Segment Information (Details) - USD ($) $ in Thousands	3 Months Ended		9 Months Ended
	Sep. 30, 2015	Sep. 30, 2014	Sep. 30, 2015	Sep. 30, 2014	Dec. 31, 2014
Segment Information
Hotel operating revenues	$ 437,171	$ 394,973	$ 1,243,744	$ 1,112,157
Rental income	73,747	63,837	207,561	190,959
FF&E reserve income	968	829	3,159	2,673
Total revenues	511,886	459,639	1,454,464	1,305,789
Hotel operating expenses	308,603	279,560	870,689	780,955
Depreciation and amortization	84,261	79,649	243,812	236,699
General and administrative	19,831	16,798	53,820	41,429
Acquisition related costs	851	14	1,986	237
Total expenses	413,546	376,021	1,170,307	1,059,320
Operating income (loss)	98,340	83,618	284,157	246,469
Interest income	11	13	32	63
Interest expense	(36,628)	(34,304)	(107,918)	(104,101)
Loss on early extinguishment of debt		(129)		(855)
Income before income taxes, equity in earnings of an investee and gain on sale of real estate	61,723	49,198	176,271	141,576
Income tax benefit	(514)	(39)	(1,445)	(1,110)
Equity in earnings (losses) of an investee	(24)	38	71	66
Income before gain on sale of real estate	61,185	49,197	174,897	140,532
Gain on sale of real estate			11,015	130
Net income	61,185	49,197	185,912	140,662
Total assets	6,494,550		6,494,550		$ 5,982,562
Corporate
Segment Information
General and administrative	19,831	16,798	53,820	41,429
Total expenses	19,831	16,798	53,820	41,429
Operating income (loss)	(19,831)	(16,798)	(53,820)	(41,429)
Interest income	11	13	32	63
Interest expense	(36,628)	(34,304)	(107,918)	(104,101)
Loss on early extinguishment of debt		(129)		(855)
Income before income taxes, equity in earnings of an investee and gain on sale of real estate	(56,448)	(51,218)	(161,706)	(146,322)
Income tax benefit	(514)	(39)	(1,445)	(1,110)
Equity in earnings (losses) of an investee	(24)	38	71	66
Income before gain on sale of real estate			(163,080)	(147,366)
Net income	(56,986)	(51,219)	(163,080)	(147,366)
Total assets	164,884		164,884		39,818
Hotels
Segment Information
Hotel operating revenues	437,171	394,973	1,243,744	1,112,157
Rental income		8,088	24,339	24,532
FF&E reserve income	968	829	3,159	2,673
Total revenues	446,338	403,890	1,271,242	1,139,362
Hotel operating expenses	308,603	279,560	870,689	780,955
Depreciation and amortization	54,100	54,024	159,421	160,402
Acquisition related costs	851	14	1,986	237
Total expenses	363,554	333,598	1,032,096	941,594
Operating income (loss)	82,784	70,292	239,146	197,768
Income before income taxes, equity in earnings of an investee and gain on sale of real estate	82,784	70,292	239,146	197,768
Income before gain on sale of real estate			239,146	197,768
Gain on sale of real estate				130
Net income	82,784	70,292	239,146	197,898
Total assets	3,903,957		3,903,957		3,748,062
Travel Centers
Segment Information
Rental income		55,749	183,222	166,427
Total revenues	65,548	55,749	183,222	166,427
Depreciation and amortization	30,161	25,625	84,391	76,297
Total expenses	30,161	25,625	84,391	76,297
Operating income (loss)	35,387	30,124	98,831	90,130
Income before income taxes, equity in earnings of an investee and gain on sale of real estate	35,387	30,124	98,831	90,130
Income before gain on sale of real estate			98,831	90,130
Gain on sale of real estate			11,015
Net income	35,387	$ 30,124	109,846	$ 90,130
Total assets	$ 2,425,709		$ 2,425,709		$ 2,194,682