-----BEGIN PRIVACY-ENHANCED MESSAGE-----
Proc-Type: 2001,MIC-CLEAR
Originator-Name: webmaster@www.sec.gov
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 TWSM7vrzLADbmYQaionwg5sDW3P6oaM5D3tdezXMm7z1T+B+twIDAQAB
MIC-Info: RSA-MD5,RSA,
 Fa5zM+I0Jlrf9ikuBIocgbrM9CU7uZ1SYA5/3Jl0SuPhujHApuesVsBN4rGSWtPt
 T0rASSQvreM3PsuanVbV1g==

<SEC-DOCUMENT>0001221569-03-000001.txt : 20031215
<SEC-HEADER>0001221569-03-000001.hdr.sgml : 20031215
<ACCEPTANCE-DATETIME>20031215174908
ACCESSION NUMBER:		0001221569-03-000001
CONFORMED SUBMISSION TYPE:	4
PUBLIC DOCUMENT COUNT:		1
CONFORMED PERIOD OF REPORT:	20031215
FILED AS OF DATE:		20031215

REPORTING-OWNER:	

	OWNER DATA:	
		COMPANY CONFORMED NAME:			BOYKIN ROBERT W
		CENTRAL INDEX KEY:			0001221569

	FILING VALUES:
		FORM TYPE:		4
		SEC ACT:		1934 Act
		SEC FILE NUMBER:	001-11975
		FILM NUMBER:		031055601

	BUSINESS ADDRESS:	
		STREET 1:		BOYKIN LODGING CO.
		STREET 2:		45 W. PROSPECT
		CITY:			CLEVELAND
		STATE:			OH
		ZIP:			44115

ISSUER:		

	COMPANY DATA:	
		COMPANY CONFORMED NAME:			BOYKIN LODGING CO
		CENTRAL INDEX KEY:			0001015859
		STANDARD INDUSTRIAL CLASSIFICATION:	REAL ESTATE INVESTMENT TRUSTS [6798]
		IRS NUMBER:				341824586
		STATE OF INCORPORATION:			OH
		FISCAL YEAR END:			1231

	BUSINESS ADDRESS:	
		STREET 1:		GUILDHALL BLDG 45 W PROSPECT AVE
		STREET 2:		SUITE 1500
		CITY:			CLEVELAND
		STATE:			OH
		ZIP:			44115
		BUSINESS PHONE:		2164301200

	MAIL ADDRESS:	
		STREET 1:		GUILDHALL BLDG 45 W PROSPECT AVE
		STREET 2:		SUITE 1500
		CITY:			CLEVELAND
		STATE:			OH
		ZIP:			44115

	FORMER COMPANY:	
		FORMER CONFORMED NAME:	BOYKIN LODGING TRUST INC
		DATE OF NAME CHANGE:	19960604
</SEC-HEADER>
<DOCUMENT>
<TYPE>4
<SEQUENCE>1
<FILENAME>primary_doc.xml
<DESCRIPTION>PRIMARY DOCUMENT
<TEXT>
<XML>
<?xml version="1.0"?>

<ownershipDocument>

    <schemaVersion>X0201</schemaVersion>

    <documentType>4</documentType>

    <periodOfReport>2003-12-15</periodOfReport>


    <notSubjectToSection16>0</notSubjectToSection16>

    <issuer>
        <issuerCik>0001015859</issuerCik>
        <issuerName>BOYKIN LODGING CO</issuerName>
        <issuerTradingSymbol>BOY</issuerTradingSymbol>
    </issuer>

    <reportingOwner>
        <reportingOwnerId>
            <rptOwnerCik>0001221569</rptOwnerCik>
            <rptOwnerName>BOYKIN ROBERT W</rptOwnerName>
        </reportingOwnerId>
        <reportingOwnerAddress>
            <rptOwnerStreet1>45 W. PROSPECT AVENUE, SUITE 1500</rptOwnerStreet1>
            <rptOwnerStreet2></rptOwnerStreet2>
            <rptOwnerCity>CLEVELAND</rptOwnerCity>
            <rptOwnerState>OH</rptOwnerState>
            <rptOwnerZipCode>44115</rptOwnerZipCode>
            <rptOwnerStateDescription></rptOwnerStateDescription>
        </reportingOwnerAddress>
        <reportingOwnerRelationship>
            <isDirector>1</isDirector>
            <isOfficer>1</isOfficer>
            <isTenPercentOwner>0</isTenPercentOwner>
            <isOther>0</isOther>
            <officerTitle>Chief Executive Officer</officerTitle>
        </reportingOwnerRelationship>
    </reportingOwner>

