Summary of Investments in Affiliates (Detail) (USD $) In Millions, unless otherwise specified			12 Months Ended						12 Months Ended				12 Months Ended
	Dec. 31, 2012	Dec. 31, 2011	Dec. 31, 2012 European Joint Venture	Dec. 31, 2011 European Joint Venture	Dec. 31, 2012 European Joint Venture Lower Limit	Dec. 31, 2011 European Joint Venture Lower Limit	Dec. 31, 2012 European Joint Venture Upper Limit	Dec. 31, 2011 European Joint Venture Upper Limit	Dec. 31, 2012 Asia/Pacific Joint Venture	Dec. 31, 2011 Asia/Pacific Joint Venture	Dec. 31, 2012 Maui JV	Nov. 09, 2012 Maui JV	Dec. 31, 2012 Hyatt Place JV	May 31, 2012 Hyatt Place JV
Schedule of Investments [Line Items]
Ownership Interests					32.10%	32.10%	33.40%	33.40%	25.00%	25.00%	67.00%	67.00%	50.00%	50.00%
Our Investment	$ 347	$ 197	$ 305	$ 182					$ 22	$ 15	$ 15		$ 5
Our Portion of Debt	461.0	328.0	443.0	328.0					11.0		7.0			34.8
Debt	$ 1,414	$ 1,018	$ 1,360	$ 1,018					$ 44		$ 10
Assets			Nineteen hotels in Europe	Thirteen hotels in Europe					One hotel in Australia and a 36% interest in two operating hotels and five hotels under development in India	36% interest in the development of seven hotels in India	131-unit vacation ownership project in Maui, Hawaii		One hotel in Nashville, Tennessee