifications and terms and conditions of redemption for each class or series; and (b) shall cause the Trust to file articles supplementary with the SDAT containing the information required by the Maryland REIT Law.  Any of the terms of any class or series of Shares set or changed pursuant to clause (a)(iii) of this Section 6.4 may be made dependent upon facts ascertainable outside this Declaration of Trust (including the occurrence of any event, including a determination or action by the Trust or any other person or body) and may vary among holders thereof, provided that the manner in which such facts or variations shall operate upon the terms of such class or series of Shares is clearly and expressly set forth in the articles supplementary filed with the SDAT.

If shares of one class are classified or reclassified into shares of another class pursuant to this Article VI, the number of authorized shares of the former class shall be automatically decreased and the number of shares of the latter class shall be automatically increased, in each case by the number of shares so classified or reclassified, so that the aggregate number of shares of all classes that the Trust has authority to issue shall not be more than the total number of shares of stock set forth in Section 6.1.

Section 6.5  Authorization by Board of Trustees of Share Issuance.  The Board of Trustees, without approval of any Shareholder, may authorize the issuance from time to time of Shares of any class or series, whether now or hereafter authorized, or securities or rights convertible into Shares of any class or series, whether now or hereafter authorized, for such consideration (whether in cash, property, past or future services, obligation for future payment or otherwise) as the Board of Trustees may deem advisable (or without consideration in the case of a stock split or stock dividend or other situation permitted under the Maryland REIT Law), subject to such restrictions or limitations, if any, as may be set forth in this Declaration of Trust or the Bylaws.

Section 6.6  Transferable Shares; Preferential Dividends. Notwithstanding any other provision in this Declaration of Trust, no determination shall be made by the Board of Trustees nor shall any transaction be entered into by the Trust that would cause any Shares or other beneficial interest in the Trust not to constitute “transferable shares” or “transferable certificates of beneficial interest” under Section 856(a)(2) of the Code or that would cause any distribution to constitute a preferential dividend as described in Section 562(c) of the Code.

Section 6.7  General Nature of Shares.  All Shares shall be personal property entitling the Shareholders only to those rights provided in this Declaration of Trust.  The Shareholders shall have no interest in the property of the Trust and shall have no right to compel any partition, division, dividend or distribution of the Trust or of the property of the Trust.  The death of a Shareholder shall not terminate the Trust.  The Trust is entitled to treat as Shareholders only those persons in whose names Shares are registered as holders of Shares on the share ledger of the Trust.

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Section 6.8  Fractional Shares.  The Trust may, without the consent or approval of any Shareholder, issue fractional Shares, eliminate a fraction of a Share by rounding up or down to a full Share, arrange for the disposition of a fraction of a Share by the person entitled to it, or pay cash for the fair value of a fraction of a Share.

Section 6.9  Divisions and Combinations of Shares.  Subject to any express provision to the contrary in the terms of any class or series of Shares hereafter authorized, the Board of Trustees shall have the power, without a vote of Shareholders, to divide or combine the outstanding Shares of any class or series of Shares into a greater or lesser number of Shares (and without regard to any limitation applicable to divisions or combinations of shares by a Maryland corporation that may be effected without the authorization of the stockholders of a Maryland corporation).

Section 6.10  Declaration of Trust and Bylaws.  All persons who shall acquire a Share shall acquire the same subject to the provisions of this Declaration of Trust and the Bylaws.

ARTICLE VII

RESTRICTIONS ON TRANSFER AND OWNERSHIP OF SHARES

Section 7.1             Definitions.  For the purpose of this Article VII, the following terms shall have the following meanings:

Beneficial Ownership.  The term “Beneficial Ownership” shall mean ownership of Shares by a Person, whether the interest in the Shares is held directly or indirectly (including by a nominee) by such Person, and shall include interests that would be treated as owned by any Person through the application of Section 544 of the Code, as modified by Sections 856(h)(1)(B) and 856(h)(3) of the Code.  The terms “Beneficial Owner,” “Beneficially Owns” and “Beneficially Owned” shall have the correlative meanings.

Business Day.  The term “Business Day” shall mean any day, other than a Saturday or Sunday, that is neither a legal holiday nor a day on which banking institutions in New York, New York are authorized or required by law, regulation or executive order to close.

Charitable Beneficiary.  The term “Charitable Beneficiary” shall mean one or more beneficiaries of the Charitable Trust as determined pursuant to Section 7.3.7, provided that each such organization must be described in Sections 501(c)(3), 170(b)(1)(A) and 170(c)(2) of the Code.

Charitable Trust.  The term “Charitable Trust” shall mean any trust provided for in Section 7.2.1(b)(i) and Section 7.3.1.

Charitable Trustee.  The term “Charitable Trustee” shall mean the Person unaffiliated with both the Trust and the relevant Prohibited Owner that is appointed by the Trust to serve as trustee of the Charitable Trust.

Common Share Ownership Limit.  The term “Common Share Ownership Limit” shall mean not more than 9.8% (or such lower amount designated by the Board of Trustees pursuant to Section 7.2.9) (in value or in number of Shares, whichever is more restrictive) of the aggregate of the outstanding Common Shares.

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Constructive Ownership.  The term “Constructive Ownership” shall mean ownership of Shares by a Person who is or would be treated as an owner of such Shares either actually or constructively through the application of Section 318 of the Code, as modified by Section 856(d)(5) of the Code. The terms “Constructive Owner,” “Constructively Own,” “Constructively Owns” and “Constructively Owned” shall have the correlative meanings.

Declaration of Trust.  The term “Declaration of Trust” shall mean these Articles of Amendment and Restatement of Declaration of Trust as filed for record with the SDAT, and any amendments and supplements thereto.

Initial Date.  The term “Initial Date” shall mean the date of the consummation of the initial public offering of the Trust (but only, with respect to such date, from and after such consummation).

Market Price.  The term “Market Price” on any date shall mean, with respect to any class or series of outstanding Shares, the Closing Price for such Shares on such date. The “Closing Price” on any date shall mean the last sale price for such Shares, regular way, or, in case no such sale takes place on such day, the average of the closing bid and asked prices, regular way, for such Shares, in either case as reported in the principal consolidated transaction reporting system with respect to securities listed or admitted to trade on the NYSE or, if such Shares are not listed or admitted to trade on the NYSE, as reported on the principal consolidated transaction reporting system with respect to securities listed on the principal national securities exchange on which such Shares are listed or admitted to trading or, if such Shares are not listed or admitted to trade on any national securities exchange, the last quoted price, or, if not so quoted, the average of the high bid and low asked prices in the over-the-counter market, as reported by the principal automated quotation system that may then be in use or, if such Shares are not quoted by any such system, the average of the closing bid and asked prices as furnished by a professional market maker making a market in such Shares selected by the Board of Trustees or, in the event that no trading price is available for such Shares, the fair market value of Shares, as determined in good faith by the Board of Trustees.

Non-Transfer Event.  The term “Non-Transfer Event” shall mean any event or other changes in circumstances other than a purported Transfer, including, without limitation, any change in the value of any Shares and any redemption of any Shares.

NYSE.  The term “NYSE” shall mean the New York Stock Exchange.

Person.  The term “Person” shall mean an individual, corporation, partnership, limited liability company, estate, trust (including, without limitation, a trust qualified under Sections 401(a) or 501(c)(17) of the Code), a portion of a trust permanently set aside for or to be used exclusively for the purposes described in Section 642(c) of the Code, association, private foundation within the meaning of Section 509(a) of the Code, joint stock company or other entity and also includes a group as that term is used for purposes of Section 13(d)(3) of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended (the “Exchange Act”).

Preferred Share Ownership Limit.  The term “Preferred Share Ownership Limit” shall mean, with respect to any class or series of Preferred Shares, not more than 9.8% (in value or in number of Shares, whichever is more restrictive) of the aggregate of the outstanding Shares of such class or series of Preferred Shares.

Prohibited Owner.  The term “Prohibited Owner” shall mean, with respect to any purported Transfer or Non-Transfer Event, any Person who, but for the provisions of Section 7.2.1, would Beneficially Own or

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Constructively Own Shares, and if appropriate in the context, shall also mean any Person who would have been the record owner of Shares that the Prohibited Owner would have so owned.

REIT.  The term “REIT” shall mean a real estate investment trust within the meaning of Sections 856 through 859 of the Code.

Restriction Termination Date.  The term “Restriction Termination Date” shall mean the first day after the Initial Date on which the Board of Trustees determines that it is no longer in the best interests of the Trust to attempt to, or continue to, qualify as a REIT or that compliance with the restrictions and limitations on Beneficial Ownership, Constructive Ownership and Transfers of Shares set forth herein is no longer required in order for the Trust to qualify as a REIT.

Transfer.  The term “Transfer” shall mean any issuance, sale, transfer, gift, assignment, devise or other disposition, as well as any other event that causes any Person to acquire or have Beneficial Ownership or Constructive Ownership, or any agreement to take any such actions or cause any such events, of Shares or the right to vote or receive dividends or distributions on Shares, including (a) a change in the capital structure of the Trust, (b) a change in the relationship between two or more Persons which causes a change in ownership of Shares by application of Section 544 of the Code, as modified by Section 856(h) of the Code, (c) the granting or exercise of any option or warrant (or any acquisition or disposition of any option or warrant), pledge, security interest, or similar right to acquire Shares, (d) any acquisition or disposition of any securities or rights convertible into or exchangeable for Shares or any interest in Shares or any exercise of any such conversion or exchange right and (e) Transfers of interests in other entities that result in changes in Beneficial Ownership or Constructive Ownership of Shares; in each case, whether voluntary or involuntary, whether owned of record, Constructively Owned or Beneficially Owned and whether by operation of law or otherwise.  The terms “Transferring” and “Transferred” shall have the correlative meanings.

Section 7.2  Shares.

Section 7.2.1  Ownership Limitations.  During the period commencing on the Initial Date and prior to the Restriction Termination Date:

(a)           Basic Restrictions.

(i)            (1)  No Person shall Beneficially Own or Constructively Own Common Shares in excess of the Common Share Ownership Limit unless, as provided in Section 7.2.8, the Board of Trustees, in its sole and absolute discretion, increases the Common Share Ownership Limit, in which case no Person shall Beneficially Own or Constructively Own Common Shares in excess of such modified Common Share Ownership Limit; and

(2)  No Person shall Beneficially Own or Constructively Own Preferred Shares in excess of the Preferred Share Ownership Limit unless, as provided in Section 7.2.8, the Board of Trustees, in its sole and absolute discretion, increases the Preferred Share Ownership Limit, in which case no Person shall Beneficially Own or Constructively Own Preferred Shares in excess of such modified Preferred Share Ownership Limit.

(ii)           No Person shall Beneficially Own or Constructively Own Shares to the extent that:

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(1) such Beneficial Ownership or Constructive Ownership of Shares would result in the Trust being “closely held” within the meaning of Section 856(h) of the Code (without regard to whether the ownership interest is held during the last half of a taxable year);

(2) such Beneficial Ownership or Constructive Ownership of Shares would result in (a) the Trust owning (directly or indirectly) an interest in a tenant that is described in Section 856(d)(2)(B) of the Code if the income derived by the Trust (either directly or indirectly through one or more partnerships or limited liability companies) from such tenant for the taxable year of the Trust during which such determination is being made would reasonably be expected to equal or exceed the lesser of (I) one percent (1%) of the Trust’s gross income (as determined for purposes of Section 856(c) of the Code), or (II) an amount that would cause the Trust to fail to satisfy any of the gross income requirements of Section 856(c) of the Code or (b) any manager or operator of a “qualified lodging facility,” within the meaning of Section 856(d)(9)(D) of the Code, leased by the Trust (or any subsidiary of the Trust) to one of its taxable REIT subsidiaries with respect to the Trust failing to qualify as an “eligible independent contractor,” within the meaning of Section 856(d)(9)(A) of the Code, in either case if the income derived by the Trust from such tenant or such taxable REIT subsidiary, taking into account any other income of the Trust that would not qualify under the gross income requirements of Section 856(c) of the Code, would (or in the sole judgment of the Board of Trustees, could) cause the Trust to fail to satisfy any of such gross income requirements; or

(3) such Beneficial Ownership or Constructive Ownership of Shares would result in the Trust otherwise failing to qualify as a REIT.

(iii)         No Person shall Transfer any Shares if, as a result of the Transfer, the Shares would be Beneficially Owned by fewer than 100 Persons (determined without reference to the rules of attribution under the Code).  Subject to Section 7.4 and notwithstanding any other provisions contained herein, any Transfer of Shares (whether or not such Transfer is the result of a transaction entered into through the facilities of the NYSE or any other national securities exchange or automated inter-dealer quotation system) that, if effective, would result in Shares being Beneficially Owned by fewer than 100 Persons (determined under the principles of Section 856(a)(5) of the Code) shall be void ab initio, and the intended transferee shall acquire no rights in such Shares.

(b)           Transfer in Trust.  If any Transfer of Shares (whether or not such Transfer is the result of a transaction entered into through the facilities of the NYSE or any other national securities exchange or automated inter-dealer quotation system) or Non-Transfer Event occurs which, if effective, would result in any Person Beneficially Owning or Constructively Owning Shares in violation of Section 7.2.1(a)(i) or (ii),

(i)            then that number of Shares the Beneficial Ownership or Constructive Ownership of which otherwise would cause such Person to violate Section 7.2.1(a)(i) or (ii) (rounded up to the nearest whole Share) shall be automatically transferred to a Charitable Trust for the benefit of a Charitable Beneficiary, as described in Section 7.3, effective as of the close of business on the Business Day prior to the date of such Transfer or Non-Transfer Event, and such Person shall acquire no rights in such Shares; or

(ii)           If the transfer to the Charitable Trust described in clause (i) of this subparagraph would not be effective for any reason to prevent the violation of Section 7.2.1(a)(i) or (ii), or would not prevent the Trust from failing to qualify as a REIT, then the Transfer of that number of Shares that

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otherwise would cause any Person to violate Section 7.2.1(a)(i) or (ii) shall be void ab initio, and the intended transferee shall acquire no rights in such Shares.

(iii)          In determining which Shares are to be transferred to a Charitable Trust in accordance with this Section 7.2.1(b) and Section 7.3 hereof, Shares shall be so transferred to a Charitable Trust in such manner as minimizes the aggregate value of the Shares that are transferred to the Charitable Trust (except as provided in Section 7.2.6) and, to the extent not inconsistent therewith, on a pro rata basis.

(iv)          To the extent that, upon a transfer of Shares pursuant to this Section 7.2.1(b), a violation of any provision of Section 7.2.1(a) would nonetheless be continuing (as, for example, where the ownership of Shares by a single Charitable Trust would result in the Shares being Beneficially Owned (determined under the principles of Section 856(a)(5) of the Code) by fewer than 100 persons), then Shares shall be transferred to that number of Charitable Trusts, each having a Charitable Trustee and a Charitable Beneficiary or Charitable Beneficiaries that are distinct from those of each other Charitable Trust, such that there is no violation of any provision of Section 7.2.1(a) hereof.

Section 7.2.2          Remedies for Breach.  If the Board of Trustees or any duly authorized committee thereof shall at any time determine in good faith that a Transfer or Non-Transfer Event has taken place that results in a violation of Section 7.2.1 or that a Person intends to acquire or has attempted to acquire Beneficial Ownership or Constructive Ownership of any Shares in violation of Section 7.2.1 (whether or not such violation is intended), the Board of Trustees or a committee thereof shall take such action as it deems advisable to refuse to give effect to or to prevent such Transfer or Non-Transfer Event, including, without limitation, causing the Trust to redeem Shares, refusing to give effect to such Transfer or Non-Transfer Event on the books of the Trust or instituting proceedings to enjoin such Transfer or Non-Transfer Event; provided, however, that any Transfer or attempted Transfer or Non-Transfer Event in violation of Section 7.2.1 shall automatically result in the Transfer to the Charitable Trust described above, and, where applicable, such Transfer (or other event) shall be void ab initio as provided above irrespective of any action (or non-action) by the Board of Trustees or a committee thereof.

Section 7.2.3          Notice of Restricted Transfer.  Any Person who acquires or attempts or intends to acquire Beneficial Ownership or Constructive Ownership of Shares that will or may violate Section 7.2.1(a), or any Person who would have owned Shares that resulted in a transfer to the Charitable Trust pursuant to the provisions of Section 7.2.1(b), shall immediately give written notice to the Trust of such event or, in the case of such a proposed or attempted transaction, shall give at least fifteen (15) days prior written notice, and shall provide to the Trust such other information as the Trust may request in order to determine the effect, if any, of such acquisition or ownership on the Trust’s status as a REIT.

Section 7.2.4          Owners Required To Provide Information.  From the Initial Date and prior to the Restriction Termination Date:

(a)           every owner of more than five percent (5%) (or such lower percentage as required by the Code or the Treasury Regulations promulgated thereunder) of the outstanding Shares, within thirty (30) days after the end of each taxable year, shall give written notice to the Trust stating the name and address of such owner, the number of Shares Beneficially Owned and a description of the manner in which such Shares are held; provided, that a Shareholder of record who holds outstanding Shares as nominee for another Person, which other Person is required to include in gross income the dividends or distributions received on such Shares (an “Actual Owner”), shall give written notice to the Trust stating the name and address of such Actual Owner and the number of Shares of such Actual Owner with respect to which the shareholder of

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record is nominee.  Each owner shall provide to the Trust such additional information as the Trust may request in order to determine the effect, if any, of such Beneficial Ownership on the Trust’s status as a REIT and to ensure compliance with the Common Share Ownership Limit or the Preferred Share Ownership Limit; and

(b)           each Person who is a Beneficial Owner or Constructive Owner of Shares and each Person (including the Shareholder of record) who is holding Shares for a Beneficial Owner or Constructive Owner shall provide to the Trust such information as the Trust may request, in good faith, in order to determine the Trust’s status as a REIT and to comply with requirements of any taxing authority or governmental authority or to determine such compliance and to ensure compliance with the Common Share Ownership Limit and the Preferred Share Ownership Limit.

Section 7.2.5          Remedies Not Limited. Subject to Sections 5.1 and 7.4 of this Declaration of Trust, nothing contained in this Section 7.2 shall limit the authority of the Board of Trustees to take such other action as it deems necessary or advisable to protect the Trust and the interests of its Shareholders in preserving the Trust’s status as a REIT.

Section 7.2.6          Ambiguity.  In the case of an ambiguity in the application of any of the provisions of this Section 7.2, Section 7.3 or any definition contained in Section 7.1, the Board of Trustees shall have the power to determine the application of the provisions of this Section 7.2 or Section 7.3 with respect to any situation based on the facts known to it.  If Section 7.2 or 7.3 requires an action by the Board of Trustees and this Declaration of Trust fails to provide specific guidance with respect to such action, the Board of Trustees shall have the power to determine the action to be taken so long as such action is not contrary to the provisions of Sections 7.1, 7.2 or 7.3.

Section 7.2.7          Exemptions.

(a)           Subject to Section 7.2.1(a)(ii), the Board may exempt, prospectively or retroactively, a Person from the Common Share Ownership Limit or the Preferred Share Ownership Limit for purposes of the application of Section 7.2.1(a)(i) if:

(i) the Board determines, in its sole discretion, based on representations and undertakings provided by such Person to the Board and/or other information submitted by such Person to the Board, that such Person is not an individual for purposes of Section 542(a)(2) of the Code (determined taking into account Section 856(h)(3)(A) of the Code);

(ii) such Person submits to the Board information satisfactory to the Board, in its reasonable discretion, demonstrating that no Person who is an individual for purposes of Section 542(a)(2) of the Code (determined taking into account Section 856(h)(3)(A) of the Code) would be considered to Beneficially Own Common Shares in excess of the Common Share Ownership Limit or, Preferred Shares in excess of the Preferred Share Ownership Limit by reason of such Person’s ownership of Common Shares in excess of the Common Share Ownership Limit or Preferred Shares in excess of the Preferred Share Ownership Limit pursuant to the exemption granted under this subparagraph (a);

(iii) such Person submits to the Board information satisfactory to the Board, in its reasonable discretion, demonstrating that clauses (2) and (3) of subparagraph (a)(ii) of Section 7.2.1 will not be violated by reason of such Person’s ownership of Common Shares in excess of the Common Share Ownership Limit or Preferred Shares in excess of the Preferred Share Ownership Limit pursuant to the exemption granted under this subparagraph 7.2.7 (a); and

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(iv) such Person provides to the Board such representations and undertakings, if any, as the Board may, in its reasonable discretion, require to ensure that the conditions in clauses (i), (ii) and (iii) hereof are satisfied and will continue to be satisfied throughout the period during which such Person owns Common Shares in excess of the Common Share Ownership Limit or Preferred Shares in excess of the Preferred Share Ownership Limit pursuant to any exemption thereto granted under this subparagraph (a), and such Person agrees that any violation of such representations and undertakings or any attempted violation thereof will result in the application of the remedies set forth in Section 7.2 (including, without limitation, Section 7.2.5) with respect to Common Shares in excess of the Common Share Ownership Limit or Preferred Shares in excess of the Preferred Share Ownership Limit with respect to such Person (determined without regard to the exemption granted such Person under this subparagraph (a)).

(b)           Prior to granting any exemption pursuant to subparagraph (a), the Board, in its sole and absolute discretion, may require a ruling from the Internal Revenue Service or an opinion of counsel, in either case in form and substance satisfactory to the Board, in its sole and absolute discretion as it may deem necessary or advisable in order to determine or ensure the Trust’s status as a REIT; provided, however, that the Board shall not be obligated to require obtaining a favorable ruling or opinion in order to grant an exception hereunder.  In addition, notwithstanding the receipt of any ruling or opinion, the Board of Trustees may impose such conditions or restrictions as it deems appropriate in connection with granting such exception.

