-----BEGIN PRIVACY-ENHANCED MESSAGE-----
Proc-Type: 2001,MIC-CLEAR
Originator-Name: webmaster@www.sec.gov
Originator-Key-Asymmetric:
 MFgwCgYEVQgBAQICAf8DSgAwRwJAW2sNKK9AVtBzYZmr6aGjlWyK3XmZv3dTINen
 TWSM7vrzLADbmYQaionwg5sDW3P6oaM5D3tdezXMm7z1T+B+twIDAQAB
MIC-Info: RSA-MD5,RSA,
 Ih+7OCW+NNJgzPQJ3WeDnj7IxCFRdRxPsNV1o434gRTJ0t0NAe5AJ8O17putSejE
 zBZ5OEhrOVAggkwz8GWX6Q==

<SEC-DOCUMENT>0001216420-04-000001.txt : 20040907
<SEC-HEADER>0001216420-04-000001.hdr.sgml : 20040906
<ACCEPTANCE-DATETIME>20040907162552
ACCESSION NUMBER:		0001216420-04-000001
CONFORMED SUBMISSION TYPE:	4
PUBLIC DOCUMENT COUNT:		1
CONFORMED PERIOD OF REPORT:	20040902
FILED AS OF DATE:		20040907
DATE AS OF CHANGE:		20040907

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:			ROMANO THOMAS J
		CENTRAL INDEX KEY:			0001216420

	FILING VALUES:
		FORM TYPE:		4
		SEC ACT:		1934 Act
		SEC FILE NUMBER:	000-15291
		FILM NUMBER:		041018900

	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>4
<SEQUENCE>1
<FILENAME>primary_doc.xml
<DESCRIPTION>PRIMARY DOCUMENT
<TEXT>
<XML>
<?xml version="1.0"?>
<ownershipDocument>

    <schemaVersion>X0202</schemaVersion>

    <documentType>4</documentType>

    <periodOfReport>2004-09-02</periodOfReport>

    <notSubjectToSection16>0</notSubjectToSection16>

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

    <reportingOwner>
        <reportingOwnerId>
            <rptOwnerCik>0001216420</rptOwnerCik>
            <rptOwnerName>ROMANO THOMAS J</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>2004-09-02</value>
            </transactionDate>
            <transactionCoding>
                <transactionFormType>4</transactionFormType>
                <transactionCode>A</transactionCode>
                <equitySwapInvolved>0</equitySwapInvolved>
                <footnoteId id="F1"/>
            </transactionCoding>
            <transactionTimeliness>
                <value></value>
            </transactionTimeliness>
            <transactionAmounts>
                <transactionShares>
                    <value>6000</value>
                </transactionShares>
                <transactionPricePerShare>
                    <value>0</value>
                    <footnoteId id="F1"/>
                </transactionPricePerShare>
                <transactionAcquiredDisposedCode>
                    <value>A</value>
                </transactionAcquiredDisposedCode>
            </transactionAmounts>
            <postTransactionAmounts>
                <sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction>
                    <value>27000</value>
                </sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction>
            </postTransactionAmounts>
            <ownershipNature>
                <directOrIndirectOwnership>
                    <value>D</value>
                    <footnoteId id="F2"/>
                </directOrIndirectOwnership>
            </ownershipNature>
        </nonDerivativeTransaction>
    </nonDerivativeTable>

    <footnotes>
        <footnote id="F1">Grant of restricted stock pursuant to 2003 Non-Employee Director Restricted Stock Plan</footnote>
        <footnote id="F2">Consisting of 22,000 shares held directly 12,000 of which were issued pursuant to the 2003 Non-Employee Director Restricted Stock Plan and 5,000 shares held by Ashley E. Romano UGTMA, for which the reporting person acts as custodian</footnote>
    </footnotes>

    <ownerSignature>
        <signatureName>Thomas J. Romano</signatureName>
        <signatureDate>2004-09-07</signatureDate>
    </ownerSignature>
</ownershipDocument>

</XML>
</TEXT>
</DOCUMENT>
</SEC-DOCUMENT>
-----END PRIVACY-ENHANCED MESSAGE-----