Segment Information (Details) (USD $) In Thousands, unless otherwise specified	3 Months Ended		6 Months Ended
	Jun. 30, 2014	Jun. 30, 2013	Jun. 30, 2014	Jun. 30, 2013	Dec. 31, 2013
Segment Information
Hotel operating revenues	$ 387,248	$ 349,877	$ 717,184	$ 641,528
Rental income	63,736	61,856	127,122	124,068
FF&E reserve income	916	589	1,844	1,192
Total revenue	451,900	412,322	846,150	766,788
Hotel operating expenses	270,778	248,543	501,395	455,192
Depreciation and amortization	78,763	73,598	157,050	145,878
General and administrative	13,166	11,918	24,631	24,062
Acquisition related costs	162	1,814	223	2,090
Loss on asset impairment		2,171		2,171
Total expenses	362,869	338,044	683,299	629,393
Operating income (loss)	89,031	74,278	162,851	137,395
Interest income	25	60	50	79
Interest expense	(34,941)	(35,014)	(70,309)	(70,202)
Loss on early extinguishment of debt			(214)
Income before income taxes and equity in earnings of an investee	54,115	39,324	92,378	67,272
Income tax expense	(455)	5,950	(1,071)	5,432
Equity in earnings of an investee	125	79	28	155
Income before gain on sale of real estate	53,785	45,353	91,335	72,859
Gain on sale of real estate	130		130
Net income	53,915	45,353	91,465	72,859
Total assets	5,988,925		5,988,925		5,967,544
Corporate
Segment Information
General and administrative	13,166	11,918	24,631	24,062
Total expenses	13,166	11,918	24,631	24,062
Operating income (loss)	(13,166)	(11,918)	(24,631)	(24,062)
Interest income	25	60	50	79
Interest expense	(34,941)	(35,014)	(70,309)	(70,202)
Loss on early extinguishment of debt			(214)
Income before income taxes and equity in earnings of an investee	(48,082)	(46,872)	(95,104)	(94,185)
Income tax expense	(455)	5,950	(1,071)	5,432
Equity in earnings of an investee	125	79	28	155
Income before gain on sale of real estate	(48,412)		(96,147)
Net income	(48,412)	(40,843)	(96,147)	(88,598)
Total assets	42,396		42,396		42,357
Hotels
Segment Information
Hotel operating revenues	387,248	349,877	717,184	641,528
Rental income	8,341	7,908	16,444	16,630
FF&E reserve income	916	589	1,844	1,192
Total revenue	396,505	358,374	735,472	659,350
Hotel operating expenses	270,778	248,543	501,395	455,192
Depreciation and amortization	53,362	49,550	106,378	98,227
Acquisition related costs	162	1,814	223	2,090
Loss on asset impairment		2,171		2,171
Total expenses	324,302	302,078	607,996	557,680
Operating income (loss)	72,203	56,296	127,476	101,670
Income before income taxes and equity in earnings of an investee	72,203	56,296	127,476	101,670
Income before gain on sale of real estate	72,203		127,476
Gain on sale of real estate	130		130
Net income	72,333	56,296	127,606	101,670
Total assets	3,758,872		3,758,872		3,701,850
Travel Centers
Segment Information
Rental income	55,395	53,948	110,678	107,438
Total revenue	55,395	53,948	110,678	107,438
Depreciation and amortization	25,401	24,048	50,672	47,651
Total expenses	25,401	24,048	50,672	47,651
Operating income (loss)	29,994	29,900	60,006	59,787
Income before income taxes and equity in earnings of an investee	29,994	29,900	60,006	59,787
Income before gain on sale of real estate	29,994		60,006
Net income	29,994	29,900	60,006	59,787
Total assets	$ 2,187,657		$ 2,187,657		$ 2,223,337