<PAGE>
 
                       SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION
                             WASHINGTON, D.C. 20549

                                    FORM S-8
                             REGISTRATION STATEMENT
                                     UNDER
                           THE SECURITIES ACT OF 1933


                          JOHN Q. HAMMONS HOTELS, INC.
                          ----------------------------
             (Exact name of registrant as specified in its charter)


            DELAWARE                                     43-1695093
            --------                                     ----------
      (State of incorporation)              (I.R.S. Employer Identification No.)

       300 JOHN Q. HAMMONS PARKWAY, SUITE 900
                  SPRINGFIELD, MISSOURI                  65806
                  ----------------------                 -----
      (Address of Principal Executive Offices)         (Zip Code)


             1999 NON-EMPLOYEE DIRECTOR STOCK AND STOCK OPTION PLAN
             ------------------------------------------------------
                            (Full title of the plan)

                                KENNETH J. WEBER
              EXECUTIVE VICE PRESIDENT AND CHIEF FINANCIAL OFFICER
                          JOHN Q. HAMMONS HOTELS, INC.
                     300 JOHN Q. HAMMONS PARKWAY, SUITE 900
                          SPRINGFIELD, MISSOURI 65806
                          ---------------------------
                               (Name, and address
                             of agent for service)

                                   Copies to:

                           MARY ANNE O'CONNELL, ESQ.
                            HUSCH & EPPENBERGER, LLC
                          100 N. BROADWAY, SUITE 1300
                           ST. LOUIS, MISSOURI 63102
                                 (314) 421-4800


                                  (417) 864-4300
                    (telephone number, including area code)


                        CALCULATION OF REGISTRATION FEE
                                        
<TABLE>
<CAPTION>
                                                 PROPOSED MAXIMUM         PROPOSED MAXIMUM
TITLE OF SECURITIES        AMOUNT TO BE         OFFERING PRICE PER       AGGREGATE OFFERING           AMOUNT OF
  TO BE REGISTERED          REGISTERED               SHARE (1)               PRICE (1)             REGISTRATION FEE
  ----------------          ----------               ---------               ---------             ----------------
<S>                       <C>                   <C>                      <C>                       <C> 
CLASS A COMMON STOCK      500,000 SHARES             $3.8125               $1,906,250.00               $562.35
(PAR VALUE $.01)
</TABLE>

     (1) Pursuant to Rule 457 under the Securities Act of 1933, the proposed
     maximum aggregate offering price and the registration fee are based upon
     the average of the high and low prices per share of the Registrant's Common
     Stock reported on the New York Stock Exchange Composite Tape on May 3,
     1999.
<PAGE>
 
                                    PART II

               INFORMATION REQUIRED IN THE REGISTRATION STATEMENT

Item 3.   Incorporation Of Documents By Reference

The following documents filed by John Q. Hammons Hotels, Inc. (the "Company")
with the Securities and Exchange Commission are incorporated by reference into
this Registration Statement:

     (a)    The Company's annual report on Form 10-K for the fiscal year ended
     January 1, 1999.

     (b)    The description of the Company's Common Stock which is contained in
     a registration statement on Form 10 filed under the Securities Exchange Act
     of 1934, as amended (the "Exchange Act"), including any amendment or report
     filed for the purpose of updating such description.

All reports and other documents subsequently filed by the Company pursuant to
Sections 13(a), 13(c), 14 and 15(d) of the Exchange Act prior to the filing of a
post-effective amendment which indicates that all securities offered have been
sold or which deregisters all securities then remaining unsold, shall be deemed
to be incorporated by reference herein and to be a part of this registration
statement from the date of the filing of such reports and documents.

