Choice Hotels International (CHH) 10-K 2 Mar 20 2019 FY Annual report Financial data

Document And Entity Information

Document And Entity Information - USD ($)	12 Months Ended
	Dec. 31, 2019	Feb. 14, 2020	Jun. 30, 2019
Cover page.
Document Type	10-K
Document Annual Report	true
Document Period End Date	Dec. 31, 2019
Document Transition Report	false
Entity File Number	001-13393
Entity Registrant Name	CHOICE HOTELS INTERNATIONAL INC /DE
Entity Incorporation, State or Country Code	DE
Entity Tax Identification Number	52-1209792
Entity Address, Address Line One	1 Choice Hotels Circle,
Entity Address, Address Line Two	Suite 400
Entity Address, City or Town	Rockville,
Entity Address, State or Province	MD
Entity Address, Postal Zip Code	20850
City Area Code	301
Local Phone Number	592-5000
Title of 12(b) Security	Common Stock, Par Value $0.01 per share
Trading Symbol	CHH
Security Exchange Name	NYSE
Entity Well-known Seasoned Issuer	Yes
Entity Voluntary Filers	No
Entity Current Reporting Status	Yes
Entity Interactive Data Current	Yes
Entity Filer Category	Large Accelerated Filer
Entity Small Business	false
Entity Emerging Growth Company	false
Entity Shell Company	false
Entity Public Float			$ 3,003,149,667
Entity Common Stock, Shares Outstanding		55,708,652
Documents Incorporated by Reference [Text Block]	Certain portions of our definitive proxy statement, to be filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission pursuant to Regulation 14A in connection with the Annual Meeting of Shareholders to be held on May 1, 2020 , are incorporated by reference under Part III of this Form 10-K.
Entity Central Index Key	0001046311
Current Fiscal Year End Date	--12-31
Document Fiscal Year Focus	2019
Document Fiscal Period Focus	FY
Amendment Flag	false

Consolidated Statements of Inco

Consolidated Statements of Income - USD ($) $ in Thousands	12 Months Ended
	Dec. 31, 2019	Dec. 31, 2018	Dec. 31, 2017
REVENUES:
Revenues	$ 1,114,820	$ 1,041,304	$ 941,297
Total revenues	1,114,820	1,041,304	941,297
OPERATING EXPENSES:
Selling, general and administrative	168,833	170,027	165,821
Depreciation and amortization	18,828	14,330	6,680
Marketing and reservation system	579,139	534,266	479,400
Owned hotels	14,448	0	0
Total operating expenses	781,248	718,623	651,901
Impairment of goodwill	(3,097)	(4,289)	0
Impairment of long-lived assets	(7,259)	0	0
Loss on sale of business	(4,674)	0	0
Gain on sale of assets, net	100	82	257
Operating income	318,642	318,474	289,653
OTHER INCOME AND EXPENSES, NET:
Interest expense	46,807	45,908	45,039
Interest income	(9,996)	(7,452)	(5,920)
Loss on extinguishment of debt	7,188	0	0
Other (gain) loss	(4,862)	1,437	(3,229)
Equity in net loss of affiliates	9,576	5,323	4,546
Total other income and expenses, net	48,713	45,216	40,436
Income before income taxes	269,929	273,258	249,217
Income taxes	47,051	56,903	126,890
Net income	$ 222,878	$ 216,355	$ 122,327
Basic earnings per share:
Basic earnings per share (in dollars per share)	$ 4	$ 3.83	$ 2.16
Diluted earnings per share (in dollars per share)	$ 3.98	$ 3.80	$ 2.15
Royalty fees
REVENUES:
Revenues	$ 388,151	$ 376,676	$ 341,745
Initial franchise and relicensing fees
REVENUES:
Revenues	27,489	26,072	23,038
Procurement services
REVENUES:
Revenues	61,429	52,088	40,451
Marketing and reservation system
REVENUES:
Revenues	577,426	543,677	499,625
Owned hotels
REVENUES:
Total revenues	20,282	0	0
Other
REVENUES:
Total revenues	$ 40,043	$ 42,791	$ 36,438

Consolidated Statements of Comp

Consolidated Statements of Comprehensive Income - USD ($) $ in Thousands	12 Months Ended
	Dec. 31, 2019	Dec. 31, 2018	Dec. 31, 2017
Statement of Comprehensive Income [Abstract]
Net income	$ 222,878	$ 216,355	$ 122,327
Other comprehensive income (loss), net of tax:
Amortization of loss on cash flow hedge	1,436	862	862
Foreign currency translation adjustment	(540)	(1,609)	2,961
Other comprehensive income (loss), net of tax	896	(747)	3,823
Comprehensive income	$ 223,774	$ 215,608	$ 126,150

Consolidated Balance Sheets

Consolidated Balance Sheets - USD ($) $ in Thousands	Dec. 31, 2019	Dec. 31, 2018
Current assets
Cash and cash equivalents	$ 33,766	$ 26,642
Receivables (net of allowance for doubtful accounts of $18,482 and $15,905, respectively)	141,566	138,018
Income taxes receivable	11,126	10,122
Notes receivable, net of allowances	25,404	36,759
Other current assets	24,727	32,243
Total current assets	236,589	243,784
Property and equipment, at cost, net	351,502	127,535
Operating lease right-of-use assets	24,088
Goodwill	159,196	168,996
Intangible assets, net	290,421	271,188
Notes receivable, net of allowances	103,054	83,440
Investments, employee benefit plans, at fair value	24,978	19,398
Investments in unconsolidated entities	78,655	109,016
Deferred income taxes	20,747	30,613
Other assets	97,442	84,400
Total assets	1,386,672	1,138,370
Current liabilities
Accounts payable	73,449	73,511
Accrued expenses and other current liabilities	90,364	92,651
Current portion	71,594	67,614
Liability for guest loyalty program	82,970	83,566
Current portion of long-term debt	7,511	1,097
Total current liabilities	325,888	318,439
Long-term debt	844,102	753,514
Long-term portion	112,662	110,278
Deferred compensation and retirement plan obligations	29,949	24,212
Income taxes payable	26,147	26,276
Operating lease liabilities	21,270
Liability for guest loyalty program	46,698	52,327
Other liabilities	3,467	37,096
Total liabilities	1,410,183	1,322,142
Commitments and Contingencies
Common stock, $0.01 par value; 160,000,000 shares authorized; 95,065,638 shares issued at December 31, 2019 and December 31, 2018; 55,702,628 and 55,679,207 shares outstanding at December 31, 2019 and December 31, 2018, respectively	951	951
Additional paid-in-capital	231,160	213,170
Accumulated other comprehensive loss	(4,550)	(5,446)
Treasury stock, at cost; 39,363,010 and 39,386,431 shares at December 31, 2019 and December 31, 2018, respectively	(1,219,905)	(1,187,625)
Retained earnings	968,833	795,178
Total shareholders’ deficit	(23,511)	(183,772)
Total liabilities and shareholders’ deficit	$ 1,386,672	$ 1,138,370

Consolidated Balance Sheets (Pa

Consolidated Balance Sheets (Parenthetical) - USD ($) $ in Thousands	Dec. 31, 2019	Dec. 31, 2018
Current assets
Receivables, allowance for doubtful accounts	$ 18,482	$ 15,905
SHAREHOLDERS' DEFICIT
Common stock, par value (in dollars per share)	$ 0.01	$ 0.01
Common stock, shares authorized (in shares)	160,000,000	160,000,000
Common stock, shares issued (in shares)	95,065,638	95,065,638
Common stock, shares outstanding (in shares)	55,702,628	55,679,207
Treasury stock, shares (in shares)	39,363,010	39,386,431

