Deferred Gain

No definition available.

Name:	hpt_DeferredGain
Namespace Prefix:	hpt_
Data Type:	xbrli:monetaryItemType
Balance Type:	credit
Period Type:	instant

- Definition

Represents the amortization of other liabilities allocated to a reduction to business and property management fees.

+ References

No definition available.

+ Details

Name:	hpt_OtherLiabilitiesAmortizationBusinessManagementFees
Namespace Prefix:	hpt_
Data Type:	xbrli:monetaryItemType
Balance Type:	debit
Period Type:	duration

- Definition

Fair value portion of probable future economic benefits obtained or controlled by an entity as a result of past transactions or events.

+ References

Reference 1: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef
-Publisher FASB
-Name Accounting Standards Codification
-Topic 820
-SubTopic 10
-Section 50
-Paragraph 2
-Subparagraph (a)
-URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=66048111&loc=d3e19207-110258

+ Details

Name:	us-gaap_AssetsFairValueDisclosure
Namespace Prefix:	us-gaap_
Data Type:	xbrli:monetaryItemType
Balance Type:	debit
Period Type:	instant

- Definition

Original amount of cost-method investments at the acquisition date.

+ References

No definition available.

+ Details

Name:	us-gaap_CostMethodInvestmentsOriginalCost
Namespace Prefix:	us-gaap_
Data Type:	xbrli:monetaryItemType
Balance Type:	debit
Period Type:	instant

- Definition

Balance held at close of period in number of shares.

+ References

Reference 1: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef
-Publisher FASB
-Name Accounting Standards Codification
-Topic 946
-SubTopic 320
-Section S99
-Paragraph 4
-Subparagraph (SX 210.12-12C.Column B)
-URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=50485924&loc=d3e611225-123010

Reference 2: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef
-Publisher FASB
-Name Accounting Standards Codification
-Topic 946
-SubTopic 320
-Section S99
-Paragraph 6
-Subparagraph (SX 210.12-14.Column B)
-URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=50485924&loc=d3e611322-123010

Reference 3: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef
-Publisher FASB
-Name Accounting Standards Codification
-Topic 946
-SubTopic 320
-Section S99
-Paragraph 1
-Subparagraph (SX 210.12-12.Column B)
-URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=50485924&loc=d3e611133-123010

+ Details

Name:	us-gaap_InvestmentOwnedBalanceShares
Namespace Prefix:	us-gaap_
Data Type:	xbrli:sharesItemType
Balance Type:	na
Period Type:	instant

- Definition

Line items represent financial concepts included in a table. These concepts are used to disclose reportable information associated with domain members defined in one or many axes to the table.

+ References

No definition available.

+ Details

Name:	us-gaap_ScheduleOfAvailableForSaleSecuritiesLineItems
Namespace Prefix:	us-gaap_
Data Type:	xbrli:stringItemType
Balance Type:	na
Period Type:	duration

- Details

Name:	us-gaap_RelatedPartyTransactionsByRelatedPartyAxis=hpt_TravelCentersOfAmericaMember
Namespace Prefix:
Data Type:	na
Balance Type:
Period Type:

- Details

Name:	us-gaap_FairValueByFairValueHierarchyLevelAxis=us-gaap_FairValueInputsLevel1Member
Namespace Prefix:
Data Type:	na
Balance Type:
Period Type:

- Details

Name:	us-gaap_RelatedPartyTransactionsByRelatedPartyAxis=hpt_RmrMember
Namespace Prefix:
Data Type:	na
Balance Type:
Period Type:

- Details

Name:	us-gaap_BusinessAcquisitionAxis=hpt_ReitManagementAndResearchIncMember
Namespace Prefix:
Data Type:	na
Balance Type:
Period Type:

- Details

Name:	us-gaap_RelatedPartyTransactionAxis=hpt_UpCTransactionMember
Namespace Prefix:
Data Type:	na
Balance Type:
Period Type:

- Details

Name:	us-gaap_RelatedPartyTransactionsByRelatedPartyAxis=hpt_ReitManagementAndResearchLLCMember
Namespace Prefix:
Data Type:	na
Balance Type:
Period Type:

- Details

Name:	us-gaap_IncomeStatementLocationAxis=us-gaap_GeneralAndAdministrativeExpenseMember
Namespace Prefix:
Data Type:	na
Balance Type:
Period Type:

Summary of Significant Accounting Policies - Available-for-Sale Securities (Details) - USD ($) $ in Thousands	12 Months Ended
	Dec. 31, 2016	Dec. 31, 2015	Jun. 05, 2015
Travel Centers of America LLC
Schedule of Available-for-sale Securities [Line Items]
Number of common shares owned (in shares)	3,420,000
Travel Centers of America LLC \| Quoted prices in active markets for identical assets (Level 1)
Schedule of Available-for-sale Securities [Line Items]
Number of common shares owned (in shares)	3,420,000
RMR \| Quoted prices in active markets for identical assets (Level 1)
Schedule of Available-for-sale Securities [Line Items]
Number of common shares owned (in shares)	2,503,777
RMR Inc \| Up C Transaction \| RMR LLC
Schedule of Available-for-sale Securities [Line Items]
Investments original cost			$ 55,922
Fair value of investment			$ 129,722
Unamortized business management liabilities	$ 68,177
General and administrative expense \| RMR Inc \| Up C Transaction \| RMR LLC
Schedule of Available-for-sale Securities [Line Items]
Amortization of business management fees	$ 3,585	$ 2,038