Foreign Operations	12 Months Ended
Dec. 31, 2011
Foreign Operations [Abstract]
Foreign Operations	Foreign Operations The Company conducts its international franchise operations through a combination of direct franchising and master franchising relationships. Master franchising relationships allow the use of the Company’s brands by third parties in foreign countries. Direct franchising operations are primarily conducted through wholly-owned subsidiaries. The Company has also made equity investments in certain non-domestic lodging franchise companies that conduct franchise operations for the Company’s brands under master franchise relationships. Revenues generated by foreign operations, including royalty, marketing and reservations system fees and other revenues, for the years ended December 31, 2011, 2010 and 2009 were $54.6 million, $46.6 million and $41.6 million respectively. Net income, including equity in the income of equity method investments, attributable to the Company's year ended December 31, 2011, 2010 and 2009 foreign operations were $11.8 million, $10.6 million, and $9.4 million, respectively. Choice Hotels Franchise GmbH Choice Hotels Franchise GmbH (“CHG”), a wholly-owned subsidiary, conducts franchising operations in the central European countries of Austria, Germany, Italy, Poland, the Czech Republic, and portions of Switzerland. During the years ended December 31, 2011, 2010 and 2009, the Company recognized in the accompanying consolidated statements of income, revenues of $2.6 million, $2.3 million and $2.4 million, respectively, including royalty, marketing and reservation system fees and other revenues from CHG. Choice Hotels France SAS Choice Hotels France SAS (“CHF”), a wholly-owned subsidiary, conducts franchising operations in the European countries of France, Belgium, Portugal, Spain and portions of Switzerland. During 2011, 2010 and 2009, the Company recognized in the accompanying consolidated statements of income, revenues of $6.6 million, $5.6 million and $6.1 million, respectively, including royalty, marketing and reservation system fees and other revenues from CHF. Choice Hotels Licensing B.V. The Company conducts direct franchising operations in the United Kingdom through its wholly-owned subsidiary, Choice Hotels Licensing B.V. (“CHL”). During 2011, 2010 and 2009, the Company recognized in the accompanying statements of income, revenues of $3.4 million, $3.0 million and $3.0 million, respectively, including royalty, marketing and reservation system fees and other revenues from CHL related to the United Kingdom. Choice Hotels Australasia Choice Hotels Australasia Pty. Ltd. (“CHA”), a wholly-owned subsidiary, conducts direct franchising operations in Australia, New Zealand, Singapore and Papua New Guinea. During 2011, 2010 and 2009, the Company recognized in the accompanying consolidated statements of income, revenues of $13.9 million, $11.3 million and $8.7 million respectively, including royalty, marketing and reservation system fees and other revenues from CHA. Choice Hotels Canada, Inc. & Choice Hotels International Licensing ULC The Company conducts operations in Canada for all brands except Cambria Suites, Mainstay Suites and Suburban Extended Stay Hotel through Choice Hotels Canada, Inc. ("CHC") and through Choice Hotels International Licensing ULC ("CHIL"), a wholly-owned subsidiary for its extended stay brands and Cambria Suites. The Company has a 50% interest in Choice Hotels Canada, Inc. (“CHC”), a joint venture with a third party. During 2011, 2010 and 2009, the Company recorded $1.5 million, $1.3 million, and $1.1 million respectively, based on CHC’s results for the twelve months ended November 30, 2011, 2010 and 2009 of equity method income related to this investment in the accompanying consolidated statements of income. The Company received dividends from CHC of $1.1 million, $1.2 million and $1.2 million for the years ended December 31, 2011, 2010 and 2009, respectively. During 2011, 2010 and 2009, the Company recognized in the accompanying consolidated statements of income, revenues of $14.0 million, $12.3 million and $10.6 million, respectively, including royalty, marketing and reservation system fees and other revenues from CHC and CHIL.

Foreign Operations

The Company conducts its international franchise operations through a combination of direct franchising and master franchising relationships. Master franchising relationships allow the use of the Company’s brands by third parties in foreign countries. Direct franchising operations are primarily conducted through wholly-owned subsidiaries. The Company has also made equity investments in certain non-domestic lodging franchise companies that conduct franchise operations for the Company’s brands under master franchise relationships. Revenues generated by foreign operations, including royalty, marketing and reservations system fees and other revenues, for the years ended December 31, 2011, 2010 and 2009 were $54.6 million, $46.6 million and $41.6 million respectively. Net income, including equity in the income of equity method investments, attributable to the Company's year ended December 31, 2011, 2010 and 2009 foreign operations were $11.8 million, $10.6 million, and $9.4 million, respectively.

Choice Hotels Franchise GmbH

Choice Hotels Franchise GmbH (“CHG”), a wholly-owned subsidiary, conducts franchising operations in the central European countries of Austria, Germany, Italy, Poland, the Czech Republic, and portions of Switzerland. During the years ended December 31, 2011, 2010 and 2009, the Company recognized in the accompanying consolidated statements of income, revenues of $2.6 million, $2.3 million and $2.4 million, respectively, including royalty, marketing and reservation system fees and other revenues from CHG.

Choice Hotels France SAS

Choice Hotels France SAS (“CHF”), a wholly-owned subsidiary, conducts franchising operations in the European countries of France, Belgium, Portugal, Spain and portions of Switzerland. During 2011, 2010 and 2009, the Company recognized in the accompanying consolidated statements of income, revenues of $6.6 million, $5.6 million and $6.1 million, respectively, including royalty, marketing and reservation system fees and other revenues from CHF.

Choice Hotels Licensing B.V.

The Company conducts direct franchising operations in the United Kingdom through its wholly-owned subsidiary, Choice Hotels Licensing B.V. (“CHL”). During 2011, 2010 and 2009, the Company recognized in the accompanying statements of income, revenues of $3.4 million, $3.0 million and $3.0 million, respectively, including royalty, marketing and reservation system fees and other revenues from CHL related to the United Kingdom.

Choice Hotels Australasia

Choice Hotels Australasia Pty. Ltd. (“CHA”), a wholly-owned subsidiary, conducts direct franchising operations in Australia, New Zealand, Singapore and Papua New Guinea. During 2011, 2010 and 2009, the Company recognized in the accompanying consolidated statements of income, revenues of $13.9 million, $11.3 million and $8.7 million respectively, including royalty, marketing and reservation system fees and other revenues from CHA.

Choice Hotels Canada, Inc. & Choice Hotels International Licensing ULC

The Company conducts operations in Canada for all brands except Cambria Suites, Mainstay Suites and Suburban Extended Stay Hotel through Choice Hotels Canada, Inc. ("CHC") and through Choice Hotels International Licensing ULC ("CHIL"), a wholly-owned subsidiary for its extended stay brands and Cambria Suites. The Company has a 50% interest in Choice Hotels Canada, Inc. (“CHC”), a joint venture with a third party. During 2011, 2010 and 2009, the Company recorded $1.5 million, $1.3 million, and $1.1 million respectively, based on CHC’s results for the twelve months ended November 30, 2011, 2010 and 2009 of equity method income related to this investment in the accompanying consolidated statements of income. The Company received dividends from CHC of $1.1 million, $1.2 million and $1.2 million for the years ended December 31, 2011, 2010 and 2009, respectively. During 2011, 2010 and 2009, the Company recognized in the accompanying consolidated statements of income, revenues of $14.0 million, $12.3 million and $10.6 million, respectively, including royalty, marketing and reservation system fees and other revenues from CHC and CHIL.