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                                                                 April 14, 2003

Host Marriott Corporation
Host Marriott, L.P.
6903 Rockledge Drive
Suite 1500
Bethesda, MD  20817

Ladies and Gentlemen:

         This firm has acted as special tax counsel to Host Marriott
Corporation, a Maryland corporation ("Host REIT"), in connection with the filing
of the registration statement on Form S-3 (the "Registration Statement") by Host
REIT with the Securities and Exchange Commission and the prospectus, included in
the Registration Statement, relating to the registration of 6,875,844 shares of
Host REIT's common stock (the "Prospectus"). In connection with the filing of
the Registration Statement, you have requested our opinion as to certain federal
income tax matters set forth in this letter. Capitalized terms used herein,
unless otherwise defined in the body of this letter, shall have the meanings set
forth in Appendix A.

Bases for Opinions

         The opinions set forth in this letter are based on relevant current
provisions of the Internal Revenue Code of 1986, as amended (the "Code"),
Treasury Regulations thereunder (including proposed and temporary Treasury
Regulations), and interpretations of the foregoing as expressed in court
decisions, applicable legislative history, and the administrative rulings and
practices of the Internal Revenue Service (the "IRS"), including its practices
and policies in issuing private letter rulings, which are not binding on the IRS
except with respect to a taxpayer that receives such a ruling, all as of the
date hereof. These provisions and interpretations are subject to change by the
IRS, Congress and the courts (as applicable), which may or may not be
retroactive in effect, that might result in material modifications of our
opinions. Our opinions do not foreclose the possibility of a contrary
determination by the IRS or a court of competent jurisdiction, or of a contrary
position taken by the IRS or the Treasury Department in regulations or rulings
issued in the future. In this regard, an opinion of counsel with respect to an
issue represents counsel's best professional judgment with respect to the
outcome on the merits with respect to such issue, if such issue were to be
litigated, but an

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Host Marriott Corporation
Host Marriott, L.P.
April 14, 2003
Page 2

opinion is not binding on the IRS or the courts, and is not a guarantee
that the IRS will not assert a contrary position with respect to such issue or
that a court will not sustain such a position asserted by the IRS.

         In rendering the following opinions, we have examined such statutes,
regulations, records, agreements, certificates and other documents as we have
considered necessary or appropriate as a basis for the opinions, including, but
not limited to, the following:

         (1) the Registration Statement, including the Prospectus;

         (2) the Acquisition and Exchange Agreement;

         (3) the Second Amended and Restated Agreement of Limited Partnership of
the Operating Partnership, dated as of December 30, 1998, as amended through the
date hereof;

         (4) the Articles of Amendment and Restatement of Articles of
Incorporation of Host REIT, filed with the State Department of Assessments and
Taxation of Maryland on December 29, 1998 (the "Articles of Incorporation"), and
the Bylaws of Host REIT, as amended;

         (5) the Articles of Incorporation of Crestline, dated November 9, 1998,
and the Bylaws of Crestline, and the Agreement and Consent, dated as of March
27, 2002, by and among Host REIT and Crestline, Barcelo Gestion Hotelera, S.L.,
a Spanish limited liability company ("Barcelo"), and Cowboy Acquisition
Corporation, a Maryland corporation and wholly owned subsidiary of Barcelo
("Merger Sub") (the "Agreement and Consent"), and the Amendment to Agreement and
Consent, dated as of April 26, 2002, by and among Host REIT, Crestline, Barcelo,
Barcelo Corporacion Empresarial, S.A., a Spanish corporation ("Barcelo
Empresarial"), and Merger Sub (the "Amendment to Agreement and Consent");

         (6) the operating agreement of HMT Lessee, dated November 10, 2000;

         (7) the partnership agreement of each partnership and the operating
agreement of each limited liability company other than HMT Lessee in which
either Host REIT or the Operating Partnership has a direct or indirect interest;

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Host Marriott Corporation
Host Marriott, L.P.
April 14, 2003
Page 3

