<PAGE>
 
                                                                     EXHIBIT 4.2

                         REGISTRATION RIGHTS AGREEMENT


          This REGISTRATION RIGHTS AGREEMENT, dated as of August 1, 1995, is
made and entered into by and between Red Lion Hotels, Inc., a Delaware
corporation (the "Company"), and Red Lion, a California Limited Partnership (the
"Partnership").

          1.      Background.  As of the date hereof, the Company has issued
                  ----------                                                
20,900,000 shares of its common stock, $.01 par value per share (the "Common
Stock"), to the Partnership.

          2.      Definitions. As used in this Agreement, the following
                  -----------                                            
capitalized terms shall have the following respective meanings:

          Exchange Act - The Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended from
     time to time.

          Holder - Any party hereto (other than the Company) and any holder of
     Registrable Securities who agrees in writing to be bound by the provisions
     of this Agreement.

          Person - Any individual, partnership, joint venture, limited liability
     company, corporation, trust, unincorporated organization or government or
     any department or agency thereof.

          Registrable Securities - Any Common Stock issued or issuable to the
     Partnership and any Common Stock which may be issued or distributed in
     respect of such Common Stock by way of stock dividend or stock split or
     other distribution, recapitalization or reclassification.  As to any
     particular Registrable Securities, once issued such Securities shall cease
     to be Registrable Securities when (i) a registration statement with respect
     to the sale of such Securities shall have become effective under the
     Securities Act and such Securities shall have been disposed of in
     accordance with such registration statement, (ii) they shall have been
     distributed to the public pursuant to Rule 144 or 144A (or any successor
     provisions) under the Securities Act, (iii) they shall have been otherwise
     transferred, new certificates for them not bearing a legend restricting
     further transfer shall have been delivered by the Company and subsequent
     disposition of them shall not require registration or qualification of them
     under the Securities Act or any state securities or blue sky law then in
     force, or (iv) the Partnership shall have delivered the notice set forth in
     Section 8(c).

          Registration Expenses - Any and all expenses incident to performance
     of or compliance with this Agreement, including, without limitation, (i)
     all SEC and stock exchange or National Association of Securities Dealers,
     Inc. registration and filing
<PAGE>
 
     fees, (ii) all fees and expenses of complying with securities or blue sky
     laws (including fees and disbursements of counsel for the underwriters in
     connection with blue sky qualifications of the Registrable Securities),
     (iii) all printing, messenger and delivery expenses, (iv) all fees and
     expenses incurred in connection with the listing of the Registrable
     Securities on any securities exchange pursuant to clause (viii) of Section
     5, (v) the fees and disbursements of counsel for the Company and of its
     independent public accountants, including the expenses of any special
     audits and/or "cold comfort" letters required by or incident to such
     performance and compliance, (vi) the reasonable fees and disbursements of
     one counsel selected by the Holders of a majority of the Registrable
     Securities being registered to represent all Holders of the Registrable
     Securities being registered in connection with each such registration, and
     (vii) any fees and disbursements of underwriters customarily paid by the
     issuers or sellers of securities, including liability insurance if the
     Company so desires or if the underwriters so require, and the reasonable
     fees and expenses of any special experts retained in connection with the
     requested registration, but excluding underwriting discounts and
     commissions and transfer taxes, if any.

          Securities Act - The Securities Act of 1933, as amended from time to
     time.

          SEC - The Securities and Exchange Commission or any other federal
     agency at the time administering the Securities Act or the Exchange Act.