Consolidated Statements of Cash

Consolidated Statements of Cash Flows - USD ($) $ in Thousands	12 Months Ended
	Dec. 31, 2019	Dec. 31, 2018	Dec. 31, 2017
CASH FLOWS FROM OPERATING ACTIVITIES
Net income	$ 222,878	$ 216,355	$ 122,327
Adjustments to reconcile net income to net cash provided by operating activities:
Depreciation and amortization	18,828	14,330	6,680
Depreciation and amortization - marketing and reservation system	17,294	19,597	20,609
Franchise agreement acquisition cost amortization	7,992	9,239	7,191
Impairment of goodwill	3,097	4,289	0
Impairment of long-lived assets	7,259	0	0
Loss on sale of business	4,674	0	0
Loss on debt extinguishment	7,188	0	0
Gain on disposal of assets, net	(2,103)	(56)	(237)
Provision for bad debts, net	8,240	10,542	5,514
Non-cash stock compensation and other charges	17,615	15,986	22,857
Non-cash interest and other investment (income) loss	(4,010)	3,695	(772)
Deferred income taxes	9,810	(3,510)	57,106
Equity in net losses from unconsolidated joint ventures, less distributions received	12,562	7,389	6,579
Franchise agreement acquisition cost, net of reimbursements	(38,944)	(52,929)	(30,638)
Change in working capital and other, net of acquisition	(21,824)	(2,031)	40,158
Net cash provided by operating activities	270,556	242,896	257,374
CASH FLOWS FROM INVESTING ACTIVITIES
Investment in property and equipment	(57,342)	(47,673)	(23,437)
Investment in intangible assets	(6,699)	(1,803)	(2,517)
Proceeds from sales of assets	10,585	3,053	1,000
Asset acquisition, net of cash acquired	(168,954)	(3,179)	0
Proceeds from sale of unconsolidated joint venture	8,937	0	0
Business acquisition, net of cash acquired	0	(231,317)	0
Payment on business disposition, net	(10,783)	0	0
Contributions to equity method investments	(27,828)	(9,604)	(50,554)
Distributions from equity method investments	10,241	1,429	4,569
Purchases of investments, employee benefit plans	(3,175)	(2,895)	(2,447)
Proceeds from sales of investments, employee benefit plans	2,217	2,825	2,245
Issuance of notes receivable	(20,722)	(36,045)	(19,738)
Collections of notes receivable	14,231	4,997	655
Other items, net	(1,875)	(1,040)	109
Net cash used in investing activities	(251,167)	(321,252)	(90,115)
CASH FLOWS FROM FINANCING ACTIVITIES
Proceeds from issuance of long term debt	422,376	9,037	0
Net (repayments) borrowings pursuant to revolving credit facilities	(72,400)	20,600	(115,003)
Principal payments on long-term debt, including premium on extinguishment	(256,809)	(603)	(660)
Debt issuance costs	(3,936)	(2,590)	0
Purchases of treasury stock	(50,638)	(148,679)	(9,807)
Dividends paid	(48,089)	(48,715)	(48,651)
(Payments on) proceeds from transfer of interest in notes receivable	(24,409)	173	24,237
Proceeds from exercise of stock options	21,410	41,360	14,107
Net cash used in financing activities	(12,495)	(129,417)	(135,777)
Net change in cash and cash equivalents	6,894	(207,773)	31,482
Effect of foreign exchange rate changes on cash and cash equivalents	230	(921)	1,391
Cash and cash equivalents at beginning of period	26,642	235,336	202,463
Cash and cash equivalents at end of period	33,766	26,642	235,336
Cash payments during the year for:
Income taxes, net of refunds	41,859	77,357	39,181
Interest, net of capitalized interest	48,179	43,254	42,405
Non-cash investing and financing activities:
Dividends declared but not paid	12,535	11,977	12,185
Investment in property, equipment and intangibles acquired in accounts payable and accrued liabilities	959	5,949	1,099
Seller-financing to purchaser	$ 0	$ 0	$ 2,000

Consolidated Statements of Shar

Consolidated Statements of Shareholders' Deficit - USD ($) $ in Thousands	Total	Common Stock	Additional Paid-in- Capital	Accumulated Other Comprehensive Income (Loss)	Treasury Stock	Retained Earnings
Beginning balance, (in shares) at Dec. 31, 2016		56,299,949
Beginning balance at Dec. 31, 2016	$ (365,282)	$ 951	$ 159,045	$ (8,522)	$ (1,070,383)	$ 553,627
Increase (Decrease) in Stockholders' Equity [Roll Forward]
Net income	122,327					122,327
Other comprehensive income	3,823			3,823
Share based payment activity (in shares)		538,069
Share based payment activity	39,020		23,403		15,617
Dividends declared	(48,682)					(48,682)
Treasury purchases (in shares)		(158,050)
Treasury purchases	(9,807)				(9,807)
Ending balance, (in shares) at Dec. 31, 2017		56,679,968
Ending balance at Dec. 31, 2017	(258,601)	$ 951	182,448	(4,699)	(1,064,573)	627,272
Increase (Decrease) in Stockholders' Equity [Roll Forward]
Net income	216,355					216,355
Other comprehensive income	(747)			(747)
Share based payment activity (in shares)		918,397
Share based payment activity	56,349		30,722		25,627
Dividends declared	(48,449)					(48,449)
Treasury purchases (in shares)		(1,919,158)
Treasury purchases	$ (148,679)				(148,679)
Ending balance, (in shares) at Dec. 31, 2018	55,679,207	55,679,207
Ending balance at Dec. 31, 2018	$ (183,772)	$ 951	213,170	(5,446)	(1,187,625)	795,178
Increase (Decrease) in Stockholders' Equity [Roll Forward]
Net income	222,878					222,878
Other comprehensive income	896			896
Share based payment activity (in shares)		654,694
Share based payment activity	38,056		19,698		18,358
Dividends declared	(48,609)					(48,609)
Treasury purchases (in shares)		(631,273)
Treasury purchases	(50,638)				(50,638)
Other(1)	$ (2,322)		(1,708)			(614)
Ending balance, (in shares) at Dec. 31, 2019	55,702,628	55,702,628
Ending balance at Dec. 31, 2019	$ (23,511)	$ 951	$ 231,160	$ (4,550)	$ (1,219,905)	$ 968,833

