Consolidated Statements of Operations and Comprehensive Income - USD ($) $ in Thousands	12 Months Ended
	Dec. 31, 2018	Dec. 31, 2017	Dec. 31, 2016
Revenues
Total revenues	$ 1,761,224	$ 1,356,261	$ 1,159,995
Expenses
Management and Franchise Fee expense	138,143	122,633	118,210
Depreciation and amortization	241,641	186,993	162,500
Impairment loss		0
Property tax, insurance and other	135,059	91,406	77,281
General and administrative	49,195	40,453	31,516
Transaction costs	2,057	44,398	192
Total operating expenses	1,505,181	1,175,121	939,598
Interest income	4,891	2,987	1,695
Interest expense	(101,643)	(78,322)	(58,820)
Gain (Loss) on Disposition of Property Plant Equipment, Excluding Oil and Gas Property and Timber Property	30,941	8,980	45,929
Gain (Loss) on Extinguishment of Debt	5,996	0	0
Gain (Loss) on Investments	0	2,670	0
Income (Loss) from Equity Method Investments	636	133	0
Other Nonoperating Income (Expense)	2,791	269	303
Net Income (Loss) Attributable to Parent	188,643	74,835	200,352
Income before income tax expense	199,019	117,724	209,504
Income (Loss) from Continuing Operations before Income Taxes, Noncontrolling Interest	199,655	117,857	209,504
Income tax expense	(8,793)	(42,118)	(8,190)
Net income	190,862	75,739	201,314
Preferred Stock Dividends and Other Adjustments	(1,483)	(496)	0
Preferred Stock Dividends, Income Statement Impact	$ (25,115)	(8,372)	0
Common Stock, Dividends, Per Share, Declared	$ 1.32
Net income attributable to noncontrolling interests:
Noncontrolling Interest in Net Income (Loss) Operating Partnerships, Nonredeemable	$ 719	291	907
Noncontrolling Interest in Net Income (Loss) Joint Venture Partners, Nonredeemable	17	117	55
Net income attributable to common shareholders	$ 163,528	$ 66,463	$ 200,352
Basic per common share data:
Net income per share attributable to common shareholders - basic (in dollars per share)	$ 0.93	$ 0.47	$ 1.61
Weighted-average number of common shares (in shares)	174,225,130	140,616,838	123,651,003
Diluted per common share data:
Net income per share attributable to common shareholders - diluted (in dollars per share)	$ 0.93	$ 0.47	$ 1.61
Weighted-average number of common shares (in shares)	174,316,405	140,694,049	123,879,007
Comprehensive income:
Net income	$ 190,862	$ 75,739	$ 201,314
Unrealized gain on interest rate derivatives	7,349	13,748	11,700
Comprehensive income	198,211	89,487	213,014
Comprehensive income attributable to RLJ	195,992	88,583	212,052
Food and Beverage [Member]
Revenues
Revenue from Contract with Customer, Excluding Assessed Tax	205,518	157,672	111,691
Expenses
Cost of Goods and Services Sold	157,156	113,914	79,589
Hotel, Other [Member]
Revenues
Revenue from Contract with Customer, Excluding Assessed Tax	82,659	51,707	37,667
Expenses
Cost of Goods and Services Sold	417,110	304,595	241,654
Hotel [Member]
Expenses
Cost of Goods and Services Sold	1,077,229	811,871	668,109
Occupancy [Member]
Revenues
Revenue from Contract with Customer, Excluding Assessed Tax	1,473,047	1,146,882	1,010,637
Expenses
Cost of Goods and Services Sold	$ 364,820	$ 270,729	$ 228,656