    <nonDerivativeTable>

        <nonDerivativeHolding>
            <securityTitle>
                <value>Common Shares, without par value</value>
            </securityTitle>
            <postTransactionAmounts>
                <sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction>
                    <value>133196</value>
                    <footnoteId id="F1"/>
                </sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction>
            </postTransactionAmounts>
            <ownershipNature>
                <directOrIndirectOwnership>
                    <value>D</value>
                </directOrIndirectOwnership>
            </ownershipNature>
        </nonDerivativeHolding>

        <nonDerivativeTransaction>
            <securityTitle>
                <value>Common Shares, without par value</value>
            </securityTitle>
            <transactionDate>
                <value>2003-12-15</value>
            </transactionDate>
            <transactionCoding>
                <transactionFormType>4</transactionFormType>
                <transactionCode>P</transactionCode>
                <equitySwapInvolved>0</equitySwapInvolved>
            </transactionCoding>
            <transactionTimeliness>
                <value></value>
            </transactionTimeliness>
            <transactionAmounts>
                <transactionShares>
                    <value>8101</value>
                </transactionShares>
                <transactionPricePerShare>
                    <value>8.99</value>
                </transactionPricePerShare>
                <transactionAcquiredDisposedCode>
                    <value>A</value>
                </transactionAcquiredDisposedCode>
            </transactionAmounts>
            <postTransactionAmounts>
                <sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction>
                    <value>119676</value>
                </sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction>
            </postTransactionAmounts>
            <ownershipNature>
                <directOrIndirectOwnership>
                    <value>I</value>
                </directOrIndirectOwnership>
                <natureOfOwnership>
                    <value>See footnote</value>
                    <footnoteId id="F2"/>
                </natureOfOwnership>
            </ownershipNature>
        </nonDerivativeTransaction>

    </nonDerivativeTable>

    <derivativeTable>

        <derivativeHolding>
            <securityTitle>
                <value>See footnote</value>
                <footnoteId id="F3"/>
            </securityTitle>
            <conversionOrExercisePrice>
                <value>0</value>
                <footnoteId id="F4"/>
            </conversionOrExercisePrice>
            <exerciseDate>
                <value>1999-11-04</value>
            </exerciseDate>
            <expirationDate>
                <footnoteId id="F4"/>
            </expirationDate>
            <underlyingSecurity>
                <underlyingSecurityTitle>
                    <value>Common Shares, without par value</value>
                </underlyingSecurityTitle>
                <underlyingSecurityShares>
                    <value>157114</value>
                </underlyingSecurityShares>
            </underlyingSecurity>
            <postTransactionAmounts>
                <sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction>
                    <value>157114</value>
                </sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction>
            </postTransactionAmounts>
            <ownershipNature>
                <directOrIndirectOwnership>
                    <value>D</value>
                </directOrIndirectOwnership>
            </ownershipNature>
        </derivativeHolding>

        <derivativeHolding>
            <securityTitle>
                <value>Employee Share Option (Right to Buy)</value>
            </securityTitle>
            <conversionOrExercisePrice>
                <value>13.47</value>
            </conversionOrExercisePrice>
            <exerciseDate>
                <value>1999-12-02</value>
            </exerciseDate>
            <expirationDate>
                <value>2008-12-02</value>
            </expirationDate>
            <underlyingSecurity>
                <underlyingSecurityTitle>
                    <value>Common Shares, without par value</value>
                </underlyingSecurityTitle>
                <underlyingSecurityShares>
                    <value>50000</value>
                </underlyingSecurityShares>
            </underlyingSecurity>
            <postTransactionAmounts>
                <sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction>
                    <value>50000</value>
                </sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction>
            </postTransactionAmounts>
            <ownershipNature>
                <directOrIndirectOwnership>
                    <value>D</value>
                </directOrIndirectOwnership>
            </ownershipNature>
        </derivativeHolding>

        <derivativeHolding>
            <securityTitle>
                <value>Employee Share Option (Right to Buy)</value>
            </securityTitle>
            <conversionOrExercisePrice>
                <value>10.97</value>
            </conversionOrExercisePrice>
            <exerciseDate>
                <value>2001-01-01</value>
                <footnoteId id="F5"/>
            </exerciseDate>
            <expirationDate>
                <value>2010-01-01</value>
            </expirationDate>
            <underlyingSecurity>
                <underlyingSecurityTitle>
                    <value>Common Shares, without par value</value>
                </underlyingSecurityTitle>
                <underlyingSecurityShares>
                    <value>48000</value>
                </underlyingSecurityShares>
            </underlyingSecurity>
            <postTransactionAmounts>
                <sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction>
                    <value>48000</value>
                </sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction>
            </postTransactionAmounts>
            <ownershipNature>
                <directOrIndirectOwnership>
                    <value>D</value>
                </directOrIndirectOwnership>
            </ownershipNature>
        </derivativeHolding>

