FORM 4 Check this box if no longer subject to Section 16. Form 4 or Form 5 obligations may continue. See Instruction 1(b).

UNITED STATES SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION Washington, D.C. 20549 STATEMENT OF CHANGES IN BENEFICIAL OWNERSHIP OF SECURITIES Filed pursuant to Section 16(a) of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, Section 17(a) of the Public Utility Holding Company Act of 1935 or Section 30(h) of the Investment Company Act of 1940

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(Print or Type Responses)

1. Name and Address of Reporting Person * KESSLER DOUGLAS A   2. Issuer Name and Ticker or Trading Symbol ASHFORD HOSPITALITY TRUST INC [AHT] 5. Relationship of Reporting Person(s) to Issuer (Check all applicable) _____ Director _____ 10% Owner __X__ Officer (give title below) _____ Other (specify below) Chief Executive Officer (Last) (First) (Middle) 14185 DALLAS PARKWAY, SUITE 1100 3. Date of Earliest Transaction (Month/Day/Year) 02/20/2017 (Street) DALLAS, TX 75254 4. If Amendment, Date Original Filed(Month/Day/Year) 6. Individual or Joint/Group Filing(Check Applicable Line) _X_ Form filed by One Reporting Person ___ Form filed by More than One Reporting Person (City) (State) (Zip) Table I - Non-Derivative Securities Acquired, Disposed of, or Beneficially Owned

1.Title of Security (Instr. 3) 2. Transaction Date (Month/Day/Year) 2A. Deemed Execution Date, if any (Month/Day/Year) 3. Transaction Code (Instr. 8) 4. Securities Acquired (A) or Disposed of (D) (Instr. 3, 4 and 5) 5. Amount of Securities Beneficially Owned Following Reported Transaction(s) (Instr. 3 and 4) 6. Ownership Form: Direct (D) or Indirect (I) (Instr. 4) 7. Nature of Indirect Beneficial Ownership (Instr. 4) Code V Amount (A) or (D) Price Common Stock 02/20/2017   A(1)   359,477 A $ 0 (1) 910,027 D

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Table II - Derivative Securities Acquired, Disposed of, or Beneficially Owned
(e.g., puts, calls, warrants, options, convertible securities)

1. Title of Derivative Security (Instr. 3)

2. Conversion or Exercise Price of Derivative Security

3. Transaction Date (Month/Day/Year)

3A. Deemed Execution Date, if any (Month/Day/Year)

4. Transaction Code (Instr. 8)

5. Number of Derivative Securities Acquired (A) or Disposed of (D) (Instr. 3, 4, and 5)

6. Date Exercisable and Expiration Date (Month/Day/Year)

7. Title and Amount of Underlying Securities (Instr. 3 and 4)

8. Price of Derivative Security (Instr. 5)

9. Number of Derivative Securities Beneficially Owned Following Reported Transaction(s) (Instr. 4)

10. Ownership Form of Derivative Security: Direct (D) or Indirect (I) (Instr. 4)

11. Nature of Indirect Beneficial Ownership (Instr. 4)

Code

V

(A)

(D)

Date Exercisable

Expiration Date

Title

Amount or Number of Shares

Performance Stock Units (2)

(2)

03/31/2019

03/31/2026

Common Stock (2)

(3)

121,429 (3)

D

Commom Limited Partnership Units (4)

$ 0 (4)

(4)

(5)

Common Stock (4)

(4)

1,206,100 (4)

D

Reporting Owners

Reporting Owner Name / Address	Relationships
	Director	10% Owner	Officer	Other
KESSLER DOUGLAS A 14185 DALLAS PARKWAY SUITE 1100 DALLAS, TX 75254			Chief Executive Officer

Signatures

/s/ DOUGLAS A. KESSLER		02/22/2017
**Signature of Reporting Person		Date

Explanation of Responses:

*	If the form is filed by more than one reporting person, see Instruction 4(b)(v).
**	Intentional misstatements or omissions of facts constitute Federal Criminal Violations. See 18 U.S.C. 1001 and 15 U.S.C. 78ff(a).
(1)	The Reporting Person received the shares pursuant to a stock grant from the Issuer under the Issuer's 2011 Stock Incentive Plan. Such shares vest in three (3) substantially equal installments on the first three anniversaries of the date of grant.
(2)	Each performance stock unit ("Performance Stock Unit") award represents a right to receive between zero and two shares of the Issuer's common stock if and when the applicable vesting criteria have been achieved.
(3)	Represents the target amount of common stock shares that may be issued pursuant to the award of Performance Stock Units. The actual number of Performance Stock Units to be issued upon vesting can range from 0% to 200% of the number of Performance Stock Units reported, based on achievement of specified relative and total stockholder returns of the Issuer. Assuming continued service through the vesting date and achievement of the specified relative and total stockholder returns, the Performance Stock Units, as adjusted, will generally vest on March 31, 2019.
(4)	Reflects aggregate number of Common Limited Partnership Units ("Common Units") in Ashford Hospitality Limited Partnership, the Issuer's operating subsidiary ("Subsidiary"), currently held by the Reporting Person. Common Units are redeemable for cash or, at the option of the Issuer, convertible into shares of the Issuer's common stock based on a conversion ratio described in the partnership agreement of Subsidiary, which, on February 20, 2017, was 0.9985901809 shares of the Issuer's common stock for each Common Unit.
(5)	The Common Units do not expire.

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