SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION WASHINGTON, D.C. 20549 FORM 8-K CURRENT REPORT PURSUANT TO SECTION 13 OR 15(d) OF THE SECURITIES EXCHANGE ACT OF 1934 MARCH 29, 2004 --------------------- DATE OF REPORT (DATE OF EARLIEST EVENT REPORTED) HERSHA HOSPITALITY TRUST (EXACT NAME OF REGISTRANT AS SPECIFIED IN ITS CHARTER) Maryland 001-14765 251811499 -------- --------- --------- (State or Other Jurisdiction (Commission File No.) (I.R.S. Employer of Incorporation) Identification No.) 148 Sheraton Drive, Box A New Cumberland, Pennsylvania 17070 ----------------------------------- (Address of Principal Executive Offices) (Zip Code) (717) 770-2405 -------------- (Registrant's Telephone Number, Including Area Code) N/A -------------- (Former Name or Former Address, if Changed Since Last Report) ITEM 7. FINANCIAL STATEMENTS, PRO FORMA FINANCIAL INFORMATION AND EXHIBITS The following document is being furnished as an exhibit to this Current Report on Form 8-K: Exhibit 99.1 Press release, dated March 29, 2004. ITEM 12. RESULTS OF OPERATIONS AND FINANCIAL CONDITION. This Current Report on Form 8-K and the earnings press releases attached hereto are being furnished by Hersha Hospitality Trust (the "Company") pursuant to Item 12 of Form 8-K, insofar as such press releases disclose historical information regarding the Company's results of operations or financial condition for the three months and fiscal year ended December 31, 2003. The information in this Current Report on Form 8-K, including the exhibits hereto, shall not be deemed "filed" for the purposes of Section 18 of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended, or otherwise subject to the liability of that section, nor shall it be deemed incorporated by reference in any filing under the Securities Act of 1933, as amended, except as shall be expressly set forth by specific reference in such a filing. 2 SIGNATURE Pursuant to the requirements of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, the registrant has duly caused this report to be signed on its behalf by the undersigned hereunto duly authorized. HERSHA HOSPITALITY TRUST March 31, 2004 /s/ Ashish Parikh ----------------------------------- Ashish Parikh Chief Financial Officer 3