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Proc-Type: 2001,MIC-CLEAR
Originator-Name: webmaster@www.sec.gov
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 TWSM7vrzLADbmYQaionwg5sDW3P6oaM5D3tdezXMm7z1T+B+twIDAQAB
MIC-Info: RSA-MD5,RSA,
 UwepF+pc2E4ySOo8p9q/jpB12KZWRbkzyS821NVhQsdVRl2Qwz6Zy2ADaraBqTcM
 j17dvvA329NHymFsid3KDg==

<SEC-DOCUMENT>0001216415-04-000001.txt : 20040213
<SEC-HEADER>0001216415-04-000001.hdr.sgml : 20040213
<ACCEPTANCE-DATETIME>20040213104721
ACCESSION NUMBER:		0001216415-04-000001
CONFORMED SUBMISSION TYPE:	5
PUBLIC DOCUMENT COUNT:		1
CONFORMED PERIOD OF REPORT:	20031231
FILED AS OF DATE:		20040213

ISSUER:		

	COMPANY DATA:	
		COMPANY CONFORMED NAME:			ARLINGTON HOSPITALITY INC
		CENTRAL INDEX KEY:			0000778423
		STANDARD INDUSTRIAL CLASSIFICATION:	HOTELS & MOTELS [7011]
		IRS NUMBER:				363312434
		STATE OF INCORPORATION:			DE
		FISCAL YEAR END:			1231

	BUSINESS ADDRESS:	
		STREET 1:		2355 SOUTH ARLINGTON HEIGHTS ROAD
		STREET 2:		SUITE 400
		CITY:			ARLINGTON HEIGHTS
		STATE:			IL
		ZIP:			60005
		BUSINESS PHONE:		8472285400

	MAIL ADDRESS:	
		STREET 1:		2355 SOUTH ARLINGTON HEIGHTS ROAD
		STREET 2:		SUITE 400
		CITY:			ARLINGTON HEIGHTS
		STATE:			IL
		ZIP:			60005

	FORMER COMPANY:	
		FORMER CONFORMED NAME:	AMERIHOST PROPERTIES INC
		DATE OF NAME CHANGE:	19920703

	FORMER COMPANY:	
		FORMER CONFORMED NAME:	AMERICA POP INC
		DATE OF NAME CHANGE:	19871111

REPORTING-OWNER:	

	OWNER DATA:	
		COMPANY CONFORMED NAME:			LAFLAMME GERALD T
		CENTRAL INDEX KEY:			0001216415

	FILING VALUES:
		FORM TYPE:		5
		SEC ACT:		1934 Act
		SEC FILE NUMBER:	000-15291
		FILM NUMBER:		04595533

	BUSINESS ADDRESS:	
		STREET 1:		ARLINGTON HOSPITALITY INC
		STREET 2:		2355 S ARLINGTON HEIGHTS RD
		CITY:			ARLINGTON HEGHTS
		STATE:			IL
		ZIP:			60005
		BUSINESS PHONE:		8472285400

	MAIL ADDRESS:	
		STREET 1:		2355 S ARLINGTON HEIGHTS RD STE 400
		CITY:			ARLIGTON HEIGHTS
		STATE:			IL
		ZIP:			60005
</SEC-HEADER>
<DOCUMENT>
<TYPE>5
<SEQUENCE>1
<FILENAME>primary_doc.xml
<DESCRIPTION>PRIMARY DOCUMENT
<TEXT>
<XML>
<?xml version="1.0"?>
<ownershipDocument>

    <schemaVersion>X0201</schemaVersion>

    <documentType>5</documentType>

    <periodOfReport>2003-12-31</periodOfReport>

    <notSubjectToSection16>0</notSubjectToSection16>

    <form3HoldingsReported>0</form3HoldingsReported>

    <form4TransactionsReported>0</form4TransactionsReported>

    <issuer>
        <issuerCik>0000778423</issuerCik>
        <issuerName>ARLINGTON HOSPITALITY INC</issuerName>
        <issuerTradingSymbol>HOST</issuerTradingSymbol>
    </issuer>

