<TABLE> <S> <C>

<PAGE>
<ARTICLE> 5
<LEGEND>
THIS SCHEDULE CONTAINS SUMMARY FINANCIAL INFORMATION EXTRACTED FROM CONSOLIDATED
BALANCE SHEET AS OF MARCH 31, 1997 AND CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF OPERATIONS FOR
THE THREE MONTHS ENDED MARCH 31, 1997 AND 1996 OF PATRIOT AMERICAN HOSPITALITY,
INC.
</LEGEND>
<MULTIPLIER> 1,000
       
<S>                             <C>                     <C>
<PERIOD-TYPE>                   3-MOS                   3-MOS
<FISCAL-YEAR-END>                          DEC-31-1997             DEC-31-1996
<PERIOD-START>                             JAN-01-1997             JAN-01-1996
<PERIOD-END>                               MAR-31-1997             MAR-31-1996
<CASH>                                           6,271                   6,604
<SECURITIES>                                         0                       0
<RECEIVABLES>                                   14,769                   5,351
<ALLOWANCES>                                         0                       0
<INVENTORY>                                      1,821                   1,648
<CURRENT-ASSETS>                                     0                       0
<PP&E>                                         975,997                 661,640
<DEPRECIATION>                                  28,275                  19,815
<TOTAL-ASSETS>                               1,081,898                 760,931
<CURRENT-LIABILITIES>                           24,781                  23,246
<BONDS>                                              0                       0
<PREFERRED-MANDATORY>                                0                       0
<PREFERRED>                                          0                       0
<COMMON>                                             0                       0
<OTHER-SE>                                     440,616                 437,039
<TOTAL-LIABILITY-AND-EQUITY>                 1,081,898                 760,931
<SALES>                                         35,013                  12,371
<TOTAL-REVENUES>                                35,388                  12,463
<CGS>                                                0                       0
<TOTAL-COSTS>                                        0                       0
<OTHER-EXPENSES>                                14,824                   4,938
<LOSS-PROVISION>                                     0                       0
<INTEREST-EXPENSE>                               7,805                     601
<INCOME-PRETAX>                                      0                       0
<INCOME-TAX>                                         0                       0
<INCOME-CONTINUING>                                  0                       0
<DISCONTINUED>                                       0                       0
<EXTRAORDINARY>                                      0                       0
<CHANGES>                                            0                       0
<NET-INCOME>                                    11,348                   7,128
<EPS-PRIMARY>                                      .25                     .24
<EPS-DILUTED>                                      .25                     .24
        

</TABLE>