(c)           Subject to Section 7.2.1(a)(ii), an underwriter that participates in a public offering or a private placement of Shares (or securities convertible into or exchangeable for Shares) may Beneficially Own or Constructively Own Shares (or securities convertible into or exchangeable for Shares) in excess of the Common Share Ownership Limit or the Preferred Share Ownership Limit, but only to the extent necessary to facilitate such public offering or private placement.

Section 7.2.8  Increase in Common Share Ownership Limit or the Preferred Share Ownership Limit.  Subject to the limitations provided in Section 7.2.1(a)(ii) and this Section 7.2.8, the Board of Trustees may, in its sole and absolute discretion, from time to time increase the Common Share Ownership Limit or the Preferred Share Ownership Limit for any one or more Persons; provided, however, that:

(a)           The Common Share Ownership Limit or the Preferred Share Ownership Limit may not be increased if, after giving effect to such change, either (1) five Persons who are considered individuals pursuant to Section 542 of the Code, as modified by Section 856(h)(3) of the Code, could Beneficially Own, in the aggregate, more than 49.9% of the value of the outstanding Shares (determined taking into account any reduction in the Common Share Ownership Limit or the Preferred Share Ownership Limit for other Persons being made contemporaneously pursuant to Section 7.2.9), or (2) either clause (2) or clause (3) of subparagraph (a)(ii) of Section 7.2.1 could be violated by any Person for whom the Common Share Ownership Limit or the Preferred Share Ownership Limit is increased by reason of such Person’s ownership of Common Shares in accordance with the increased Common Share Ownership Limit or ownership of Preferred Shares in accordance with the increased Preferred Share Ownership Limit.

(b)           Prior to the modification of the Common Share Ownership Limit or the Preferred Share Ownership Limit pursuant to this Section 7.2.8, the Board, in its sole and absolute discretion, may require such opinions of counsel, affidavits, undertakings or agreements as it may deem necessary or advisable in order to determine or ensure the Trust’s status as a REIT if the modification of the Common Share Ownership Limit or the Preferred Share Ownership Limit were to be made.

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Section 7.2.9          Decrease in Common Share Ownership Limit or the Preferred Share Ownership Limit.  The Board of Trustees may from time to time decrease the Common Share Ownership Limit or the Preferred Share Ownership Limit for some or all Persons (including in connection with an increase of the Common Share Ownership Limit or the Preferred Share Ownership Limit pursuant to Section 7.2.8 for some Persons); provided, however, that any such decreased Ownership Limit will not be effective for any Person whose percentage ownership in Common Shares or Preferred Shares, as the case may be, is in excess of the decreased Ownership Limit until such time as such Person’s percentage ownership of Common Shares or Preferred Shares, as the case may be, equals or falls below the decreased Ownership Limit, but any further acquisition of Common Shares or Preferred Shares, as the case may be, in excess of such percentage ownership of Common Shares or Preferred Shares, as the case may be, as decreased, will be in violation of the Ownership Limits.

Section 7.2.10        Legend.  Each certificate for Shares shall bear substantially the following legend:

The Shares represented by this certificate are subject to restrictions on Beneficial Ownership, Constructive Ownership and Transfer.  Subject to certain further restrictions and except as expressly provided in the Trust’s Declaration of Trust, (i) no Person may Beneficially Own or Constructively Own Common Shares of the Trust in excess of 9.8% (in value or number of Shares, whichever is more restrictive) of the outstanding Common Shares of the Trust; (ii) no Person may Beneficially Own or Constructively Own Preferred Shares of the Trust in excess of 9.8% (in value or number of Shares, whichever is more restrictive) of the total outstanding Preferred Shares of the Trust of such class or series; (iii) no Person may Beneficially Own or Constructively Own Shares of the Trust that would result in the Trust being “closely held” under Section 856(h) of the Code or otherwise cause the Trust to fail to qualify as a REIT; (iv) no Person may Beneficially Own or Constructively Own Shares of the Trust that would result in (a) the Trust owning (directly or indirectly) an interest in a tenant that is described in Section 856(d)(2)(B) of the Code if the income derived by the Trust (either directly or indirectly through one or more partnerships or limited liability companies) from such tenant for the taxable year of the Trust during which such determination is being made would reasonably be expected to equal or exceed the lesser of (I) one percent (1%) of the Trust’s gross income (as determined for purposes of Section 856(c) of the Code), or (II) an amount that would cause the Trust to fail to satisfy any of the gross income requirements of Section 856(c) of the Code or (b) any manager or operator of a “qualified lodging facility,” within the meaning of Section 856(d)(9)(D) of the Code, leased by the Trust (or any subsidiary of the Trust) to one of its taxable REIT subsidiaries with respect to the Trust failing to qualify as an “eligible independent contractor,” within the meaning of Section 856(d)(9)(A) of the Code, in either case if the income derived by the Trust from such tenant or such taxable REIT subsidiary, taking into account any other income of the Trust that would not qualify under the gross income requirements of Section 856(c) of the Code, would cause the Trust to fail to satisfy any of such gross income requirements; and (v) no Person may Transfer Shares of the Trust if such

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Transfer would result in Shares of the Trust being owned by fewer than 100 Persons (as determined under the principles of Section 856(a)(5) of the Code). Any Person who Beneficially Owns or Constructively Owns, Transfers or attempts to Beneficially Own or Constructively Own Shares of the Trust which causes or will cause a Person to Beneficially Own or Constructively Own Shares of the Trust in excess or in violation of the above limitations must immediately notify the Trust.  If certain of the restrictions on Transfer or ownership above are violated, the Shares of the Trust represented hereby will be automatically Transferred to a Charitable Trustee of a Charitable Trust for the benefit of one or more Charitable Beneficiaries. In addition, the Trust may take other actions, including redeeming Shares upon the terms and conditions specified by the Board of Trustees in its sole and absolute discretion if the Board of Trustees determines that ownership or a Transfer or other event may violate the restrictions described above. Furthermore, upon the occurrence of certain events, attempted Transfers in violation of the restrictions described above may be void ab initio.  A Person who attempts to Beneficially Own or Constructively Own Shares in violation of the ownership limitations described above shall have no claim, cause of action or any recourse whatsoever against a transferor of such Shares.  All capitalized terms in this legend have the meanings defined in the Declaration of Trust of the Trust, as the same may be amended from time to time, a copy of which, including the restrictions on Transfer and ownership, will be furnished to each holder of Shares of the Trust on request and without charge. Requests for such a copy may be directed to the Secretary of the Trust at its Principal Office.

Instead of the foregoing legend, the certificate may state that the Trust will furnish a full statement about certain restrictions on transferability to a shareholder on request and without charge.

Section 7.3  Transfer of Shares in Trust.

Section 7.3.1  Ownership in Trust.  Upon any purported Transfer or other event described in Section 7.2.1(b) that would result in a transfer of Shares to a Charitable Trust, such Shares shall be deemed to have been transferred to the Charitable Trustee as trustee of a Charitable Trust for the exclusive benefit of one or more Charitable Beneficiaries.  Such transfer to the Charitable Trustee shall be deemed to be effective as of the close of business on the Business Day prior to the purported Transfer or other event that results in the Transfer to the Charitable Trust pursuant to Section 7.2.1(b).  The Charitable Trustee shall be appointed by the Trust and shall be a Person unaffiliated with the Trust and any Prohibited Owner.  Each Charitable Beneficiary shall be designated by the Trust as provided in Section 7.3.7.

Section 7.3.2  Status of Shares Held by the Charitable Trustee. Shares held by the Charitable Trustee shall be issued and outstanding Shares of the Trust.  The Prohibited Owner shall have no rights in the Shares held by the Charitable Trustee.  The Prohibited Owner shall not benefit economically from ownership of any Shares held in trust by the Charitable Trustee, shall have no rights to dividends or other distributions and shall not possess any rights to vote or other rights attributable to the Shares held in the Charitable Trust.  The Prohibited Owner shall have no claim, cause of action, or any other recourse whatsoever against the purported transferor of such Shares.

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Section 7.3.3  Dividend and Voting Rights.  The Charitable Trustee shall have all voting rights and rights to dividends or other distributions with respect to Shares held in the Charitable Trust, which rights shall be exercised for the exclusive benefit of the Charitable Beneficiary.  Any dividend or other distribution paid prior to the discovery by the Trust that Shares have been transferred to the Charitable Trustee shall be paid with respect to such Shares to the Charitable Trustee upon demand and any dividend or other distribution authorized but unpaid shall be paid when due to the Charitable Trustee.  Any dividends or distributions so paid over to the Charitable Trustee shall be held in trust for the Charitable Beneficiary.  The Prohibited Owner shall have no voting rights with respect to Shares held in the Charitable Trust and, subject to Maryland law, effective as of the date that Shares have been transferred to the Charitable Trustee, the Charitable Trustee shall have the authority (at the Charitable Trustee’s sole discretion) (i) to rescind as void any vote cast by a Prohibited Owner prior to the discovery by the Trust that Shares have been transferred to the Charitable Trustee and (ii) to recast such vote in accordance with the desires of the Charitable Trustee acting for the benefit of the Charitable Beneficiary; provided, however, that if the Trust has already taken irreversible action, then the Charitable Trustee shall not have the authority to rescind and recast such vote.  Notwithstanding the provisions of this Article VII, until the Trust has received notification that Shares have been transferred into a Charitable Trust, the Trust shall be entitled to rely on its share transfer and other shareholder records for purposes of preparing lists of Shareholders entitled to vote at meetings, determining the validity and authority of proxies and otherwise conducting votes of Shareholders.

Section 7.3.4  Rights Upon Liquidation.  Upon any voluntary or involuntary liquidation, dissolution or winding up of or any distribution of the assets of the Trust, the Charitable Trustee shall be entitled to receive, ratably with each other holder of Shares of the class or series of Shares that is held in the Charitable Trust, that portion of the assets of the Trust available for distribution to the holders of such class or series (determined based upon the ratio that the number of Shares of such class or series of Shares held by the Charitable Trustee bears to the total number of Shares of such class or series of Shares then outstanding).  The Charitable Trustee shall distribute any such assets received in respect of the Shares held in the Charitable Trust in any liquidation, dissolution or winding up of, or distribution of the assets of the Trust, in accordance with Section 7.3.5.

Section 7.3.5  Sale of Shares by Charitable Trustee.  Within twenty (20) days of receiving notice from the Trust that Shares have been transferred to the Charitable Trust, the Charitable Trustee shall sell the Shares held in the Charitable Trust to a person, designated by the Charitable Trustee, whose ownership of the Shares will not violate the ownership limitations set forth in Section 7.2.1(a).  In connection with any such sale, the Charitable Trustee shall use good faith efforts to sell such Shares at a fair market price.  Upon such sale, the interest of the Charitable Beneficiary in the Shares sold shall terminate and the Charitable Trustee shall distribute the net proceeds of the sale to the Prohibited Owner and to the Charitable Beneficiary as provided in this Section 7.3.5.  The Prohibited Owner shall receive the lesser of (1) the price paid by the Prohibited Owner for the Shares or, if the Prohibited Owner did not give value for the Shares in connection with the event causing the Shares to be held in the Charitable Trust (e.g., in the case of a gift, devise or other such transaction), the Market Price of the Shares on the day of the event causing the Shares to be held in the Charitable Trust and (2) the price per share received by the Charitable Trustee (net of any commissions and other expenses of sale) from the sale or other disposition of the Shares held in the Charitable Trust.  The Charitable Trustee may reduce the amount payable to the Prohibited Owner by the amount of dividends and distributions which have been paid to the Prohibited Owner and are owed by the Prohibited Owner to the Charitable Trustee pursuant to Section 7.3.3 of this Article VII. Any net sales proceeds in excess of the amount payable to the Prohibited Owner shall be immediately paid to the Charitable Beneficiary.  If, prior to the discovery by the Trust that Shares have been transferred to the Charitable Trustee, such Shares are sold by a Prohibited Owner, then (i) such Shares shall be deemed to have been sold on behalf of the Charitable Trust and (ii) to the extent that the Prohibited Owner received an amount for such

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Shares that exceeds the amount that such Prohibited Owner was entitled to receive pursuant to this Section 7.3.5, such excess shall be paid to the Charitable Trustee upon demand.  The Charitable Trustee shall have the right and power (but not the obligation) to offer any Shares held in trust for sale to the Trust on such terms and conditions as the Charitable Trustee shall deem appropriate.

Section 7.3.6  Purchase Right in Shares Transferred to the Charitable Trustee.  Shares transferred to the Charitable Trustee shall be deemed to have been offered for sale to the Trust, or its designee, at a price per share equal to the lesser of (i) the price per share in the transaction that resulted in such transfer to the Charitable Trust (or, in the case of a devise or gift, the Market Price at the time of such devise or gift) and (ii) the Market Price on the date the Trust, or its designee, accepts such offer.  The Trust may reduce the amount payable to the Prohibited Owner by the amount of dividends and distributions which have been paid to the Prohibited Owner and are owed by the Prohibited Owner to the Charitable Trustee pursuant to Section 7.3.3 of this Article VII.  The Trust may pay the amount of such reduction to the Charitable Trustee for the benefit of the Charitable Beneficiary. The Trust shall have the right to accept such offer until the Charitable Trustee has sold the Shares held in the Charitable Trust pursuant to Section 7.3.5.  Upon such a sale to the Trust, the interest of the Charitable Beneficiary in the Shares sold shall terminate and the Charitable Trustee shall distribute the net proceeds of the sale to the Prohibited Owner and any dividends or other distributions held by the Charitable Trustee will be paid to the Charitable Beneficiary.

Section 7.3.7  Designation of Charitable Beneficiaries.  By written notice to the Charitable Trustee, the Trust shall designate one or more nonprofit organizations to be the Charitable Beneficiary of the interest in the Charitable Trust such that (i) Shares held in the Charitable Trust would not violate the restrictions set forth in Section 7.2.1(a) in the hands of such Charitable Beneficiary and (ii) each such organization must be described in Sections 501(c)(3), 170(b)(1)(A) or 170(c)(2) of the Code.

Section 7.4             NYSE Transactions.  Nothing in this Article VII shall preclude the settlement of any transaction entered into through the facilities of the NYSE or any other national securities exchange or automated inter-dealer quotation system.  The fact that the settlement of any transaction takes place shall not negate the effect of any other provision of this Article VII and any transferee in such a transaction shall be subject to all of the provisions and limitations set forth in this Article VII.

Section 7.5  Enforcement.  The Trust is authorized specifically to seek equitable relief, including injunctive relief, to enforce the provisions of this Article VII.

Section 7.6  Non-Waiver.  No delay or failure on the part of the Trust or the Board of Trustees in exercising any right hereunder shall operate as a waiver of any right of the Trust or the Board of Trustees, as the case may be, except to the extent specifically waived in writing.

ARTICLE VIII

SHAREHOLDERS

Section 8.1  Meetings.  There shall be an annual meeting of the Shareholders, to be held on proper notice at such time and convenient location as shall be determined by or in the manner prescribed in the Bylaws, for the election of the Trustees and for the transaction of any other business as may properly come before meeting.  Failure to hold an annual meeting does not affect the validity of any act otherwise taken by or on behalf of the Trust or affect the legal existence of the Trust.  Except as otherwise provided in this Declaration of Trust, special meetings of Shareholders may be called in the manner provided in the Bylaws.

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If there are no Trustees, the officers of the Trust shall promptly call a special meeting of the Shareholders entitled to vote for the election of successor Trustees.  Any meeting may be adjourned and reconvened as the Trustees determine or as provided in the Bylaws.

Section 8.2  Voting Rights.  (a) Subject to the provisions of any class or series of Shares then outstanding or as otherwise required by law, the Shareholders shall be entitled to vote only on the following matters: (i) election of Trustees as provided in Section 5.2 and the removal of Trustees as provided in Section 5.3; (ii) amendment of this Declaration of Trust as provided in Article X; (iii) termination of the Trust as provided in Section 12.2; (iv) merger or consolidation of the Trust, or the sale or disposition of all or substantially all of the assets of the Trust, as provided in Article XI; (v) such other matters with respect to which the Board of Trustees has adopted a resolution declaring that a proposed action is advisable and directing that the matter be submitted to the Shareholders for approval or ratification; and (f) such other matters as may be properly brought before a meeting by a Shareholder pursuant to the Bylaws.

(b) Subject to the provisions of any class or series of Shares then outstanding or as otherwise required by law, each outstanding share entitled to vote, regardless of class, shall be entitled to one vote on each matter presented to Shareholders.

(c) With the exception of the election and removal of Trustees in accordance with this Declaration of Trust and the Bylaws of the Trust and any matter as may be properly brought before a meeting by a Shareholder pursuant to the Bylaws and applicable laws, no action that would bind the Trust and the Trustees may be taken without the prior recommendation of the Trustees.  Except with respect to the foregoing matters, no action taken by the Shareholders at any meeting shall in any way bind the Board of Trustees.

Section 8.3  Preemptive and Appraisal Rights.

(a) Except as may be provided by the Board of Trustees in setting the terms of classified or reclassified Shares pursuant to Section 6.4 or as may otherwise be provided by contract, no holder of Shares shall, as such holder, have any preemptive right to purchase or subscribe for any additional Shares of the Trust or any other security of the Trust which it may issue or sell.

(b) Except as may be provided by the Board of Trustees in setting the terms of classified or reclassified Shares pursuant to Section 6.4 or as may otherwise be provided by contract, Shareholders of the Trust are not entitled to exercise the rights of objecting stockholders provided for under Title 3, Subtitle 2 or Title 3, Subtitle 7 of the Maryland General Corporation Law or under Section 8-501.1(j) of the Maryland REIT Law, or any successor statute to any of the foregoing statutory provisions.

Section 8.4  Action by Shareholders without a Meeting.  No action required or permitted to be taken by the Shareholders may be taken without a meeting by less than unanimous written consent of the Shareholders of the Trust.

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ARTICLE IX

LIMITATION OF LIABILITY, INDEMNIFICATION OF DIRECTORS AND OFFICERS

AND TRANSACTIONS WITH THE TRUST

Section 9.1  Limitation of Shareholder Liability.  No Shareholder shall be liable for any debt, claim, demand, judgment or obligation of any kind of, against or with respect to the Trust by reason of being a Shareholder, nor shall any Shareholder be subject to any personal liability whatsoever, in tort, contract or otherwise, to any person in connection with the property or the affairs of the Trust by reason of being a Shareholder.

Section 9.2  Limitation of Trustee and Officer Liability.  To the maximum extent that Maryland law in effect from time to time permits limitation of the liability of trustees and officers of a Maryland real estate investment trust or directors and officers of a Maryland corporation, no present or former Trustee or officer of the Trust shall be liable to the Trust or to any Shareholder for money damages.  Neither the amendment nor repeal of this Section 9.2, nor the adoption or amendment of any other provision of this Declaration of Trust or Bylaws inconsistent with this Section 9.2, shall apply to or affect in any respect the applicability of the preceding sentence with respect to any act or failure to act that occurred prior to such amendment, repeal or adoption.  In the absence of any Maryland statute limiting the liability of trustees and officers of a Maryland real estate investment trust or directors and officers of a Maryland corporation for money damages in a suit by or on behalf of the Trust or by any Shareholder, no Trustee or officer of the Trust shall be liable to the Trust or to any Shareholder for money damages except to the extent that (a) the Trustee or officer actually received an improper benefit or profit in money, property or services, for the amount of the benefit or profit in money, property, or services actually received; or (b) a judgment or other final adjudication adverse to the Trustee or officer is entered in a proceeding based on a finding in the proceeding that the Trustee’s or officer’s action or failure to act was the result of active and deliberate dishonesty and was material to the cause of action adjudicated in the proceeding.

Section 9.3  Indemnification.

(a)           To the maximum extent permitted by Maryland law in effect from time to time, and in accordance with applicable provisions of the Bylaws and any indemnification agreement or resolution of the Board of Trustees in effect from time to time, the Trust shall indemnify, and pay or reimburse the reasonable expenses in advance of final disposition of a proceeding to, (i) any present or former Trustee or officer of the Trust against any claim or liability to which he or she may become subject by reason of service in such capacity and (ii) any individual who, while a Trustee or officer of the Trust and at the request of the Trust, serves or has served as a director, officer, partner, trustee, employee or agent of another real estate investment trust, corporation, partnership, joint venture, trust, limited liability company, other enterprise or employee benefit plan, from and against any claim or liability to which such person may become subject or which such person may incur by reason of his or her service in such capacity.  In addition, the Trust may, with the approval of the Board of Trustees, provide such indemnification and advancement of expenses to any individual who served a predecessor of the Trust in any of the capacities described in (i) or (ii) above and to any employee or agent of the Trust or a predecessor of the Trust.  Neither the amendment nor repeal of this Section 9.2, nor the adoption or amendment of any other provision of this Declaration of Trust or the Bylaws inconsistent with this Section 9.2, shall apply to or affect in any respect the applicability of this section with respect to any act or failure to act that occurred prior to such amendment, repeal or adoption.

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(b)           The Trust may, to the fullest extent permitted by law, purchase and maintain insurance on behalf of any person described in the preceding paragraph against any liability which may be asserted against such person.

(c)           The indemnification provided herein shall not be deemed to limit the right of the Trust to indemnify any other person for any such expenses to the fullest extent permitted by law, nor shall it be deemed exclusive of any other rights to which any person seeking indemnification from the Trust may be entitled under any agreement, vote of Shareholders or disinterested trustees, or otherwise, both as to action in such person’s official capacity and as to action in another capacity while holding such office.