          3.      Incidental Registrations.
                  ------------------------ 

          (a)     Right to Include Registrable Securities.  If the Company at 
                  ---------------------------------------  
any time after the date hereof proposes to register its Common Stock under the
Securities Act (other than a registration on Form S-4 or S-8, or any successor
or other forms promulgated for similar purposes), whether or not for sale for
its own account, pursuant to a registration statement on which it is permissible
to register Registrable Securities for sale to the public under the Securities
Act, it will each such time give prompt written notice to all Holders of
Registrable Securities of its intention to do so and of such Holders' rights
under this Section 3.  Upon the written request of any such Holder made within
15 days after the receipt of any such notice (which request shall specify the
Registrable Securities intended to be disposed of by such Holder), the Company
will use its best efforts to effect the registration under the Securities Act of
all Registrable Securities which the Company has been so requested to register
by the Holders thereof; provided, that (i) if, at any time after giving written
notice of its intention to register any securities and prior to the effective
date of the registration statement filed in connection with such registration,
the Company shall determine for any reason not to proceed with the proposed
registration of the securities to be sold by it, the Company may, at its
election, give written notice of such determination to each Holder of
Registrable Securities and, thereupon, shall be relieved of its obligation to
register any Registrable Securities in connection with such registration (but
not from its obligation to pay the Registration Expenses in connection
therewith), and (ii) if such registration involves an underwritten offering, all
Holders of Registrable Securities requesting to be included in the Company's
registration must sell their Registrable Securities to the underwriters selected
by the Company on the same terms and conditions as

                                       2
<PAGE>
 
apply to the Company, with such differences, including any with respect to
indemnification and liability insurance, as may be customary or appropriate in
combined primary and secondary offerings.  If a registration requested pursuant
to this Section 3(a) involves an underwritten public offering, any Holder of
Registrable Securities requesting to be included in such registration may elect,
in writing prior to the effective date of the registration statement filed in
connection with such registration, not to register such securities in connection
with such registration.

          (b)     Expenses.  The Company will pay all Registration Expenses in
                  --------                                                    
connection with each registration of Registrable Securities requested pursuant
to this Section 3.

          (c)     Priority in Incidental Registrations.  If a registration 
                  ------------------------------------                     
pursuant to this Section 3 involves an underwritten offering and the managing
underwriter advises the Company in writing that, in its opinion, the amount of
securities requested to be included in such registration exceeds the amount
which can be sold in such offering, so as to be likely to have an adverse effect
on such offering as contemplated by the Company (including the price at which
the Company proposes to sell such securities), then the Company will include in
such registration (i) first, 100% of the securities the Company or the person
initiating the registration statement proposes to sell, (ii) second, to the
extent of the amount of securities requested to be included in such registration
which, in the opinion of such managing underwriter, can be sold without having
the adverse effect referred to above, the amount of securities which the persons
have requested to be included in such registration, such amount to be allocated
pro rata among all persons requesting to have Common Stock included in the
registration statement on the basis of the relative number of shares of Common
Stock then held by each such person, provided, that any Common Stock thereby
allocated to any such person that exceeds such person's request will be
reallocated among the remaining requesting persons in like manner.

          4.      Registration on Request.
                  ----------------------- 

          (a)     Request by Holders.  Upon the written request of any Holder or
                  ------------------                                            
Holders requesting that the Company effect the registration under the Securities
Act of all or part of such Holder's or Holders' Registrable Securities and
specifying the intended method of disposition thereof, the Company will promptly
give written notice of such requested registration to all other Holders of
Registrable Securities, and thereupon will, as expeditiously as possible, use
its best efforts to effect the registration under the Securities Act of:

          (i)     the Registrable Securities which the Company has been so 
     requested to register by such Holder or Holders; and

          (ii)    all other Registrable Securities which the Company has been
     requested to register by any other Holder thereof by written request given
     to the Company within 15 days after the giving of such written notice by
     the Company (which request shall specify the intended method of disposition
     of such Registrable

                                       3
<PAGE>
 
     Securities), so as to permit the disposition (in accordance with the
     intended method thereof as aforesaid) of the Registrable Securities so to
     be registered.

          (b)     Registration Statement Form.  If any registration requested
                  ---------------------------                                
pursuant to this Section 4 which is proposed by the Company to be effected by
the filing of a registration statement on Form S-3 (or any successor or similar
short-form registration statement) shall be in connection with an underwritten
public offering, and if the managing underwriter shall advise the Company in
writing that, in its opinion, the use of another form of registration statement
is of material importance to the success of such proposed offering, then such
registration shall be effected on such other form.

