Consolidated Statements of Operations and Comprehensive Income - USD ($) $ in Thousands	3 Months Ended		9 Months Ended	12 Months Ended
	Sep. 30, 2017	Sep. 30, 2016	Sep. 30, 2017	Dec. 31, 2017	Dec. 31, 2016	Dec. 31, 2015
Operating revenue
Room revenue				$ 1,146,882	$ 1,010,637	$ 985,361
Food and beverage revenue				157,672	111,691	114,818
Other revenue				51,707	37,667	36,161
Total revenue	$ 341,255	$ 296,259		1,356,261	1,159,995	1,136,340
Operating expense
Room expense				270,729	228,656	220,101
Food and beverage expense				113,914	79,589	81,117
Management and franchise fee expense				122,633	118,210	116,462
Other operating expense				304,595	241,654	239,966
Total property operating expense				811,871	668,109	657,646
Depreciation and amortization				186,993	162,500	156,226
Impairment loss				0	0	1,003
Property tax, insurance and other				91,406	77,281	76,682
General and administrative				40,453	31,516	37,810
Transaction costs				44,398	192	3,058
Total operating expense				1,175,121	939,598	932,425
Operating income				181,140	220,397	203,915
Other income				269	303	1,598
Interest income				2,987	1,695	1,563
Interest expense				(78,322)	(58,820)	(54,788)
Gain (Loss) on Investments	2,670			2,670	0	0
Income before income tax (expense) benefit				108,744	163,575	152,288
Income (Loss) from Equity Method Investments				133	0	0
Income (Loss) from Continuing Operations before Income Taxes, Noncontrolling Interest	108,877	163,575	$ 152,288
Income tax (expense) benefit				(42,118)	(8,190)	39,126
Income from operations	4,111	41,389		66,759	155,385	191,414
Gain (Loss) on Disposition of Property Plant Equipment, Excluding Oil and Gas Property and Timber Property				8,980	45,929	28,398
Net income				75,739	201,314	219,812
Net income attributable to noncontrolling interests:
Net income attributable to common shareholders	$ 1,821	$ 41,174		$ 66,463	$ 200,352	$ 218,221
Basic per common share data:
Net income per share attributable to common shareholders - basic (in dollars per share)	$ 0.01	$ 0.33		$ 0.47	$ 1.61	$ 1.69
Weighted-average number of common shares (in shares)	140,249,961	123,621,323		140,616,838	123,651,003	128,444,469
Diluted per common share data:
Net income per share attributable to common shareholders - diluted (in dollars per share)	$ 0.01	$ 0.33		$ 0.47	$ 1.61	$ 1.68
Weighted-average number of common shares (in shares)	140,307,269	123,836,452		140,694,049	123,879,007	128,967,754
Comprehensive income:
Net income				$ 75,739	$ 201,314	$ 219,812
Unrealized gain (loss) on interest rate derivatives				13,748	11,700	(2,958)
Comprehensive income				89,487	213,014	216,854
Comprehensive income attributable to RLJ	$ 5,660	$ 50,644		88,583	212,052	215,263
Noncontrolling Interest in Net Income (Loss) Joint Venture Partners, Nonredeemable				117	55	77
Noncontrolling Interest in Net Income (Loss) Operating Partnerships, Nonredeemable				291	907	1,514
Preferred Stock Dividends and Other Adjustments				(496)	0	0
Net Income (Loss) Attributable to Parent			$ 74,835	74,835	200,352	218,221
Preferred Stock Dividends, Income Statement Impact				$ (8,372)	$ 0	$ 0
Common Stock, Dividends, Per Share, Declared				$ 1.32	$ 1.32	$ 1.32