Summary of Significant Accounti

Summary of Significant Accounting Policies	12 Months Ended
	Dec. 31, 2019
Accounting Policies [Abstract]
Summary of Significant Accounting Policies	Summary of Significant Accounting Policies Basis of Presentation The accompanying consolidated financial statements present the financial position, results of operations and cash flows of Choice Hotels International, Inc., a Delaware corporation and subsidiaries (the "Company"). The Company consolidates entities under its control, including variable interest entities where it is deemed to be the primary beneficiary. Investments in unconsolidated affiliates where the Company is not deemed to be the primary beneficiary but where the Company exercises significant influence over the operating and financial policies of the investee are accounted for by the equity method. All significant inter-company accounts and transactions have been eliminated in consolidation. The consolidated financial statements are prepared in conformity with accounting principles generally accepted in the United States of America ("GAAP") and require management to make certain estimates and assumptions that affect the reported amounts of assets and liabilities and disclosure of contingent assets and liabilities at the date of the financial statements and the reported amounts of revenues and expenses during the reporting period. Accordingly, ultimate results could differ from those estimates. In the opinion of management, the accompanying consolidated financial statements include all normal and recurring adjustments that are necessary to fairly present the financial position, results of operations and cash flows of the Company. On July 23, 2019, the Company acquired the remaining interests in four operating Cambria hotels. The transaction has been accounted for as an asset acquisition and accordingly, assets and liabilities were recorded at cost and attributed to each asset class on a relative fair value basis. Refer to Note 25. As a result of this transaction and the opening of a Cambria hotel previously under development by the Company on August 1, 2019, the Company owns five open and operating Cambria hotels. The results of these hotels are primarily captured in the Owned hotels revenue and operating expense line items in the Company's consolidated statements of income. On February 1, 2018, the Company acquired 100% of the issued and outstanding equity interest of WoodSpring Hotels Franchise Services ("WoodSpring"). The transaction has been accounted for using the acquisition method of accounting and accordingly, assets acquired and liabilities assumed were recorded at their fair values as of the acquisition date. The results have been consolidated with the Company since February 1, 2018. Refer to Note 25. Revenue Recognition Refer to Note 2 Revenue . Accounts Receivable and Credit Risk Accounts receivable consist primarily of franchise and related fees due from hotel franchisees and are recorded at the invoiced amount. The allowance for doubtful accounts is the Company’s best estimate of the amount of probable credit losses in the existing accounts receivable. The Company determines the allowance considering historical write-off experience and a review of aged receivable balances. However, the Company considers its credit risk associated with trade receivables to be partially mitigated due to the dispersion of these receivables across a large number of geographically diverse franchisees. The Company records bad debt expense in SG&A and marketing and reservation system expenses in the accompanying consolidated statements of income based on its assessment of the ultimate realizability of trade receivables considering historical collection experience and the economic environment. When the Company determines that an account is not collectible, the account is written-off to the associated allowance for doubtful accounts. Advertising Costs The Company expenses advertising costs as the advertising occurs. Advertising expense was $158.4 million , $141.8 million , and $114.1 million for the years ended December 31, 2019, 2018 and 2017 , respectively. The Company includes advertising costs primarily in marketing and reservation system expenses on the accompanying consolidated statements of income. Cash and Cash Equivalents The Company considers all highly liquid investments purchased with a maturity of three months or less at the date of purchase to be cash equivalents. The Company maintains cash balances in domestic banks, which, at times, may exceed the limits of amounts insured by the Federal Deposit Insurance Corporation. In addition, the Company also maintains cash balances in international banks which do not provide deposit insurance. Capitalization Policies Property and equipment are recorded at cost and depreciated using the straight-line method over the estimated useful lives of the assets. Leasehold improvements are amortized over the shorter of the lease term or their useful lives. Major renovations and replacements incurred during construction are capitalized. Additionally, the Company capitalizes any interest incurred during construction of property and equipment or the development of software. Upon sale or retirement of property, the cost and related accumulated depreciation are eliminated from the accounts and any related gain or loss is recognized in the accompanying consolidated statements of income. Maintenance, repairs and minor replacements are charged to expense as incurred. Costs for computer software developed for internal use are capitalized during the application development stage and depreciated using the straight-line method over the estimated useful lives of the software. Software licenses pertaining to cloud computing arrangements that are capitalized are amortized using the straight-line method over the shorter of the cloud computing arrangement term or their useful lives. Assets Held for Sale The Company considers assets to be held for sale when all of the following criteria are met: • Management commits to a plan to sell an asset; • It is unlikely that the disposal plan will be significantly modified or discontinued; • The asset is available for immediate sale in its present condition; • Actions required to complete the sale of the asset have been initiated; • Sale of the asset is probable and the Company expects the completed sale will occur within one year; and • The asset is actively being marketed for sale at a price that is reasonable given its current market value. Upon designation as an asset held for sale, the Company records the carrying value of each asset at the lower of its carrying value or its estimated fair value, less estimated costs to sell, and ceases recording depreciation. If at any time these criteria are no longer met, subject to certain exceptions, the assets previously classified as held for sale are reclassified as held and used and measured individually at the lower of the following: a. the carrying amount before the asset was classified as held for sale, adjusted for any depreciation (amortization) expense that would have been recognized had the asset been continuously classified as held and used; b. the fair value at the date of the subsequent decision not to sell. Valuation of Long-Lived Assets, Intangibles, and Goodwill The Company evaluates the potential impairment of property and equipment and other long-lived assets, including franchise rights and other definite-lived intangibles, annually or earlier upon the occurrence of an event or when other circumstances indicate that the Company may not be able to recover the carrying value of the asset. When indicators of impairment are present, recoverability is assessed based on net, undiscounted expected cash flows. If the net, undiscounted expected cash flows are less than the carrying amount of the assets, an impairment charge is recorded for the excess of the carrying value over the fair value of the asset. The fair value of intangibles and long lived assets are estimated primarily using undiscounted cash flow analyses. Significant management judgment is involved in evaluating indicators of impairment and developing any required projections to test for recoverability or estimate the fair value of an asset. Furthermore, if management uses different projections or if different conditions occur in future periods, future-operating results could be materially impacted. The Company recognized impairments on franchise sales commission assets and franchise agreement acquisition cost intangibles resulting from terminations of franchisees from the Choice system as discussed in Note 2. During the first quarter of 2019, the SaaS for vacation rentals reporting unit recognized impairment of long-lived assets as discussed in Note 6. Other than these recognized impairments, the Company did not identify any indicators of impairment of long-lived assets during the years ended December 31, 2019, 2018 and 2017 . The Company evaluates the impairment of goodwill and intangible assets with indefinite lives annually as of December 31 or earlier upon the occurrence of substantive unfavorable changes in economic conditions, industry trends, costs, cash flows, or ongoing declines in market capitalization that indicate that the Company may not be able to recover the carrying amount of the asset. In evaluating these assets for impairment, the Company may elect to first assess qualitative factors to determine whether it is more likely than not that the fair value of the reporting unit or the indefinite lived intangible asset is less than its carrying amount. If the conclusion is that it is not more likely than not that the fair value of the asset is less than its carrying value, then no further testing is required. If the conclusion is that it is more likely than not that the fair value of the asset is less than its carrying value, then a quantitative impairment test is performed for goodwill. For indefinite-lived