HPT Hospitality Properties Trust

DESCRIPTION OF THE NOTES

         The following description of the particular terms of the notes supplements and, to the extent inconsistent with, replaces the description of the general terms and provisions of debt securities set forth under "Description of Debt Securities" in the accompanying prospectus. Definitions of certain capitalized words used in discussing the terms of the notes appear below under "Description of the Notes—Certain Defined Terms." References in this section and in the defined terms to "HPT," "we," "our," and "us" mean Hospitality Properties Trust and not its subsidiaries.

General

        We will issue the notes under an Indenture dated as of February 3, 2016 and a supplemental indenture thereto, together, the Indenture, between us and U.S. Bank National Association, as trustee, or the Trustee. The Indenture is subject to, and governed by, the Trust Indenture Act of 1939, as amended. This prospectus supplement briefly summarizes some of the provisions of the Indenture. This summary is not complete. If you would like more information on these provisions, review the copy of our base indenture dated February 3, 2016 that we have filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission, or the SEC, and the supplemental indenture thereto relating to the notes that we will file with the SEC. See "Incorporation of Certain Information by Reference" and "Where You Can Find More Information" in this prospectus supplement and "Information Incorporated By Reference" and "Where You Can Find More Information" in the accompanying prospectus for information about how to locate these documents. You may also review the Indenture at the Trustee's corporate trust office at One Federal Street, 3 ^rd  Floor, Boston, Massachusetts 02110.

        The notes will be a separate series under the Indenture, initially in the aggregate principal amount of $            . The Indenture does not limit the amount of debt securities that we may issue under the Indenture, and we may issue debt securities in one or more series up to the aggregate initial offering price authorized by us for each series. We may, without the consent of the holders of the notes, reopen this series of notes and issue additional notes under the Indenture in addition to the notes initially authorized as of the date of this prospectus supplement. Any additional notes of this series will have the same terms as the notes offered by this prospectus supplement, except for issue date, issue price and, if applicable, date of the first payment of interest thereon and related interest accrual date. Any additional notes of this series would rank equally with the notes offered hereby; provided that if such additional notes are not fungible with the notes offered hereby for U.S. federal income tax purposes, or to the extent required by applicable securities laws or regulations or procedures of The Depository Trust Company, or DTC, such additional notes would have a different CUSIP number. Unless the context otherwise requires, references herein to "notes" are deemed to include any additional notes actually issued, to the extent appropriate.

        The notes will mature on                , 2028 (unless previously redeemed). The notes will be issued only in fully registered form without coupons, in denominations of $2,000 and integral multiples of $1,000 in excess thereof. The notes will be evidenced by a global note in book-entry form, except under the limited circumstances described below under "Description of the Notes—Book-Entry System and Form of Notes."

        The notes will be our senior unsecured obligations and will rank equally with all of our other existing and future unsecured and unsubordinated indebtedness outstanding from time to time. The notes will not be guaranteed by our subsidiaries. The notes will be effectively subordinated to our mortgages and other secured indebtedness, if any, and to all indebtedness and other liabilities and any preferred equity of our subsidiaries. Accordingly, such senior obligations will have to be satisfied in full before you will be able to realize any value from our secured or indirectly held properties.

        As of October     , 2017, on an adjusted basis after giving effect to the issuance of the notes and the application of the net proceeds thereof as described herein under "Use of Proceeds," our total

S-5

Table of Contents

outstanding indebtedness would have been approximately $             billion. As of such date, total indebtedness (excluding security and other deposits and guaranties) of our subsidiaries was less than $10.0 million. We and our subsidiaries may incur additional indebtedness, including secured indebtedness, subject to the provisions described below under "—Certain Covenants—Limitations on Incurrence of Debt."

        Except as described under "—Certain Covenants" in this prospectus supplement and "Description of Debt Securities—Additional Terms of Debt Securities Under Our 2016 Indenture and Future Indentures—Merger, Consolidation or Sale of Assets" in the accompanying prospectus, the Indenture does not contain any other provisions that would afford you protection in the event of (1) a highly leveraged or similar transaction involving us or any of our affiliates, (2) a change of control, or (3) a reorganization, restructuring, merger or similar transaction involving us that may adversely affect you. In addition, subject to the limitations set forth under "—Certain Covenants" in this prospectus supplement and "Description of Debt Securities—Additional Terms of Debt Securities Under Our 2016 Indenture and Future Indentures—Merger, Consolidation or Sale of Assets" in the accompanying prospectus, we may enter into certain transactions such as the sale of all or substantially all of our assets or a merger or consolidation that would increase the amount of our indebtedness or substantially reduce or eliminate our assets, which might have an adverse effect on our ability to service our indebtedness, including the notes. We have no present intention of engaging in a highly leveraged or similar transaction.

Interest and Maturity

        The notes will bear interest at the rate per annum set forth on the cover page of this prospectus supplement from the date the notes are issued, which we expect will be October     , 2017, or from the immediately preceding Interest Payment Date (as defined below) to which interest has been paid. Interest on the notes is payable semiannually in arrears on                and                of each year, or the Interest Payment Dates, beginning on                , 2018, to the persons in whose names the notes are registered at the close of business on                or                , as the case may be, immediately preceding the applicable Interest Payment Date, or the Regular Record Date, regardless of whether the Regular Record Date is a Business Day. Accrued interest is also payable on the date of maturity or earlier redemption of the notes. Interest on the notes will be computed on the basis of a 360-day year consisting of twelve 30-day months. Unless previously redeemed, the notes will mature on                , 2028. If any Interest Payment Date, stated maturity date or redemption date falls on a day that is not a Business Day, the payment will be made on the next Business Day and no interest will accrue for the period from and after such Interest Payment Date, stated maturity date or redemption date.

        Payments of principal, premium, if any, and interest to holders of book-entry interests in the notes in global form will be made in accordance with the procedures of DTC and its participants in effect from time to time. See "—Book-Entry System and Form of Notes" below and "Description of Debt Securities—Global Debt Securities" in the accompanying prospectus.

Optional Redemption of the Notes

        We may redeem the notes at our option in whole or in part at any time and from time to time before they mature. The redemption price will equal the outstanding principal amount of the notes being redeemed, plus accrued and unpaid interest, if any, from the date of initial issuance, or the most recent date to which interest has been paid or provided for, whichever is later, to, but not including, the redemption date, plus the Make-Whole Amount, if any. If the notes are redeemed on or after                , 2027 (six months prior to their stated maturity date), the Make-Whole Amount will equal zero.

S-6

Table of Contents

        We are required to give notice of such a redemption not less than 30 days nor more than 60 days prior to the redemption date to each holder's address appearing in the securities register maintained by the Trustee or, in the case of book-entry interests in notes in global form, in accordance with the procedures of DTC and its participants in effect from time to time. In the event we elect to redeem less than all of the notes, the particular notes to be redeemed will be selected by the Trustee by such method as the Trustee shall deem appropriate and in accordance with the procedures of DTC and its participants in effect from time to time. See "—Book-Entry System and Form of Notes" below and "Description of Debt Securities—Global Debt Securities" in the accompanying prospectus.

        We are not required to make any sinking fund or redemption payments prior to the stated maturity of the notes.

Certain Covenants

        Limitations on Incurrence of Debt.     HPT will not, and will not permit any Subsidiary to, incur any Debt if, immediately after giving effect to the incurrence of such additional Debt and the application of the proceeds therefrom, the aggregate principal amount of all outstanding Debt of HPT and its Subsidiaries on a consolidated basis determined in accordance with GAAP is greater than 60% of the sum of (without duplication):

(1)

the Total Assets of HPT and its Subsidiaries as of the end of the fiscal quarter covered in HPT's Annual Report on Form 10-K, or its Quarterly Report on Form 10-Q, as the case may be, most recently filed with the SEC (or, if such filing is not permitted or required under the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended, or the Exchange Act, with the Trustee) prior to the incurrence of such additional Debt; and



(2)

the purchase price of any real estate assets or mortgages receivable acquired, and the amount of any securities offering proceeds received (to the extent that such proceeds were not used to acquire real estate assets or mortgages receivable or used to reduce Debt), by HPT or any Subsidiary since the end of such fiscal quarter, including those proceeds obtained in connection with the incurrence of such additional Debt.

The sum of (1) and (2) is our "Adjusted Total Assets."

        HPT will not, and will not permit any Subsidiary to, incur any Secured Debt if, immediately after giving effect to the incurrence of such additional Secured Debt and the application of the proceeds therefrom, the aggregate principal amount of all outstanding Secured Debt of HPT and its Subsidiaries on a consolidated basis determined in accordance with GAAP is greater than 40% of Adjusted Total Assets.

        HPT will not, and will not permit any Subsidiary to, incur any Debt if, immediately after giving effect to the incurrence of such additional Debt and on a pro forma basis, including the application of the proceeds therefrom, the ratio of Consolidated Income Available for Debt Service to the Annual Debt Service for the four consecutive fiscal quarters most recently ended prior to the date on which such additional Debt is to be incurred is less than 1.5 to 1.0, calculated on the assumptions that:

(1)

such Debt and any other Debt incurred by HPT and its Subsidiaries on a consolidated basis since the first day of such four-quarter period and the application of the proceeds therefrom, including to refinance other Debt, had occurred at the beginning of such period,



(2)

the repayment, retirement or other discharge of any other Debt by HPT and its Subsidiaries on a consolidated basis since the first day of such four-quarter period had occurred at the beginning of such period (except that, in making such computation, the amount of Debt under any revolving credit facility shall be computed based upon the average daily balance of such Debt during such period),

S-7

Table of Contents

(3)

in the case of Acquired Debt or Debt incurred in connection with or in contemplation of any acquisition, including any Person becoming a Subsidiary, since the first day of such four-quarter period, the related acquisition had occurred as of the first day of such period with appropriate adjustments with respect to such acquisition being included in such pro forma calculation, and



(4)

in the case of any acquisition or disposition by HPT and its Subsidiaries of any asset or group of assets since the first day of such four-quarter period, whether by merger, stock purchase or sale, or asset purchase or sale, such acquisition or disposition or any related repayment of Debt had occurred as of the first day of such period with the appropriate adjustments with respect to such acquisition or disposition being included in such pro forma calculation.

        If the Debt giving rise to the need to make the foregoing calculation or any other Debt incurred after the first day of the relevant four-quarter period bears interest at a floating interest rate, then, for purposes of calculating the Annual Debt Service, the interest rate on such Debt will be computed on a pro forma basis as if the average interest rate which would have been in effect during the entirety of such four-quarter period had been the applicable rate for the entirety of such period.

        Maintenance of Total Unencumbered Assets.     HPT and its Subsidiaries will at all times maintain Total Unencumbered Assets of not less than 150% of the aggregate outstanding principal amount of the Unsecured Debt of HPT and its Subsidiaries on a consolidated basis in accordance with GAAP.

        Provision of Financial Information.     Whether or not HPT remains required to do so under the Exchange Act, it will transmit by mail to all holders, without cost, and file with the Trustee copies of all annual, quarterly and other reports and financial statements it would have been required to file with the SEC pursuant to the Exchange Act and promptly upon written request and payment of the reasonable cost of duplication and delivery, supply copies of such documents to any prospective holder; provided that HPT may satisfy the foregoing requirements by making the materials available on the SEC's EDGAR system or on HPT's website within the time periods specified in the Indenture. If the notes become guaranteed by any direct or indirect parent company of HPT, HPT may satisfy its obligations under this covenant with respect to financial information relating to HPT by furnishing financial information relating to such direct or indirect parent company.

Merger, Consolidation or Sale of Assets

        The provisions of the Indenture relating to certain mergers and consolidations, and certain sales of our assets, described under "Description of Debt Securities—Additional Terms of Debt Securities Under Our 2016 Indenture and Future Indentures—Merger, Consolidation or Sale of Assets" in the accompanying prospectus will apply to the notes.

Events of Default, Notice and Waiver

        The Indenture provides that the following events are "events of default" with respect to the notes:

(1)

default in the payment of principal of or any premium on the notes when due and payable;



(2)

default for 30 days in the payment of any installment of interest payable on the notes when due and payable;



(3)

default in the performance of, or breach of, any covenant of HPT contained in the Indenture with respect to the notes (not including a covenant added to the Indenture solely for the benefit of a series of debt other than the notes), which continues for 60 days after HPT receives a notice of default or breach as provided in the Indenture stating HPT is in default or breach and requiring that it be remedied;

S-8

Table of Contents

(4)

default under any bond, debenture, note or other evidence of indebtedness of HPT, or under any mortgage, indenture or other instrument of HPT (including a default with respect to debt securities issued under the Indenture other than the notes) under which there may be issued or by which there may be secured any indebtedness of HPT (or by any subsidiary, the repayment of which HPT has guaranteed or for which HPT is directly responsible or liable as obligor or guarantor), whether such indebtedness now exists or is created by the Indenture, which default constitutes a failure to pay an aggregate principal amount exceeding $50 million after the expiration of any applicable grace period, and which default results in the acceleration of the maturity of such indebtedness; such default is not an event of default if the other indebtedness is discharged, or the acceleration is rescinded or annulled, within a period of 10 days after HPT receives notice as provided in the Indenture specifying the default and requiring that HPT discharge the other indebtedness or cause the acceleration to be rescinded or annulled; or



(5)

certain specified events of bankruptcy, insolvency or reorganization, or court appointment of a receiver, liquidator or trustee of HPT or any Significant Subsidiary or for all or substantially all of either of their property.

        Upon acceleration of the notes in accordance with the terms of the Indenture following the occurrence of an event of default, the principal amount of the notes, plus accrued and unpaid interest thereon, will become due and payable. See "Description of Debt Securities—Additional Terms of Debt Securities Under Our 2016 Indenture and Future Indentures—Events of Default and Related Matters" in the accompanying prospectus for a description of rights, remedies and other matters relating to events of default.

Modification of the Indenture and Notes

        The Indenture and debt securities issued thereunder, including the notes described in this prospectus supplement, may be amended or otherwise changed in various circumstances, in some cases without the consent of holders of those debt securities and in some cases subject to the consent of some or all affected holders, as described under "Description of Debt Securities—Additional Terms of Debt Securities Under Our 2016 Indenture and Future Indentures—Modification of an Indenture" in the accompanying prospectus.

Discharge, Defeasance and Covenant Defeasance

        The provisions of the Indenture relating to defeasance and covenant defeasance described under "Description of Debt Securities—Additional Terms of Debt Securities Under Our 2016 Indenture and Future Indentures—Discharge, Defeasance and Covenant Defeasance" in the accompanying prospectus will apply to the notes.

Book-Entry System and Form of Notes

        The notes will initially be issued in the form of one or more fully registered global notes without coupons that will be deposited with or on behalf of DTC and registered in the name of its nominee, Cede & Co. This means that we will not issue certificates to each holder of notes. Each global note will be issued to DTC, which will keep a computerized record of its participants (for example, your broker) whose clients have purchased the notes. The participant will then keep a record of its clients who purchased the notes. Unless it is exchanged in whole or in part for a certificated note, each global note may not be transferred, except that DTC, its nominees, and their successors may transfer a global note in whole to one another. Beneficial interests in a global note will be shown on, and transfers of a global note will be made only through, records maintained by DTC and its participants. Additional

S-9

Table of Contents

information about notes in global form, DTC and the book-entry system is contained in the accompanying prospectus under the heading "Description of Debt Securities—Global Debt Securities."

Certain Defined Terms

        The following defined terms relate only to, and should be read in conjunction with the description of, the notes.

         "Acquired Debt" means Debt of a Person (1) existing at the time such Person becomes a Subsidiary or (2) assumed in connection with the acquisition of assets from such Person, in each case, other than Debt incurred in connection with, or in contemplation of, such Person becoming a Subsidiary or such acquisition. Acquired Debt is deemed to be incurred on the date of the related acquisition of assets from any Person or the date the acquired Person becomes a Subsidiary.

        " Adjusted Total Assets " is defined above under "—Certain Covenants—Limitations on Incurrence of Debt."

        " Affiliate " of any specified Person means any other Person directly or indirectly controlling or controlled by or under direct or indirect common control with such specified Person. For the purposes of this definition, "control" when used with respect to any specified Person means the power to direct the management and policies of such Person, directly or indirectly, whether through the ownership of voting securities, by contract or otherwise; and the terms "controlling" and "controlled" have meanings correlative to the foregoing.

        " Annual Debt Service " as of any date means the maximum amount which is expensed in any 12-month period for interest on Debt of HPT and its Subsidiaries, excluding amortization of debt discounts and deferred financing costs.

        " Business Day " means any day other than a Saturday or Sunday or a day on which banking institutions in The City of New York or in the city in which the corporate trust office of the Trustee is located are required or authorized to close.

        " Capital Stock " means, with respect to any Person, any capital stock (including preferred stock), shares, interests, participation or other ownership interests (however designated) of such Person and any rights (other than debt securities convertible into or exchangeable for capital stock), warrants or options to purchase any thereof.

        " Cash Equivalents " means demand deposits, certificates of deposit or repurchase agreements with banks or other financial institutions, marketable obligations issued or directly and fully guaranteed as to timely payment by the United States of America or any of its agencies or instrumentalities, or any commercial paper or other obligation rated, at time of purchase, "P-2" (or its equivalent) or better by Moody's or "A-2" (or its equivalent) or better by Standard & Poor's.