Item 4.            Description of Securities
 
Not applicable

Item 5.            Interests of Named Experts and Counsel

Not applicable

Item 6.            Indemnification of Directors and Officers

As permitted by Section 145 of the Delaware General Corporation Law, the
Company's Certificate of Incorporation includes provisions that eliminate the
personal liability of its directors for monetary damages for breach or alleged
breach of their fiduciary duty as a director, except for liability (i) for any
breach of the director's duty of loyalty to the corporation or its stockholders,
(ii) for acts or omissions not in good faith or which involve intentional
misconduct or a knowing violation of law, (iii) under Section 174 of the
Delaware General Corporation Law or (iv) for any transaction from which the
director derived an improper personal benefit.  The Company may not
retroactively amend this provision of the  Certificate of Incorporation in a way
that is adverse to such directors.  In addition, as permitted by Section 145 of
the Delaware General Corporation Law, the Certificate of Incorporation of the
Company provides that (i) the Company is required to indemnify its directors and
officers and persons serving in such capacities in other business enterprises
(including another corporation, partnership, joint venture, trust, employee
benefit plan or other enterprise) at the Company's request to the fullest extent
permitted by the Delaware General Corporation Law including those circumstances
in which indemnification would otherwise be discretionary; (ii) the Company may,
in its discretion, indemnify employees and agents where indemnification is not
required by law; (iii) upon receipt of an undertaking by the indemnitee to repay
all amounts advanced if it is ultimately determined that such indemnitee is not
entitled to indemnification, the Company is required to advance expenses
(including attorneys' fees), as incurred, to its directors and officers in
connection with defending a proceeding; and (iv) the Company may advance
expenses (including attorneys' fees), as incurred, to employees and agents in
connection with a proceeding upon such terms and conditions, if any, as the
Board deems appropriate.  The rights conferred in the Certificate of
Incorporation are not exclusive and the Company may enter into indemnification
agreements with its directors, officers and employees.

The indemnification provision in the Company's Certificate of Incorporation, may
be sufficiently broad to permit indemnification of the officers and directors
for liabilities arising under the Securities Act of 1933, as amended.

The Company's Bylaws provide that the Company may purchase and maintain
insurance on behalf of any person who is or was a director, officer, employee or
agent (and persons serving in such capacities in other business enterprises
request) against liability asserted against or incurred by such person in such
capacity or arising from such person's status as such.  As authorized by the
Company's Bylaws, the Company, with approval by the Board, has purchased
director and officer liability insurance.

Item 7.            Exemption from Registration Claimed
 
                   Not applicable.

                                       2
<PAGE>
 
Item 8.        Exhibits

Exhibit
Number         Description
------         -----------

4.1            Registrant's Restated Certificate of Incorporation, incorporated
               by reference to Exhibit 3.1 of the registrant's Registration
               Statement on Form S-1, No. 33-84570.

4.2            Amended and Restated Bylaws of registrant, incorporated by
               reference to Exhibit 3.2 of the registrant's Registration
               Statement on Form S-1, No. 33-84570.
 
23.1           Consent of Arthur Anderson LLP.

24             Power of Attorney is contained on the signature page.

99.1           1999 Non-Employee Director Stock and Stock Option Plan
               (incorporated by reference to Exhibit 10.19 of the registrant's
               Form 10-K for the fiscal year ended January 1, 1999).


Item 9.  Undertakings

(a)  The undersigned Company hereby undertakes:

               (1) To file, during any period in which offers or sales are being
               made, a post-effective amendment to this registration statement:

                       (a)  To include any prospectus required by Section
                       10(a)(3) of the Securities Act;

                       (b)  To reflect in the prospectus any facts or events
                       arising after the effective date of the registration
                       statement (or the most recent post-effective amendment
                       thereof) which, individually or in the aggregate,
                       represent a fundamental change in the information set
                       forth in the registration statement;

                       (c)  To include any material information with respect to
                       the plan of distribution not previously disclosed in the
                       registration statement or any material change to such
                       information in the registration statement.

PROVIDED, HOWEVER, that paragraphs (1)(a) and (1)(b) do not apply if the
information required to be included in a post-effective amendment by those
paragraphs is contained in periodic reports filed with or furnished to the
Commission by the Company pursuant to Section 13 or Section 15(d) of the
Exchange Act that are incorporated by reference herein.

               (2) That, for the purpose of determining any liability under the
               Securities Act, each such post-effective amendment shall be
               deemed to be a new registration statement relating to the
               securities offered herein, and the offering of such securities at
               that time shall be deemed to be the initial bona fide offering
               thereof.

               (3) To remove from registration by means of a post-effective
               amendment any of the securities being registered which remain
               unsold at the termination of the offering.