intangibles, the carrying value is compared to the fair value of the asset and an impairment charge is recognized for any excess. The Company may elect to forgo the qualitative assessment and move directly to the quantitative impairment tests for goodwill and indefinite-lived intangibles. The Company determines the fair value of its reporting units and indefinite-lived intangibles using income and market methods. Goodwill is allocated to the Company's reporting units, which are determined by the availability of discrete financial information relied upon by segment management. Goodwill has been allocated to two reporting units: (1) Hotel Franchising and (2) SaaS for vacation rentals. The Company performed the qualitative impairment analysis for the Hotel Franchising reporting unit, concluding that it is more likely than not that the fair value of the reporting unit is greater than its carrying amount. As such, no impairment was recorded and a quantitative test was not required. The Company performed the quantitative test for the SaaS for vacation rentals reporting unit during the fourth quarter of 2018 and first quarter of 2019 determining that the carrying value of the reporting unit exceeded the fair value. As a result, the Company recognized a goodwill impairment of $4.3 million and $3.1 million in the fourth quarter of 2018 and first quarter of 2019, respectively. The SaaS for vacation rentals reporting unit was sold during the second quarter of 2019, resulting in the write-off of the remaining goodwill. Refer to Note 6. Other than the SaaS for vacation rental reporting unit, the Company did not record any impairment of goodwill or intangible assets with indefinite lives during the years ended December 31, 2019, 2018 and 2017 . Variable Interest Entities In accordance with the guidance for the consolidation of variable interest entities ("VIE"), the Company analyzes its variable interests to determine if the entity in which the Company has a variable interest is a VIE. The Company's variable interests include equity investments, loans, and guaranties. The analysis includes both quantitative and qualitative consideration. For those entities determined to be VIEs, a further quantitative and qualitative analysis is performed to determine if the Company will be deemed the primary beneficiary. The primary beneficiary is the party who has the power to direct the activities of a variable interest entity that most significantly impact the entity's economic performance and who has an obligation to absorb losses of the entity or a right to receive benefits from the entity that could potentially be significant to the entity. The Company consolidates those entities in which it is determined to be the primary beneficiary. Valuation of Investments in Equity Method Investments The Company evaluates an investment in a venture for impairment when circumstances indicate that the carrying value may not be recoverable, for example due to loan defaults, significant under performance relative to historical or projected operating performance, and significant negative industry or economic trends. When there is indication that a loss in value has occurred, the Company evaluates the carrying value compared to the estimated fair value of the investment. Fair value is based upon internally developed discounted cash flow models, third-party appraisals, and if appropriate, current estimated net sales proceeds from pending offers. If the estimated fair value is less than carrying value, management uses its judgment to determine if the decline in value is other-than-temporary. In determining this, the Company considers factors including, but not limited to, the length of time and extent of the decline, loss of values as a percentage of the cost, financial condition and near-term financial projections, the Company's intent and ability to recover the lost value and current economic conditions. For declines in value that are deemed other-than-temporary, impairments are charged to earnings. Foreign Operations The United States dollar is the functional currency of the consolidated entities operating in the United States. The functional currency for the consolidated entities operating outside of the United States is generally the currency of the primary economic environment in which the entity primarily generates and expends cash. The Company translates the financial statements of consolidated entities whose functional currency is not the United States dollar into United States dollars. The Company translates assets and liabilities at the exchange rate in effect as of the financial statement date and translates income statement accounts using the weighted average exchange rate for the period. The Company includes translation adjustments from foreign exchange and the effect of exchange rate changes on inter-company transactions of a long-term investment nature as a separate component of shareholders’ deficit. The Company reports foreign currency transaction gains and losses and the effect of inter-company transactions of a short-term or trading nature in SG&A expenses on the consolidated statements of income. Foreign currency transaction (gains) losses for the years ended December 31, 2019, 2018 and 2017 were $(0.1) million , $0.3 million , and $(3) thousand , respectively. Derivatives The Company periodically uses derivative instruments as part of its overall strategy to manage exposure to market risks associated with fluctuations in interest rates. All outstanding derivative financial instruments are recognized at their fair values as assets or liabilities. The impact on earnings from recognizing the fair values of these instruments depends on their intended use, their hedge designation and their effectiveness in offsetting changes in the fair values of the exposures they are hedging. The Company does not use derivatives for trading purposes. The effective portion of changes in fair value of derivatives designated as cash flow hedging instruments are recorded as a component of accumulated other comprehensive income (loss) and the ineffective portion is reported currently in earnings. The amounts included in accumulated other comprehensive income are reclassified into earnings in the same period during which the hedged item affects earnings. Amounts reported in earnings are classified consistent with the item being hedged. The Company formally documents all relationships between its hedging instruments and hedged items at inception, including its risk management objective and strategy for establishing various hedge relationships. Cash flows from hedging instruments are classified in the consolidated statements of cash flows consistent with the items being hedged. Hedge accounting is discontinued prospectively when (i) the derivative instrument is no longer effective in offsetting changes in fair value or cash flows of the underlying hedged item, (ii) the derivative instrument expires, is sold, terminated or exercised, or (iii) designating the derivative instrument as a hedge is no longer appropriate. The effectiveness of derivative instruments is assessed at inception and on an ongoing basis. At December 31, 2019 and 2018 , there were no outstanding derivative positions. Guaranties The Company has historically issued certain guaranties to support the growth of its brands. A liability is recognized for the fair value of such guaranties upon inception of the guaranty and upon any subsequent modification, such as renewals, when the Company remains contingently liable. The fair value of a guaranty is the estimated amount at which the liability could be settled in a current transaction between willing unrelated parties. The Company evaluates these guaranties on a quarterly basis to determine if there is a probable loss requiring recognition. Recently Adopted Accounting Standards In February 2016, the Financial Accounting Standards Board ("FASB") issued Accounting Standards Update ("ASU") 2016-02, Leases (Topic 842) and issued subsequent amendments to the initial guidance at various points thereafter (collectively referred to as "Topic 842"). Topic 842 requires a lessee to recognize operating leases on its balance sheet by recording liabilities for its lease obligations and assets for its right-of-use ("ROU") of the underlying assets as of the lease commencement dates. This differs from prior treatment of operating leases in accordance with Accounting Standards Codification ("ASC") 840, Leases (Topic 840) ("Topic 840"), as operating leases were not captured on a lessee's consolidated balance sheet. Topic 842 prescribes that entities should recognize expenses on their consolidated statements of income in a manner similar to Topic 840 whereby minimum lease payments are recognized on a straight-line basis over a lease term. The Company elected to apply the package of practical expedients that allows entities to forego reassessing at the transition date: (i) whether expired or existing contracts are or contain leases; (ii) lease classification for any expired or existing leases; and (iii) whether initial direct costs for existing leases qualify for capitalization. Topic 842 allows entities an optional transitional method to apply the transition requirements at the effective date, rather than at the beginning of the earliest comparative period. An entity’s reporting for the comparative periods presented in the year of adoption continues to be in accordance with Topic 840, including the disclosure requirements of Topic 840. The Company adopted Topic 842 on January 1, 2019 using this optional transition method and therefore, the financial results reported in periods prior to January 1, 2019 are unchanged. Adoption of the standard during the first quarter of 2019 resulted in the recording of operating lease ROU assets of $28.0 million and operating lease liabilities of $38.5 million as of March 31, 2019. Topic 842 did not have an impact on our consolidated statements of income. Refer to Note 20.

