Consolidated Statements of Operations and Comprehensive Income - USD ($) $ in Thousands	3 Months Ended
	Mar. 31, 2018	Mar. 31, 2017
Income Statement [Abstract]
Preferred Stock Dividends and Other Adjustments	$ (366)	$ 0
Net Income (Loss) Attributable to Parent	23,689	21,758
Preferred Stock Dividends, Income Statement Impact	(6,279)	0
Operating revenue
Room revenue	357,645	224,965
Food and beverage revenue	52,195	26,691
Other revenue	19,753	8,576
Total revenue	429,593	260,232
Operating expense
Room expense	89,969	51,922
Food and beverage expense	41,263	19,297
Management and franchise fee expense	35,676	26,913
Other operating expense	106,123	57,823
Total property operating expense	273,031	155,955
Depreciation and amortization	61,408	38,665
Impairment of Real Estate	0	0
Property tax, insurance and other	34,499	19,158
General and administrative	10,913	9,123
Transaction costs	1,672	625
Total operating expense	381,523	223,526
Operating income	48,070	36,706
Other Nonoperating Income (Expense)	1,093	140
Interest income	1,230	485
Interest expense	(28,701)	(14,328)
Gain (Loss) on Extinguishment of Debt	7,659	0
Income before equity in loss from unconsolidated joint ventures	29,351	23,003
Income (Loss) from Equity Method Investments	(381)	0
Income (Loss) from Continuing Operations before Income Taxes, Noncontrolling Interest	28,970	23,003
Income tax expense	(1,342)	(1,166)
Income from operations	27,628	21,837
Loss on sale of hotel properties	(3,734)	(60)
Net income	23,894	21,777
Net loss (income) attributable to noncontrolling interests:
Noncontrolling interest in consolidated joint ventures	234	66
Noncontrolling interest in the Operating Partnership	(73)	(85)
Net income attributable to common shareholders	$ 17,410	$ 21,758
Basic per common share data:
Net income per share attributable to common shareholders (in dollars per share)	$ 0.10	$ 0.17
Weighted-average number of common shares (in shares)	174,193,671	123,734,173
Diluted per common share data:
Net income per share attributable to common shareholders (in dollars per share)	$ 0.10	$ 0.17
Weighted-average number of common shares (in shares)	174,268,815	123,841,400
Dividends declared per common share	$ 0.33	$ 0.33
Comprehensive income:
Unrealized gain on interest rate derivatives	$ 17,857	$ 5,548
Comprehensive income	41,751	27,325
Noncontrolling interest in consolidated joint ventures	234	66
Noncontrolling interest in the Operating Partnership	(73)	(85)
Comprehensive income attributable to RLJ	$ 41,546	$ 27,306