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Summary of Significant Accounting Policies - Narrative (Details) (USD $)	3 Months Ended	12 Months Ended
	Mar. 31, 2014 hotel	Dec. 31, 2014	Dec. 31, 2013	Dec. 31, 2012
Company-owned hotels, approved to be sold	3chh_CompanyOwnedHotelsApprovedtobeSold
Franchise agreements, provision for termination, period 1		5 years
Franchise agreements, provision for termination, period 2		10 years
Franchise agreements, provision for termination, period 3		15 years
Advertising expense		$ 93,700,000us-gaap_AdvertisingExpense	$ 84,700,000us-gaap_AdvertisingExpense	$ 79,700,000us-gaap_AdvertisingExpense
Prepaid advertising		45,000us-gaap_PrepaidAdvertising	200,000us-gaap_PrepaidAdvertising
Impairment of intangible assets (excluding goodwill)		0	0
Goodwill, impairment loss		0us-gaap_GoodwillImpairmentLoss	0us-gaap_GoodwillImpairmentLoss
Foreign currency transaction gains and (losses)		900,000	400,000	(100,000)
Choice Hospitality India LTD [Member]
Impairment of intangible assets (excluding goodwill)			200,000
Goodwill, impairment loss			200,000
Trademarks [Member]
Impairment of intangible assets, indefinite-lived (excluding goodwill)		0	0
Accounts Payable [Member]
Book overdrafts		$ 5,400,000	$ 5,000,000
Minimum [Member]
Franchise agreement, initial term		10 years
Maximum [Member]
Equity method investment, ownership percentage		50.00%
Franchise agreement, initial term		20 years