Section 9.4  Transactions Between the Trust and Its Trustees, Officers, Employees and Agents.  Subject to any express restrictions in this Declaration of Trust and any restrictions adopted by the Trustees in the Bylaws or by resolution, the Trust may enter into any contract or transaction of any kind with any person, including any Trustee, officer, employee or agent of the Trust or any person affiliated with a Trustee, officer, employee or agent of the Trust, whether or not any of them has a financial interest in such transaction, provided, however, that in the case of any contract or transaction in which any Trustee, officer, employee or agent of the Trust (or any person affiliated with such person) has a material financial interest in such transaction, then: (a) the fact of the interest shall be disclosed or known to: (i) the Board of Trustees, and the Board of Trustees shall approve or ratify the contract or transaction by the affirmative vote of a majority of disinterested Trustees, even if the disinterested Trustees constitute less than a quorum, or (ii) the Shareholders entitled to vote, and the contract or transaction shall be authorized, approved or ratified by a majority of the votes cast by the Shareholders entitled to vote other than the votes of shares owned of record or beneficially by the interested party; or (b) the contract or transaction is fair and reasonable to the Trust.

Section 9.5  Express Exculpatory Clauses in Instruments.  The Board of Trustees may cause to be inserted in every written agreement, undertaking or obligation made or issued on behalf of the Trust, an appropriate provision to the effect that neither the Shareholders nor the Trustees, officers, employees or agents of the Trust shall be liable under any written instrument creating an obligation of the Trust, and all Persons shall look solely to the property of the Trust for the payment of any claim under or for the performance of that instrument.  The omission of the foregoing exculpatory language from any instrument shall not affect the validity or enforceability of such instrument and shall not render any Shareholder, Trustee, officer, employee or agent liable thereunder to any third party nor shall the Trustees or any officer, employee or agent of the Trust be liable to anyone for such omission.

ARTICLE X

AMENDMENTS

Section 10.1  General.  The Trust reserves the right from time to time to make any amendment to this Declaration of Trust, now or hereafter authorized by law, including, without limitation, any amendment altering the terms or contract rights, as expressly set forth in this Declaration of Trust, of any Shares.  All rights and powers conferred by this Declaration of Trust on Shareholders, Trustees and officers are granted subject to this reservation.  All references to the Declaration of Trust shall include all amendments thereto.

Section 10.2  By Trustees.  The Trustees may amend this Declaration of Trust from time to time, in the manner provided by the Maryland REIT Law, without any action by the Shareholders: (i) to qualify as a REIT under the Code or under the Maryland REIT Law, (ii) in any manner in which the charter of a

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Maryland corporation may be amended without shareholder approval, and (iii) as otherwise provided in this Declaration of Trust.

Section 10.3  By Shareholders.  Except as otherwise provided in this Declaration of Trust, any amendment to this Declaration of Trust shall be valid only after the Board of Trustees has adopted a resolution setting forth the proposed amendment and declaring such amendment advisable, and such amendment has been approved by the affirmative vote of the holders of not less than a majority of all the Shares of the Trust then outstanding and entitled to be cast on the matter.  Any amendment to Section 5.3, Article VII, Section 12.2 or this sentence of this Declaration of Trust shall be valid only after the Board of Trustees has adopted a resolution setting forth the proposed amendment and declares such amendment advisable and such amendment has been approved by the affirmative vote of two-thirds of all the Shares of the Trust then outstanding and entitled to be cast on the matter.

Section 10.4  Bylaws.  The Board of Trustees shall have the exclusive power to adopt, alter or repeal any provision of the Bylaws of the Trust and to make new Bylaws.

ARTICLE XI

MERGER, CONSOLIDATION OR SALE OF TRUST PROPERTY

Subject to the provisions of any class or series of Shares at the time outstanding, the Trust may (a) merge the Trust with or into another entity or merge another entity into the Trust, (b) consolidate the Trust with one or more other entities into a new entity, or (c) sell, lease, exchange or otherwise transfer all or substantially all of the property of the Trust.  The Board of Trustees in proposing such action shall adopt a resolution that declares that the proposed transaction is advisable on substantially the terms and conditions set forth or referred to in the resolution, and direct that the proposed transaction be submitted for consideration by the Shareholders.  Except as otherwise provided by the Maryland REIT Law, the transaction must be approved by the affirmative vote of not less than a majority of all the votes entitled to be cast on the matter.

A vote of the Shareholders shall not be required for the merger into the Trust of any entity in which the Trust owns ninety percent (90%) or more of the entire equity interests in such entity, subject to the conditions and rights set forth in Section 8-501.1(c)(4) of the Maryland REIT Law.

Subject to applicable law, a vote of the Shareholders shall not be required if the Trust is the successor in the merger, the merger does not reclassify or change the terms of any class or series of Shares that are outstanding immediately before the merger becomes effective or otherwise amend this Declaration of Trust and the number of Shares of each class or series outstanding immediately after the effective time of the merger does not increase by more than twenty percent (20%) of the number of Shares of the same class or series outstanding immediately before the merger becomes effective.

ARTICLE XII

DURATION AND TERMINATION OF TRUST

Section 12.1  Duration.  The Trust shall continue perpetually unless terminated pursuant to Section 12.2 or pursuant to any applicable provision of the Maryland REIT Law.

Section 12.2  Termination.

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(a)           Subject to the provisions of any class or series of Shares at the time outstanding, the Trust may be terminated at any time only upon adoption of a resolution by the Board of Trustees declaring that the termination of the Trust is advisable, submission of the matter by the Board of Trustees to the Shareholders for approval and the approval thereof by the affirmative vote of two-thirds of all the votes entitled to be cast on the matter.  Upon the termination of the Trust:

(i)            The Trust shall carry on no business except for the purpose of winding up its affairs.

(ii)           The Trustees shall proceed to wind up the affairs of the Trust and all of the powers of the Trustees under this Declaration of Trust shall continue, including the powers to fulfill or discharge the Trust’s contracts, collect its assets, sell, convey, assign, exchange, transfer or otherwise dispose of all or any part of the remaining property of the Trust to one or more persons at public or private sale for consideration which may consist in whole or in part of cash, securities or other property of any kind, discharge or pay its liabilities and do all other acts appropriate to liquidate its business.

(iii)          After paying or adequately providing for the payment of all liabilities, and upon receipt of such releases, indemnities and agreements as the Trustees deem necessary for the protection of the Trust, the Trust may distribute the remaining property of the Trust among the Shareholders so that after payment in full or the setting apart for payment of such preferential amounts, if any, to which the holders of any Shares at the time outstanding shall be entitled, the remaining property of the Trust shall, subject to any participating or similar rights of Shares at the time outstanding, be distributed ratably among the holders of Common Shares at the time outstanding.

(b)           After termination of the Trust, the liquidation of its business and the distribution to the Shareholders as herein provided, a majority of the Trustees shall execute and file with the Trust’s records a document certifying that the Trust has been duly terminated, and the Trustees shall be discharged from all liabilities and duties hereunder, and the rights and interests of all Shareholders shall cease.

ARTICLE XIII

MISCELLANEOUS

Section 13.1  Governing Law.  This Declaration of Trust is executed by the undersigned and delivered in the State of Maryland with reference to the laws thereof, and the rights of all parties and the validity, construction and effect of every provision hereof shall be subject to and construed in accordance with the laws of the State of Maryland without regard to conflicts of laws provisions thereof.

Section 13.2  Reliance by Third Parties.  Any certificate shall be final and conclusive as to any person dealing with the Trust if executed by the Secretary or an Assistant Secretary of the Trust or a Trustee, and if certifying to: (a) the number or identity of Trustees, officers of the Trust or Shareholders; (b) the due authorization of the execution of any document; (c) the action or vote taken, and the existence of a quorum, at a meeting of the Board of Trustees or Shareholders; (d) a copy of this Declaration of Trust or of the Bylaws as a true and complete copy as then in force; (e) an amendment to this Declaration of Trust; (f) the termination of the Trust; or (g) the existence of any fact relating to the affairs of the Trust.  No purchaser, lender, transfer agent or other person shall be bound to make any inquiry concerning the validity of any transaction purporting to be made by the Trust on its behalf or by any officer, employee or agent of the Trust.

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Section 13.3  Severability.

(a)           The provisions of this Declaration of Trust are severable, and if the Board of Trustees shall determine, with the advice of counsel, that any one or more of such provisions (the “Conflicting Provisions”) are in conflict with the Code, Maryland REIT Law or other applicable federal or state laws, the Conflicting Provisions, to the extent of the conflict, shall be deemed never to have constituted a part of this Declaration of Trust, even without any amendment of this Declaration of Trust pursuant to Article X and without affecting or impairing any of the remaining provisions of this Declaration of Trust or rendering invalid or improper any action taken or omitted prior to such determination.  No Trustee shall be liable for making or failing to make such a determination.  In the event of any such determination by the Board of Trustees, the Board shall amend this Declaration of Trust in the manner provided in Section 10.2.

(b)           If any provision of this Declaration of Trust shall be held invalid or unenforceable in any jurisdiction, such holding shall apply only to the extent of any such invalidity or unenforceability and shall not in any manner affect, impair or render invalid or unenforceable such provision in any other jurisdiction or any other provision of this Declaration of Trust in any jurisdiction.

Section 13.4  Construction.  In this Declaration of Trust, unless the context otherwise requires, words used in the singular or in the plural include both the plural and singular and words denoting any gender include all genders.  The title and headings of different parts are inserted for convenience and shall not affect the meaning, construction or effect of this Declaration of Trust.  In defining or interpreting the powers and duties of the Trust and its Trustees and officers, reference may be made by the Trustees or officers, to the extent appropriate and not inconsistent with the Code or the Maryland REIT Law, to Titles 1 through 3 of the Corporations and Associations Article of the Annotated Code of Maryland.  In furtherance and not in limitation of the foregoing, in accordance with the provisions of Title 3, Subtitles 6 and 7, of the Corporations and Associations Article of the Annotated Code of Maryland, the Trust shall be included within the definition of “corporation” for purposes of such provisions.

Section 13.5  Recordation.  This Declaration of Trust and any articles of amendment hereto or articles supplementary hereto shall be filed for record with the SDAT and may also be filed or recorded in such other places as the Trustees deem appropriate, but failure to file for record this Declaration of Trust or any articles of amendment hereto in any office other than in the State of Maryland shall not affect or impair the validity or effectiveness of this Declaration of Trust or any amendment hereto.  A restated Declaration of Trust shall, upon filing, be conclusive evidence of all amendments contained therein and may thereafter be referred to in lieu of the original Declaration of Trust and the various articles of amendment thereto.

THIRD: The amendment to and restatement of this Declaration of Trust as hereinabove set forth have been duly advised by the Board of Trustees and approved by the Shareholders of the Trust as required by law.

FOURTH:  The current address of the principal office of the Trust is as set forth in Article IV of the foregoing amendment to and restatement of the Declaration of Trust.

FIFTH:  The name and address of the Trust’s current resident agent are as set forth in Article IV of the foregoing amendment to and restatement of the Declaration of Trust.

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SIXTH:  The number of trustees of the Trust and the names of those currently in office are as set forth in Article V of the foregoing amendment to and restatement of the Declaration of Trust.

SEVENTH:       The total number of Shares which the Trust had authority to issue immediately prior to these articles of amendment and restatement of the Declaration of Trust was One Hundred and Ten Thousand (110,000), consisting of One Hundred Thousand (100,000) Common Shares, $0.01 par value per share, and Ten Thousand (10,000) Preferred Shares, $0.01 par value per share. The aggregate par value of all Shares having par value was One Thousand One Hundred Dollars ($1,100).

EIGHTH:          The total number of Shares which the Trust has authority to issue pursuant to these articles of amendment and restatement of the Declaration of Trust is Five Hundred Million (500,000,000), consisting of Four Hundred and Fifty Million (450,000,000) Common Shares, $0.01 par value per share, and Fifty Million (50,000,000) Preferred Shares, $50,000,000 par value per share. The aggregate par value of all authorized Shares having par value is Five Million Dollars ($5,000,000).

NINTH:            The undersigned acknowledges these Articles of Amendment and Restatement of Declaration of Trust to be the act of the Trust and as to all matters or facts required to be verified under oath, the undersigned acknowledges that, to the best of his or her knowledge, information and belief, these matters and facts are true in all material respects and that this statement is made under the penalties for perjury.

*       *       *       *

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IN WITNESS WHEREOF, the Trust has caused these Articles of Amendment and Restatement of Declaration of Trust to be signed in its name and on its behalf by its President and Chief Executive Officer and attested to by its Secretary on this 5th day of May, 2011.

Exhibit 3.2

RLJ LODGING TRUST

AMENDED AND RESTATED BYLAWS

ARTICLE I

OFFICES

Section 1.                    PRINCIPAL OFFICE.  The principal office of RLJ Lodging Trust (the “Trust”) shall be located at such place or places as the board of trustees (the “Board of Trustees”) may designate.

Section 2.                    ADDITIONAL OFFICES.  The Trust may have additional offices at such places as the Board of Trustees may from time to time determine or the business of the Trust may require.

ARTICLE II

MEETINGS OF SHAREHOLDERS

Section 1.                    PLACE.  All meetings of shareholders shall be held at the principal office of the Trust or at such other place within the United States as shall be set by the Board of Trustees and stated in the notice of the meeting.

Section 2.                    ANNUAL MEETING.  An annual meeting of the shareholders for the election of trustees (the “Trustees”) and the transaction of any business within the powers of the Trust shall be held each year at a convenient location and on proper notice, on a date and at the time set by the Board of Trustees, beginning with the year 2012.  Failure to hold an annual meeting does not invalidate the Trust’s existence or affect any otherwise valid acts of the Trust.

Section 3.                    SPECIAL MEETINGS.  The executive chairman or chairman of the Board of Trustees, the chief executive officer, the president or a majority of the Trustees may call special meetings of the shareholders.  A special meeting of the shareholders shall be called by the secretary of the Trust upon the written request of shareholders entitled to cast not less than a majority of all votes entitled to be cast at any such meeting.  Such request shall state the purpose or purposes of the meeting and the matters proposed to be acted on at such meeting.  Upon receipt of such request, the Trust shall inform such shareholders of the reasonably estimated cost of preparing and mailing a notice of the meeting and, upon payment of such costs to the Trust, the Trust shall deliver such notice to each shareholder entitled to notice of such meeting.  The Board of Trustees shall have the sole power to fix the record date for determining shareholders entitled to request a special meeting of shareholders and the date, time and place of the special meeting; provided, however, that the date of any special meeting shall not be more than 90 days after the record date for such meeting; and provided further, that if the Board of Trustees fails to designate, within 20 days after the date that a valid request for a special meeting is received by the secretary, a date and time for the special meeting, then such meeting shall be held at 2:00 p.m. local time on the 90th day after the meeting record date, or if such 90th day is not a business day, on the first preceding business day; and provided further, that in the event that the Board of Trustees fails to designate a place for the special meeting, then such meeting shall be held at the principal office of the Trust.

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Section 4.                    NOTICE.  Not less than 10 nor more than 90 days before each meeting of shareholders, the secretary shall give notice to each shareholder entitled to vote at such meeting and to each shareholder not entitled to vote who is entitled to notice of the meeting. Such notice shall state the time and place (if any) of the meeting, the means of remote communication (if any) by which the shareholders and proxyholders may be deemed to be present in person and vote at such meeting, and, in the case of a special meeting or as otherwise may be required by any statute, the purpose for which the meeting is called.  Such notice shall be written, and may be delivered either by mail or nationally recognized private delivery service, by presenting it to such shareholder personally, by leaving it at his or her residence or usual place of business, or by any other means permitted under Maryland law, including by transmitting it to such shareholder by electronic mail to any electronic mail address of such shareholder or through any other electronic transmission by the Trust.  If mailed, such notice shall be deemed to be given when deposited in the U.S. mail addressed to the shareholder at his or her post office address as it appears on the records of the Trust, with postage thereon prepaid.  If transmitted electronically, such notice shall be deemed to be given when transmitted to the shareholder by an electronic transmission to any address or number of the shareholder at which the shareholder receives electronic transmissions.  The Trust may give a single notice to all shareholders who share an address, which single notice shall be effective as to any shareholder at such address, unless a shareholder objects to receiving such single notice or revokes a prior consent to receiving such single notice.  Failure to give notice of any meeting to one or more shareholders, or any irregularity in such notice, shall not affect the validity of any meeting fixed in accordance with this Article II or the validity of any proceedings at any such meeting.

Section 5.                    SCOPE OF NOTICE.  Subject to Section 12(a) of this Article II, any business of the Trust may be transacted at an annual meeting of shareholders without being specifically designated in the notice, except such business as is required by any statute to be stated in such notice.  No business shall be transacted at a special meeting of shareholders except as specifically designated in the notice.  The Trust may postpone or cancel a meeting of shareholders by making a public announcement (as defined in Section 12(c)(3) of this Article II) of such postponement or cancellation prior to the meeting. Notice of the date, time and place to which the meeting is postponed shall be given not less than 10 days prior to such date and otherwise in the manner set forth in this section.

Section 6.                    ORGANIZATION AND CONDUCT. At every meeting of the shareholders, the executive chairman or chairman of the Board of Trustees, if there be one, shall conduct the meeting or, in the case of vacancy in office or absence of the executive chairman or chairman of the Board of Trustees, one of the following officers present shall conduct the meeting in the order stated: the chief executive officer, the president, the chief operating officer, if there be one, the vice presidents in their order of rank and seniority, or, if no such officer is present, a chairman chosen by the shareholders entitled to cast a majority of the votes which all shareholders present in person or by proxy are entitled to cast.  The secretary, or, in his or her absence, an assistant secretary, or in the absence of the secretary and assistant secretaries, a person appointed by the chairman, shall act as secretary.

The order of business and all other matters of procedure at any meeting of shareholders shall be determined by the chairman of the meeting. The chairman of the meeting may prescribe such rules, regulations and procedures and take such action as, in the discretion of such chairman, are appropriate for the proper conduct of the meeting, including, without limitation, (a) restricting admission to the time set for the commencement of the meeting; (b) limiting attendance at the meeting to shareholders of record of the Trust, their duly authorized proxies or other such persons as the chairman of the meeting may determine; (c) limiting participation at the meeting on any matter to shareholders of record of the Trust entitled to vote on such matter, their duly authorized proxies or other such persons as the chairman of the meeting may determine; (d) limiting the time allotted to questions or comments by participants; (e) maintaining order and security at the meeting; (f) removing any shareholder or any other person who

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refuses to comply with meeting procedures, rules or guidelines as set forth by the chairman of the meeting; (g) determining when and for how long the polls should be open and closed; (h) recessing or adjourning the meeting to a later date and time and place announced at the meeting; and (i) concluding a meeting.  Unless otherwise determined by the chairman of the meeting, meetings of shareholders shall not be required to be held in accordance with the rules of parliamentary procedure.

Section 7.                    QUORUM.  At any meeting of shareholders, the presence in person or by proxy of shareholders entitled to cast a majority of all the votes entitled to be cast at such meeting shall constitute a quorum, but this section shall not affect any requirement under any statute or under the Declaration of Trust for the vote necessary for the adoption of any measure.  If, however, such quorum shall not be present at any meeting of the shareholders, the shareholders entitled to vote at such meeting, present in person or by proxy, shall have the power to adjourn the meeting from time to time to a date not more than 120 days after the original record date without a new record date and without notice other than announcement at the meeting.  At such adjourned meeting at which a quorum shall be present, any business may be transacted which might have been transacted at the meeting as originally notified.

The shareholders present either in person or by proxy, at a meeting which has been duly called and at which a quorum was established, may continue to transact business until adjournment, notwithstanding the withdrawal of enough shareholders to leave less than a quorum.

Section 8.                    VOTING.  A plurality of all the votes cast at a meeting of shareholders duly called and at which a quorum is present shall be sufficient to elect a Trustee.  Each share may be voted for as many individuals as there are Trustees to be elected and for whose election the share is entitled to be voted, without any right to cumulate votes.  A majority of the votes cast at a meeting of shareholders duly called and at which a quorum is present shall be sufficient to approve any other matter which may properly come before the meeting, unless a different proportion of the votes cast or entitled to be cast is required herein or by statute or by the Declaration of Trust.  Unless otherwise provided in the Declaration of Trust, each outstanding share, regardless of class, shall be entitled to one vote on each matter submitted to a vote at a meeting of shareholders.  Voting on any question or in any election may be by voice unless the presiding officer shall order that voting be by ballot or otherwise.

Section 9.                    PROXIES.  A shareholder may cast the votes entitled to be cast by the shares owned of record by the shareholder in person or by proxy executed by the shareholder or by the shareholder’s duly authorized agent in any manner permitted by law.  Such proxy or evidence of authorization of such proxy shall be filed with the secretary of the Trust before or at the meeting.  No proxy shall be valid more than 11 months after its date unless otherwise provided in the proxy.

Section 10.              VOTING OF SHARES BY CERTAIN HOLDERS.  Shares of the Trust registered in the name of a corporation, partnership, limited liability company, trust or other entity, if entitled to be voted, may be voted by the president or a vice president, a general partner, manager, or trustee thereof, as the case may be, or a proxy appointed by any of the foregoing individuals, unless some other person (1) has been appointed to vote such shares pursuant to a bylaw or a resolution of the governing board of such corporation or other entity or pursuant to an agreement of the partners of the partnership or of the members of the limited liability company, and (2) presents a certified copy of such bylaw, resolution or agreement, in which case such person may vote such shares.  Any Trustee or other fiduciary may vote shares registered in his or her name as such fiduciary, either in person or by proxy.

Shares of the Trust directly or indirectly owned by it shall not be voted at any meeting and shall not be counted in determining the total number of outstanding shares entitled to be voted at any given time, unless they are held in a fiduciary capacity, in which case they may be voted and shall be counted in determining the total number of outstanding shares at any given time.