(b)    The undersigned Company hereby undertakes that, for purposes of
determining any liability under the Securities Act, each filing of the Company's
annual report pursuant to Section 13(a) or Section 15(d) of the Exchange Act
that is incorporated by reference in the Registration Statement shall be deemed
to be a new registration statement relating to the securities offered herein,
and the offering of such securities at that time shall be deemed to be the
initial bona fide offering thereof.

(c)    Insofar as indemnification for liabilities arising under the Securities
Act may be permitted to directors, officers and controlling persons of the
Company pursuant to the provisions described in Item 6 above, or otherwise, the
Company has been advised that in the opinion of the Securities and Exchange
Commission such indemnification is against public policy, as expressed in the
Securities Act and is, therefore, unenforceable.  In the event that a claim for
indemnification against such liabilities (other than the payment by the Company
of expenses incurred or paid by a director, officer or controlling person of the
Company in the successful defense of any action, suit or proceeding) is asserted
by such director, officer or controlling person in connection with the
securities being registered, the Company will, unless in the opinion of its
counsel the matter has been settled by controlling precedent, submit to a court
of appropriate jurisdiction the question whether such indemnification by it is
against public policy as expressed in the Securities Act and will be governed by
the final adjudication of such issue.

                                       3
<PAGE>
 
                                   SIGNATURES

Pursuant to the requirements of the Securities Act of 1933, as amended, the
Company certifies that it has reasonable grounds to believe that it meets all of
the requirements for filing on Form S-8 and has duly caused this Registration
Statement to be signed on its behalf by the undersigned, thereunto duly
authorized, in the City of Springfield, State of Missouri, on May 4, 1999.

                          JOHN Q. HAMMONS HOTELS, INC.

                          BY: /s/ Kenneth J. Weber
                          ----------------------------
                             KENNETH J. WEBER
                             EXECUTIVE VICE PRESIDENT AND
                             CHIEF FINANCIAL OFFICER

                               POWER OF ATTORNEY

Each person whose signature appears below constitutes and appoints Kenneth J.
Weber, his true and lawful attorney-in-fact and agent, with full power of
substitution and resubstitution, for him and in his name, place and stead, in
any and all capacities, to sign any and all amendments (including post-effective
amendments) to this Registration Statement, and to file the same, with all
exhibits thereto, and other documents in connection therewith, with the
Securities and Exchange Commission, granting to said attorney-in-fact and agent
full power and authority to do and perform each and every act and thing
requisite and necessary to be done in connection therewith, as fully to all
intents and purposes as he might or could do in person, hereby ratifying and
confirming all that said attorney-in-fact and agent, or his substitutes or
substitute, may lawfully do or cause to be done by virtue hereof.

Pursuant to the requirements of the Securities Act of 1933, this Registration
Statement has been signed by the following persons in the capacities and on the
dates indicated.

SIGNATURE                     TITLE                               DATE

/s/ John Q. Hammons            Director, Chairman and              May 4, 1999
--------------------------                 
John Q. Hammons                Chief Executive Officer
  
/s/ Kenneth J. Weber
--------------------------
Kenneth J. Weber               Director, Executive                 May 4, 1999
                               Vice President, and
                               Chief Financial Officer

/s/ Jacqueline A. Dowdy
--------------------------
Jacqueline A. Dowdy            Director                            May 4, 1999

/s/ Daniel L. Earley
--------------------------
Daniel L. Earley               Director                            May 4, 1999

/s/ William J. Hart
--------------------------
William J. Hart                Director                            May 4, 1999

/s/ James F. Moore
--------------------------
James F. Moore                 Director                            May 4, 1999

/s/ John E. Lopez-Ona
--------------------------
John E. Lopez-Ona              Director                            May 4, 1999
 
