Company Information and Summary of Significant Accounting Policies Narrative (Details) (USD $)	12 Months Ended
	Dec. 31, 2013 countries States Hotels	Dec. 31, 2012	Dec. 31, 2011
Number Of Operating Hotel Franchises	6,340
Number Of States Of Business Operations	50
Number Of Countries Of Business Operations	35
Net cash provided by operating activities [Abstract]
Forgivable notes receivable, net	$ (8,347,000)	$ (10,898,000)	$ (3,475,000)
Net cash provided by operating activities	153,913,000	150,122,000	131,369,000
Net cash used by investing activities [Abstract]:
Issuance of mezzanine and other notes receivable	(1,095,000)	(23,736,000)	(9,227,000)
Collections of mezzanine and other notes receivable	9,748,000	3,270,000	4,690,000
Net cash used in investing activities	(29,422,000)	(47,101,000)	(20,329,000)
Franchise Agreement Adjusted Term In Years	10 years
Advertising Expense	84,700,000	79,700,000	73,800,000
Prepaid Advertising	200,000	500,000
Interest Costs Capitalized	0	0
Impairment of Intangible Assets (Excluding Goodwill)	0		0
Goodwill, Impairment Loss	0		0
Foreign Currency Transaction Gain (Loss), Realized	(400,000)	100,000	(1,400,000)
Construction in Progress [Member]
Number Of Operating Hotel Franchises	503
Minimum [Member]
Net cash used by investing activities [Abstract]:
Franchise Agreement Initial Term In Years	10 years
Franchise Agreement Adjusted Term In Years	5 years
Maximum [Member]
Equity method investment, ownership percentage	50.00%
Net cash used by investing activities [Abstract]:
Franchise Agreement Initial Term In Years	20 years
Franchise Agreement Adjusted Term In Years	15 years
Choice Hospitality India LTD
Net cash used by investing activities [Abstract]:
Impairment of Intangible Assets (Excluding Goodwill)		200,000
Goodwill, Impairment Loss		200,000
Accounts Payable [Member]
Net cash used by investing activities [Abstract]:
Book Overdrafts	(5,000,000)	(5,000,000)
Trademarks [Member]
Net cash used by investing activities [Abstract]:
Impairment of Intangible Assets, Indefinite-lived (Excluding Goodwill)	$ 0		$ 0