Assets and Liabilities Held for Sale Assets and liabilities associated with assets held for sale (Details) (USD $) In Thousands, unless otherwise specified	Sep. 30, 2014	Dec. 31, 2013
Long Lived Assets Held-for-sale [Line Items]
Disposal Group, Including Discontinued Operation, Assets, Current	$ 937,394	$ 2,143,644
Disposal Group, Including Discontinued Operation, Liabilities	533,080	1,405,187
Properties Held for Sale - 223 net lease non-core and 52 select service lodging [Member]
Long Lived Assets Held-for-sale [Line Items]
Disposal Group Including Discontinued Operation Land		443,909
Building and other improvements		2,174,097
Real Estate Investment Property, at Cost		2,618,006
Real Estate Investment Property, Accumulated Depreciation		(576,977)
Disposal Group, Including Discontinued Operation, Property, Plant and Equipment, Current		2,041,029
Restricted Cash and Cash Equivalents		1,643
Accounts Receivable, Net		37,910
Disposal Group, Including Discontinued Operation, Intangible Assets		48,017
Deferred costs and other assets		15,045
Disposal Group, Including Discontinued Operation, Assets, Current		2,143,644
Debt		1,338,309
Accounts payable and accrued expenses		5,208
Intangible assets, net		5,878
Other Liabilities		55,792
Disposal Group, Including Discontinued Operation, Liabilities		1,405,187
Select Service Lodging Properties Held for Sale - 52 Properties [Member]
Long Lived Assets Held-for-sale [Line Items]
Disposal Group Including Discontinued Operation Land	173,266
Building and other improvements	1,130,500
Real Estate Investment Property, at Cost	1,303,766
Real Estate Investment Property, Accumulated Depreciation	(379,752)
Disposal Group, Including Discontinued Operation, Property, Plant and Equipment, Current	924,014
Restricted Cash and Cash Equivalents	0
Accounts Receivable, Net	7,837
Disposal Group, Including Discontinued Operation, Intangible Assets	195
Deferred costs and other assets	5,348
Disposal Group, Including Discontinued Operation, Assets, Current	937,394
Debt	510,272
Accounts payable and accrued expenses	11,946
Intangible assets, net	4,651
Other Liabilities	6,211
Disposal Group, Including Discontinued Operation, Liabilities	$ 533,080