Represents the percentage of indirect economic interest held in RMR LLC.

No definition available.

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Balance Type:	na
Period Type:	duration

- Definition

Represents the period over which the company's common shares remain under a lock up and registration rights agreement and not authorized to be transfered.

+ References

No definition available.

+ Details

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Data Type:	xbrli:durationItemType
Balance Type:	na
Period Type:	duration

- Definition

Loss on distribution to common shareholders of The RMR Group Inc. common stock

+ References

No definition available.

+ Details

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

- Definition

Noncash or Part Noncash Acquisition, Noncash Financial or Equity Instrument Consideration, Shares Received

+ References

No definition available.

+ Details

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Namespace Prefix:	hpt_
Data Type:	xbrli:sharesItemType
Balance Type:	na
Period Type:	duration

- Definition

Number of shares distributed to the shareholders.

+ References

No definition available.

+ Details

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Namespace Prefix:	hpt_
Data Type:	xbrli:sharesItemType
Balance Type:	na
Period Type:	duration

- Definition

Represents the percentage of voting power controlled by a given entity with outstanding capital stock in RMR Inc.

+ References

No definition available.

+ Details

Name:	hpt_VotingPowerPercent
Namespace Prefix:	hpt_
Data Type:	num:percentItemType
Balance Type:	na
Period Type:	duration

- Definition

Balance held at close of period in number of shares.

+ References

Reference 1: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef
-Publisher FASB
-Name Accounting Standards Codification
-Topic 946
-SubTopic 320
-Section S99
-Paragraph 4
-Subparagraph (SX 210.12-12C.Column B)
-URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=50485924&loc=d3e611225-123010

Reference 2: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef
-Publisher FASB
-Name Accounting Standards Codification
-Topic 946
-SubTopic 320
-Section S99
-Paragraph 6
-Subparagraph (SX 210.12-14.Column B)
-URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=50485924&loc=d3e611322-123010

Reference 3: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef
-Publisher FASB
-Name Accounting Standards Codification
-Topic 946
-SubTopic 320
-Section S99
-Paragraph 1
-Subparagraph (SX 210.12-12.Column B)
-URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=50485924&loc=d3e611133-123010

+ Details

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Namespace Prefix:	us-gaap_
Data Type:	xbrli:sharesItemType
Balance Type:	na
Period Type:	instant

- Definition

The number of shares issued as [noncash or part noncash] consideration for a business or asset acquired. Noncash is defined as transactions during a period that affect recognized assets or liabilities but that do not result in cash receipts or cash payments in the period. "Part noncash" refers to that portion of the transaction not resulting in cash receipts or cash payments in the period.

+ References

Reference 1: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef
-Publisher FASB
-Name Accounting Standards Codification
-Topic 230
-SubTopic 10
-Section 50
-Paragraph 3
-URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=6367179&loc=d3e4304-108586

Reference 2: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef
-Publisher FASB
-Name Accounting Standards Codification
-Topic 230
-SubTopic 10
-Section 50
-Paragraph 5
-URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=6367179&loc=d3e4332-108586

Reference 3: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef
-Publisher FASB
-Name Accounting Standards Codification
-Topic 230
-SubTopic 10
-Section 50
-Paragraph 4
-URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=6367179&loc=d3e4313-108586

+ Details

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Namespace Prefix:	us-gaap_
Data Type:	xbrli:sharesItemType
Balance Type:	na
Period Type:	duration

- Definition

The cash outflow associated with the acquisition of or advances to an entity that is related to it but not strictly controlled (for example, an unconsolidated subsidiary, affiliate, and joint venture or equity method investment) or the acquisition of an additional interest in a subsidiary (controlled entity).

+ References

Reference 1: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef
-Publisher FASB
-Name Accounting Standards Codification
-Topic 230
-SubTopic 10
-Section 45
-Paragraph 13
-Subparagraph (b)
-URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=66902209&loc=d3e3213-108585

+ Details

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Namespace Prefix:	us-gaap_
Data Type:	xbrli:monetaryItemType
Balance Type:	credit
Period Type:	duration

- Definition

Line items represent financial concepts included in a table. These concepts are used to disclose reportable information associated with domain members defined in one or many axes to the table.

+ References

No definition available.

+ Details

Name:	us-gaap_RelatedPartyTransactionLineItems
Namespace Prefix:	us-gaap_
Data Type:	xbrli:stringItemType
Balance Type:	na
Period Type:	duration

- Details

Name:	us-gaap_RelatedPartyTransactionAxis=hpt_UpCTransactionMember
Namespace Prefix:
Data Type:	na
Balance Type:
Period Type:

- Details

Name:	us-gaap_EquityInterestIssuedOrIssuableByTypeAxis=us-gaap_CommonClassAMember
Namespace Prefix:
Data Type:	na
Balance Type:
Period Type:

- Details

Name:	dei_LegalEntityAxis=hpt_ReitManagementAndResearchIncMember
Namespace Prefix:
Data Type:	na
Balance Type:
Period Type:

- Details

Name:	us-gaap_RelatedPartyTransactionsByRelatedPartyAxis=hpt_ReitManagementResearchTrustMember
Namespace Prefix:
Data Type:	na
Balance Type:
Period Type:

- Details

Name:	us-gaap_TitleOfIndividualAxis=hpt_ManagingTrusteesBarryAndAdamPortnoyMember
Namespace Prefix:
Data Type:	na
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- Details

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Related Person Transactions - Up-C Transaction (Details) - USD ($) $ in Thousands			3 Months Ended	12 Months Ended
	Dec. 14, 2015	Jun. 05, 2015	Dec. 31, 2015	Dec. 31, 2016	Dec. 31, 2015	Dec. 31, 2014
Related Party Transaction [Line Items]
Loss on distribution to common shareholders of The RMR Group Inc. common stock			$ 36,773	$ 0	$ 36,773	$ 0
Up C Transaction \| Class A common shares \| RMR Inc
Related Party Transaction [Line Items]
Number of shares distributed to the shareholders	2,515,344
ABP Trust \| Up C Transaction
Related Party Transaction [Line Items]
Indirect economic interest in RMR LLC as a percent				51.90%
Voting power of outstanding capital stock of RMR Inc				91.50%
ABP Trust \| Up C Transaction \| Managing Trustees Barry And Adam Portnoy Member
Related Party Transaction [Line Items]
Shares issued in connection with acquisition of investment		1,490,000
Payments to acquire interest in subsidiaries and affiliates		$ 12,622
Period over which shares remain under lock up and registration agreement		10 years
RMR Inc \| Class A common shares
Related Party Transaction [Line Items]
Shares received in transaction		5,019,121
Number of common shares owned (in shares)				2,503,777