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

    <schemaVersion>X0306</schemaVersion>

    <documentType>4</documentType>

    <periodOfReport>2012-08-24</periodOfReport>

    <notSubjectToSection16>0</notSubjectToSection16>

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

    <reportingOwner>
        <reportingOwnerId>
            <rptOwnerCik>0001541551</rptOwnerCik>
            <rptOwnerName>EFANUR Stock Corp.</rptOwnerName>
        </reportingOwnerId>
        <reportingOwnerAddress>
            <rptOwnerStreet1>ITUZAING? 1377, PISOS 3, 4 Y 5</rptOwnerStreet1>
            <rptOwnerStreet2></rptOwnerStreet2>
            <rptOwnerCity>MONTEVIDEO</rptOwnerCity>
            <rptOwnerState>X3</rptOwnerState>
            <rptOwnerZipCode>11000</rptOwnerZipCode>
            <rptOwnerStateDescription>URUGUAY</rptOwnerStateDescription>
        </reportingOwnerAddress>
        <reportingOwnerRelationship>
            <isDirector>0</isDirector>
            <isOfficer>0</isOfficer>
            <isTenPercentOwner>1</isTenPercentOwner>
            <isOther>0</isOther>
        </reportingOwnerRelationship>
    </reportingOwner>

    <reportingOwner>
        <reportingOwnerId>
            <rptOwnerCik>0001476667</rptOwnerCik>
            <rptOwnerName>TYRUS STOCK CORP</rptOwnerName>
        </reportingOwnerId>
        <reportingOwnerAddress>
            <rptOwnerStreet1>PLAZA INDEPENDENCIA 811, PB</rptOwnerStreet1>
            <rptOwnerStreet2></rptOwnerStreet2>
            <rptOwnerCity>MONTEVIDEO</rptOwnerCity>
            <rptOwnerState>X3</rptOwnerState>
            <rptOwnerZipCode>11100</rptOwnerZipCode>
            <rptOwnerStateDescription>URUGUAY</rptOwnerStateDescription>
        </reportingOwnerAddress>
        <reportingOwnerRelationship>
            <isDirector>0</isDirector>
            <isOfficer>0</isOfficer>
            <isTenPercentOwner>1</isTenPercentOwner>
            <isOther>0</isOther>
        </reportingOwnerRelationship>
    </reportingOwner>

    <reportingOwner>
        <reportingOwnerId>
            <rptOwnerCik>0001479363</rptOwnerCik>
            <rptOwnerName>Idalgir Stock Corp</rptOwnerName>
        </reportingOwnerId>
        <reportingOwnerAddress>
            <rptOwnerStreet1>FLORIDA 537, PISO 18?</rptOwnerStreet1>
            <rptOwnerStreet2></rptOwnerStreet2>
            <rptOwnerCity>BUENOS AIRES</rptOwnerCity>
            <rptOwnerState>C1</rptOwnerState>
            <rptOwnerZipCode>C1005AAK</rptOwnerZipCode>
            <rptOwnerStateDescription>ARGENTINA</rptOwnerStateDescription>
        </reportingOwnerAddress>
        <reportingOwnerRelationship>
            <isDirector>0</isDirector>
            <isOfficer>0</isOfficer>
            <isTenPercentOwner>1</isTenPercentOwner>
            <isOther>0</isOther>
        </reportingOwnerRelationship>
    </reportingOwner>

    <reportingOwner>
        <reportingOwnerId>
            <rptOwnerCik>0001478101</rptOwnerCik>
            <rptOwnerName>JIWIN STOCK CORP</rptOwnerName>
        </reportingOwnerId>
        <reportingOwnerAddress>
            <rptOwnerStreet1>PLAZA INDEPENDENCIA 811, PB</rptOwnerStreet1>
            <rptOwnerStreet2></rptOwnerStreet2>
            <rptOwnerCity>MONTEVIDEO</rptOwnerCity>
            <rptOwnerState>X3</rptOwnerState>
            <rptOwnerZipCode>11100</rptOwnerZipCode>
            <rptOwnerStateDescription>URUGUAY</rptOwnerStateDescription>
        </reportingOwnerAddress>
        <reportingOwnerRelationship>
            <isDirector>0</isDirector>
            <isOfficer>0</isOfficer>
            <isTenPercentOwner>1</isTenPercentOwner>
            <isOther>0</isOther>
        </reportingOwnerRelationship>
    </reportingOwner>