          (c)     Expenses.  The Company will pay all Registration Expenses in
                  --------                                                    
connection with the first six registrations of Registrable Securities pursuant
to this Section 4 upon the written request of any of the Holders.  All expenses
for any subsequent registrations of Registrable Securities pursuant to this
Section 4 shall be paid pro rata by the Company and all other Persons (including
the Holders) participating in such registration on the basis of the relative
number of shares of Common Stock of each such Person included in such
registration.

          (d)     Effective Registration Statement.  A registration requested
                  --------------------------------                           
pursuant to this Section 4 will not be deemed to have been effected unless it
has become effective; provided, that if, within 180 days after it has become
effective, the offering of Registrable Securities pursuant to such registration
is interfered with by any stop order, injunction or other order or requirement
of the SEC or other governmental agency or court, such registration will be
deemed not to have been effected.

          (e)     Selection of Underwriters.  If a requested registration 
                  -------------------------      
pursuant to this Section 4 involves an underwritten offering, the Company shall
have the right to select the investment banker or bankers and managers to
administer the offering; provided, however, that such investment banker or
bankers and managers shall be satisfactory to Holders of a majority of the
Registrable Securities which are held by Holders and which the Company has been
requested to register.

          (f)     Priority in Requested Registrations.  If a requested 
                  -----------------------------------    
registration pursuant to this Section 4 involves an underwritten offering and
the managing underwriter advises the Company in writing that, in its opinion,
the number of securities requested to be included in such registration
(including securities of the Company which are not Registrable Securities)
exceeds the number which can be sold in such offering without a significant
adverse effect on the price, timing or distribution of the securities offered,
the Company will include in such registration only the Registrable Securities
requested to be included in such registration. In the event that the number of
Registrable Securities requested to be included in such registration exceeds the
number which, in the opinion of such managing underwriter, can be sold without a
significant adverse effect on the price, timing or distribution of the
securities offered, the number of such Registrable Securities to be included in
such registration shall be allocated pro rata among all requesting Holders on
the basis of the relative number of shares of Registrable Securities then held
by each such

                                       4
<PAGE>
 
Holder (provided that any shares thereby allocated to any such Holder that
exceed such Holder's request shall be reallocated among the remaining requesting
Holders in like manner).  In the event that the number of Registrable Securities
requested to be included in such registration is less than the number which, in
the opinion of the managing underwriter, can be sold without a significant
adverse effect on the price, timing or distribution of the securities offered,
the Company may include in such registration the securities the Company proposes
to sell up to the number of securities that, in the opinion of the underwriter,
can be sold without a significant adverse effect on the price, timing or
distribution of the securities offered.

          (g)     Additional Rights.  If the Company at any time grants to any 
                  -----------------                                        
other holders of Common Stock any rights to request the Company to effect the
registration under the Securities Act of any such shares of Common Stock on
terms more favorable to such holders than the terms set forth in this Section 4,
the terms of this Section 4 shall be deemed amended or supplemented to the
extent necessary to provide the Holders such more favorable rights and benefits.

          5.      Registration Procedures.  If and whenever the Company is
                  -----------------------                                 
required to use its best efforts to effect or cause the registration of any
Registrable Securities under the Securities Act as provided in this Agreement,
the Company will, as expeditiously as possible:

          (i)     prepare and, in any event within 120 days after the end of the
     period within which a request for registration may be given to the Company,
     file with the SEC a registration statement with respect to such Registrable
     Securities and use its best efforts to cause such registration statement to
     become effective; provided, however, that the Company may discontinue any
     registration of its securities which is being effected pursuant to Section
     3 at any time prior to the effective date of the registration statement
     relating thereto;

