Condensed Consolidating Financial Statements Consolidating Statement of Income (Details) (USD $)	3 Months Ended								12 Months Ended
	Dec. 31, 2013	Sep. 30, 2013	Jun. 30, 2013	Mar. 31, 2013	Dec. 31, 2012	Sep. 30, 2012	Jun. 30, 2012	Mar. 31, 2012	Dec. 31, 2013	Dec. 31, 2012	Dec. 31, 2011
REVENUES:
Royalty fees									$ 267,812,000	$ 261,680,000	$ 246,475,000
Initial franchise and relicensing fees									18,686,000	14,203,000	14,052,000
Procurement services									20,668,000	17,962,000	18,111,000
Marketing and reservation									407,633,000	389,678,000	354,152,000
Other Revenue, Net									9,851,000	9,205,000	7,812,000
Total revenues	168,831,000	216,718,000	190,930,000	148,171,000	165,019,000	205,271,000	180,888,000	141,550,000	724,650,000	692,728,000	640,602,000
OPERATING EXPENSES:
Selling, general and administrative									111,713,000	101,879,000	106,436,000
Marketing and reservation									407,633,000	389,678,000	354,152,000
Total operating expenses									528,402,000	499,248,000	468,085,000
Operating income	41,142,000	63,228,000	54,739,000	37,139,000	38,026,000	62,374,000	55,334,000	37,746,000	196,248,000	193,480,000	172,517,000
OTHER INCOME AND EXPENSES, NET:
Interest expense									42,537,000	27,189,000	12,939,000
Total other income and expenses, net									37,576,000	23,974,000	13,806,000
Income from continuing operations before income taxes	32,315,000	54,271,000	44,504,000	27,582,000	28,120,000	52,789,000	51,683,000	36,914,000	158,672,000	169,506,000	158,711,000
Income taxes									45,322,000	48,228,000	47,878,000
Income from continuing operations, net of income taxes	23,377,000	38,573,000	31,624,000	19,776,000	20,639,000	42,637,000	34,236,000	23,766,000	113,350,000	121,278,000	110,833,000
Income from discontinued operations, net of income taxes	66,000	143,000	183,000	(33,000)	65,000	107,000	138,000	25,000	359,000	335,000	228,000
Net income	23,443,000	38,716,000	31,807,000	19,743,000	20,704,000	42,744,000	34,374,000	23,791,000	113,709,000	121,613,000	111,061,000
Parent [Member]
REVENUES:
Royalty fees									243,272,000	236,269,000	220,676,000
Initial franchise and relicensing fees									17,432,000	13,727,000	13,439,000
Procurement services									19,864,000	17,152,000	17,619,000
Marketing and reservation									362,459,000	343,566,000	303,335,000
Other Revenue, Net									8,834,000	8,363,000	6,341,000
Total revenues									651,861,000	619,077,000	561,410,000
OPERATING EXPENSES:
Selling, general and administrative									128,966,000	130,709,000	107,552,000
Marketing and reservation									377,884,000	350,573,000	315,245,000
Other items, net									3,100,000	2,832,000	2,824,000
Total operating expenses									509,950,000	484,114,000	425,621,000
Operating income									141,911,000	134,963,000	135,789,000
OTHER INCOME AND EXPENSES, NET:
Interest expense									42,418,000	31,041,000	16,815,000
Equity In earnings of consolidated subsidiaries									(47,362,000)	(56,246,000)	(30,695,000)
Other Items, net									(2,406,000)	(551,000)	(789,000)
Total other income and expenses, net									(7,350,000)	(25,756,000)	(14,669,000)
Income from continuing operations before income taxes									149,261,000	160,719,000	150,458,000
Income taxes									35,552,000	39,106,000	39,397,000
Income from continuing operations, net of income taxes									113,709,000	121,613,000	111,061,000
Income from discontinued operations, net of income taxes									0	0	0
Net income									113,709,000	121,613,000	111,061,000
Guarantor Subsidiaries [Member]
REVENUES:
Royalty fees									112,215,000	97,881,000	104,898,000
Initial franchise and relicensing fees									0	0	0
Procurement services									0	0	0
Marketing and reservation									350,134,000	335,869,000	330,372,000
Other Revenue, Net									0	0	0
Total revenues									462,349,000	433,750,000	435,270,000
OPERATING EXPENSES:
Selling, general and administrative									100,900,000	89,122,000	92,887,000
Marketing and reservation									336,498,000	326,865,000	319,818,000
Other items, net									5,087,000	3,852,000	3,789,000
Total operating expenses									442,485,000	419,839,000	416,494,000
Operating income									19,864,000	13,911,000	18,776,000
OTHER INCOME AND EXPENSES, NET:
Interest expense									113,000	0	(3,886,000)
Equity In earnings of consolidated subsidiaries									0	0	0
Other Items, net									(1,532,000)	(1,995,000)	647,000
Total other income and expenses, net									(1,419,000)	(1,995,000)	(3,239,000)
