Revenue Revenue (Details) - USD ($) $ in Thousands	3 Months Ended								12 Months Ended
	Dec. 31, 2018	Sep. 30, 2018	Jun. 30, 2018	Mar. 31, 2018	Dec. 31, 2017	Sep. 30, 2017	Jun. 30, 2017	Mar. 31, 2017	Dec. 31, 2018	Dec. 31, 2017	Dec. 31, 2016
Disaggregation of Revenue [Line Items]
Revenues	$ 244,979	$ 291,490	$ 295,441	$ 209,394	$ 221,483	$ 269,930	$ 261,016	$ 188,868	$ 1,041,304	$ 941,297	$ 807,909
Revenues									1,041,304	941,297	807,909
Effect of Topic 606 Revenues
Disaggregation of Revenue [Line Items]
Revenues									1,039,931	939,901	806,867
Effect of Topic 606 Revenues | Transferred over Time
Disaggregation of Revenue [Line Items]
Revenues									982,629	892,844	804,666
Effect of Topic 606 Revenues | Transferred at Point in Time
Disaggregation of Revenue [Line Items]
Revenues									57,302	47,057	2,201
Effect of Non-Topic 606 Revenues
Disaggregation of Revenue [Line Items]
Non-Topic 606 revenues									1,373	1,396	1,042
Royalty fees | Effect of Topic 606 Revenues
Disaggregation of Revenue [Line Items]
Revenues									376,676	341,745	317,699
Royalty fees | Effect of Topic 606 Revenues | Transferred over Time
Disaggregation of Revenue [Line Items]
Revenues									376,676	341,745	317,699
Royalty fees | Effect of Topic 606 Revenues | Transferred at Point in Time
Disaggregation of Revenue [Line Items]
Revenues									0	0	0
Initial franchise and relicensing fees | Effect of Topic 606 Revenues
Disaggregation of Revenue [Line Items]
Revenues									26,072	23,038	19,720
Initial franchise and relicensing fees | Effect of Topic 606 Revenues | Transferred over Time
Disaggregation of Revenue [Line Items]
Revenues									26,072	23,038	19,720
Initial franchise and relicensing fees | Effect of Topic 606 Revenues | Transferred at Point in Time
Disaggregation of Revenue [Line Items]
Revenues									0	0	0
Procurement services | Effect of Topic 606 Revenues
Disaggregation of Revenue [Line Items]
Revenues									52,088	40,451	35,844
Procurement services | Effect of Topic 606 Revenues | Transferred over Time
Disaggregation of Revenue [Line Items]
Revenues									49,496	38,568	34,781
Procurement services | Effect of Topic 606 Revenues | Transferred at Point in Time
Disaggregation of Revenue [Line Items]
Revenues									2,592	1,883	1,063
Marketing and reservation system | Effect of Topic 606 Revenues
Disaggregation of Revenue [Line Items]
Revenues									543,677	499,625	409,120
Marketing and reservation system | Effect of Topic 606 Revenues | Transferred over Time
Disaggregation of Revenue [Line Items]
Revenues									490,025	460,749	407,982
Marketing and reservation system | Effect of Topic 606 Revenues | Transferred at Point in Time
Disaggregation of Revenue [Line Items]
Revenues									53,652	38,876	1,138
Other | Effect of Topic 606 Revenues
Disaggregation of Revenue [Line Items]
Revenues									41,418	35,042	24,484
Other | Effect of Topic 606 Revenues | Transferred over Time
Disaggregation of Revenue [Line Items]
Revenues									40,360	28,744	24,484
Other | Effect of Topic 606 Revenues | Transferred at Point in Time
Disaggregation of Revenue [Line Items]
Revenues									$ 1,058	$ 6,298	$ 0