        " Consolidated Income Available for Debt Service " for any period means Earnings from Operations of HPT and its Subsidiaries plus amounts which have been deducted, and minus amounts which have been added, for the following (without duplication): (1) interest on Debt of HPT and its Subsidiaries, (2) cash reserves made by lessees as required by HPT's leases for periodic replacement and refurbishment of HPT's assets, (3) provision for taxes of HPT and its Subsidiaries based on income, (4) amortization of debt discounts and deferred financing costs, (5) provisions for gains and losses on properties and property depreciation and amortization, (6) the effect of any noncash charge resulting from a change in accounting principles in determining Earnings from Operations for such period and (7) amortization of deferred charges.

S-10

Table of Contents

        " Debt " of HPT or any Subsidiary means, without duplication, any indebtedness of HPT or any Subsidiary, whether or not contingent, in respect of:

(1)

borrowed money or evidenced by bonds, notes, debentures or similar instruments,



(2)

indebtedness for borrowed money secured by any Encumbrance existing on property owned by HPT or any Subsidiary, to the extent of the lesser of (x) the amount of indebtedness so secured or (y) the fair market value of the property subject to such Encumbrance,



(3)

the reimbursement obligations, contingent or otherwise, in connection with any letters of credit actually issued (other than letters of credit issued to provide credit enhancement or support with respect to other indebtedness of HPT or any Subsidiary otherwise reflected as Debt hereunder) or amounts representing the balance deferred and unpaid of the purchase price of any property or services, except any such balance that constitutes an accrued expense or trade payable, or all conditional sale obligations or obligations under any title retention agreement,



(4)

the principal amount of all obligations of HPT or any Subsidiary with respect to redemption, repayment or other repurchase of any Disqualified Stock, or



(5)

any lease of property by HPT or any Subsidiary as lessee which is reflected on HPT's consolidated balance sheet as a capitalized lease in accordance with GAAP,

to the extent, in the case of items of indebtedness under (1) through (5) above, that any such items (other than letters of credit) would be properly classified as a liability on HPT's consolidated balance sheet in accordance with GAAP. Debt also (1) excludes any indebtedness (A) with respect to which a defeasance or covenant defeasance or discharge has been effected (or an irrevocable deposit is made with a trustee in an amount at least equal to the outstanding principal amount of such indebtedness, the remaining scheduled payments of interest thereon to, but not including, the applicable maturity date or redemption date, and any premium or otherwise as provided in the terms of such indebtedness) in accordance with the terms thereof or which has been repurchased, retired, repaid, redeemed, irrevocably called for redemption (and an irrevocable deposit is made with a trustee in an amount at least equal to the outstanding principal amount of such indebtedness, the remaining scheduled payments of interest thereon to, but not including, such redemption date, and any premium) or otherwise satisfied or (B) that is secured by cash or Cash Equivalents irrevocably deposited with a trustee in an amount, in the case of this clause (B), at least equal to the outstanding principal amount of such indebtedness and the remaining scheduled payments of interest thereon and (2) includes, to the extent not otherwise included, any obligation by HPT or any Subsidiary to be liable for, or to pay, as obligor, guarantor or otherwise (other than for purposes of collection in the ordinary course of business), Debt of another Person (other than HPT or any Subsidiary) (it being understood that Debt shall be deemed to be incurred by HPT or any Subsidiary whenever HPT or such Subsidiary shall create, assume, guarantee or otherwise become liable in respect thereof).

        " Disqualified Stock " means, with respect to any Person, any Capital Stock of such Person which by the terms of such Capital Stock (or by the terms of any security into which it is convertible or for which it is exchangeable or exercisable), upon the happening of any event or otherwise, (1) matures or is mandatorily redeemable, pursuant to a sinking fund obligation or otherwise (other than Capital Stock which is redeemable solely in exchange for Capital Stock which is not Disqualified Stock or for Subordinated Debt), (2) is convertible into or exchangeable or exercisable for Debt, other than Subordinated Debt, or Disqualified Stock, or (3) is redeemable at the option of the holder thereof, in whole or in part (other than Capital Stock which is redeemable solely in exchange for Capital Stock which is not Disqualified Stock or for Subordinated Debt), in each case on or prior to the stated maturity of the principal of the notes.

S-11

Table of Contents

        " Earnings from Operations " for any period means net earnings excluding gains and losses on sales of investments, extraordinary items, gains and losses from early extinguishment of debt and property valuation losses, in each case as reflected in the financial statements of HPT and its Subsidiaries for such period, determined on a consolidated basis in accordance with GAAP.

        " Encumbrance " means any mortgage, lien, charge, pledge, security interest or other encumbrance of any kind.

        " GAAP " means generally accepted accounting principles in the United States, which were generally accepted at February 3, 2016, which is the date on which securities were initially issued by HPT under the Indenture, dated February 3, 2016, between HPT and U.S. Bank National Association, as trustee.

        " Joint Venture Interests " means assets of HPT and its Subsidiaries constituting an equity investment in real estate assets or other properties, or in an entity holding real estate assets or other properties, jointly owned by HPT and its Subsidiaries, on the one hand, and one or more other Persons not constituting HPT's Affiliates, on the other hand, excluding any entity or properties (1) which is a Subsidiary or are properties if the co-ownership thereof (if in a separate entity) would constitute or would have constituted a Subsidiary, or (2) to which, at the time of determination, HPT's manager at such time or an Affiliate of HPT's manager at such time provides management services. In no event shall Joint Venture Interests include equity securities that are part of a class of equity securities that are traded on a national or regional securities exchange or a recognized over-the-counter market or any investments in debt securities, mortgages or other Debt.

        " Make-Whole Amount " means, in connection with any optional redemption of any notes prior to                , 2027, the excess, if any, of (i) the aggregate present value as of the date of such redemption of each dollar of principal being redeemed and the amount of interest (exclusive of interest accrued to the date of redemption) that would have been payable in respect of such dollar if such redemption had been made on                , 2027, determined by discounting, on a semiannual basis, such principal and interest at the Reinvestment Rate (determined on the third Business Day preceding the date such notice of redemption is given) from the respective dates on which such principal and interest would have been payable if such redemption had been made on                , 2027, over (ii) the aggregate principal amount of the notes being redeemed. In the case of any redemption of the notes on or after                 , 2027, the Make-Whole Amount equals zero.

        " Moody's " means Moody's Investors Service, Inc., or any successor thereof.

        " Person " means any individual, corporation, partnership, limited liability company, joint venture, association, joint-stock company, trust, unincorporated organization or government or any agency or political subdivision thereof.

        " Reinvestment Rate " means a rate per annum equal to the sum of      % (            one hundredths of one percent) plus the yield on treasury securities at constant maturity under the heading "Week Ending" published in the Statistical Release under the caption "Treasury Constant Maturities" for the maturity (rounded to the nearest month) corresponding to the remaining life to maturity (which, in the case of maturities corresponding to the principal and interest due on the notes at their maturity, shall be deemed to be                 , 2027), as of the payment date of the principal being redeemed. If no maturity exactly corresponds to such maturity, yields for the two published maturities most closely corresponding to such maturity shall be calculated pursuant to the immediately preceding sentence and the Reinvestment Rate shall be interpolated or extrapolated from such yields on a straight-line basis, rounding in each of such relevant periods to the nearest month. For purposes of calculating the Reinvestment Rate, the most recent Statistical Release published prior to the date of determination of the Make-Whole Amount shall be used.

S-12

Table of Contents

        " Secured Debt " means Debt of HPT or its Subsidiaries secured by an Encumbrance on the property of HPT or its Subsidiaries.

        " Significant Subsidiary " means any Subsidiary which is a "significant subsidiary" (within the meaning of Regulation S-X, promulgated by the SEC under the Securities Act of 1933, as amended) of HPT.

        " Standard & Poor's " means Standard & Poor's Ratings Services, a Standard & Poor's Financial Services LLC business, or any successor thereof.

        " Statistical Release " means the statistical release designated "H.15(519)" or any successor publication which is published weekly by the Federal Reserve System and which establishes yields on actively traded United States government securities adjusted to constant maturities or, if such statistical release is not published at the time of any determination under the Indenture, then any publicly available source of similar market data which shall be designated by HPT.

        " Subordinated Debt " means Debt which by the terms of such Debt is subordinated in right of payment to the principal of and interest and premium, if any, on the notes.

        " Subsidiary " means any corporation or other Person of which a majority of (1) the voting power of the voting equity securities or (2) the outstanding equity interests of which are owned, directly or indirectly, by HPT or one or more other Subsidiaries of HPT. For the purposes of this definition, "voting equity securities" means equity securities having voting power for the election of directors or persons serving comparable functions as directors, whether at all times or only so long as no senior class of security has such voting power by reason of any contingency.

        " Total Assets " as of any date means the sum of (1) the Undepreciated Real Estate Assets and (2) all other assets of HPT and its Subsidiaries determined in accordance with GAAP (but excluding accounts receivable and intangibles).

        " Total Unencumbered Assets " as of any date means the sum of (1) Undepreciated Real Estate Assets not securing any portion of Secured Debt and (2) the amount of all other assets of HPT and its Subsidiaries not securing any portion of Secured Debt, in each case on such date determined on a consolidated basis in accordance with GAAP (but excluding accounts receivable and intangibles); provided that, in determining Total Unencumbered Assets as a percentage of the aggregate outstanding principal amount of the Unsecured Debt of HPT and its Subsidiaries on a consolidated basis for purposes of the covenant set forth above under "—Certain Covenants—Maintenance of Total Unencumbered Assets," Joint Venture Interests shall be excluded from Total Unencumbered Assets to the extent such Joint Venture Interests would otherwise be included therein.

        " Undepreciated Real Estate Assets " as of any date means the cost (original cost plus capital improvements) of real estate assets of HPT and its Subsidiaries on such date, before depreciation and amortization determined on a consolidated basis in accordance with GAAP.

        " Unsecured Debt " means any Debt of HPT or its Subsidiaries which is not Secured Debt.

S-13

Table of Contents

DESCRIPTION OF DEBT SECURITIES

General

        References in this "Description of Debt Securities" section to "we," "us," "our" or "HPT" mean Hospitality Properties Trust and not any of its consolidated subsidiaries, unless the context otherwise requires. The following is a summary of some general terms and provisions of debt securities that we may offer by this prospectus. Because it is a summary, it does not contain all of the information that may be important to you. If you want more information, you should read our Indenture dated February 3, 2016, as from time to time hereafter amended, supplemented or otherwise modified, or the 2016 Indenture, our Indenture dated February 25, 1998, as from time to time hereafter amended, supplemented or otherwise modified, or the 1998 Indenture, or the forms of indentures which we have filed as exhibits to the registration statement of which this prospectus is a part. If we issue debt securities, we will file any additional final indentures, and any supplemental indentures or officer's certificates related to the particular series of debt securities issued, as may be necessary, with the SEC, and you should read those documents for further information about the terms and provisions of such debt securities. See "Where You Can Find More Information." This summary is also subject to and qualified by reference to the descriptions of the particular terms of our debt securities to be described in the applicable prospectus supplement. The applicable prospectus supplement may add to, update or change the terms of such debt securities from those described below.

        The debt securities sold under this prospectus will be our direct obligations and, unless otherwise stated in a prospectus supplement, will not be obligations of any of our subsidiaries. Such debt obligations may be secured or unsecured, and may be senior or subordinated indebtedness. Our debt securities will be issued under one or more indentures between us and a trustee, including our 2016 Indenture and our 1998 Indenture. Any indenture will be subject to and governed by the Trust Indenture Act of 1939, as amended, or the Trust Indenture Act. The statements made in this prospectus relating to our 2016 Indenture, our 1998 Indenture and any future indentures and the debt securities to be issued thereunder are summaries of certain anticipated provisions of such indentures and are not complete.

        We may issue debt securities that rank "senior," "senior subordinated" or "junior subordinated," and which may be convertible into another security. The debt securities that we refer to as "senior" will be direct obligations of HPT and will rank equally and ratably in right of payment with our other indebtedness that is not subordinated, without giving effect to collateral arrangements. We may issue debt securities that will be subordinated in right of payment to the prior payment in full of our senior debt, as defined in the applicable prospectus supplement, and may rank equally and ratably with our other senior subordinated indebtedness, if any, without giving effect to collateral arrangements. We refer to these as "senior subordinated" securities. We may also issue debt securities that may be subordinated in right of payment to the senior subordinated securities. These would be "junior subordinated" securities. We have filed with the registration statement, of which this prospectus is a part, three separate types of indentures, one for the senior securities (including our 2016 Indenture and

9

Table of Contents

our 1998 Indenture), a form for the senior subordinated securities and a form for the junior subordinated securities.

        We may issue debt securities without limit as to aggregate principal amount, in one or more series, in each case as we establish in one or more supplemental indentures. We need not issue all debt securities of one series at the same time. Unless we otherwise provide, we may reopen a series, without the consent of the holders of the series, for issuances of additional securities of that series.

        Our 2016 Indenture and our 1998 Indenture provide, and we anticipate that any future indenture will provide, that we may, but need not, designate more than one trustee under an indenture, each with respect to one or more series of debt securities. Any trustee under any indenture may resign or be removed with respect to one or more series of debt securities, and we will appoint a successor trustee to act with respect to any such series.

        The applicable prospectus supplement will describe the specific terms relating to the series of debt securities we will offer, including, where applicable, the following:

•

the title and series designation and whether they are senior securities, senior subordinated securities or junior subordinated securities;



•

the aggregate principal amount of the debt securities offered and any limit on the aggregate principal amount of that series that may be authenticated and delivered;



•

the percentage of the principal amount at which we will issue the debt securities and, if other than the principal amount of the debt securities, the portion of the principal amount of the debt securities payable upon maturity of the debt securities;



•

if convertible, the initial conversion price, the conversion period and any other terms governing such conversion;



•

the stated maturity date;



•

any fixed or variable interest rate or rates per annum;



•

whether such interest will be payable in cash or additional debt securities of the same series or will accrue and increase the aggregate principal amount outstanding of such series;



•

the place where principal, premium, if any, and interest will be payable and where the debt securities can be surrendered for transfer, exchange or conversion;



•

the date from which interest may accrue and any interest payment dates and any related record dates;



•

any sinking fund requirements;



•

any provisions for redemption or repurchase, including the redemption or repurchase price;



•

whether the debt securities are denominated or payable in U.S. dollars, a foreign currency or units of two or more currencies;



•

whether the amount of payments of principal of or premium, if any, or interest on the debt securities may be determined with reference to an index, formula or other method and the manner in which such amounts shall be determined;



•

the events of default and covenants of the debt securities, to the extent different from or in addition to those described in this prospectus;



•

whether we will issue the debt securities in certificated or book-entry form;

10

Table of Contents

•

whether the debt securities will be in registered or bearer form and, if in registered form, the denominations, if other than $2,000 (or $1,000 in the case of debt securities issued under our1998 Indenture) and integral multiples of $1,000 in excess thereof, or, if in bearer form, the denominations and terms and conditions relating thereto;



•

whether we will issue any of the debt securities in permanent global form and, if so, the terms and conditions, if any, upon which interests in the global security may be exchanged, in whole or in part, for the individual debt securities represented by the global security;



•

any addition or change to the provisions relating to the defeasance or covenant defeasance provisions of, or the satisfaction and discharge of, the debt securities;



•

whether we will pay additional amounts on the debt securities in respect of any tax, assessment or governmental charge and, if so, whether we will have the option to redeem the debt securities instead of making this payment;



•

the subordination provisions, if any, relating to the debt securities;



•

if the debt securities are to be issued upon the exercise of warrants, the time, manner and place for such debt securities to be authenticated and delivered;



•

any restriction or condition on the transferability of debt securities;



•

any addition or change to the provisions related to compensation and reimbursement of the trustee which applies to the debt securities;



•

any addition or change to the provisions related to supplemental indentures both with and without the consent of the holders;



•

provisions, if any, granting special rights to holders upon the occurrence of specified events;



•

any addition or change to the events of default which applies to any debt securities and any change in the right of the trustee or the requisite holders of such debt securities to declare the principal amount thereof due and payable pursuant to the indenture;



•

any addition or change to the covenants set forth in the indenture, or described in this prospectus or any prospectus supplement with respect to such series of debt securities; and



•

any other terms of debt securities of such series (which terms will not be inconsistent with the provisions of the Trust Indenture Act, but may modify, amend, supplement or delete any of the terms of the indenture, including those described in this prospectus or any prospectus supplement, with respect to such series).

        We will describe in the applicable prospectus supplement any material U.S. federal income tax considerations applicable to the debt securities offered by such prospectus supplement.

        We may issue debt securities at less than the principal amount payable at maturity. We refer to these securities as "original issue discount" securities. If material or applicable, we will describe in the applicable prospectus supplement special U.S. federal income tax considerations applicable to original issue discount securities.

        Except as may be described in any prospectus supplement, our 2016 Indenture and our 1998 Indenture do not, and any future indenture will not, contain any other provisions that would limit our ability to incur indebtedness or that would afford holders of the debt securities protection in the event of a highly leveraged or similar transaction involving us or in the event of a change in control. You should review carefully the applicable prospectus supplement for information with respect to events of default and covenants applicable to the debt securities being offered.

11

Table of Contents

Conversion and Exchange Rights

        The terms and conditions, if any, upon which the debt securities are convertible into or exchangeable for common or preferred shares, other debt securities or other property will be set forth in the applicable prospectus supplement. Such terms will include whether the debt securities are convertible into or exchangeable for common or preferred shares, other debt securities or other property, the conversion or exchange price (or manner of calculation thereof), the conversion or exchange period, whether conversion or exchange will be at the option of the holders, the events requiring an adjustment of the conversion or exchange price, provisions affecting conversion or exchange in the event of the redemption of such debt securities and any restrictions on conversion or exchange, including restrictions directed at maintaining our REIT status under the Internal Revenue Code of 1986, as amended, or the Code.