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The Board of Trustees may adopt by resolution a procedure by which a shareholder may certify in writing to the Trust that any shares registered in the name of the shareholder are held for the account of a specified person other than the shareholder.  The resolution shall set forth the class of shareholders who may make the certification, the purpose for which the certification may be made, the form of certification and the information to be contained in it; if the certification is with respect to a record date or closing of the share transfer books, the time after the record date or closing of the share transfer books within which the certification must be received by the Trust; and any other provisions with respect to the procedure which the Board of Trustees considers necessary or desirable.  On receipt of such certification, the person specified in the certification shall be regarded as, for the purposes set forth in the certification, the shareholder of record of the specified shares in place of the shareholder who makes the certification.

Section 11.              INSPECTORS.  At any meeting of shareholders, the chairman of the meeting may, or upon the request of any shareholder shall, appoint one or more persons as inspectors for such meeting.  Such inspectors shall ascertain and report the number of shares represented at the meeting based upon their determination of the validity and effect of proxies, count all votes, report the results, hear and determine all challenges and questions arising in connection with the right to vote and perform such other acts as are proper to conduct the election and voting with impartiality and fairness to all the shareholders.  In case any person who may be appointed as an inspector fails to appear or act, the vacancy may be filled by appointment made by the Board of Trustees in advance of the meeting or at the meeting by the chairman of the meeting.

Each report of an inspector shall be in writing and signed by him or her or by a majority of them if there is more than one inspector acting at such meeting.  If there is more than one inspector, the report of a majority shall be the report of the inspectors. The report of the inspector or inspectors on the number of shares represented at the meeting and the results of the voting shall be prima facie evidence thereof.

Section 12.              ADVANCE NOTICE OF SHAREHOLDER NOMINEES FOR TRUSTEES AND OTHER PROPOSALS BY SHAREHOLDERS.

(a)                                  Annual Meetings of Shareholders.

(1)                                  Nominations of individuals for election to the Board of Trustees and the proposal of business other than nominations of Trustees to be considered by the shareholders at an annual meeting of shareholders shall be made:  (i) pursuant to the notice of the meeting (or any supplement thereto) given by or at the direction of the Board of Trustees, (ii) otherwise by or at the direction of the Board of Trustees or (iii) by a shareholder of the Trust who was a shareholder of record both at the time of giving of notice of the meeting and at the time of the annual meeting, who is entitled to vote at the meeting in the election of Trustees or on the proposal of other business, as the case may be, and who complied with the notice procedures set forth in Sections 12(a)(2), (4) and (5), in the case of nominations of Trustees, and Sections 12(a)(3) and (4), in the case of business other than the nomination of Trustees.

(2)                                  For nominations to be properly brought before an annual meeting by a shareholder pursuant to Section 12(a)(1)(iii), the shareholder must have given timely notice thereof in writing to the secretary of the Trust (the “Shareholder Notice”) containing the information specified in this Section 12(a)(2).  To be timely, such Shareholder Notice shall be delivered to the secretary at the principal executive offices of the Trust not later than 5:00 p.m., Eastern Time, on the 120th day prior to the first anniversary of the date of the proxy statement for the preceding year’s annual meeting nor earlier than the 150th day prior to the first anniversary of the date of the proxy statement for the preceding year’s annual meeting; provided, however, that in the event that the date of the annual meeting is advanced or delayed by more than 30 days from the first anniversary of the date of the preceding year’s annual

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meeting, such Shareholder Notice to be timely must be so delivered not earlier than the 150th day prior to such annual meeting and not later than 5:00 p.m., Eastern Time, on the later of the 120th day prior to such annual meeting or the tenth day following the day on which public announcement of the date of such meeting is first made.  Such Shareholder Notice shall set forth: (i) as to each person whom the shareholder proposes to nominate for election or reelection as a Trustee, (A) a description of all agreements, arrangements or understandings between such shareholder and such beneficial owner (if any) on whose behalf the nomination is made, on the one hand, and such potential nominee and any other person or persons (naming such person or persons), on the other hand, pursuant to which the nomination is to be made by such shareholder, and (B)  all other information relating to such potential nominee that is required to be disclosed in solicitations of proxies for election of Trustees, or is otherwise required, in each case pursuant to Regulation 14A under the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended (the “Exchange Act”), including such person’s written consent to being named in the proxy statement as a nominee and to serving as a Trustee if elected; and (ii) as to the shareholder giving such Shareholder Notice and the beneficial owner (if any) on whose behalf the nomination is made, the additional information specified in Section 12(a)(4) below.

(3)                                  For business other than the nomination of Trustees to be properly brought before an annual meeting by a shareholder pursuant to Section 12(a)(1)(iii), the shareholder must have given a timely Shareholder Notice in writing to the secretary of the Trust containing the information specified in this Section 12(a)(3).  To be timely, such Shareholder Notice shall be delivered to the secretary at the principal executive offices of the Trust not later than 5:00 p.m., Eastern Time, on the 120th day prior to the first anniversary of the date of the proxy statement for the preceding year’s annual meeting nor earlier than the 150th day prior to the first anniversary of the date of the proxy statement for the preceding year’s annual meeting; provided, however, that in the event that the date of the annual meeting is advanced or delayed by more than 30 days from the first anniversary of the date of the preceding year’s annual meeting, such Shareholder Notice to be timely must be so delivered not earlier than the 150th day prior to such annual meeting and not later than 5:00 p.m., Eastern Time, on the later of the 120th day prior to such annual meeting or the tenth day following the day on which public announcement of the date of such meeting is first made.  Such Shareholder Notice shall set forth:  (i) a brief description of the business desired to be brought before the meeting (including the complete text of any proposed resolutions or proposed amendments to these Bylaws or other governing documents of the Trust), the reasons for conducting such business at the meeting, a brief written statement of the reasons why the shareholder and the beneficial owner (if any) on whose behalf the proposal is made support such business, and any material interest in such business of such shareholder and of such beneficial owner (if any); (ii) a description of any agreement, arrangement or understanding with respect to such business between or among the shareholder and the beneficial owner (if any) on whose behalf the proposal is made, on the one hand, and any of their respective affiliates or associates and any others (including their names) acting in concert with any of the foregoing, on the other hand, and a representation that such shareholder and such beneficial owner (if any) will notify the Trust in writing of any such agreement, arrangement or understanding in effect as of the record date for the meeting promptly following the later of the record date or the date on which public announcement of the record date is first made; and (iii) as to the shareholder giving such Shareholder Notice and the beneficial owner (if any) on whose behalf the proposal is made, the additional information specified in Section 12(a)(4) below.

(4)                                  Each Shareholder Notice delivered pursuant to Section 12(a)(2) or Section 12(a)(3) also must contain the following information as to the shareholder giving the Shareholder Notice and the beneficial owner (if any) on whose behalf the nomination is made (in the case of Section 12(a)(2)) or the business other than the nomination of Trustees is desired to be brought (in the case of Section 12(a)(3)):

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(A)                              the name and address of such shareholder, as they appear on the Trust’s books, and of such beneficial owner (if any);

(B)                                the class or series and number of shares of the Trust which are, directly or indirectly, owned beneficially and of record by such shareholder and such beneficial owner (if any), including the proportionate interest in the shares of the Trust held, directly or indirectly, by a general or limited partnership in which such shareholder or such beneficial owner (if any) is a general partner or a direct or indirect beneficial owner of an interest in a general partner, as of the date of the Shareholder Notice, and a representation that such shareholder and such beneficial owner (if any) will notify the Trust in writing of the class or series and number of such shares (including the proportionate interest in the shares held through a general or limited partnership) owned of record and beneficially as of the record date for the meeting promptly following the later of the record date or the date on which public announcement of the record date is first made;

(C)                                a description of any agreement, arrangement or understanding (including, without limitation, any derivative or short positions, profit interests, options, hedging transactions, and borrowed or loaned shares) that has been entered into by such shareholder and/or such beneficial owner (if any) as of the date of the Shareholder Notice, the effect or intent of which is to mitigate loss to, manage the risk or benefit of share price changes for, or increase or decrease the voting power of such shareholder or beneficial owner or any of their respective affiliates, and a representation that such shareholder and such beneficial owner (if any) will notify the Trust in writing of any such agreement, arrangement or understanding in effect as of the record date for the meeting promptly following the later of the record date or the date on which public announcement of the record date is first made;

(D)                               a representation that such shareholder intends to appear at the meeting in person or by proxy to make the nomination or propose the other business specified in such Shareholder Notice, as the case may be; and

(E)                                 a representation as to whether such shareholder or such beneficial owner (if any) intends, or is intended to be part of a group (within the meaning ascribed to such term under Section 13(d)(3) of the Exchange Act) that intends, (i) to deliver a proxy statement and/or form of proxy to holders of at least the percentage of the Trust’s outstanding shares required to elect the proposed Trustee nominee or to approve or adopt the other business proposal, as the case may be, and/or (ii) otherwise to solicit proxies from shareholders in support of such nominee or other business proposal, as the case may be.

(5)                                  Notwithstanding anything to the contrary in this Section 12(a), in the event that the number of Trustees to be elected to the Board of Trustees is increased and there is no public announcement by the Trust of such action or specifying the size of the increased Board of Trustees at least 130 days prior to the first anniversary of the date of the proxy statement for the preceding year’s annual meeting, a shareholder’s notice required by Section 12(a)(2) shall also be considered timely, but only with respect to nominees for any new positions created by such increase, if the notice is delivered to the secretary at the principal executive offices of the Trust not later than 5:00 p.m., Eastern Time, on the tenth day immediately following the day on which such public announcement is first made by the Trust.

(b)                                 Special Meetings of Shareholders.  Only such business shall be conducted at a special meeting of shareholders as shall have been brought before the meeting pursuant to the Trust’s notice of meeting.  Nominations of persons for election to the Board of Trustees may be made at a special meeting of shareholders at which Trustees are to be elected only (i) pursuant to the Trust’s notice of the meeting, (ii) by or at the direction of the Board of Trustees or (iii) provided that the Board of Trustees has determined that Trustees shall be elected at such special meeting, by any shareholder of the Trust who is a

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shareholder of record both at the time of giving of notice provided for in this Section 12(b) and at the time of the special meeting, who is entitled to vote at the meeting and who has complied with the notice procedures set forth in this Section 12(b).  In the event the Trust calls a special meeting of shareholders for the purpose of electing one or more Trustees to the Board of Trustees, any such shareholder may nominate a person or persons (as the case may be) for election as a Trustee as specified in the Trust’s notice of meeting, if the shareholder’s notice containing the information required by paragraph (a)(2) of this Section 12 shall be delivered to the secretary at the principal executive offices of the Trust not earlier than the 150th day prior to such special meeting and not later than 5:00 p.m., Eastern Time, on the later of the 120th day prior to such special meeting or the tenth day following the day on which public announcement is first made of the date of the special meeting and the nominees proposed by the Board of Trustees to be elected at such meeting.  In no event shall the public announcement of a postponement or adjournment of a special meeting to a later date or time commence a new time period for the giving of a shareholder’s notice as described above.

(c)                                  General.

(1)                                  Upon written request by the secretary or the Board of Trustees or any committee thereof, any shareholder proposing a nominee for election as a Trustee or any proposal for other business at a meeting of shareholders shall provide, within five business days of delivery of such request (or such other period as may be specified in such request), written verification, satisfactory to the secretary or the Board of Trustees or any committee thereof, in his, her or its sole discretion, of the accuracy of any information submitted by the shareholder pursuant to this Section 12.  If a shareholder fails to provide such written verification within such period, the secretary or the Board of Trustees or any committee thereof may treat the information as to which written verification was requested as not having been provided in accordance with the procedures set forth in this Section 12.

(2)                                  Only such persons who are nominated in accordance with the procedures set forth in this Section 12 shall be eligible for election by shareholders as Trustees, and only such business shall be conducted at a meeting of shareholders as shall have been brought before the meeting in accordance with the procedures set forth in this Section 12.  The presiding officer of the meeting shall have the power and duty to determine whether a nomination or any other business proposed to be brought before the meeting was made or proposed, as the case may be, in accordance with the procedures set forth in this Section 12 and, if any proposed nomination or other business is not in compliance with this Section 12, to declare that such defective nomination or proposal be disregarded.

(3)                                  For purposes of this Section 12, “public announcement” shall mean disclosure (i) in a press release reported by the Dow Jones News Service, Associated Press or comparable news service or (ii) in a document publicly filed by the Trust with the United States Securities and Exchange Commission pursuant to the Exchange Act.

(4)                                  Sections 12(a) and (b) shall be the exclusive means for a shareholder to make nominations or submit business before an annual meeting of the shareholders.  Notwithstanding the foregoing provisions of this Section 12, a shareholder shall also comply with all applicable requirements of state law and of the Exchange Act and the rules and regulations thereunder with respect to the matters set forth in this Section 12; provided, however, that any references in these Bylaws to the Exchange Act or the rules promulgated thereunder are not intended to and shall not limit the requirements applicable to nominations or proposals as to any other business to be considered pursuant to Sections 12(a) and (b).  Nothing in this Section 12 shall be deemed to affect any right of a shareholder to request inclusion of a proposal in, nor the right of the Trust to omit a proposal from, the Trust’s proxy statement pursuant to Rule 14a-8, or any successor provision, under the Exchange Act.

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Section 13.              TELEPHONE MEETINGS.  The Board of Trustees or the chairman of the meeting may permit shareholders to participate in a meeting by means of a conference telephone or other communications equipment if all persons participating in the meeting can hear each other at the same time.  Participation in a meeting by these means shall constitute presence in person at the meeting.

Section 14.              INFORMAL ACTION BY SHAREHOLDERS.  Any action required or permitted to be taken at a meeting of the shareholders may be taken without a meeting if a unanimous consent which sets forth the action is given in writing or by electronic transmission by each shareholder entitled to vote on the matter and is filed with the records of the shareholders’ meetings.

Section 15.              CONTROL SHARE ACQUISITION ACT.  Notwithstanding any other provision of the Declaration of Trust of the Trust or these Bylaws, Title 3, Subtitle 7 of the Maryland General Corporation Law (or any successor statute) (the “MGCL”) shall not apply to any acquisition by any person of shares of beneficial interest of the Trust. This section may be repealed, in whole or in part, at any time, whether before or after an acquisition of control shares and, upon such repeal, may, to the extent provided by any successor bylaw, apply to any prior or subsequent control share acquisition.

ARTICLE III

TRUSTEES

Section 1.                    GENERAL POWERS; TRUSTEES HOLDING OVER.  The business and affairs of the Trust shall be managed under the direction of its Board of Trustees.  In case of failure to elect Trustees at an annual meeting of the shareholders, the Trustees holding over shall continue to direct the management of the business and affairs of the Trust until their successors are elected and qualify.

Section 2.                    NUMBER, ELECTION, AND QUALIFICATIONS.  At any regular meeting or at any special meeting called for that purpose, a majority of the entire Board of Trustees may establish, increase or decrease the number of Trustees; provided, that the number thereof shall never be fewer than the minimum number required by the MGCL, nor more than 15; and provided further, that the tenure of office of a Trustee shall not be affected by any decrease in the number of Trustees.  Unless otherwise provided in the Declaration of Trust or these Bylaws, the Trustees shall be elected at the annual meeting of the shareholders, and each Trustee shall be elected to serve until the next annual meeting of the shareholders and until his or her successor is elected and qualifies or until his or her earlier death, resignation or removal.  Any Trustee may resign at any time by delivering written notice to the Board of Trustees, effective upon execution and delivery of such written notice or upon any future date specified in the notice.  The acceptance of the resignation shall not be necessary to make it effective unless otherwise stated in the resignation.  At least a majority of the Board of Trustees shall be Trustees whom the Board of Trustees has determined are independent under the standards established by the Board of Trustees and in accordance with the then applicable listing requirements of the New York Stock Exchange.  A Trustee shall be an individual at least 21 years of age who is not under legal disability.  The third sentence of this Article III, Section 2 shall be effective from and after the commencement of trading of securities of the Trust on the New York Stock Exchange, and not prior thereto.

Section 3.                    ANNUAL AND REGULAR MEETINGS.  An annual meeting of the Board of Trustees shall be held immediately after and at the same place as the annual meeting of shareholders, no notice other than this Bylaw being necessary.  The Board of Trustees may provide, by resolution, the time and place, either within or without the State of Maryland, for the holding of regular meetings of the Board of Trustees without other notice than such resolution.

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Section 4.                    SPECIAL MEETINGS.  Special meetings of the Board of Trustees may be called by or at the request of the executive chairman or chairman of the Board of Trustees, the chief executive officer or the president or by a majority of the Trustees then in office.  The person or persons authorized to call special meetings of the Board of Trustees may fix any place, either within or without the State of Maryland, as the place for holding any special meeting of the Board of Trustees called by them.

Section 5.                    NOTICE.  Notice of any special meeting of the Board of Trustees shall be delivered personally or by telephone, electronic mail, facsimile transmission, U.S. mail or courier to each Trustee at his or her business or residence address or by any other means permitted under Maryland law.  Notice by personal delivery, telephone, electronic mail or facsimile transmission shall be given at least 24 hours prior to the meeting.  Notice by U.S. mail shall be given at least five days prior to the meeting.  Notice by courier shall be given at least two days prior to the meeting.  Telephone notice shall be deemed to be given when the Trustee or his or her agent is personally given such notice in a telephone call to which the Trustee or his or her agent is a party.  Electronic mail notice shall be deemed to be given upon transmission of the message to the electronic mail address given to the Trust by the Trustee.  Facsimile transmission notice shall be deemed to be given upon completion of the transmission of the message to the number given to the Trust by the Trustee and receipt of a completed answer-back indicating receipt.  Notice by U.S. mail shall be deemed to be given when deposited in the U.S. mail properly addressed, with postage thereon prepaid.  Notice by courier shall be deemed to be given when deposited with or delivered to a courier properly addressed.  Neither the business to be transacted at, nor the purpose of, any annual, regular or special meeting of the Board of Trustees need be stated in the notice, unless specifically required by statute or these Bylaws.

Section 6.                    QUORUM.  A majority of the Board of Trustees shall constitute a quorum for transaction of business at any meeting of the Board of Trustees, provided that, if less than a majority of such Trustees are present at said meeting, a majority of the Trustees present may adjourn the meeting from time to time without further notice, and provided further that if, pursuant to applicable law, the Declaration of Trust or these Bylaws, the vote of a majority of a particular group of Trustees is required for action, a quorum must also include a majority of such group.

The Trustees present at a meeting which has been duly called and convened may continue to transact business until adjournment, notwithstanding the withdrawal from the meeting of enough Trustees to leave less than a quorum.

Section 7.                    VOTING.  The action of the majority of the Trustees present at a meeting at which a quorum is present shall be the action of the Board of Trustees, unless the concurrence of a greater proportion is required for such action by applicable law, the Declaration of Trust or these Bylaws.  If enough Trustees have withdrawn from a meeting to leave less than a quorum but the meeting is not adjourned, the action of the majority of that number of Trustees necessary to constitute a quorum at such meeting shall be the action of the Board of Trustees, unless the concurrence of a greater proportion is required for such action by applicable law, the Declaration of Trust or these Bylaws.

Section 8.                    TELEPHONE MEETINGS.  Trustees may participate in a meeting by means of a conference telephone or other communications equipment if all persons participating in the meeting can hear each other at the same time.  Participation in a meeting by these means shall constitute presence in person at the meeting.

Section 9.                    INFORMAL ACTION BY TRUSTEES.  Any action required or permitted to be taken at any meeting of the Board of Trustees may be taken without a meeting, if a consent in writing to such action is signed or submitted by electronic transmission to the Trust by each Trustee and such written consent is filed with the minutes of proceedings of the Board of Trustees.

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Section 10.              ORGANIZATION.  At each meeting of the Board of Trustees, the executive chairman or chairman of the Board of Trustees or, in the absence of the executive chairman or chairman of the Board of Trustees, the vice chairman, if any, of the Board of Trustees, or, in the absence of the executive chairman, the chairman and the vice chairman, if any, the chief executive officer or in the absence of the chief executive officer, the president or in the absence of the president, a Trustee chosen by a majority of the Trustees present, shall act as chairman of the meeting.  The secretary or, in his or her absence, an assistant secretary of the Trust, or in the absence of the secretary and all assistant secretaries, a person appointed by the chairman, shall act as secretary of the meeting.

Section 11.              VACANCIES.  If for any reason any or all of the Trustees cease to be Trustees, such event shall not terminate the Trust, or affect these Bylaws or the powers of the remaining Trustees hereunder (even if fewer than a quorum of Trustees remain).  Any vacancy (including a vacancy created by an increase in the number of Trustees) shall be filled, at any regular meeting or at any special meeting called for that purpose, by a majority of the Trustees, even if the remaining Trustees do not constitute a quorum. Any individual so elected as Trustee shall hold office for the unexpired term of the Trustee he or she is replacing and until a successor is elected and qualifies.

Section 12.              COMPENSATION.  Trustees shall not receive any stated salary for their services as Trustees but, by resolution of the Board of Trustees or a duly authorized committee thereof, may receive compensation per year and/or per meeting and for any service or activity they performed or engaged in as Trustees.  Trustees may be reimbursed for expenses of attendance, if any, at each annual, regular or special meeting of the Board of Trustees or of any committee thereof; and for their expenses, if any, in connection with any service or activity performed or engaged in as Trustees; but nothing herein contained shall be construed to preclude any Trustees from serving the Trust in any other capacity and receiving compensation therefor.

Section 13.              LOSS OF DEPOSITS.  No Trustee shall be liable for any loss which may occur by reason of the failure of the bank, trust company, savings and loan association or other institution with whom moneys or shares have been deposited.

Section 14.              SURETY BONDS.  Unless required by law, no Trustee shall be obligated to give any bond or surety or other security for the performance of any of his or her duties.

Section 15.              REMOVAL OF TRUSTEES. The shareholders may remove any Trustee in the manner provided in the Declaration of Trust.

