INVESTMENT IN HOTEL PROPERTIES - Pro forma financial Information (Details) - USD ($) $ / shares in Units, $ in Thousands	12 Months Ended
	Dec. 31, 2017	Dec. 31, 2016
Real Estate [Abstract]
Revenues	$ 567,342	$ 562,030
Income from hotel operations	211,730	217,414
Net income	76,292	106,909
Net income attributable to common stockholders, net of amount allocated to participating securities	$ 55,803	$ 85,761
Basic net income per share attributable to common stockholders (in dollars per share)	$ 0.56	$ 0.99
Diluted net income per share attributable to common stockholders (in dollars per share)	$ 0.56	$ 0.98
Pro forma real estate tax expense	$ 31,900	$ 27,500
Pro forma real estate tax expense, depreciation expense, interest expense, and other corporate expenses	$ 166,800	$ 139,300