Segment Information (Details) - USD ($) $ in Thousands	3 Months Ended		6 Months Ended
	Jun. 30, 2016	Jun. 30, 2015	Jun. 30, 2016	Jun. 30, 2015	Dec. 31, 2015
Segment Information
Hotel operating revenues	$ 471,910	$ 436,977	$ 868,413	$ 806,573
Rental income	77,293	69,063	153,552	133,814
FF&E reserve income	1,096	1,026	2,452	2,191
Total revenues	550,299	507,066	1,024,417	942,578
Hotel operating expenses	324,922	304,428	601,227	562,086
Depreciation and amortization	88,782	80,582	176,053	159,551
General and administrative	37,365	12,685	53,388	33,989
Acquisition related costs	117	797	729	1,135
Total expenses	451,186	398,492	831,397	756,761
Operating income (loss)	99,113	108,574	193,020	185,817
Dividend income	749		749
Interest income	40	10	138	21
Interest expense	(41,698)	(35,836)	(83,284)	(71,290)
Loss on early extinguishment of debt			(70)
Income before income taxes and equity in earnings of an investee and gain on sale of real estate	58,204	72,748	110,553	114,548
Income tax expense	(2,160)	(640)	(2,535)	(931)
Equity in earnings of an investee	17	23	94	95
Income before gain on sale of real estate	56,061	72,131	108,112	113,712
Gain on sale of real estate		11,015		11,015
Net income (loss)	56,061	83,146	108,112	124,727
Total assets	6,609,335		6,609,335		$ 6,394,797
Corporate
Segment Information
General and administrative	37,365	12,685	53,388	33,989
Acquisition related costs			116
Total expenses	37,365	12,685	53,504	33,989
Operating income (loss)	(37,365)	(12,685)	(53,504)	(33,989)
Dividend income	749		749
Interest income	40	10	138	21
Interest expense	(41,698)	(35,836)	(83,284)	(71,290)
Loss on early extinguishment of debt			(70)
Income before income taxes and equity in earnings of an investee and gain on sale of real estate	(78,274)	(48,511)	(135,971)	(105,258)
Income tax expense	(2,160)	(640)	(2,535)	(931)
Equity in earnings of an investee	17	23	94	95
Income before gain on sale of real estate		(49,128)		(106,094)
Net income (loss)	(80,417)	(49,128)	(138,412)	(106,094)
Total assets	109,640		109,640		62,088
Hotels
Segment Information
Hotel operating revenues	471,910	436,977	868,413	806,573
Rental income	8,326	8,179	16,468	16,140
FF&E reserve income	1,096	1,026	2,452	2,191
Total revenues	481,332	446,182	887,333	824,904
Hotel operating expenses	324,922	304,428	601,227	562,086
Depreciation and amortization	56,004	52,924	111,088	105,321
Acquisition related costs	117	797	613	1,135
Total expenses	381,043	358,149	712,928	668,542
Operating income (loss)	100,289	88,033	174,405	156,362
Income before income taxes and equity in earnings of an investee and gain on sale of real estate	100,289	88,033	174,405	156,362
Income before gain on sale of real estate		88,033		156,362
Net income (loss)	100,289	88,033	174,405	156,362
Total assets	3,999,281		3,999,281		3,892,316
Travel Centers
Segment Information
Rental income	68,967	60,884	137,084	117,674
Total revenues	68,967	60,884	137,084	117,674
Depreciation and amortization	32,778	27,658	64,965	54,230
Total expenses	32,778	27,658	64,965	54,230
Operating income (loss)	36,189	33,226	72,119	63,444
Income before income taxes and equity in earnings of an investee and gain on sale of real estate	36,189	33,226	72,119	63,444
Income before gain on sale of real estate		33,226		63,444
Gain on sale of real estate		11,015		11,015
Net income (loss)	36,189	$ 44,241	72,119	$ 74,459
Total assets	$ 2,500,414		$ 2,500,414		$ 2,440,393