**Exhibit 10.3**

**APPLE REIT SEVEN, INC.**

**2005 INCENTIVE PLAN**

**EFFECTIVE MARCH 2, 2006**

**APPLE REIT SEVEN, INC.**

**2005 INCENTIVE PLAN**

**EFFECTIVE MARCH 2, 2006**

**1.****Purpose.** The purpose of this Apple REIT Seven, Inc. 2005 Incentive Plan (the “Plan”) is to further the long term stability andfinancial success of Apple REIT Seven, Inc. (the “Company”) by attracting and retaining key Employees through the use of stock incentives. It is believed that ownership of Company stock will stimulate the efforts of those Employees of theCompany upon whose judgment and interest the Company is and will be largely dependent for the successful conduct of its business. It is also believed that Incentive Awards granted to such Employees under this Plan will strengthen the desire of theEmployees to remain with the Company and will further the identification of those Employees’ interests with those of the Company’s shareholders. The Plan is intended to conform to the provisions of Securities and Exchange Commission Rule16b-3 of the Act. 

**2. Definitions.** As used in the Plan, the following terms have the meanings indicated: 

(a) “Act” means the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended. 

(b) “Applicable Withholding Taxes” means the aggregate amount of federal, state and local income and payroll taxes that theEmployer is required to withhold in connection with any exercise of an Option or any lapse of restrictions on Restricted Stock. 

(c) “Board” means the board of directors of the Company. 

(d) “Change of Control” means: 

(i) The acquisition, other than from the Company, by any individual, entity or group (within the meaning of Section 13(d)(3) or14(d)(2) of the Act), of beneficial ownership (within the meaning of Rule 13d-3 promulgated under the Act) of 35% or more of either the then outstanding common shares of the Company or the combined voting power of the then outstanding votingsecurities of the Company entitled to vote generally in the election of directors, but excluding for this purpose, any such acquisition by the Company or any of its subsidiaries, or any Employee benefit plan (or related trust) of the Company or itssubsidiaries, or any corporation with respect to which, following such acquisition, more than 50% of, respectively, the then outstanding common shares of such corporation and the combined voting power of the then outstanding voting securities ofsuch corporation entitled to vote generally in the election of directors is then beneficially owned, directly or indirectly, by the individuals and entities who were the beneficial owners, respectively, of the common stock and voting securities ofthe Company immediately prior to such acquisition in substantially the same proportion as their ownership, immediately prior to such acquisition, of the then outstanding common shares of the Company or the combined voting power of the thenoutstanding voting securities of the Company entitled to vote generally in the election of directors, as the case may be; or 

(ii) Individuals who, as of the date hereof, constitute the Board (as of the date hereof the “Incumbent Board”) cease for any reason to constitute at least a majority of the Board during any 12-month period, provided that anyindividual becoming a director subsequent to the date hereof whose election or nomination 

 

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for election by the Company’s shareholders was approved by a vote of at least a majority of the directors comprising the Incumbent Board shall beconsidered as though such individual were a member of the Incumbent Board, but excluding, for this purpose, any such individual whose initial assumption of office is in connection with an actual or threatened election contest relating to theelection of the Directors of the Company (as such terms are used in Rule 14a-11 of Regulation 14A promulgated under the Act); or 

(iii) Approval by the shareholders of the Company of a reorganization, merger or consolidation, in each case, with respect to which the individuals and entities who were the respective beneficial owners of the common shares and votingsecurities of the Company immediately prior to such reorganization, merger or consolidation do not, following such reorganization, merger or consolidation, beneficially own, directly or indirectly, more than 50% of, respectively, the thenoutstanding common shares and the combined voting power of the then outstanding voting securities entitled to vote generally in the election of directors, as the case may be, of the corporation resulting from such reorganization, merger orconsolidation, or a complete liquidation or dissolution of the Company or a sale or other disposition of all or substantially all of the assets of the Company. 

Anything herein to the contrary notwithstanding, however, no event shall constitute a “Change of Control” for purposes of thisPlan unless such event constitutes a change in the ownership or effective control of the Company for purposes of Code section 409A(a)(2)(v). 