Revenue Revenue

Revenue Revenue	12 Months Ended
	Dec. 31, 2019
Revenue from Contract with Customer [Abstract]
Revenue	Revenue Revenue Recognition Revenues are primarily derived from franchise agreements with third-party hotel owners. The majority of the Company’s performance obligations are a series of distinct services, as described in more detail below, for which the Company receives variable consideration through franchise fees. The Company enters into franchise agreements to provide franchisees with a limited non-exclusive license to utilize the Company’s registered brand trade names and trademarks, marketing and reservation services, and other miscellaneous franchise services. These agreements typically have an initial term from 10 to 30 years, with provisions permitting franchisees or the Company to terminate the franchise agreement upon designated anniversaries of the hotel opening before the end of the initial term. An up-front initial or relicensing fee is assessed to third-party hotel owners to affiliate with our brands, which is typically paid prior to agreement execution and is non-refundable. After hotel opening, fees are typically generated based on a percentage of gross room revenues or as designated transactions and events occur (such as when a reservation is delivered to the hotel through a specified channel) and are due to the Company in the following month. The franchise agreements are comprised of multiple performance obligations, which may require significant judgment in identifying. The primary performance obligations are as follows: • License of brand intellectual property and related services (“brand intellectual property”): Grants the right to access the Company’s intellectual property associated with brand trade names, trademarks, reservation systems, property management systems and related services. • Material rights for free or discounted goods or services to hotel guests: Primarily consists of the points issued under the Company’s guest loyalty program, Choice Privileges. • Point in time sale of goods: The Company administered the delivery of chip-enabled credit card readers to its franchisees in 2017 and 2018 to aid in compliance with industry standards in exchange for a fee. Revenue was recognized at the point in time shipment was made to the franchisee within Other revenue. The Company determined the standalone selling price was equal to the amount invoiced to the franchisee. Brand intellectual property Fees generated from the brand intellectual property are recognized to revenue over time as hotel owners pay for access to these services for the duration of the franchise agreement. Franchise fees are typically based on the sales or usage of the underlying hotel, with the exception of fixed up-front fees that usually represent an insignificant portion of the transaction price. The variable consideration is recognizable after the completion of a hotel stay. As a result, variable transaction price is determined for the period when the underlying gross room revenues and transactions or events which generate fees are known. Franchise fees include the following: • Royalty fees . Royalty fees are earned in exchange for a license to brand intellectual property typically based on a percentage of gross room revenues. These fees are billed and collected monthly and revenues are recognized in the same period that the underlying gross room revenues are earned by the Company’s franchisees. • Initial franchise and relicensing fees . Initial and relicensing fees are charged when (i) new hotels enter the franchise system; (ii) there is a change of ownership; or (iii) existing franchise agreements are extended. These revenues are recognized as revenue ratably as services are provided over the enforceable period of the franchise agreement. The enforceable period is the period from hotel opening to the first point the franchisee or the Company can terminate the franchise agreement without incurring a significant penalty. Deferred revenues from initial and relicensing fees will typically be recognized over a five to ten -year period, unless the franchise agreement is terminated and the hotel exits the franchise system whereby remaining deferred amounts will be recognized to revenue in the period of termination. • Other revenue. Other revenue is a combination of miscellaneous non-marketing and reservation system fees, inclusive of quality assurance, non-compliance and franchisee training fees, and is recognized in the period the designated transaction or event has occurred. The Company’s franchise agreements require the payment of marketing and reservation system fees. The Company is obligated to use these marketing and reservation system fees to provide marketing and reservation services such as advertising, providing a centralized reservation and property management system, providing reservation and revenue management services, and performing certain franchise services to support the operation of the overall franchise system. These services are comprised of multiple fees including the following: • Fees based on a percentage of gross room revenues are recognized in the period the gross room revenue was earned, based on the underlying hotel’s sales or usage. • Fees based on the occurrence of a designated transaction or event are recognized in the period the transaction or event occurred. • System implementation fees charged to franchisees are deferred and recognized as revenue over the enforceable period of the franchise agreement. • Marketing and reservation system activities also include revenues generated from the Company’s guest loyalty program. The revenue recognition of this program is discussed in Material rights for free or discounted good or services to hotel guests below . Marketing and reservation system expenses are those expenses incurred to facilitate the delivery of marketing and reservation system services, including direct expenses and an allocation of costs for certain administrative activities required to carry out marketing and reservation services. Marketing and reservation system expenses are recognized as services are incurred or goods are received, and as such may not equal marketing and reservation system revenues in a specific period but are expected to equal revenues earned from franchisees over time. The Company’s franchise agreements provide the Company the right to advance monies to the franchise system when the needs of the system surpass the balances currently available and recover such advances in future periods through additional fee assessments or reduced spending. Material rights for free or discounted good or services to hotel guests Choice Privileges is the Company’s frequent guest loyalty program, which enables members to earn points based on their spending levels with the Company’s franchisees. The points, which the Company accumulates and tracks on the members’ behalf, may be redeemed for free accommodations or other benefits (e.g., gift cards to participating retailers). The Company collects from franchisees a percentage of loyalty program members’ gross room revenue from completed stays to operate the program. At such time points are redeemed for free accommodations or other benefits, the Company reimburses franchisees or third parties based on a rate derived in accordance with the franchise or vendor agreement. Loyalty points represent a performance obligation attributable to usage of the points, and thus revenues are recognized at the point in time when the loyalty points are redeemed by members for benefits. The transaction price is variable and determined in the period when the loyalty points are earned and the underlying gross room revenues are known. No loyalty program revenues are recognized at the time the loyalty points are issued. The Company is an agent in coordinating delivery of the services between the loyalty program member and franchisee or third party, and as a result, revenues are recognized net of the cost of redemptions. The estimated fair value of future redemptions is reflected in current and non-current Liability for guest loyalty program in our consolidated balance sheets. The liability for guest loyalty program is developed based on an estimate of the eventual redemption rates and point values using various actuarial methods. These significant judgments determine the required point liability attributable to outstanding points, which is relieved as redemption costs are processed. The amount of the loyalty program fees in excess of the point liability represents current and non-current Deferred revenue , which is recognized to revenue as points are redeemed including an estimate of future forfeitures (“breakage”). The anticipated redemption pattern of the points is the basis for current and non-current designation of each liability. As of December 31, 2019 , the current and non-current deferred revenue balances are $38.6 million and $21.8 million , respectively. Loyalty points are typically redeemed within three years of issuance. Loyalty program point redemption revenues are recognized within marketing and reservation system revenue in the consolidated statements of income. The Company also earns revenues on contracts incidental to the support of operations for franchised hotels, including purchasing operations. Partnership Agreements The Company maintains various agreements with third-party partners, including the co-branding of the Choice Privileges credit card. The agreements typically provide for use of the Company’s marks, limited access to the Company’s distribution channels, and sale of Choice Privileges points, in exchange for fees primarily comprising variable consideration paid each month. Choice Privileges members can earn points through participation in the partner’s