Segment Information (Details) - USD ($) $ in Thousands	3 Months Ended		6 Months Ended
	Jun. 30, 2015	Jun. 30, 2014	Jun. 30, 2015	Jun. 30, 2014	Dec. 31, 2014
Segment Information
Hotel operating revenues	$ 436,977	$ 387,248	$ 806,573	$ 717,184
Minimum rent	67,015	63,736	131,766	127,122
Rental income	69,063	63,736	133,814	127,122
Percentage rent	2,048		2,048
FF&E reserve income	1,026	916	2,191	1,844
Total revenues	507,066	451,900	942,578	846,150
Hotel operating expenses	304,428	270,778	562,086	501,395
Depreciation and amortization	80,582	78,763	159,551	157,050
General and administrative	12,685	13,166	33,989	24,631
Acquisition related costs	797	162	1,135	223
Total expenses	398,492	362,869	756,761	683,299
Operating income (loss)	108,574	89,031	185,817	162,851
Interest income	10	25	21	50
Interest expense	(35,836)	(34,941)	(71,290)	(69,797)
Loss on early extinguishment of debt				(726)
Income before income taxes, equity in earnings of an investee and gain on sale of real estate	72,748	54,115	114,548	92,378
Income tax benefit	(640)	(455)	(931)	(1,071)
Equity in earnings (losses) of an investee	23	125	95	28
Income before gain on sale of real estate	72,131	53,785	113,712	91,335
Gain on sale of real estate	11,015	130	11,015	130
Net income	83,146	53,915	124,727	91,465
Total assets	6,401,148		6,401,148		$ 5,982,562
Corporate
Segment Information
General and administrative	12,685	13,166	33,989	24,631
Total expenses	12,685	13,166	33,989	24,631
Operating income (loss)	(12,685)	(13,166)	(33,989)	(24,631)
Interest income	10	25	21	50
Interest expense	(35,836)	(34,941)	(71,290)	(69,797)
Loss on early extinguishment of debt				(726)
Income before income taxes, equity in earnings of an investee and gain on sale of real estate	(48,511)	(48,082)	(105,258)	(95,104)
Income tax benefit	(640)	(455)	(931)	(1,071)
Equity in earnings (losses) of an investee	23	125	95	28
Income before gain on sale of real estate	(49,128)	(48,412)	(106,094)	(96,147)
Net income	(49,128)	(48,412)	(106,094)	(96,147)
Total assets	176,762		176,762		39,818
Hotels
Segment Information
Hotel operating revenues	436,977	387,248	806,573	717,184
Minimum rent	8,179		16,140	16,444
Rental income		8,341
FF&E reserve income	1,026	916	2,191	1,844
Total revenues	446,182	396,505	824,904	735,472
Hotel operating expenses	304,428	270,778	562,086	501,395
Depreciation and amortization	52,924	53,362	105,321	106,378
Acquisition related costs	797	162	1,135	223
Total expenses	358,149	324,302	668,542	607,996
Operating income (loss)	88,033	72,203	156,362	127,476
Income before income taxes, equity in earnings of an investee and gain on sale of real estate	88,033	72,203	156,362	127,476
Income before gain on sale of real estate	88,033	72,203	156,362	127,476
Gain on sale of real estate		130		130
Net income	88,033	72,333	156,362	127,606
Total assets	3,838,060		3,838,060		3,748,062
Travel Centers
Segment Information
Minimum rent	58,836		115,626	110,678
Rental income		55,395
Percentage rent	2,048		2,048
Total revenues	60,884	55,395	117,674	110,678
Depreciation and amortization	27,658	25,401	54,230	50,672
Total expenses	27,658	25,401	54,230	50,672
Operating income (loss)	33,226	29,994	63,444	60,006
Income before income taxes, equity in earnings of an investee and gain on sale of real estate	33,226	29,994	63,444	60,006
Income before gain on sale of real estate	33,226	29,994	63,444	60,006
Gain on sale of real estate	11,015		11,015
Net income	44,241	$ 29,994	74,459	$ 60,006
Total assets	$ 2,386,326		$ 2,386,326		$ 2,194,682