Subordination

        We will describe in the applicable prospectus supplement the terms and conditions, if any, upon which any series of senior subordinated securities or junior subordinated securities is subordinated to debt securities of another series or to our other indebtedness. The terms will include a description of:

•

the indebtedness ranking senior to the debt securities being offered;



•

the restrictions, if any, on payments to the holders of the debt securities being offered while a default with respect to the senior indebtedness is continuing;



•

the restrictions, if any, on payments to the holders of the debt securities being offered following an event of default with respect to such debt securities; and



•

provisions requiring holders of the debt securities being offered to remit payments to holders of senior indebtedness.

Global Debt Securities

        We may issue the debt securities of a series in whole or in part in the form of one or more registered global securities that we will deposit with a depositary or with a nominee for a depositary identified in the applicable prospectus supplement and registered in the name of such depositary or nominee. In such case, we will issue one or more registered global securities denominated in an amount equal to the aggregate principal amount of all of the debt securities of the series to be issued and represented by such registered global security or securities.

        Unless and until it is exchanged in whole or in part for debt securities in definitive registered form, a registered global security may not be transferred except as a whole:

•

by the depositary for such registered global security to its nominee;



•

by a nominee of the depositary to the depositary or another nominee of the depositary; or



•

by the depositary or its nominee to a successor of the depositary or a nominee of the successor.

        The prospectus supplement relating to a series of debt securities will describe the specific terms of the depositary arrangement with respect to any portion of such series represented by a registered global security. We currently anticipate that the following provisions will apply to all depositary arrangements for debt securities:

•

ownership of beneficial interests in a registered global security will be limited to persons that have accounts with the depositary for the registered global security, those persons being referred to as "participants," or persons that may hold interests through participants;

12

Table of Contents

•

upon the issuance of a registered global security, the depositary for the registered global security will credit, on its book-entry registration and transfer system, the participants' accounts with the respective principal amounts of the debt securities represented by the registered global security beneficially owned by the participants;



•

any dealers, underwriters or agents participating in the distribution of the debt securities will designate the accounts to be credited; and



•

ownership of any beneficial interest in the registered global security will be shown on, and the transfer of any ownership interest will be effected only through, records maintained by the depositary for the registered global security (with respect to interests of participants) and on the records of participants (with respect to interests of persons holding through participants).

        The laws of some states may require that certain purchasers of securities take physical delivery of the securities in definitive form. These laws may limit the ability of those persons to own, transfer or pledge beneficial interests in registered global securities.

        So long as the depositary for a registered global security, or its nominee, is the registered owner of the registered global security, the depositary or the nominee, as the case may be, will be considered the sole owner or holder of the debt securities represented by the registered global security for all purposes under the applicable indenture. Except as set forth below, owners of beneficial interests in a registered global security:

•

will not be entitled to have the debt securities represented by a registered global security registered in their names;



•

will not receive or be entitled to receive physical delivery of the debt securities in the definitive form; and



•

will not be considered the owners or holders of the debt securities under the applicable indenture.

        Accordingly, each person owning a beneficial interest in a registered global security must rely on the procedures of the depositary for the registered global security and, if the person is not a participant, on the procedures of a participant through which the person owns its interest, to exercise any rights of a holder under the applicable indenture.

        We understand that under currently existing industry practices, if we request any action of holders or if an owner of a beneficial interest in a registered global security desires to give or take any action that a holder is entitled to give or take under an indenture, the depositary for the registered global security would authorize the participants holding the relevant beneficial interests to give or take the action, and those participants would authorize beneficial owners owning through those participants to give or take the action or would otherwise act upon the instructions of beneficial owners holding through them.

        We will make payments of principal of and premium, if any, and interest, if any, on debt securities represented by a registered global security registered in the name of a depositary or its nominee to the depositary or its nominee, as the case may be, as the registered owners of the registered global security. Neither we nor any trustee or any other agent of us or a trustee will be responsible or liable for any aspect of the records relating to, or payments made on account of, beneficial ownership interests in the registered global security or for maintaining, supervising or reviewing any records relating to the beneficial ownership interests.

        We expect that the depositary for any debt securities represented by a registered global security, upon receipt of any payments of principal and premium, if any, and interest, if any, in respect of the registered global security, will immediately credit participants' accounts with payments in amounts

13

Table of Contents

proportionate to their respective beneficial interests in the registered global security as shown on the records of the depositary. We also expect that standing customer instructions and customary practices will govern payments by participants to owners of beneficial interests in the registered global security held through the participants, as is now the case with the securities held for the accounts of customers in bearer form or registered in "street name." We also expect that any of these payments will be the responsibility of the participants.

        Under our 2016 Indenture and any future final indenture, no registered global security may be exchanged in whole or in part for debt securities registered, and no transfer of a registered global security in whole or in part may be registered, in the name of any person other than the depositary for such registered global security, unless (1) such depositary notifies us that it is unwilling or unable to continue as depositary for such registered global security or has ceased to be a clearing agency registered under the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended, or the Exchange Act, and we fail to appoint an eligible successor depositary within 90 days, (2) an event of default shall have occurred and be continuing with respect to such debt securities, or (3) circumstances, if any, exist in addition to or in lieu of the foregoing as have been specified for that purpose in an applicable prospectus supplement. In any such case, the affected registered global security may be exchanged in whole or in part for debt securities in definitive form and the applicable trustee will register any such debt securities in such name or names as such depositary directs.

        Under our 1998 Indenture, if the depositary for any debt securities represented by a registered global security is at any time unwilling or unable to continue as depositary or ceases to be a clearing agency registered under the Exchange Act, we will appoint an eligible successor depositary. If we fail to appoint an eligible successor depositary within 90 days, we will issue the debt securities in definitive form in exchange for the registered global security. In addition, we may at any time and in our sole discretion decide not to have any of the debt securities of a series represented by one or more registered global securities. In such event, we will issue debt securities of that series in a definitive form in exchange for all of the registered global securities representing the debt securities. The applicable trustee will register any debt securities issued in definitive form in exchange for a registered global security in such name or names as the depositary, based upon instructions from its participants, shall instruct such trustee.

        We currently anticipate that certain registered global securities will be deposited with, or on behalf of, The Depository Trust Company, New York, New York, or DTC, and will be registered in the name of Cede & Co., as the nominee of DTC. DTC has advised us that DTC is a limited-purpose trust company organized under the New York Banking Law, a "banking organization" within the meaning of the New York Banking Law, a member of the Federal Reserve System, a "clearing corporation" within the meaning of the New York Uniform Commercial Code and a "clearing agency" registered pursuant to the provisions of Section 17A of the Exchange Act. DTC holds securities that its participants, or direct participants, deposit with DTC. DTC also facilitates the post-trade settlement among direct participants of sales and other securities transactions in deposited securities, through electronic computerized book-entry transfers and pledges between direct participants' accounts. This eliminates the need for physical movement of securities certificates. Direct participants include both U.S. and non-U.S. securities brokers and dealers, banks, trust companies, clearing corporations, and certain other organizations. DTC is a wholly owned subsidiary of The Depository Trust & Clearing Corporation, or DTCC. DTCC is the holding company for DTC, National Securities Clearing Corporation and Fixed Income Clearing Corporation, all of which are registered clearing agencies. DTCC is owned by the users of its regulated subsidiaries. Access to the DTC system is also available to others such as both U.S. and non-U.S. securities brokers and dealers, banks, trust companies and clearing corporations that clear through or maintain a custodial relationship with a direct participant, either directly or indirectly.

        The rules applicable to DTC and its direct participants are on file with the SEC. The information in this paragraph concerning DTC and DTC's book-entry system has been obtained from sources that

14

Table of Contents

we believe to be reliable, but we take no responsibility for the accuracy thereof. In the event registered global securities are deposited with, or on behalf of, a depositary other than DTC, we will describe additional or differing terms of the depositary arrangements in the applicable prospectus supplement relating to that particular series of debt securities.

        We may also issue bearer debt securities of a series in the form of one or more global securities, referred to as "bearer global securities." We currently anticipate that we will deposit these bearer global securities with a common depositary for Euroclear Bank S.A./N.V. and Clearstream Banking, société anonyme, or with a nominee for the depositary identified in the prospectus supplement relating to that series. The prospectus supplement relating to a series of debt securities represented by a bearer global security will describe the specific terms and procedures, including the specific terms of the depositary arrangement and any specific procedures for the issuance of debt securities in definitive form in exchange for a bearer global security, with respect to the portion of the series represented by a bearer global security.

        Neither we nor any trustee assumes any responsibility for the performance by DTC or any other depositary or its participants of their respective obligations, including obligations that they have under the rules and procedures that govern their operations.

Additional Terms of Debt Securities Under Our 2016 Indenture and Future Indentures

        The following are additional terms that apply to debt securities issued under our 2016 Indenture and are expected to apply to future debt securities that we may issue, other than debt securities issued under our 1998 Indenture.

Denominations, Interest, Registration and Transfer

        Unless otherwise described in the applicable prospectus supplement, we will issue debt securities of any series that are registered securities in minimum denominations of $2,000 and integral multiples of $1,000 in excess thereof, other than global securities, which may be of any denomination.

        Unless otherwise specified in the applicable prospectus supplement, we will pay the interest, principal and any premium at the corporate trust office of the trustee or, at our option, we may make payment of interest by check mailed to the address of the person entitled to the payment as it appears in the applicable register or by wire transfer of funds to that person at an account maintained within the United States or, in the case of global securities, in accordance with the procedures of the depositary for such securities.

        If we do not punctually pay or otherwise provide for interest on any interest payment date, the defaulted interest will be paid either:

•

to the person in whose name the debt security is registered at the close of business on a special record date the trustee will fix; or



•

in any other lawful manner, all as the applicable indenture describes.

        You may have your debt securities divided into more debt securities of smaller authorized denominations or combined into fewer debt securities of larger authorized denominations, as long as the total principal amount is not changed. We call this an "exchange."

        You may exchange or transfer debt securities at the office of the applicable trustee. The trustee acts as our agent for registering debt securities in the names of holders and transferring debt securities. We may change this appointment to another entity or perform this role ourselves. The entity performing the role of maintaining the list of registered holders is called the "registrar." The registrar will also perform transfers.

15

Table of Contents

        You will not be required to pay a service charge to transfer or exchange debt securities, but you may be required to pay for any tax or other governmental charge associated with the exchange or transfer. The registrar will make the transfer or exchange only if it is satisfied with your proof of ownership.

Merger, Consolidation or Sale of Assets

        We may not consolidate with or merge into any other person or convey, transfer or lease all or substantially all of our properties and assets to any other person (other than one of our direct or indirect wholly owned subsidiaries), and we may not permit any other person (other than one of our direct or indirect wholly owned subsidiaries) to consolidate with or merge into us, unless:

•

we are the surviving entity or, in case we consolidate with or merge into another person, the person formed by such consolidation or merger is, or in case we convey, transfer or lease all or substantially all of our properties and assets to any person, such acquiring person is, an entity organized and validly existing under the laws of the United States, any state thereof or the District of Columbia and expressly assumes, by a supplemental indenture executed and delivered to the trustee, in form satisfactory to the trustee, the due and punctual payment of the principal of and any premium and interest on all applicable debt securities issued under the applicable indenture and the performance or observance of every covenant of the applicable indenture on our part to be performed or observed;



•

immediately after giving effect to such transaction, and treating any indebtedness which becomes an obligation of us or any of our subsidiaries as a result of such transaction as having been incurred by us or such subsidiary at the time of such transaction, no event of default, and no event which, after notice or lapse of time or both, would become an event of default, in each case under the applicable indenture, has happened and is continuing; and



•

we have delivered to the trustee an officer's certificate and an opinion of counsel, each stating that such consolidation, merger, conveyance, transfer or lease and, if a supplemental indenture is required in connection with such transaction, such supplemental indenture comply with the applicable indenture provisions described in this paragraph and that all conditions precedent provided for in the applicable indenture relating to such transaction have been complied with.

Events of Default and Related Matters

        Events of Default.     The term "event of default" for any series of debt securities means any of the following:

•

we do not pay the principal of or any premium on a debt security of that series when due;



•

we do not pay interest on a debt security of that series within 30 days after its due date;



•

we do not deposit any sinking fund payment for that series within 30 days after its due date;



•

we remain in breach of any other covenant of the applicable indenture (other than a covenant added to the indenture solely for the benefit of another series) for 60 days after we receive a notice of default specifying the breach and requiring that it be remedied. Only the trustee or holders of at least a majority in principal amount of outstanding debt securities of the affected series may send the notice;



•

we experience specified events of bankruptcy, insolvency or reorganization; or



•

any other event of default described in the applicable prospectus supplement occurs.

        Remedies if an Event of Default Occurs.     If an event of default has occurred and has not been cured, the trustee or the holders of not less than a majority in principal amount of the outstanding debt

16

Table of Contents

securities of the affected series may declare the entire principal amount of all the debt securities of that series to be due and payable immediately. If an event of default occurs because we experience specified events of bankruptcy, insolvency or reorganization, the principal amount of all the debt securities of that series will be automatically accelerated and become immediately due and payable, without any action by the trustee or any holder. At any time after the trustee or the holders have accelerated any series of debt securities, but before a judgment or decree for payment of the money due has been obtained, the holders of a majority in principal amount of the outstanding debt securities of the affected series may, under certain circumstances, rescind and annul such acceleration.

        Except in cases of default where the trustee has some special duties, the trustee is not required to take any action under the applicable indenture at the request of any holders unless the holders offer the trustee reasonable protection from expenses and liability. We refer to this as an "indemnity." If reasonable indemnity is provided, the holders of not less than a majority in principal amount of the outstanding debt securities of the relevant series may direct the time, method and place of conducting any lawsuit or other formal legal action seeking any remedy available to the trustee. These majority holders may also direct the trustee in performing any other action under the applicable indenture, subject to certain limitations.

        Before you bypass the trustee and bring your own lawsuit or other formal legal action or take other steps to enforce your rights or protect your interests relating to the applicable indenture or debt securities issued under such indenture, the following must occur:

•

you must give the trustee written notice that an event of default has occurred and is continuing;



•

the holders of at least a majority in principal amount of all outstanding debt securities of the relevant series must make a written request that the trustee take action because of the default and must offer reasonable indemnity to the trustee against the cost and other liabilities of taking that action; and



•

the trustee must have not taken action for 60 days after receipt of the notice, request and offer of indemnity and must have not received from the holders of a majority in principal amount of all outstanding debt securities of the relevant series other conflicting directions within such 60 day period.

        However, you are entitled at any time to bring a lawsuit for the payment of money due on your debt security after its due date.

        Every year we will furnish to the trustee a written statement by certain of our officers certifying that, to their best knowledge, we are in compliance with the applicable indenture and the debt securities, or else specifying any default.

Modification of an Indenture

        There are three types of changes we can make to our 2016 Indenture and our future indentures and our debt securities issued under such indentures:

        Changes Requiring Your Approval.     First, we cannot make certain changes to such indentures and such debt securities without the approval of each holder of such debt securities affected by the change. The following is a list of those types of changes:

•

change the stated maturity of the principal of, or interest on, such debt security;



•

reduce the principal of, or the rate of interest on, such debt security;



•

reduce the amount of any premium due upon redemption;

17

Table of Contents

•

reduce the amount of principal of an original issue discount security payable upon acceleration of its maturity;



•

change the currency or place of payment on such debt security;



•

impair a holder's right to sue for payment on or after the stated maturity of such debt security;



•

in the case of a subordinated debt security, modify the subordination provisions of such debt security in a manner that is adverse to the holders;



•

reduce the percentage of holders of such debt securities whose consent is needed to modify or amend such indenture;



•

reduce the percentage of holders of such debt securities whose consent is needed to waive compliance with certain provisions of such indenture or certain defaults and their consequences;



•

waive past defaults in the payment of principal of or premium, if any, or interest on such debt securities or in respect of any covenant or provision that cannot be modified or amended without the approval of each holder of such debt securities; or



•

modify any of the foregoing provisions.

        Changes Requiring Majority Approval.     Second, certain changes require the approval of holders of not less than a majority in principal amount of outstanding debt securities of the affected series. We require the same majority vote to obtain a waiver of a past default. However, we cannot obtain a waiver of a payment default or any other aspect of such indenture or such debt securities listed in the first category described above under "—Changes Requiring Your Approval" without the consent of each holder of such debt securities affected by the waiver.

