<PAGE>

                                                                     Exhibit 4.2

                                (Face of Note)


         ____% [Series A] [Series B] Senior Subordinated Note due ____

  FOR PURPOSES OF SECTIONS 1273 AND 1275 OF THE UNITED STATES INTERNAL
REVENUE CODE, THE AMOUNT OF ORIGINAL ISSUE DISCOUNT ON THIS SECURITY IS    % OF
ITS PRINCIPAL AMOUNT, THE ISSUE DATE IS           , [19  ][20  ], [AND] THE
YIELD TO MATURITY IS     % [THE METHOD USED TO DETERMINE THE YIELD IS      AND
THE AMOUNT OF ORIGINAL ISSUE DISCOUNT APPLICABLE TO THE SHORT ACCRUAL PERIOD OF
   , [19  ][20  ]  TO [19  ][20  ], IS    % OF THE PRINCIPAL AMOUNT OF THIS
SECURITY].


No.                                                                 $___________

                             CAPSTAR HOTEL COMPANY


promises to pay to _____________, or registered assigns, the
principal sum of __________________ Dollars on __________, ____.

     Interest Payment Dates:  ________ __ and ______ __

     Record Dates:  ________ __ and ______ __

                   Dated:

                   CAPSTAR HOTEL COMPANY

                   By: ____________________________
                   Name:
                   Title:

Trustee's Certificate of Authentication:

This is one of the [Global] Notes
referred to in the within-
mentioned Indenture:

IBJ Schroder Bank & Trust Company,
as Trustee

By _____________________________
 Authorized Signatory

                                       1
<PAGE>

                                (Back of Note)

_____% [Series A] [Series B] Senior Subordinated Note due ____

                                      of

                             CapStar Hotel Company


UNLESS AND UNTIL IT IS EXCHANGED IN WHOLE OR IN PART FOR SECURITIES IN
DEFINITIVE FORM, THIS SECURITY MAY NOT BE TRANSFERRED EXCEPT AS A WHOLE BY THE
DEPOSITARY TO A NOMINEE OF THE DEPOSITARY, OR BY ANY SUCH NOMINEE OF THE
DEPOSITARY, OR BY THE DEPOSITARY OR NOMINEE OF A SUCCESSOR DEPOSITARY OR ANY
NOMINEE TO A SUCCESSOR DEPOSITARY OR A NOMINEE OF SUCH SUCCESSOR DEPOSITARY.
TRANSFERS OF THIS GLOBAL SECURITY SHALL BE LIMITED TO TRANSFERS IN WHOLE, BUT
NOT IN PART, TO NOMINEES OF CEDE & CO. OR TO A SUCCESSOR THEREOF OR SUCH
SUCCESSOR'S NOMINEE, AND TRANSFERS OF PORTIONS OF THIS GLOBAL SECURITY SHALL BE
LIMITED TO TRANSFERS MADE IN ACCORDANCE WITH THE RESTRICTIONS SET FORTH IN THE
INDENTURE.

UNLESS THIS CERTIFICATE IS PRESENTED BY AN AUTHORIZED REPRESENTATIVE OF THE
DEPOSITORY TRUST COMPANY, A NEW YORK CORPORATION (DTC), TO THE ISSUER OR ITS
AGENT FOR REGISTRATION OF TRANSFER, EXCHANGE OR PAYMENT, AND ANY CERTIFICATE
ISSUED IS REGISTERED IN THE NAME OF CEDE & CO. OR SUCH

                                       2
<PAGE>

OTHER NAME AS IS REQUESTED BY AN AUTHORIZED REPRESENTATIVE OF DTC (AND ANY
PAYMENT HEREON IS MADE TO CEDE & CO. OR TO SUCH OTHER ENTITY AS IS REQUESTED BY
AN AUTHORIZED REPRESENTATIVE OF DTC), ANY TRANSFER, PLEDGE OR OTHER USE HEREOF
FOR VALUE OR OTHERWISE BY OR TO ANY PERSON IS WRONGFUL INASMUCH AS THE
REGISTERED OWNER HEREOF, CEDE & CO., HAS AN INTEREST HEREIN.

Capitalized terms used herein shall have the meanings assigned to them in the
Indenture referred to below unless otherwise indicated.

     1.   INTEREST.  CapStar Hotel Company, a Delaware corporation (the
"COMPANY"), promises to pay interest on the principal amount of this _____%
[Series A] [Series B] Senior Subordinated Note due ____ (the "NOTE") at the rate
and in the manner specified below.