program. Partnership agreements include multiple performance obligations. The primary performance obligations are brand intellectual property and material rights for free or discounted goods or services to hotel guests. Allocation of fixed and variable consideration to the performance obligations is based on standalone selling price as estimated based on market and income methods, which represent significant judgments. The amounts allocated to brand intellectual property are recognized on a gross basis over time using the output measure of time elapsed, primarily within Procurement services revenue. The amounts allocated to material rights for free or discounted goods or services to hotel guests are recognized to revenue as points are redeemed including an estimate of breakage, primarily within marketing and reservation system revenue. Qualified Vendors The Company generates procurement services revenues from qualified vendors. Procurement services revenues are generally based on marketing services provided by the Company on behalf of the qualified vendors to hotel owners and guests. The Company provides these services in exchange for either fixed consideration or a percentage of revenues earned by the qualified vendor pertaining to purchases by the Company’s franchisees or guests. Fixed consideration is paid in installments based on a contractual schedule, with an initial payment typically due at contract execution. Variable consideration is typically paid quarterly after sales to franchisees or guests have occurred. Qualified vendor agreements comprise a single performance obligation, which is satisfied over time based on the access afforded and services provided to the qualified vendor for the stated duration of the agreement. Fixed consideration is allocated and recognized ratably to each period over the term of the agreement. Variable consideration is determined and recognized in the period when sales to franchisees or guests from vendors are known or cash payment has been remitted. Qualified vendor revenues are recognized within Procurement services revenue. Other The Company is party to other non-franchising agreements that generate revenue within Other revenue in the consolidated statements of income which are primarily SaaS arrangements for non-franchised hoteliers. SaaS agreements typically include fixed consideration for installment and other initiation fees paid at contract onset, and variable consideration for recurring subscription revenue paid monthly. SaaS agreements comprise a single performance obligation, which is satisfied over time based on the access to the software for the stated duration of the agreement. Fixed consideration is allocated and recognized ratably to each period over the term of the agreement. Variable consideration is determined at the conclusion of each period, and allocated to and recognized in the current period. Owned Hotels The Company owned five hotels at December 31, 2019, from which the Company derives revenues. As a hotel owner, the Company has performance obligations to provide accommodations to hotel guests and, in return, the Company earns a nightly fee for an agreed upon period that is generally payable at the time the hotel guest checks out of the hotel. The Company typically satisfies the performance obligations over the length of the stay and recognizes the revenue on a daily basis, as the hotel rooms are occupied and services are rendered. Other ancillary goods and services at owned hotels are purchased independently of the hotel stay at standalone selling prices and are considered separate performance obligations, which are satisfied at the point in time when the related good or service is provided to the guest. These primarily consist of food and beverage, incidentals and parking fees. Contract Liabilities Contract liabilities relate to (i) advance consideration received, such as initial franchise and relicensing fees paid when a franchise agreement is executed and system implementation fees paid at time of installation, for services considered to be part of the brand intellectual property performance obligation and (ii) amounts received when Choice Privileges points are issued but for which revenue is not yet recognized since the related points have not been redeemed. Significant changes in the contract liabilities balances during 2019 are as follows: (in thousands) Balance as of December 31, 2018 $ 153,180 Increases to the contract liability balance due to cash received 101,705 Revenue recognized in the period (91,038 ) Balance as of December 31, 2019 $ 163,847 Remaining Performance Obligations The aggregate amount of transaction price allocated to unsatisfied or partially unsatisfied performance obligations is $163.8 million as of December 31, 2019 . This amount represents fixed transaction price that will be recognized as revenue in future periods, which is primarily captured in the balance sheet as current and non-current deferred revenue. Based on practical expedient elections permitted by Topic 606, the Company does not disclose the value of unsatisfied performance obligations for (i) variable consideration subject to the sales or usage-based royalty constraint or comprising a component of a series (including franchise, partnership, qualified vendor, and SaaS agreements), (ii) variable consideration for which we recognize revenue at the amount to which we have the right to invoice for services performed, or (iii) contracts with an expected original duration of one year or less. Capitalized Franchise Agreement Costs Sales commissions earned by Company personnel upon execution of a franchise agreement (“franchise sales commissions”) meet the requirement to be capitalized as an incremental cost of obtaining a contract with a customer. Capitalized franchise sales commission are amortized on a straight-line basis over the estimated benefit period of the arrangement, unless the franchise agreement is terminated and the hotel exits the system whereby remaining capitalized amounts will be expensed in the period of termination. The estimated benefit period is the Company's estimate of the duration a hotel will remain in the Choice system. Capitalized franchise sales commissions are $55.7 million and $51.9 million within Other assets as of December 31, 2019 and 2018 , respectively. Amortization expense and impairment loss for the years ended December 31, 2019 , 2018 and 2017 were $10.0 million , $9.0 million and $7.8 million , respectively, and is reflected within SG&A expenses. The Company makes certain payments to customers as an incentive to enter in to new franchise agreements (“Franchise agreement acquisition cost”). These payments are recognized as an adjustment to transaction price and capitalized as an intangible asset. Franchise agreement acquisition cost intangibles are amortized on a straight-line basis over the estimated benefit period of the arrangement as an offset to royalty fees and marketing and reservation system fees. Impairments from hotel terminations for the years ended December 31, 2019, 2018 and 2017 were $1.0 million , $0.3 million and $0.3 million , respectively, and are recorded within SG&A expenses and marketing and reservation system expenses. Sales Taxes The Company presents taxes collected from customers and remitted to governmental authorities on a net basis and therefore they are excluded from revenues in the consolidated financial statements. Disaggregation of Revenue The following table presents our revenues by over time and point in time recognition: Year Ended December 31, 2019 Over time Point in time Total Revenues: (in thousands) Royalty fees $ 388,151 $ — $ 388,151 Initial franchise and relicensing fees 27,489 — 27,489 Procurement services 58,248 3,181 61,429 Marketing and reservation system 499,368 78,058 577,426 Owned hotels 17,345 2,821 20,166 Other 38,860 141 39,001 Total Topic 606 revenues $ 1,029,461 $ 84,201 1,113,662 Non-Topic 606 revenues 1,158 $ 1,114,820 Year Ended December 31, 2018 Over time Point in time Total Revenues: (in thousands) Royalty fees $ 376,676 $ — $ 376,676 Initial franchise and relicensing fees 26,072 — 26,072 Procurement services 49,496 2,592 52,088 Marketing and reservation system 490,025 53,652 543,677 Other 40,360 1,058 41,418 Total Topic 606 revenues $ 982,629 $ 57,302 1,039,931 Non-Topic 606 revenues 1,373 $ 1,041,304 Year Ended December 31, 2017 Over time Point in time Total Revenues: (in thousands) Royalty fees $ 341,745 $ — $ 341,745 Initial franchise and relicensing fees 23,038 — 23,038 Procurement services 38,568 1,883 40,451 Marketing and reservation system 460,749 38,876 499,625 Other 28,744 6,298 35,042 Total Topic 606 revenues $ 892,844 $ 47,057 939,901 Non-Topic 606 revenues 1,396 $ 941,297 Marketing and reservation system and Procurement services point in time revenues represent loyalty points redeemed by members for benefits (including with third-party partners) including adjustments to estimated redemption rates, net of the cost of redemptions of $81.2 million , $56.2 million , and $40.8 million for the years ended December 31, 2019 , 2018 and 2017 , respectively. Non-Topic 606 revenues represent revenue from leasing (refer to Note 20) and are presented in Owned hotels and Other revenues in the consolidated statements of income. As presented in Note 21, the Corporate & Other segment amounts represent $30.7 million , $14.3 million , and $10.8 million for the years ended December 31, 2019 , 2018 and 2017 , respectively, and are included in the Over time column of Other revenues and the Owned hotels and Non-Topic 606 revenues rows. The remaining revenues relate to the Hotel Franchising segment. Royalty fees and Marketing and reservation system revenues are presented net of $1.7 million in intersegment revenues described in Note 21.