          (ii)    prepare and file with the SEC such amendments and supplements 
     to such registration statement and the prospectus used in connection
     therewith as may be necessary to keep such registration statement effective
     for a period not in excess of 180 days and to comply with the provisions of
     the Securities Act with respect to the disposition of all securities
     covered by such registration statement during such period in accordance
     with the intended methods of disposition by the seller or sellers thereof
     set forth in such registration statement; provided, that before filing a
     registration statement or prospectus, or any amendments or supplements
     thereto, the Company will furnish to one counsel selected by the Holders of
     a majority of the Registrable Securities covered by such registration
     statement to represent all Holders of Registrable Securities covered by
     such registration statement, copies of all documents proposed to be filed,
     which documents will be subject to the review of such counsel;

                                       5
<PAGE>
 
          (iii)   furnish to each seller of such Registrable Securities such
     number of copies of such registration statement and of each amendment and
     supplement thereto (in each case including all exhibits), such number of
     copies of the prospectus included in such registration statement (including
     each preliminary prospectus and summary prospectus), in conformity with the
     requirements of the Securities Act, and such other documents as such seller
     may reasonably request in order to facilitate the disposition of the
     Registrable Securities by such seller;

          (iv)    use its best efforts to register or qualify such Registrable
     Securities covered by such registration statement under such other
     securities or blue sky laws of such jurisdictions as each seller shall
     reasonably request, and do any and all other acts and things which may be
     reasonably necessary or advisable to enable such seller to consummate the
     disposition in such jurisdictions of the Registrable Securities owned by
     such seller, except that the Company shall not for any such purpose be
     required to qualify generally to do business as a foreign corporation in
     any jurisdiction where, but for the requirements of this clause (iv), it
     would not be obligated to be so qualified, to subject itself to taxation in
     any such jurisdiction, or to consent to general service of process in any
     such jurisdiction;

          (v)     use its best efforts to cause such Registrable Securities 
     covered by such registration statement to be registered with or approved by
     such other governmental agencies or authorities as may be necessary to
     enable the seller or sellers thereof to consummate the disposition of such
     Registrable Securities;

          (vi)    notify each seller of any such Registrable Securities covered 
     by such registration statement, at any time when a prospectus relating
     thereto is required to be delivered under the Securities Act within the
     appropriate period mentioned in clause (ii) of this Section 5, of the
     Company's becoming aware that the prospectus included in such registration
     statement, as then in effect, includes an untrue statement of a material
     fact or omits to state a material fact required to be stated therein or
     necessary to make the statements therein not misleading in the light of the
     circumstances then existing, and at the request of any such seller, prepare
     and furnish to such seller a reasonable number of copies of an amended or
     supplemented prospectus as may be necessary so that, as thereafter
     delivered to the purchasers of such Registrable Securities, such prospectus
     shall not include an untrue statement of a material fact or omit to state a
     material fact required to be stated therein or necessary to make the
     statements therein not misleading in the light of the circumstances then
     existing;

          (vii)   otherwise use its best efforts to comply with all applicable
     rules and regulations of the SEC and make available to its security
     holders, as soon as reasonably practicable (but not more than eighteen
     months) after the effective date of the registration statement, an earnings
     statement which shall satisfy the provisions of Section 11(a) of the
     Securities Act and the rules and regulations promulgated thereunder;

                                       6
<PAGE>
 
          (viii)   use its best efforts to list such Registrable Securities on
     any securities exchange on which the Common Stock is then listed, if such
     Registrable Securities are not already so listed and if such listing is
     then permitted under the rules of such exchange, and to provide a transfer
     agent and registrar for such Registrable Securities covered by such
     registration statement not later than the effective date of such
     registration statement;

          (ix)    enter into such customary agreements (including an 
     underwriting agreement in customary form) and take such other actions as
     sellers of a majority of such Registrable Securities or the underwriters,
     if any, reasonably request in order to expedite or facilitate the
     disposition of such Registrable Securities;

          (x)     obtain a "cold comfort" letter or letters from the Company's
     independent public accountants in customary form and covering matters of
     the type customarily covered by "cold comfort" letters as the seller or
     sellers of a majority of such Registrable Securities shall reasonably
     request; and

          (xi)    make available for inspection by any seller of such 
     Registrable Securities covered by such registration statement, by any
     underwriter participating in any disposition to be effected pursuant to
     such registration statement and by any attorney, accountant or other agent
     retained by any such seller or any such underwriter, all pertinent
     financial and other records, pertinent corporate documents and properties
     of the Company, and cause all of the Company's officers, directors and
     employees to supply all information reasonably requested by any such
     seller, underwriter, attorney, accountant or agent in connection with such
     registration statement.