    <nonDerivativeTable>
        <nonDerivativeHolding>
            <securityTitle>
                <value>Series C Cumulative Convertible Preferred Shares</value>
            </securityTitle>
            <postTransactionAmounts>
                <sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction>
                    <value>3000000</value>
                </sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction>
            </postTransactionAmounts>
            <ownershipNature>
                <directOrIndirectOwnership>
                    <value>I</value>
                </directOrIndirectOwnership>
                <natureOfOwnership>
                    <value>See Footnote</value>
                    <footnoteId id="F1"/>
                </natureOfOwnership>
            </ownershipNature>
        </nonDerivativeHolding>
        <nonDerivativeTransaction>
            <securityTitle>
                <value>Common Shares</value>
            </securityTitle>
            <transactionDate>
                <value>2012-08-24</value>
            </transactionDate>
            <transactionCoding>
                <transactionFormType>4</transactionFormType>
                <transactionCode>P</transactionCode>
                <equitySwapInvolved>0</equitySwapInvolved>
            </transactionCoding>
            <transactionTimeliness>
                <value></value>
            </transactionTimeliness>
            <transactionAmounts>
                <transactionShares>
                    <value>28600</value>
                </transactionShares>
                <transactionPricePerShare>
                    <value>0.92</value>
                </transactionPricePerShare>
                <transactionAcquiredDisposedCode>
                    <value>A</value>
                </transactionAcquiredDisposedCode>
            </transactionAmounts>
            <postTransactionAmounts>
                <sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction>
                    <value>70687</value>
                </sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction>
            </postTransactionAmounts>
            <ownershipNature>
                <directOrIndirectOwnership>
                    <value>I</value>
                </directOrIndirectOwnership>
                <natureOfOwnership>
                    <value>See Footnote</value>
                    <footnoteId id="F1"/>
                </natureOfOwnership>
            </ownershipNature>
        </nonDerivativeTransaction>
        <nonDerivativeTransaction>
            <securityTitle>
                <value>Common Shares</value>
            </securityTitle>
            <transactionDate>
                <value>2012-08-27</value>
            </transactionDate>
            <transactionCoding>
                <transactionFormType>4</transactionFormType>
                <transactionCode>P</transactionCode>
                <equitySwapInvolved>0</equitySwapInvolved>
            </transactionCoding>
            <transactionTimeliness>
                <value></value>
            </transactionTimeliness>
            <transactionAmounts>
                <transactionShares>
                    <value>7500</value>
                </transactionShares>
                <transactionPricePerShare>
                    <value>0.92</value>
                </transactionPricePerShare>
                <transactionAcquiredDisposedCode>
                    <value>A</value>
                </transactionAcquiredDisposedCode>
            </transactionAmounts>
            <postTransactionAmounts>
                <sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction>
                    <value>78187</value>
                </sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction>
            </postTransactionAmounts>
            <ownershipNature>
                <directOrIndirectOwnership>
                    <value>I</value>
                </directOrIndirectOwnership>
                <natureOfOwnership>
                    <value>See Footnote</value>
                    <footnoteId id="F1"/>
                </natureOfOwnership>
            </ownershipNature>
        </nonDerivativeTransaction>
    </nonDerivativeTable>

    <footnotes>
        <footnote id="F1">Please see Exhibit.</footnote>
    </footnotes>

    <remarks>This Form 4 is being filed in two parts due to the ten person reporting limitation of the electronic filing system. Part 1 is being filed by the following persons: Eduardo S. Elsztain, Consultores Assets Management S.A., Consultores Venture Capital Limited, Cresud Sociedad Anonima Comercial, Inmobiliaria, Financiera y Agropecuaria, Consultores Venture Capital Uruguay SA, Agroinvestment S.A., Real Estate Strategies LP, IRSA Inversiones y Representaciones Sociedad Anonima, IFIS Limited, and Inversiones Financieras del Sur S.A.</remarks>

    <ownerSignature>
        <signatureName>/s/ Efanur S.A. by Eduardo S. Elsztain, Chairman of the Board</signatureName>
        <signatureDate>2012-08-28</signatureDate>
    </ownerSignature>

    <ownerSignature>
        <signatureName>/s/ Tyrus S.A. by Eduardo S. Elsztain, Chairman of the Board</signatureName>
        <signatureDate>2012-08-28</signatureDate>
    </ownerSignature>

    <ownerSignature>
        <signatureName>/s/ Idalgir S.A. by Eduardo S. Elsztain, Chairman of the Board</signatureName>
        <signatureDate>2012-08-28</signatureDate>
    </ownerSignature>

    <ownerSignature>
        <signatureName>/s/ Jiwin S.A. by Eduardo S. Elsztain, Chairman of the Board</signatureName>
        <signatureDate>2012-08-28</signatureDate>
    </ownerSignature>
</ownershipDocument>
