<TABLE> <S> <C>

<PAGE>
<ARTICLE> 5
<LEGEND>
THIS SCHEDULE CONTAINS SUMMARY FINANCIAL INFORMATION EXTRACTED FROM THE
CONSOLIDATED BALANCE SHEETS AS OF MARCH 31, 1998 AND DECEMBER 31, 1997 AND THE
CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF OPERATIONS FOR THE THREE MONTHS ENDED MARCH 31, 1998
AND 1997 OF PATRIOT AMERICAN HOSPITALITY, INC.
</LEGEND>
<CIK>  0000016343
<NAME>  PATRIOT AMERICAN HOSPITALITY, INC.
<MULTIPLIER> 1,000
       
<S>                             <C>                     <C>
<PERIOD-TYPE>                   3-MOS                   3-MOS
<FISCAL-YEAR-END>                          DEC-31-1998             DEC-31-1997
<PERIOD-START>                             JAN-01-1998             JAN-01-1997
<PERIOD-END>                               MAR-31-1998             MAR-31-1997
<CASH>                                           7,387                  20,360
<SECURITIES>                                         0                       0
<RECEIVABLES>                                   44,976                  14,458
<ALLOWANCES>                                         0                       0
<INVENTORY>                                      1,306                   1,306
<CURRENT-ASSETS>                                     0                       0
<PP&E>                                       2,662,066               2,083,768
<DEPRECIATION>                                  67,027                  67,501
<TOTAL-ASSETS>                               3,728,516               2,321,105
<CURRENT-LIABILITIES>                                0                       0
<BONDS>                                              0                       0
<PREFERRED-MANDATORY>                                0                       0
<PREFERRED>                                         49                       0
<COMMON>                                         1,077                     733
<OTHER-SE>                                   1,791,257                 908,294
<TOTAL-LIABILITY-AND-EQUITY>                 3,728,516               2,321,105
<SALES>                                              0                       0
<TOTAL-REVENUES>                               113,165                  35,388
<CGS>                                                0                       0
<TOTAL-COSTS>                                        0                       0
<OTHER-EXPENSES>                                44,260                  14,824
<LOSS-PROVISION>                                     0                       0
<INTEREST-EXPENSE>                              34,251                   7,805
<INCOME-PRETAX>                                 38,245                  13,780
<INCOME-TAX>                                       371                       0
<INCOME-CONTINUING>                                  0                       0
<DISCONTINUED>                                       0                       0
<EXTRAORDINARY>                                 18,716                       0
<CHANGES>                                            0                       0
<NET-INCOME>                                    15,497                  11,348
<EPS-PRIMARY>                                     0.16                    0.26
<EPS-DILUTED>                                     0.14                    0.25
        

</TABLE>