                                       4
<PAGE>
 
                                 EXHIBIT INDEX

Exhibit
Number   Description
------   -----------

23.1     Consent of Arthur Andersen LLP.

                                       5
[{"type": "S-8", "sequence": "1", "description": "FORM S-8", "secsgml_size_bytes": 15486}]
{"company-data": {"conformed-name": "HAMMONS JOHN Q HOTELS INC", "cik": "0000930796", "assigned-sic": "7011", "irs-number": "431695093", "state-of-incorporation": "DE", "fiscal-year-end": "0101"}, "filing-values": {"form-type": "S-8", "act": "33", "file-number": "333-77831", "film-number": "99611481"}, "business-address": {"street1": "300 JOHN Q HAMMONS PKWY STE 900", "city": "SPRINGFIELD", "state": "MO", "zip": "65806", "phone": "4178644300"}, "mail-address": {"street1": "300 JOHN Q HAMMONS PKWY", "street2": "SUITE 900", "city": "SPRINGFIELD", "state": "MO", "zip": "65806"}}
SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION
                             WASHINGTON, D.C. 20549

                                    FORM S-8
                             REGISTRATION STATEMENT
                                     UNDER
                           THE SECURITIES ACT OF 1933

                          JOHN Q. HAMMONS HOTELS, INC.
                          ----------------------------
             (Exact name of registrant as specified in its charter)

            DELAWARE                                     43-1695093
            --------                                     ----------
      (State of incorporation)              (I.R.S. Employer Identification No.)

       300 JOHN Q. HAMMONS PARKWAY, SUITE 900
                  SPRINGFIELD, MISSOURI                  65806
                  ----------------------                 -----
      (Address of Principal Executive Offices)         (Zip Code)

             1999 NON-EMPLOYEE DIRECTOR STOCK AND STOCK OPTION PLAN
             ------------------------------------------------------
                            (Full title of the plan)

                                KENNETH J. WEBER
              EXECUTIVE VICE PRESIDENT AND CHIEF FINANCIAL OFFICER
                          JOHN Q. HAMMONS HOTELS, INC.
                     300 JOHN Q. HAMMONS PARKWAY, SUITE 900
                          SPRINGFIELD, MISSOURI 65806
                          ---------------------------
                               (Name, and address
                             of agent for service)

                                   Copies to:

                           MARY ANNE O'CONNELL, ESQ.
                            HUSCH & EPPENBERGER, LLC
                          100 N. BROADWAY, SUITE 1300
                           ST. LOUIS, MISSOURI 63102
                                 (314) 421-4800

                                  (417) 864-4300
                    (telephone number, including area code)

                        CALCULATION OF REGISTRATION FEE
PROPOSED MAXIMUM         PROPOSED MAXIMUM
TITLE OF SECURITIES        AMOUNT TO BE         OFFERING PRICE PER       AGGREGATE OFFERING           AMOUNT OF
  TO BE REGISTERED          REGISTERED               SHARE (1)               PRICE (1)             REGISTRATION FEE
  ----------------          ----------               ---------               ---------             ----------------
CLASS A COMMON STOCK      500,000 SHARES             $3.8125               $1,906,250.00               $562.35
(PAR VALUE $.01)
(1) Pursuant to Rule 457 under the Securities Act of 1933, the proposed
     maximum aggregate offering price and the registration fee are based upon
     the average of the high and low prices per share of the Registrant's Common
     Stock reported on the New York Stock Exchange Composite Tape on May 3,
     1999.
PART II

               INFORMATION REQUIRED IN THE REGISTRATION STATEMENT

Item 3.   Incorporation Of Documents By Reference

The following documents filed by John Q. Hammons Hotels, Inc. (the "Company")
with the Securities and Exchange Commission are incorporated by reference into
this Registration Statement:

     (a)    The Company's annual report on Form 10-K for the fiscal year ended
     January 1, 1999.

     (b)    The description of the Company's Common Stock which is contained in
     a registration statement on Form 10 filed under the Securities Exchange Act
     of 1934, as amended (the "Exchange Act"), including any amendment or report
     filed for the purpose of updating such description.

All reports and other documents subsequently filed by the Company pursuant to
Sections 13(a), 13(c), 14 and 15(d) of the Exchange Act prior to the filing of a
post-effective amendment which indicates that all securities offered have been
sold or which deregisters all securities then remaining unsold, shall be deemed
to be incorporated by reference herein and to be a part of this registration
statement from the date of the filing of such reports and documents.