          The Company may require each seller of Registrable Securities as to
which any registration is being effected to furnish the Company with such
information regarding such seller and pertinent to the disclosure requirements
relating to the registration and the distribution of such securities as the
Company may from time to time reasonably request in writing.

          Each Holder of Registrable Securities agrees that, upon receipt of any
notice from the Company of the happening of any event of the kind described in
clause (vi) of this Section 5, such Holder will forthwith discontinue
disposition of Registrable Securities pursuant to the registration statement
covering such Registrable Securities until such Holder's receipt of the copies
of the supplemented or amended prospectus contemplated by clause (vi) of this
Section 5, and, if so directed by the Company, such Holder will deliver to the
Company (at the Company's expense) all copies, other than permanent file copies
then in such Holder's possession, of the prospectus covering such Registrable
Securities current at the time of receipt of such notice.  In the event the
Company shall give any such notice, the period mentioned in clause (ii) of this
Section 5 shall be extended by the number of days during the period from and
including the date of the giving of such notice pursuant to clause (vi) of this
Section 5 and including the date when each seller of Registrable

                                       7
<PAGE>
 
Securities covered by such registration statement shall have received the copies
of the supplemented or amended prospectus contemplated by clause (vi) of this
Section 5.

          6.      Indemnification.
                  --------------- 

          (a)     Indemnification by the Company.  In the event of any 
                  ------------------------------    
registration of any securities of the Company under the Securities Act pursuant
to Section 3 or 4, the Company will, and it hereby does, indemnify and hold
harmless, to the extent permitted by law, the seller of any Registrable
Securities covered by such registration statement, each affiliate of such seller
and their respective directors and officers or general and limited partners (and
the directors, officers, affiliates and controlling Persons thereof), each other
Person who participates as an underwriter in the offering or sale of such
securities and each other Person, if any, who controls such seller or any such
underwriter within the meaning of the Securities Act (collectively, the
"Indemnified Parties"), against any and all losses, claims, damages or
liabilities, joint or several, and expenses to which such Indemnified Party may
become subject under the Securities Act, common law or otherwise, insofar as
such losses, claims, damages or liabilities (or actions or proceedings in
respect thereof, whether or not such Indemnified Party is a party thereto) arise
out of or are based upon (a) any untrue statement or alleged untrue statement of
any material fact contained in any registration statement under which such
securities were registered under the Securities Act, any preliminary, final or
summary prospectus contained therein, or any amendment or supplement thereto, or
(b) any omission or alleged omission to state therein a material fact required
to be stated therein or necessary to make the statements therein not misleading
in the light of the circumstances then existing, and the Company will reimburse
such Indemnified Party for any legal or any other expenses reasonably incurred
by it in connection with investigating or defending any such loss, claim,
liability, action or proceeding; provided, that the Company shall not be liable
to any Indemnified Party in any such case to the extent that any such loss,
claim, damage, liability (or action or proceeding in respect thereof) or expense
arises out of or is based upon any untrue statement or alleged untrue statement
or omission or alleged omission made in such registration statement or amendment
or supplement thereto or in any such preliminary, final or summary prospectus in
reliance upon and in conformity with written information with respect to such
seller furnished to the Company by such seller for use in the preparation
thereof; and provided, further, that the Company will not be liable to any
Person who participates as an underwriter in the offering or sale of Registrable
Securities or any other Person, if any, who controls such underwriter within the
meaning of the Securities Act, under the indemnity agreement in this Section
6(a) with respect to any preliminary prospectus or the final prospectus or the
final prospectus as amended or supplemented, as the case may be, to the extent
that any such loss, claim, damage or liability of such underwriter or
controlling Person results from the fact that such underwriter sold Registrable
Securities to a person to whom there was not sent or given, at or prior to the
written confirmation of such sale, a copy of the final prospectus (including any
documents incorporated by reference therein) or of the final prospectus as then
amended or supplemented (including any documents incorporated by reference
therein), whichever is most recent, if the Company has previously furnished
copies thereof to such underwriter. Such indemnity shall remain in full force
and

