Aggregate of the carrying amounts as of the balance sheet date of furniture, fixtures and equipments. Furniture, Fixturess and equipment represents long-lived, depreciable assets commonly used in commercial properties and may include and consist of: desks and chairs, machinery, equipment, engines, boilers, incinerators, installed building materials; systems and equipment for the purpose of supplying or distributing heating, cooling, electricity, gas, water, air, or light; antennas, cable, wiring and conduits used in connection with radio, television, security, fire prevention, or fire detection or otherwise used to carry electronic signals; telephone systems and equipment; security and access control systems and apparatus; plumbing systems; water heaters, ranges, stoves, microwave ovens, refrigerators, dishwashers, garbage disposers, washers, dryers and other appliances; light fixtures, awnings, storm windows and storm doors; pictures, screens, blinds, shades, curtains and curtain rods; mirrors; cabinets, paneling, rugs and floor and wall coverings; and such other items as defined by the reporting entity.

No definition available.

Real Estate Properties (Details) (USD $) In Thousands, unless otherwise specified	12 Months Ended				12 Months Ended	1 Months Ended			12 Months Ended
	Dec. 31, 2011	Dec. 31, 2010	Dec. 31, 2009	Jan. 31, 2012 Sonesta Hotel in Cambridge and New Orleans	Dec. 31, 2011 Hotels Lease Property Y	Jul. 31, 2011 Hotels Holiday Inn hotel in Memphis, Tennessee	Jan. 31, 2012 Hotels Sonesta Hotel in Cambridge, MA Property	Jan. 31, 2012 Hotels Sonesta Hotel in Cambridge, LA Property	Dec. 31, 2011 Travel centers Property	Dec. 31, 2011 Travel centers Maximum Y	Dec. 31, 2011 Travel centers Minimum Y
Real Estate Properties
Land	$ 1,360,773	$ 1,389,594
Building and improvements	4,343,991	4,443,904
Furniture, fixtures and equipment	431,332	465,584
Real estate properties
Investments in certain properties	132,299	97,816	63,390
Increase in annual minimum returns and rents	11,346	9,782	5,627
Number of hotels on leased land (in properties)					14				20
Minimum remaining term of ground lease (in years)					25
Remaining term of ground lease (in years)										39	7
Number of ground leases for which ground rent payable is calculated as a percentage of hotels revenues					9
Number of ground leases requiring specified minimum annual rents					12
Number of ground leases with prepaid future rent					2
Minimum annual rents					242				446
Net proceeds from sale of hotel						6,905
Number of hotels held for sale (in properties)					21
Number of rooms							400	483
Purchase price				$ 150,500