         (8) all real estate leases on the Hotels, pursuant to which the
Operating Partnership or a Partnership Subsidiary, as lessor or sub-lessor,
leases a hotel to a lessee or sub-lessee, respectively, the majority of which
leases were entered into with entities that were indirect subsidiaries of
Crestline prior to the Lease Acquisition (as further defined in Appendix A, the
"Lessees") (and including, without limitation, the leases acquired in connection
with the IHP Lease Acquisition), the amendments to certain of the Leases, which
were entered into in connection with the Lease Acquisition, and the agreements
between and among the Partnership Subsidiaries owning certain Hotels and the
respective TRS Lessees of such Hotels relating to the extension of the terms of
the expiring Leases on those Hotels (collectively, the "Leases," which term
includes, without limitation, the Harbor Beach Lease);

         (9) the Certificate of Incorporation, dated December 3, 1998, and the
Bylaws, dated December 14, 1998, of Fernwood, and the Amended and Restated
Certificate of Incorporation, dated December 3, 1998, and the Bylaws, dated
December 14, 1998, of Rockledge;

         (10) the Declaration of Trust for the Host Marriott Statutory
Employee/Charitable Trust, a Delaware business trust (the "Host
Employee/Charitable Trust"), dated December 30, 1998, and the Declaration of
Trust for the Host Marriott Employees' Trust, a common law trust formed under
Maryland law, dated December 30, 1998;

         (11) Amendment No. 6 to the Distribution Agreement;

         (12) the Asset Management Agreement between the Operating Partnership
and Crestline, dated as of December 31, 1998, which agreement terminated
immediately prior to January 1, 2001 in connection with the Lease Acquisition;

         (13) the General Expense Sharing and Cost Reimbursement Agreement
between the Operating Partnership and HMT Lessee;

         (14) with respect to each class or series of preferred stock of Host
REIT, the Articles Supplementary to the Articles of Amendment and Restatement of
Articles of Incorporation of Host REIT establishing and fixing the rights and
preferences of such class or series of preferred stock; and

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Host Marriott Corporation
Host Marriott, L.P.
April 14, 2003
Page 4



         (15) such other documents as we deemed necessary or appropriate.

         The opinions set forth in this letter also are premised on certain
written factual representations of Host REIT and the Operating Partnership
regarding the organization, ownership and operations (including the income,
assets, businesses, liabilities, properties and accumulated undistributed
earnings and profits) of Host REIT, the Operating Partnership, the Partnership
Subsidiaries, the Non-Controlled Subsidiaries, the Taxable REIT Subsidiaries,
the Host Employee/Charitable Trust, Crestline and the Lessees contained in a
letter to us dated April 14, 2003 (the "Representation Letter").

         For purposes of rendering our opinions, although we have knowledge as
to certain of the facts set forth in the above-referenced documents, we have not
made an independent investigation or audit of the facts set forth in such
documents, including the Prospectus and the Representation Letter. We
consequently have relied upon representations in the Representation Letter that
the information presented in such documents or otherwise furnished to us is
accurate and complete in all material respects. We are not aware, however, of
any material facts or circumstances contrary to, or inconsistent with, the
representations we have relied upon as described herein, or other assumptions
set forth herein.

         In this regard, we have assumed with your consent the following:

         (i) that (A) all of the representations and statements set forth in the
documents that we reviewed, including the Prospectus and the Representation
Letter (collectively, the "Reviewed Documents"), are true and correct and it is
your current intention that such representations and statements will continue to
be true and correct, (B) any representation or statement made as a belief or
made "to the knowledge of" or similarly qualified is correct and accurate, and
it is your current intention that such representation or statement will continue
to be correct and accurate, without such qualification, (C) each of the Reviewed
Documents that constitutes an agreement is valid and binding in accordance with
its terms, and (D) all of the obligations imposed by or described in the
Reviewed Documents, including, without limitation, the obligations imposed under
the Articles of Incorporation, have been and will continue to be performed or
satisfied in accordance with their terms;


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Host Marriott Corporation
Host Marriott, L.P.
April 14, 2003
Page 5




         (ii) the genuineness of all signatures, the proper execution of all
documents, the authenticity of all documents submitted to us as originals, the
conformity  to originals of documents  submitted to us as copies,  and the
authenticity  of the  originals  from which any copies were
made;

         (iii) that any documents as to which we have reviewed only a form were
or will be duly executed without material changes from the form reviewed by us;