                                       8
<PAGE>
 
effect regardless of any investigation made by or on behalf of such seller or
any Indemnified Party and shall survive the transfer of such securities by such
seller.

          (b)     Indemnification by the Seller.  The Company may require, as a
                  -----------------------------                                
condition to including any Registrable Securities in any registration statement
filed in accordance with Section 5 herein, that the Company shall have received
an undertaking reasonably satisfactory to it from the prospective seller of such
Registrable Securities or any underwriter to indemnify and hold harmless (in the
same manner and to the same extent as set forth in subdivision (a) of this
Section 6) the Company and all other prospective sellers or any underwriter, as
the case may be, with respect to any statement or alleged statement in or
omission or alleged omission from such registration statement, any preliminary,
final or summary prospectus contained therein, or any amendment or supplement,
if such statement or alleged statement or omission or alleged omission was made
in reliance upon and in conformity with written information with respect to such
seller or underwriter furnished to the Company by such seller or underwriter for
use in the preparation of such registration statement, preliminary, final or
summary prospectus or amendment or supplement, or a document incorporated by
reference into any of the foregoing.  Such indemnity shall remain in full force
and effect regardless of any investigation made by or on behalf of the Company
or any of the prospective sellers, or any of their respective affiliates,
directors, officers or controlling Persons and shall survive the transfer of
such securities by such seller.

          (c)     Notices of Claims, Etc.  Promptly after receipt by an 
                  ----------------------                                
Indemnified Party hereunder of written notice of the commencement of any action
or proceeding with respect to which a claim for indemnification may be made
pursuant to this Section 6, such Indemnified Party will, if a claim in respect
thereof is to be made against an indemnifying party, give written notice to the
latter of the commencement of such action; provided, that the failure of the
Indemnified Party to give notice as provided herein shall not relieve the
indemnifying party of its obligations under the preceding subdivisions of this
Section 6, except to the extent that the indemnifying party is actually
prejudiced by such failure to give notice. In case any such action is brought
against an Indemnified Party, unless in such Indemnified Party's reasonable
judgment a conflict of interest between such Indemnified and indemnifying
parties may exist in respect of such claim, the indemnifying party will be
entitled to participate in and to assume the defense thereof, jointly with any
other indemnifying party similarly notified to the extent that it may wish, with
counsel reasonably satisfactory to such Indemnified Party, and after notice from
the indemnifying party to such Indemnified Party of its election so to assume
the defense thereof, the indemnifying party will not be liable to such
Indemnified Party for any legal or other expenses subsequently incurred by the
latter in connection with the defense thereof other than reasonable costs of
investigation. No indemnifying party will consent to entry of any judgment or
enter into any settlement which does not include as an unconditional term
thereof, the giving by the claimant or plaintiff to such Indemnified Party of a
release from all liability in respect to such claim or litigation.

          (d)     Contribution.  If for any reason the indemnification provided 
                  ------------                                                  
for in the preceding clauses (a) and (b) is unavailable to an indemnified party
or insufficient to

                                       9
<PAGE>
 
hold it harmless as contemplated by the preceding clauses (a) and (b), then the
indemnifying party shall contribute to the amount paid or payable by the
indemnified party as a result of such loss, claim, damage or liability in such
proportion as is appropriate to reflect not only the relative benefits received
by the indemnified party and the indemnifying party, but also the relative fault
of the indemnified party and the indemnifying party, as well as any other
relevant equitable considerations, provided that no selling Holder shall be
required to contribute in an amount greater than the dollar amount of the
proceeds received by such selling Holder with respect to the sale of any
securities.  No person guilty of fraudulent misrepresentation (within the
meaning of Section 11(f) of the Securities Act) shall be entitled to
contribution from any person who was not guilty of such fraudulent
misrepresentation.

