Debt (Narrative) (Details) (USD $) In Thousands, unless otherwise specified	3 Months Ended		9 Months Ended					1 Months Ended	0 Months Ended	9 Months Ended		3 Months Ended		9 Months Ended			3 Months Ended		9 Months Ended
	Sep. 30, 2014	Sep. 30, 2013	Sep. 30, 2014	Sep. 30, 2013	Dec. 31, 2013	Jan. 03, 2013	Dec. 31, 2013 Assets Held-for-sale [Member]	Jan. 31, 2014 Duane Street Hotel, New York, NY [Member]	Apr. 24, 2013 Courtyard by Marriott, Westside, Los Angeles, CA [Member]	Sep. 30, 2014 Holiday Inn Express, New York, NY [Member]	Sep. 30, 2014 Citigroup Global Markets Inc. [Member]	Sep. 30, 2014 Mortgages [Member]	Sep. 30, 2013 Mortgages [Member]	Sep. 30, 2014 Mortgages [Member] property	Sep. 30, 2013 Mortgages [Member]	Dec. 31, 2013 Mortgages [Member]	Sep. 30, 2014 Junior Subordinated Debt [Member] Hersha Statutory Trust I and Hersha Statutory Trust II [Member] loan	Sep. 30, 2013 Junior Subordinated Debt [Member] Hersha Statutory Trust I and Hersha Statutory Trust II [Member]	Sep. 30, 2014 Junior Subordinated Debt [Member] Hersha Statutory Trust I and Hersha Statutory Trust II [Member] loan	Sep. 30, 2013 Junior Subordinated Debt [Member] Hersha Statutory Trust I and Hersha Statutory Trust II [Member]	Sep. 30, 2014 Junior Subordinated Debt [Member] Hersha Statutory Trust I [Member]	Sep. 30, 2014 Junior Subordinated Debt [Member] Hersha Statutory Trust II [Member]
Mortgages and Notes Payable [Abstract]
Long-term debt							$ 45,835					$ 613,668		$ 613,668		$ 617,788
Interest rate range, minimum (in hundredths)														3.05%
Interest rate range, maximum (in hundredths)														8.25%
Net unamortizaed premiums												(1,805)		(1,805)		(2,466)
Interest expense												7,908	8,900	23,428	26,110		426	431	1,264	1,284
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 September 30, 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 loan agreements.
Number of properties with unmet debt service coverage ratio convenants														4
Maturity date range, start														Oct. 01, 2014
Maturity date range, end														Apr. 01, 2023
Subordinated Notes Payable [Abstract]
Number of debt instruments																	2		2
Subordinated notes payable																	51,548		51,548		25,774	25,774
Maturity date								Feb. 01, 2017	Sep. 29, 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%	3.00%
Number of business days prior to quarterly interest payments for resetting rates																			2 days
Debt instrument, interest rate during period (in hundredths)																	3.30%	3.34%	3.26%	3.32%
Capitalized Interest [Abstract]
Capitalized interest	0	337	458	934
Deferred Financing Costs [Abstract]
Deferred costs, net of accumulated amortization	8,226		8,226		7,570
Accumulated amortization	7,064		7,064		7,070
Amortization of deferred costs	710	756	2,064	2,133
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	30,000
Advance in principal									5,000
Fixed interest rate								5.433%
Unamortized deferred costs and defeasance premiums expensed			644	545				65	284	261	579
Unsecured Term Loan	$ 250,000		$ 250,000		$ 150,000
Effective interest rate									4.10%
Interest variable rate, floor									0.75%