Segment Information (Details) $ in Thousands	3 Months Ended
	Mar. 31, 2017 USD ($) segment	Mar. 31, 2016 USD ($)	Dec. 31, 2016 USD ($)
Segment Information
Number of reportable segments | segment	2
Hotel operating revenues	$ 407,587	$ 396,503
Rental income	79,788	76,259
FF&E reserve income	1,227	1,356
Total revenues	488,602	474,118
Hotel operating expenses	282,723	276,305
Depreciation and amortization	93,451	87,271
General and administrative	32,346	16,023
Acquisition related costs	0	612
Total expenses	408,520	380,211
Operating income (loss)	80,082	93,907
Dividend income	626	0
Interest income	257	98
Interest expense	(43,566)	(41,586)
Loss on early extinguishment of debt		(70)
Income before income taxes and equity in earnings of an investee	37,399	52,349
Income tax expense	(356)	(375)
Equity in earnings of an investee	128	77
Net income (loss)	37,171	52,051
Total assets	6,789,434		$ 6,634,228
Corporate
Segment Information
General and administrative	32,346	16,023
Total expenses	32,346	16,023
Operating income (loss)	(32,346)	(16,023)
Dividend income	626
Interest income	257	98
Interest expense	(43,566)	(41,586)
Loss on early extinguishment of debt		(70)
Income before income taxes and equity in earnings of an investee	(75,029)	(57,581)
Income tax expense	(356)	(375)
Equity in earnings of an investee	128	77
Net income (loss)	(75,257)	(57,879)
Total assets	179,411		145,029
Hotels | Operating segments
Segment Information
Hotel operating revenues	407,587	396,503
Rental income	8,262	8,142
FF&E reserve income	1,227	1,356
Total revenues	417,076	406,001
Hotel operating expenses	282,723	276,305
Depreciation and amortization	58,104	55,084
Acquisition related costs		612
Total expenses	340,827	332,001
Operating income (loss)	76,249	74,000
Loss on early extinguishment of debt		0
Income before income taxes and equity in earnings of an investee	76,249	74,000
Net income (loss)	76,249	74,000
Total assets	4,133,029		4,005,481
Travel Centers | Operating segments
Segment Information
Rental income	71,526	68,117
Total revenues	71,526	68,117
Depreciation and amortization	35,347	32,187
Total expenses	35,347	32,187
Operating income (loss)	36,179	35,930
Loss on early extinguishment of debt		0
Income before income taxes and equity in earnings of an investee	36,179	35,930
Net income (loss)	36,179	$ 35,930
Total assets	$ 2,476,994		$ 2,483,718