         (iv) that Crestline (A) is a duly incorporated and validly existing
Maryland corporation; (B) has been, is and will continue to be, operated in
accordance with the laws of the State of Maryland, its organizational documents,
and statements made in the Prospectus (including the SEC filings incorporated
therein by reference) and the Representation Letter; and (C) was formed, has
operated and will continue to operate with a profit motive; and

         (v) without limiting any other assumption described herein, that the
representations of Crestline and the representations and covenants of Barcelo
Empresarial and Merger Sub set forth in the Agreement and Consent and the
Amendment to Agreement and Consent were true and correct on the date such
representations were made, are true and correct on the date hereof and will
remain true and correct.

         Any material variation or difference in the facts from those set forth
in the documents that we have reviewed and upon which we have relied (including,
in particular, the Prospectus and the Representation Letter) may adversely
affect the conclusions stated herein.

Opinions

         Based upon, subject to, and limited by the assumptions and
qualifications set forth herein (including those set forth below), we are of the
opinion that:

         1. Host REIT was organized and has operated in conformity with the
requirements for qualification and taxation as a real estate investment trust
("REIT") under the Code, effective for its taxable years ended December 31,
1999, December 31, 2000, December 31, 2001, and December 31, 2002, and Host
REIT's current organization and intended method of operation will enable it to
continue to

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Host Marriott Corporation
Host Marriott, L.P.
April 14, 2003
Page 6


meet the requirements for qualification and taxation as a REIT under
the Code for taxable year 2003 and thereafter.

         2. The discussion of material federal income tax consequences in Host
REIT's report on Form 8-K, dated April 8, 2003, and the discussion under the
heading "Risk Factors - Federal Income Tax Risks" in Host REIT's Form 10-K,
dated March 31, 2003 (each of which is incorporated by reference into the
Prospectus), to the extent that each describes provisions of federal income tax
law or legal conclusions with respect thereto, have been reviewed by Hogan &
Hartson L.L.P. and are correct in all material respects.

                                    * * * * *

         Host REIT's ability to qualify as a REIT depends in particular upon
whether each of the Leases is respected as a lease for federal income tax
purposes. If one or more Leases are not respected as leases for federal income
tax purposes, Host REIT may fail to qualify as a REIT. The determination of
whether the Leases are leases for federal income tax purposes is highly
dependent on specific facts and circumstances. In addition, for the rents
payable under a Lease to qualify as "rents from real property" under the Code,
the rental provisions of the Leases and the other terms thereof must conform
with normal business practice and not be used as a means to base the rent paid
on the income or profits of the lessees. In delivering the opinions set forth
above that Host REIT's organization and method of operation (as described in the
Representation Letter) have enabled Host REIT to meet the requirements for
qualification and taxation as a REIT for its taxable years ended December 31,
1999, December 31, 2000, December 31, 2001 and December 31, 2002, and that Host
REIT's current organization and intended method of operation will enable Host
REIT to meet such requirements for the current taxable year and subsequent
taxable years, we expressly rely upon, among other things, Host REIT's
representations as to various factual matters with respect to the Leases,
including representations as to the commercial reasonableness of the economic
and other terms of the Leases at the times the Leases were originally entered
into and subsequently renewed or extended (and taking into account for this
purpose changes to the economic and other terms of the Leases pursuant to
subsequent amendments), the intent and economic expectations of the parties to
the Leases, the allocation of various economic risks between the parties to the
Leases, taking into account all surrounding facts and circumstances, the
conformity of the rental provisions and other terms of the Leases with normal
business practice, the conduct

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Host Marriott Corporation
Host Marriott, L.P.
April 14, 2003
Page 7


of the parties to the Leases, and the conclusion that, except in connection with
the Harbor Beach Lease and any other leases that Host REIT acknowledges will not
qualify as producing "rent from real property" under the Code, such terms are
not being, and will not be, used as a means to base the rent paid on the income
or profits of the lessees. We express no opinion as to any of the economic terms
of the Leases, the commercial reasonableness thereof, or whether the actual
economic relationships created thereby are such that the Leases will be
respected for federal income tax purposes or whether the rental and other terms
of the Leases conform with normal business practice (and are not being used as a
means to base the rent paid on the income or profits of the Lessees).

