Consolidated Statements of Cash Flows	12 Months Ended
	Dec. 31, 2018 USD ($)	Dec. 31, 2017 USD ($)	Dec. 31, 2016 USD ($)
CASH FLOWS FROM OPERATING ACTIVITIES
Net income	$ 216,355,000	$ 122,327,000	$ 106,712,000
Adjustments to reconcile net income to net cash provided by operating activities:
Depreciation and amortization	14,330,000	6,680,000	6,996,000
Depreciation and amortization - marketing and reservation system	19,597,000	20,609,000	20,663,000
Franchise agreement acquisition cost amortization	9,239,000	7,191,000	6,423,000
Impairment of goodwill	4,289,000	0	0
Gain on disposal of assets, net	(56,000)	(237,000)	(571,000)
Provision for bad debts, net	10,542,000	5,514,000	3,365,000
Non-cash stock compensation and other charges	15,986,000	22,857,000	15,346,000
Non-cash interest and other investment (income) loss	3,695,000	(772,000)	1,059,000
Deferred income taxes	(3,510,000)	57,106,000	(29,723,000)
Equity in net losses from unconsolidated joint ventures, less distributions received	7,389,000	6,579,000	1,025,000
Franchise agreement acquisition cost, net of reimbursements	(52,929,000)	(30,638,000)	(17,410,000)
Change in working capital and other, net of acquisition	(2,031,000)	40,158,000	38,150,000
Net cash provided by operating activities	242,896,000	257,374,000	152,035,000
CASH FLOWS FROM INVESTING ACTIVITIES
Investment in property and equipment	(47,673,000)	(23,437,000)	(25,191,000)
Investment in intangible assets	(1,803,000)	(2,517,000)	(2,580,000)
Proceeds from sales of assets	3,053,000	1,000,000	11,462,000
Asset acquisition, net of cash acquired	(3,179,000)	0	(28,583,000)
Business acquisition, net of cash acquired	(231,317,000)	0	(1,341,000)
Contributions to equity method investments	(9,604,000)	(50,554,000)	(34,661,000)
Distributions from equity method investments	1,429,000	4,569,000	3,700,000
Purchases of investments, employee benefit plans	(2,895,000)	(2,447,000)	(1,661,000)
Proceeds from sales of investments, employee benefit plans	2,825,000	2,245,000	1,911,000
Issuance of notes receivable	(36,045,000)	(19,738,000)	(32,604,000)
Collections of notes receivable	4,997,000	655,000	11,070,000
Other items, net	(1,040,000)	109,000	11,000
Net cash used in investing activities	(321,252,000)	(90,115,000)	(98,467,000)
CASH FLOWS FROM FINANCING ACTIVITIES
Proceeds from issuance of long term debt	9,037,000	0	0
Net (repayments) borrowings pursuant to revolving credit facilities	20,600,000	(115,003,000)	25,795,000
Principal payments on long-term debt	(603,000)	(660,000)	(988,000)
Proceeds from other debt agreements	0	0	550,000
Debt issuance costs	(2,590,000)	0	(284,000)
Purchases of treasury stock	(148,679,000)	(9,807,000)	(35,926,000)
Dividends paid	(48,715,000)	(48,651,000)	(46,182,000)
Proceeds from transfer of interest in notes receivable	173,000	24,237,000	0
Proceeds from exercise of stock options	41,360,000	14,107,000	12,951,000
Net cash used in financing activities	(129,417,000)	(135,777,000)	(44,084,000)
Net change in cash and cash equivalents	(207,773,000)	31,482,000	9,484,000
Effect of foreign exchange rate changes on cash and cash equivalents	(921,000)	1,391,000	(462,000)
Cash and cash equivalents at beginning of period	235,336,000	202,463,000	193,441,000
Cash and cash equivalents at end of period	26,642,000	235,336,000	202,463,000
Cash payments during the year for:
Income taxes, net of refunds	77,357,000	39,181,000	65,683,000
Interest, net of capitalized interest	43,254,000	42,405,000	41,992,000
Non-cash investing and financing activities:
Dividends declared but not paid	11,977,000	12,185,000	12,112,000
Investment in property, equipment and intangibles acquired in accounts payable and accrued liabilities	5,949,000	1,099,000	3,648,000
Sale of investment in unconsolidated joint venture	0	0	2,350,000
Seller-financing to purchaser	$ 0	$ 2,000,000	$ 0