        Changes Not Requiring Approval.     Third, certain changes do not require any approval of holders of such debt securities. These include:

•

to evidence the assumption by a successor obligor of our obligations;



•

to add to our covenants for the benefit of holders of such debt securities of all or any series or to surrender any right or power conferred upon us;



•

to add any additional events of default for the benefit of holders of all or any series of such debt securities;



•

to add to or change any provisions necessary to permit or facilitate the issuance of such debt securities in bearer form, registrable or not registrable as to principal, and with or without interest coupons, or to permit or facilitate the issuance of such debt securities in uncertificated form;



•

to add to, change or eliminate any of the provisions, so long as such addition, change or elimination does not apply to any such debt security of any existing series of such debt security entitled to the benefit of such provision or modify the rights of the holder of any such debt security with respect to such provision or such addition, change or elimination only becomes effective when there is no such security outstanding;



•

to add guarantees of or to secure all or any series of such debt securities;



•

to establish the forms or terms of such debt securities of any series;



•

to evidence and provide for the acceptance of appointment of a successor trustee;



•

to cure any ambiguity, to correct or supplement any provision in such applicable indenture which may be defective or inconsistent with any other provision contained therein or to conform the terms of such indenture that are applicable to a series of such debt securities to the description

18

Table of Contents

of the terms of such debt securities in the offering memorandum, prospectus supplement or other offering document applicable to such debt securities at the time of initial sale thereof;

•

to permit or facilitate the defeasance or satisfaction and discharge of such debt securities of any series; provided that such action does not adversely affect the interests of any holder of such debt securities in any material respect;



•

to prohibit the authentication and delivery of additional series of such debt securities;



•

to add to or change or eliminate any provision as shall be necessary or desirable in accordance with any amendments to the Trust Indenture Act;



•

to comply with the rules of any applicable depositary; or



•

to change anything that does not adversely affect the interests of the holders of such debt securities of any series in any material respect.

        Further Details Concerning Approval.     Debt securities issued under such indentures are not considered outstanding, and therefore the holders thereof are not eligible to vote or consent or give their approval or take other action under such applicable indenture, if we have deposited or set aside in trust for you money for their payment or redemption or if we or one of our affiliates own them. Debt securities issued under such indentures are also not considered to be outstanding and therefore eligible to vote or consent or give their approval or take other action under such applicable indenture if they have been fully defeased or discharged, as described below under "—Discharge, Defeasance and Covenant Defeasance—Discharge" or "—Full Defeasance."

Discharge, Defeasance and Covenant Defeasance

        Discharge.     We may discharge our obligations to holders of any series of debt securities that have become due and payable or will become due and payable at their stated maturity within one year, or are to be called for redemption within one year, by depositing or causing to be deposited with the trustee, in trust, funds in the applicable currency in an amount sufficient to pay the debt securities of such series, including any premium and interest to the date of such deposit (in the case of debt securities which have become due and payable) or to such stated maturity or redemption date, as applicable.

        Full Defeasance.     We can, under particular circumstances, effect a full defeasance of any series of debt securities. By this we mean we can legally release ourselves from any payment or other obligations on the debt securities if, among other things, we put in place the arrangements described below to pay those debt securities and deliver certain certificates and opinions to the trustee:

•

we must irrevocably deposit (or cause to be deposited), in trust, for the benefit of all direct holders of the debt securities of such series money or government obligations (or, in some circumstances, depository receipts representing such government obligations), or a combination thereof, that will provide funds in an amount sufficient to pay the debt securities of such series, including any premium and interest on the debt securities of such series at their stated maturity or applicable redemption date (a "government obligation" for these purposes means, with respect to any series of debt securities, securities that are not callable or redeemable at the option of the issuer thereof and are (1) direct obligations of the government that issued the currency in which such series is denominated (or, if such series is denominated in euros, the direct obligations of any government that is a member of the European Monetary Union) for the payment of which its full faith and credit is pledged or (2) obligations of a person controlled or supervised by and acting as an agency or instrumentality of such government the payment of which is unconditionally guaranteed as a full faith and credit obligation by such government); and

19

Table of Contents

•

we must deliver to the trustee a legal opinion stating that the current U.S. federal income tax law has changed or an Internal Revenue Service, or IRS, ruling has been issued, in each case to the effect that holders of the outstanding debt securities of such series will not recognize gain or loss for federal income tax purposes as a result of such full defeasance and will be subject to federal income tax on the same amounts and in the same manner and at the same times as would have been the case if such full defeasance had not occurred.

        Notwithstanding the foregoing, the following rights and obligations will survive full defeasance:

•

your right to receive payments from the trust when payments are due;



•

our obligations relating to registration and transfer of debt securities and lost or mutilated certificates; and



•

our obligations to maintain a payment office and to hold moneys for payment in trust.

        Covenant Defeasance.     Under current U.S. federal income tax law, we can make the same type of deposit described above with respect to a series of debt securities and be released from the obligations imposed by most of the covenants with respect to such series and provisions of the applicable indenture with respect to such series, and we may omit to comply with those covenants and provisions without creating an event of default. This is called "covenant defeasance."

        If we accomplish covenant defeasance, the following provisions of an indenture and the debt securities of such series would no longer apply:

•

most of the covenants applicable to such series of debt securities and any events of default for failure to comply with those covenants;



•

any subordination provisions; and



•

certain other events of default as set forth in any prospectus supplement.

Governing Law

        Our 2016 Indenture and any future indentures and our debt securities issued thereunder are and will be governed by and construed in accordance with the laws of the State of New York.

Additional Terms of Debt Securities Under Our 1998 Indenture

        The following are additional terms that will apply to debt securities issued under our 1998 Indenture.

Denominations, Interest, Registration and Transfer

        Unless otherwise described in the applicable prospectus supplement, under our 1998 Indenture, we will issue debt securities of any series that are registered securities in denominations that are even multiples of $1,000, other than global securities, which may be of any denomination.

        Unless otherwise specified in the applicable prospectus supplement, we will pay the interest, principal and any premium at the corporate trust office of the trustee or, at our option, we may make payment of interest by check mailed to the address of the person entitled to the payment as it appears in the applicable register or by wire transfer of funds to that person at an account maintained within the United States.

20

Table of Contents

        If we do not punctually pay or otherwise provide for interest on any interest payment date, the defaulted interest will be paid either:

•

to the person in whose name the debt security is registered at the close of business on a special record date the trustee will fix; or



•

in any other lawful manner, all as our 1998 Indenture describes.

        You may have your debt securities issued under our 1998 Indenture divided into more debt securities of smaller denominations or combined into fewer debt securities of larger denominations, as long as the total principal amount is not changed. We call this an "exchange."

        You may exchange or transfer debt securities issued under our 1998 Indenture at the office of the applicable trustee. The trustee acts as our agent for registering debt securities in the names of holders and transferring debt securities. We may change this appointment to another entity or perform it ourselves. The entity performing the role of maintaining the list of registered holders is called the "registrar." The registrar will also perform transfers.

        You will not be required to pay a service charge to transfer or exchange debt securities issued under our 1998 Indenture, but you may be required to pay for any tax or other governmental charge associated with the exchange or transfer. The registrar will make the transfer or exchange only if it is satisfied with your proof of ownership.

Merger, Consolidation or Sale of Assets

        Under our 1998 Indenture, we are generally permitted to consolidate or merge with another company. We are also permitted to sell substantially all of our assets to another company or to buy substantially all of the assets of another company. However, we may not take any of these actions unless the following conditions are met:

•

if we merge out of existence or sell all our assets, the other company must be an entity organized under the laws of a State or the District of Columbia or under federal law and must agree to be legally responsible for our debt securities; and



•

immediately after the merger, sale of assets or other transaction, we may not be in default on our debt securities. A default for this purpose would include any event that would be an event of default if the requirements for giving us default notice or our default having to exist for a specific period of time were disregarded.

Events of Default and Related Matters

        Events of Default.     The term "event of default" for any series of debt securities issued under our 1998 Indenture means any of the following:

•

we do not pay the principal of or any premium on a debt security of that series when it becomes due upon its maturity date;



•

we do not pay interest on a debt security of that series within 30 days after its due date;



•

we do not deposit any sinking fund payment for that series when due;



•

we remain in breach of any other term of our 1998 Indenture (other than a term added to our 1998 Indenture solely for the benefit of other series) for 60 days after we receive a notice of default stating we are in breach. Either the trustee or holders of at least a majority in principal amount of outstanding debt securities of the affected series may send the notice;



•

we default under any of our other indebtedness in an aggregate principal amount exceeding the dollar amount specified in the applicable prospectus supplement after the expiration of any

21

Table of Contents

applicable grace period, which default results in the acceleration of the maturity of such indebtedness. Such default is not an event of default if the other indebtedness is discharged, or the acceleration is rescinded or annulled, within a period of 10 days after we receive notice specifying the default and requiring that we discharge the other indebtedness or cause the acceleration to be rescinded or annulled. Either the trustee or the holders of at least a majority in principal amount of outstanding debt securities of the affected series may send the notice;

•

we or one of our "significant subsidiaries," if any, files for bankruptcy or certain other events in bankruptcy, insolvency or reorganization occur; or



•

any other event of default described in the applicable prospectus supplement occurs.

        The term "significant subsidiary" means each of our significant subsidiaries, if any, as defined in Regulation S-X under the Securities Act.

        Remedies if an Event of Default Occurs.     If an event of default has occurred and has not been cured, the trustee or the holders of at least a majority in principal amount of the debt securities of the affected series issued under our 1998 Indenture may declare the entire principal amount of all the debt securities of that series to be due and immediately payable. If an event of default occurs because of certain events in bankruptcy, insolvency or reorganization, the principal amount of all the debt securities of that series will be automatically accelerated, without any action by the trustee or any holder. At any time after the trustee or the holders have accelerated any series of debt securities, but before a judgment or decree for payment of the money due has been obtained, the holders of at least a majority in principal amount of the debt securities of the affected series may, under certain circumstances, rescind and annul such acceleration.

        The trustee will be required to give notice to the holders of debt securities issued under our 1998 Indenture within 90 days after a default under our 1998 Indenture unless the default has been cured or waived. The trustee may withhold notice to the holders of any series of debt securities of any default with respect to that series, except a default in the payment of the principal of or interest on any debt security of that series, if specified responsible officers of the trustee in good faith determine that withholding the notice is in the interest of the holders.

        Except in cases of default where the trustee has some special duties, the trustee is not required to take any action under our 1998 Indenture at the request of any holders unless the holders offer the trustee reasonable protection from expenses and liability. We refer to this as an "indemnity." If reasonable indemnity is provided, the holders of a majority in principal amount of the outstanding securities of the relevant series may direct the time, method and place of conducting any lawsuit or other formal legal action seeking any remedy available to the trustee. These majority holders may also direct the trustee in performing any other action under our 1998 Indenture, subject to certain limitations.

        Before you bypass the trustee and bring your own lawsuit or other formal legal action or take other steps to enforce your rights or protect your interests relating to the debt securities issued under our 1998 Indenture, the following must occur:

•

you must give the trustee written notice that an event of default has occurred and remains uncured;



•

the holders of at least a majority in principal amount of all outstanding securities of the relevant series must make a written request that the trustee take action because of the default and must offer reasonable indemnity to the trustee against the cost and other liabilities of taking that action; and



•

the trustee must have not taken action for 60 days after receipt of the notice and offer of indemnity.

22

Table of Contents

However, you are entitled at any time to bring a lawsuit for the payment of money due on your debt security after its due date.

        Every year we will furnish to the trustee a written statement by certain of our officers certifying that, to their knowledge, we are in compliance with our 1998 Indenture and the debt securities, or else specifying any default.

Modification of our 1998 Indenture

        There are three types of changes we can make to our 1998 Indenture and our debt securities issued thereunder:

        Changes Requiring Your Approval.     First, we cannot make certain changes to our 1998 Indenture and our debt securities issued thereunder without the approval of each holder of such debt securities affected by the change. The following is a list of those types of changes:

•

change the stated maturity of the principal of or interest on such debt security;



•

reduce the principal amount of or the rate or amount of interest on, such debt security;



•

reduce the amount of any premium due upon redemption;



•

reduce the amount of principal of an original issue discount security payable upon acceleration of its maturity;



•

adversely affect any right of repayment at the option of the holder;



•

change the currency or place of payment on such debt security;



•

impair a holder's right to sue for payment on or after the due date of such debt security;



•

reduce the percentage of holders of such debt securities whose consent is needed to modify or amend our 1998 Indenture;



•

reduce the percentage of holders of such debt securities whose consent is needed to waive compliance with certain provisions of our 1998 Indenture or certain defaults and their consequences;



•

reduce certain voting or quorum requirements;



•

waive past defaults in the payment of principal of or premium, if any, or interest on such debt securities or in respect of any covenant or provision that cannot be modified or amended without the approval of each holder of such debt securities; or



•

modify any of the foregoing provisions.

        Changes Requiring a Majority Vote.     Second, certain changes require a favorable vote by holders of debt securities issued under our 1998 Indenture owning a majority of the principal amount of the particular series affected. Most changes fall into this category, except for clarifying changes and certain other changes that would not materially adversely affect the holders of such debt securities. We require the same majority vote to obtain a waiver of a past default. However, we cannot obtain a waiver of a payment default or any other aspect of our 1998 Indenture or the debt securities listed in the first category described above under "—Changes Requiring Your Approval" without the consent of each holder of such debt securities affected by the waiver.

        Changes Not Requiring Approval.     Third, certain changes do not require any vote by holders of debt securities issued under our 1998 Indenture. These include:

•

to evidence the assumption by a successor obligor of our obligations;

23

Table of Contents

•

to add to our covenants for the benefit of holders of such debt securities of all or any series or to surrender any right or power conferred upon us;



•

to add any additional events of default for the benefit of holders of all or any series of such debt securities;



•

to add to or change any provisions necessary to provide that the issuance of such debt securities in bearer form may be registrable as to principal, to change or eliminate any restrictions on the payment of principal or any premium or interest on such securities, to permit such securities to be issued in exchange for such debt securities in bearer form of other denominations or to permit or facilitate the issuance of such debt securities in uncertificated form; provided that such changes do not adversely affect the interests of any holder of such debt securities in any material respect;



•

to change or eliminate any of the provisions; provided such change or elimination only becomes effective when there is no such debt security outstanding of any series created prior to the execution of such supplemental indenture which is entitled to the benefit of such provision;



•

to add guarantees of or to secure such debt securities;



•

to establish the forms or terms of such debt securities of any series;



•

to evidence and provide for the acceptance of appointment of a successor trustee;



•

to cure any ambiguity, to correct or supplement any provision the 1998 Indenture which may be defective or inconsistent with any other provision contained therein or to make any other provisions with respect to matters or questions arising thereunder which shall not be inconsistent with the provisions thereof or any supplement thereto; provided that such provisions do not adversely affect the interests of any holder of such debt securities in any material respect; or



•

to permit or facilitate the defeasance or satisfaction and discharge of such debt securities of any series and any related coupons; provided that such action does not adversely affect the interests of any holder of such debt securities in any material respect.

        Further Details Concerning Voting.     Debt securities issued under our 1998 Indenture are not considered outstanding, and therefore the holders thereof are not eligible to vote, if we have deposited or set aside in trust for you money for their payment or redemption or if we or one of our affiliates own them. The holders of such debt securities are also not eligible to vote if they have been fully defeased, as described below under "—Discharge, Defeasance and Covenant Defeasance—Full Defeasance." For original issue discount securities, we will use the principal amount that would be due and payable on the voting date if the maturity of such debt securities were accelerated to that date because of a default.

Discharge, Defeasance and Covenant Defeasance

        Discharge.     We may discharge some of our obligations to holders of any series of debt securities issued under our 1998 Indenture that have become due and payable or will become due and payable within one year, or are scheduled for redemption within one year, by irrevocably depositing with the trustee, in trust, funds in the applicable currency in an amount sufficient to pay such debt securities, including any premium and interest.

        Full Defeasance.     We can, under particular circumstances, effect a full defeasance of any series of debt securities issued under our 1998 Indenture. By this we mean we can legally release ourselves from any payment or other obligations on such debt securities if, among other things, we put in place the

24

Table of Contents

arrangements described below to repay those debt securities and deliver certain certificates and opinions to the trustee:

•

we must deposit in trust for your benefit and the benefit of all other direct holders of such debt securities a combination of money or U.S. government agency notes or bonds (or, in some circumstances, depositary receipts representing these notes or bonds) that will generate enough cash to satisfy all interest, principal and any other payment obligations on such debt securities on their various due dates;



•

the current U.S. federal income tax law must be changed or an IRS ruling must be issued permitting us to make the deposit described above, without causing you to be taxed on such debt securities any differently than if we did not make the deposit and instead repaid such debt securities ourselves. Under current U.S. federal income tax law, the deposit and our legal release from such debt securities would be treated as though we took back your debt securities and gave you your share of the cash and notes or bonds deposited in trust. Under such circumstances, you could recognize gain or loss on such debt securities you were deemed to have returned to us; and



•

we must deliver to the trustee a legal opinion confirming the U.S. federal income tax law change or IRS ruling described above.

        If we did accomplish full defeasance, you would have to rely solely on the trust deposit for repayment on such debt securities. You could not look to us for repayment in the unlikely event of any shortfall. Conversely, the trust deposit would most likely be protected from any claims of our lenders and other creditors if we ever became bankrupt or insolvent. You would also be released from any subordination provisions.

        Notwithstanding the foregoing, the following rights and obligations will survive full defeasance:

•

your right to receive payments from the trust when payments are due;



•

our obligations relating to registration and transfer of such debt securities and lost or mutilated certificates; and



•

our obligations to maintain a payment office and to hold moneys for payment in trust.

        Covenant Defeasance.     Under current U.S. federal income tax law, we can make the same type of deposit described above and be released from some of the restrictive covenants in the debt securities issued under our 1998 Indenture. This is called "covenant defeasance." In that event, you would lose the protection of such restrictive covenants but would gain the protection of having money and securities set aside in trust to repay the debt securities and you would be released from any subordination provisions.

        If we accomplish covenant defeasance, the following provisions of our 1998 Indenture and the debt securities issued thereunder would no longer apply:

•

any covenants applicable to the series of such debt securities and described in the applicable prospectus supplement;



•

any subordination provisions; and



•

certain events of default relating to breach of covenants and acceleration of the maturity of other debt set forth in any prospectus supplement.