     The Company shall pay interest on the principal amount of this Note in
cash at the rate per annum shown above and shall pay the Liquidated Damages, if
any, payable pursuant to Section 5 of the Registration Rights Agreement referred
to below.  The Company shall pay interest and Liquidated Damages, if any,
semi-annually on each ________ __ and ______ __ commencing ________ __, 199_, or
if any such day is not a Business Day (as defined in the Indenture referred to
below), on the next succeeding Business Day (each an "INTEREST PAYMENT DATE").

     Interest will be computed on the basis of a 360-day year consisting of
twelve 30-day months for the actual number of days elapsed.  Interest shall
accrue from the most recent date to which interest has been paid or, if no
interest has been paid, from the date of the original issuance of this Note.  To
the extent lawful, the Company shall pay interest on overdue principal and
premium at the rate of 1% per annum in excess of the then applicable interest
rate on this Note; it shall pay interest on overdue installments of interest
(without regard to any applicable grace periods) at the same rate to the extent
lawful.

     2.   METHOD OF PAYMENT.  The Company will pay interest on the Notes
(except defaulted interest) and Liquidated Damages, if any, to the Persons who
are registered Holders of Notes at the close of business on the _________ and
_________ next preceding the Interest Payment Date, even if such Notes are
cancelled after such record date and on or before such Interest Payment Date,
except as provided in Section 2.12 of the Indenture with respect to defaulted
interest.  The Notes will be payable as to principal, premium, if any, and
interest and Liquidated Damages, if any, at the office or agency of the Company
maintained for such purpose within or without the City and State of New York,
or, at the option of the Company, payment of interest and Liquidated Damages, if
any, may be made by check mailed to the Holders at their addresses set forth in
the register of Holders; provided that payment by wire transfer of immediately
available funds will be required with respect to principal and premium, if any,
and interest and Liquidated Damages, if any, on all Global Notes and all other
Notes the Holders of which shall have provided wire transfer instructions to the
Company or the Paying Agent.  Such payment shall be in such coin or currency of
the United States of America as at the time of payment is legal tender for
payment of public and private debts.

     3.   PAYING AGENT AND REGISTRAR.  Initially, IBJ Schroder Bank & Trust
Company, the Trustee under the Indenture, will act as Paying Agent and
Registrar.  The Company may change any Paying Agent or Registrar without notice
to any Holder.  The Company, any Guarantor or any other of its Subsidiaries may
act in any such capacity.

                                       3
<PAGE>

     4.   INDENTURE.  The Company issued the Notes under an Indenture dated
as of August 19, 1997 (the "INDENTURE") between the Company, as issuer, and the
Trustee.  The terms of the Notes include those stated in the Indenture and those
made part of the Indenture by reference to the Trust Indenture Act of 1939, as
amended (15 U.S. Code Sections 77aaa-77bbbb).  The Notes are subject to all such
terms, and Holders are referred to the Indenture and such Act for a statement of
such terms.  The terms of the Indenture shall govern any inconsistencies between
the Indenture and the Notes.

     5.   OPTIONAL REDEMPTION.  On or after ______ __, ____, the Company may
redeem all or any portion of the Notes, at any time upon not less than 30 nor
more than 60 days' notice, at the redemption prices (expressed as percentages of
principal amount) set forth below plus accrued and unpaid interest thereon to
the applicable redemption date, if redeemed during the twelve-month period
beginning on ______ __ of the years indicated below:

YEAR                                                                  PERCENTAGE
----                                                                  ----------

2002...............................................................   _______%
2003...............................................................   _______%
2004...............................................................   _______%
2005 and thereafter................................................   _______%

     Notwithstanding the foregoing, prior to ______ __, 2000, the Company
may redeem, on any one or more occasions, with the net cash proceeds of one or
more public offerings of its common equity (a "PUBLIC EQUITY OFFERING") (within
60 days of the consummation of any such Public Equity Offering), up to 35% of
the aggregate principal amount of the Notes originally issued at a redemption
price equal to _______% of the principal amount of such Notes plus accrued and
unpaid interest and Liquidated Damages thereon, if any, to the redemption date;
PROVIDED, HOWEVER, that at least 65% of the aggregate principal amount of Notes
originally issued remains outstanding immediately after any such redemption.

     [In addition, the Company, at its option, at any time prior to ______
____, may redeem the Notes, in whole or in part (if in part, by lot or such
other method as the Trustee shall deem fair or appropriate) at the Make-Whole
Price, plus accrued and unpaid interest and Liquidated Damages, if any, to the
date of purchase.]

