Debt (Narrative) (Details) (USD $) In Thousands, unless otherwise specified	3 Months Ended						1 Months Ended	3 Months Ended					3 Months Ended
	Mar. 31, 2014	Mar. 31, 2013	Dec. 31, 2013	Jan. 03, 2013	Mar. 31, 2014 Assets Held-for-sale [Member]	Dec. 31, 2013 Assets Held-for-sale [Member]	Jan. 31, 2014 Duane Street Hotel, New York, NY [Member]	Mar. 31, 2014 Holiday Inn Express, New York, NY [Member]	Mar. 31, 2014 Citigroup Global Markets Inc. [Member]	Mar. 31, 2014 Mortgages [Member]	Mar. 31, 2013 Mortgages [Member]	Dec. 31, 2013 Mortgages [Member]	Mar. 31, 2014 Junior Subordinated Debt [Member] Hersha Statutory Trust I and Hersha Statutory Trust II [Member] loan	Mar. 31, 2013 Junior Subordinated Debt [Member] Hersha Statutory Trust I and Hersha Statutory Trust II [Member]	Mar. 31, 2014 Junior Subordinated Debt [Member] Hersha Statutory Trust I [Member]	Mar. 31, 2014 Junior Subordinated Debt [Member] Hersha Statutory Trust II [Member]
Mortgages and Notes Payable [Abstract]
Long-term debt					$ 18,387	$ 45,835				$ 590,154		$ 617,788
Interest rate range, minimum (in hundredths)										3.79%
Interest rate range, maximum (in hundredths)										8.25%
Net unamortizaed premiums										(2,247)		(2,466)
Interest expense										7,826	8,294		417	426
Debt covenant compliance status										We have determined that certain debt service coverage ratio covenants contained in the loan agreements securing four of our hotel properties were not met as of March 31, 2014. Pursuant to these loan agreements, the lender has elected to escrow the operating cash flow for a number of these properties. However, these covenants do not constitute an event of default for these loans.
Maturity date range, start										Oct. 01, 2014
Maturity date range, end										Apr. 01, 2023
Subordinated Notes Payable [Abstract]
Number of debt instruments													2
Subordinated notes payable													51,548		25,774	25,774
Maturity date							Feb. 01, 2017						Jul. 30, 2035
Debt instrument, description of variable rate basis															LIBOR	LIBOR
Debt instrument, basis spread on variable rate (in hundredths)							4.50%								3.00%	3.00%
Number of business days prior to quarterly interest payments for resetting rates													2 days
Debt instrument, interest rate during period (in hundredths)													3.24%	3.31%
Capitalized Interest [Abstract]
Capitalized interest	242	278
Deferred Financing Costs [Abstract]
Deferred costs, net of accumulated amortization	8,611		7,570
Accumulated amortization	5,866		7,070
Amortization of deferred costs	699	616
New Debt/Refinance and Payoffs [Abstract]
Company funded remaining tranche of the unsecured portion of the credit facility				50,000
Mortgage loan extinguishment							5,175
Mortgage loan							9,500
Fixed interest rate							5.433%
Unamortized deferred costs and defeasance premiums expensed	644	261					65	261	579
Unsecured Term Loan	$ 150,000		$ 150,000