Other Current Assets

Other Current Assets	12 Months Ended
	Dec. 31, 2019
Prepaid Expense and Other Assets, Current [Abstract]
Other Current Assets	Other Current Assets Other current assets consist of the following at: December 31, 2019 2018 (in thousands) Prepaid expenses $ 21,016 $ 18,412 Other current assets 3,711 6,831 Land held for sale — 7,000 Total $ 24,727 $ 32,243 Land held for sale represented a parcel of land previously acquired by the Company as part of its program to incent franchise development in strategic markets for the Company's Cambria Hotels brand. During the year ended December 31, 2019 , the Company sold the parcel of land, with a book value of $7.0 million recognizing a gain on sale of $0.1 million .

Notes Receivable and Allowance

Notes Receivable and Allowance for Losses	12 Months Ended
	Dec. 31, 2019
Accounts and Financing Receivable, after Allowance for Credit Loss [Abstract]
Notes Receivable and Allowance for Losses	Notes Receivable and Allowance for Losses The Company has provided financing to franchisees in support of the development of properties in strategic markets. The Company utilizes the level of security it has in the notes receivable as its primary credit quality indicator (i.e., senior, subordinated or unsecured) when determining the appropriate allowances for uncollectible loans. The Company considers loans to be past due and in default when payments are not made when due. Although the Company considers loans to be in default if payments are not received on the due date, the Company does not suspend the accrual of interest until those payments are more than 30 days past due. The Company applies payments received for loans on non-accrual status first to interest and then principal. The Company does not resume interest accrual until all delinquent payments are received. Interest income associated with these notes receivable is reflected in the accompanying consolidated statements of income under the caption interest income. The Company assesses the collectibility of its senior notes receivable by comparing the market value of the underlying assets to the carrying value of the outstanding notes. In addition, the Company evaluates the property’s operating performance, the borrower’s compliance with the terms of the loan and franchise agreements, and all related personal guaranties that have been provided by the borrower. For subordinated or unsecured receivables, the Company assesses the property’s operating performance, the subordinated equity available to the Company, the borrower’s compliance with the terms of the loan and franchise agreements, and the related personal guaranties that have been provided by the borrower. The Company considers a loan to be impaired when, based on current information and events, it is probable that the Company will be unable to collect all amounts due according to the contractual terms of the loan agreement. All amounts due according to the contractual terms means that both the contractual interest payments and the contractual principal payments of a loan will be collected as scheduled in the loan agreement. The Company measures loan impairment based on the present value of expected future cash flows discounted at the loan’s original effective interest rate or the estimated fair value of the collateral. For impaired or restructured loans that are provided a concession, the Company establishes a specific impairment reserve for the difference between the recorded investment in the loan and the present value of the expected future cash flows or the estimated fair value of the collateral. The Company applies its loan impairment policy individually to all notes receivable in the portfolio and does not aggregate loans for the purpose of applying such policy. For impaired loans, the Company recognizes interest income on a cash basis. For restructured loans that are provided a concession, the Company recognizes interest as earned as long as the borrower is in compliance with the restructured loan terms. The Company assesses the adequacy of its loan reserves on a quarterly basis. If it is likely that a loan will not be collected based on financial or other business indicators, it is the Company’s policy to establish a valuation allowance with a corresponding charge to SG&A expenses in the accompanying consolidated statements of income in the quarter when it is deemed uncollectible. Recoveries of impaired loans are recorded as a reduction of SG&A expenses in the quarter received. The following table shows the composition of the Company's notes receivable balances: December 31, 2019 2018 Credit Quality Indicator: (in thousands) Senior $ 98,545 $ 94,349 Subordinated 32,153 28,100 Unsecured 2,316 2,435 Total notes receivable 133,014 124,884 Allowance for losses on receivables specifically evaluated for impairment 4,426 4,426 Allowance for losses on non-impaired loans 130 259 Total loan reserves 4,556 4,685 Net carrying value $ 128,458 $ 120,199 Current portion, net $ 25,404 $ 36,759 Long-term portion, net 103,054 83,440 Total $ 128,458 $ 120,199 The Company classifies notes receivable due within one year as current assets. The Company determined that approximately $52.0 million and $52.1 million of its notes receivable were impaired at December 31, 2019 and 2018 . The total unpaid principal balances of these impaired notes, which were current on principal and interest payments based on their restructured loan maturity terms, as of both December 31, 2019 and 2018 were $51.8 million . The Company recorded allowances for credit losses on these impaired loans totaling $4.4 million for both the years ended December 31, 2019 and 2018 , respectively. For the years ended December 31, 2019 and 2018 , the average notes receivable on non-accrual status was approximately $1.7 million and $1.8 million . The Company recognized approximately $2.8 million and $44 thousand of interest income on impaired loans at December 31, 2019 and 2018 , respectively, on the cash basis. The Company provided loan reserves on non-impaired loans totaling $0.1 million and $0.3 million at December 31, 2019 and 2018 , respectively. The Company has identified loans totaling approximately $16.3 million and $12.9 million , respectively, with stated interest rates that are less than market rate, representing a total discount of $1.3 million and $1.5 million , respectively, at December 31, 2019 and 2018 . These discounts are reflected as a reduction of the outstanding loan amounts and are amortized over the life of the related loan. Past due balances of notes receivable by credit quality indicators are as follows: 30-89 days Past Due > 90 days Past Due Total Past Due Current Total Notes Receivable As of December 31, 2019 (in thousands) Senior $ — $ — $ — $ 98,545 $ 98,545 Subordinated — — — 32,153 32,153 Unsecured — — — 2,316 2,316 $ — $ — $ — $ 133,014 $ 133,014 As of December 31, 2018 Senior $ — $ — $ — $ 94,349 $ 94,349 Subordinated — — — 28,100 28,100 Unsecured — — — 2,435 2,435 $ — $ — $ — $ 124,884 $ 124,884 Variable Interest through Notes Issued The Company has issued notes receivables to certain entities that have created variable interests in these borrowers totaling $126.5 million and $114.3 million at December 31, 2019 and 2018 , respectively. The Company has determined that it is not the primary beneficiary of these variable interest entities. Each of these loans have stated fixed and/or variable interest amounts. The following table summarizes the activity related to the Company’s Notes Receivable allowance for losses for the years ended December 31, 2019 and 2018 : December 31, 2019 2018 (in thousands) Beginning balance $ 4,685 $ 2,137 Provisions — 2,779 Write-offs (129 ) (231 ) Ending balance $ 4,556 $ 4,685 Transfer of Interest On September 12, 2017, the Company entered into an agreement to transfer $24.2 million of a $49.1 million outstanding note receivable with a maturity date of November 30, 2019 to a third party. In the first quarter of 2018, an additional $0.2 million was transferred for a total of $24.4 million of a $50.1 million outstanding note. The transaction did not qualify as a sale and therefore the outstanding note receivable was not derecognized on the balance sheet. The one-time cash proceeds were recorded as unrestricted cash and the future obligation to transfer principal and interest received under the note has been recorded within Other Long-Term Liabilities. In addition, the proceeds from the transfer of the interest in the note receivable have been reflected on the statement of cash flows as a financing activity. The Company retained responsibility for collecting and distributing cash received on the note and interest paid to the participant is reflected as interest expense in the Company’s consolidated statements of income. In February 2019 and in connection with the Company's restructuring negotiations with the borrower, the Company mutually agreed with the counter party to repurchase the $24.4 million note receivable previously transferred prior to the maturity date. At December 31, 2019 and 2018 , Other Long-Term Liabilities includes $0 and $24.4 million

Property and Equipment

Property and Equipment	12 Months Ended
	Dec. 31, 2019
Property, Plant and Equipment [Abstract]
Property and Equipment	Property and Equipment The components of property and equipment are: December 31, 2019 2018 (in thousands) Land and land improvements $ 29,648 $ 2,197 Construction in progress and software under development 20,138 49,920 Computer equipment and software (1) 197,665 185,191 Buildings and leasehold improvements 229,961 30,019 Furniture, fixtures, vehicles and equipment 60,798 28,937 Property and equipment, at cost 538,210 296,264 Less: Accumulated depreciation and amortization (186,708 ) (168,729 ) Property and equipment, at cost, net $ 351,502 $ 127,535 (1) In 2019, $4.8 million of Assets under capital lease were transferred to Computer equipment and software as a result of adopting Topic 842 and paying off the lease. The $4.8 million of Assets under capital lease for the year ended 2018 have been reclassified to conform to current year presentation. In the third quarter of 2019, the Company completed an asset acquisition for four Cambria Hotels with a total net asset basis of $194.0 million . Reference Note 25. As construction in progress and software development are completed and placed in service, they are transferred to appropriate property and equipment categories and depreciation begins. In the third quarter of 2019, the rehabilitation and development of a former office building into a Cambria hotel was completed and the hotel opened. Interest capitalized as a cost of property and equipment totaled $0.2 million for the years ended December 31, 2019 and 2018 . Unamortized capitalized software development costs at December 31, 2019 and 2018 totaled $45.2 million and $38.9 million , respectively. Amortization of software development costs for the years ended December 31, 2019, 2018 and 2017 totaled $9.7 million , $11.2 million , and $11.7 million , respectively. Depreciation has been computed for financial reporting purposes using the straight-line method. A summary of the ranges of estimated useful lives upon which depreciation rates are based follows: Computer equipment and software 2-7 years Buildings and leasehold improvements 10-40 years Furniture, fixtures, vehicles and equipment 3-10 years Depreciation expense, excluding amounts attributable to marketing and reservation activities, for the years ended December 31, 2019, 2018 and 2017 was $9.7 million , $5.5 million and $5.2 million , respectively.

