Intangible assets - Components of Franchise Rights and Other Intangible Assets (Details) - USD ($) $ in Thousands	12 Months Ended
	Dec. 31, 2018	Dec. 31, 2017
Finite-Lived Intangible Assets [Line Items]
Unamortized Intangible Assets	$ 23,014	$ 1,014
Amortized Intangible Assets, Gross	381,986	217,435
Amortized Intangible Assets, Accumulated Amortization	133,812	117,957
Amortized Intangible Assets, Net	248,174	99,478
Total, Gross	405,000	218,449
Total, Net	271,188	100,492
Franchise Rights
Finite-Lived Intangible Assets [Line Items]
Amortized Intangible Assets, Gross	190,663	75,728
Amortized Intangible Assets, Accumulated Amortization	82,632	75,658
Amortized Intangible Assets, Net	108,031	70
Franchise Agreement Acquisition Costs
Finite-Lived Intangible Assets [Line Items]
Amortized Intangible Assets, Gross	164,174	115,031
Amortized Intangible Assets, Accumulated Amortization	34,986	29,211
Amortized Intangible Assets, Net	129,188	85,820
Trademarks
Finite-Lived Intangible Assets [Line Items]
Amortized Intangible Assets, Gross	14,055	13,328
Amortized Intangible Assets, Accumulated Amortization	10,562	9,923
Amortized Intangible Assets, Net	3,493	3,405
Capitalized SaaS Licenses
Finite-Lived Intangible Assets [Line Items]
Amortized Intangible Assets, Gross	5,468	5,468
Amortized Intangible Assets, Accumulated Amortization	2,903	1,529
Amortized Intangible Assets, Net	2,565	3,939
Contract Acquisition Costs
Finite-Lived Intangible Assets [Line Items]
Amortized Intangible Assets, Gross	5,389	5,643
Amortized Intangible Assets, Accumulated Amortization	1,763	1,306
Amortized Intangible Assets, Net	3,626	4,337
Acquired Lease Rights
Finite-Lived Intangible Assets [Line Items]
Amortized Intangible Assets, Gross	2,237	2,237
Amortized Intangible Assets, Accumulated Amortization	966	330
Amortized Intangible Assets, Net	$ 1,271	$ 1,907
Finite-lived intangible asset, useful life	39 months
Minimum | Franchise Rights | WoodSpring
Finite-Lived Intangible Assets [Line Items]
Finite-lived intangible asset, useful life	12 years
Minimum | Franchise Agreement Acquisition Costs
Finite-Lived Intangible Assets [Line Items]
Finite-lived intangible asset, useful life	5 years
Minimum | Trademarks
Finite-Lived Intangible Assets [Line Items]
Finite-lived intangible asset, useful life	8 years
Minimum | Capitalized SaaS Licenses
Finite-Lived Intangible Assets [Line Items]
Finite-lived intangible asset, useful life	3 years
Minimum | Contract Acquisition Costs
Finite-Lived Intangible Assets [Line Items]
Finite-lived intangible asset, useful life	5 years
Maximum | Franchise Rights | WoodSpring
Finite-Lived Intangible Assets [Line Items]
Finite-lived intangible asset, useful life	20 years
Maximum | Franchise Agreement Acquisition Costs
Finite-Lived Intangible Assets [Line Items]
Finite-lived intangible asset, useful life	30 years
Maximum | Trademarks
Finite-Lived Intangible Assets [Line Items]
Finite-lived intangible asset, useful life	40 years
Maximum | Capitalized SaaS Licenses
Finite-Lived Intangible Assets [Line Items]
Finite-lived intangible asset, useful life	5 years
Maximum | Contract Acquisition Costs
Finite-Lived Intangible Assets [Line Items]
Finite-lived intangible asset, useful life	12 years