Consolidated Statements of Cash Flow (USD $)	12 Months Ended
	Dec. 31, 2014	Dec. 31, 2013	Dec. 31, 2012
CASH FLOWS FROM OPERATING ACTIVITIES
Net income	$ 123,160,000	$ 113,709,000	$ 121,613,000
Adjustments to reconcile net income to net cash provided by operating activities:
Depreciation and amortization	9,365,000	9,582,000	8,226,000
(Gain) loss on disposal of assets	(2,809,000)	(151,000)	9,000
Provision for bad debts, net	2,775,000	2,743,000	2,923,000
Non-cash stock compensation and other charges	9,706,000	11,422,000	12,366,000
Non-cash interest and other (income) loss	3,174,000	1,545,000	292,000
Loss on extinguishment of debt	0	0	526,000
Deferred income taxes	(22,899,000)	(6,277,000)	(1,126,000)
Equity (earnings) losses from unconsolidated joint ventures, net of distributions received	2,200,000	811,000	1,098,000
Changes in assets and liabilities, net of acquisitions:
Receivables	(14,250,000)	(7,899,000)	(6,807,000)
Advances to/from marketing and reservation activities, net	70,179,000	42,991,000	30,983,000
Forgivable notes receivable, net	(12,914,000)	(8,347,000)	(10,898,000)
Accounts payable	9,636,000	2,304,000	11,000
Accrued expenses	6,678,000	(9,595,000)	12,376,000
Income taxes payable/receivable	(3,582,000)	4,276,000	(2,662,000)
Deferred revenue	5,297,000	(9,861,000)	2,188,000
Other assets	(1,250,000)	(3,197,000)	(3,476,000)
Other liabilities	(575,000)	9,857,000	(17,520,000)
Net cash provided by operating activities	183,891,000	153,913,000	150,122,000
CASH FLOWS FROM INVESTING ACTIVITIES
Investment in property and equipment	(20,946,000)	(33,397,000)	(15,443,000)
Equity method investments	(17,789,000)	(5,685,000)	(20,285,000)
Issuance of mezzanine and other notes receivable	(3,340,000)	(1,095,000)	(23,736,000)
Collections of mezzanine and other notes receivable	11,289,000	9,748,000	3,270,000
Purchases of investments, employee benefit plans	(2,794,000)	(2,676,000)	(1,697,000)
Proceeds from sales of investments, employee benefit plans	964,000	4,168,000	11,223,000
Proceeds from sale of assets	15,612,000	243,000	0
Other items, net	(642,000)	(728,000)	(433,000)
Net cash used in investing activities	(17,646,000)	(29,422,000)	(47,101,000)
CASH FLOWS FROM FINANCING ACTIVITIES
Proceeds from the issuance of long-term debt	250,000	3,360,000	543,500,000
Net borrowings (repayments) pursuant to revolving credit facilities	0	(57,000,000)	57,000,000
Principal payments on long-term debt	(10,108,000)	(8,204,000)	(4,422,000)
Debt issuance costs	0	0	(4,759,000)
Excess tax benefits from stock-based compensation	3,721,000	1,460,000	1,559,000
Purchase of treasury stock	(77,972,000)	(3,965,000)	(22,586,000)
Dividends paid	(43,529,000)	(32,799,000)	(654,092,000)
Proceeds from exercise of stock options	10,098,000	8,864,000	7,090,000
Net cash used in financing activities	(117,540,000)	(88,284,000)	(76,710,000)
Net change in cash and cash equivalents	48,705,000	36,207,000	26,311,000
Effect of foreign exchange rate changes on cash and cash equivalents	(1,621,000)	(2,589,000)	809,000
Cash and cash equivalents at beginning of period	167,795,000	134,177,000	107,057,000
Cash and cash equivalents at end of period	214,879,000	167,795,000	134,177,000
Cash payments during the year for:
Income taxes, net of refunds	77,562,000	47,513,000	51,548,000
Interest, net of capitalized interest	40,644,000	43,327,000	16,954,000
Non-cash investing and financing activities:
Dividends declared but not paid	11,176,000	10,785,000	1,000
Equity method investments	2,827,000	0	3,900,000
Debt issuance costs	0	0	6,500,000
Investment in property and equipment	15,670,000	658,000	0
Acquisitions, long-term debt assumed	10,667,000	0	0
Restricted Stock [Member]
Non-cash investing and financing activities:
Issuance of common stock pursuant to share based compensation plan	8,439,000	9,798,000	9,517,000
Performance Vested Restricted Stock Units [Member]
CASH FLOWS FROM FINANCING ACTIVITIES
Dividends paid	$ (400,000)	$ (500,000)	$ 0