Consolidated Statements Of Cash Flows (USD $)	9 Months Ended
	Sep. 30, 2013	Sep. 30, 2012
CASH FLOWS FROM OPERATING ACTIVITIES:
Net income	$ 90,266,000	$ 100,909,000
Adjustments to reconcile net income to net cash provided by operating activities:
Depreciation and amortization	7,094,000	5,989,000
Provision for bad debts, net	2,264,000	2,051,000
Non-cash stock compensation and other charges	8,635,000	7,306,000
Non-cash interest and other (income) loss	1,057,000	(633,000)
Deferred income taxes	(351,000)	1,145,000
Loss on extinguishment of debt	0	526,000
Dividends received from equity method investments	1,109,000	855,000
Equity in net (income) loss of affiliates	(340,000)	12,000
Changes in assets and liabilities:
Receivables	(26,635,000)	(32,261,000)
Advances to/from marketing and reservation activities, net	29,712,000	27,442,000
Forgivable notes receivable, net	(5,722,000)	(2,853,000)
Accounts payable	1,280,000	5,980,000
Accrued expenses	(22,757,000)	(10,309,000)
Income taxes payable/receivable	24,107,000	13,317,000
Deferred revenue	(9,686,000)	8,018,000
Other assets	(2,395,000)	(7,458,000)
Other liabilities	8,851,000	(1,613,000)
Net cash provided by operating activities	106,489,000	118,423,000
CASH FLOWS FROM INVESTING ACTIVITIES:
Investment in property and equipment	(27,922,000)	(12,525,000)
Equity method investments	(3,761,000)	(9,454,000)
Issuance of mezzanine and other notes receivable	0	(4,236,000)
Collections of mezzanine and other notes receivable	224,000	110,000
Purchases of investments, employee benefit plans	(1,845,000)	(1,191,000)
Proceeds from sales of investments, employee benefit plans	4,052,000	10,909,000
Other items, net	(578,000)	(322,000)
Net cash provided (used) in investing activities	(29,830,000)	(16,709,000)
CASH FLOWS FROM FINANCING ACTIVITIES:
Net borrowings (repayments) pursuant to revolving credit facilities	27,500,000	(16,725,000)
Proceeds from issuance of long-term debt	3,360,000	543,500,000
Principal payments on long-term debt	(6,158,000)	(502,000)
Purchase of treasury stock	(3,684,000)	(22,227,000)
Dividends paid	(22,026,000)	(632,751,000)
Excess tax benefits from stock-based compensation	1,216,000	793,000
Debt issuance costs	0	(4,753,000)
Proceeds from exercise of stock options	6,677,000	4,695,000
Net cash provided (used) by financing activities	(48,115,000)	(94,520,000)
Net change in cash and cash equivalents	28,544,000	7,194,000
Effect of foreign exchange rate changes on cash and cash equivalents	(1,583,000)	813,000
Cash and cash equivalents at beginning of period	134,177,000	107,057,000
Cash and cash equivalents at end of period	161,138,000	115,064,000
Cash payments during the period for:
Income taxes, net of refunds	12,990,000	25,700,000
Interest	42,244,000	15,666,000
Non-cash investing and financing activities:
Dividends declared but not paid	10,773,000	10,677,000
Investment in property and equipment acquired in accounts payable	763,000	0
Debt issuance costs	0	6,500,000
Restricted Stock [Member]
Non-cash investing and financing activities:
Issuance of restricted shares/units	8,397,000	9,517,000
Performance Vested Restricted Stock Units [Member]
Non-cash investing and financing activities:
Issuance of restricted shares/units	$ 1,298,000	$ 0