 

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(e) “Code” means the Internal Revenue Code of 1986, as amended. 

(f) “Committee” means the committee appointed by the Board as described under Section 13. 

(g) “Company” means Apple REIT Seven, Inc., a Virginia corporation. 

(h) “Date of Grant” means the date on which an Incentive Award is granted by the Committee. 

(i) “Disability” or “Disabled” means that the participant (i) is unable to engage in any substantial gainfulactivity by reason of any medically determinable physical or mental impairment which can be expected to result in death or can be expected to last for a continuous period of not less than 12 months, or (ii) is, by reason of any medicallydeterminable physical or mental impairment which can be expected to result in death or can be expected to last for a continuous period of not less than 12 months, receiving income replacement benefits for a period of not less than 3 months under anaccident and health plan covering employees of the Employer. 

(j) “Employee” means employees, officers anddirectors of the Company who are not covered under the Company’s 2005 Non-employee Directors Stock Option Plan. 

(k)“Employer” means the Company. 

(l) “Fair Market Value” means, on any given date, (i) if Units aretraded on an exchange, the closing registered sales prices of the Units on such day on the exchange on which it generally has the greatest trading volume, (ii) if the Units are traded on the over-the-counter market, the average between theclosing bid and asked prices on such day as reported by NASDAQ, or (iii) if the Units are not traded on any exchange or 

 

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over-the-counter market, the fair market value shall be determined by the Board using any reasonable method in good faith. 

(m) “Incentive Award” means, collectively, the award of an Option or Restricted Stock under the Plan. 

(n) “Initial Closing” means the first closing of the Offering that will occur after the Minimum Offering is achieved.

(o) “Insider” means a person subject to Section 16(b) of the Act. 

(p) “Minimum Offering” means the sale of 4,761,905 Units of the Company pursuant to the Offering. 

(q) “Nonstatutory Stock Option” means an Option that does not meet the requirements of Code section 422, or, even if meeting therequirements of Code section 422, is not intended to be an incentive stock option and is so designated. 

(r)“Offering” means, collectively, (1) the sale of up to $1,000,000,000 to the public and the registration of such units with the Securities and Exchange Commission, as authorized by resolutions of the Board dated May 20, 2005 (the“Initial Offering”), and (2) the issuance of any additional Units of the Company as authorized by resolutions of the Board from time to time, which issuance occurs before the termination of this Plan (the “AdditionalOfferings”). 

(s) “Option” means a right to purchase Units granted under the Plan, at a price determined inaccordance with the Plan. 

(t) “Participant” means any Employee of the Employer who receives an Incentive Awardunder the Plan. 

 

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(u) “Restricted Stock” means Units awarded upon the terms and subject to therestriction set forth in Section 6. 

(v) “Rule 16b-3” means Rule 16b-3 of the Securities and ExchangeCommission promulgated under the Act. A reference in the Plan to Rule 16b-3 shall include a reference to any corresponding rule (or number redesignation) of any amendments to Rule 16b-3 enacted after the effective date of the Plan’s adoption.

(w) “Unit” means one common share and one Series A preferred share, no par value, of the Company. If the parvalue of the common shares or Series A preferred shares is changed, or in the event of a change in the capital structure of the Company (as provided in Section 12), the Units resulting from such a change shall be deemed to be Units within themeaning of the Plan. 

(x) “Window Period” means the period beginning on the third business day and ending on thetwelfth business day following the release for publication of quarterly or annual summary statements of the Company’s sales and earnings. The release for publication shall be deemed to have occurred if the specified financial data(i) appears on a wire service, (ii) appears in a financial news service, (iii) appears in a newspaper of general circulation, or (iv) is otherwise made publicly available. 

**3. General.** The following types of Incentive Awards may be granted under the Plan: Options and Restricted Stock. Options granted under the Planshall be Nonstatutory Stock Options. 

