Other Assets - Components Of Other Assets (Details) (USD $)	12 Months Ended
Dec. 31, 2014	Dec. 31, 2013	Dec. 31, 2012
Other Assets [Line Items]
Equity method investments	$ 50,605,000us-gaap_EquityMethodInvestments	$ 32,257,000us-gaap_EquityMethodInvestments
Deferred financing fees	7,228,000	8,954,000
Land	4,011,000us-gaap_InventoryLandHeldForSale	10,097,000us-gaap_InventoryLandHeldForSale
Other assets	3,452,000	856,000
Total	65,296,000us-gaap_OtherAssetsNoncurrent	52,164,000us-gaap_OtherAssetsNoncurrent
Investment in joint venture, variable interest entity, carrying amount	47,100,000	28,900,000
Net income attributable to variable interest entities	(1,500,000)	8,000
Equity Method Investment, Summarized Financial Information, Income Statement [Abstract]
Revenues	30,608,000	25,076,000	17,892,000
Operating income (loss)	(2,533,000)	(752,000)	(5,164,000)
Income from continuing operations	(3,616,000)	(721,000)	(5,105,000)
Net income	(4,670,000)	(1,858,000)	(6,288,000)
Equity Method Investment, Summarized Financial Information, Assets [Abstract]
Current assets	41,783,000	44,722,000
Non-current assets	202,810,000	129,928,000
Total assets	244,593,000	174,650,000
Equity Method Investment, Summarized Financial Information, Liabilities [Abstract]
Current liabilities	17,823,000	13,859,000
Non-current liabilities	98,535,000	65,431,000
Total liabilities	$ 116,358,000	$ 79,290,000
Main Street WP Hotel Associates, LLC [Member]
Other Assets [Line Items]
Equity method investment, ownership percentage	50.00%	50.00%
FBC-CHI Hotels LLC [Member]
Other Assets [Line Items]
Equity method investment, ownership percentage	40.00%	40.00%
CS Hotel 30W46th, LLC [Member]
Other Assets [Line Items]
Equity method investment, ownership percentage	25.00%	25.00%
CS Brickell, LLC [Member]
Other Assets [Line Items]
Equity method investment, ownership percentage	50.00%	0.00%
CHH Plano, LLC [Member]
Other Assets [Line Items]
Equity method investment, ownership percentage	50.00%	50.00%
CS Maple Grove LLC [Member]
Other Assets [Line Items]
Equity method investment, ownership percentage	50.00%	50.00%
CS Hotel West Orange, LLC [Member]
Other Assets [Line Items]
Equity method investment, ownership percentage	50.00%	50.00%
Hotel JV Services, LLC [Member]
Other Assets [Line Items]
Equity method investment, ownership percentage	16.00%	17.00%
CS at Ninth, LLC [Member]
Other Assets [Line Items]
Equity method investment, ownership percentage	43.00%	43.00%
CS at Phoenix, LLC [Member]
Other Assets [Line Items]
Equity method investment, ownership percentage	50.00%	50.00%
CS Woodlands, LLC [Member]
Other Assets [Line Items]
Equity method investment, ownership percentage	50.00%	0.00%
Choice Hotels Canada Inc CHC [Member]
Other Assets [Line Items]
Equity method investment, ownership percentage	50.00%	50.00%

Net income (loss) attributable to variable interest entities

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Net amount of long-term deferred finance costs capitalized at the end of the reporting period.

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The percentage of ownership of common stock or equity participation in the investee accounted for under the equity method of accounting.

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The amount of assets reported by an equity method investment of the entity.

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The amount of current assets reported by an equity method investment of the entity.

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The amount of gross profit (loss) reported by an equity method investment of the entity.

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The amount of income (loss) from continuing operations before extraordinary items reported by an equity method investment of the entity.

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The amount of net income (loss) reported by an equity method investment of the entity.

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The amount of noncurrent assets reported by an equity method investment of the entity.

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The amount of revenue from sale of goods and services reduced by sales returns, allowances, and discounts reported by an equity method investment of the entity.

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Carrying amount as of the balance sheet date of parcels of land held for sale, and on which the entity has no intention or no further intention to perform construction activities.

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Amount of other miscellaneous assets expected to be realized or consumed after one year or normal operating cycle, if longer.

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Aggregate carrying amount, as of the balance sheet date, of noncurrent assets not separately disclosed in the balance sheet. Noncurrent assets are expected to be realized or consumed after one year (or the normal operating cycle, if longer).

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The carrying amount of the consolidated Variable Interest Entity's assets included in the reporting entity's statement of financial position.

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