EARNINGS PER SHARE (Details) (USD $) In Thousands, except Share data, unless otherwise specified	3 Months Ended								12 Months Ended
	Dec. 31, 2011	Sep. 30, 2011	Jun. 30, 2011	Mar. 31, 2011	Dec. 31, 2010	Sep. 30, 2010	Jun. 30, 2010	Mar. 31, 2010	Dec. 31, 2011		Dec. 31, 2010		Dec. 31, 2009
BASIC AND DILUTED
Loss from Continuing Operations	$ (427)	$ 4,923	$ 8,238	$ (12,931)	$ (5,172)	$ 1,093	$ 5,165	$ (14,312)	$ (197)	[1]	$ (13,226)	[1]	$ (53,029)	[1]
Loss from Continuing Operations allocated to Noncontrolling Interests									670	[1]	596	[1]	7,742	[1]
Distributions to 8.0% Series A Preferred Shareholders	(3,500)	(3,500)	(2,299)	(1,200)	(1,200)	(1,200)	(1,200)	(1,200)	(10,499)	[1]	(4,800)	[1]	(4,800)	[1]
Dividends Paid on Unvested Restricted Shares									(224)	[1]	(189)	[1]	(255)	[1]
Loss from Continuing Operations applicable to Common Shareholders									(10,250)	[1]	(17,619)	[1]	(50,342)	[1]
Discontinued Operations
Loss from Discontinued Operations	1,033	(27,427)	1,110	(1,487)	3,002	509	542	2,025	(26,771)	[1]	(3,976)	[1]	(5,429)	[1]
Loss from Discontinued Operations allocated to Noncontrolling Interests									1,064	[1]	249	[1]	855	[1]
Loss from Discontinued Operations applicable to Common Shareholders									(25,707)	[1]	(3,727)	[1]	(4,574)	[1]
Net (Loss) applicable to Common Shareholders									$ (35,957)	[1]	$ (21,346)	[1]	$ (54,916)	[1]
Denominator:
Weighted average number of common shares - basic (in shares)	169,010,448	168,985,193	168,672,936	168,334,982	161,600,788	138,636,206	137,200,796	99,311,523	168,753,382		134,370,172		51,027,742
Effect of dilutive securities:
Restricted Stock Awards (in shares)									0	[1]	0	[1]	0	[1]
Contingently Issued Shares (in shares)									0	[1]	0	[1]	0	[1]
Option to acquire common shares (in shares)									0	[1]	0	[1]	0	[1]
Partnership Units (in units)									0	[1]	0	[1]	0	[1]
Weighted average number of common shares - diluted (in shares)	169,010,448	172,266,298	173,687,233	168,334,982	161,600,788	142,066,649	140,351,846	99,311,523	168,753,382		134,370,172		51,027,742
BASIC
Loss from Continuing Operations applicable to Common Shareholders (in dollars per share)									$ (0.06)		$ (0.13)		$ (0.99)
Loss from Discontinued Operations applicable to Common Shareholders (in dollars per share)									$ (0.15)		$ (0.03)		$ (0.09)
Net Loss applicable to Common Shareholders (in dollars per share)									$ (0.21)		$ (0.16)		$ (1.08)
DILUTED
Loss from Continuing Operations applicable to Common Shareholders (in dollars per share)									$ (0.06)		$ (0.13)		$ (0.99)
Loss from Discontinued Operations applicable to Common Shareholders (in dollars per share)									$ (0.15)		$ (0.03)		$ (0.09)
Net Loss applicable to Common Shareholders (in dollars per share)									$ (0.21)		$ (0.16)		$ (1.08)
Antidilutive Securities Excluded from Computation of Earnings Per Share [Line Items]
Common Units of Limited Partnership Interest (in units)									7,295,112		8,628,492		8,724,725
Shares excluded from denominator of EPS (in shares)									12,336,940		12,286,136		8,724,725
Hersha Hospitality Limited Partnership [Member]
Antidilutive Securities Excluded from Computation of Earnings Per Share [Line Items]
Common Units of Limited Partnership Interest (in units)									7,295,112		8,628,492		8,724,725
Unvested Stock Awards [Member]
Antidilutive Securities Excluded from Computation of Earnings Per Share [Line Items]
Shares excluded from denominator of EPS (in shares)									584,216		396,328		0
Contingently Issuable Shares [Member]
Antidilutive Securities Excluded from Computation of Earnings Per Share [Line Items]
Shares excluded from denominator of EPS (in shares)									2,097,456		934,097		0
Options to Acquire Common Shares [Member]
Antidilutive Securities Excluded from Computation of Earnings Per Share [Line Items]
Shares excluded from denominator of EPS (in shares)									2,360,156		2,327,219		0

[1] Income (loss) allocated to noncontrolling interest in Hersha Hospitality Limited Partnership has been excluded from the numerator and units of limited partnership interest in Hersha Hospitality Limited Partnership have been omitted from the denominator for the purpose of computing diluted earnings per share since the effect of including these amounts in the numerator and denominator would have no impact. Unvested stock awards, contingently issuable share awards and options to acquire our common shares have been omitted from the denominator for the purpose of computing diluted earnings per share for the twelve months ended December 31, 2011, 2010, and 2009, since the effect of including these awards in the denominator would be anti-dilutive to loss from continuing operations applicable to common shareholders.