Item 4.            Description of Securities
 
Not applicable

Item 5.            Interests of Named Experts and Counsel

Not applicable

Item 6.            Indemnification of Directors and Officers

As permitted by Section 145 of the Delaware General Corporation Law, the
Company's Certificate of Incorporation includes provisions that eliminate the
personal liability of its directors for monetary damages for breach or alleged
breach of their fiduciary duty as a director, except for liability (i) for any
breach of the director's duty of loyalty to the corporation or its stockholders,
(ii) for acts or omissions not in good faith or which involve intentional
misconduct or a knowing violation of law, (iii) under Section 174 of the
Delaware General Corporation Law or (iv) for any transaction from which the
director derived an improper personal benefit.  The Company may not
retroactively amend this provision of the  Certificate of Incorporation in a way
that is adverse to such directors.  In addition, as permitted by Section 145 of
the Delaware General Corporation Law, the Certificate of Incorporation of the
Company provides that (i) the Company is required to indemnify its directors and
officers and persons serving in such capacities in other business enterprises
(including another corporation, partnership, joint venture, trust, employee
benefit plan or other enterprise) at the Company's request to the fullest extent
permitted by the Delaware General Corporation Law including those circumstances
in which indemnification would otherwise be discretionary; (ii) the Company may,
in its discretion, indemnify employees and agents where indemnification is not
required by law; (iii) upon receipt of an undertaking by the indemnitee to repay
all amounts advanced if it is ultimately determined that such indemnitee is not
entitled to indemnification, the Company is required to advance expenses
(including attorneys' fees), as incurred, to its directors and officers in
connection with defending a proceeding; and (iv) the Company may advance
expenses (including attorneys' fees), as incurred, to employees and agents in
connection with a proceeding upon such terms and conditions, if any, as the
Board deems appropriate.  The rights conferred in the Certificate of
Incorporation are not exclusive and the Company may enter into indemnification
agreements with its directors, officers and employees.

The indemnification provision in the Company's Certificate of Incorporation, may
be sufficiently broad to permit indemnification of the officers and directors
for liabilities arising under the Securities Act of 1933, as amended.

The Company's Bylaws provide that the Company may purchase and maintain
insurance on behalf of any person who is or was a director, officer, employee or
agent (and persons serving in such capacities in other business enterprises
request) against liability asserted against or incurred by such person in such
capacity or arising from such person's status as such.  As authorized by the
Company's Bylaws, the Company, with approval by the Board, has purchased
director and officer liability insurance.

Item 7.            Exemption from Registration Claimed
 
                   Not applicable.

                                       2
Item 8.        Exhibits

Exhibit
Number         Description
------         -----------

4.1            Registrant's Restated Certificate of Incorporation, incorporated
               by reference to Exhibit 3.1 of the registrant's Registration
               Statement on Form S-1, No. 33-84570.

4.2            Amended and Restated Bylaws of registrant, incorporated by
               reference to Exhibit 3.2 of the registrant's Registration
               Statement on Form S-1, No. 33-84570.
 
23.1           Consent of Arthur Anderson LLP.

24             Power of Attorney is contained on the signature page.

99.1           1999 Non-Employee Director Stock and Stock Option Plan
               (incorporated by reference to Exhibit 10.19 of the registrant's
               Form 10-K for the fiscal year ended January 1, 1999).

Item 9.  Undertakings

(a)  The undersigned Company hereby undertakes:

               (1) To file, during any period in which offers or sales are being
               made, a post-effective amendment to this registration statement:

                       (a)  To include any prospectus required by Section
                       10(a)(3) of the Securities Act;

                       (b)  To reflect in the prospectus any facts or events
                       arising after the effective date of the registration
                       statement (or the most recent post-effective amendment
                       thereof) which, individually or in the aggregate,
                       represent a fundamental change in the information set
                       forth in the registration statement;

                       (c)  To include any material information with respect to
                       the plan of distribution not previously disclosed in the
                       registration statement or any material change to such
                       information in the registration statement.

PROVIDED, HOWEVER, that paragraphs (1)(a) and (1)(b) do not apply if the
information required to be included in a post-effective amendment by those
paragraphs is contained in periodic reports filed with or furnished to the
Commission by the Company pursuant to Section 13 or Section 15(d) of the
Exchange Act that are incorporated by reference herein.

