Commitments and Contingencies (Details) (USD $)	3 Months Ended		6 Months Ended		1 Months Ended	6 Months Ended					3 Months Ended			3 Months Ended	6 Months Ended	3 Months Ended	6 Months Ended
	Jun. 30, 2011	Jun. 30, 2010	Jun. 30, 2011	Jun. 30, 2010	Jun. 30, 2011 Mass Mutual eight Franchise agreements termination	Jun. 30, 2011 Mass Mutual eight Franchise agreements termination	Nov. 30, 2010 Mass Mutual eight Franchise agreements termination	Jun. 30, 2011 Franchise agreements termination	Jun. 30, 2011 Renovation and Construction Commitments	Jun. 30, 2011 Workers' compensation insurance programs	Dec. 31, 2010 Mass Mutual eight	Jun. 30, 2011 Number of rooms California	Jun. 30, 2011 Number of rooms New York	Jun. 30, 2011 Revenue generated by hotels California	Jun. 30, 2011 Revenue generated by hotels California	Jun. 30, 2011 Revenue generated by hotels New York	Jun. 30, 2011 Revenue generated by hotels New York	Jun. 30, 2011 California	Jun. 30, 2011 New York
Management Agreements
Basic management fees, low end of range (as a percent)			1.00%
Basic management fees, high end of range (as a percent)			3.50%
Basic management fees incurred
Continuing operations - property general and administrative expense	$ 5,776,000	$ 3,942,000	$ 9,789,000	$ 7,387,000
Discontinued operations	78,000	522,000	218,000	1,073,000
Total basic management fees	5,854,000	4,464,000	10,007,000	8,460,000
Incentive management fees incurred	900,000	800,000	1,600,000	1,300,000
License and Franchise Agreements
Royalty expense	2,300,000	2,400,000	4,100,000	4,700,000
Continuing operations - franchise costs	7,484,000	5,636,000	12,734,000	10,151,000
Discontinued operations		1,361,000		2,734,000
License and franchise costs incurred	7,484,000	6,997,000	12,734,000	12,885,000
Number of hotels subject to franchise agreements which contain corporate guarantees					5	5	5	5
Termination fees					19,600,000	19,600,000	19,600,000	19,600,000
Termination fees paid					1,500,000
Remaining termination fees resolved						18,100,000
Gain on extinguishment of debt	18,145,000	6,747,000	18,145,000	6,747,000		18,100,000					39,000,000
Renovation and Construction Commitments
Remaining construction commitments									26,700,000
Ground and Operating Leases
Continuing operations - property general and administrative expense	4,000,000	1,331,000	6,555,000	2,485,000
Discontinued operations	13,000	179,000	22,000	290,000
Total rent expense	4,013,000	1,510,000	6,577,000	2,775,000
Lease expense on corporate facility	100,000	100,000	100,000	200,000
Concentration of Risk
Number of hotels company had interests in	33		33															10	3
Concentration risk (as a percent)												32.00%	10.00%
Concentration risk (as a percent)														30.00%	27.00%	16.00%	16.00%
Number of hotels held for investment	32		32
Other
Outstanding irrevocable letters of credit										$ 1,700,000