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( Mark One ) UNITED STATES SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION WASHINGTON , D.C. 20549 FORM 10 - K ANNUAL REPORT PURSUANT TO SECTION 13 OR 15 ( d ) OF THE SECURITIES EXCHANGE ACT OF 1934 For the fiscal year ended December 31 , 2020 OR TRANSITION REPORT PURSUANT TO SECTION 13 OR 15 ( d ) OF THE SECURITIES EXCHANGE ACT OF 1934 For the transition period from Commission file number : 001-14765 HERSHA HOSPITALITY TRUST ( Exact Name of Registrant as Specified in Its Charter ) Maryland ( State or Other Jurisdiction of Incorporation or ( I.R.S. Employer Identification No. ) Organization ) 44 Hersha Drive ( Address of Principal Executive Offices ) Harrisburg PA Title of each class to Registrant's telephone number , including area code : ( 717 ) 236-4400 Securities registered pursuant to Section 12 ( b ) of the Act : Trading Symbol Class A Common Shares of Beneficial Interest , par value $ .01 per share 6.875 % Series C Cumulative Redeemable Preferred Shares of Beneficial Interest , par value $ .01 per share 6.50 % Series D Cumulative Redeemable Preferred Shares of Beneficial Interest , par value $ .01 per share 6.50 % Series E Cumulative Redeemable Preferred Shares of Beneficial Interest , par value $ .01 per share 25-1811499 17102 ( Zip Code ) 1 HT HT - PC HT - PD HT - PE Securities registered pursuant to Section 12 ( g ) of the Act : Name of each exchange on which registered New York Stock Exchange New York Stock Exchange New York Stock Exchange New York Stock Exchange None ( Title of class ) Indicate by check mark if the registrant is a well - known seasoned issuer , as defined in Rule 405 of the Securities Act . Indicate by check mark if the registrant is not required to file reports pursuant to Section 13 or Section 15 ( d ) of the Act . □ Yes > No Indicate by check mark whether the registrant ( 1 ) has filed all reports required to be filed by Section 13 or 15 ( d ) of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934 during the preceding 12 months ( or for such shorter period that the registrant was required to file such reports ) , and ( 2 ) has been subject to such filing requirements for the past 90 days . □ Yes + No > Yes No Indicate by check mark whether the registrant has submitted electronically every Interactive Data File required to be submitted pursuant to Rule 405 of Regulation S - T ( Sec.232.405 of this chapter ) during the preceding 12 months ( or for such shorter period that the registrant was required to submit such files ) . Yes □ No