         Host REIT's ability to qualify as a REIT for its taxable year ended
December 31, 1999 also depends upon Host REIT not having had as of December 31,
1999, any "earnings and profits" accumulated in any prior taxable year of Host
REIT or any of its predecessors or subsidiaries (which would be based on the
consolidated earnings and profits of Host REIT (including each of its
predecessors) accumulated from 1929, the first year that a predecessor of Host
REIT was a "C" corporation, through and including 1998). The calculation of
"earnings and profits" depends upon a number of factual and legal
interpretations related to the activities and operations of Host REIT's
predecessors and their corporate affiliates during their entire corporate
existence and is subject to review and challenge by the IRS. Host REIT has
represented to us for purposes of our opinions that Host REIT distributed by the
close of its taxable year ending December 31, 1999 any "earnings and profits"
accumulated in any prior taxable year of Host REIT or any of its predecessors or
subsidiaries. There can be no assurance, however, that the IRS will not examine
the tax returns of Host REIT's predecessors and their affiliates for all years
prior to 1999 and propose adjustments to increase their taxable income, which
could result in Host REIT being considered to have had undistributed "earnings
and profits" at the close of its taxable year ending December 31, 1999, in which
event Host REIT would not qualify as a REIT for such year. We express no opinion
as to Host REIT's current and accumulated "earnings and profits" or whether Host
REIT will be considered to have had undistributed "earnings and profits" at the
close of 1999.

         Host REIT's qualification and taxation as a REIT depend upon Host
REIT's ability to meet on an ongoing basis (through actual annual operating
results, distribution levels, diversity of share ownership and otherwise) the
various qualification tests imposed under the Code, which are described (or
incorporated by

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Host Marriott Corporation
Host Marriott, L.P.
April 14, 2003
Page 8

reference) in the Prospectus. We have relied upon representations of Host REIT
and the Operating Partnership with respect to these matters (including those set
forth in the Prospectus and the Representation Letter) and will not review Host
REIT's compliance with these requirements on a continuing basis. Accordingly, no
assurance can be given that the actual results of Host REIT's operations,
thesources of its income, the nature of its assets, the level of its
distributions to shareholders and the diversity of its share ownership for any
given taxable year will satisfy the requirements under the Code for
qualification and taxation as a REIT.

         For a discussion relating the law to the facts, and the legal analysis
underlying the opinions set forth in this letter, we incorporate by reference
the discussion of material federal income tax consequences in Host REIT's report
on Form 8-K, dated April 8, 2003, and the discussion under the heading "Risk
Factors - Federal Income Tax Risks" in Host REIT's Form 10-K, dated March 31,
2003 (each of which is incorporated by reference into the Prospectus).

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Host Marriott Corporation
Host Marriott, L.P.
April 14, 2003
Page 9

         This opinion letter addresses only the specific federal income tax
matters set forth above and does not address any other federal, state, local or
foreign tax issues. This opinion letter has been prepared solely for your use in
connection with the filing of the Registration Statement, and should not be
quoted in whole or in part or otherwise be referred to, nor be filed with or
furnished to any governmental agency (other than the IRS or any state, local or
foreign taxing authority) or other person or entity, without the prior written
consent of this firm. We assume no obligation by reason of this opinion letter
to advise you of any changes in our opinions subsequent to the delivery of this
opinion letter but agree to do so from time to time upon specific request from
you for an update or confirmation.

         We consent to your filing this opinion as an exhibit to the
Registration Statement and to the reference to our firm under the caption "Legal
Matters" in the Prospectus included therein. In giving this consent, we do not
thereby admit that we are an "expert" within the meaning of the Securities Act
of 1933, as amended.

                                                   Very truly yours,

                                                   /s/ Hogan & Hartson L.L.P.
                                                   --------------------------
                                                       HOGAN & HARTSON L.L.P.


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                                   Appendix A

                                   Definitions

                  "Acquisition and Exchange Agreement" means that certain
Acquisition and Exchange Agreement, dated as of November 13, 2000, among HMT
Lessee, the Operating Partnership, Crestline and the other parties named
therein, as amended from time to time.

