Consolidated Statements of Operations and Comprehensive Income - USD ($) $ in Thousands	3 Months Ended
	Mar. 31, 2019	Mar. 31, 2018
Revenues
Total revenues	$ 399,267	$ 429,593
Expenses
Management and franchise fee expense	34,118	35,676
Depreciation and amortization	58,403	61,408
Property tax, insurance and other	30,597	34,499
General and administrative	11,160	10,913
Transaction costs	559	1,672
Total operating expenses	350,352	381,523
Other income	274	1,093
Interest income	1,171	1,230
Interest expense	(20,062)	(28,701)
Gain (loss) on sale of hotel properties, net	0	(3,734)
Gain (Loss) on Extinguishment of Debt	0	7,659
Income before equity in loss from unconsolidated joint ventures	30,298	25,617
Income (Loss) from Equity Method Investments	(381)	(381)
Income (Loss) from Continuing Operations before Income Taxes, Noncontrolling Interest	29,917	25,236
Income tax expense	(1,586)	(1,342)
Net income	28,331	23,894
Net loss (income) attributable to noncontrolling interests:
Noncontrolling interest in consolidated joint ventures	353	234
Noncontrolling interest in the Operating Partnership	(92)	(73)
Preferred distributions - consolidated joint venture	(186)	(366)
Redemption of preferred equity - consolidated joint venture	(1,153)	0
Net Income (Loss) Attributable to Parent	27,253	23,689
Preferred dividends	(6,279)	(6,279)
Net income attributable to common shareholders	$ 20,974	$ 17,410
Basic per common share data:
Net income per share attributable to common shareholders - basic (in dollars per share)	$ 0.12	$ 0.10
Weighted-average number of common shares - basic (in shares)	172,796,998	174,193,671
Diluted per common share data:
Net income per share attributable to common shareholders - diluted (in dollars per share)	$ 0.12	$ 0.10
Weighted-average number of common shares - diluted (in shares)	172,856,230	174,268,815
Comprehensive income:
Unrealized (loss) gain on interest rate derivatives	$ (14,136)	$ 17,857
Derivative Instruments, Gain (Loss) Reclassified from Accumulated OCI into Income, Effective Portion, Net	(2,250)	0
Comprehensive income	11,945	41,751
Noncontrolling interest in consolidated joint ventures	353	234
Noncontrolling interest in the Operating Partnership	(92)	(73)
Comprehensive income attributable to RLJ	10,867	41,546
Occupancy [Member]
Revenues
Revenue from Contract with Customer, Excluding Assessed Tax	337,670	357,645
Expenses
Cost of Goods and Services Sold	84,188	89,969
Food and Beverage [Member]
Revenues
Revenue from Contract with Customer, Excluding Assessed Tax	44,246	52,195
Expenses
Cost of Goods and Services Sold	34,209	41,263
Hotel, Other [Member]
Revenues
Revenue from Contract with Customer, Excluding Assessed Tax	17,351	19,753
Expenses
Cost of Goods and Services Sold	97,118	106,123
Hotel [Member]
Expenses
Cost of Goods and Services Sold	249,633	273,031
AOCI Attributable to Parent [Member]
Comprehensive income:
Unrealized (loss) gain on interest rate derivatives	(14,136)	$ 17,857
Derivative Instruments, Gain (Loss) Reclassified from Accumulated OCI into Income, Effective Portion, Net	$ (2,250)