Reportable Segment Information - Schedule of financial information for company's franchising segment (Details) $ in Thousands	12 Months Ended
	Dec. 31, 2020 USD ($) brand	Dec. 31, 2019 USD ($)	Dec. 31, 2018 USD ($)
Segment Reporting Information [Line Items]
Number of brands | brand	14
Revenues	$ 774,072	$ 1,114,820	$ 1,041,304
Operating income (loss)	122,053	318,642	318,474
Depreciation and amortization	25,831	18,828	14,330
Income (loss) before income taxes	53,006	269,929	273,258
Foreign Operations
Segment Reporting Information [Line Items]
Revenues	42,600	69,500	72,100
Operating Segments | Hotel Franchising
Segment Reporting Information [Line Items]
Revenues	747,329	1,085,860	1,027,047
Operating income (loss)	191,301	392,405	378,014
Depreciation and amortization	8,000	7,995	7,352
Income (loss) before income taxes	176,012	382,829	372,691
Corporate, Non-Segment
Segment Reporting Information [Line Items]
Revenues	28,257	30,700	14,257
Operating income (loss)	(69,248)	(73,763)	(59,540)
Depreciation and amortization	17,831	10,833	6,978
Income (loss) before income taxes	(123,006)	(112,900)	(99,433)
Intersegment Eliminations
Segment Reporting Information [Line Items]
Revenues	$ (1,514)	$ (1,740)	$ 0