    <reportingOwner>
        <reportingOwnerId>
            <rptOwnerCik>0001216415</rptOwnerCik>
            <rptOwnerName>LAFLAMME GERALD T</rptOwnerName>
        </reportingOwnerId>
        <reportingOwnerAddress>
            <rptOwnerStreet1>2355 S ARLINGTON HEIGHTS RD STE 400</rptOwnerStreet1>
            <rptOwnerStreet2></rptOwnerStreet2>
            <rptOwnerCity>ARLIGTON HEIGHTS</rptOwnerCity>
            <rptOwnerState>IL</rptOwnerState>
            <rptOwnerZipCode>60005</rptOwnerZipCode>
            <rptOwnerStateDescription></rptOwnerStateDescription>
        </reportingOwnerAddress>
        <reportingOwnerRelationship>
            <isDirector>1</isDirector>
            <isOfficer>0</isOfficer>
            <isTenPercentOwner>0</isTenPercentOwner>
            <isOther>0</isOther>
        </reportingOwnerRelationship>
    </reportingOwner>

    <nonDerivativeTable>
        <nonDerivativeTransaction>
            <securityTitle>
                <value>Common Stock</value>
            </securityTitle>
            <transactionDate>
                <value>2003-04-29</value>
            </transactionDate>
            <transactionCoding>
                <transactionFormType>5</transactionFormType>
                <transactionCode>P</transactionCode>
                <equitySwapInvolved>0</equitySwapInvolved>
            </transactionCoding>
            <transactionTimeliness>
                <value></value>
            </transactionTimeliness>
            <transactionAmounts>
                <transactionShares>
                    <value>480</value>
                </transactionShares>
                <transactionPricePerShare>
                    <value>3.25</value>
                </transactionPricePerShare>
                <transactionAcquiredDisposedCode>
                    <value>A</value>
                </transactionAcquiredDisposedCode>
            </transactionAmounts>
            <postTransactionAmounts>
                <sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction>
                    <value>7480</value>
                    <footnoteId id="F1"/>
                </sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction>
            </postTransactionAmounts>
            <ownershipNature>
                <directOrIndirectOwnership>
                    <value>D</value>
                </directOrIndirectOwnership>
            </ownershipNature>
        </nonDerivativeTransaction>
    </nonDerivativeTable>

    <derivativeTable>
        <derivativeHolding>
            <securityTitle>
                <value>Options to purchase common stock</value>
            </securityTitle>
            <conversionOrExercisePrice>
                <footnoteId id="F2"/>
            </conversionOrExercisePrice>
            <transactionCoding>
                <transactionFormType></transactionFormType>
            </transactionCoding>
            <exerciseDate>
                <footnoteId id="F2"/>
            </exerciseDate>
            <expirationDate>
                <footnoteId id="F2"/>
            </expirationDate>
            <underlyingSecurity>
                <underlyingSecurityTitle>
                    <value>Common Stock</value>
                </underlyingSecurityTitle>
                <underlyingSecurityShares>
                    <value>1000</value>
                </underlyingSecurityShares>
            </underlyingSecurity>
            <postTransactionAmounts>
                <sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction>
                    <value>1000</value>
                </sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction>
            </postTransactionAmounts>
            <ownershipNature>
                <directOrIndirectOwnership>
                    <value>D</value>
                </directOrIndirectOwnership>
            </ownershipNature>
        </derivativeHolding>
    </derivativeTable>

    <footnotes>
        <footnote id="F1">Consists of 6000 restricted shares held directly by the reporting person and 1480 shares held by the LaFlamme Family Trust dated January 14, 1988.</footnote>
        <footnote id="F2">Options issued on 8/16/2002</footnote>
    </footnotes>

    <ownerSignature>
        <signatureName>Gerald T. LaFlamme</signatureName>
        <signatureDate>2003-02-13</signatureDate>
    </ownerSignature>
</ownershipDocument>

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