<?xml version="1.0"?>
<ownershipDocument>

    <schemaVersion>X0203</schemaVersion>

    <documentType>3</documentType>

    <periodOfReport>2008-12-03</periodOfReport>

    <noSecuritiesOwned>0</noSecuritiesOwned>

    <issuer>
        <issuerCik>0000929545</issuerCik>
        <issuerName>SUPERTEL HOSPITALITY INC</issuerName>
        <issuerTradingSymbol>SPPR</issuerTradingSymbol>
    </issuer>

    <reportingOwner>
        <reportingOwnerId>
            <rptOwnerCik>0001451221</rptOwnerCik>
            <rptOwnerName>Latham William C</rptOwnerName>
        </reportingOwnerId>
        <reportingOwnerAddress>
            <rptOwnerStreet1>309 NORTH 5TH STREET</rptOwnerStreet1>
            <rptOwnerStreet2></rptOwnerStreet2>
            <rptOwnerCity>NORFOLK</rptOwnerCity>
            <rptOwnerState>NE</rptOwnerState>
            <rptOwnerZipCode>68701</rptOwnerZipCode>
            <rptOwnerStateDescription></rptOwnerStateDescription>
        </reportingOwnerAddress>
        <reportingOwnerRelationship>
            <isDirector>1</isDirector>
            <isOfficer>0</isOfficer>
            <isTenPercentOwner>0</isTenPercentOwner>
            <isOther>0</isOther>
        </reportingOwnerRelationship>
    </reportingOwner>

    <nonDerivativeTable>
        <nonDerivativeHolding>
            <securityTitle>
                <value>Common Stock</value>
            </securityTitle>
            <postTransactionAmounts>
                <sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction>
                    <value>55000</value>
                </sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction>
            </postTransactionAmounts>
            <ownershipNature>
                <directOrIndirectOwnership>
                    <value>D</value>
                </directOrIndirectOwnership>
            </ownershipNature>
        </nonDerivativeHolding>
    </nonDerivativeTable>

    <derivativeTable>
        <derivativeHolding>
            <securityTitle>
                <value>Units</value>
            </securityTitle>
            <conversionOrExercisePrice>
                <value>0</value>
            </conversionOrExercisePrice>
            <exerciseDate>
                <value>2008-07-31</value>
            </exerciseDate>
            <expirationDate>
                <footnoteId id="F1"/>
                <footnoteId id="F2"/>
            </expirationDate>
            <underlyingSecurity>
                <underlyingSecurityTitle>
                    <value>Common Stock</value>
                </underlyingSecurityTitle>
                <underlyingSecurityShares>
                    <value>863611</value>
                </underlyingSecurityShares>
            </underlyingSecurity>
            <ownershipNature>
                <directOrIndirectOwnership>
                    <value>I</value>
                </directOrIndirectOwnership>
                <natureOfOwnership>
                    <value>by Corporation</value>
                    <footnoteId id="F1"/>
                </natureOfOwnership>
            </ownershipNature>
        </derivativeHolding>
    </derivativeTable>

    <footnotes>
        <footnote id="F1">Represents 863,611 common units of limited partnership interest (&quot;Units&quot;) of Supertel Limited Partnership, of which a
 wholly-owned subsidiary of the issuer is the general partner.  The Units are held by a corporation owned and controlled by
 reporting person.  A limited partner may, subject to certain limitations,  require that Supertel Limited Partnership redeem
 all or a portion of the limited partner's Units, at any time after a specified period following the date the limited partner
 acquired the common units, by delivering a redemption notice to Supertel  Limited Partnership.</footnote>
        <footnote id="F2">When a limited partner tenders the limited partner's Units to the partnership for redemption, the issuer can, at
 its sole discretion, choose to purchase the Units for either (1) a number of shares of common stock of issuer equal to the
 number of Units redeemed or (2) cash in an amount equal to the market value of the number of shares of common stock of
 issuer the limited partner would have received if the issuer chose to purchase the Units for  common stock.</footnote>
    </footnotes>

    <ownerSignature>
        <signatureName>/s/ William C. Latham</signatureName>
        <signatureDate>2008-12-03</signatureDate>
    </ownerSignature>
</ownershipDocument>
