COMMITMENTS AND CONTINGENCIES (Details) (USD $) In Millions, unless otherwise specified	3 Months Ended			1 Months Ended				1 Months Ended	6 Months Ended
	Jun. 30, 2011	Dec. 31, 2010	Jun. 30, 2011 State of California	Jul. 31, 2009 City of San Francisco	Jun. 30, 2011 Cities other than Phoenix in Arizona	Jun. 30, 2011 State of Utah	Jul. 01, 2011 City of San Antonio, Texas	Oct. 31, 2009 Litigation Related to Securities Matters	Jun. 30, 2011 Litigation Related to Securities Matters
Hotel Occupancy and Other Taxes
Approximate number of lawsuits brought by or against states, cities and counties over issues involving the payment of hotel occupancy and other taxes	50
Number of consumer class actions	1
Minimum number of municipalities and counties which have initiated audit proceedings	60		40
Minimum number of states which have initiated audit proceedings	6
Assessed taxes including interest and penalties (in dollars)				$ 3.4
Penalties and interest payable, percentage cap of unpaid taxes (as a percent)							15.00%
Percentage of penalties assessed under ordinances without penalty provision under Texas Tax Code (as a percent)							15.00%
Reserve for the potential resolution of issues related to hotel occupancy and other taxes (in dollars)	29	26
Number of cases dismissed during the period	2
Number of new cases in the period	1
Number of cases in which the Company has reached settlement agreement	2
Audit notices and administrative procedures, number of cities					12	5
Litigation
Number of putative class action complaints filed									4
Claims against the Company compromised by the settlement (in dollars)								$ 0.3