Consolidated Statements Of Cash Flows (USD $) In Thousands, unless otherwise specified	12 Months Ended
	Dec. 31, 2011	Dec. 31, 2010	Dec. 31, 2009
CASH FLOWS FROM OPERATING ACTIVITIES:
Net income	$ 110,396	$ 107,441	$ 98,250
Adjustments to reconcile net income to net cash provided by operating activities:
Depreciation and amortization	8,024	8,342	8,336
Provision for bad debts	2,160	3,547	2,578
Non-cash stock compensation and other charges	14,511	9,304	13,761
Non-cash interest and other (income) loss	2,208	(1,711)	(5,403)
Dividends received from equity method investments	1,139	1,155	1,337
Equity in net income of affiliates	(269)	(1,226)	(1,113)
Changes in assets and liabilities, net of acquisitions:
Receivables	(7,785)	(9,229)	(796)
Receivable - marketing and reservation fees, net	623	4,654	(12,232)
Accounts payable	(1,851)	5,744	(8,279)
Accrued expenses	6,346	10,630	(1,289)
Income taxes payable/receivable	(4,562)	(1,417)	8,163
Deferred income taxes	5,514	(2,381)	5,553
Deferred revenue	1,523	15,413	4,650
Other assets	(3,162)	(12,705)	3,041
Other liabilities	29	7,374	(4,341)
Net cash provided by operating activities	134,844	144,935	112,216
CASH FLOWS FROM INVESTING ACTIVITIES:
Investment in property and equipment	(10,924)	(24,368)	(11,135)
Equity method investments	(5,000)	0	0
Issuance of notes receivable	(12,766)	(11,786)	(1,995)
Collections of notes receivable	4,754	5,083	324
Purchases of investments, employee benefit plans	(1,602)	(1,948)	(3,854)
Proceeds from sale of investments, employee benefit plans	644	1,649	13,895
Proceeds from sale of assets	1,654	0	0
Acquisitions, net of cash acquired	0	(466)	0
Other items, net	(564)	(319)	(584)
Net cash used in investing activities	(23,804)	(32,155)	(3,349)
CASH FLOWS FROM FINANCING ACTIVITIES:
Proceeds from issuance of long-term debt	75	247,733	0
Net repayments pursuant to revolving credit facilities	(200)	(277,500)	(6,700)
Principle payments of long-term debt	(297)	(25)	0
Settlement of forward starting interest rate swap agreement	0	(8,663)	0
Debt issuance costs	(2,356)	(800)	0
Excess tax benefits from stock-based compensation	1,227	625	5,834
Purchase of treasury stock	(53,617)	(11,212)	(59,128)
Dividends paid	(43,747)	(43,808)	(44,274)
Proceeds from exercise of stock options	3,845	2,457	9,158
Net cash used in financing activities	(95,070)	(91,193)	(95,110)
Net change in cash and cash equivalents	15,970	21,587	13,757
Effect of foreign exchange rate changes on cash and cash equivalents	(172)	1,802	1,433
Cash and cash equivalents at beginning of period	91,259	67,870	52,680
Cash and cash equivalents at end of period	107,057	91,259	67,870
Cash payments during the period for:
Income taxes, net of refunds	45,483	50,127	34,213
Interest	15,527	2,036	5,008
Non-cash investing and financing activities:
Declaration of dividends	43,506	43,815	44,059
Capital lease obligation	908	2,538	0
Issuance of restricted shares of common stock	9,604	9,233	7,150
Issuance of performance vested restricted stock units	0	256	462
Issuance of treasury stock to employee stock purchase plan	$ 739	$ 625	$ 622