**4. Securities.** Subject to Section 12 of the Plan, there shall be reserved for issuanceunder the Plan an aggregate of (1) 35,000 Units plus (2) 4.625% of the number of Units sold in the Initial Offering in excess of the Minimum Offering plus (3) 5.0% of the total number of Units 

 

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sold in the Additional Offerings, which shall be authorized, but unissued Units. Units allocable to Options or portions thereof granted under the Plan thatexpire or otherwise terminate unexercised may again be subjected to an Option under the Plan. For purposes of determining the number of Units that are available for Incentive Awards under the Plan, such number shall, to the extent permissible underRule 16b-3, include the number of Units surrendered by an optionee or retained by the Company in payment of Applicable Withholding Taxes. 

**5. Eligibility.**

(a) All present and future Employees of the Employer who hold positions with managementresponsibilities with the Employer (or any parent or subsidiary of the Company, whether now existing or hereafter created or acquired) shall be eligible to receive Incentive Awards under the Plan. The Committee shall have the power and completediscretion, as provided in Section 13, to select eligible Employees to receive Incentive Awards and to determine for each Employee the terms and conditions, the nature of the award and the number of Units to be allocated to each Employee aspart of each Incentive Award. 

(b) The grant of an Incentive Award shall not obligate the Employer or any parent orsubsidiary of the Company to pay an Employee any particular amount of remuneration, to continue the employment of the Employee after the grant or to make further grants to the Employee at any time thereafter. 

**6. Restricted Stock Awards.**

(a) Whenever the Committee deems it appropriate to grant Restricted Stock, notice shall be given to the Participant stating the number of shares of Restricted Stock granted and the terms and conditions to which the Restricted Stock issubject. This 

 

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notice, when accepted in writing by the Participant shall become an award agreement between the Company and the Participant and certificates representing theshares shall be issued and delivered to the Participant. Restricted Stock may be awarded by the Committee in its discretion without cash consideration. 

(b) Restricted Stock issued pursuant to the Plan shall be subject to the following restrictions: 

(i) No Restricted Stock may be sold, assigned, transferred or disposed of by an Insider within a six-month period beginning on the Date of Grant, and Restricted Stock may not be pledged, hypothecated or otherwise encumbered within asix-month period beginning on the Date of Grant if such action would be treated as a sale or disposition under Rule 16b-3. 

(ii) No Restricted Stock may be sold, assigned, transferred, pledged, hypothecated, or otherwise encumbered or disposed of until the restrictions on such units as set forth in the Participant’s award agreement have lapsed pursuant toparagraph (d) below. 

(iii) If a Participant ceases to be employed by the Employer or a parent or subsidiary of theCompany, the Participant shall forfeit to the Company any Restricted Stock on which the restrictions have not lapsed pursuant to paragraph (d) below on the date such Participant shall cease to be so employed. 

(c) Upon the acceptance by a Participant of an award of Restricted Stock, such Participant shall, subject to the restrictions set forth inparagraph (b) above, have all the rights of a shareholder with respect to such Restricted Stock, including, but not limited to, the right to vote such units and the right to receive all dividends and other 

 

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distributions paid thereon. Certificates representing Restricted Stock shall bear a legend referring to the restrictions set forth in the Plan and theParticipant’s award agreement. 

(d) The Committee shall establish as to each award of Restricted Stock the terms andconditions upon which the restrictions set forth in paragraph (b) above shall lapse. Such terms and conditions may include, without limitation, the lapsing of such restrictions as a result of the Disability, death or retirement of theParticipant or the occurrence of a Change of Control. 

(e) Each Participant shall agree at the time his Restricted Stock isgranted, and as a condition thereof, to pay to the Company, or make arrangements satisfactory to the Company regarding the payment to the Company of, Applicable Withholding Taxes. Until such amount has been paid or arrangements satisfactory to theCompany have been made, no stock certificate free of a legend reflecting the restrictions set forth in paragraph (b) above shall be issued to such Participant. 

