Acquisitions and Dispositions - Dispositions (Details) € in Millions, $ in Millions	3 Months Ended								12 Months Ended
	Dec. 31, 2015 USD ($)	Sep. 30, 2015 USD ($) hotel	Jun. 30, 2015 USD ($)	Mar. 31, 2015 USD ($)	Mar. 31, 2015 EUR (€)	Dec. 31, 2014 USD ($)	Mar. 31, 2014 USD ($)	Mar. 31, 2014 EUR (€)	Dec. 31, 2015 USD ($) hotel residence	Dec. 31, 2014 USD ($)	Dec. 31, 2013 USD ($)	Mar. 31, 2014 EUR (€)
Income Statement, Balance Sheet and Additional Disclosures by Disposal Groups, Including Discontinued Operations [Line Items]
Cash proceeds received from sale of equity method investment's hotels redeemed		$ 42
Equity method investment, number of hotels redeemed | hotel		2
Assets held for sale	$ 78					$ 233			$ 78	$ 233
Assets, reclassified						233				233
Proceeds from dispositions									$ 673	435	$ 0
Assets held-for-sale, number of hotels | hotel									3
London EDITION Hotel
Income Statement, Balance Sheet and Additional Disclosures by Disposal Groups, Including Discontinued Operations [Line Items]
Proceeds from sale of property							$ 233
Miami Beach EDITION Hotels
Income Statement, Balance Sheet and Additional Disclosures by Disposal Groups, Including Discontinued Operations [Line Items]
Proceeds from sale of property			$ 566						$ 20
Assets, reclassified	31								31
Liabilities, reclassified	2								$ 2
Number of residences sold | residence									5
EDITION Hotels
Income Statement, Balance Sheet and Additional Disclosures by Disposal Groups, Including Discontinued Operations [Line Items]
Proceeds from dispositions							816
Land Parcel Sale to Third Party
Income Statement, Balance Sheet and Additional Disclosures by Disposal Groups, Including Discontinued Operations [Line Items]
Proceeds from dispositions						42
International
Income Statement, Balance Sheet and Additional Disclosures by Disposal Groups, Including Discontinued Operations [Line Items]
Proceeds from divestiture of interest in subsidiaries and affiliates				$ 27	€ 24
Proceeds from sale of property	62
International | Right to Acquire Landlord's Interest in Real Estate Property and Attached Assets
Income Statement, Balance Sheet and Additional Disclosures by Disposal Groups, Including Discontinued Operations [Line Items]
Assets, reclassified							106					€ 77
Liabilities, reclassified							48					€ 35
Cash proceeds from sale of rights to acquire property and attached assets							62	€ 45
Noncash proceeds from sale of rights to acquire property and attached assets							$ 45	€ 33
North American Limited-Service Segment | North American, Plot of Land
Income Statement, Balance Sheet and Additional Disclosures by Disposal Groups, Including Discontinued Operations [Line Items]
Assets held for sale	47								$ 47
Disposal Group, including discontinued operations, liabilities, current	1								1
North American Full-Service Segment | Miami Beach EDITION Hotels
Income Statement, Balance Sheet and Additional Disclosures by Disposal Groups, Including Discontinued Operations [Line Items]
Assets held for sale						17				17
Liabilities, reclassified						26				26
Proceeds from dispositions						100
Assets, property, plant and equipment, reclassified						157				157
Asset Held For Sale
Income Statement, Balance Sheet and Additional Disclosures by Disposal Groups, Including Discontinued Operations [Line Items]
Assets held for sale	78								78
Accrued Expense and Other
Income Statement, Balance Sheet and Additional Disclosures by Disposal Groups, Including Discontinued Operations [Line Items]
Disposal Group, including discontinued operations, liabilities, current	3								3
Property and Equipment
Income Statement, Balance Sheet and Additional Disclosures by Disposal Groups, Including Discontinued Operations [Line Items]
Impairment charge									$ 12	25
Other Current Liabilities | North American Full-Service Segment | Miami Beach EDITION Hotels
Income Statement, Balance Sheet and Additional Disclosures by Disposal Groups, Including Discontinued Operations [Line Items]
Liabilities, reclassified						$ 14				$ 14
Gains and Other Income, Net | International
Income Statement, Balance Sheet and Additional Disclosures by Disposal Groups, Including Discontinued Operations [Line Items]
Gain (loss) on disposition of property	$ 11
Gains and Other Income, Net | North American Limited-Service Segment
Income Statement, Balance Sheet and Additional Disclosures by Disposal Groups, Including Discontinued Operations [Line Items]
Impairment of assets to be disposed of			$ 4
Depreciation, Amortization, and Other | Other unallocated corporate | New York City EDITION Hotel
Income Statement, Balance Sheet and Additional Disclosures by Disposal Groups, Including Discontinued Operations [Line Items]
Impairment of assets to be disposed of				6
Depreciation, Amortization, and Other | Other unallocated corporate | Miami Beach EDITION Hotels
Income Statement, Balance Sheet and Additional Disclosures by Disposal Groups, Including Discontinued Operations [Line Items]
Impairment of assets to be disposed of				$ 6