Company Information And Significant Accounting Policies Narrative (Details) (USD $)	12 Months Ended									12 Months Ended
	Dec. 31, 2011 States countries Hotels	Dec. 31, 2010	Dec. 31, 2009	Dec. 31, 2011 Construction in Progress [Member] Hotels	Dec. 31, 2011 Minimum	Dec. 31, 2011 Maximum	Dec. 31, 2011 Revolver [Member] Line of Credit [Member]	Feb. 24, 2011 Revolver [Member] Line of Credit [Member]	Jun. 16, 2006 Revolver [Member] Line of Credit [Member]	Dec. 31, 2010 Senior Notes [Member]	Aug. 10, 2010 Senior Notes [Member]
Debt Instrument, Face Amount								$ 300,000,000	$ 350,000,000		$ 250,000,000
Payments of Debt Issuance Costs	2,356,000	800,000	0				2,400,000			2,400,000
Number Of Operating Hotel Franchises	6,178			490
Number Of States Of Business Operations	49
Number Of Countries Of Business Operations	35
Equity Method Investment, Ownership Percentage	50.00%
Franchise Agreement Initial Term In Years					10 years	20 years
Franchise Agreement Adjusted Term In Years	10 years				5 years	15 years
Advertising Expense	73,800,000	75,400,000	81,300,000
Prepaid Advertising	0	900,000
Book Overdrafts	(4,400,000)	(2,800,000)
Impairment of Leasehold			500,000
Deferred Finance Costs, Net	4,100,000	2,400,000
Foreign Currency Transaction Gain Realized			(100,000)
Foreign Currency Transaction Loss Realized	$ 1,400,000	$ 200,000
Number Of Owned Mainstay Hotels And Suites Limit	3