        If we accomplish covenant defeasance, you may still look to us for repayment of such debt securities if a shortfall in the trust deposit occurred. A shortfall may occur if one of the remaining events of default occurs, such as our bankruptcy, causing such debt securities to become immediately

25

Table of Contents

due and payable. Depending on the event causing the default, you may not be able to obtain payment of the shortfall.

        Unless otherwise provided in the applicable prospectus supplement, if after we have deposited funds and/or government obligations to effect full defeasance or covenant defeasance, (1) a holder is entitled to, and does, elect to receive payment in a currency other than that in which the deposit has been made, or (2) a "Conversion Event" occurs in respect of the currency in which the deposit has been made, the indebtedness represented by such debt security will be deemed to have been, and will be, fully discharged and satisfied through the payment of the principal of (and premium, if any) and interest on such debt security as they become due, from the proceeds yielded by converting the amount deposited in trust into the currency, currency unit or composite currency in which such debt security becomes payable as a result of the holder's election or the "Conversion Event" based on the applicable market exchange rate.

        A "Conversion Event" means the cessation of use of:

•

a currency, currency unit or composite currency both by the government of the country that issued the currency and for the settlement of transactions by a central bank or other public institution of or within the international banking community; or



•

any currency unit or composite currency for the purposes for which it was established.

        Unless otherwise provided in the applicable prospectus supplement, all payments of principal of (and premium, if any) and interest on any such debt security that is payable in a foreign currency that ceases to be used by its government of issuance will be made in U.S. dollars.

Meetings of Holders

        A meeting of the holders of a series of debt securities issued under our 1998 Indenture may be called at any time by the trustee or, upon request, by us or the holders of at least 25% in principal amount of such outstanding debt securities of that series, upon notice given as provided in our 1998 Indenture. Except for any consent or other action that must be specifically given by the holder of each such debt security of a series, any resolution presented at a meeting at which a quorum is present may be adopted by a favorable vote by holders of such debt securities owning a majority of the principal amount of that series. Any resolution that may be made by the holders of less than a majority of such outstanding debt securities of a series may be adopted at a meeting at which a quorum is present by the affirmative vote of the holders of such specified percentage of that series. Any resolution passed or decision taken at any meeting of holders of such debt securities of a series duly held in accordance with our 1998 Indenture will be binding on all holders of such debt securities of that series. The quorum at any meeting called to adopt a resolution will be persons representing a majority in principal amount of such outstanding debt securities of the applicable series. However, if any action is to be taken at a meeting with respect to a consent or waiver which may be given by the holders of not less than a specified percentage in principal amount of such outstanding debt securities of a series, the persons holding or representing such specified percentage in principal amount of such outstanding debt securities of that series will constitute a quorum.

        If any action is to be taken at a meeting of holders of debt securities issued under our 1998 Indenture of any series with respect to any consent, waiver or other action that such indenture expressly provides may be made, given or taken by the holders of such series and one or more additional series: (1) there will be no minimum quorum requirement for such meeting; and (2) the principal amount of such outstanding debt securities of that series that vote in favor of such consent, waiver or other action will be taken into account in determining whether such consent, waiver or other action has been made, given or taken under our 1998 Indenture.

26

Table of Contents

Governing Law

        Our 1998 Indenture and our debt securities issued thereunder will be governed by and construed in accordance with the laws of The Commonwealth of Massachusetts.

DESCRIPTION OF SHARES OF BENEFICIAL INTEREST

        References in this "Description of Shares of Beneficial Interest" section to "we," "us" or "our" mean Hospitality Properties Trust and not any of its consolidated subsidiaries, unless the context otherwise requires. The following description of the terms of our shares of beneficial interest is only a summary. For a complete description, please refer to our declaration of trust and bylaws, which have previously been filed with the SEC and are incorporated by reference into this prospectus, and this summary is qualified in its entirety thereby.

        Our declaration of trust authorizes us to issue up to an aggregate of 300,000,000 shares of beneficial interest, of which 200,000,000 are currently designated as common shares of beneficial interest, par value $.01 per share, and 100,000,000 are currently designated as preferred shares of beneficial interest, without par value. As of September 30, 2016, we had 164,269,211 common shares issued and outstanding. As of September 30, 2016, 3,450,000 of our preferred shares were designated as 8 ⁷ / 8 % Series B Cumulative Redeemable Preferred Shares, none of which were issued and outstanding, 13,800,000 of our preferred shares were designated as 7% Series C Cumulative Redeemable Preferred Shares, none of which were issued and outstanding, and 12,650,000 of our preferred shares were designated as 7 ¹ / 8 % Series D Cumulative Redeemable Preferred Shares, or the Series D Preferred Shares, 11,600,000 of which were issued and outstanding.

        Our declaration of trust contains a provision permitting our Board of Trustees, without any action by our shareholders, to amend our declaration of trust to increase or decrease the total number of shares of beneficial interest or the number of shares of any class or series that we have authority to issue. Our declaration of trust further authorizes our Board of Trustees to reclassify any unissued shares from time to time by setting the preferences, conversion or other rights, voting powers, restrictions, limitations as to dividends, qualifications or terms or conditions of redemption of our shares of beneficial interest or any new class or series of shares created by our Board of Trustees. We believe that giving these powers to our Board of Trustees will provide us with increased flexibility in structuring possible future financings and acquisitions and in meeting other business needs which might arise. Although our Board of Trustees has no intention at the present time of doing so, it could authorize us to issue a class or series of shares of beneficial interest that could, depending upon the terms of the class or series, delay or prevent a change in control.

Common Shares

        The following is a summary of some general terms and provisions of our common shares. Because it is a summary, it does not contain all of the information that may be important to you. If you want more information, you should read our declaration of trust and bylaws, copies of which have been filed with the SEC. See "Where You Can Find More Information." This summary is also subject to and qualified by reference to the description of the particular terms of common shares described in the applicable prospectus supplement.

        Except as otherwise described in the applicable prospectus supplement, and subject to the preferential rights of any other class or series of shares then outstanding or which may be issued, and to the ownership restrictions described below, all of our common shares are entitled:

•

to receive distributions on our common shares if, as and when authorized by our Board of Trustees and declared by us out of assets legally available for distribution; and

27

Table of Contents

•

to share ratably in our assets legally available for distribution to our shareholders in the event of our liquidation, dissolution or winding up after payment of or adequate provision for all of our known debts and liabilities.

        Subject to the provisions of our declaration of trust regarding the restriction on the transfer of shares of beneficial interest, each outstanding common share entitles the holder to one vote on all matters submitted to a vote of shareholders, including the election of trustees. Holders of our common shares do not have cumulative voting rights in the election of trustees.

        Holders of our common shares have no preference, conversion, exchange, sinking fund, redemption or appraisal rights, or preemptive rights to subscribe for any of our securities.

        For additional information about our common shares, including the potential effects that provisions in our declaration of trust and bylaws may have in delaying or preventing a change in our control, see "Description of Certain Provisions of Maryland Law and of Our Declaration of Trust and Bylaws" below.

Preferred Shares

        A description of our outstanding Series D Preferred Shares is set forth in our registration statement on Form 8-A dated June 30, 2016, as filed with the SEC, which is incorporated herein by reference.

        The following is a summary of the general terms and provisions of the preferred shares that we may offer by this prospectus. We may issue preferred shares in one or more classes or series; each class or series of preferred shares will have its own rights and preferences. We will describe in a prospectus supplement (1) the specific terms of the class or series of any preferred shares offered through that prospectus supplement and (2) any general terms outlined in this section that will not apply to such preferred shares. Because this is a summary, it does not contain all of the information that may be important to you. If you want more information, you should read our declaration of trust, including any applicable articles supplementary, and bylaws, copies of which have been filed with the SEC. See "Where You Can Find More Information." This summary is also subject to and qualified by reference to the description of the particular terms of our securities described in the applicable prospectus supplement. The prospectus supplement may add to, update or change the terms of such securities from those described below.

        General.     Our declaration of trust authorizes our Board of Trustees to determine the preferences, conversion or other rights, voting powers, restrictions, limitations as to dividends or other distributions, qualifications and terms and conditions of redemption of any preferred shares.

        The preferred shares will have the distribution, liquidation, redemption, voting and conversion rights described in this section unless we state otherwise in the applicable prospectus supplement. The liquidation preference is not indicative of the price at which the preferred shares will actually trade on or after the date of issuance. You should read the prospectus supplement relating to the particular class or series of the preferred shares for specific terms, including:

•

the distinctive designation of the applicable class or series of preferred shares and the number of shares that will constitute the class or series;



•

the initial offering price of such preferred shares;



•

relative ranking and preference of such preferred shares as to distribution rights and rights upon liquidation, dissolution or winding up of our affairs;



•

the distribution rate or rates (or method of calculation) on that class or series, the distribution periods, the date(s) on which distributions will be payable and whether the distributions will be

28

Table of Contents

cumulative, noncumulative or partially cumulative, and, if cumulative, the dates from which the distributions will start to cumulate;

•

any redemption or sinking fund provisions of that class or series;



•

any voting rights;



•

any conversion or exchange provisions;



•

any other specific terms, preferences, rights, limitations or restrictions of such preferred shares;



•

any limitations on issuance of any class or series of preferred shares ranking senior to or on a parity with such preferred shares as to distribution rights and rights upon liquidation, dissolution or winding up of our affairs;



•

any procedures for any auction and remarketing;



•

any listing of such preferred shares on any securities exchange; and



•

any limitations on record or beneficial ownership and restrictions on transfer, including those as may be appropriate to preserve our qualification for taxation as a REIT.

        Holders of our preferred shares have no preemptive rights to subscribe for any of our securities.

        We will describe in the applicable prospectus supplement any material U.S. federal income tax considerations applicable to the preferred shares offered by such prospectus supplement.

        The issuance of preferred shares, the issuance of rights to purchase preferred shares or the possibility of the issuance of preferred shares or such rights could have the effect of delaying or preventing a change in our control. In addition, the rights of holders of common shares will be subject to, and may be adversely affected by, the rights of holders of any preferred shares that we have issued or may issue in the future.

        For additional information about our preferred shares, including the potential effects that provisions in our declaration of trust and bylaws may have in delaying or preventing a change in our control, see "Description of Certain Provisions of Maryland Law and of Our Declaration of Trust and Bylaws" below.

        As described under "Description of Depositary Shares," we may, at our option, elect to offer depositary shares evidenced by depositary receipts. If we elect to do this, each depositary receipt will represent a fractional interest in a share of the particular class or series of the preferred shares issued and deposited with a depositary. The applicable prospectus supplement will specify that fractional interest.

        Rank.     Unless our Board of Trustees otherwise determines and we so specify in the applicable prospectus supplement, we expect that the preferred shares will, with respect to distribution rights and rights upon liquidation, dissolution or winding up of our affairs, rank senior to all our common shares.

        Distributions.     Holders of preferred shares of each class or series will be entitled to receive cash and/or share distributions at the rates and on the dates shown in the applicable prospectus supplement. We will pay each distribution to holders of record as they appear on our share transfer books on the record dates fixed by our Board of Trustees. In the case of preferred shares represented by depositary receipts, the records of the depositary referred to under "Description of Depositary Shares" will determine the persons to whom distributions are payable.

29

Table of Contents

        We will not authorize or pay any distributions on a class or series of preferred shares or set aside funds for the payment of distributions if restricted or prohibited by law, or if the terms of any of our agreements, including agreements relating to our indebtedness or our other classes or series of preferred shares, prohibit that authorization, payment or setting aside of funds or provide that the authorization, payment or setting aside of funds is a breach of or a default under that agreement. We are now, and may in the future become, a party to agreements which restrict or prevent the payment of distributions on, or the purchase or redemption of, our shares of beneficial interest, including preferred shares. These restrictions may be indirect, such as covenants which require us to maintain specified levels of net worth or assets.

        Distributions on any class or series of preferred shares may be cumulative, noncumulative or partially cumulative, as specified in the applicable prospectus supplement. Cumulative distributions will be cumulative from and after the date shown in the applicable prospectus supplement. If our Board of Trustees fails to authorize a distribution that is noncumulative, the holders of the applicable class or series will have no right to receive, and we will have no obligation to pay, a distribution in respect of the applicable distribution period, whether or not distributions on that class or series are declared payable in the future.

        We refer to our common shares or other shares, now or hereafter issued, that rank junior to an applicable class or series of preferred shares with respect to distribution rights as junior shares. To the extent that the applicable class or series is entitled to a cumulative distribution, we may not declare or pay any distributions, or set aside any funds for the payment of distributions, on junior shares, or redeem or otherwise acquire junior shares, unless we also have declared and either paid or set aside for payment the full cumulative distributions on such class or series of preferred shares and on all our other class or series of preferred shares ranking senior to or on a parity with such class or series of preferred shares for all past distribution periods. The preceding sentence does not prohibit:

•

distributions payable in junior shares or options, warrants or rights to subscribe for or purchase junior shares;



•

conversions into or exchanges for junior shares;



•

pro rata offers to purchase or a concurrent redemption of all, or a pro rata portion of, the outstanding preferred shares of such class or series and any other class or series of shares ranking on a parity with such class or series of preferred shares with respect to distribution rights and rights upon our liquidation, dissolution or winding up; or



•

our redemption, purchase or other acquisition of shares under incentive, benefit or share purchase plans for officers, trustees or employees or others performing or providing similar services, for the purposes of enforcing restrictions upon ownership and transfer of our equity securities contained in our declaration of trust or bylaws or our redemption or other acquisition of rights issued under any shareholder rights plan we may adopt.

        To the extent an applicable class or series is noncumulative, we need only declare, and pay or set aside for payment, the distribution for the then current distribution period, before making distributions on or acquiring junior shares.

        Unless full cumulative distributions on a class or series of preferred shares have been or are contemporaneously declared and either paid or set aside for payment for all past distribution periods, no distributions (other than in junior shares) may be declared or paid or set aside for payment on any other class or series of preferred shares ranking on a parity with such class or series with respect to distribution rights. When distributions are not paid in full upon a class or series of preferred shares and any other class or series ranking on a parity with such class or series with respect to distribution rights, all distributions declared upon such class or series and any class or series ranking on a parity with such class or series with respect to distribution rights shall be allocated pro rata so that the amount of

30

Table of Contents

distributions declared per share on such class or series and such other shares shall in all cases bear to each other the same ratio that the accrued distributions per share on such class or series and such other shares bear to each other.

        Unless otherwise specified in the applicable prospectus supplement, we will credit any distribution payment made on an applicable class or series, including any capital gain distribution, first against the earliest accrued but unpaid distribution due with respect to the class or series.

        Redemption.     We may have the right or may be required to redeem one or more class or series of preferred shares, as a whole or in part, in each case upon the terms, if any, and at the times and at the redemption prices shown in the applicable prospectus supplement.

        If a class or series of preferred shares is subject to mandatory redemption, we will specify in the applicable prospectus supplement the number of shares we are required to redeem, when those redemptions start, the redemption price and any other terms and conditions affecting the redemption. The redemption price will include all accrued and unpaid distributions, except in the case of noncumulative preferred shares. The redemption price may be payable in cash or other property, as specified in the applicable prospectus supplement. If the redemption price for preferred shares of any class or series is payable only from the net proceeds of our issuance of shares of beneficial interest, the terms of the preferred shares may provide that, if no shares of beneficial interest shall have been issued or to the extent the net proceeds from any issuance are insufficient to pay in full the aggregate redemption price then due, the preferred shares will automatically and mandatorily be converted into shares of beneficial interest pursuant to conversion provisions specified in the applicable prospectus supplement.

        Liquidation Preference.     The applicable prospectus supplement will specify the liquidation preference of the applicable class or series. Upon our voluntary or involuntary liquidation, dissolution or winding up of our affairs, before any distribution may be made to the holders of our common shares or any other shares of beneficial interest ranking junior in the distribution of assets upon any liquidation, dissolution or winding up of our affairs, to the applicable class or series, the holders of that class or series will be entitled to receive, out of our assets legally available for distribution to shareholders, liquidating distributions in the amount of the liquidation preference, plus an amount equal to all distributions accrued and unpaid. In the case of a noncumulative applicable class or series, accrued and unpaid distributions include only the then current distribution period. Unless otherwise specified in the applicable prospectus supplement, if liquidating distributions have been made in full to all holders of preferred shares, our remaining assets will be distributed among the holders of any other shares of beneficial interest ranking junior to the preferred shares upon liquidation, according to their rights and preferences and in each case according to their number of shares.

        If, upon any voluntary or involuntary liquidation, dissolution or winding up of our affairs, our available assets are insufficient to pay the amount of the liquidating distributions on all outstanding shares of that class or series and the corresponding amounts payable on all equally ranking shares of beneficial interest upon any liquidation, dissolution or winding up of our affairs, then the holders of that class or series and all other equally ranking shares of beneficial interest shall share ratably in the distribution in proportion to the full liquidating distributions to which they would otherwise be entitled.

        Unless otherwise specified in the applicable prospectus supplement, after payment of the full amount of the liquidating distribution to which they are entitled, the holders of a class or series of preferred shares will have no right or claim to any of our remaining assets. Neither the sale, lease, transfer or conveyance of all or substantially all of our property or business, nor the merger or consolidation of us into or with any other entity or the merger or consolidation of any other entity into or with us or a statutory share exchange by us, shall be deemed to constitute the dissolution, liquidation or winding up of our affairs. In determining whether a distribution (other than upon voluntary or involuntary dissolution), by dividend, redemption or other acquisition of shares or

31

Table of Contents

otherwise, is permitted under Maryland law, amounts that would be needed, if we were to be dissolved at the time of the distribution, to satisfy the preferential rights upon dissolution of the holders of a class or series of preferred shares will not be added to our total liabilities.

