-----BEGIN PRIVACY-ENHANCED MESSAGE-----
Proc-Type: 2001,MIC-CLEAR
Originator-Name: webmaster@www.sec.gov
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MIC-Info: RSA-MD5,RSA,
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<SEC-DOCUMENT>0001104659-03-014716.txt : 20030714
<SEC-HEADER>0001104659-03-014716.hdr.sgml : 20030714
<ACCEPTANCE-DATETIME>20030714172858
ACCESSION NUMBER:		0001104659-03-014716
CONFORMED SUBMISSION TYPE:	4
PUBLIC DOCUMENT COUNT:		1
CONFORMED PERIOD OF REPORT:	20030710
FILED AS OF DATE:		20030714

ISSUER:		

	COMPANY DATA:	
		COMPANY CONFORMED NAME:			RFS HOTEL INVESTORS INC
		CENTRAL INDEX KEY:			0000906408
		STANDARD INDUSTRIAL CLASSIFICATION:	REAL ESTATE INVESTMENT TRUSTS [6798]
		IRS NUMBER:				621534743
		STATE OF INCORPORATION:			TN
		FISCAL YEAR END:			1231

	BUSINESS ADDRESS:	
		STREET 1:		850 RIDGE LAKE BLVD STE 220
		CITY:			MEMPHIS
		STATE:			TN
		ZIP:			38120
		BUSINESS PHONE:		9017677005

	MAIL ADDRESS:	
		STREET 1:		850 RIDGE LAKE BLVD STE 220
		CITY:			MEMPHIS
		STATE:			TN
		ZIP:			38120

REPORTING-OWNER:	

	OWNER DATA:	
		COMPANY CONFORMED NAME:			STARNES MICHAEL S
		CENTRAL INDEX KEY:			0000903874

	FILING VALUES:
		FORM TYPE:		4
		SEC ACT:		1934 Act
		SEC FILE NUMBER:	001-12011
		FILM NUMBER:		03785930

	BUSINESS ADDRESS:	
		STREET 1:		C/O UNION PLANTERS CORP
		STREET 2:		6200 POPLAR AVE
		CITY:			MEMPHIS
		STATE:			TN
		ZIP:			38119
		BUSINESS PHONE:		9015805769

	MAIL ADDRESS:	
		STREET 1:		C/O UNION PLANTERS CORP
		STREET 2:		6200 POPLAR AVE
		CITY:			MEMPHIS
		STATE:			TN
		ZIP:			38119
</SEC-HEADER>
<DOCUMENT>
<TYPE>4
<SEQUENCE>1
<FILENAME>a4.xml
<DESCRIPTION>4
<TEXT>
<XML>
<?xml version="1.0" encoding="utf-8"?>
<ownershipDocument>
    <schemaVersion>X0101</schemaVersion>

