<TABLE> <S> <C>

<PAGE>
<ARTICLE> 5
<LEGEND>
THIS SCHEDULE CONTAINS SUMMARY FINANCIAL INFORMATION EXTRACTED FROM CONSOLIDATED
BALANCE SHEET AS OF JUNE 30, 1997 AND DECEMBER 31, 1996 AND CONSOLIDATED
STATEMENTS OF OPERATIONS FOR THE SIX MONTHS ENDED JUNE 30, 1997 AND 1996 OF THE
ENTITY FORMERLY KNOWN AS PATRIOT AMERICAN HOSPITALITY, INC. AND IS QUALIFIED IN
ITS ENTIRETY BY REFERENCE TO SUCH FINANCIAL STATEMENTS.
</LEGEND>
<CIK>  0000016343
<NAME> PATRIOT AMERICAN HOSPITALITY, INC.
<MULTIPLIER> 1,000
       
<S>                             <C>                     <C>
<PERIOD-TYPE>                   6-MOS                   6-MOS
<FISCAL-YEAR-END>                          DEC-31-1997             DEC-31-1996
<PERIOD-START>                             JAN-01-1997             JAN-01-1996
<PERIOD-END>                               JUN-30-1997             JUN-30-1996
<CASH>                                           8,975                   6,604
<SECURITIES>                                         0                       0
<RECEIVABLES>                                   12,353                   5,351
<ALLOWANCES>                                         0                       0
<INVENTORY>                                      2,150                   1,648
<CURRENT-ASSETS>                                     0                       0
<PP&E>                                       1,049,870                 661,640
<DEPRECIATION>                                  37,930                  19,815
<TOTAL-ASSETS>                               1,177,401                 760,931
<CURRENT-LIABILITIES>                                0                  23,246
<BONDS>                                              0                       0
<PREFERRED-MANDATORY>                                0                       0
<PREFERRED>                                          0                       0
<COMMON>                                             0                       0
<OTHER-SE>                                     440,862                 437,039
<TOTAL-LIABILITY-AND-EQUITY>                 1,177,401                 760,931
<SALES>                                         71,986                  30,269
<TOTAL-REVENUES>                                73,118                  30,470
<CGS>                                                0                       0
<TOTAL-COSTS>                                        0                       0
<OTHER-EXPENSES>                                30,736                  11,518
<LOSS-PROVISION>                                     0                       0
<INTEREST-EXPENSE>                              17,328                   2,772
<INCOME-PRETAX>                                      0                       0
<INCOME-TAX>                                         0                       0
<INCOME-CONTINUING>                                  0                       0
<DISCONTINUED>                                       0                       0
<EXTRAORDINARY>                                      0                       0
<CHANGES>                                            0                       0
<NET-INCOME>                                    23,166                  15,811
<EPS-PRIMARY>                                      .52                     .53
<EPS-DILUTED>                                        0                       0
        

</TABLE>