**7. Options.**

(a) Whenever the Committee deems it appropriate to grant Options, noticeshall be given to the Participant stating the number of Units for which Options are granted, the Option price per Unit, and the conditions to which the grant and exercise of the Options are subject. This notice, when duly accepted in writing by theParticipant, shall become an option agreement between the Company and the Participant. 

(b) The exercise price of Units ofthe Company covered by an Option shall be not less than 100% of the Fair Market Value of such shares on the Date of Grant. 

(c) Options may be exercised in whole or in part at such times as may be specified by the Committee in the Participant’s option agreement; provided that, the 

 

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exercise provisions for Options shall in all events not be more liberal than the following provisions: 

(i) No Option may be exercised after ten years from the Date of Grant. 

(ii) Except as otherwise provided in this paragraph, no Option may be exercised unless the Participant is employed by the Employer or aparent or subsidiary of the Company at the time of the exercise and has been so employed at all times since the Date of Grant. Notwithstanding the foregoing, the Committee may at any time, in its sole discretion, modify the requirements that, inorder to be exercisable thereafter, an Option be exercisable on the date of termination of employment and/or such Option be exercised within 60 days after the Participant’s termination of employment, provided that the modification is set forthin the terms and conditions of the award agreement between the Company and the Participant. If a Participant’s employment is terminated other than by reason of his Disability or death at a time when the Participant holds an Option that isexercisable (in whole or in part), the Participant may exercise any or all of the exercisable portion of the Option (to the extent exercisable on the date of termination) within 60 days after the Participant’s termination of employment. If aParticipant’s employment is terminated by reason of his Disability at a time when the Participant holds an Option that is exercisable (in whole or in part), the Participant may exercise any or all of the exercisable portion of the Option (tothe extent exercisable on the date of Disability) within 180 days after the Participant’s termination of employment. If a Participant’s employment is terminated by 

 

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reason of his death at a time when the Participant holds an Option that is exercisable (in whole or in part), the Option may be exercised (to the extentexercisable on the date of death) within 180 days after the Participant’s death by the person to whom the Participant’s rights under the Option shall have passed by will or by the law of descent and distribution. 

(d) Notwithstanding the foregoing, no Option shall be exercisable by an Insider within the first six months after it is granted (asdetermined under Rule 16b-3 of the Act); provided that, this restriction shall not apply if the Participant becomes Disabled or dies during the six-month period. 

(e) The Committee may, in its discretion, grant Options that by their terms become fully exercisable upon a Change of Control,notwithstanding other conditions on exercisability in the option agreement. 

**8. Method of Exercise of Options.**

(a) Options may be exercised by the Participant giving written notice of the exercise to the Company, stating the number of Units theParticipant has elected to purchase under the Option. Such notice shall be effective only if accompanied by the exercise price in full in cash; provided that, if the terms of an Option so permit, the Participant may (i) deliver Units of theCompany (valued at their Fair Market Value on the date of exercise) in satisfaction of all or any part of the exercise price, (ii) deliver a properly executed exercise notice together with irrevocable instructions to a broker to deliverpromptly to the Company, from the sale or loan proceeds with respect to the sale of Units or a loan secured by Units, the amount necessary to pay the exercise price and, if required by the Committee, Applicable Withholding Taxes, or(iii) deliver an interest 

 

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bearing promissory note, payable to the Company, in payment of all or part of the exercise price together with such collateral as may be required by theCommittee at the time of exercise. The interest rate under any such promissory note shall be established by the Committee and shall be at least equal to the minimum interest rate required at the time to avoid imputed interest under the Code. A loanof the type described in this section 8(a) may be made only to the extent that it is permissible by applicable laws and regulatory requirements. 

(b) The Company may place on any certificate representing Units issued upon the exercise of an Option any legend deemed desirable by the Company’s counsel to comply with federal or state securities laws, and theCompany may require a customary written indication of the Participant’s investment intent. Until the Participant has made any required payment, including any Applicable Withholding Taxes, and has had issued a certificate for the Units of theCompany acquired, he shall possess no shareholder rights with respect to the Units. 

