Segment Information (Details) $ in Thousands	3 Months Ended
	Mar. 31, 2018 USD ($) segment	Mar. 31, 2017 USD ($)	Dec. 31, 2017 USD ($)
Segment Information
Number of reportable segments | segment	2
Hotel operating revenues	$ 445,276	$ 408,236
Rental income	81,993	79,139
FF&E reserve income	1,364	1,227
Total revenues	528,633	488,602
Hotel operating expenses	314,982	282,723
Depreciation and amortization	99,617	93,451
General and administrative	11,734	32,346
Total expenses	426,333	408,520
Operating income (loss)	102,300	80,082
Dividend income	626	626
Unrealized gains and losses on equity securities, net	24,955	0
Interest income	292	257
Interest expense	(47,540)	(43,566)
Income before income taxes and equity in earnings of an investee	80,633	37,399
Income tax expense	(471)	(356)
Equity in earnings of an investee	44	128
Net income (loss)	80,206	37,171
Total assets	7,120,874		$ 7,150,385
Corporate
Segment Information
General and administrative	11,734	32,346
Total expenses	11,734	32,346
Operating income (loss)	(11,734)	(32,346)
Dividend income	626	626
Unrealized gains and losses on equity securities, net	24,955
Interest income	292	257
Interest expense	(47,540)	(43,566)
Income before income taxes and equity in earnings of an investee	(33,401)	(75,029)
Income tax expense	(471)	(356)
Equity in earnings of an investee	44	128
Net income (loss)	(33,828)	(75,257)
Total assets	213,894		196,800
Hotels | Operating segments
Segment Information
Hotel operating revenues	445,276	408,236
Rental income	7,800	7,613
FF&E reserve income	1,364	1,227
Total revenues	454,440	417,076
Hotel operating expenses	314,982	282,723
Depreciation and amortization	62,446	58,104
Total expenses	377,428	340,827
Operating income (loss)	77,012	76,249
Dividend income		0
Interest income	0
Income before income taxes and equity in earnings of an investee	77,012	76,249
Net income (loss)	77,012	76,249
Total assets	4,452,175		4,477,512
Travel Centers | Operating segments
Segment Information
Rental income	74,193	71,526
Total revenues	74,193	71,526
Depreciation and amortization	37,171	35,347
Total expenses	37,171	35,347
Operating income (loss)	37,022	36,179
Dividend income		0
Interest income	0
Income before income taxes and equity in earnings of an investee	37,022	36,179
Net income (loss)	37,022	$ 36,179
Total assets	$ 2,454,805		$ 2,476,073