                  "Crestline" means, for periods prior to June 7, 2002,
Crestline Capital Corporation, a Maryland corporation, and, for periods
beginning on and after June 7, 2002, Barcelo Crestline Corporation, a Maryland
corporation.

                  "Crestline Lessees" means those indirect subsidiaries of
Crestline that leased Hotels pursuant to certain of the Leases prior to the
Lease Acquisition.

                  "Distribution Agreement" means the Distribution Agreement
between Host REIT (f/k/a as "Marriott Corporation") and Marriott International,
Inc., dated as of September 15, 1993, as amended.

                  "Fernwood" means Fernwood Hotel Assets, Inc., a Delaware
corporation.

                  "Harbor Beach Lease" means the lease of the Marriott Harbor
Beach Resort from Lauderdale Beach Association to Marriott Hotel Services, Inc.

                  "HMT Lessee" means HMT Lessee LLC, a Delaware limited
liability company that elected, effective January 1, 2001, to be treated as a
corporation and a TRS for federal income tax purposes.

                  "Hotel" means each hotel in which the Operating Partnership
has a direct or indirect interest.

                  "IHP Lease Acquisition" means the acquisition by HMT Lessee in
June of 2001 of the leasehold interests with respect to three (3) full-service
Hotels that were leased to IHP Lessee LLC.

                  "Lease Acquisition" means the acquisition by HMT Lessee,
pursuant to the Acquisition and Exchange Agreement, of the leasehold interests
with respect to 117 full-service Hotels that were leased to the Crestline
Lessees.

                  "Lessee" means, with regard to Host REIT's taxable years ended
prior to January 1, 2001, any one of the Crestline Lessees or IHP Lessee LLC,
and with regard to Host REIT's taxable periods beginning on or after January 1,
2001, any one of the TRS Lessees, IHP Lessee LLC prior to the IHP Lease
Acquisition, the

                                      A-1

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Crestline Lessees owning leasehold interests (as lessee or sub-lessee) that were
not acquired by HMT Lessee pursuant to the Lease Acquisition, and any other
lessee to which the Operating Partnership, directly or through another
Partnership Subsidiary, leases one or more Hotels in the future.

                  "Noncontrolled Subsidiaries" means, with regard to Host REIT's
taxable years ended prior to January 1, 2001, Fernwood and Rockledge.

                  "Partnership Subsidiary" means the Operating Partnership and
any partnership, limited liability company, or other entity treated as a
partnership for federal income tax purposes or disregarded as a separate entity
for federal income tax purposes in which either Host REIT or the Operating
Partnership owns (or owned on or after January 1, 1999) an interest, either
directly or through one or more other partnerships, limited liability companies
or other entities treated as a partnership for federal income tax purposes or
disregarded as a separate entity for federal income tax purposes (whether or not
Host REIT or the Operating Partnership has a controlling interest in, or
otherwise has the ability to control or direct the operation of, such entity).
Notwithstanding the foregoing, the term "Partnership Subsidiary" shall not in
any way be deemed to include the Non-Controlled Subsidiaries or subsidiaries
thereof or the Taxable REIT Subsidiaries or subsidiaries thereof.

                  "Rockledge" means Rockledge Hotel Properties, Inc., a Delaware
corporation.

                  "Taxable REIT Subsidiary" means, with regard to Host REIT's
taxable years commencing after December 31, 2000, any of HMT Lessee, Fernwood,
Rockledge or any other TRS of Host REIT.

                  "TRS" means a "taxable REIT subsidiary," as described in
Section 856(l) of the Code. Any entity taxable as a corporation in which a TRS
of Host REIT owns (x) securities possessing more than 35% of the total voting
power of the outstanding securities of such entity or (y) securities having a
value of more than 35% of the total value of the outstanding securities of such
entity shall also be treated as a TRS of Host REIT whether or not a separate
election is made with respect to such other entity.

                  "TRS Lessee" means any of (i) HMT Lessee, (ii) the direct or
indirect subsidiaries of HMT Lessee that hold the leasehold interests that were
acquired by HMT Lessee from Crestline pursuant to the Acquisition and Exchange
Agreement or in connection with the IHP Lease Acquisition, and (iii) any future
lessee of a Hotel that is a TRS.


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