Company's debt assumed by buyer in sale of interest in a consolidated joint venture.

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Data Type:	xbrli:monetaryItemType
Balance Type:	credit
Period Type:	duration

- Definition

Debt.

+ Details

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Namespace Prefix:	hot
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- Definition

Debt Textuals Abstract.

+ Details

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Namespace Prefix:	hot
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- Definition

Maximum Interest Rate Stated Percentage on Mortgages and Other.

+ Details

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Namespace Prefix:	hot
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Balance Type:	na
Period Type:	instant

- Definition

Minimum interest rate, Stated percentage on mortgages and other.

+ Details

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Namespace Prefix:	hot
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Balance Type:	na
Period Type:	instant

- Definition

Interest rate stated in the contractual debt agreement.

+ References

Reference 1: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef
-Publisher SEC
-Name Regulation S-X (SX)
-Number 210
-Section 02
-Paragraph 22
-Article 5

+ Details

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- Definition

Aggregate notional amount of interest rate derivatives, which relates to the currency amount specified in the interest rate derivative instruments.

+ Details

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Data Type:	xbrli:monetaryItemType
Balance Type:	debit
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- Definition

Number of interest rate derivative instruments held by the entity at the reporting date.

+ Details

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Debt (Details Textual) (USD $) In Millions, unless otherwise specified	3 Months Ended
	Jun. 30, 2011	Jun. 30, 2011 Senior Notes, interest at 7.875%, maturing 2012 [Member]	Dec. 31, 2010 Senior Notes, interest at 7.875%, maturing 2012 [Member]	Jun. 30, 2011 Senior Notes, interest at 6.25%, maturing 2013 [Member]	Dec. 31, 2010 Senior Notes, interest at 6.25%, maturing 2013 [Member]	Jun. 30, 2011 Senior Notes, interest at 7.875%, maturing 2014 [Member]	Dec. 31, 2010 Senior Notes, interest at 7.875%, maturing 2014 [Member]	Jun. 30, 2011 Senior Notes interest at 7.375%, maturing 2015 [Member]	Dec. 31, 2010 Senior Notes interest at 7.375%, maturing 2015 [Member]	Jun. 30, 2011 Senior Notes, interest at 6.75%, maturing 2018 [Member]	Dec. 31, 2010 Senior Notes, interest at 6.75%, maturing 2018 [Member]	Jun. 30, 2011 Senior Notes, interest at 7.15%, maturing 2019 [Member]	Dec. 31, 2010 Senior Notes, interest at 7.15%, maturing 2019 [Member]	Jun. 30, 2011 Mortgages and other, interest rates ranging from 2.42% to 9.00%, various maturities [Member]	Dec. 31, 2010 Mortgages and other, interest rates ranging from 2.42% to 9.00%, various maturities [Member]	Jun. 30, 2011 Two Swaps [Member]
Debt (Textual) [Abstract]
Company's mortgage debt assumed by buyer in sale of interest in a consolidated joint venture	$ 57
Debt (Textuals) (Abstract)
Number of Interest rate swaps	8															2
Notional amount of interest rate swaps	$ 600															$ 100
Debt instrument interest rate		7.875%	7.875%	6.25%	6.25%	7.875%	7.875%	7.375%	7.375%	6.75%	6.75%	7.15%	7.15%
Minimum Interest Rate, Stated Percentage on Mortgages and Other														2.42%	2.42%
Maximum Interest Rate, Stated Percentage on Mortgages and Other														9.00%	9.00%