Section 16.              RELIANCE.  Each Trustee, officer, employee and agent of the Trust shall, in the performance of his or her duties with respect to the Trust, be fully justified and protected with regard to any act or failure to act in reliance in good faith upon the books of account or other records of the Trust, upon an opinion of counsel or upon reports made to the Trust by any of its officers or employees or by the advisers, accountants, appraisers or other experts or consultants selected by the Trustees or officers of the Trust, as to matters which the Trustee, officer, employee or agent reasonably believes to be within the person’s professional or expert competence, regardless of whether such counsel or expert may also be a Trustee.

Section 17.              RATIFICATION. The Board of Trustees or the shareholders may ratify and make binding on the Trust any action or inaction by the Trust or its officers to the extent that the Board of Trustees or the shareholders could have originally authorized the matter. Moreover, any action or inaction questioned in any shareholders’ derivative proceeding or any other proceeding on the ground of lack of authority, defective or irregular execution, adverse interest of a Trustee, officer or shareholder, non-disclosure, miscomputation, the application of improper principles or practices of accounting or

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otherwise, may be ratified, before or after judgment, by the Board of Trustees or by the shareholders, and if so ratified, shall have the same force and effect as if the questioned action or inaction had been originally duly authorized, and such ratification shall be binding upon the Trust and its shareholders and shall constitute a bar to any claim or execution of any judgment in respect of such questioned action or inaction.

Section 18.              CERTAIN RIGHTS OF TRUSTEES AND OFFICERS. A Trustee who is not also an officer of the Trust shall have no responsibility to devote his or her full time to the affairs of the Trust. Any Trustee or officer, in his or her personal capacity or in a capacity as an affiliate, employee, or agent of any other person, or otherwise, may have business interests and engage in business activities similar to, in addition to or in competition with those of or relating to the Trust.

ARTICLE IV

COMMITTEES

Section 1.                    NUMBER, TENURE AND QUALIFICATIONS.  The Board of Trustees may appoint from among its members a Nominating and Corporate Governance Committee, an Audit Committee and a Compensation Committee and may appoint other committees, composed of one or more Trustees, to serve at the pleasure of the Board of Trustees; provided, however, that the membership of each of the Nominating and Corporate Governance Committee, the Audit Committee and the Compensation Committee at all times shall comply with the independence and other listing requirements and rules and regulations of the New York Stock Exchange and the rules and regulations promulgated under the federal securities laws, and any other independence and other requirements set forth in the Company’s corporate governance guidelines and applicable committee charters.

Section 2.                    POWERS.  The Board of Trustees may delegate to committees appointed under Section 1 of this Article IV any of the powers of the Trustees, except as prohibited by law.

Section 3.                    MEETINGS.  In the absence of any member of any such committee, the members thereof present at any meeting, whether or not they constitute a quorum, may appoint another Trustee to act in the place of such absent member provided that such Trustee meets the requirements of such committee.  Notice of committee meetings shall be given in the same manner as notice for special meetings of the Board of Trustees.  Each committee shall keep minutes of its proceedings and shall report the same to the Board of Trustees at the next succeeding meeting, and any action by the committee shall be subject to revision and alteration by the Board of Trustees, provided that no rights of third persons shall be affected by any such revision or alteration.

Section 4.                    QUORUM.  A majority of the members of any committee shall constitute a quorum for the transaction of business at a committee meeting, and the act of a majority present shall be the act of such committee. The Board of Trustees, or the members of a committee to which such power has been duly delegated by the Board of Trustees, may designate a chairman of any committee, and such chairman or any two members of any committee may fix the time and place of its meetings unless the Board of Trustees shall otherwise provide.

Section 5.                    TELEPHONE MEETINGS.  Members of a committee of the Board of Trustees may participate in a meeting by means of a conference telephone or other communications equipment if all persons participating in the meeting can hear each other at the same time.  Participation in a meeting by these means shall constitute presence in person at the meeting.

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Section 6.                    INFORMAL ACTION BY COMMITTEES.  Any action required or permitted to be taken at any meeting of a committee of the Board of Trustees may be taken without a meeting, if a consent in writing to such action is signed or submitted by electronic transmission to the Trust by each member of the committee and such written consent is filed with the minutes of proceedings of such committee.

Section 7.                    VACANCIES, REMOVAL AND DISSOLUTION.  Subject to the provisions hereof, the Board of Trustees shall have the power at any time to change the membership of any committee, to fill all vacancies, to designate alternate members to replace any absent or disqualified member or to dissolve any such committee.

ARTICLE V

OFFICERS

Section 1.                    GENERAL PROVISIONS.  The officers of the Trust shall include a president, a secretary and a treasurer and may include an executive chairman of the Board of Trustees, a chairman of the Board of Trustees, a vice chairman of the Board of Trustees, a chief executive officer, a chief operating officer, a financial investment officer, one or more vice presidents, one or more assistant secretaries and one or more assistant treasurers. In addition, the Board of Trustees may from time to time appoint such other officers with such powers and duties as they shall deem necessary or desirable.  The officers of the Trust shall be elected annually by the Board of Trustees at the first meeting of the Board of Trustees held after each annual meeting of shareholders, except that the chief executive officer or president may appoint one or more vice presidents, assistant secretaries and assistant treasurers or other officers.  If the election of officers shall not be held at such meeting, such election shall be held as soon thereafter as may be convenient.  Each officer shall hold office until his or her successor is elected and qualifies or until his or her death, resignation or removal in the manner hereinafter provided.  Any two or more offices except (1) president and vice president and (2) chief executive officer and vice president may be held by the same person. In its discretion, the Board of Trustees may leave any office unfilled.  Election of an officer or agent shall not of itself create contract rights between the Trust and such officer or agent.

Section 2.                    REMOVAL AND RESIGNATION.  Any officer or agent of the Trust may be removed by the Board of Trustees, with or without cause, if in its judgment the best interests of the Trust would be served thereby, but such removal shall be without prejudice to the contract rights, if any, of the person so removed.  Any officer of the Trust may resign at any time by giving written notice of his or her resignation to the Board of Trustees, the executive chairman or chairman of the Board of Trustees, the chief executive officer, the president or the secretary.  Any resignation shall take effect immediately upon its receipt or at such later time specified in the notice of resignation.  The acceptance of a resignation shall not be necessary to make it effective unless otherwise stated in the resignation.  Such resignation shall be without prejudice to the contract rights, if any, of the Trust.

Section 3.                    VACANCIES.  A vacancy in any office may be filled by the Board of Trustees for the balance of the term.

Section 4.                    CHIEF EXECUTIVE OFFICER.  The Board of Trustees may designate a chief executive officer.  The chief executive officer shall have responsibility for implementation of the policies of the Trust, as determined by the Board of Trustees, for the general management and administration of the business and affairs of the Trust, and for the supervision of other officers.  The chief executive officer may execute any deed, mortgage, bond, contract or other instrument, except in cases where the execution thereof shall be expressly delegated by the Board of Trustees or these Bylaws to some other officer or

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agent of the Trust or shall be required by law to be otherwise executed; and in general shall perform all duties incident to the office of chief executive officer and such other duties as may be prescribed by the Board of Trustees from time to time.  In the absence of the executive chairman or chairman of the Board of Trustees or the vice chairman of the Board of Trustees, if there be one, the chief executive officer shall preside over the meetings of the Board of Trustees and of the shareholders at which he or she shall be present.

Section 5.                    CHIEF OPERATING OFFICER.  The Board of Trustees may designate a chief operating officer.  The chief operating officer shall have the responsibilities and duties as set forth by the Board of Trustees or the chief executive officer.

Section 6.                    CHIEF FINANCIAL OFFICER.  The Board of Trustees may designate a chief financial officer.  The chief financial officer shall have the responsibilities and duties as set forth by the Board of Trustees or the chief executive officer.

Section 7.                    EXECUTIVE CHAIRMAN OR CHAIRMAN OF THE BOARD.  The Board of Trustees may designate an executive chairman or chairman of the Board of Trustees and shall provide whether the executive chairman or chairman of the Board of Trustees shall also be an officer of the Trust.  The executive chairman or chairman of the Board of Trustees shall preside over the meetings of the Board of Trustees and of the shareholders at which he or she shall be present and shall in general oversee all of the business and affairs of the Trust.  The executive chairman or chairman of the Board of Trustees, if designated as an officer of the Trust, may execute any deed, mortgage, bond, contract or other instrument, except in cases where the execution thereof shall be expressly delegated by the Board of Trustees or by these Bylaws to some other officer or agent of the Trust or shall be required by law to be otherwise executed.  The executive chairman or chairman of the Board of Trustees shall perform such other duties as may be assigned to him or her by the Board of Trustees.

Section 8.                    PRESIDENT.  In the absence of the executive chairman or chairman of the Board of Trustees and the chief executive officer, the president shall preside over the meetings of the Board of Trustees and of the shareholders at which he or she shall be present.  In the absence of a designation of a chief executive officer by the Board of Trustees, the president shall be the chief executive officer.  The president may execute any deed, mortgage, bond, contract or other instrument, except in cases where the execution thereof shall be expressly delegated by the Board of Trustees or by these Bylaws to some other officer or agent of the Trust or shall be required by law to be otherwise executed; and in general shall perform all duties incident to the office of president and such other duties as may be prescribed by the Board of Trustees or the chief executive officer from time to time.

Section 9.                    VICE PRESIDENTS.  In the absence of each of the chief executive officer, the chief operating officer and the president or in the event of a vacancy in all three offices, the vice president (or in the event there be more than one vice president, the vice presidents in the order designated at the time of their election or, in the absence of any designation, then in the order of their election) shall perform the duties of the president and when so acting shall have all the powers of and be subject to all the restrictions upon the president; and shall perform such other duties as from time to time may be assigned to him or her by the chief executive officer or by the Board of Trustees.  The Board of Trustees may designate one or more vice presidents as executive vice president, as senior vice president or as vice president for particular areas of responsibility.  The chief executive officer or, in the event there is no chief executive officer, the president may designate one or more vice presidents as vice president for particular areas of responsibility.

Section 10.              SECRETARY.  The secretary shall (a) keep the minutes of the proceedings of the shareholders, the Board of Trustees and committees of the Board of Trustees in one or more books

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provided for that purpose; (b) see that all notices are duly given in accordance with the provisions of these Bylaws or as required by law; (c) be custodian of the Trust records and of the seal of the Trust; (d) keep a register of the post office address of each shareholder which shall be furnished to the secretary by such shareholder; (e) have general charge of the share transfer books of the Trust; and (f) in general perform such other duties as from time to time may be assigned to him or her by the chief executive officer, the president or the Board of Trustees.

Section 11.              TREASURER.  The treasurer shall have the custody of the funds and securities of the Trust and shall keep full and accurate accounts of receipts and disbursements in books belonging to the Trust and shall deposit all moneys and other valuable effects in the name and to the credit of the Trust in such depositories as may be designated by the Board of Trustees.

The treasurer shall disburse the funds of the Trust as may be ordered by the Board of Trustees, taking proper vouchers for such disbursements and shall render to the chief executive officer and the Board of Trustees, at the regular meetings of the Board of Trustees or whenever they may require it, an account of all his or her transactions as treasurer and of the financial condition of the Trust.

Section 12.              ASSISTANT SECRETARIES AND ASSISTANT TREASURERS.  The assistant secretaries and assistant treasurers, in general, shall perform such duties as shall be assigned to them by the secretary or treasurer, respectively, or by the president, the chief executive officer or the Board of Trustees.  The assistant treasurers shall, if required by the Board of Trustees, give bonds for the faithful performance of their duties in such sums and with such surety or sureties as shall be satisfactory to the Board of Trustees.

Section 13.              SALARIES.  The salaries and other compensation of the officers shall be fixed from time to time by the Board of Trustees or a committee thereof, and no officer shall be prevented from receiving such compensation by reason of the fact that he or she is also a Trustee.

ARTICLE VI

CONTRACTS, CHECKS AND DEPOSITS

Section 1.                    CONTRACTS.  The Board of Trustees may authorize any officer or agent to enter into any contract or to execute and deliver any instrument in the name of and on behalf of the Trust and such authority may be general or confined to specific instances.  Any agreement, deed, mortgage, lease or other document executed by one or more of the Trustees or by an authorized person shall be valid and binding upon the Board of Trustees and upon the Trust.

Section 2.                    CHECKS AND DRAFTS.  All checks, drafts or other orders for the payment of money, notes or other evidences of indebtedness issued in the name of the Trust shall be signed by such officer or agent of the Trust in such manner as shall from time to time be determined by the Board of Trustees.

Section 3.                    DEPOSITS.  All funds of the Trust not otherwise employed shall be deposited or invested from time to time to the credit of the Trust as the Board of Trustees, the chief executive officer, the chief financial officer or any other officer designated by the Board of Trustees may determine.

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ARTICLE VII

SHARES

Section 1.                    CERTIFICATES.  In the event that the Trust issues shares of beneficial interest evidenced by certificates, each shareholder shall be entitled to a certificate or certificates which shall evidence and certify the number of shares of each class of beneficial interests held by him or her in the Trust. Each certificate shall be signed by the chief executive officer, the president or a vice president and countersigned by the secretary or an assistant secretary or the treasurer or an assistant treasurer and may be sealed with the seal, if any, of the Trust. The signatures may be either manual or facsimile. Certificates shall be consecutively numbered; and if the Trust shall, from time to time, issue several classes of shares, each class may have its own number series. A certificate is valid and may be issued whether or not an officer who signed it is still an officer when it is issued. Each certificate representing shares which are restricted as to their transferability or voting powers, which are preferred or limited as to their dividends or as to their allocable portion of the assets upon liquidation or which are redeemable at the option of the Trust, shall have a statement of such restriction, limitation, preference or redemption provision, or a summary thereof, plainly stated on the certificate. In lieu of such statement or summary, the Trust may set forth upon the face or back of the certificate a statement that the Trust will furnish to any shareholder, upon request and without charge, a full statement of such information.

Section 2.                    TRANSFERS.  All transfers of shares shall be made on the books of the Trust, by the holder of the shares, in person or by his or her attorney, in such manner as the Board of Trustees or any officer of the Trust may prescribe and, if such shares are certificated, upon surrender of certificates duly endorsed or accompanied by proper evidence of succession, assignment or authority to transfer.  The issuance of a new certificate upon the transfer of certificated shares is subject to the determination of the Board of Trustees that such shares shall no longer be evidenced by certificates.  Upon the transfer of uncertificated shares, to the extent then required by the MGCL, the Trust shall provide to record holders of such shares a written statement of the information required by the MGCL to be included on share certificates.

The Trust shall be entitled to treat the holder of record of any share or shares as the holder in fact thereof and, accordingly, shall not be bound to recognize any equitable or other claim to or interest in such share or shares on the part of any other person, whether or not it shall have express or other notice thereof, except as otherwise provided by the laws of the State of Maryland.

Notwithstanding the foregoing, transfers of shares of beneficial interest of the Trust will be subject in all respects to the Declaration of Trust and all of the terms and conditions contained therein.

Section 3.                    REPLACEMENT CERTIFICATE.  Any officer designated by the Board of Trustees may direct a new certificate to be issued in place of any certificate previously issued by the Trust alleged to have been lost, stolen, destroyed or mutilated upon the making of an affidavit of that fact by the person claiming the certificate to be lost, stolen, destroyed or mutilated; provided, however, if such shares have ceased to be certificated, no new certificate shall be issued unless requested in writing by such shareholder and the Board of Trustees has determined such certificates may be issued.  When authorizing the issuance of a new certificate, an officer designated by the Board of Trustees may, in his or her discretion and as a condition precedent to the issuance thereof, require the owner of such lost, stolen, destroyed or mutilated certificate or the owner’s legal representative to advertise the same in such manner as he or she shall require and/or to give bond, with sufficient surety, to the Trust to indemnify it against any loss or claim which may arise as a result of the issuance of a new certificate.

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Section 4.                    CLOSING OF TRANSFER BOOKS OR FIXING OF RECORD DATE.  The Board of Trustees may set, in advance, a record date for the purpose of determining shareholders entitled to notice of or to vote at any meeting of shareholders or determining shareholders entitled to receive payment of any dividend or the allotment of any other rights, or in order to make a determination of shareholders for any other proper purpose.  Such date, in any case, shall not be prior to 5:00 p.m., Eastern Time, on the day the record date is fixed and shall be not more than 90 days and, in the case of a meeting of shareholders not less than 10 days, before the date on which the meeting or particular action requiring such determination of shareholders of record is to be held or taken.

In lieu of fixing a record date, the Board of Trustees may provide that the share transfer books shall be closed for a stated period but not longer than 20 days.  If the share transfer books are closed for the purpose of determining shareholders entitled to notice of or to vote at a meeting of shareholders, such books shall be closed for at least 10 days before the date of such meeting.

If no record date is fixed and the share transfer books are not closed for the determination of shareholders, (a) the record date for the determination of shareholders entitled to notice of or to vote at a meeting of shareholders shall be at 5:00 p.m., Eastern Time, on the day on which the notice of meeting is mailed or the 30th day before the meeting, whichever is the closer date to the meeting; and (b) the record date for the determination of shareholders entitled to receive payment of a dividend or an allotment of any other rights shall be the close of business on the day on which the resolution of the Board of Trustees, declaring the dividend or allotment of rights, is adopted.

When a determination of shareholders entitled to vote at any meeting of shareholders has been made as provided in this section, such determination shall apply to any adjournment thereof, except when (i) the determination has been made through the closing of the transfer books and the stated period of closing has expired or (ii) the meeting is adjourned to a date more than 120 days after the record date fixed for the original meeting, in either of which case a new record date shall be determined as set forth herein.

Section 5.                    SHARE LEDGER.  The Trust shall maintain at its principal office or at the office of its counsel, accountants or transfer agent, an original or duplicate share ledger containing the name and address of each shareholder and the number of shares of each class of share held by such shareholder.

Section 6.                    FRACTIONAL SHARES; ISSUANCE OF UNITS.  The Board of Trustees may issue fractional shares or provide for the issuance of scrip, all on such terms and under such conditions as they may determine.  Notwithstanding any other provision of the Declaration of Trust or these Bylaws, the Board of Trustees may issue units consisting of different securities of the Trust.  Any security issued in a unit shall have the same characteristics as any identical securities issued by the Trust, except that the Board of Trustees may provide that for a specified period securities of the Trust issued in such unit may be transferred to the books of the Trust only in such unit.

ARTICLE VIII

ACCOUNTING YEAR

The fiscal year of the Trust shall end on December 31 of each year.  The Board of Trustees shall have the power, from time to time, to fix the fiscal year of the Trust by a duly adopted resolution.

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ARTICLE IX

DISTRIBUTIONS

Section 1.                    AUTHORIZATION.  Dividends and other distributions upon the shares of beneficial interest of the Trust may be authorized and declared by the Board of Trustees, subject to the applicable provisions of law and the Declaration of Trust.  Dividends and other distributions may be paid in cash, property or shares of the Trust, subject to the applicable provisions of law and the Declaration of Trust.

Section 2.                    CONTINGENCIES.  Before payment of any dividends or other distributions, there may be set aside out of any assets of the Trust available for dividends or other distributions such sum or sums as the Board of Trustees may from time to time, in its absolute discretion, think proper as a reserve fund for contingencies, for equalizing dividends or other distributions, for repairing or maintaining any property of the Trust or for such other purpose as the Board of Trustees shall determine to be in the best interest of the Trust, and the Board of Trustees may modify or abolish any such reserve in the manner in which it was created.

ARTICLE X

SEAL

Section 1.                    SEAL.  The Board of Trustees may authorize the adoption of a seal by the Trust.  The seal shall contain the name of the Trust and the year and state of its incorporation.  The Board of Trustees may authorize one or more duplicate seals and provide for the custody thereof.

Section 2.                    AFFIXING SEAL.  Whenever the Trust is permitted or required to affix its seal to a document, it shall be sufficient to meet the requirements of any law, rule or regulation relating to a seal to place the word “(SEAL)” adjacent to the signature of the person authorized to execute the document on behalf of the Trust.

ARTICLE XI

INDEMNIFICATION AND ADVANCEMENT OF EXPENSES

To the maximum extent permitted by Maryland law in effect from time to time, the Trust shall indemnify (a) any present or former Trustee or officer (including any individual who, at the request of the Trust, serves or has served as a director, officer, partner, trustee, employee or agent of another real estate investment trust, corporation, partnership, joint venture, trust, employee benefit plan or any other enterprise) against any claim or liability to which he or she may become subject by reason of service in such capacity, and (b) any present or former Trustee or officer who has been successful in the defense of a proceeding to which he or she was made a party by reason of service in such capacity, against reasonable expenses incurred by the Trustee or officer in connection with the proceeding and shall pay or reimburse, in advance of final disposition of the proceeding, such reasonable expenses.  The Trust may, with the approval of its Board of Trustees, provide such indemnification or advancement of expenses to any present or former Trustee or officer who served a predecessor of the Trust, and to any employee or agent of the Trust or a predecessor of the Trust.  Any amendment of this section shall be prospective only and shall not affect the applicability of this section with respect to any act or failure to act that occurred prior to such amendment.

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Neither the amendment nor repeal of this Article, nor the adoption or amendment of any other provision of the Declaration of Trust or these Bylaws inconsistent with this Article, shall apply to or affect in any respect the applicability of this Article with respect to any act or omission that occurred prior to the effective date of such amendment, repeal or adoption.

Any indemnification or payment or reimbursement of the expenses permitted by these Bylaws shall be furnished in accordance with the procedures provided for indemnification or payment or reimbursement of expenses, as the case may be, under Section 2-418 of the MGCL for directors of Maryland corporations. The Trust may provide to Trustees, officers, employees, agents and shareholders such other and further indemnification or payment or reimbursement of expenses, as the case may be, to the fullest extent permitted by the MGCL, as in effect from time to time, for directors of Maryland corporations.