        Voting Rights.     Holders of our preferred shares will not have any voting rights, except as described below or as otherwise from time to time specified in the applicable prospectus supplement.

        Unless otherwise specified in the applicable prospectus supplement, holders of our preferred shares (voting separately as a class with all other class or series of preferred shares with similar voting rights) will be entitled to elect two additional trustees to our Board of Trustees at our next annual meeting of shareholders and at each subsequent annual meeting if at any time distributions on the applicable class or series are in arrears for six consecutive quarterly periods. If the applicable class or series has a cumulative distribution, the right to elect additional trustees described in the preceding sentence shall remain in effect until we declare and pay or set aside for payment all distributions accrued and unpaid on the applicable class or series. If the applicable class or series does not have a cumulative distribution, the right to elect additional trustees described above shall remain in effect until we declare and pay or set aside for payment distributions accrued and unpaid on four consecutive quarterly periods on the applicable class or series. In the event the preferred shareholders are so entitled to elect trustees, the entire Board of Trustees will be increased by two trustees.

        Unless otherwise provided for in an applicable class or series, so long as any preferred shares are outstanding, we may not, without the affirmative vote or consent of a majority of the shares of each affected class or series of preferred shares outstanding at that time:

•

authorize, create or increase the authorized or issued amount of any class or series of shares of beneficial interest ranking senior to that class or series of preferred shares with respect to distribution and liquidation rights;



•

reclassify any authorized shares of beneficial interest into a class or series of shares of beneficial interest ranking senior to that class or series of preferred shares with respect to distribution and liquidation rights;



•

create, authorize or issue any security or obligation convertible into or evidencing the right to purchase any shares of beneficial interest ranking senior to that class or series of preferred shares with respect to distribution and liquidation rights; and



•

amend, alter or repeal the provisions of our declaration of trust or any articles supplementary relating to that class or series of preferred shares, whether by merger, consolidation or otherwise, in a manner that materially and adversely affects the class or series of preferred shares.

        The authorization, creation or increase of the authorized or issued amount of any class or series of shares of beneficial interest ranking on parity or junior to a class or series of preferred shares with respect to distribution and liquidation rights will not be deemed to materially and adversely affect that class or series. Further, with respect to any merger, consolidation or similar event, so long as a class or series of preferred shares remains outstanding with the terms thereof materially unchanged or the holders of shares of that class or series receive shares of the successor with substantially identical rights, taking into account that, upon the occurrence of such event, we may not be the surviving entity, the occurrence of such event will not be deemed to materially and adversely affect that class or series.

        The foregoing voting provisions will not apply if all of the outstanding shares of the class or series of preferred shares with the right to vote have been redeemed or called for redemption and sufficient funds have been deposited in trust for the redemption either at or prior to the act triggering these voting rights.

32

Table of Contents

        As more fully described under "Description of Depositary Shares" below, if we elect to issue depositary shares, each representing a fraction of a share of a class or series, each depositary share will in effect be entitled to a fraction of a vote.

        Conversion and Exchange Rights.     We will describe in the applicable prospectus supplement the terms and conditions, if any, upon which you may, or we may require you to, convert or exchange shares of any class or series of preferred shares into common shares or any other class or series of shares of beneficial interest or debt securities or other property. The terms will include the number of common shares or other securities or property into which the preferred shares are convertible or exchangeable, the conversion or exchange price (or the manner of determining it), the conversion or exchange period, provisions as to whether conversion or exchange will be at the option of the holders of the class or series or at our option, the events requiring an adjustment of the conversion or exchange price and provisions affecting conversion or exchange upon the redemption of shares of the class or series.

DESCRIPTION OF DEPOSITARY SHARES

General

        References in this "Description of Depositary Shares" section to "we," "us" or "our" mean Hospitality Properties Trust and not any of its consolidated subsidiaries, unless the context otherwise requires. The following is a summary of the general terms and provisions of the depositary shares that we may offer by this prospectus. Because it is a summary, it does not contain all of the information that may be important to you. If you want more information, you should read the form of deposit agreement and depositary receipts, which will be filed as exhibits to the registration statement of which this prospectus is a part prior to an offering of depositary shares. See "Where You Can Find More Information." This summary is also subject to and qualified by reference to the descriptions of the particular terms of our securities described in the applicable prospectus supplement. We will describe in a prospectus supplement (1) the specific terms of the depositary shares offered through that prospectus supplement and (2) any general terms outlined in this section that will not apply to such depositary shares. The applicable prospectus supplement also may add to, update or change the terms of such securities from those described below.

        We may, at our option, elect to offer fractional interests in preferred shares, rather than whole preferred shares. If we exercise this option, we will appoint a depositary to issue depositary receipts representing those fractional interests. Preferred shares of each series represented by depositary shares will be deposited under a separate deposit agreement between us and the depositary. The prospectus supplement relating to a series of depositary shares will show the name and address of the depositary. Subject to the terms of the applicable deposit agreement, each owner of depositary shares will be entitled to all of the distribution, voting, conversion, redemption, liquidation and other rights and preferences of the preferred shares represented by those depositary shares.

        Depositary receipts issued pursuant to the applicable deposit agreement will evidence ownership of depositary shares. Upon surrender of depositary receipts at the office of the depositary, and upon payment of the charges provided in and subject to the terms of the deposit agreement, a holder of depositary shares will be entitled to receive the preferred shares underlying the surrendered depositary receipts.

33

Table of Contents

        We will describe in the applicable prospectus supplement any material U.S. federal income tax considerations applicable to the depositary shares offered by such prospectus supplement.

Distributions

        The depositary will be required to distribute all cash distributions received in respect of the applicable preferred shares to the record holders of depositary receipts evidencing the related depositary shares, in proportion to the number of depositary receipts owned by such holders on the relevant record date, which will be the same date as the record date fixed by us for the distribution paid on the applicable preferred shares.

        If the distribution is other than in cash, a depositary will be required to distribute property received by it to the record holders of depositary receipts entitled thereto, unless the depositary determines that it is not feasible to make the distribution. In that case, the depositary may, with our approval, sell the property and distribute the net proceeds from the sale to the holders.

        Depositary shares that represent preferred shares converted or exchanged will not be entitled to distributions. The deposit agreement will also contain provisions relating to the manner in which any subscription or similar rights we offer to holders of the preferred shares will be made available to holders of depositary shares. All distributions will be subject to obligations of holders to file proofs, certificates and other information and to pay certain charges and expenses to the depositary.

Withdrawal of Preferred Shares

        You may receive the number of whole preferred shares and any money or other property represented by your depositary receipts after surrendering the depositary receipts at the corporate trust office of the depositary. Partial preferred shares will not be issued. If the depositary shares that you surrender exceed the number of depositary shares that represent the number of whole preferred shares you wish to withdraw, then the depositary will deliver to you at the same time a new depositary receipt evidencing the excess number of depositary shares. Once you have withdrawn your preferred shares, you will not be entitled to re-deposit those preferred shares under the deposit agreement in order to receive depositary shares. We do not expect that there will be any public trading market for withdrawn preferred shares.

Redemption of Depositary Shares

        If we redeem a series of the preferred shares underlying the depositary shares, the depositary will redeem those depositary shares from the proceeds received by it. The depositary will mail notice of redemption not less than 30 and not more than 60 days before the date fixed for redemption to the record holders of the depositary receipts evidencing the depositary shares being redeemed at their addresses appearing in the depositary's books. The redemption price per depositary share will be equal to the applicable fraction of the redemption price per share payable with respect to the series of the preferred shares. The redemption date for depositary shares will be the same as that of the preferred shares. If we are redeeming less than all of the depositary shares, the depositary will select the depositary shares we are redeeming by lot or pro rata as the depositary may determine.

        After the date fixed for redemption, the depositary shares called for redemption will no longer be deemed outstanding. All rights of the holders of the depositary shares and the related depositary receipts will cease at that time, except the right to receive the money or other property to which the holders of depositary shares were entitled upon redemption. Receipt of the money or other property is subject to surrender to the depositary of the depositary receipts evidencing the redeemed depositary shares.

34

Table of Contents

Voting of the Preferred Shares

        Upon receipt of notice of any meeting at which the holders of the applicable preferred shares are entitled to vote, a depositary will be required to mail the information contained in the notice of meeting to the record holders of the applicable depositary receipts. Each record holder of depositary receipts on the record date, which will be the same date as the record date for voting preferred shares, will be entitled to instruct the depositary as to the exercise of the voting rights pertaining to the amount of preferred shares represented by the holder's depositary shares. If you do not instruct the depositary how to vote your shares, the depositary will abstain from voting those shares. The depositary will not be responsible for any failure to carry out an instruction to vote or for the effect of any such vote made so long as the action or inaction of the depositary is in good faith and is not the result of the depositary's gross negligence or willful misconduct.

Liquidation Preference

        Upon our liquidation, whether voluntary or involuntary, each holder of depositary shares will be entitled to the fraction of the liquidation preference accorded each preferred share represented by the depositary shares, as described in the applicable prospectus supplement.

Conversion or Exchange of Preferred Shares

        The depositary shares will not themselves be convertible into or exchangeable for common shares, preferred shares or any of our other securities or property. Nevertheless, if so specified in the applicable prospectus supplement, the depositary receipts may be surrendered by holders to the applicable depositary with written instructions to it to instruct us to cause conversion or exchange of the preferred shares represented by the depositary shares. Similarly, if so specified in the applicable prospectus supplement, we may require you to surrender all of your depositary receipts to the applicable depositary upon our requiring the conversion or exchange of the preferred shares represented by the depositary shares. We will agree that, upon receipt of the instruction and any amounts payable in connection with the conversion or exchange, we will cause the conversion or exchange using the same procedures as those provided for delivery of preferred shares to effect the conversion or exchange. If you are converting or exchanging only a part of the depositary shares, the depositary will issue you a new depositary receipt for any unconverted or unexchanged depositary shares.

Amendment and Termination of a Deposit Agreement

        We and the applicable depositary are permitted to amend the provisions of the depositary receipts and the deposit agreement. However, the holders of a majority of the applicable depositary shares then outstanding must approve any amendment that adds or increases fees or charges or prejudices an important right of holders. Every holder of an outstanding depositary receipt at the time any amendment becomes effective, by continuing to hold the receipt, will be bound by the applicable deposit agreement, as amended.

        Any deposit agreement may be terminated by us upon not less than 30 days' prior written notice to the applicable depositary if (1) the termination is necessary to preserve our qualification for taxation as a REIT or (2) a majority of each series of preferred shares affected by the termination consents to the termination. When either event occurs, the depositary will be required to deliver or make available to each holder of depositary receipts, upon surrender of the depositary receipts held by the holder, the number of whole or fractional preferred shares as are represented by the depositary shares evidenced by the depositary receipts, together with any other property held by the depositary with respect to the depositary receipts. In addition, a deposit agreement will automatically terminate if:

•

all depositary shares have been redeemed;

35

Table of Contents

•

there shall have been a final distribution in respect of the related preferred shares in connection with our liquidation and the distribution has been made to the holders of depositary receipts evidencing the depositary shares underlying the preferred shares; or



•

each related preferred share shall have been converted or exchanged into securities not represented by depositary shares.

Charges of a Depositary

        We will pay all transfer and other taxes and governmental charges arising solely from the existence of a deposit agreement. In addition, we will pay the fees and expenses of a depositary in connection with the initial deposit of the preferred shares and any redemption of preferred shares. However, holders of depositary receipts will pay any transfer or other governmental charges and the fees and expenses of a depositary for any duties the holders request to be performed that are outside of those expressly provided for in the applicable deposit agreement.

Resignation and Removal of Depositary

        A depositary may resign at any time by delivering to us notice of its election to do so. In addition, we may at any time remove a depositary. Any resignation or removal will take effect when we appoint a successor depositary and it accepts the appointment. We must appoint a successor depositary within 60 days after delivery of the notice of resignation or removal. A depositary must be a bank or trust company having its principal office in the United States that has a combined capital and surplus of at least $50 million.

Miscellaneous

        The depositary will be required to forward to holders of depositary receipts any reports and communications from us that it receives with respect to the related preferred shares. Holders of depository receipts will be able to inspect the transfer books of the depository and the list of holders of depositary receipts upon reasonable notice.

        Neither we nor the depositary will be liable if the depositary is prevented from or delayed in performing its obligations under a deposit agreement by law or any circumstances beyond its control. Our obligations and those of the depositary under a deposit agreement will be limited to performing duties in good faith and without gross negligence or willful misconduct. Neither we nor the depositary will be obligated to prosecute or defend any legal proceeding in respect of any depositary receipts, depositary shares or related preferred shares unless satisfactory indemnity is furnished. We and the depositary will be permitted to rely on written advice of counsel or accountants, on information provided by persons presenting preferred shares for deposit, by holders of depositary receipts, or by other persons believed in good faith to be competent to give the information, and on documents believed in good faith to be genuine and signed by a proper party.

        If the depositary receives conflicting claims, requests or instructions from any holders of depositary receipts, on the one hand, and us, on the other hand, the depositary shall be entitled to act on the claims, requests or instructions received from us.

36

Table of Contents

DESCRIPTION OF WARRANTS

        References in this "Description of Warrants" section to "we," "us" or "our" mean Hospitality Properties Trust and not any of its consolidated subsidiaries, unless the context otherwise requires. The following is a summary of the general terms and provisions of the warrants that we may offer by this prospectus. Because it is a summary, it does not contain all of the information that may be important to you. If you want more information, you should read the forms of warrants and the warrant agreement which will be filed as exhibits to the registration statement of which this prospectus is a part. See "Where You Can Find More Information." This summary is also subject to and qualified by reference to the descriptions of the particular terms of our securities described in the applicable prospectus supplement. We will describe in a prospectus supplement (1) the specific terms of the warrants offered through that prospectus supplement and (2) any general terms outlined in this section that will not apply to such warrants. The applicable prospectus supplement also may add to, update or change the terms of such securities from those described below.

        We may issue, together with any other securities being offered or separately, warrants entitling the holder to purchase from or sell to us, or to receive from us the cash value of the right to purchase or sell, debt securities, preferred shares, depositary shares or common shares. We and a warrant agent will enter a warrant agreement pursuant to which the warrants will be issued. The warrant agent will act solely as our agent in connection with the warrants and will not assume any obligation or relationship of agency or trust for or with any holders or beneficial owners of warrants. We will file a copy of the forms of warrants and the warrant agreement with the SEC at or before the time of the offering of the applicable series of warrants.

        In the case of each series of warrants, the applicable prospectus supplement will describe the terms of the warrants being offered thereby. These include the following, if applicable:

•

the offering price;



•

the currencies in which such warrants are being offered;



•

the number of warrants offered;



•

the securities underlying the warrants;



•

the exercise price, the procedures for exercise of the warrants and the circumstances, if any, that will cause the warrants to be automatically exercised;



•

the date on which the warrants will expire;



•

the rights, if any, we have to redeem the warrants;



•

the name of the warrant agent; and



•

the other terms of the warrants.

        We will describe in the applicable prospectus supplement any material U.S. federal income tax considerations applicable to the warrants offered by such prospectus supplement.

        Warrants may be exercised at the appropriate office of the warrant agent or any other office indicated in the applicable prospectus supplement. Before the exercise of warrants, holders will not have any of the rights of holders of the securities purchasable upon exercise and will not be entitled to payments made to holders of those securities.

        The warrant agreement may be amended or supplemented without the consent of the holders of the warrants to which the amendment or supplement applies to effect changes that are not inconsistent with the provisions of the warrants and that do not adversely affect the interests of the holders of the warrants. However, any amendment that materially and adversely alters the rights of the holders of

37

Table of Contents

warrants will not be effective unless the holders of a majority of the applicable warrants then outstanding approve the amendment. Every holder of an outstanding warrant at the time any amendment becomes effective, by continuing to hold the warrant, will be bound by the applicable warrant agreement as amended thereby. The prospectus supplement applicable to a particular series of warrants may provide that certain provisions of the warrants, including the securities for which they may be exercisable, the exercise price and the expiration date may not be altered without the consent of the holder of each warrant.

DESCRIPTION OF CERTAIN PROVISIONS OF MARYLAND LAW
AND OF OUR DECLARATION OF TRUST AND BYLAWS

        We are organized as a REIT under Maryland law. The following is a summary of our declaration of trust and bylaws and several provisions of Maryland law. Because it is a summary, it does not contain all the information that may be important to you. If you want more information, you should read our entire declaration of trust and bylaws, copies of which we have filed with the SEC, and the provisions of Maryland law.

Trustees

        Our declaration of trust and bylaws provide for a Board of Trustees of five members and that our Board of Trustees may change the number of trustees. The number of trustees constituting our entire Board of Trustees may be increased or decreased from time to time only by a vote of two-thirds of the trustees or an amendment to our declaration of trust approved by two-thirds of the outstanding shares entitled to vote, provided however that the tenure of office of a trustee will not be affected by any decrease in the number of trustees. In the case of failure to elect trustees at an annual meeting of shareholders, the incumbent trustees will hold over and continue to direct the management of our business and affairs until they resign or their successors are elected and qualify. The failure of shareholders to elect trustees at an annual meeting of shareholders shall not cause vacancies on the Board of Trustees requiring our officers to call a special meeting of shareholders to elect trustees unless all trustees, including holdover trustees, are unwilling or unable to continue to serve. Any vacancy on the Board of Trustees may be filled only by a majority of the remaining trustees, even if the remaining trustees do not constitute a quorum. Any trustee elected to fill a vacancy will hold office for the remainder of the full term of the class of trustees in which the vacancy occurred or was created and until a successor is elected and qualifies.