(c) As an alternative to making a cashpayment to the Company to satisfy Applicable Withholding Taxes, if the Option so provides, the Participant may, subject to the provisions set forth below, elect to (i) deliver already owned Units of the Company or (ii) have the Companyretain that number of Units of the Company that would satisfy all or a specified portion of the Applicable Withholding Taxes. The Committee shall have sole discretion to approve or disapprove any such election. If the Participant is an Insider, thefollowing provisions apply to elections to satisfy Applicable Withholding Taxes, to the extent required by Rule 16b-3: 

(i)The Participant’s election to have the Company retain from the Units to be issued upon exercise of an Option the number Units that would satisfy Applicable Withholding Taxes must be made at least six months after the Option was granted andeither: 

(A) during a Window Period; or 

 

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(B) at least six months before the amount of Applicable Withholding Taxes is calculated.

(ii) The Participant’s election must be irrevocable. 

(iii) Notwithstanding any of the foregoing provisions, the manner and timing of elections may be varied from those provided, and electionspreviously made as irrevocable may be revoked, if such variance or revocation is permissible under Rule 16b-3. 

(d)Notwithstanding anything herein to the contrary, Options shall always be granted and exercised in such a manner as to conform to the provisions of Rule 16b-3. 

**9. Nontransferability of Options.** Options by their terms shall not be transferable except by will or by the laws of descent and distribution or, if permitted by Rule 16b-3, pursuant to a qualified domesticrelations order (as defined in Code section 414(p)) (“QDRO”) and shall be exercisable, during the Participant’s lifetime, only by the Participant or, if permitted by Rule 16b-3, an alternate payee under a QDRO, or by his guardian,duly authorized attorney-in-fact or other legal representative. 

**10. Effective Date of the Plan.** This Plan was originally effectiveon March 2, 2006, having been approved by the shareholders of the Company on such date. Until the requirements of any applicable state or federal securities laws have been met, no Option shall be exercisable. 

 

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**11. Termination, Modification, Change.** If not sooner terminated by the Board, this Plan, asamended and restated, shall terminate at the close of business on which the Company’s existence terminates (provided, however, that if the existence of the Company terminates and is reinstated as permitted by law, the Plan shall continue duringthe effective period of any reinstatement, subject to earlier termination pursuant to action of the Board.) No Incentive Awards shall be made under the Plan after its termination. The Board may terminate the Plan or any amend the Plan in suchrespects as it shall deem advisable; provided that, if and to the extent required by Rule 16b-3 of the Act, no change shall be made that increases the total number of Units reserved for issuance pursuant to Incentive Awards granted under the Plan(except pursuant to Section 12), materially modifies the requirements as to eligibility for participation in the Plan, or materially increases the benefits accruing to Participants under the Plan, unless such change is authorized by theshareholders of the Company. Notwithstanding the foregoing, the Board may unilaterally amend the Plan and Incentive Awards as it deems appropriate to ensure compliance with Rule 16b-3 of the Act. Except as provided in the preceding sentence, atermination or amendment of the Plan shall not, without the consent of the Participant, adversely affect the Participant’s rights under an Incentive Award previously granted to him. 

**12. Change in Capital Structure.**

(a) In the event of a stock dividend, stock split or combination of stock, recapitalization or merger in which the Company is the surviving corporation or other change in the Company’s capital stock (including,but not limited to, the creation or issuance to shareholders generally of rights, options or warrants for the purchase of common shares or preferred shares of the Company), the number of Units to be subject to the Plan and to Options thenoutstanding or to be granted thereunder, the maximum 

 

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number of units or securities which may be delivered under the Plan, the exercise price and other relevant provisions shall be appropriately adjusted by theCommittee, whose determination shall be binding on all persons. If the adjustment would produce fractional units with respect to any unexercised Option, the Committee may adjust appropriately the number of units covered by the Option so as toeliminate the fractional units. 

(b) If the Company is a party to a consolidation or a merger in which the Company is notthe surviving corporation, a transaction that results in the acquisition of substantially all of the Company’s outstanding stock by a single person or entity, or a sale or transfer of substantially all of the Company’s assets, theCommittee may take such actions with respect to outstanding Incentive Awards as the Committee deems appropriate; provided, however, that any such action must comply with Code section 409A. 