     6.   OFFERS TO PURCHASE.  Subject to the Company's obligation to make an
offer to purchase Notes in connection with Asset Sales and a Change of Control
(as described in the Indenture), the Company has no mandatory redemption or
sinking fund obligations with respect to the Notes.  Notice of any such offer to
purchase will be given as provided in the Indenture.  Holders of Notes that are
the subject of an offer to purchase may elect to have such Notes purchased by
completing the form entitled "Option of Holder to Elect Purchase" appearing
below and taking certain other actions, all as set forth in the Indenture.

     7.   NOTICE OF REDEMPTION.  Notice of redemption will be mailed at least
30 days but not more than 60 days before the redemption date to each Holder
whose Notes are to be redeemed at its registered address.  Notes in
denominations larger than $1,000 may be redeemed in part but only in whole
multiples of $1,000, unless all of the Notes held by a Holder are to be
redeemed.  On and after the redemption date interest ceases to accrue on Notes
or portions thereof called for redemption.

                                       4
<PAGE>

     8.   SUBORDINATION.  The Notes and the Subsidiary Guarantees, if any,
are subordinated to Senior Debt, as defined in the Indenture.  To the extent
provided in the Indenture, Senior Debt must be paid before the Notes and the
Subsidiary Guarantees may be paid.  The Company agrees, and each Holder by
accepting a Note and any Subsidiary Guarantee agrees, to the subordination
provisions contained in the Indenture and authorizes the Trustee to give them
effect and appoints the Trustee as attorney-in-fact for such purpose.

     9.   DENOMINATIONS, TRANSFER, EXCHANGE.  The Notes are in registered
form without coupons in denominations of $1,000 and integral multiples of $1,000
of principal amount.  The transfer of Notes may be registered and Notes may be
exchanged as provided in the Indenture.  The Registrar and the Trustee may
require a Holder, among other things, to furnish appropriate endorsements and
transfer documents and to pay any taxes and fees required by law or permitted by
the Indenture.  The Company shall not be required to exchange or register the
Notes during a period beginning at the opening of business 15 days before the
day of any selection of Notes for redemption under Section 3.2 of the Indenture
and ending at the close of business on the day of selection, or to exchange or
register any Note so selected for redemption in whole or in part, except the
unredeemed portion of any Note being redeemed in part, or to exchange or
register a Note between a record date and the next succeeding Interest Payment
Date.

     10.  PERSONS DEEMED OWNERS.  The registered Holder of a Note may be
treated as its owner for all purposes.

     11.  AMENDMENT, SUPPLEMENT AND WAIVER.  Subject to certain exceptions,
the Indenture or the Notes may be amended or supplemented with the consent of
the Holders of at least a majority in principal amount of the then outstanding
Notes, and any existing Default or compliance with any provision of the
Indenture or the Notes may be waived with the consent of the Holders of a
majority in principal amount of the Notes then outstanding.  The Change of
Control and Asset Sale purchase features of the Notes may not be amended or
waived without the consent of at least 66 2/3% in principal amount of the Notes
then outstanding.  Without the consent of any Holder of a Note, the Indenture or
the Notes may be amended or supplemented to cure any ambiguity, defect or
inconsistency, to comply with Section 5.1, to provide for uncertificated Notes
in addition to or in place of certificated Notes, to provide for the assumption
of the Company's obligations to Holders of the Notes under the Indenture or any
Guarantor's Obligations under its Subsidiary Guarantee in the case of a merger,
consolidation or sale of assets involving the Company or such Guarantor, as
applicable, pursuant to Article 5 or Article 11 of the Indenture, to make any
change that would provide any additional rights or benefits to the Holders of
the Notes (including providing for Subsidiary Guarantees and any supplemental
indenture required pursuant to Section 4.15 of the Indenture) or that does not
adversely affect the legal rights under the Indenture of any such Holder, to
comply with requirements of the SEC in order to effect or maintain the
qualification of the Indenture under the TIA and to release a Guarantor in
accordance with the Indenture.