        <derivativeHolding>
            <securityTitle>
                <value>Employee Share Option (Right to Buy)</value>
            </securityTitle>
            <conversionOrExercisePrice>
                <value>7.3</value>
            </conversionOrExercisePrice>
            <exerciseDate>
                <value>2002-12-05</value>
                <footnoteId id="F6"/>
            </exerciseDate>
            <expirationDate>
                <value>2011-12-05</value>
            </expirationDate>
            <underlyingSecurity>
                <underlyingSecurityTitle>
                    <value>Common Shares, without par value</value>
                </underlyingSecurityTitle>
                <underlyingSecurityShares>
                    <value>70000</value>
                </underlyingSecurityShares>
            </underlyingSecurity>
            <postTransactionAmounts>
                <sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction>
                    <value>70000</value>
                </sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction>
            </postTransactionAmounts>
            <ownershipNature>
                <directOrIndirectOwnership>
                    <value>D</value>
                </directOrIndirectOwnership>
            </ownershipNature>
        </derivativeHolding>

        <derivativeHolding>
            <securityTitle>
                <value>Employee Share Option (Right to Buy)</value>
            </securityTitle>
            <conversionOrExercisePrice>
                <value>8.06</value>
            </conversionOrExercisePrice>
            <exerciseDate>
                <value>2003-01-01</value>
                <footnoteId id="F7"/>
            </exerciseDate>
            <expirationDate>
                <value>2012-01-01</value>
            </expirationDate>
            <underlyingSecurity>
                <underlyingSecurityTitle>
                    <value>Common Shares, without par value</value>
                </underlyingSecurityTitle>
                <underlyingSecurityShares>
                    <value>30000</value>
                </underlyingSecurityShares>
            </underlyingSecurity>
            <postTransactionAmounts>
                <sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction>
                    <value>30000</value>
                </sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction>
            </postTransactionAmounts>
            <ownershipNature>
                <directOrIndirectOwnership>
                    <value>D</value>
                </directOrIndirectOwnership>
            </ownershipNature>
        </derivativeHolding>

    </derivativeTable>

    <footnotes>
        <footnote id="F1">Some of the amount represents restricted shares granted pursuant to the Company's Long-Term Incentive Plan that are subject to forfeiture.</footnote>
        <footnote id="F2">The Common Shares were acquired by the Profit Sharing Plan.  54,526 Common Shares are owned by Rowboy Trading and Holdings LLC, a Delaware limited liability company (&quot;Rowboy&quot;), of which the Reporting Person is the sole managing member.  A trust for the benefit of the Reporting Person owns a 99% equity interest and the Reporting Person owns a 1% equity interest in Rowboy.  51,149 Common Shares are owned by Boykin Management Company Limited Liability Company, an Ohio limited liability company, of which the Reporting Person owns approximately a 54% indirect equity interest and 5,900 Common Shares are owned by the Boykin Group, Inc., an Ohio corporation, of which the Reporting Person owns approximately a 54% indirect equity interest.</footnote>
        <footnote id="F3">Partnership interest in Boykin Hotel Properties, L.P.</footnote>
        <footnote id="F4">The Reporting Person acquired interests (&quot;Units&quot;) in Boykin Hotel Properties, L.P. (the &quot;Partnership&quot;) on November 4, 1996.  In November 2001, the Reporting Person transferred the Units to a trust for the Reporting Person's benefit.  Pursuant to the Third Amended and Restated Agreement of Limited Partnership of the Partnership, the Reporting Person may cause the Partnership to purchase his Units for cash (the value of a Unit, subject to certain factors, is equal to the value of one Boykin Lodging Company Common Share).  However, Boykin Lodging Company, the general partner of the Partnership, may elect, subject to certain conditions, to deliver Boykin Lodging Company Common Shares on a one-for-one basis with the number of Units held in lieu of cash.</footnote>
        <footnote id="F5">The Employee Share Option is vested with respect to 28,800 Common Shares.  The Employee Share Option will vest with respect to 9,600 Common Shares on each of January 1, 2004 and January 1, 2005.</footnote>
        <footnote id="F6">The Employee Share Option is vested with respect to 46,666 Common Shares.  The Employee Share Option will vest with respect to 23,334 Common Shares on December 5, 2004.</footnote>
        <footnote id="F7">The Employee Share Option is vested with respect to 10,000 Common Shares.  The Employee Share Option will vest with respect to 10,000 Common Shares on each of January 1, 2004 and January 1, 2005.</footnote>
    </footnotes>


    <ownerSignature>
        <signatureName>/s/ Robert W. Boykin</signatureName>
        <signatureDate>2003-12-15</signatureDate>
    </ownerSignature>

</ownershipDocument>

</XML>
</TEXT>
</DOCUMENT>
</SEC-DOCUMENT>
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