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Fair Value of Assets and Liabilities (Details) (USD $) In Thousands, except Share data, unless otherwise specified | 1 Months Ended | 2 Months Ended | 12 Months Ended |
--- | --- | --- | --- | ---
Nov. 30, 2009 Property | Jun. 30, 2011 Property | Dec. 31, 2011 Property Issuance | Dec. 31, 2010
Assets and liabilities measured at fair value |  |  |  |
Number of properties classified as held for sale | 1 |  | 2 |
Cumulative impairments of properties held for sale |  |  | $ 8,621 |
Impairment of asset charges recorded |  |  | 1,824 |
Impairment of assets charge related to properties that we sold |  |  | 166 |
Number of properties sold | 1 | 2 |  |
Number of public issues of unsecured senior notes |  |  | 4 |
Senior notes |  |  | 965,770 | 422,880
Excess of fair value over book value |  |  | 26,119 |
CommonWealth REIT (CWH) |  |  |  |
Assets and liabilities measured at fair value |  |  |  |
Investments in available for sale securities |  |  | 4,160 | 6,378
Investment in common shares (in shares) |  |  | 250,000 |
Five Star |  |  |  |
Assets and liabilities measured at fair value |  |  |  |
Investments in available for sale securities |  |  | 12,705 | 22,871
Investment in common shares (in shares) |  |  | 4,235,000 |
Recurring | Total |  |  |  |
Assets and liabilities measured at fair value |  |  |  |
Investments in available for sale securities |  |  | 16,865 |
Unsecured senior notes |  |  | 991,889 |
Recurring | Quoted Prices in Active Markets for Identical Assets (Level 1) |  |  |  |
Assets and liabilities measured at fair value |  |  |  |
Investments in available for sale securities |  |  | 16,865 |
Recurring | Significant Other Observable Inputs (Level 2) |  |  |  |
Assets and liabilities measured at fair value |  |  |  |
Unsecured senior notes |  |  | 991,889 |
Nonrecurring | Total |  |  |  |
Assets and liabilities measured at fair value |  |  |  |
Assets held for sale |  |  | 1,715 |
Nonrecurring | Significant Other Observable Inputs (Level 2) |  |  |  |
Assets and liabilities measured at fair value |  |  |  |
Assets held for sale |  |  | $ 1,715 |

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- Definition The aggregate amount of write-downs for impairments recognized during the period for long-lived assets sold. + References No definition available. + Details
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- Definition The aggregate amount of write-downs for impairments recognized during the period for long-lived assets held for abandonment, exchange or sale. + References No definition available. + Details
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- Definition Represents the number of public issues of unsecured senior notes. + References No definition available. + Details
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- Definition The number of real estate properties owned by the entity, which are classified as held for sale as of the balance sheet date. + References No definition available. + Details
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- Definition The amount by which the fair value of senior notes exceeds the book value. + References No definition available. + Details
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- Definition This element represents the portion of the balance sheet assertion valued at fair value by the entity whether such amount is presented as a separate caption or as a parenthetical disclosure. Additionally, this element may be used in connection with the fair value disclosures required in the footnote disclosures to the financial statements. The element may be used in both the balance sheet and disclosure in the same submission. This item represents Available-for-sale Securities which consist of all investments in certain debt and equity securities neither classified as trading or held-to-maturity securities. A debt security represents a creditor relationship with an enterprise. Debt securities include, among other items, US Treasury securities, US government securities, municipal securities, corporate bonds, convertible debt, commercial paper, and all securitized debt instruments. An equity security represents an ownership interest in an enterprise or the right to acquire or dispose of an ownership interest in an enterprise at fixed or determinable prices. Equity securities include, among other things, common stock, certain preferred stock, warrant rights, call options, and put options, but do not include convertible debt. An entity may opt to provide the reader with additional narrative text to better understand the nature of investments in debt and equity securities which are categorized as Available-for-sale. + References Reference 1: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef -Publisher FASB -Name Statement of Financial Accounting Standard (FAS) -Number 115 -Paragraph 12 -Subparagraph b -LegacyDoc This reference is SUPERSEDED by the Accounting Standards Codification effective for interim and annual periods ending after September 15, 2009. This reference is included to help users transition from the previous accounting hierarchy and will be removed from future versions of this taxonomy. Reference 2: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef -Publisher FASB -Name Accounting Standards Codification -Topic 320 -SubTopic 10 -Section 25 -Paragraph 1 -Subparagraph (b) -URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=6379932&loc=d3e22054-111558 Reference 3: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef -Publisher FASB -Name Accounting Standards Codification -Glossary Available-for-Sale Securities -URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=6505594 + Details