     12.  DEFAULTS AND REMEDIES.  Events of Default include: (i) default for
30 days in the payment when due of interest or Liquidated Damages, if any, on
the Notes (whether or not such payment shall be prohibited by the subordination
provisions of the Indenture); (ii) default in payment when due of the principal
of or premium, if any, on the Notes at maturity, upon redemption or otherwise
(including the failure to make a payment to purchase Notes tendered pursuant to
a Change of Control Offer or an Assets Sale Offer) (whether or not such payment
shall be prohibited by the subordination provisions of the Indenture); (iii)
failure by the Company or any Restricted Subsidiary to comply with Section 5.01
of the Indenture; (iv) failure by the Company or any Guarantor for 60 days in
the performance of any other covenant, warranty or agreement in the Indenture or
the Notes after

                                       5
<PAGE>

written notice shall have been given to the Company by the Trustee or to the
Company and the Trustee from Holders of at least 25% in principal amount of the
Notes then outstanding; (v) the failure to pay at final stated maturity (giving
effect to any applicable grace periods and any extensions thereof) the principal
amount of Non-Recourse Indebtedness of the Company or any of its Restricted
Subsidiaries with an aggregate principal amount in excess of the lesser of (A)
10% of the total assets of the Company and its Restricted Subsidiaries measured
as of the end of the Company's most recent fiscal quarter for which internal
financial statements are available immediately prior to the date on which such
default occurred, determined on a pro forma basis and (B) $50 million, and such
failure continues for a period of 10 days or more, or the acceleration of the
final stated maturity of any such Non-Recourse Indebtedness (which acceleration
is not rescinded, annulled or otherwise cured within 10 days of receipt by the
Company or such Restricted Subsidiary of notice of such acceleration); (vi) the
failure to pay at final stated maturity (giving effect to any applicable grace
periods and any extensions thereof) the principal amount of any Indebtedness
(other than Non-Recourse Indebtedness) of the Company or any Restricted
Subsidiary of the Company and such failure continues for a period of 10 days or
more, or the acceleration of the final stated maturity of any such Indebtedness
(which acceleration is not rescinded, annulled or otherwise cured within 10 days
of receipt by the Company or such Restricted Subsidiary of notice of any such
acceleration) if the aggregate principal amount of such Indebtedness, together
with the principal amount of any other such Indebtedness, in default for failure
to pay principal at final maturity or which has been accelerated, in each case
with respect to which the 10-day period described above has passed, aggregates
$10.0 million or more at any time; (vii) failure by the Company or any of its
Restricted Subsidiaries to pay final judgments rendered against them (other than
judgment liens without recourse to any assets or property of the Company or any
of its Restricted Subsidiaries other than assets or property securing
Non-Recourse Indebtedness) aggregating in excess of $10.0 million, which
judgments are not paid, discharged or stayed for a period of 60 days (other than
any judgments as to which a reputable insurance company has accepted full
liability); (viii) except as permitted by the Indenture, any Subsidiary
Guarantee shall be held in a judicial proceeding to be unenforceable or invalid
or shall cease for any reason to be in full force and effect or any Guarantor
(or its successors or assigns), or any Person acting on behalf of such Guarantor
(or its successors or assigns), shall deny or disaffirm its obligations or shall
fail to comply with any obligations under its Subsidiary Guarantee; and (ix)
certain events of bankruptcy or insolvency with respect to the Company, any
Guarantor or any of the Company's Subsidiaries that would constitute a
Significant Subsidiary or any group of the Company's Subsidiaries that, taken
together, would constitute a Significant Subsidiary.  If any Event of Default
occurs and is continuing, the Trustee or the Holders of at least 25% in
principal amount of the then outstanding Notes may declare all the Notes to be
due and payable immediately.  Notwithstanding the foregoing, in the case of an
Event of Default arising from certain events of bankruptcy or insolvency, with
respect to the Company, any of its Subsidiary that would constitute a
Significant Subsidiary or any group of its Subsidiaries that, taken together,
would constitute a Significant Subsidiary or any Guarantor, all outstanding
Notes will become due and payable without further action or notice.  Under
certain circumstances, the Holders of a majority in principal amount of the
outstanding Notes may rescind any acceleration with respect to the Notes and its
consequences.  Holders of the Notes may not enforce the Indenture or the Notes
except as provided in the Indenture.  Subject to certain limitations, Holders of
a majority in principal amount of the then outstanding Notes may direct the
Trustee in its exercise of any trust or power.

     13.  GUARANTEES OF NOTES.  Payment of principal, premium, if any, and
interest and Liquidated Damages, if any, (including interest on overdue
principal and overdue interest, if lawful) on the Notes will be unconditionally
guaranteed by the Guarantors, if any, pursuant to, and subject to the terms of,
Article 11 of the Indenture.

                                       6
<PAGE>

     14.  SECURITY.  The Notes will be unsecured obligations of the Company,
ranking subordinate in right of payment to all Senior Debt of the Company.

