Investment in Unconsolidated Entities - Components of Net Loss, Including Share, Related to Joint Venture (Details) - USD ($) $ in Thousands	3 Months Ended								12 Months Ended
	Dec. 31, 2019	Sep. 30, 2019	Jun. 30, 2019	Mar. 31, 2019	Dec. 31, 2018	Sep. 30, 2018	Jun. 30, 2018	Mar. 31, 2018	Dec. 31, 2019	Dec. 31, 2018	Dec. 31, 2017
Schedule of Equity Method Investments [Line Items]
Revenue	$ 74,695	$ 90,080	$ 87,874	$ 75,679	$ 77,044	$ 88,897	$ 85,374	$ 72,915	$ 328,328	$ 324,230	$ 301,844
Total hotel operating expenses	67,234	70,182	71,741	65,786	68,707	68,522	66,237	62,630	271,661	266,078	248,806
Operating Income	7,461	19,898	16,133	9,893	8,337	20,375	19,137	10,285	53,385	58,134	56,365
Impairment loss									0	0	6,663
Net income attributable to common shareholders	$ (2,349)	$ 10,002	$ 9,437	$ 1,613	$ (174)	$ 14,580	$ 13,387	$ 2,848	18,703	30,641	29,478
Total Minority Interest Joint Ventures
Schedule of Equity Method Investments [Line Items]
Revenue									496,485	498,507	487,174
Total hotel operating expenses									329,879	329,756	294,280
Operating Income									166,606	168,751	192,894
Impairment loss									41,132	0	0
Net loss from continuing operations									(76,869)	(24,400)	(107)
Loss on sale of hotels									(2,129)	0	0
Net income attributable to common shareholders									(78,998)	(24,400)	(107)
(Loss) income allocable to the Company									(8,044)	(2,472)	7
Basis difference adjustment									1,596	1,596	1,575
Total (loss) income from unconsolidated real estate entities attributable to Chatham									$ (6,448)	$ (876)	$ 1,582