SELECTED QUARTERLY FINANCIAL DATA (UNAUDITED) (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
SELECTED QUARTERLY FINANCIAL DATA (UNAUDITED) [Abstract]
Total Revenues	$ 76,485	$ 80,940	$ 78,934	$ 50,542	$ 65,804	$ 69,133	$ 64,807	$ 42,611	$ 286,444		$ 242,187		$ 186,506
Total Expenses	78,194	74,447	73,255	62,492	70,639	67,797	61,701	57,701	245,590		215,779		191,947
Income (Loss) from Unconsolidated Joint Venture Investments	1,282	(1,570)	2,559	(981)	(337)	(243)	2,059	778	1,290		2,257		(7,190)
(Loss) Income 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) Income from Discontinued Operations (including Gain on Disposition of Hotel Properties)	1,033	(27,427)	1,110	(1,487)	3,002	509	542	2,025	(26,771)	[1]	(3,976)	[1]	(5,429)	[1]
Net (Loss) Income	(606)	(22,504)	9,348	(14,418)	(8,174)	1,602	5,707	(16,337)	(26,968)		(17,202)		(58,458)
(Loss) Income Allocated to Noncontrolling Interests in Continuing Operations	(115)	(1,001)	459	(1,077)	(544)	263	1,151	(1,715)	(1,734)		(845)		(8,597)
Preferred Distributions	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]
Net (Loss) Income applicable to Common Shareholders	$ (2,779)	$ (25,003)	$ 6,590	$ (14,541)	$ (8,830)	$ 139	$ 3,356	$ (15,822)	$ (35,733)		$ (21,157)		$ (54,661)
Basic and diluted earnings per share [Abstract]
(Loss) Income from continuing operations applicable to common shareholders ( in dollars per share)	$ (0.02)	$ 0.01	$ 0.03	$ (0.08)	$ (0.03)	$ 0	$ 0.02	$ (0.14)
Discontinued Operations (in dollars per share)	$ 0	$ (0.16)	$ 0.01	$ 0.01	$ 0.02	$ 0	$ 0	$ 0.02
Net (Loss) Income applicable to Common Shareholders (in dollars per share)	$ (0.02)	$ (0.15)	$ 0.04	$ (0.09)	$ (0.05)	$ 0	$ 0.02	$ (0.16)
Weighted Average Common Shares Outstanding [Abstract]
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
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

[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.