ARTICLE XII

WAIVER OF NOTICE

Whenever any notice is required to be given pursuant to the Declaration of Trust or these Bylaws or pursuant to applicable law, a waiver thereof in writing, signed by the person or persons entitled to such notice, whether before or after the time stated therein, shall be deemed equivalent to the giving of such notice.  Neither the business to be transacted at nor the purpose of any meeting need be set forth in the waiver of notice, unless specifically required by statute.  The attendance of any person at any meeting shall constitute a waiver of notice of such meeting, except where such person attends a meeting for the express purpose of objecting to the transaction of any business on the ground that the meeting is not lawfully called or convened.

ARTICLE XIII

AMENDMENT OF BYLAWS

The Board of Trustees shall have the exclusive power to adopt, alter or repeal any provision of these Bylaws and to make new Bylaws.

ARTICLE XIV

BOOKS AND RECORDS

The Trust shall keep correct and complete books and records of its accounts and transactions and minutes of the proceedings of its shareholders and Board of Trustees and of an executive or other committee when exercising any of the powers of the Board of Trustees.  The books and records of the Trust may be in written form or in any other form which can be converted within a reasonable time into written form for visual inspection.  Minutes shall be recorded in written form but may be maintained in the form of a reproduction.

ARTICLE XV

SEVERABILITY

If any provision of these Bylaws shall be held invalid or unenforceable in any respect, such holding shall apply only to the extent of any such invalidity or unenforceability and shall not in any

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manner affect, impair or render invalid or unenforceable any other provision of these Bylaws in any jurisdiction.

*    *    *    *

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Exhibit 4.3

Registration Rights Agreement

THIS REGISTRATION RIGHTS AGREEMENT (this “Agreement”) is made and entered into as of [·], 2011 by and between RLJ LODGING TRUST, a Maryland real estate investment trust (the “Company”), and the holders listed on Schedule I hereto (each an “Initial Holder” and, collectively, the “Initial Holders”).

WHEREAS, the Company intends to engage in various related transactions (collectively, the “IPO Transactions”) pursuant to which, among other things, the Company will effect an initial public offering of common shares of beneficial interest, par value $0.01 per share (the “Common Shares”);

WHEREAS, in connection with the IPO Transactions, the Company intends to engage in certain consolidation transactions (the “Consolidation Transactions”) pursuant to which, among other things, the Initial Holders will contribute substantially all of the assets and liabilities of RLJ Development, LLC (“RLJ Development”) to RLJ Lodging Trust, L.P., a Delaware limited partnership (the “Operating Partnership”), in exchange for an aggregate of 894,000 Class A limited partner units in the Operating Partnership (such units, the “OP Units”) to be issued by the Operating Partnership on the closing date of the Consolidation Transactions, as set forth on Schedule I hereto; and

WHEREAS, pursuant to the terms of Section 8.6 and the other related provisions of the Amended and Restated Agreement of Limited Partnership of the Operating Partnership (such agreement, as amended from time to time, the “Partnership Agreement”), commencing on the first anniversary of the date of issuance, and subject to the various limitations contained in the Partnership Agreement and other instruments being delivered in connection with the Consolidation Transactions, the Initial Holders will be entitled to redeem their OP Units for cash or, at the Company’s election, Common Shares;

WHEREAS, the Company has agreed to grant to the Initial Holders (and their permitted assignees and transferees) the registration rights described in this Agreement (the “Registration Rights”).

NOW, THEREFORE, the parties hereto, in consideration of the foregoing, the mutual covenants and agreements hereinafter set forth, and other good and valuable consideration, the receipt and sufficiency of which are acknowledged, hereby agree as follows:

SECTION 1.                            DEFINITIONS

The following capitalized terms used herein have the following meanings:

“Agreement” is defined in the preamble hereto.

“Blackout Period” is defined in Section 2.2(f) hereof.

“Business Day” any Monday, Tuesday, Wednesday, Thursday or Friday other than a day on which banks and other financial institutions are authorized or required to be closed for business in the State of New York.

“Commission” means the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission.

“Common Shares” is defined in the recitals hereto.

“Company” is defined in the preamble hereto.

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“Consolidation Transactions” is defined in the recitals hereto.

“Demand Registration” is defined in Section 2.2(a) hereof

“Demand Registration Notice” is defined in Section 2.2(a) hereof.

“Demand Registration Statement” is defined in Section 2.2(a) hereof.

“Exchange Act” means the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended.

“Fund Partner Registration Rights Agreement” is defined in Section 2.2(e) hereof.

“Fund Partner Underwritten Offering” is defined in section 2.2(e) hereof.

“Holder” means (a) any Initial Holder who is the record or beneficial owner of any Registrable Security or (b) any assignee or transferee of such Initial Holder (including as a result of any assignment or transfers in connection with the foreclosure on any loans secured by the Registrable Securities).

“Initial Holder” is defined in the preamble hereto.

“IPO Closing Date” means the closing date of the Company’s initial public offering.

“IPO Transactions” is defined in the recitals hereto.

“Issuer Registration Statement” is defined in Section 2.1 hereof.

“Maximum Threshold” is defined in section 2.2(e) hereof.

“OP Units” is defined in the recitals hereto.

“Operating Partnership” is defined in the recitals hereto.

“Outside Date” means September 30, 2011.

“Partnership Agreement” is defined in the recitals hereto.

“Person” means any individual, corporation, partnership, joint venture, limited liability company, estate, trust, unincorporated association, any federal, state, county or municipal government or any bureau, department or agency thereof and any fiduciary acting in such capacity on behalf of any of the foregoing.

“Prospectus” means the prospectus or prospectuses included in any Issuer Registration Statement and any Demand Registration Statement or other registration statement contemplated by Section 2.1 and Section 2.2(a) including any documents incorporated therein by reference.

“Redemption Shares” means the Common Shares issued to Holders upon redemption of OP Units held by such Holders.

“Registrable Securities” means the Redemption Shares and any Common Shares issued to a Holder with respect to the Redemption Shares by way of share dividend or stock split or in connection with a combination of shares, recapitalization, merger, consolidation or other reorganization or otherwise

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and any Common Shares or voting common shares issuable upon conversion, exercise or exchange thereof.

“Registration Rights” is defined in the recitals hereto.

“Registration Statement” means an Issuer Registration Statement and related prospectus (including any preliminary prospectus) and a Demand Registration Statement and related prospectus (including any preliminary prospectus), whichever is utilized by the Company to satisfy a Holder’s Registration Rights under this Agreement, including, in each case, any documents incorporated therein by reference.

“RLJ Development” is defined in the recitals hereto.

“Securities Act” means the Securities Act of 1933, as amended.

“Suspension Event” is defined in Section 2.3(a) hereof.

SECTION 2.                            REGISTRATION RIGHTS

2.1                                         Issuer Registration Statement.

Subject to Section 2.3 hereof, the Company shall use commercially reasonable efforts to cause to be filed, during the period beginning fifteen (15) days prior to the date the Holders are first permitted to redeem their OP Units pursuant to the Partnership Agreement, and ending fifteen (15) days thereafter, with the Commission a registration statement and related prospectus (the “Issuer Registration Statement”) that comply as to form in all material respects with applicable Commission rules providing for the registration of the Registrable Securities that may be issued to such Holders upon redemption of OP Units held by such Holders.  The Company agrees (subject to Section 2.3 hereof) to use commercially reasonable efforts to cause the Issuer Registration Statement, if filed, to be declared effective by the Commission as soon as practicable after the filing thereof.

Subject to Section 2.3 hereof, the Company agrees to use commercially reasonable efforts to keep any Issuer Registration Statement continuously effective (including the preparation and filing of any amendments and supplements necessary for that purpose) until the date on which no such Holder owns any OP Units.  In the event that the Registrable Securities are issued to any Holder by the Company pursuant to an Issuer Registration Statement, the Company shall be deemed to have satisfied all of its registration obligations under this Agreement in respect of such Registrable Securities.

2.2         Demand Registration Rights.

(a)                                  Demand Registration.  Subject to Sections 2.2(d) and 2.3 hereof, at any time after the date that is 365 days after the IPO Closing Date, each Holder may deliver to the Company a written notice (a “Demand Registration Notice”) informing the Company of such Holder’s desire to have some or all of its Registrable Securities registered for resale and specifying the number of Registrable Securities to be registered by the Company (“Demand Registration”).  Upon receipt of a Demand Registration Notice from a Holder requesting registration of the lesser of (i) two hundred thousand (200,000) Registrable Securities or (ii) all of such Holder’s Registrable Securities, if the Company has not already caused such Registrable Securities to be included as part of an existing shelf registration statement and related prospectus that the Company then has on file with, and which has been declared effective by, the Commission and which remains in effect and not subject to any stop order, injunction or other order or

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requirement of the Commission (in which event the Company shall be deemed to have satisfied its registration obligation under this Section 2.2 with respect to such Registrable Securities), then the Company shall cause to be filed with the Commission as soon as reasonably practicable after receiving the Demand Registration Notice, but in no event more than sixty (60) days following receipt of such notice, a new registration statement and related prospectus covering the resale of the Registrable Securities on a delayed or continuous basis (any such registration statement used to satisfy the Company’s obligations under this Section 2.2, the “Demand Registration Statement”), which complies as to form in all material respects with applicable Commission rules providing for the sale by such Holder or group of Holders of such Registrable Securities.  The Company agrees (subject to Section 2.3 hereof) to use commercially reasonable efforts to cause the Demand Registration Statement to be declared effective by the Commission as soon as practicable.

Subject to Section 2.3 hereof, the Company agrees to use commercially reasonable efforts to keep any Demand Registration Statement continuously effective (including the preparation and filing of any amendments and supplements necessary for that purpose) until the earlier of (i) the date that is two (2) years after the date of effectiveness of such Demand Registration Statement, (ii) the date on which all of the Registrable Securities covered by such Demand Registration Statement are eligible for sale without registration pursuant to Rule 144 (or any successor provision) under the Securities Act without volume limitations or other restrictions on transfer thereunder, or (iii) the date on which the Holder or Holders consummate the sale of all of the Registrable Securities registered under such Demand Registration Statement.

Notwithstanding the foregoing, the Company may at any time (including, without limitation, prior to or after receiving a Demand Registration Notice from a Holder), in its sole discretion, include all additional Registrable Securities then outstanding or any portion thereof in any registration statement, including by virtue of adding such Registrable Securities as additional securities to an Issuer Registration Statement, a Demand Registration Statement or an existing shelf registration statement pursuant to Rule 462(b) under the Securities Act (in which event the Company shall be deemed to have satisfied its registration obligation under this Section 2.2(a) with respect to the Registrable Securities so included, so long as such registration statement remains effective and not the subject of any stop order, injunction or other order of the Commission).

(b)                                 Notice to Holders.  Upon receipt of a valid Demand Registration Notice, the Company shall give written notice of the proposed filing of the Demand Registration Statement to all other Holders as soon as practicable, and each Holder who wishes to participate in such Demand Registration Statement shall notify the Company in writing within ten (10) Business Days after the receipt by the Holder of the notice from the Company, and shall specify in such notice the number of Registrable Securities to be included in the Demand Registration Statement.

(c)                                  Offers and Sales.  All offers and sales of Registrable Securities covered by a Demand Registration Statement by the Holder thereof shall be completed within the period during which such Demand Registration Statement remains effective and not the subject of any stop order, injunction or other order of the Commission.  Upon notice that such Demand Registration Statement is no longer effective, no Holder will offer or sell the Registrable Securities covered by such Demand Registration Statement.  If directed in writing by the Company, each Holder will return all undistributed copies of the related Prospectus in such Holder’s possession upon the expiration of such period.

(d)                                 Limitations on Demand Registration Rights.  During any period when the Company is not eligible to file a registration statement on Form S-3, each Holder and its permitted assignees collectively shall be entitled to five (5) exercises of the Registration Rights under Section 2.2(a); provided, that during any period when the Company is eligible to file a registration statement on Form S-

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3, each Holder and its permitted assignees shall have no limitation on the number of exercises of the Demand Registration Rights under Section 2.2(a); provided, however, that the Holders, collectively and as a group, shall not be permitted under any circumstances to exercise the Demand Registration Rights under Section 2.2(a) more than once in any consecutive six (6) month period and the Company shall not be obligated to effect any Demand Registration Statement within six (6) months after the effective date of a previous Demand Registration Statement.  Notwithstanding the foregoing, if a Registration Statement has not been declared effective by the Commission within one hundred twenty (120) days after the original filing date or is suspended for more than ninety (90) days at any one time, the Holders shall be deemed not to have exercised their Demand Registration Rights under Section 2.2(a).  Each Holder’s Demand Registration Rights granted pursuant to this Section 2.2(a) shall expire upon the date on which all of such Holder’s Registrable Securities are eligible for sale without registration pursuant to Rule 144 (or any successor provision) under the Securities Act without volume limitations or other restrictions on transfer thereunder, including, without limitation, paragraphs (c), (e), (f) and (h) of Rule 144.  The Demand Registration Rights granted pursuant to this Section 2.2(a) may not be exercised by any Holder in connection with any underwritten public offering by the Company without the prior written consent of the Company.

(e)                                  Fund Partner Underwritten Public Offering.

To the extent that the Company undertakes to effect an underwritten public offering of securities for the account of other security holders of the Company in satisfaction of the Company’s obligations under that certain Registration Rights Agreement, dated [·], 2011, by and among the Company and the holders listed on Schedule I thereto (the “Fund Partner Registration Rights Agreement”), the Company shall (i) give written notice of such proposed underwritten public offering (a “Fund Partner Underwritten Offering”) to all Holders as soon as practicable but in no event less than ten (10) business days prior to the anticipated filing date of the registration statement, which notice shall describe the amount and type of securities to be included in such offering, the intended method(s) of distribution, and the name of the proposed managing underwriter(s), if any, of the offering and (ii) offer to the Holders in such notice the opportunity to participate in such offering and to sell such number of Registrable Securities as such Holder may request in writing within five (5) business days following receipt of such notice. If at any time after giving written notice of the proposed offering and prior to the effective date of the registration statement filed in connection with such registration, the Company shall determine for any reason not to register such securities, the Company may, at its election, give written notice of such determination to each Holder and shall be relieved of its obligations pursuant to this Section 2.2(e). The Company shall use its reasonable best efforts to cause the managing underwriter(s) of a proposed underwritten offering to permit the Registrable Securities requested to be included in a Fund Partner Underwritten Offering on the same terms and conditions as are applicable to the other security holders of the Company included therein and to permit the sale or other disposition of such Registrable Securities in accordance with the intended method(s) of distribution thereof. All Holders proposing to distribute their securities through a Fund Partner Underwritten Offering that involves an underwriter(s) shall (i) enter into an underwriting agreement in reasonable and customary form with the underwriter(s) selected by the Company for such Fund Partner Underwritten Offering and (ii) complete and execute all lock-up agreements, questionnaires, powers-of-attorney, indemnities, opinions and other documents reasonably required under the terms of such underwriting agreement.

(i)                                     If the underwriter(s) for a Fund Partner Underwritten Offering advises the Company and the Holders that in their opinion the aggregate dollar amount or number of Common Shares as to which registration has been demanded pursuant to the Fund Partner Registration Rights Agreement and the Registrable Securities as to which registration has been requested under this Section 2.2(e), if any, exceeds the maximum dollar amount or maximum number of securities that can be sold in such offering without adversely affecting the proposed offering price, the timing, the distribution method, or the probability of success of such offering

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(such maximum dollar amount or maximum number of securities, as applicable, the “Maximum Threshold”), then the Company shall be permitted to exclude from any such registration the dollar amount or number of Registrable Securities as to which registration has been requested under this Section 2.2(e) that exceed the Maximum Threshold, on a pro rata basis.

(ii)                                  Any Holder may elect to withdraw such Holder’s request for inclusion of Registrable Securities in any Fund Partner Underwritten Offering by giving written notice to the Company of such request to withdraw prior to the effectiveness of the registration statement.

(f)                                    Black-Out Period.  Each Holder hereby agrees that it shall not, to the extent requested by the Company or an underwriter of securities of the Company, directly or indirectly sell, offer to sell (including without limitation any short sale), grant any option or otherwise transfer or dispose of any Registrable Securities (other than to donees or affiliates of such Holder who agree to be similarly bound) within seven (7) days prior to and for up to sixty (60) days, in the event of any subsequent offering, following the effective date of a registration statement of the Company filed under the Securities Act or the date of an underwriting agreement with respect to an underwritten public offering of the Company’s securities (the “Black-Out Period”); provided, however, that:

(i)                                     with respect to the Black-Out Period, such agreement shall not be applicable to the Registrable Securities to be sold on such Holder’s behalf to the public in an underwritten offering pursuant to such registration statement;

(ii)                                  all executive officers and trustees of the Company then holding Common Shares shall enter into similar agreements;

(iii)                               the Company shall use commercially reasonable efforts to obtain similar agreements from each 10% or greater shareholder of the Company;

(iv)                              such Holder shall be allowed any concession or proportionate release allowed to any officer, trustee or other 10% or greater shareholder of the Company that entered into similar agreements; and

(v)                                 no Holder shall be subject to more than two (2) Black-Out Periods in any one (1) calendar year.

In order to enforce the foregoing covenant, the Company shall have the right to place restrictive legends on the certificates representing the Registrable Securities subject to this Section 2.2(e) and to impose stop transfer instructions with respect to the Registrable Securities and such other Common Shares of any Holder (and the Common Shares or securities of every other Person subject to the foregoing restriction) until the end of such period.

2.3                                 Suspension of Offering.

(a)                                  Notwithstanding Sections 2.1 and 2.2 hereof, the Company shall be entitled to postpone the filing of a Registration Statement, and from time to time to require Holders not to sell under a Registration Statement or to suspend the effectiveness thereof, if (i) the Company is actively pursuing an underwritten primary offering of equity securities of the Company, or (ii) the negotiation or consummation of a transaction by the Company or its subsidiaries is pending or an event has occurred, which negotiation, consummation or event would require additional disclosure by the Company in the Registration Statement of material information which the Company has a bona fide business purpose for keeping confidential and the non-disclosure of which in the Registration Statement would be expected, in

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the Company’s reasonable determination, to cause the Registration Statement to fail to comply with applicable disclosure requirements (each such circumstance a “Suspension Event”); provided, however, that the Company may not delay, suspend or withdraw such Registration Statement for more than ninety (90) days at any one time, or more than twice in any twelve (12) month period.  Upon receipt of any written notice from the Company of the happening of any Suspension Event during the period the Registration Statement is effective or if as a result of a Suspension Event the Registration Statement or related Prospectus contains any untrue statement of a material fact or omits to state any material fact required to be stated therein or necessary to make the statements therein, in light of the circumstances under which they were made (in the case of the Prospectus) not misleading, each Holder agrees that (x) it will immediately discontinue offers and sales of the Registrable Securities under such Registration Statement until the Holder receives copies of a supplemental or amended Prospectus (which the Company agrees to promptly prepare) that corrects the misstatement(s) or omission(s) referred to above and receives notice that any post-effective amendment has become effective or unless otherwise notified by the Company that it may resume such offers and sales, and (y) it will maintain the confidentiality of any information included in the written notice delivered by the Company unless otherwise required by law or subpoena.  If so directed by the Company, each Holder will deliver to the Company all copies of the Prospectus covering the Registrable Securities current at the time of receipt of such notice, other than permanent file copies then in the possession of such Holder’s counsel.

(b)                                 If all reports required to be filed by the Company pursuant to the Exchange Act have not been filed by the required date taking into account any permissible extension, upon written notice thereof by the Company to the Holders, the rights of the Holders to offer, sell or distribute any Registrable Securities pursuant to any Registration Statement or to require the Company take action with respect to the registration or sale of any Registrable Securities pursuant to any Registration Statement shall be suspended until the date on which the Company has filed such reports, and the Company shall notify the Holders in writing as promptly as practicable when such suspension is no longer required.

2.4                                 Qualification. The Company shall file such documents as necessary to register or qualify the Registrable Securities to be covered by a Registration Statement by the time such Registration Statement is declared effective by the Commission under all applicable state securities or “blue sky” laws of such jurisdictions as any Holder may reasonably request in writing, and shall use commercially reasonable efforts to keep each such registration or qualification effective during the period such Registration Statement is required to be kept effective pursuant to this Agreement or during the period offers or sales are being made by the Holders, whichever is shorter, and to do any and all other similar acts and things which may be reasonably necessary or advisable to enable the Holders to consummate the disposition of such Registrable Securities in each such jurisdiction; provided, however, that the Company shall not be required to (i) qualify generally to do business in any jurisdiction or to register as a broker or dealer in such jurisdiction where it would not otherwise be required to qualify but for this Agreement, (ii) take any action that would cause it to become subject to any taxation in any jurisdiction where it would not otherwise be subject to such taxation or (iii) take any action that would subject it to the general service of process in any jurisdiction where it is not then so subject.