(c) Notwithstanding anything in the Plan to the contrary, the Committee may take the foregoing actions without the consent of anyParticipant, and the Committee’s determination shall be conclusive and binding on all persons for all purposes. 

**13. Administrationof the Plan.** The Plan shall be administered by the Committee, which shall consist of not less than two members of the Board, who shall be appointed by the Board. The Committee shall have general authority to impose any limitation or conditionupon an Incentive Award the Committee deems appropriate to achieve the objectives of the Incentive Award and the Plan and, without limitation and in addition to powers set forth elsewhere in the Plan, shall have the following specific authority:

(a) The Committee shall have the power and complete discretion to determine (i) which eligible Employees shall receiveIncentive Awards and the nature of each 

 

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Incentive Award, (ii) the number of Units to be covered by each Incentive Award, (iii) the Fair Market Value of the Units, (iv) the time ortimes when an Incentive Award shall be granted, (v) whether an Incentive Award shall become vested over a period of time and when it shall be fully vested, (vi) when Options may be exercised, (vii) whether a Disability exists,(viii) the manner in which payment will be made upon the exercise of Options, (ix) conditions relating to the length of time before disposition the Units received upon the exercise of Options is permitted, (x) whether to approve aParticipant’s elections under the Plan, (xi) notice provisions relating to the sale of Units acquired under the Plan, and (xii) any additional requirements relating to Incentive Awards that the Committee deems appropriate. To theextent permitted under Code section 409A, the Committee shall have the power to amend the terms of previously granted Incentive Awards so long as the terms as amended are consistent with the terms of the Plan and provided that the consent of theParticipant is obtained with respect to any amendment that would be detrimental to him, except that such consent will not be required if such amendment is for the purpose of complying with Rule 16b-3 of the Act. 

(b) The Committee may adopt rules and regulations for carrying out the Plan. The interpretation and construction of any provision of thePlan by the Committee shall be final and conclusive. The Committee may consult with counsel, who may be counsel to the Company, and shall not incur any liability for any action taken in good faith in reliance upon the advice of counsel. 

(c) A majority of the members of the Committee shall constitute a quorum, and all actions of the Committee shall be taken by a majorityof the members present. 

 

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Any action may be taken by a written instrument signed by all of the members, and any action so taken shall be fully effective as if it had been taken at ameeting. 

(d) The Board from time to time may appoint members previously appointed and may fill vacancies, however caused,in the Committee. Insofar as it is necessary to satisfy the requirements of Section 16(b) of the Act, no member of the Committee shall be eligible to participate in the Plan or in any other plan of the Company or any parent or subsidiary of theCompany that entitles participants to acquire stock, stock options or stock appreciation rights of the Company or any parent or subsidiary of the Company, and no person shall become a member of the Committee if, within the preceding one-year period,the person shall have been eligible to participate in such a plan. In addition, each member of the Committee must be a “Non-Employee Director” as that term is defined in Rule 16(b)(3). 

**14. Notice.** All notices and other communications required or permitted to be given under this Plan be in writing and shall be deemed to have beenduly given if delivered personally or mailed first class, postage prepaid, as follows (a) if to the Company – at its principal business address to the attention of the President; (b) if to any Participant – at the last address ofthe Participant known to the sender at the time the notice or other communication is sent. 

**15. Governing Law.** The terms of thisPlan shall be governed by the laws of the Commonwealth of Virginia without regard to conflicts of law. Anything in this Plan to the contrary notwithstanding, the Plan shall be interpreted and administered at all times to comply with the applicablerequirements of Code section 409A and any guidance promulgated thereunder. 

 

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IN WITNESS WHEREOF, the Company has caused this Plan to be executed this 2nd day of March, 2006. 

 
**APPLE REIT SEVEN, INC.**By 
*/s/ Glade M. Knight*
 
Glade M. Knight
 
Chairman of the Board

 

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