     15.  NO RECOURSE AGAINST OTHERS.  No director, officer, employee,
incorporator or stockholder shall have any liability for any obligations of the
Company or any Guarantor under the Notes, any Subsidiary Guarantee or the
Indenture or for any claim based on, in respect of or by reason of, such
obligations or their creation.  Each Holder of the Notes by accepting a Note
waives and releases all such liability.  The waiver and release are part of the
consideration for issuance of the Notes.  Such waiver and release may not be
effective to waive or release liabilities under the federal securities laws.

     16.  AUTHENTICATION.  This Note shall not be valid until authenticated
by the manual signature of the Trustee or an authenticating agent.

     17.  ABBREVIATIONS.  Customary abbreviations may be used in the name of
a Holder or an assignee, such as: TEN COM (= tenants in common), TEN ENT (=
tenants by the entireties), JT TEN (= joint tenants with right of survivorship
and not as tenants in common), CUST (= Custodian), and U/G/M/A (= Uniform Gifts
to Minors Act).

     18.  CUSIP NUMBERS.  Pursuant to a recommendation promulgated by the
Committee on Uniform Note Identification Procedures, the Company has caused
CUSIP numbers to be printed on the Notes and the Trustee may use CUSIP numbers
in notices of redemption as a convenience to Holders.  No representation is made
as to the accuracy of such numbers either as printed on the Notes or as
contained in any notice of redemption and reliance may be placed only on the
other identification numbers placed thereon.

     19.  [SERIES A NOTES] REGISTRATION RIGHTS.  Pursuant to the
Registration Rights Agreement (as defined in the Indenture), and subject to
certain terms and conditions stated therein, the Company will be obligated to
consummate an Exchange Offer pursuant to which the Holders of the Notes shall
have the right to exchange this Note for Exchange Notes, which have been
registered under the Securities Act, in like principal amount and having terms
identical in all material respect to the Note.  In certain circumstances, and
subject to certain terms and conditions, Holders of the Notes shall have the
right to receive liquidated damages if the Company shall have failed to fulfill
its obligations under the Registration Rights Agreement.

     The Company will furnish to any Holder upon written request and
without charge a copy of the Indenture.  Requests may be made to:

        CapStar Hotel Company
        1010 Wisconsin Avenue, N.W.
        Suite 650
        Washington, D.C. 20007
        Attention:  John Emery,
               Chief Financial Officer
        Telecopier No.: (202) 965-4445

                                       7
<PAGE>

                                Assignment Form

              To assign this Note, fill in the form below: (I) or
                     (we) assign and transfer this Note to


--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
              (Insert assignee's Social Security or tax I.D. No.)


--------------------------------------------------------------------------------


--------------------------------------------------------------------------------


--------------------------------------------------------------------------------


--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
             (Print or type assignee's name, address and zip code)

and irrevocably appoint       ________________________________________
agent to transfer this Note on the books of the Company.  The agent may
substitute another to act for him.

Date: _____________________________

               Your Signature:     ___________________________
              (Sign exactly as your name appears on the face of this
              Note)

              Signature Guarantee:*    ______________________


--------------------------------
*   Participant in a recognized Signature Guarantee Medallion Program (or other
    signature guarantor acceptable to the Trustee).

                                       8
<PAGE>

                      OPTION OF HOLDER TO ELECT PURCHASE

     If you want to elect to have this Note purchased by the Company
pursuant to Section 4.10 or 4.14 of the Indenture, check the box below:

     [ ] Section 4.10         [ ] Section 4.14

     If you want to elect to have only part of the Note purchased by the
Company pursuant to Section 4.10 or Section 4.14 of the Indenture, state the
amount you elect to have purchased: $___________

Date:                        Your Signature:
                             (Sign exactly as your name appears on the Note)

                              Tax Identification No:____________

                              Signature Guarantee:*/____________


------------------

*    Participant in a recognized Signature Guarantee Medallion Program (or other
     signature guarantor acceptable to the Trustee).

                                       9
<PAGE>

                  SCHEDULE OF EXCHANGES OF CERTIFICATED NOTES


The following exchanges of a part of this Global Note for Certificated

Notes have been made:

<TABLE>
<CAPTION>
                       Amount of         Amount of        Principal Amount
                      decrease in       increase in        of this Global           Signature of
                       Principal         Principal         Note following        authorized officer
                     Amount of this    Amount of this      such decrease             of Trustee
Date of Exchange      Global Note       Global Note        (or increase)            or Custodian
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
<S>                <C>                 <C>                <C>                    <C>
</TABLE>

                                      10