The recent hotel buys, which were completed by Supertel's operating partnership, mark the REIT's entry into Idaho, Maine and Montana, and expansion in Indiana, Georgia and Missouri. Five of the seven properties were acquired from MOA Hospitality Inc. for $24 million in a transaction that closed Jan. 5. Those hotels, which combined have 468 keys, are in Columbus, GA; Boise, ID; Terre Haute, IN; Ellsworth, ME; and Billings, MT. The Ellsworth hotel operates as a Comfort Inn, and the remaining four are Super 8s. Supertel also acquired two independent hotels totaling 92 rooms for $4.14 million in a transaction that closed Dec. 27. Those hotels are located in the Missouri communities of Neosho and Jane.

Paul J. Schulte, Supertel's chairman, president and chief executive officer, says the REIT expanded its presence beyond the Midwest and Southeast with the recent purchases. Supertel currently owns limited-service hotels operating under the Super 8, Comfort Inn/Comfort Suites, Hampton Inn, Holiday Inn Express, Suites at Key Largo, Days Inn, Ramada Limited, Guest House Inn, Sleep Inn, Supertel Inn and Savannah Suites flags in 22 states.

"We intend to pursue our pattern of controlled growth, which will allow our Supertel portfolio to continue to provide a clean, friendly and affordable option for the business and leisure traveler," Schulte says in a statement. Donavon Heimes, Supertel's chief financial officer, was traveling and could not be reached for comment.