Debt (Subordinated Notes Payable Narrative) (Details) - Junior Subordinated Debt [Member] $ in Thousands	12 Months Ended
	Dec. 31, 2015 USD ($) loan	Dec. 31, 2014 USD ($)	Dec. 31, 2013 USD ($)
Hersha Statutory Trust I and Hersha Statutory Trust II [Member]
Subordinated Notes Payable [Abstract]
Number of debt instruments | loan	2
Subordinated notes payable	$ 51,548
Maturity date	Jul. 30, 2035
Number of business days prior to quarterly interest payments for resetting rates	2 days
Debt instrument, interest rate during period (in hundredths)	3.33%	3.28%	3.32%
Interest expense	$ 1,715	$ 1,690	$ 1,712
Hersha Statutory Trust I [Member]
Subordinated Notes Payable [Abstract]
Subordinated notes payable	$ 25,774
Debt instrument, description of variable rate basis	LIBOR
Debt instrument, basis spread on variable rate (in hundredths)	3.00%
Hersha Statutory Trust II [Member]
Subordinated Notes Payable [Abstract]
Subordinated notes payable	$ 25,774
Debt instrument, description of variable rate basis	LIBOR
Debt instrument, basis spread on variable rate (in hundredths)	3.00%