    <documentType>4</documentType>
  <periodOfReport>2003-07-10</periodOfReport>
  <notSubjectToSection16>1</notSubjectToSection16>
    <issuer>
        <issuerCik>0000906408</issuerCik>
        <issuerName>RFS HOTEL INVESTORS INC</issuerName>
        <issuerTradingSymbol>RFS</issuerTradingSymbol>
  </issuer>
  <reportingOwner>
    <reportingOwnerId>
            <rptOwnerCik>0000903874</rptOwnerCik>
            <rptOwnerName>STARNES MICHAEL S</rptOwnerName>
        </reportingOwnerId>
        <reportingOwnerAddress>
            <rptOwnerStreet1>  </rptOwnerStreet1>
            <rptOwnerStreet2>  </rptOwnerStreet2>
            <rptOwnerCity>  </rptOwnerCity>
            <rptOwnerState>  </rptOwnerState>
            <rptOwnerZipCode>  </rptOwnerZipCode>
        </reportingOwnerAddress>
            <reportingOwnerRelationship>
      <isDirector>1</isDirector>
      <isOfficer>0</isOfficer>
      <isTenPercentOwner>0</isTenPercentOwner>
      <isOther>0</isOther>
    </reportingOwnerRelationship>
  </reportingOwner>
  <nonDerivativeSecurity>
    <securityTitle>
      <value>Common Stock, $0.01 par value</value>
    </securityTitle>
    <transactionDate>
      <value>2003-07-10</value>
    </transactionDate>
    <transactionCoding>
      <transactionFormType>4</transactionFormType>
      <transactionCode>S</transactionCode>
      <equitySwapInvolved>0</equitySwapInvolved>
    </transactionCoding>
    <transactionTimeliness>
      <value/>
    </transactionTimeliness>
    <transactionAmounts>
      <transactionShares>
        <value>69500</value>
      </transactionShares>
      <transactionValue>
        <value>12.35</value>
      </transactionValue>
      <transactionAcquiredDisposedCode>
        <value>D</value>
      </transactionAcquiredDisposedCode>
    </transactionAmounts>
    <postTransactionAmounts>
      <sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction>
        <value>0</value>
      </sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction>
    </postTransactionAmounts>
    <ownershipNature>
      <directOrIndirectOwnership>
        <value>D</value>
      </directOrIndirectOwnership>
    </ownershipNature>
  </nonDerivativeSecurity>
  <derivativeSecurity>
    <securityTitle>
      <value>Common Stock Option</value>
      <footnoteId id="F1"/>
    </securityTitle>
    <conversionOrExercisePrice>
      <value>11.35</value>
    </conversionOrExercisePrice>
    <transactionDate>
      <value>2003-07-10</value>
    </transactionDate>
    <transactionCoding>
      <transactionFormType>4</transactionFormType>
      <transactionCode>X</transactionCode>
      <equitySwapInvolved>0</equitySwapInvolved>
    </transactionCoding>
    <transactionTimeliness>
      <value/>
    </transactionTimeliness>
    <transactionAmounts>
      <transactionShares>
        <value>10000</value>
      </transactionShares>
      <transactionValue>
        <value>12.35</value>
      </transactionValue>
      <transactionAcquiredDisposedCode>
        <value>D</value>
      </transactionAcquiredDisposedCode>
    </transactionAmounts>
    <exerciseDate>
      <value>2003-07-10</value>
    </exerciseDate>
    <expirationDate>
      <value>2003-07-10</value>
    </expirationDate>
    <underlyingSecurity>
      <underlyingSecurityTitle>
        <value>Common Stock</value>
      </underlyingSecurityTitle>
      <underlyingSecurityShares>
        <value>10000</value>
      </underlyingSecurityShares>
    </underlyingSecurity>
    <postTransactionAmounts>
      <sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction>
        <value>0</value>
      </sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction>
    </postTransactionAmounts>
    <ownershipNature>
      <directOrIndirectOwnership>
        <value>D</value>
      </directOrIndirectOwnership>
    </ownershipNature>
  </derivativeSecurity>
  <derivativeSecurity>
    <securityTitle>
      <value>Common Stock Option</value>
      <footnoteId id="F1"/>
    </securityTitle>
    <conversionOrExercisePrice>
      <value>13.15</value>
    </conversionOrExercisePrice>
    <transactionDate>
      <value>2003-07-10</value>
    </transactionDate>
    <transactionCoding>
      <transactionFormType>4</transactionFormType>
      <transactionCode>O</transactionCode>
      <equitySwapInvolved>0</equitySwapInvolved>
    </transactionCoding>
    <transactionTimeliness>
      <value/>
    </transactionTimeliness>
    <transactionAmounts>
      <transactionShares>
        <value>40000</value>
      </transactionShares>
      <transactionValue>
        <value>12.35</value>
      </transactionValue>
      <transactionAcquiredDisposedCode>
        <value>D</value>
      </transactionAcquiredDisposedCode>
    </transactionAmounts>
    <exerciseDate>
      <value>2003-07-10</value>
    </exerciseDate>
    <expirationDate>
      <value>2003-07-10</value>
    </expirationDate>
    <underlyingSecurity>
      <underlyingSecurityTitle>
        <value>Common Stock</value>
      </underlyingSecurityTitle>
      <underlyingSecurityShares>
        <value>40000</value>
      </underlyingSecurityShares>
    </underlyingSecurity>
    <postTransactionAmounts>
      <sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction>
        <value>0</value>
      </sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction>
    </postTransactionAmounts>
    <ownershipNature>
      <directOrIndirectOwnership>
        <value>D</value>
      </directOrIndirectOwnership>
    </ownershipNature>
  </derivativeSecurity>
  <footnotes>
    <footnote id="F1">All unvested portions of these options were accelerated pursuant to the terms of the merger agreement.  After such accelerated vesting, this option was cancelled in the merger in exchange for an aggregate cash payment of $10,000.00, representing the difference between the exercise price of the option and the per share merger consideration ($12.35 per share).  An additional 40,000 options, which were exercisable for a price greater than the merger consideration ($12.35 per share), were cancelled pursuant to the terms of the merger agreement without consideration above that which was paid for options listed in the table above.

</footnote>
  </footnotes>
  <ownerSignature>
    <signatureName>/s/ Michael S. Starnes</signatureName>
    <signatureDate>2003-07-10</signatureDate>
  </ownerSignature>
</ownershipDocument>

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