        There is no cumulative voting in the election of trustees. At each annual meeting of shareholders, the affirmative vote of the holders of our shares representing a majority of the total number of votes authorized to be cast by shares then outstanding and entitled to vote thereon shall be sufficient to elect a trustee; provided, however, the election of a managing trustee or an independent trustee in an uncontested election, which is an election in which the number of nominees for election equals (or is less than) the number to be elected at the meeting, is by a majority of the votes cast at the meeting.

        Our declaration of trust previously divided our Board of Trustees into three classes, with shareholders electing the trustees of each class for three year terms and only one class of trustees being elected each year. Pursuant to an amendment to our declaration of trust approved at our 2014 annual meeting of shareholders, effective at our 2015 annual meeting of shareholders, trustees of the class of trustees whose term expired at that meeting or that expires at a subsequent annual meeting of shareholders are elected annually, with all of our trustees being elected annually as of our 2017 annual meeting of shareholders.

        Under our bylaws, our trustees are qualified as "independent trustees" or "managing trustees," and our bylaws require that (except for temporary periods due to vacancies), a majority of the trustees holding office will at all times be independent trustees. For those purposes, an "independent trustee" is

38

Table of Contents

not involved in our day to day activities, is not an employee of our manager, RMR LLC, and qualifies as independent under our declaration of trust, if applicable, and applicable rules of the NASDAQ and the SEC. A "managing trustee" is a trustee who is not an independent trustee and who has been an employee of RMR LLC or has been involved in our day to day activities for at least one year prior to his or her election. Our Board of Trustees is currently composed of three independent trustees and two managing trustees.

        Our declaration of trust and bylaws provide that a trustee may be removed by the affirmative vote either of all the remaining trustees or of the holders of not less than two-thirds of our common shares entitled to vote in the election of trustees, if all requirements set forth in our bylaws have been complied with by such shareholders. These provisions preclude shareholders from removing our incumbent trustees unless they can obtain the requisite affirmative vote of shares. Any shareholders proposing to remove one or more trustees must meet all of the requirements in our bylaws for a nomination of a Trustee at an annual meeting of shareholders or a proposal of other business at a meeting of shareholders, as described below under "—Advance Notice of Trustee Nominations and New Business."

Advance Notice of Trustee Nominations and New Business

        Annual Meetings of Shareholders.     Our bylaws provide that nominations of individuals for election to our Board of Trustees and proposals of other business to be considered at an annual meeting of shareholders may be made only (1) in our notice of the meeting, or otherwise properly brought before the meeting by or at the direction of our Board of Trustees, or (2) by a shareholder who is entitled to vote at the meeting, is entitled to make nominations or proposals and has complied with the advance notice procedures set forth in our bylaws.

        Under our bylaws, a shareholder's written notice of nominations for trustee or other matters to be considered at an annual meeting of shareholders must be delivered to our Secretary at our principal executive offices not later than 5:00 p.m. (Eastern Time) on the 120th day nor earlier than the 150th day prior to the first anniversary of the date of the proxy statement for the preceding year's annual meeting; provided however, that if the annual meeting is called for a date that is more than 30 days earlier or later than the first anniversary of the date of the preceding year's annual meeting, the notice must be delivered by not later than 5:00 p.m. (Eastern Time) on the 10th day following the earlier of the day on which (1) notice of the date of the annual meeting is mailed or otherwise made available or (2) public announcement of the date of the annual meeting is first made by us. Neither the postponement or adjournment of an annual meeting, nor the public announcement of such postponement or adjournment, commences a new time period (or extends any time period) for the giving of a shareholder's notice.

        Our bylaws set forth procedures for submission of nominations for trustee elections and other proposals by our shareholders for consideration at an annual meeting of shareholders, including, among other things:

•

requiring that any one or more shareholders wishing to make a nomination or proposal of other business have continuously owned our shares of beneficial interest entitled to vote in the election of Trustees or propose other business for at least three years as of the date of such shareholder's submission of the nomination or notice of the proposal, the record date for determining the shareholders entitled to vote at the meeting and the time of the meeting (including any adjournment or postponement thereof), with the aggregate shares owned by such shareholder(s) as of each such date during such three-year period representing at least 1% of our shares of beneficial interest, that the shareholder(s) hold a certificate evidencing the aggregate number of shares of beneficial interest at the time of submitting a notice as of each

39

Table of Contents

such date, and that the shareholder(s) submit the proposal to our Secretary in accordance with the requirements of our bylaws;

•

requiring certain information to be provided regarding any proposed nominee by the proposing shareholder;



•

requiring certain information to be provided with respect to any business other than the election of trustees that a shareholder proposes to bring before a meeting of our shareholders;



•

requiring certain information to be provided as to the shareholder giving the notice and certain of its affiliates; and



•

providing that the proposing shareholder is responsible for ensuring compliance with the advance notice provisions, that any responses of the shareholder to any request for information will not cure any defect in the shareholder's notice and that neither we, our Board of Trustees or any committee of our Board of Trustees nor any of our officers has any duty to request clarification or update information or inform the proposing shareholder of any defect in the shareholder's notice.

        Special Meetings of Shareholders.     With respect to special meetings of shareholders, our bylaws provide that only business brought before the meeting pursuant to our notice of the meeting or otherwise properly brought before the meeting by or at the direction of the Board of Trustees may be considered at such meeting. Nominations of individuals for election to our Board of Trustees only may be made at a special meeting of shareholders at which trustees are to be elected pursuant to our notice of meeting, or if our Board of Trustees has determined that trustees shall be elected at such special meeting. Under our bylaws, if we call a special meeting of shareholders for the purpose of electing one or more trustees, any one or more shareholders may nominate an individual or individuals (as the case may be) for election as a trustee if the shareholder(s) satisfies the ownership, holding and certificate requirements required by our bylaws, as described above, for submitting nominations for consideration at an annual meeting of shareholders. To be timely, a shareholder's notice must be delivered not earlier than the 150th day prior to such special meeting and not later than 5:00 p.m. (Eastern Time) on the later of (1) the 120th day prior to such special meeting or (2) the 10th day following the day on which public announcement is first made of the date of the special meeting. Neither the postponement or adjournment of a special meeting, nor the public announcement of such postponement or adjournment, shall commence a new time period (or extend any time period) for the giving of a shareholder(s)' notice.

Meetings of Shareholders; Actions by Written Consent

        Under our declaration of trust, our annual meeting of shareholders will take place within six months after the end of the fiscal year. Under our declaration of trust and bylaws, special meetings of shareholders may be called only by a majority of our Board of Trustees, provided that, if there are no trustees, our officers shall call a special meeting of the shareholders for the purpose of electing trustees.

        Whenever shareholders are required or permitted to take any action by a vote, the action may only be taken by a vote at a shareholders meeting. Under our declaration of trust and bylaws, shareholders do not have the right to take any action by written consent instead of a vote at a shareholders meeting.

Liability and Indemnification of Trustees and Officers

        The laws relating to Maryland real estate investment trusts, or the Maryland REIT Law, permit a REIT formed under the Maryland REIT Law to include in its declaration of trust a provision limiting the liability of its trustees and officers to the trust and its shareholders for money damages except for liability resulting from (1) actual receipt of an improper benefit or profit in money, property or services

40

Table of Contents

or (2) active and deliberate dishonesty by the trustee or officer that was established by a final judgment as being material to the cause of action adjudicated. Our declaration of trust contains such a provision which eliminates such liability to the maximum extent permitted by Maryland law.

        The Maryland REIT Law permits a REIT formed under the Maryland REIT Law to indemnify and advance expenses to its trustees, officers, employees and agents to the same extent permitted by the Maryland General Corporation Law, or the MGCL, for directors and officers of Maryland corporations. The MGCL permits a corporation to indemnify its present and former directors and officers, among others, against judgments, penalties, fines, settlements and reasonable expenses actually incurred by them in connection with any proceeding to which they may be made, or are threatened to be made, a party by reason of their service in those capacities. However, a Maryland corporation is not permitted to provide this type of indemnification if the following is established:

•

the act or omission of the director or officer was material to the matter giving rise to the proceeding and (1) was committed in bad faith or (2) was the result of active and deliberate dishonesty;



•

the director or officer actually received an improper personal benefit in money, property or services; or



•

in the case of any criminal proceeding, the director or officer had reasonable cause to believe that the act or omission was unlawful.

        Under the MGCL, a Maryland corporation may not indemnify a director for an adverse judgment in a suit by or in the right of the corporation or for a judgment of liability on the basis that personal benefit was improperly received, unless in either case a court orders indemnification and then only for expenses. The MGCL permits a corporation to advance reasonable expenses to a director or officer upon the corporation's receipt of the following:

•

a written affirmation by the director or officer of his or her good faith belief that the director or officer has met the standard of conduct necessary for indemnification by the corporation; and



•

a written undertaking by the director or officer or on his or her behalf to repay the amount paid or reimbursed by the corporation if it is ultimately determined that this standard of conduct was not met.

        Our declaration of trust includes provisions obligating us to indemnify our trustees and officers against any claim or liability to which they may become subject by reason of their status or actions as trustees or officers to the maximum extent permitted by Maryland law. Our declaration of trust also obligates us to pay or reimburse individuals described above for reasonable expenses in advance of final disposition of a proceeding.

        We have also entered into indemnification agreements with our trustees and our officers providing for contractual indemnification and procedures for indemnification by us to the fullest extent permitted by law and advancements by us of certain expenses and costs relating to claims, suits or proceedings arising from their service to us.

        The SEC has expressed the opinion that indemnification of trustees, officers or persons otherwise controlling a company for liabilities arising under the Securities Act is against public policy and is therefore unenforceable.

Shareholder Liability

        Under the Maryland REIT Law, a shareholder is generally not personally liable for the obligations of a REIT formed under Maryland law solely as a result of his or her status as a shareholder. Our declaration of trust provides that no shareholder will be liable for any debt, claim, demand, judgment

41

Table of Contents

or obligation of any kind by reason of being a shareholder. While we intend to conduct our business in a manner designed to minimize potential shareholder liability, we can give no assurance that you can avoid liability in all instances in all jurisdictions. We have not provided in the past and do not intend to provide insurance covering these risks to our shareholders.

        Our declaration of trust and bylaws provide that, to the fullest extent permitted by law, any shareholder who violates the declaration of trust or bylaws will indemnify us and hold us harmless from and against all costs, expenses, penalties, fines and other amounts, including attorneys' and other professional fees, arising from the shareholder's violation, together with interest on such amounts. Our bylaws further provide that matters for which a shareholder is liable and obligated to indemnify and hold us harmless include any breach or failure to fully comply with any covenant, condition or provision of our declaration of trust or bylaws, including the advance notice provisions pertaining to shareholder nominations and other proposals, and these provisions of our declaration of trust and bylaws apply to derivative actions brought against us in which the shareholder is not the prevailing party.

Disputes by Shareholders

        Our bylaws provide that actions brought against us or any trustee, officer, manager (including RMR LLC or its successor), agent or employee of us, by a shareholder, including derivative and class actions, shall, on the demand of any party to such dispute, be resolved through binding arbitration in accordance with the procedures set forth in our bylaws. However, the arbitration provisions do not apply to any request for a declaratory judgment or similar action regarding the meaning, interpretation or validity of any provision of our declaration of trust or bylaws, and that any such request or similar action be heard in accordance with the exclusive forum provisions of our bylaws. Our bylaws further provide that, with respect to any dispute involving both a question of the meaning, interpretation or validity of any provision of our declaration of trust or bylaws and any other matter in dispute, the arbitration of such other matter will be stayed until a final, non-appealable judgment regarding such meaning, interpretation or validity has been rendered in accordance with the exclusive forum provisions of our bylaws.

Forum for Certain Disputes

        Our bylaws provide that, unless we consent in writing to the selection of an alternative forum, the Circuit Court for Baltimore City, Maryland will be the sole and exclusive forum for (1) any derivative action or proceeding brought on our behalf, (2) any action asserting a claim of breach of a duty owed by any of our Trustees, officers, managers, agents or employees to us or our shareholders, (3) any action asserting a claim against us or any of our Trustees, officers, managers, agents or employees arising pursuant to Maryland law or our declaration of trust or bylaws, including any disputes, claims or controversies brought by or on behalf of any of our shareholders or (4) any action asserting a claim against us or any of our Trustees, officers, managers, agents or employees governed by the internal affairs doctrine of the State of Maryland. Any person or entity purchasing or otherwise acquiring any interest in our shares of beneficial interest is deemed to have notice of and consented to this provision. This choice of forum provision will limit a shareholder's ability to bring a claim in another judicial forum, including in a judicial forum that it believes is favorable for disputes with us or our Trustees, officers, managers, agents or employees, which may discourage lawsuits against us and our Trustees, officers, managers, agents or employees. This provision of our bylaws does not abrogate or supersede other provisions of our bylaws which may require the resolution of such disputes by arbitration.

Transactions with Affiliates

        Our declaration of trust allows us to enter into contracts and transactions of any kind with any person, including any of our trustees, officers, employees or agents or any person affiliated with them so long as the affiliate's interest in the transaction is disclosed or known to the trustees or shareholders

42

Table of Contents

and the transaction is approved or ratified by a majority vote of either the trustees who are not interested in the transaction or the shareholders, and subject to the satisfaction of certain other procedural requirements. Other than general legal principles applicable to self-dealing by trustees and interested trustee transactions, there are no prohibitions in our declaration of trust or bylaws which would prohibit dealings between us and our affiliates.

Restrictions on Transfer of Shares

        Our declaration of trust provides that our Board of Trustees has the power to refuse to permit a transfer of shares if it determines such transfer would jeopardize our qualification for taxation as a REIT under the Code. In connection with the foregoing, if our Board of Trustees shall, at any time, be of the opinion that (1) direct or indirect ownership (as defined in our declaration of trust) of shares representing more than 9.8% of the number, value or voting power of the total of our outstanding shares has or may become concentrated in the hands of one beneficial owner, other than specified excepted persons, (2) our shares would be owned by fewer than 100 persons, or (3) we would be 'closely held' under the Code, our Board of Trustees shall have the power and right to (a) refuse to transfer or issue such excess shares to any person whose acquisition of such shares would, in the opinion of our Board of Trustees, result in the direct or indirect beneficial ownership of such excess shares by a person other than an excepted person and (b) to treat such excess shares as having been transferred to a trustee, as described more fully below, and the purported transfer to the proposed transferee shall be void ab initio, and such intended transferee deemed never to have had an interest in the shares.

        Our bylaws provide that no person may own, or be deemed to own by virtue of the attribution provisions of the Code, more than 9.8% in number or value, whichever is more restrictive, of any class or series of our outstanding shares, or 9.8% in number or value, whichever is more restrictive, of our outstanding common shares. Our bylaws also prohibit any person from beneficially or constructively owning shares if that ownership would result in us being closely held under Section 856(h) of the Code or would otherwise cause us to fail to qualify for taxation as a REIT. Any transfer of shares which results in our shares being owned by fewer than 100 persons will be void ab initio and the proposed transferee shall acquire no rights in such shares.

        Our Board of Trustees, in its discretion, may exempt a proposed transferee from the share ownership limitation if, in its discretion, it determines (1) the ownership of shares by such person would not result in our being closely held under Section 856(h) of the Code or our otherwise failing to qualify for taxation as a REIT; (2) such person does not and will not own, actually or constructively, an interest in one of our tenants (or a tenant of any entity which we own or control) that would cause us to own, actually or constructively, more than a 9.8% interest in the tenant; (3) the ownership of shares in excess of the ownership limit pursuant to the exception requested would not cause a default under the terms of any contract to which we or any of our subsidiaries are party or reasonably expect to become a party; and (4) the ownership of shares in excess of the ownership limit is in our best interest. In connection with any requested exemption, our Board of Trustees may require such rulings from the IRS or opinions of counsel as it deems advisable in order to determine or ensure our qualification for taxation as a REIT and such representations, undertakings and agreements it deems advisable in order for it to make the foregoing determinations.

        In determining whether to grant an exemption, our Board of Trustees may consider, among other factors, the following:

•

the general reputation and moral character of the person requesting an exemption;



•

whether the person's ownership of shares would be direct or through ownership attribution;

43

Table of Contents

•

whether the person's ownership of shares would interfere with the conduct of our business, including our ability to acquire additional properties or additional investments in issuers currently invested in by us or other issuers;



•

whether granting an exemption would adversely affect any of our existing contractual arrangements;



•

whether the person requesting an exemption has been approved as an owner by all regulatory or other governmental authorities that have jurisdiction over us; and



•

whether the person requesting an exemption is attempting a change in control or to affect our policies in a way in which the Board of Trustees, in its discretion, considers adverse to our or our shareholders' best interests.

