Debt (Subordinated Notes Payable Narrative) (Details) $ in Thousands	3 Months Ended		9 Months Ended
	Sep. 30, 2017 USD ($) loan	Sep. 30, 2016 USD ($)	Sep. 30, 2017 USD ($) loan	Sep. 30, 2016 USD ($)	Dec. 31, 2016 USD ($)
Subordinated Notes Payable [Abstract]
Net Unamortized Deferred Financing Costs	$ 2,483		$ 2,483		$ 1,383
Junior Subordinated Debt [Member] | Hersha Statutory Trust I and Hersha Statutory Trust II [Member]
Subordinated Notes Payable [Abstract]
Number of debt instruments | loan	2		2
Subordinated notes payable	$ 51,548		$ 51,548
Maturity date			Jul. 30, 2035
Number of business days prior to quarterly interest payments for resetting rates			2 days
Net Unamortized Deferred Financing Costs	$ 931		$ 931		$ 970
Debt instrument, interest rate during period (in hundredths)	4.36%	3.80%	4.17%	3.69%
Interest expense	$ 562	$ 490	$ 1,614	$ 1,427
Junior Subordinated Debt [Member] | Hersha Statutory Trust I [Member]
Subordinated Notes Payable [Abstract]
Subordinated notes payable	25,774		$ 25,774
Debt instrument, description of variable rate basis			LIBOR
Debt instrument, basis spread on variable rate (in hundredths)			3.00%
Junior Subordinated Debt [Member] | Hersha Statutory Trust II [Member]
Subordinated Notes Payable [Abstract]
Subordinated notes payable	$ 25,774		$ 25,774
Debt instrument, description of variable rate basis			LIBOR
Debt instrument, basis spread on variable rate (in hundredths)			3.00%