Asset Dispositions and Impairments - Additional Information (Detail) (USD $) In Millions, unless otherwise specified	12 Months Ended
	Dec. 31, 2012 Hotel	Dec. 31, 2011 Hotel Property	Dec. 31, 2010 Hotel
Impaired Long-Lived Assets Held and Used [Line Items]
Net cash proceeds from disposal of wholly-owned hotel		$ 237
Number of wholly-owned hotels sold		2
Deferred gains on dispositions of assets		66
Loss related to the other-than-temporary impairment of investment in an unconsolidated joint venture	(9)
Gain (loss) on disposition, net of tax	92	(13)	168
Proceeds from Divestiture of Interest in Joint Venture		44
Company's debt assumed by buyer in sale of interest in a consolidated joint venture		57
Loss recognized in discontinued operations from sale of interest in a consolidated joint venture, net of tax		18
Loss on renovation and related asset retirement		9
Gain (Loss) on asset dispositions		50
Number of asset retirement and renovation property		2
Number of wholly-owned hotels sold		2
Gain (Loss) on asset dispositions and impairments resulted from acquisition			39
Gain (Loss) recognized on sale of wholly owned hotel		50	5
Impairment of fixed asset retired in connection with wholly owned hotel			4
Gains from insurance proceeds related to damages by storm			14
Gain on acquisition of controlling interest in joint venture			5
Impairment charges	2	7	2
Number of hotels related to impairment charges	2	6	1
Five wholly-owned hotels [Member]
Impaired Long-Lived Assets Held and Used [Line Items]
Net cash proceeds from disposal of wholly-owned hotel	275
Number of wholly-owned hotels sold	5
Gain (loss) on disposition, net of tax	78
Impairment charge recorded in discontinued operations, net of tax	5
Wholly-owned hotel one [Member]
Impaired Long-Lived Assets Held and Used [Line Items]
Net cash proceeds from disposal of wholly-owned hotel	16
Number of wholly-owned hotels sold	1
Pre-tax loss on sale of wholly-owned hotel	7
Gain (Loss) recognized on sale of wholly owned hotel			53
Two wholly-owned hotels [Member]
Impaired Long-Lived Assets Held and Used [Line Items]
Net cash proceeds from disposal of wholly-owned hotel	251
Number of wholly-owned hotels sold	2
Deferred gains on dispositions of assets	100
Minority Interest and Non-core Asset [Member]
Impaired Long-Lived Assets Held and Used [Line Items]
Gain on sale of non hotel assets			4
Minority Investment - Japan Hotel [Member]
Impaired Long-Lived Assets Held and Used [Line Items]
Impairment loss relating to minority investment in a joint venture hotel located in Japan		$ 31