Income from continuing operations before income taxes									21,283,000	15,906,000	22,015,000
Income taxes									8,897,000	6,769,000	7,888,000
Income from continuing operations, net of income taxes									12,386,000	9,137,000	14,127,000
Income from discontinued operations, net of income taxes									359,000	335,000	228,000
Net income									12,745,000	9,472,000	14,355,000
Non-Guarantor Subsidiaries [Member]
REVENUES:
Royalty fees									43,967,000	54,420,000	32,749,000
Initial franchise and relicensing fees									1,254,000	476,000	613,000
Procurement services									804,000	810,000	492,000
Marketing and reservation									19,327,000	19,900,000	18,592,000
Other Revenue, Net									1,017,000	842,000	1,471,000
Total revenues									66,369,000	76,448,000	53,917,000
OPERATING EXPENSES:
Selling, general and administrative									13,489,000	8,938,000	17,845,000
Marketing and reservation									17,538,000	18,036,000	17,236,000
Other items, net									869,000	1,007,000	884,000
Total operating expenses									31,896,000	27,981,000	35,965,000
Operating income									34,473,000	48,467,000	17,952,000
OTHER INCOME AND EXPENSES, NET:
Interest expense									6,000	9,000	10,000
Equity In earnings of consolidated subsidiaries									0	0	0
Other Items, net									(1,023,000)	(669,000)	1,009,000
Total other income and expenses, net									(1,017,000)	(660,000)	1,019,000
Income from continuing operations before income taxes									35,490,000	49,127,000	16,933,000
Income taxes									873,000	2,353,000	593,000
Income from continuing operations, net of income taxes									34,617,000	46,774,000	16,340,000
Income from discontinued operations, net of income taxes									0	0	0
Net income									34,617,000	46,774,000	16,340,000
Eliminations [Member]
REVENUES:
Royalty fees									(131,642,000)	(126,890,000)	(111,848,000)
Initial franchise and relicensing fees									0	0	0
Procurement services									0	0	0
Marketing and reservation									(324,287,000)	(309,657,000)	(298,147,000)
Other Revenue, Net									0	0	0
Total revenues									(455,929,000)	(436,547,000)	(409,995,000)
OPERATING EXPENSES:
Selling, general and administrative									(131,642,000)	(126,890,000)	(111,848,000)
Marketing and reservation									(324,287,000)	(305,796,000)	(298,147,000)
Other items, net									0	0	0
Total operating expenses									(455,929,000)	(432,686,000)	(409,995,000)
Operating income									0	(3,861,000)	0
OTHER INCOME AND EXPENSES, NET:
Interest expense									0	(3,861,000)	0
Equity In earnings of consolidated subsidiaries									47,362,000	56,246,000	30,695,000
Other Items, net									0	0	0
Total other income and expenses, net									47,362,000	52,385,000	30,695,000
Income from continuing operations before income taxes									(47,362,000)	(56,246,000)	(30,695,000)
Income taxes									0	0	0
Income from continuing operations, net of income taxes									(47,362,000)	(56,246,000)	(30,695,000)
Income from discontinued operations, net of income taxes									0	0	0
Net income									(47,362,000)	(56,246,000)	(30,695,000)
Consolidated [Member]
REVENUES:
Royalty fees									267,812,000	261,680,000	246,475,000
Initial franchise and relicensing fees									18,686,000	14,203,000	14,052,000
Procurement services									20,668,000	17,962,000	18,111,000
Marketing and reservation									407,633,000	389,678,000	354,152,000
Other Revenue, Net									9,851,000	9,205,000	7,812,000
Total revenues									724,650,000	692,728,000	640,602,000
OPERATING EXPENSES:
Selling, general and administrative									111,713,000	101,879,000	106,436,000
Marketing and reservation									407,633,000	389,678,000	354,152,000
Other items, net									9,056,000	7,691,000	7,497,000
Total operating expenses									528,402,000	499,248,000	468,085,000
Operating income									196,248,000	193,480,000	172,517,000
OTHER INCOME AND EXPENSES, NET:
Interest expense									42,537,000	27,189,000	12,939,000
Equity In earnings of consolidated subsidiaries									0	0	0
Other Items, net									(4,961,000)	(3,215,000)	867,000
Total other income and expenses, net									37,576,000	23,974,000	13,806,000
Income from continuing operations before income taxes									158,672,000	169,506,000	158,711,000
Income taxes									45,322,000	48,228,000	47,878,000
Income from continuing operations, net of income taxes									113,350,000	121,278,000	110,833,000
Income from discontinued operations, net of income taxes									359,000	335,000	228,000
Net income									$ 113,709,000	$ 121,613,000	$ 111,061,000