        If a person attempts a transfer of our shares in violation of the ownership limitations described above, then the Board of Trustees is authorized and empowered to deem that number of shares which would cause the violation (a) to be automatically transferred to a charitable trust for the exclusive benefit of one or more charitable beneficiaries designated by us or (b) to the fullest extent provided by law, to be void ab initio. A transfer to the charitable trust will be deemed to be effective as of the close of business on the business day prior to the date of the Board of Trustees' determination to have such transfer occur or at such other time determined by the Board of Trustees. The prohibited owner will not acquire any rights in these excess shares, will not benefit economically from ownership of any excess shares, will have no rights to distributions, will not possess any rights to vote and, to the extent permitted by law, will have no claim or other recourse against the purported transferor of such shares. Subject to Maryland law, the trustee of the charitable trust will have the authority to rescind as void any vote cast by the proposed transferee prior to our discovery that the shares have been transferred to the trust and to recast the vote in accordance with the desires of the trustee acting for the benefit of the charitable beneficiary. However, if we have already taken irreversible trust action, then the trustee will not have the authority to rescind and recast the vote. Any dividend or other distribution paid prior to our discovery that shares have been transferred to the trust for the charitable beneficiary will be paid by the recipient to the trustee. Any dividend or other distribution authorized but unpaid will be paid when due to the trustee. Any dividend or distribution paid to the trustee will be held in trust for the charitable beneficiary.

        Unless otherwise directed by the Board of Trustees, within 20 days after receiving notice from us that our shares have been transferred to a charitable trust, or as soon thereafter as is practicable, the trustee will sell the shares and related rights held in the charitable trust to a person designated by the trustee whose ownership of the shares will not violate the ownership limitations set forth in our bylaws. Upon this sale, the interest of the charitable beneficiary in the shares sold will terminate and the trustee will distribute the net proceeds of the sale to the prohibited owner and to the charitable beneficiary as follows:

•

the prohibited owner will receive the lesser of:



(1)

the net price paid by the prohibited owner for the shares or, if the prohibited owner did not give value for the shares in connection with the event causing the shares to be held in the charitable trust, for example, a gift, devise or other similar transaction, the market price (as defined in our bylaws) of the shares on the day of the event causing the shares to be transferred to the charitable trust, less our and the charitable trustee's costs, expenses and compensation described below; and



(2)

the net sales proceeds received by the trustee from the sale of the shares held in the charitable trust; and

44

Table of Contents

•

any net sale proceeds in excess of the amount payable to the prohibited owner shall be paid to the charitable beneficiary, less the costs, expenses and compensation of the charitable trust and trustee.

        If, prior to our discovery that shares have been transferred to the charitable trust, a prohibited owner sells those shares, then:

•

those shares will be deemed to have been sold on behalf of the charitable trust; and



•

to the extent that the prohibited owner received an amount for those shares that exceeds the amount that the prohibited owner was entitled to receive from a sale by a trustee, the prohibited owner must pay the excess to the trustee upon demand.

        Also, shares held in the charitable trust will be offered for sale to us, or our designee, at a price per share equal to the lesser of:

•

the price per share in the transaction that resulted in the transfer to the charitable trust or, in the case of a devise, gift or similar transaction, the market price per share on the day of the event causing that transfer; and



•

the market price on the date we or our designee accepts the offer.

        In either of the above cases, the price per share will be less our and the charitable trustee's costs, expenses and compensation described below.

        We will have the right to accept the offer until the trustee has sold the shares held in the charitable trust. The net proceeds of the sale to us will be distributed to the prohibited owner.

        Any person who acquires or attempts or intends to acquire beneficial or constructive ownership of any shares that will or may violate the foregoing share ownership limitations, or any person who would have owned shares that resulted in a transfer to a charitable trust, is required to immediately give written notice to us of such event, or in the case of such a proposed or attempted transaction, give at least 15 days' prior written notice, and to provide to us such other information as we may request.

        Every owner of 5% or more of any class or series of our shares is required to give written notice to us within 30 days after the end of each taxable year, and also within three business days after we so request, stating the name and address of the owner, the number of shares of each class and series of our shares which the owner beneficially owns and a description of the manner in which those shares are held. Any such owner who holds our shares as nominee for another person who is required to include distributions on our shares in his or her gross income (the actual owner) is required to give written notice to us stating the name and address of the actual owner and the number of each class and series of our shares of the actual owner with respect to whom the holder of our shares is nominee. Each such shareholder and each such actual owner is required to provide us with any additional information that we may request in order to determine our qualification for taxation as a REIT, to determine our compliance with other applicable laws or requirements of any governmental authority or to ensure compliance with the foregoing share ownership limitations. In addition, each shareholder is required to provide us with such information as we may request, in good faith, in order to determine our qualification for taxation as a REIT, to determine our compliance with other applicable laws or requirements of any governmental authority and compliance with such share ownership limitations.

        Our bylaws provide that the trustee of the charitable trust is entitled to reasonable compensation, as approved by our Board of Trustees, and is entitled to be indemnified for its costs and expenses reasonably incurred in connection with conducting its duties and satisfying its obligations under our bylaws. Any such compensation, costs and expenses may be funded from the charitable trust or by us and, if funded by us, we are entitled to reimbursement on a first priority basis from the charitable trust.

45

Table of Contents

        We are also entitled, without limiting a shareholder's other obligations under our declaration of trust and bylaws, to collect from the charitable trust our costs and expenses incurred in the process of enforcing the ownership limitations contained in our bylaws.

        The restrictions in our declaration of trust and bylaws described above will not preclude the settlement of any transaction entered into through the facilities of any national securities exchange or automated interdealer quotation system. Our bylaws provide, however, that the fact that the settlement of any transaction occurs will not negate the effect of any of the foregoing limitations and any transferee in this kind of transaction will be subject to all of the provisions and limitations described above.

        All certificates evidencing our shares and any share statements for our uncertificated shares may bear legends referring to the foregoing restrictions.

        The restrictions on transfer in our governing documents are intended to assist with REIT compliance under the Code and otherwise to promote our orderly governance. These restrictions do not apply to RMR LLC or its affiliates.

Regulatory Compliance and Disclosure

        Our bylaws provide that any shareholder who, by virtue of such shareholder's ownership of our shares of beneficial interest or actions taken by the shareholder affecting us, triggers the application of any requirement or regulation of any federal, state, municipal or other governmental or regulatory body on us or any of our subsidiaries shall promptly take all actions necessary and fully cooperate with us to ensure that such requirements or regulations are satisfied without restricting, imposing additional obligations on or in any way limiting the business, assets, operations or prospects of us or any of our subsidiaries. If the shareholder fails or is otherwise unable to promptly take such actions so as to cause satisfaction of such requirements or regulations, such shareholder shall promptly divest a sufficient number of our shares necessary to cause the application of such requirement or regulation to not apply to us or any of our subsidiaries. If the shareholder fails to cause such satisfaction or divest itself of such sufficient number of our shares by not later than the 10th day after triggering such requirement or regulation referred to in the bylaws, then any of our shares beneficially owned by such shareholder at and in excess of the level triggering the application of such requirement or regulation shall, to the fullest extent permitted by law, be deemed to constitute shares held in violation of the ownership limitations set forth in the bylaws. Also, our bylaws provide that if the shareholder who triggers the application of any regulation or requirement fails to satisfy the requirements or regulations or to take curative actions within such 10 day period, we may take all other actions which the Board of Trustees deems appropriate to require compliance or to preserve the value of our assets, and we may charge the offending shareholder for our costs and expenses as well as any damages which may result.

        Our bylaws also provide that if a shareholder, by virtue of such shareholder's ownership of our shares of beneficial interest or its receipt or exercise of proxies to vote shares owned by other shareholders, would not be permitted to vote such shareholder's shares or proxies for such shares in excess of a certain amount pursuant to applicable law but the Board of Trustees determines that the excess shares or shares represented by the excess proxies are necessary to obtain a quorum, then such shareholder shall not be entitled to vote any such excess shares or proxies, and instead such excess shares or proxies may, to the fullest extent permitted by law, be voted by the Advisor (as defined in our declaration of trust) or another person designated by the Board of Trustees, in proportion to the total shares otherwise voted on such matter.

Business Combinations

        The MGCL contains a provision which regulates business combinations with interested shareholders. This provision applies to REITs formed under Maryland law like us. Under the MGCL,

46

Table of Contents

business combinations such as mergers, consolidations, share exchanges, or, in circumstances specified in the statute, an asset transfer or issuance or reclassification of equity securities between a REIT formed under Maryland law and an interested shareholder or an affiliate of an interested shareholder are prohibited for five years after the most recent date on which the interested shareholder becomes an interested shareholder. Under the MGCL the following persons are deemed to be interested shareholders:

•

any person who beneficially owns, directly or indirectly, 10% or more of the voting power of the trust's outstanding voting shares; or



•

an affiliate or associate of the trust who, at any time within the two-year period immediately prior to the date in question, was the beneficial owner, directly or indirectly, of 10% or more of the voting power of the then outstanding voting shares of the trust.

        After the five year prohibition period has ended, a business combination between a trust and an interested shareholder generally must be recommended by the board of trustees of the trust and must receive the following shareholder approvals:

•

the affirmative vote of at least 80% of the votes entitled to be cast by holders of outstanding voting shares of the trust; and



•

the affirmative vote of at least two-thirds of the votes entitled to be cast by holders of voting shares other than shares held by the interested shareholder with whom or with whose affiliate or associate the business combination is to be effected or held by an affiliate or associate of the interested shareholder.

        The shareholder approvals discussed above are not required if the trust's shareholders receive the minimum price set forth in the MGCL for their shares and the consideration is received in cash or in the same form as previously paid by the interested shareholder for its shares.

        The foregoing provisions of the MGCL do not apply, however, to business combinations that are approved or exempted by our Board of Trustees prior to the time that the interested shareholder becomes an interested shareholder. A person is not an interested shareholder under the statute if the board of trustees approves in advance the transaction by which that shareholder otherwise would have become an interested shareholder. The board of trustees may provide that its approval is subject to compliance with any terms and conditions determined by the board of trustees. Our declaration of trust provides that we have elected not to be governed by these provisions of the MGCL.

Control Share Acquisitions

        The MGCL contains a provision which regulates control share acquisitions. This provision applies to REITs formed under Maryland law like us. The MGCL provides that control shares of a REIT formed under Maryland law acquired in a control share acquisition have no voting rights except to the extent that the acquisition is approved by a vote of two-thirds of the votes entitled to be cast on the matter, excluding shares owned by the acquiror, by officers or by trustees who are employees of the trust. Control shares are voting shares, which, if aggregated with all other shares previously acquired by the acquiror, or in respect of which the acquiror is able to exercise or direct the exercise of voting power (except solely by virtue of a revocable proxy), would entitle the acquiror to exercise voting power in electing trustees within one of the following ranges of voting power:

•

one-tenth or more but less than one-third;



•

one-third or more but less than a majority; or



•

a majority or more of all voting power.

        An acquiror must obtain the necessary shareholder approval each time it acquires control shares in an amount sufficient to cross one of the thresholds noted above.

47

Table of Contents

        Control shares do not include shares which the acquiring person is entitled to vote as a result of having previously obtained shareholder approval. The MGCL provides for certain exceptions from the definition of control share acquisition.

        A person who has made or proposes to make a control share acquisition, upon satisfaction of the conditions set forth in the statute, including an undertaking to pay the expenses of the meeting, may compel the board of trustees of the trust to call a special meeting of shareholders to be held within 50 days of demand to consider the voting rights of the shares. If no request for a meeting is made, the trust may itself present the matter at any shareholders meeting.

        If voting rights are not approved at the meeting or if the acquiring person does not deliver an acquiring person statement as required by the MGCL, then the trust may redeem for fair value any or all of the control shares, except those for which voting rights have previously been approved. The right of the trust to redeem control shares is subject to conditions and limitations. Fair value is determined, without regard to the absence of voting rights for the control shares, as of the date of the last control share acquisition by the acquiror or of any meeting of shareholders at which the voting rights of the shares are considered and not approved. If voting rights for control shares are approved at a shareholders meeting and the acquiror becomes entitled to vote, all other shareholders may exercise appraisal rights. The fair value of the shares as determined for purposes of appraisal rights may not be less than the highest price per share paid by the acquiror in the control share acquisition.

        The control share acquisition statute of the MGCL does not apply to the following:

•

shares acquired in a merger, consolidation or share exchange if the trust is a party to the transaction; or



•

acquisitions approved or exempted by a provision in the declaration of trust or bylaws of the trust adopted before the acquisition of shares.

        Our declaration of trust provides that we have elected not to be governed by these provisions of the MGCL.

Amendment to our Declaration of Trust, Dissolution and Mergers

        Under the Maryland REIT Law, a REIT formed under Maryland law generally cannot dissolve, amend its declaration of trust, convert or merge unless these actions are approved by at least two-thirds of all shares entitled to be cast on the matter. The Maryland REIT Law allows a trust's declaration of trust to set a lower percentage, so long as the percentage is not less than a majority of the votes entitled to be cast on the matter. Our declaration of trust provides for approval of an amendment of the declaration of trust (except amendments to certain provisions of the declaration of trust) by a majority of shares entitled to vote on these actions provided the amendment has been approved by a two-thirds vote of our Board of Trustees. Under the Maryland REIT Law, a declaration of trust may permit the trustees by a two-thirds vote to amend the declaration of trust from time to time to qualify as a REIT under the Code or the Maryland REIT Law without the affirmative vote or written consent of the shareholders. Our declaration of trust permits this type of action by our Board of Trustees. Our declaration of trust also permits our Board of Trustees to effect changes in our unissued shares, as described more fully above. The Maryland REIT Law provides that a majority of our entire board, without action by the shareholders, may, among other things, amend our declaration of trust to change the name or other designation or the par value of any class or series of our shares and the aggregate par value of our shares.

48

Table of Contents

Anti-Takeover Effect of Maryland Law and of Our Declaration of Trust and Bylaws

        The following provisions in our declaration of trust and bylaws and in Maryland law could delay or prevent a change in our control:

•

the prohibition in our declaration of trust and bylaws of any shareholder other than excepted holders, including RMR LLC and its affiliates, from owning more than 9.8% of the number or value, whichever is more restrictive, of any class or series of our outstanding shares, including our common shares;



•

the authority of our Board of Trustees to make various elections under Maryland's Unsolicited Takeover Act and other provisions of Maryland law which may delay or otherwise prevent a change of control of us;



•

required qualifications for an individual to serve as a trustee and a requirement that certain of our trustees be "managing trustees" and other trustees be "independent trustees";



•

limitations on the ability of, and various requirements that must be satisfied in order for, our shareholders to propose nominees for election as trustees and propose other business to be considered at a meeting of our shareholders;



•

the requirement that an individual trustee may be removed by the shareholders, with or without cause, by the affirmative vote of holders at least two-thirds of our common shares entitled to vote in the election of trustees or by the affirmative vote of all remaining trustees;



•

the authority of our Board of Trustees, and not our shareholders, to adopt, amend or repeal our bylaws;



•

the fact that only our Board of Trustees may call shareholder meetings and that shareholders are not entitled to act without a meeting;



•

the authority of our Board of Trustees to adopt certain amendments to our declaration of trust without shareholder approval, including the authority to increase or decrease the number of authorized shares, to create new classes or series of shares (including a class or series of shares that could delay or prevent a transaction or a change in our control that might involve a premium for our shares or otherwise be in the best interests of our shareholders), to increase or decrease the number of shares of any class or series, and to classify or reclassify any unissued shares from time to time by setting or changing the preferences, conversion or other rights, voting powers, restrictions, limitations as to distributions, qualifications or terms or conditions of redemption of our shares or any new class or series of shares created by our Board of Trustees;



•

the requirement that amendments to our declaration of trust may be made only if approved by two-thirds of our trustees;



•

the provisions of the Maryland REIT Law and our declaration of trust which together have the effect of requiring the approval of at least two-thirds of all shares entitled to vote on the matter for our merger or dissolution and requiring the approval of at least two-thirds of all the shares entitled to vote on the matter for certain amendments to our declaration of trust;



•

the ability of our trustees to expand our Board of Trustees and fill vacancies which may be created by our Board of Trustees;



•

requirements that shareholders comply with regulatory requirements (including Nevada and Louisiana gaming and Indiana insurance licensing requirements) affecting us which could effectively limit share ownership of us, including in some cases, to 5% of our outstanding shares; and

49

Table of Contents

•

certain change in control provisions of our Series D Preferred Shares, which would provide the holders of the Series D Preferred Shares with the right to convert some or all of their Series D Preferred Shares into a number of our common shares as described in the applicable articles supplementary.

        In addition, our credit agreement for our unsecured revolving credit facility and unsecured term loan and our shareholders agreement with AIC each also contain change in control provisions, which are further described below, and our business management and property management agreements with RMR LLC contain provisions that allow for termination for convenience and termination for a performance reason but require the payment of a termination fee, as further described in those agreements.

        For all of these reasons, our shareholders may be unable to realize a change of control premium for any of our shares they own or otherwise effect a change of our policies.

Liability of Shareholders for Breach of Restrictions on Ownership

        Our credit agreement for our unsecured revolving credit facility and unsecured term loan provides that a change in our control, as defined in that agreement and including RMR LLC ceasing to act as our business manager, constitutes a default under such agreement, and a default under the agreement could result in a cross-default under our senior unsecured notes or our other debt. In addition, our shareholders agreement with respect to AIC provides that AIC and the other shareholders of AIC may have rights to acquire our interests in AIC if such an acquisition occurs or if we experience some other change in control. If a breach of the ownership limitations or other provisions of our declaration of trust or bylaws results in a default under our credit agreement or our other debt or a loss of our ownership interests in AIC, the shareholder or shareholders causing the breach may be liable to us and may be liable to our other shareholders for damages. These damages may be in addition to the loss of beneficial ownership and voting rights of the shares owned by the breaching shareholder or shareholders, as described above, and these damages may be material.