2.5                                 Additional Obligations of the Company. When the Company is required to effect the registration of Registrable Securities under the Securities Act pursuant to Sections 2.1 and 2.2 of this Agreement, subject to Section 2.3 hereof, the Company shall:

(a)                                  prepare and file with the Commission such amendments and supplements as to the Registration Statement and the Prospectus used in connection therewith as may be necessary (i) to keep such Registration Statement effective and (ii) to comply with the provisions of the Securities Act with respect to the disposition of the Registrable Securities covered by such Registration Statement, in each case for such time as is contemplated in Sections 2.1 and 2.2;

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(b)                                 furnish, without charge, to the Holders such number of copies of the Registration Statement, each amendment and supplement thereto (in each case including all exhibits), and the Prospectus included in such Registration Statement (including each preliminary Prospectus) in conformity with the requirements of the Securities Act as the Holders may reasonably request in order to facilitate the public sale or other disposition of the Registrable Securities owned by the Holders;

(c)                                  notify the Holders: (i) when the Registration Statement, any pre-effective amendment, the Prospectus or any prospectus supplement related thereto or post-effective amendment to the Registration Statement has been filed, and, with respect to the Registration Statement or any post-effective amendment, when the same has become effective, (ii) of the issuance by the Commission of any stop order suspending the effectiveness of the Registration Statement or the initiation or threat of any proceedings for that purpose, and (iii) of the receipt by the Company of any notification with respect to the suspension of the qualification of any Registrable Securities for sale under the securities or “blue sky” laws of any jurisdiction or the initiation of any proceeding for such purpose;

(d)                                 promptly use commercially reasonable efforts to prevent the issuance of any order suspending the effectiveness of a Registration Statement, and, if any such order suspending the effectiveness of a Registration Statement is issued, shall promptly use commercially reasonable efforts to obtain the withdrawal of such order at the earliest possible moment;

(e)                                  following receipt of a Demand Registration Notice and thereafter until the sooner of completion, abandonment or termination of the offering or sale contemplated thereby and the expiration of the period during which the Company is required to maintain the effectiveness of the related Registration Statement, promptly notify the Holders: (i) of the existence of any fact of which the Company is aware or the happening of any event which has resulted in (A) the Registration Statement, as then in effect, containing an untrue statement of a material fact or omitting to state a material fact required to be stated therein or necessary to make any statements therein not misleading or (B) the Prospectus included in such Registration Statement containing an untrue statement of a material fact or omitting to state a material fact required to be stated therein or necessary to make any statements therein, in the light of the circumstances under which they were made, not misleading, and (ii) of the Company’s reasonable determination that a post-effective amendment to the Registration Statement would be appropriate or that there exist circumstances not yet disclosed to the public which make further sales under such Registration Statement inadvisable pending such disclosure and post-effective amendment; and, if the notification relates to any event described in either of the clauses (i) or (ii) of this Section 2.4(e), subject to Section 2.2 above, at the request of the Holders, the Company shall prepare and, to the extent the exemption from the prospectus delivery requirements in Rule 172 under the Securities Act is not available, furnish to the Holders a reasonable number of copies of a supplement or post-effective amendment to such Registration Statement or related Prospectus or file any other required document so that (1) such Registration Statement shall not contain any untrue statement of a material fact or omit to state a material fact required to be stated therein or necessary to make the statements therein not misleading and (2) as thereafter delivered to the purchasers of the Registrable Securities being sold thereunder, such Prospectus shall not include an untrue statement of a material fact or omit to state a material fact required to be stated therein or necessary to make the statements therein, in the light of the circumstances under which they were made, not misleading;

(f)                                    use commercially reasonable efforts to cause all such Registrable Securities to be listed on the national securities exchange on which the Common Shares are then listed, if the listing of Registrable Securities is then permitted under the rules of such national securities exchange; and

(g)                                 if requested by any Holder participating in the offering of Registrable Securities,

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incorporate in a prospectus supplement or post-effective amendment such information concerning the Holder or the intended method of distribution as the Holder reasonably requests to be included therein and is reasonably necessary to permit the sale of the Registrable Securities pursuant to the Registration Statement, including, without limitation, information with respect to the number of Registrable Securities being sold, the purchase price being paid therefor and any other material terms of the offering of the Registrable Securities to be sold in such offering; provided, however, that the Company shall not be obligated to include in any such prospectus supplement or post-effective amendment any requested information that is not required by the rules of the Commission and is unreasonable in scope compared with the Company’s most recent prospectus or prospectus supplement used in connection with a primary or secondary offering of equity securities by the Company.

2.6                                 Obligations of the Holder.  In connection with any Registration Statement utilized by the Company to satisfy the Registration Rights pursuant to this Section 2, each Holder agrees to cooperate with the Company in connection with the preparation of the Registration Statement, and each Holder agrees that it will (i) respond within ten (10) Business Days to any written request by the Company to provide or verify information regarding the Holder or the Holder’s Registrable Securities (including the proposed manner of sale) that may be required to be included in such Registration Statement and related Prospectus pursuant to the rules and regulations of the Commission, and (ii) provide in a timely manner information regarding the proposed distribution by the Holder of the Registrable Securities and such other information as may be requested by the Company from time to time in connection with the preparation of and for inclusion in the Registration Statement and related Prospectus.

SECTION 3.                            INDEMNIFICATION; CONTRIBUTION

3.1                                 Indemnification by the Company.  The Company agrees to indemnify and hold harmless each Holder and each Person, if any, who controls any Holder within the meaning of Section 15 of the Securities Act or Section 20 of the Exchange Act and any of their partners, members, officers, trustees, employees or representatives, as follows:

(i)                                     against any and all loss, liability, claim, damage, judgment and expense whatsoever, as incurred, arising out of or based upon any untrue statement or alleged untrue statement of a material fact contained in the Registration Statement (or any amendment thereto) pursuant to which the Registrable Securities were registered under the Securities Act, including all documents incorporated therein by reference, or the omission or alleged omission therefrom of a material fact required to be stated therein or necessary to make the statements therein not misleading or arising out of or based upon any untrue statement or alleged untrue statement of a material fact contained in any Prospectus (or any amendment or supplement thereto), including all documents incorporated therein by reference, or the omission or alleged omission therefrom of a material fact necessary in order to make the statements therein, in the light of the circumstances under which they were made, not misleading;

(ii)                                  against any and all loss, liability, claim, damage, judgment and expense whatsoever, as incurred, to the extent of the aggregate amount paid in settlement of any litigation, or investigation or proceeding by any governmental agency or body, commenced or threatened, or of any claim whatsoever based upon any such untrue statement or omission, or any such alleged untrue statement or omission, if such settlement is effected with the written consent of the Company; and

(iii)                               against any and all expense whatsoever, as incurred (including reasonable fees and disbursements of counsel), reasonably incurred in investigating, preparing or defending against any litigation, or investigation or proceeding by any governmental agency or

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body, commenced or threatened, in each case whether or not a party, or any claim whatsoever based upon any such untrue statement or omission, or any such alleged untrue statement or omission, to the extent that any such expense is not paid under subparagraph (i) or (ii) above;

provided, however, that the indemnity provided pursuant to this Section 3.1 does not apply to any Holder with respect to any loss, liability, claim, damage, judgment or expense to the extent arising out of (A) any untrue statement or omission or alleged untrue statement or omission made in reliance upon and in conformity with written information furnished to the Company by such Holder expressly for use in the Registration Statement (or any amendment thereto) or the Prospectus (or any amendment or supplement thereto), or (B) any Holder’s failure to deliver an amended or supplemental Prospectus furnished to such Holder by the Company, if such loss, liability, claim, damage, judgment or expense would not have arisen had such delivery occurred.

3.2                                 Indemnification by Holder. Each Holder (and each permitted assignee of such Holder, on a several basis) severally and not jointly agrees to indemnify and hold harmless the Company, and each of its trustees and officers (including each trustee and officer of the Company who signed a Registration Statement), each Person, if any, who controls the Company within the meaning of Section 15 of the Securities Act or Section 20 of the Exchange Act and each other Holder as follows:

(i)                                     against any and all loss, liability, claim, damage, judgment and expense whatsoever, as incurred, arising out of or based upon any untrue statement or alleged untrue statement of a material fact contained in the Registration Statement (or any amendment thereto) pursuant to which the Registrable Securities of such Holder were registered under the Securities Act, including all documents incorporated therein by reference, or the omission or alleged omission therefrom of a material fact required to be stated therein or necessary to make the statements therein not misleading or arising out of or based upon any untrue statement or alleged untrue statement of a material fact contained in any Prospectus (or any amendment or supplement thereto), including all documents incorporated therein by reference, or the omission or alleged omission therefrom of a material fact necessary in order to make the statements therein, in the light of the circumstances under which they were made, not misleading;

(ii)                                  against any and all loss, liability, claim, damage, judgment and expense whatsoever, as incurred, to the extent of the aggregate amount paid in settlement of any litigation, or investigation or proceeding by any governmental agency or body, commenced or threatened, or of any claim whatsoever based upon any such untrue statement or omission, or any such alleged untrue statement or omission, if such settlement is effected with the written consent of such Holder; and

(iii)                               against any and all expense whatsoever, as incurred (including reasonable fees and disbursements of counsel), reasonably incurred in investigating, preparing or defending against any litigation, or investigation or proceeding by any governmental agency or body, commenced or threatened, in each case whether or not a party, or any claim whatsoever based upon any such untrue statement or omission, or any such alleged untrue statement or omission, to the extent that any such expense is not paid under subparagraph (i) or (ii) above;

provided, however, that the indemnity provided pursuant to this Section 3.2 shall only apply with respect to any loss, liability, claim, damage, judgment or expense to the extent arising out of (A) any untrue statement or omission or alleged untrue statement or omission made in reliance upon and in conformity with written information furnished to the Company by such Holder expressly for use in the Registration Statement (or any amendment thereto) or the Prospectus (or any amendment or supplement thereto) or (B) any Holder’s failure to deliver an amended or supplemental Prospectus furnished to the Holder by the

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Company, if such loss, liability, claim, damage or expense would not have arisen had such delivery occurred.  Notwithstanding the provisions of this Section 3.2, a Holder and any permitted assignee shall not be required to indemnify the Company, its officers, trustees or control persons with respect to any amount in excess of the amount of the net proceeds actually received by such Holder or such permitted assignee, as the case may be, from sales of the Registrable Securities of such Holder under the Registration Statement that is the subject of the indemnification claim.

3.3                                 Conduct of Indemnification Proceedings.  An indemnified party hereunder shall give reasonably prompt notice to the indemnifying party of any action or proceeding commenced against it in respect of which indemnity may be sought hereunder, but failure to so notify the indemnifying party (i) shall not relieve the indemnifying party from any liability which it may have under the indemnity agreement provided in Sections 3.1 or 3.2 above, unless and only to the extent it did not otherwise learn of such action and the lack of notice by the indemnified party results in the forfeiture by the indemnifying party of substantial rights and defenses, and (ii) shall not, in any event, relieve the indemnifying party from any obligations to any indemnified party other than the indemnification obligation provided under Sections 3.1 or 3.2 above.  If the indemnifying party so elects within a reasonable time after receipt of such notice, the indemnifying party may assume the defense of such action or proceeding at such indemnifying party’s own expense with counsel chosen by the indemnifying party and approved by the indemnified party, which approval shall not be unreasonably withheld; provided, however, that the indemnifying party will not settle, compromise or consent to the entry of any judgment with respect to any such action or proceeding without the written consent of the indemnified party unless such settlement, compromise or consent secures the unconditional release of the indemnified party of all liability at no cost or expense to the indemnified party; and provided further, that, if the indemnified party reasonably determines that a conflict of interest exists where it is advisable for the indemnified party to be represented by separate counsel or that, upon advice of counsel, there may be legal defenses available to it which are different from or in addition to those available to the indemnifying party, then the indemnifying party shall not be entitled to assume such defense and the indemnified party shall be entitled to separate counsel at the indemnifying party’s expense. If the indemnifying party is not entitled to assume the defense of such action or proceeding as a result of the second proviso to the preceding sentence, the indemnifying party’s counsel shall be entitled to conduct the indemnifying party’s defense and counsel for the indemnified party shall be entitled to conduct the defense of the indemnified party, it being understood that both such counsel will cooperate with each other to conduct the defense of such action or proceeding as efficiently as possible. If the indemnifying party is not so entitled to assume the defense of such action or does not assume such defense, after having received the notice referred to in the first sentence of this paragraph, the indemnifying party will pay the reasonable fees and expenses of counsel for the indemnified party. In such event, however, the indemnifying party will not be liable for any settlement effected without the written consent of the indemnifying party (which consent will not be unreasonably withheld). If an indemnifying party is entitled to assume, and assumes, the defense of such action or proceeding in accordance with this paragraph, the indemnifying party shall not be liable for any fees and expenses of counsel for the indemnified party incurred thereafter in connection with such action or proceeding.

3.4                                 Contribution.

(a)                                  In order to provide for just and equitable contribution in circumstances in which the indemnity agreement provided for in Sections 3.1 and 3.2 above is for any reason held to be unenforceable by the indemnified party although applicable in accordance with its terms, the Company and the relevant Holder shall contribute to the aggregate losses, liabilities, claims, damages and expenses of the nature contemplated by such indemnity agreement incurred by the Company and the Holder, in such proportion as is appropriate to reflect the relative fault of the Company on the one hand and the Holder on the other hand, in connection with the statements or omissions which resulted in such losses,

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claims, damages, liabilities, or expenses.  The relative fault of the indemnifying party and indemnified party shall be determined by reference to, among other things, whether the action in question, including any untrue or alleged untrue statement of a material fact or omission or alleged omission to state a material fact, has been made by, or relates to information supplied by, the indemnifying party or the indemnified party, and the parties’ relative intent, knowledge, access to information and opportunity to correct or prevent such action.

(b)                                 The parties hereto agree that it would not be just or equitable if contribution pursuant to this Section 3.4 were determined by pro rata allocation or by any other method of allocation which does not take account of the equitable considerations referred to in the immediately preceding paragraph. Notwithstanding the provisions of this Section 3.4, a Holder shall not be required to contribute any amount in excess of the amount of the net proceeds actually received by such Holder from sales of the Registrable Securities of such Holder under the Registration Statement that is the subject of the indemnification claim.

(c)                                  Notwithstanding the foregoing, no Person guilty of fraudulent misrepresentation (within the meaning of Section 11(f) of the Securities Act) shall be entitled to contribution from any Person who was not guilty of such fraudulent misrepresentation. For purposes of this Section 3.4, each Person, if any, who controls a Holder within the meaning of Section 15 of the Securities Act shall have the same rights to contribution as the Holder, and each trustee of the Company, each officer of the Company who signed a Registration Statement and each Person, if any, who controls the Company within the meaning of Section 15 of the Securities Act shall have the same rights to contribution as the Company.

SECTION 4.                            EXPENSES

The Company shall pay all expenses incident to the performance by the Company of its registration obligations under Section 2 above, including (i) Commission, stock exchange and FINRA registration and filing fees, (ii) all fees and expenses incurred in complying with securities or “blue sky” laws (including reasonable fees, charges and disbursements of counsel to any underwriter incurred in connection with “blue sky” qualifications of the Registrable Securities as may be set forth in any underwriting agreement), (iii) all printing, messenger and delivery expenses, and (iv) the fees, charges and expenses of counsel to the Company and of its independent public accountants and any other accounting fees, charges and expenses incurred by the Company (including, without limitation, any expenses arising from any “comfort” letters or any special audits incident to or required by any registration or qualification).  Each Holder shall be responsible for the payment of any brokerage and sales commissions, fees and disbursements of such Holder’s counsel, accountants and other advisors, and any transfer taxes relating to the sale or disposition of the Registrable Securities by such Holder pursuant to this Agreement.

SECTION 5.                            RULE 144 COMPLIANCE

The Company covenants that it will use its best efforts to timely file the reports required to be filed by the Company under the Securities Act and the Exchange Act so as to enable the Holders to sell the Registrable Securities pursuant to Rule 144 under the Securities Act.  In connection with any sale, transfer or other disposition by a Holder of any Registrable Securities pursuant to Rule 144 under the Securities Act, the Company shall cooperate with the Holder to facilitate the timely preparation and delivery of certificates representing the Registrable Securities to be sold and not bearing any Securities Act legend, and enable certificates for such Registrable Securities to be for such number of shares and registered in such names as such Holder may reasonably request at least five (5) Business Days prior to any sale of Registrable Securities hereunder.

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SECTION 6.                            MISCELLANEOUS

6.1                                 Integration; Amendment.  This Agreement constitutes the entire agreement among the parties hereto with respect to the matters set forth herein and supersedes and renders of no force and effect all prior oral or written agreements, commitments and understandings among the parties with respect to the matters set forth herein. Except as otherwise expressly provided in this Agreement, no amendment, modification or discharge of this Agreement shall be valid or binding unless set forth in writing and duly executed by each of the parties hereto.

6.2                                 Waivers.  No waiver by a party hereto shall be effective unless made in a written instrument duly executed by the party against whom such waiver is sought to be enforced, and only to the extent set forth in such instrument. Neither the waiver by any of the parties hereto of a breach or a default under any of the provisions of this Agreement, nor the failure of any of the parties, on one or more occasions, to enforce any of the provisions of this Agreement or to exercise any right or privilege hereunder shall thereafter be construed as a waiver of any subsequent breach or default of a similar nature, or as a waiver of any such provisions, rights or privileges hereunder.

6.3                                 Assignment; Successors and Assigns.  This Agreement and the rights granted hereunder may not be assigned by a Holder without the written consent of the Company; provided, however, that a Holder may assign its rights and obligations hereunder, without such consent, in connection with a transfer of some or all of such Holder’s Registrable Securities (i) to the extent permitted under the Operating Partnership Agreement or the Charter, as applicable, and (ii) provided such transferee agrees in writing to be bound by all of the provisions hereof and the Holder provides written notice to the Company within ten (10) days of the effectiveness of such assignment.  This Agreement shall inure to the benefit of and be binding upon all of the parties hereto and their respective heirs, executors, personal and legal representatives, successors and permitted assigns, including, without limitation, any successor of the Company by merger, acquisition, reorganization, recapitalization or otherwise.

6.4                                 Notices.  All notices called for under this Agreement shall be in writing and shall be deemed duly given (a) on the date of delivery if delivered personally, (b) on the first Business Day following the date of dispatch if delivered by a nationally recognized next-day courier service, (c) on the fifth Business Day following the date of mailing if delivered by registered or certified mail, return receipt requested, postage prepaid, or (d) if sent by facsimile transmission during business hours on a Business Day, when transmitted and receipt is confirmed, or otherwise on the following Business Day.  All notices hereunder shall be delivered to the parties at the addresses set forth opposite their signatures below, or to any other address or addressee as any party entitled to receive notice under this Agreement shall designate, from time to time, to others in the manner provided in this Section 6.4 for the service of notices; provided, however, that notices of a change of address shall be effective only upon receipt thereof.

6.5                                 Specific Performance.  The parties hereto acknowledge that the obligations undertaken by them hereunder are unique and that there would be no adequate remedy at law if any party fails to perform any of its obligations hereunder, and accordingly agree that each party, in addition to any other remedy to which it may be entitled at law or in equity, shall be entitled to (i) compel specific performance of the obligations, covenants and agreements of any other party under this Agreement in accordance with the terms and conditions of this Agreement and (ii) obtain preliminary injunctive relief to secure specific performance and to prevent a breach or contemplated breach of this Agreement in any court of the United States or any State thereof having jurisdiction.

6.6                                 Governing Law.  This Agreement, the rights and obligations of the parties hereto, and any claims or disputes relating thereto, shall be governed by and construed in accordance with the laws of the State of Maryland (excluding the conflict of law provisions thereof).

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6.7                                 Headings.  Section and subsection headings contained in this Agreement are inserted for convenience of reference only, shall not be deemed to be a part of this Agreement for any purpose, and shall not in any way define or affect the meaning, construction or scope of any of the provisions hereof.

6.8                                 Pronouns.  All pronouns and any variations thereof shall be deemed to refer to the masculine, feminine, neuter, singular or plural, as the identity of the person or entity may require.

6.9                                 Execution in Counterparts.  This Agreement may be executed in any number of counterparts, each of which shall be an original, but all of which together shall constitute one and the same agreement.  This Agreement may be executed by facsimile signatures.

6.10                           Severability.  If fulfillment of any provision of this Agreement, at the time such fulfillment shall be due, shall transcend the limit of validity prescribed by law, then the obligation to be fulfilled shall be reduced to the limit of such validity; and if any provision of this Agreement shall be invalid, illegal or unenforceable, the validity, legality and enforceability of the remaining provisions of this Agreement shall not in any way be affected or impaired thereby.

6.11                           No Third Party Beneficiaries.  Except as may be expressly provided herein (including without limitation Section 3 hereof), it is the explicit intention of the parties hereto that no person or entity other than the parties hereto is or shall be entitled to bring any action to enforce any provision of this Agreement against any of the parties hereto, and the covenants, undertakings and agreements set forth in this Agreement shall be solely for the benefit of, and shall be enforceable only by, the parties hereto or their respective successors, heirs, executors, administrators, legal representatives and permitted assigns.

6.12                           Legend Removal.  The Company, upon the request of any Holder of Registrable Securities, shall use its commercially reasonable efforts to remove any legend from the certificates representing such Registrable Securities with respect to the Securities Act and any state securities laws, and shall cause the termination of any related stop transfer orders, if (a) such Registrable Securities are eligible for sale without registration pursuant to Rule 144 (or any successor provision) under the Securities Act without any volume limitations or other restrictions on transfer under paragraphs (c), (e), (f) and (h) of Rule 144 and (b) such Holder provides the Company with a representation letter in customary form reasonably sufficient to establish that such limitations and restrictions under paragraphs (c), (e), (f) and (h) of Rule 144 do not apply to such Registrable Securities.  Such Holder further agrees to indemnify the Company against any loss, cost or expenses, including reasonable expenses and attorney’s fees, incurred as a result of such legend removal on such Holder’s behalf; provided, however, that the foregoing indemnification shall not apply to a Holder that is a governmental entity unless such Holder is authorized by applicable law to provide such indemnification.

6.13                           Termination on Outside Date.  If the IPO Transactions are not completed on or before the Outside Date, then this agreement shall terminate automatically on the Outside Date, and each of the Company and the undersigned shall be released from all obligations under this Agreement.

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IN WITNESS WHEREOF, each of the undersigned has caused this Agreement to be duly executed and delivered in its name and on its behalf as of the date first written above.

