CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF CASH FLOWS - USD ($) shares in Thousands, $ in Thousands	12 Months Ended
	Dec. 31, 2015	Dec. 31, 2014	Dec. 31, 2013
Cash flows from operating activities:
Net income	$ 166,418	$ 197,185	$ 133,178
Adjustments to reconcile net income to cash provided by operating activities:
Depreciation and amortization	329,776	315,878	299,323
Amortization of deferred financing costs and debt discounts as interest	5,849	5,491	6,204
Straight line rental income	(9,568)	(2,111)	(2,428)
Security deposits replenished	20,501	5,204	1,297
FF&E reserve income and deposits	(67,967)	(54,265)	(28,525)
Loss on extinguishment of debt		855
Loss on asset impairment			8,008
Loss on distribution to common shareholders of The RMR Group Inc. common stock	36,773
Equity in earnings of an investee	(21)	(94)	(334)
Gain on sale of real estate	(11,015)	(130)
Deferred income taxes	(69)	143	(7,069)
Other non-cash (income) expense, net	(364)	2,020	37
Changes in assets and liabilities:
Due from related persons	(2,106)	(609)	(2,038)
Other assets	246	(569)	(11,030)
Accounts payable and other liabilities	362	(7,117)	1,842
Due to related persons	62,078	(136)	(5,878)
Dividends payable			(1,498)
Net cash provided by operating activities	530,893	461,745	391,089
Cash flows from investing activities:
Real estate acquisitions and deposits	(449,882)	(60,000)	(215,854)
Real estate improvements	(180,703)	(224,621)	(300,018)
FF&E reserve escrow fundings	(7,299)	(5,910)	(46,302)
Net proceeds from sale of real estate		4,288
Eminent domain proceeds		6,178
Investment in TravelCenters of America LLC common shares			(8,140)
Investment in Affiliates Insurance Company		(825)
Investment in The RMR Group Inc.	(15,955)
Net cash used in investing activities	(653,839)	(280,890)	(570,314)
Cash flows from financing activities:
Proceeds from issuance of comon shares, net			655,211
Proceeds from issuance of senior unsecured notes, net of discount		690,071	299,661
Redemption of preferred shares			(167,500)
Repayment of senior unsecured notes		(580,000)
Borrowings under usecured revolving credit facility	702,000	783,000	418,000
Repayments of unsecured revolving credit facility	(255,000)	(765,000)	(738,000)
Deferred financing costs	(1,157)	(6,899)	(2,550)
Repurchase of common shares	(418)
Distributions to preferred shareholders	(20,664)	(20,664)	(26,559)
Distributions to common shareholders	(299,967)	(292,029)	(256,587)
Net cash provided by (used in) financing activities	124,794	(191,521)	181,676
Increase (decrease) in cash and cash equivalents	1,848	(10,666)	2,451
Cash and cash equivalents at beginning of year	11,834	22,500	20,049
Cash and cash equivalents at end of year	13,682	11,834	22,500
Supplemental cash flow information:
Cash paid for interest	138,892	139,029	139,324
Cash paid for income taxes	2,444	4,116	2,063
Non-cash investing activities:
Hotel managers' deposits in FF&E reserve	67,381	52,762	29,723
Hotel managers' purchases with FF&E reserve	$ (57,451)	$ (55,562)	$ (85,895)
Investment in The RMR Group Inc. paid in common shares	43,285
Real estate acquisitions	$ (45,042)
Sales of real estate	45,042
Distribution to common shareholders of the RMR Inc. common stock	$ (29,911)