Document and Entity Information - USD ($) $ in Billions	12 Months Ended
	Dec. 31, 2015	Feb. 16, 2016	Jun. 30, 2015
Entity Registrant Name	HERSHA HOSPITALITY TRUST
Entity Central Index Key	0001063344
Current Fiscal Year End Date	--12-31
Entity Well-known Seasoned Issuer	Yes
Entity Voluntary Filers	No
Entity Current Reporting Status	Yes
Entity Filer Category	Large Accelerated Filer
Entity Public Float			$ 1.2
Document Fiscal Year Focus	2015
Document Fiscal Period Focus	FY
Document Type	10-K
Amendment Flag	false
Document Period End Date	Dec. 31, 2015
Class A Common Shares [Member]
Entity Common Stock, Shares Outstanding		44,458,231
Class B Common Shares [Member]
Entity Common Stock, Shares Outstanding		0