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- Definition Balance held at close of period in number of shares. + References Reference 1: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef -Publisher SEC -Name Regulation S-X (SX) -Number 210 -Section 12C -Paragraph Column B -Article 12 Reference 2: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef -Publisher SEC -Name Regulation S-X (SX) -Number 210 -Section 12 -Paragraph Column B -Article 12 Reference 3: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef -Publisher FASB -Name Accounting Standards Codification -Topic 946 -SubTopic 320 -Section S99 -Paragraph 4 -Subparagraph (SX 210.12-12C.Column B) -URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=6955306&loc=d3e611225-123010 Reference 4: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef -Publisher SEC -Name Regulation S-X (SX) -Number 210 -Section 14 -Paragraph Column B -Article 12 Reference 5: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef -Publisher FASB -Name Accounting Standards Codification -Topic 946 -SubTopic 320 -Section S99 -Paragraph 6 -Subparagraph (SX 210.12-14.Column B) -URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=6955306&loc=d3e611322-123010 Reference 6: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef -Publisher FASB -Name Accounting Standards Codification -Topic 946 -SubTopic 320 -Section S99 -Paragraph 1 -Subparagraph (SX 210.12-12.Column B) -URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=6955306&loc=d3e611133-123010 + Details
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- Definition This element represents the portion of the balance sheet assertion valued at fair value by the entity whether such amount is presented as a separate caption or as a parenthetical disclosure. Additionally, this element may be used in connection with the fair value disclosures required in the footnote disclosures to the financial statements. The element may be used in both the balance sheet and disclosure in the same submission. This item represents notes payable as of the balance sheet date. + References Reference 1: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef -Publisher FASB -Name Statement of Financial Accounting Standard (FAS) -Number 129 -Paragraph 2, 4 -LegacyDoc This reference is SUPERSEDED by the Accounting Standards Codification effective for interim and annual periods ending after September 15, 2009. This reference is included to help users transition from the previous accounting hierarchy and will be removed from future versions of this taxonomy. Reference 2: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef -Publisher SEC -Name Regulation S-X (SX) -Number 210 -Section 02 -Paragraph 19, 20, 22 -Article 5 Reference 3: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef -Publisher FASB -Name Accounting Standards Codification -Topic 210 -SubTopic 10 -Section S99 -Paragraph 1 -Subparagraph (SX 210.5-02.19,20,22) -URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=6877327&loc=d3e13212-122682 + Details
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- Definition Carrying amount as of the balance sheet date of investments in land and buildings held for sale, excluding real estate considered to be inventory of the entity. + References Reference 1: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef -Publisher FASB -Name Accounting Standards Codification -Topic 944 -SubTopic 210 -Section S99 -Paragraph 1 -Subparagraph (SX 210.7-03.1(f)) -URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=6879938&loc=d3e572229-122910 + Details
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- Definition Including the current and noncurrent portions, carrying value as of the balance sheet date of Notes with the highest claim on the assets of the issuer in case of bankruptcy or liquidation (with maturities initially due after one year or beyond the operating cycle if longer). Senior note holders are paid off in full before any payments are made to junior note holders. + References Reference 1: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef -Publisher SEC -Name Regulation S-X (SX) -Number 210 -Section 03 -Paragraph 16 -Article 9 Reference 2: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef -Publisher FASB -Name Accounting Standards Codification -Topic 942 -SubTopic 210 -Section S99 -Paragraph 1 -Subparagraph (SX 210.9-03.16) -URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=6876686&loc=d3e534808-122878 Reference 3: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef -Publisher FASB -Name Accounting Standards Codification -Topic 944 -SubTopic 210 -Section S99 -Paragraph 1 -Subparagraph (SX 210.7-03.16(a)) -URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=6879938&loc=d3e572229-122910 + Details
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