               (2) That, for the purpose of determining any liability under the
               Securities Act, each such post-effective amendment shall be
               deemed to be a new registration statement relating to the
               securities offered herein, and the offering of such securities at
               that time shall be deemed to be the initial bona fide offering
               thereof.

               (3) To remove from registration by means of a post-effective
               amendment any of the securities being registered which remain
               unsold at the termination of the offering.

(b)    The undersigned Company hereby undertakes that, for purposes of
determining any liability under the Securities Act, each filing of the Company's
annual report pursuant to Section 13(a) or Section 15(d) of the Exchange Act
that is incorporated by reference in the Registration Statement shall be deemed
to be a new registration statement relating to the securities offered herein,
and the offering of such securities at that time shall be deemed to be the
initial bona fide offering thereof.

(c)    Insofar as indemnification for liabilities arising under the Securities
Act may be permitted to directors, officers and controlling persons of the
Company pursuant to the provisions described in Item 6 above, or otherwise, the
Company has been advised that in the opinion of the Securities and Exchange
Commission such indemnification is against public policy, as expressed in the
Securities Act and is, therefore, unenforceable.  In the event that a claim for
indemnification against such liabilities (other than the payment by the Company
of expenses incurred or paid by a director, officer or controlling person of the
Company in the successful defense of any action, suit or proceeding) is asserted
by such director, officer or controlling person in connection with the
securities being registered, the Company will, unless in the opinion of its
counsel the matter has been settled by controlling precedent, submit to a court
of appropriate jurisdiction the question whether such indemnification by it is
against public policy as expressed in the Securities Act and will be governed by
the final adjudication of such issue.

                                       3
SIGNATURES

Pursuant to the requirements of the Securities Act of 1933, as amended, the
Company certifies that it has reasonable grounds to believe that it meets all of
the requirements for filing on Form S-8 and has duly caused this Registration
Statement to be signed on its behalf by the undersigned, thereunto duly
authorized, in the City of Springfield, State of Missouri, on May 4, 1999.

                          JOHN Q. HAMMONS HOTELS, INC.

                          BY: /s/ Kenneth J. Weber
                          ----------------------------
                             KENNETH J. WEBER
                             EXECUTIVE VICE PRESIDENT AND
                             CHIEF FINANCIAL OFFICER

                               POWER OF ATTORNEY

Each person whose signature appears below constitutes and appoints Kenneth J.
Weber, his true and lawful attorney-in-fact and agent, with full power of
substitution and resubstitution, for him and in his name, place and stead, in
any and all capacities, to sign any and all amendments (including post-effective
amendments) to this Registration Statement, and to file the same, with all
exhibits thereto, and other documents in connection therewith, with the
Securities and Exchange Commission, granting to said attorney-in-fact and agent
full power and authority to do and perform each and every act and thing
requisite and necessary to be done in connection therewith, as fully to all
intents and purposes as he might or could do in person, hereby ratifying and
confirming all that said attorney-in-fact and agent, or his substitutes or
substitute, may lawfully do or cause to be done by virtue hereof.

Pursuant to the requirements of the Securities Act of 1933, this Registration
Statement has been signed by the following persons in the capacities and on the
dates indicated.

SIGNATURE                     TITLE                               DATE

/s/ John Q. Hammons            Director, Chairman and              May 4, 1999
--------------------------                 
John Q. Hammons                Chief Executive Officer
  
/s/ Kenneth J. Weber
--------------------------
Kenneth J. Weber               Director, Executive                 May 4, 1999
                               Vice President, and
                               Chief Financial Officer

/s/ Jacqueline A. Dowdy
--------------------------
Jacqueline A. Dowdy            Director                            May 4, 1999

/s/ Daniel L. Earley
--------------------------
Daniel L. Earley               Director                            May 4, 1999

/s/ William J. Hart
--------------------------
William J. Hart                Director                            May 4, 1999

/s/ James F. Moore
--------------------------
James F. Moore                 Director                            May 4, 1999

/s/ John E. Lopez-Ona
--------------------------
John E. Lopez-Ona              Director                            May 4, 1999
 
                                       4
EXHIBIT INDEX

Exhibit
Number   Description
------   -----------

23.1     Consent of Arthur Andersen LLP.

                                       5