CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF INCOME AND COMPREHENSIVE INCOME (USD $) In Thousands, except Per Share data, unless otherwise specified	12 Months Ended
	Dec. 31, 2012	Dec. 31, 2011	Dec. 31, 2010
Revenues:
Hotel operating revenues	$ 980,732	$ 889,120	$ 736,363
Rental income:
Minimum rent	296,016	302,703	325,321
Percentage rent	4,338	1,879	1,450
Rental income	300,354	304,582	326,771
FF&E reserve income	15,896	16,631	22,354
Total revenues	1,296,982	1,210,333	1,085,488
Expenses:
Hotel operating expenses	700,939	596,616	477,595
Depreciation and amortization	260,831	228,342	238,089
General and administrative	44,032	40,963	38,961
Acquisition related costs	4,173	2,185
Loss on asset impairment	8,547	16,384	163,681
Total expenses	1,018,522	884,490	918,326
Operating income	278,460	325,843	167,162
Interest income	268	70	260
Interest expense (including amortization of deferred financing costs and debt discounts of $6,179, $6,305 and $7,123, respectively)	(136,111)	(134,110)	(138,712)
Gain on sale of real estate	10,602
Gain on extinguishment of debt			(6,720)
Equity in earnings (losses) of an investee	316	139	(1)
Income before income taxes	153,535	191,942	21,989
Income tax expense	(1,612)	(1,502)	(638)
Net income	151,923	190,440	21,351
Excess of liquidation preference over carrying value of preferred shares redeemed	(7,984)
Preferred distributions	(40,145)	(29,880)	(29,880)
Net income (loss) available for common shareholders	103,794	160,560	(8,529)
Net income	151,923	190,440	21,351
Other comprehensive income (loss):
Unrealized gain (loss) on TravelCenters of America common shares	1,143	(701)	(1,001)
Equity interest in investee's unrealized gains	22	75	2
Other comprehensive income (loss)	1,165	(626)	(999)
Comprehensive income	$ 153,088	$ 189,814	$ 20,352
Weighted average common shares outstanding, Basic (in shares)	123,574	123,470	123,403
Weighted average common shares outstanding, Diluted (in shares)	123,574	123,470	123,403
Basic and diluted net income (loss) available for common shareholders per common share
Net income (loss) available for common shareholders, Basic (in dollars per share)	$ 0.84	$ 1.30	$ (0.07)
Net income (loss) available for common shareholders, Diluted (in dollars per share)	$ 0.84	$ 1.30	$ (0.07)