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Exhibit 5.1

May  5, 2011

Board of Trustees

RLJ Lodging Trust

3 Bethesda Metro Center

Suite 1000

Bethesda, MD  20814

Ladies and Gentlemen:

We are acting as counsel to RLJ Lodging Trust, a Maryland real estate investment trust (the “Company”), in connection with (i) its registration statement on Form S-11, as amended (file no. 333-172011) (the “Registration Statement”) filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission under the Securities Act of 1933, as amended (the “Act”), relating to the proposed public offering of up to 31,625,000 common shares of beneficial interest (including 4,125,000 common shares that may be purchased by the Underwriters (as defined below) pursuant to the overallotment option), par value $0.01 per share (the “Common Shares”) of the Company (the “Shares”), all of which shares are to be sold by the Company pursuant to the proposed form of Underwriting Agreement among the Company and the underwriters named therein (the “Underwriters”), filed as Exhibit 1.1 to the Registration Statement (the “Underwriting Agreement”).  This opinion letter is furnished to you at your request to enable you to fulfill the requirements of Item 601(b)(5) of Regulation S-K, 17 C.F.R. § 229.601(b)(5), in connection with the Registration Statement.

For purposes of this opinion letter, we have examined copies of such agreements, instruments and documents as we have deemed an appropriate basis on which to render the opinions hereinafter expressed.   In our examination of the aforesaid documents, we have assumed the genuineness of all signatures, the legal capacity of all natural persons, the accuracy and completeness of all documents submitted to us, the authenticity of all original documents, and the conformity to authentic original documents of all documents submitted to us as copies (including telecopies).  We also have assumed that the Shares will not be issued in violation of the ownership limit contained in the Company’s Declaration of Trust. As to all matters of fact, we have relied on the representations and statements of fact made in the documents so reviewed, and we have not independently established the facts so relied on.  This opinion letter is given, and all statements herein are made, in the context of the foregoing.

This opinion letter is based as to matters of law solely on the applicable provisions of Title 8 of the Corporations and Associations Article of the Annotated Code of Maryland, as amended, currently in effect. We express no opinion herein as to any other laws, statutes, ordinances, rules, or regulations. As used herein, the term “Title 8 of the Corporations and Associations Article of the Annotated Code of Maryland, as amended” includes the applicable statutory provisions

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contained therein, all applicable provisions of the Maryland Constitution and reported judicial decisions interpreting these laws.

Based upon, subject to and limited by the foregoing, we are of the opinion that following (i) execution and delivery by the Company of the Underwriting Agreement, (ii) effectiveness of the Registration Statement, (iii) issuance of the Shares pursuant to the terms of the Underwriting Agreement, and (iv) receipt by the Company of the consideration for the Shares specified in the resolutions of the Board of Trustees, the Shares will be validly issued, fully paid, and nonassessable.

This opinion letter has been prepared for use in connection with the Registration Statement.  We assume no obligation to advise you of any changes in the foregoing subsequent to the effective date of the Registration Statement.

We hereby consent to the filing of this opinion letter as Exhibit 5.1 to the Registration Statement and to the reference to this firm under the caption “Legal Matters” in the prospectus constituting a part of the Registration Statement.  In giving this consent, we do not thereby admit that we are an “expert” within the meaning of the Securities Act of 1933, as amended.

Exhibit 8.1

May 5, 2011

Board of Trustees

RLJ Lodging Trust

3 Bethesda Metro Center

Suite 1000

Bethesda, MD  20814

Ladies and Gentlemen:

We are acting as counsel to RLJ Lodging Trust, a Maryland real estate investment trust (the “Company”), in connection with (i) its registration statement on Form S-11, as amended (file no. 333-172011) (the “Registration Statement,” which includes the “Prospectus”), filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission under the Securities Act of 1933, as amended, relating to the proposed initial public offering of up to 31,625,000 common shares of beneficial interest (including 4,125,000 common shares of beneficial interest that may be purchased pursuant to the overallotment option), par value $0.01 per share, of the Company, and (ii) the series of transactions related to such initial public offering referred to collectively in the Prospectus as the “formation transactions” under the caption “Structure and Formation of Our Company — Formation Transactions,” including, without limitation:

·                  the merger of RLJ Lodging Fund II, L.P. and RLJ Lodging Fund II (PF #1), L.P. (each a Delaware limited partnership and, collectively, “Fund II”) with and into the Company, with the Company surviving (the “Fund II Merger”), on the terms and subject to the conditions set forth in that certain merger agreement by and among Fund II, the Company, and RLJ Capital Partners II, LLC, a Delaware limited liability company, dated February 1, 2011 (the “Fund II Merger Agreement”),

·                  the merger of RLJ Real Estate Fund III, L.P. and RLJ Real Estate Fund III (PF #1), L.P. (each a Delaware limited partnership and, collectively, “Fund III”), with and into the Company, with the Company surviving (the “Fund III Merger” and, collectively with the Fund II Merger, the “Primary Mergers”), on the terms and subject to the conditions set forth in that certain merger agreement by and among Fund III, the Company and RLJ Capital Partners III, LLC, a Delaware limited liability company, dated February 1, 2011 (the “Fund III Merger

Agreement” and, collectively with the Fund II Merger Agreement, the “Fund Merger Agreements”),

·                  immediately following the Primary Mergers, and as an integrated step in a single plan with the Primary Mergers, the merger of each of the subsidiary real estate investment trusts of Fund II, RLJ Lodging II REIT, LLC and RLJ Lodging II REIT (PF #1), LLC (each, a Delaware limited liability company that has elected to be taxed as a “real estate investment trust” (a “REIT”) within the meaning of Sections 856 through 860 of the Internal Revenue Code of 1986, as amended (the “Code”), and, collectively, the “Fund II REITs”), and certain of the subsidiary REITs of Fund III, RLJ Real Estate III REIT, LLC and RLJ Real Estate III REIT (PF #1), LLC (each, a Delaware limited liability company that has elected to be taxed as a REIT for U.S. federal income tax purposes, collectively, the “Fund III REITs,” and, collectively with the Fund II REITs, the “Old REITs”), with and into the Company, with the Company surviving each of the mergers (each, a “Secondary Merger,” and, collectively, the “Secondary Mergers,” and the Secondary Mergers together with the Primary Mergers, the “Integrated Mergers”), on the terms and subject to the conditions set forth in that certain merger agreement by and among the Company and the Fund II REITs, dated April 25, 2011 (the “Fund II REIT Merger Agreement”), and in that certain merger agreement by and among the Company and the Fund III REITs, dated April 25, 2011 (the “Fund III REIT Merger Agreement” and, collectively with the Fund II REIT Merger Agreement, the “REIT Merger Agreements,” and, collectively with the Fund Merger Agreements, the “Merger Agreements”); and

·                  as a result of the Secondary Mergers, the cancellation, for no consideration, of the membership interests acquired by the Company in each of the Old REITs, and the cancellation, in exchange for cash in an amount equal to the current applicable redemption price, of all of the preferred units of each Old REIT.

In connection with the filing of the Registration Statement, we have been asked to provide you with this letter regarding the Company’s qualification as a REIT for U.S. federal income tax purposes and certain other U.S. federal income tax matters.  Capitalized terms used herein, unless otherwise defined in the body of this letter, shall have the meanings set forth in Appendix A.

Bases for Opinions

The opinions set forth in this letter are based on relevant current provisions of the Code, Treasury Regulations thereunder (including proposed and temporary Treasury Regulations), and interpretations of the foregoing as expressed in court decisions, applicable legislative history, and the administrative rulings and practices of the Internal Revenue Service (the “IRS”), including its practices and policies in issuing private letter rulings, which are not binding on the IRS except with respect to a taxpayer that receives such a ruling, all as of the date hereof.  These provisions and interpretations are subject to change by the IRS, Congress and the courts (as applicable), which may or may not be retroactive in effect and that might result in material modifications of

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our opinions.  Our opinions do not foreclose the possibility of a contrary determination by the IRS or a court of competent jurisdiction, or of a contrary position taken by the IRS or the Treasury Department in regulations or rulings issued in the future.  In this regard, an opinion of counsel with respect to an issue represents counsel’s best professional judgment with respect to the outcome on the merits with respect to such issue, if such issue were to be litigated, but an opinion is not binding on the IRS or the courts, and is not a guarantee that the IRS will not assert a contrary position with respect to such issue or that a court will not sustain such a position asserted by the IRS.

In rendering the following opinions, we have examined such statutes, regulations, records, agreements, certificates and other documents as we have considered necessary or appropriate as a basis for the opinions, including, but not limited to, the following documents (including all exhibits and schedules thereto) which we have, with your consent, relied upon (without any independent investigation or review thereof):

(1)                                  the Registration Statement, including the Prospectus;

(2)                                  each of the Merger Agreements, as executed or in draft form;

(3)                                  the Declaration of Trust of the Company, dated as of January 31, 2011, as amended through the date hereof, and the draft form of amended and restated Declaration of Trust of the Company, to be executed prior to the Integrated Mergers (together, the “Articles of Declaration of Trust”);

(4)                                  the draft form of amended and restated agreement of limited partnership to be executed prior to the Integrated Mergers by RLJ Lodging Trust, L.P., a Delaware limited partnership (“RLJ LP”);

(5)                                  the Limited Liability Company Agreement of RLJ Lodging II REIT, LLC, dated April 6, 2006, and the First Amendment thereto, dated October 3, 2006, the Limited Liability Company Agreement of RLJ Lodging II REIT (PF #1), LLC, dated April 6, 2006, and the First Amendment thereto, dated October 3, 2006, the Limited Liability Company Agreement of RLJ Real Estate III REIT, LLC, dated July 27, 2007, and the First Amendment thereto, dated December 17, 2007, and the Limited Liability Company Agreement of RLJ Real Estate III REIT (PF #1), LLC, dated July 27, 2007, and the First Amendment thereto, dated December 17, 2007, all as amended through the date hereof;

(6)                                  the Third Amended and Restated Limited Partnership Agreement of RLJ Lodging Fund II, L.P., dated January 15, 2007, the Second Amended and Restated Limited Partnership Agreement of RLJ Lodging Fund II (PF #1), L.P., dated January 15, 2007, the Second Amended and Restated Limited Partnership Agreement of RLJ Real Estate Fund III, L.P., dated April 3, 2009, and the Second Amended and

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Restated Limited Partnership Agreement of RLJ Real Estate Fund III (PF #1), L.P., dated April 3, 2009;

(7)                                  the merger agreement, by and among RLJ Lodging Trust, L.P., a Delaware limited partnership, RLJ Lodging II Master, LLC, a Delaware limited liability company, and RLJ Real Estate III Master, LLC, a Delaware limited liability company, dated April 25, 2011;

(8)                                  the Limited Liability Company Agreement of RLJ Lodging II Master, LLC, dated April 6, 2006, and the Limited Liability Company Agreement of RLJ Real Estate III Master, LLC, dated July 27, 2007;

(9)                                  the Certificate of Incorporation of RLJ III — MH Denver Airport, Inc., dated July 13, 2010, the Amended and Restated Certificate of Formation of RLJ III — C Buckhead, Inc., dated July 19, 2010, and the Amended and Restated Certificate of Formation of RLJ III — EM West Palm Beach, Inc., dated July 16, 2010, all as amended through the date hereof;

(10)                            certain of the Leases; and

(11)                            such other documents as we deemed necessary or appropriate.

The documents referred to in clauses (1) through (11) above are referred to hereinafter as the “Reviewed Documents.”

The opinions set forth in this letter are premised on, among other things, the written representations of the Company, RLJ LP, Fund II, Fund III and the Old REITs contained in a letter to us dated as of the date hereof (the “Management Representation Letter”).  Although we have discussed the Management Representation Letter with the signatories thereto, for purposes of rendering our opinions, we have not made an independent investigation or audit of the facts set forth in the Reviewed Documents and the Management Representation Letter. We consequently have relied upon the representations and statements set forth in the Reviewed Documents and the Management Representation Letter and assumed that the information presented in such documents or otherwise furnished to us is accurate and complete in all material respects.

In this regard, we have assumed or obtained representations regarding (and, with your consent, are relying upon) the following:

(i)                                     that (A) all of the representations and statements set forth in the Reviewed Documents and the Management Representation Letter are true, correct, and complete, (B) any representation or statement made as a belief or made “to the knowledge of” or similarly qualified is correct and accurate as if made without

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such qualification, and that such representation or statement will continue to be correct and accurate, without such qualification, (C) each of the Reviewed Documents that constitutes an agreement, or each agreement described in a Reviewed Document or in the Management Representation Letter, is valid and binding in accordance with its terms, and (D) each of the obligations imposed by or described in the Reviewed Documents or in the Management Representation Letter, including, without limitation, the obligations imposed under the Articles of Declaration of Trust of the Company and the Limited Liability Company Agreements of each of the Old REITs, as amended, has been and will continue to be performed or satisfied in accordance with its terms;

(ii)                                  the genuineness of all signatures, the proper execution of all documents, the authenticity of all documents submitted to us as originals, the conformity to originals of documents submitted to us as copies, and the authenticity of the originals from which any copies were made;

(iii)                               that any documents as to which we have reviewed only a form were or will be duly executed without material changes from the form reviewed by us;

(iv)                              that (A) each of the Primary Mergers and the Secondary Mergers will be consummated in accordance with the applicable Fund Merger Agreement or REIT Merger Agreement, respectively, and in accordance with, and will qualify as a merger under, applicable state law; and (B) each other transaction described as part of the “formation transactions” under the caption “Structure and Formation of Our Company — Formation Transactions” in the Prospectus will be consummated in accordance with the applicable transaction document; and

(v)                                 that, from and after the date of this letter, the Company will comply with its representation contained in the Management Representation Letter that it will utilize all appropriate “savings provisions” (including the provisions of Sections 856(c)(6), 856(c)(7), and 856(g) of the Code, and the provision included in Section 856(c)(4) of the Code (flush language) allowing for the disposal of assets within 30 days after the close of a calendar quarter, and all available deficiency dividend procedures) available to the Company under the Code in order to correct any violations of the applicable REIT qualification requirements of Sections 856 and 857 of the Code, to the full extent the remedies under such provisions are available, but only to the extent available.

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Any material variation or difference in the facts from those set forth in the documents that we have reviewed and upon which we have relied (including, in particular, the Registration Statement, including the Prospectus, and the Management Representation Letter) may adversely affect the conclusions stated herein.

Opinions

Based upon, subject to, and limited by the assumptions and qualifications set forth herein (including those set forth below), we are of the opinion that:

(1)                                  the Company has been organized in conformity with the requirements for qualification and taxation as a REIT under the Code, and the Company’s current organization and proposed method of operation (as described in the Registration Statement, including the Prospectus, and the Management Representation Letter), giving effect to the Integrated Mergers, will enable it to meet the requirements for qualification and taxation as a REIT under the Code for its taxable year ending December 31, 2011, and for future taxable years;

(2)                                  commencing with the taxable year ending December 31, 2006, in the case of the Fund II REITS, and December 31, 2007, in the case of the Fund III REITs, each of the Old REITs has been organized and has operated in conformity with the requirements for qualification and taxation as a REIT under the Code;

(3)                                  commencing with the taxable year ending December 31, 2006, in the case of Fund II, and December 31, 2007, in the case of Fund III, each of Fund II and Fund III has been since its formation, and continues to be, treated for U.S. federal income tax purposes as a partnership and not as a corporation or association taxable as a corporation; and

(4)                                  the portions of the discussion in the Prospectus under the caption “Material U.S. Federal Income Tax Considerations” that describe provisions of applicable U.S. federal income tax law are correct in all material respects as of the date hereof.

* * * * *

The qualification and taxation of each of the Company and the Old REITs as a REIT depends in particular upon whether each of the Leases is respected as a lease for federal income tax purposes.  If one or more Leases are not respected as leases for federal income tax purposes, the Company may fail to qualify as a REIT, or one or more of the Old REITs or the Subsidiary

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REITs may be determined to have failed to qualify as a REIT in one or more taxable years.  Following the Integrated Mergers, the failure of one or more of the Old REITs or the Subsidiary REITs to have qualified as a REIT in any year may cause the Company also to fail to qualify as a REIT unless certain requirements are satisfied.  The determination of whether the Leases are leases for federal income tax purposes is highly dependent on specific facts and circumstances.  In addition, for the rents payable under a Lease to qualify as “rents from real property” under the Code, the rental provisions of the Leases and the other terms thereof must conform with normal business practice and not be used as a means to base the rent paid on the income or profits of the lessees.  In delivering the opinions set forth above relating to the qualification and taxation of each of the Company and the Old REITs as REITs under the Code, we expressly rely upon, among other things, the representations in the Management Representation Letter as to various factual matters with respect to the Leases, including representations as to the commercial reasonableness of the economic and other terms of the Leases at the times the Leases were originally entered into and subsequently renewed or extended (and taking into account for this purpose changes to the economic and other terms of the Leases pursuant to subsequent amendments), the intent and economic expectations of the parties to the Leases, the allocation of various economic risks between the parties to the Leases, taking into account all surrounding facts and circumstances, the conformity of the rental provisions and other terms of the Leases with normal business practice, the conduct of the parties to the Leases, and the conclusion that such terms are not being, and will not be, used as a means to base the rent paid on the income or profits of the Lessees.  We express no opinion as to any of the economic terms of the Leases, the commercial reasonableness thereof, or whether the actual economic relationships created thereby are such that the Leases will be respected for federal income tax purposes or whether the rental and other terms of the Leases conform with normal business practice (and are not being used as a means to base the rent paid on the income or profits of the Lessees).

The Company’s qualification and taxation as a REIT under the Code will depend upon the ability of the Company to meet on an ongoing basis (through actual quarterly and annual operating results, distribution levels, diversity of stock ownership and otherwise) the various qualification tests imposed under the Code and upon the Company, utilizing any and all appropriate “savings provisions” (including the provisions of Sections 856(c)(6), 856(c)(7), and 856(g) of the Code and the provision included in Section 856(c)(4) of the Code (flush language) allowing for the disposal of assets within 30 days after the close of a calendar quarter, and all available deficiency dividend procedures) available to the Company under the Code to correct violations of specified REIT qualification requirements of Sections 856 and 857 of the Code. Our opinions set forth above do not foreclose the possibility that the Company may have to utilize one or more of these “savings provisions” in the future, which could require the Company to pay an excise or penalty tax (which could be significant in amount) in order to maintain its REIT qualification.  We have not undertaken to review the Company’s compliance with these requirements on a continuing basis.  Accordingly, no assurance can be given that the actual results of the Company’s operations, the sources of its income, the nature of its assets, the level of its distributions to stockholders and the diversity of its stock ownership for any given taxable year will satisfy the requirements under the Code for qualification and taxation as a REIT.

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This opinion letter addresses only the specific federal income tax matters set forth above and does not address any other federal, state, local or foreign tax issues.

This opinion letter has been prepared for your use in connection with the filing of the Registration Statement and speaks as of the date hereof.  We assume no obligation by reason of this opinion letter or otherwise to advise you of any changes in our opinion subsequent to the delivery of this opinion letter.  Except as provided in the next paragraph, this opinion letter may not be distributed, quoted in whole or in part or otherwise reproduced in any document, or filed with any governmental agency without our express written consent.

We hereby consent to the filing of this opinion letter as Exhibit 8.1 to the Registration Statement and to the reference to Hogan Lovells US LLP under the caption “Legal Matters” in the Prospectus.  In giving this consent, however, we do not admit thereby that we are an “expert” within the meaning of the Securities Act of 1933, as amended.

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Appendix A

Definitions

“Hotel” means each hotel in which the Company will have, after giving effect to the Integrated Mergers, or any Old REIT has had, before giving effect to the Integrated Mergers, a direct or indirect interest.

“Lease” means any real estate lease pursuant to which an Old REIT or the Company, directly or through a Subsidiary REIT and/or one or more Partnership Subsidiaries, leased or leases a Hotel or other Real Property to a Lessee, taking into account all subsequent amendments, renewals and/or extensions.

“Lessee” mean any TRS Lessee or any other party that leases one or more Hotels or other leased Real Property pursuant to a Lease.

“Master LLC” means either RLJ Lodging II Master, LLC or RLJ Real Estate III Master, LLC.

“Partnership Subsidiary” means any of RLJ LP and each Master LLC, partnership, limited liability company, or other entity treated as a partnership for federal income tax purposes or disregarded as a separate entity for federal income tax purposes in which either the Company, an Old REIT, or a Subsidiary REIT owns (or owned) an interest, either directly or through one or more other partnerships, limited liability companies or other entities treated as a partnership for federal income tax purposes or disregarded as a separate entity for federal income tax purposes (whether or not the interest is (or was) a controlling interest in, or otherwise represents (or represented) the ability to control or direct the operation of, such entity).  Notwithstanding the foregoing, the term “Partnership Subsidiary” shall not in any way be deemed to include a TRS or subsidiaries thereof.

“Real Property” means real property, including interests in real property and interests in mortgages on real property.

“Subsidiary REIT” means any of RLJ III — MH Denver Airport, Inc. (f/k/a Lodgian Denver Inc.), RLJ III — EM West Palm Beach, Inc. (f/k/a Servico Centre Associates, Inc.) and RLJ III — C Buckhead, Inc. (f/k/a Lodgian Buckhead, Inc.)

“TRS” means a “taxable REIT subsidiary,” as described in Section 856(l) of the Code.  Any entity taxable as a corporation in which a TRS of a REIT owns (x) securities possessing more than 35% of the total voting power of the outstanding securities of such entity or (y) securities having a value of more than 35% of the total value of the outstanding securities of such entity shall also be treated as a TRS of such REIT whether or not a separate election is made with respect to such other entity.

A-1

“TRS Lessee” means any lessee of a Hotel that is a TRS.

A-2

Exhibit 10.1

AMENDED AND RESTATED

AGREEMENT OF LIMITED PARTNERSHIP

OF

RLJ LODGING TRUST, L.P.

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