          (e)     Other Indemnification.  Indemnification similar to that 
                  ---------------------                                   
specified in the preceding subdivisions of this Section 6 (with appropriate
modifications) shall be given by the Company and each seller of Registrable
Securities with respect to any required registration or other qualification of
securities under any federal or state law or regulation or governmental
authority other than the Securities Act.

          (f)     Non-Exclusivity.  The obligations of the parties under this
                  ---------------                                            
Section 6 shall be in addition to any liability which any party may otherwise
have to any other party.

          7.      Rule 144.  The Company covenants that it will file the reports
                  --------                                                      
required to be filed by it under the Securities Act and the Exchange Act and the
rules and regulations adopted by the SEC thereunder (or, if the Company is not
required to file such reports, it will, upon the request of any Holder of
Registrable Securities, make publicly available such information), and it will
take such further action as any Holder of Registrable Securities may reasonably
request, all to the extent required from time to time to enable such Holder to
sell shares of Registrable Securities without registration under the Securities
Act within the limitation of the exemptions provided by (i) Rule 144 under the
Securities Act, as such Rule may be amended from time to time, or (ii) any
similar rule or regulation hereafter adopted by the SEC.  Upon the request of
any Holder of Registrable Securities, the Company will deliver to such Holder a
written statement as to whether it has complied with such requirements.
Notwithstanding anything contained in this Section 7, the Company may deregister
under Section 12 of the Exchange Act if it then is permitted to do so pursuant
to the Exchange Act and the rules and regulations thereunder.

          8.      Miscellaneous.
                  ------------- 

          (a)     Holdback Agreement.  If any such registration shall be in
                  ------------------                                       
connection with an underwritten public offering, each Holder of Registrable
Securities agrees not to effect any public sale or distribution, including any
sale pursuant to Rule 144 under the Securities Act, of any equity securities of
the Company, or of any security convertible into or exchangeable or exercisable
for any equity security of the Company (in each case, other than as part of such
underwritten public offering), within 7 days before or 180 days (or such lesser
period as the managing underwriters may permit) after the

                                       10
<PAGE>
 
effective date of such registration, and the Company hereby also so agrees and
agrees to cause each other holder of any equity security, or of any security
convertible into or exchangeable or exercisable for any equity security, of the
Company purchased from the Company (at any time other than in a public offering)
to so agree.

          (b)     Amendments and Waivers.  This Agreement may be amended and the
                  ----------------------                                        
Company may take any action herein prohibited, or omit to perform any act herein
required to be performed by it, only if the Company shall have obtained the
written consent to such amendment, action or omission to act, of the Holders of
a majority of the Registrable Securities then outstanding.  Each Holder of any
Registrable Securities at the time or thereafter outstanding shall be bound by
any consent authorized by this Section 8(b), whether or not such Registrable
Securities shall have been marked to indicate such consent.

          (c)     Successors, Assigns and Transferees.  This Agreement shall be
                  -----------------------------------                          
binding upon and shall inure to the benefit of the parties hereto and their
respective successors and assigns.  In addition, and whether or not any express
assignment shall have been made, the provisions of this Agreement which are for
the benefit of the parties hereto other than the Company shall also be for the
benefit of and enforceable by any subsequent Holder of any Registrable
Securities, subject to the provisions contained herein; provided that such
subsequent Holder shall not be entitled to such benefits if the Partnership, in
connection with a transfer of Registrable Securities, provides the Company with
written notice that such transferred Registrable Securities are no longer deemed
to be Registrable Securities.

          (d)     Notices.  All notices and other communications provided for
                  -------                                                    
hereunder shall be in writing and shall be sent by first class mail, telecopier
or hand delivery:

          (i)     if to the Company, to:

                  Red Lion Hotels, Inc.
                  4001 Main Street
                  Vancouver, WA 98663
                  Attention:  President
                  Telecopy No.  (360) 693-1739


                  with a copy to:

                  Latham & Watkins
                  505 Montgomery Street, Suite 1900
                  San Francisco, California  94111
                  Attention:  Peter F. Kerman, Esq.
                  Telecopy No. (415) 395-8095

                                       11
<PAGE>
 
          (ii)    if to the Partnership, to:

                  RLA-GP, Inc.
                  4001 Main Street
                  Vancouver, WA 98663
                  Attention:  President
                  Telecopy No. (360) 693-1739

                  with a copy to:

                  Latham & Watkins
                  505 Montgomery Street, Suite 1900
                  San Francisco, California  94111
                  Attention:  Peter F. Kerman, Esq.
                  Telecopy No. (415) 395-8095

          (iii)   if to any other Holder of Registrable Securities, to the
                  address of such other Holder as shown in the books and records
                  of the Company, or to such other address as any of the above
                  shall have designated in writing to all of the other above.

All such notices and communications shall be deemed to have been given or made
(1) when delivered by hand, (2) five business days after being deposited in the
mail, postage prepaid, or (3) when telecopied, receipt acknowledged.

          (e)     Descriptive Headings.  The headings in this Agreement are for
                  --------------------                                         
convenience of reference only and shall not limit or otherwise affect the
meaning of terms contained herein.

          (f)     Severability.  In the event that any one or more of the
                  ------------                                           
provisions, paragraphs, words, clauses, phrases or sentences contained herein,
or the application thereof in any circumstances, is held invalid, illegal or
unenforceable in any respect for any reason, the validity, legality and
enforceability of any such provision, paragraph, word, clause, phrase or
sentence in every other respect and of the remaining provisions, paragraphs,
words, clauses, phrases or sentences hereof shall not be in any way impaired, it
being intended that all rights, powers and privileges of the parties hereto
shall be enforceable to the fullest extent permitted by law.

          (g)     Counterparts.  This Agreement may be executed in two or more
                  ------------                                                
counterparts, and by different parties on separate counterparts, each of which
shall be deemed an original, but all such counterparts shall together constitute
one and the same instrument, and it shall not be necessary in making proof of
this Agreement to produce or account for more than one such counterpart.

                                       12
<PAGE>
 
          (h)     Governing Law.  This Agreement shall be governed by and 
                  -------------        
construed and enforced in accordance with the laws of the State of New York
applicable to contracts made and to be performed therein. The parties to this
Agreement hereby agree to submit to the jurisdiction of the courts of the State
of New York in any action or proceeding arising out of or relating to this
Agreement.

          (i)     Specific Performance.  The parties hereto acknowledge and 
                  --------------------                                      
agree that irreparable damage would occur in the event that any of the 
provisions of this Agreement were not performed in accordance with their
specific terms or were otherwise breached. Accordingly, it is agreed that the
parties shall be entitled to an injunction or injunctions to prevent breaches of
the provisions of this Agreement and to enforce specifically the terms and
provisions hereof in any court of competent jurisdiction in the United States or
any state thereof, in addition to any other remedy to which they may be entitled
at law or equity.

                                       13
<PAGE>
 
          IN WITNESS WHEREOF, each of the undersigned has executed this
Agreement or caused this Agreement to be executed on its behalf as of the date
first written above.


                      RED LION HOTELS, INC.


                      By:  /s/ David J. Johnson
                           -----------------------------------------------------
                           David J. Johnson
                           President and Chief Executive Officer



                      RED LION, A CALIFORNIA LIMITED PARTNERSHIP

                      By:  RLA-GP, Inc.
                           Its General Partner


                      By:  /s/ David J. Johnson
                           -----------------------------------------------------
                           David J. Johnson
                           Executive Vice President

                                       14