Goodwill

Goodwill	12 Months Ended
	Dec. 31, 2019
Goodwill and Intangible Assets Disclosure [Abstract]
Goodwill, Impairment of Assets and Loss on Sale of Business	The following table details the carrying amount of our goodwill: December 31, 2019 2018 (in thousands) Goodwill $ 173,070 $ 173,477 Accumulated impairment losses (7,578 ) (4,481 ) Disposition (6,296 ) — Net carrying amount $ 159,196 $ 168,996 The following is a summary of changes in the carrying amount of goodwill: December 31, 2018 Acquisitions Foreign Exchange Impairment Disposition December 31, 2019 Hotel Franchising $ 159,196 $ — $ — $ — $ — $ 159,196 Other 9,800 — (407 ) (3,097 ) (6,296 ) — Total $ 168,996 $ — $ (407 ) $ (3,097 ) $ (6,296 ) $ 159,196 December 31, 2017 Acquisitions Foreign Exchange Impairment Disposition December 31, 2018 Hotel Franchising $ 65,813 $ 93,383 $ — $ — $ — $ 159,196 Other 14,944 — (855 ) (4,289 ) — 9,800 Total $ 80,757 $ 93,383 $ (855 ) $ (4,289 ) $ — $ 168,996 Goodwill has historically been allocated to two reporting units: (1) Hotel Franchising and (2) SaaS for vacation rentals ("Other" in the table above). Activity by reporting unit in the current and prior period is organized by reporting unit below. Hotel Franchising The Company assessed the qualitative factors attributable to the Hotel Franchising reporting unit and determined it is not more likely than not that the fair value of the reporting unit is less than its carrying amount. The Hotel Franchising reporting unit is included in the Hotel Franchising reportable segment in Note 21. WoodSpring acquisition On February 1, 2018, the Company acquired 100% of the issued and outstanding equity interest of WoodSpring. The acquisition resulted in an additional $93.4 million in goodwill in the Hotel Franchising reporting unit. SaaS for vacation rentals Fourth Quarter of 2018 evaluation The Company acquired the SaaS for vacation rentals reporting unit on August 11, 2015 as a complementary adjacent business line to its Vacation Rentals initiative with the intention of leveraging the established SaaS based platform to acquire new customers and expand into new markets. During the period from acquisition through 2017, the performance of the reporting unit was in line with the assumptions at the time the acquisition was consummated. In the fourth quarter of 2018, the Company concluded the reporting unit did not achieve the annual revenue and customer acquisition targets. As part of the Company’s long range planning process, the Company assessed the long-term prospects for the reporting unit, determining certain investments are required to maintain the growth trajectory and achieve the customer acquisition assumed at the time of the acquisition. The Company elected not to make these investments as there was no longer a strategic alignment with the Vacation Rentals initiative. In contemplation of this strategic shift in combination with lower than expected revenues and customer acquisition in 2018, the Company revised its future outlook for the reporting unit. To estimate a fair value for the reporting unit, the Company utilized a combination of market and income approach valuation methods via quoted market prices, market multiples of comparable businesses, and performance of a discounted cash flow analysis. During 2018, the Company early adopted ASU 2017-04, Intangibles-Goodwill and Other (Topic 350) Simplifying the Test for Goodwill Impairment ("ASU 2017-04"), which eliminated Step 2 from the goodwill impairment test. Based on the guidance in ASU 2017-04, the Company recognized a non-cash pre-tax impairment charge on the SaaS for vacation rentals reporting unit's goodwill in the amount by which the carrying amount exceeded fair value of $4.3 million . Prior to performing the goodwill impairment test, the Company assessed if any indicators of impairment were present in the long-lived assets related to the SaaS for vacation rentals reporting unit, including intangible assets. We concluded the reporting unit’s long-lived assets were not impaired as of December 31, 2018 . As of December 31, 2018 , the $9.8 million of carrying value remaining in Other goodwill was fully attributable to the SaaS for vacation rentals reporting unit. First Quarter of 2019 evaluation On January 29, 2019, the Company became aware that a key customer of the SaaS for vacation rentals reporting unit provided the unit’s management team with a letter purporting to terminate the customer’s contract. The unit’s management team asserted, and the Company believed, that the purported termination notice was not valid. The customer was contemplated in the SaaS for vacation rentals reporting unit's projected revenues, and the Company determined that the unit’s receipt of the purported termination notice, even though the validity of the notice was being actively contested by the unit, represented a triggering event which required an interim reevaluation of the reporting unit's long-lived assets group and goodwill in the first quarter of 2019. The long-lived assets of the SaaS for vacation rentals reporting unit were comprised of $4.3 million of intangible assets, $1.7 million of operating lease ROU assets, and $1.3 million of property and equipment. The long-lived asset group was determined to be at the SaaS for vacation rentals reporting unit level. Recoverability of the long-lived asset group was assessed based on net, undiscounted expected cash flows of the asset group, which were less than the carrying amount of the asset group. An impairment charge was recorded for the excess of the carrying value over the fair value of the asset group. To estimate the fair value of the long-lived asset group, the Company utilized a combination of income and market approach valuation methods via performance of a discounted cash flow analysis and quoted market prices. The Company recognized a non-cash pre-tax long-lived asset group impairment charge for the full amount of SaaS for vacation rentals long-lived assets of $7.3 million . The carrying value of the SaaS for vacation rentals reporting unit was adjusted after the $7.3 million long-lived asset impairment. The adjusted carrying value exceeded the fair value of the reporting unit by $3.1 million , resulting in an additional non-cash pre-tax impairment charge on the SaaS for vacation rentals reporting unit's goodwill in this amount. As of March 31, 2019, the carrying value of the reporting unit's goodwill was $6.4 million . Second Quarter of 2019 evaluation On June 3, 2019 , the SaaS for vacation rentals reporting unit was sold. As a result of costs incurred in completing the disposition and the de-recognition of net assets of the reporting unit, including the remaining goodwill of $6.3 million , the Company recognized a loss on sale of $4.7 million .

Intangible assets

Intangible assets	12 Months Ended
	Dec. 31, 2019
Goodwill and Intangible Assets Disclosure [Abstract]
Intangible assets	Intangible assets The components of the Company's intangible assets are as follows: As of December 31, 2019 As of December 31, 2018 Gross Carrying Amount Accumulated Amortization Net Carrying Value Gross Carrying Amount Accumulated Amortization Net Carrying Value (in thousands) Unamortized Intangible Assets Trademarks (1) $ 23,014 $ — $ 23,014 $ 23,014 $ — $ 23,014 Amortized Intangible Assets Franchise Rights (2) 190,637 90,280 100,357 190,663 82,632 108,031 Franchise Agreement Acquisition Costs (3) 198,352 41,667 156,685 164,174 34,986 129,188 Trademarks (4) 14,300 10,961 3,339 14,055 10,562 3,493 Capitalized SaaS Licenses (5) 10,880 5,261 5,619 5,468 2,903 2,565 Contract Acquisition Costs (6) — — — 5,389 1,763 3,626 Acquired Lease Rights (7) 3,041 1,634 1,407 2,237 966 1,271 417,210 149,803 267,407 381,986 133,812 248,174 Total $ 440,224 $ 149,803 $ 290,421 $ 405,000 $ 133,812 $ 271,188 (1) Represents the purchase price assigned to the WoodSpring and Suburban trademarks at acquisition. The trademarks are expected to generate future cash flows for an indefinite period of time. (2) Represents the purchase price assigned to long-term franchise contracts. The unamortized balance relates primarily to the acquisition of the WoodSpring franchise rights. The franchise rights are being amortized over lives ranging from 12 to 20 years on a straight-line basis. (3) Represents certain payments to customers as an incentive to enter in to new franchise agreements amortized over lives ranging from 5 to 30 years on a straight-line basis commencing at hotel opening. Refer to Note 2. (4) Represents definite-lived trademarks generally amortized on a straight-line basis over a period of 8 to 40 years. (5) Represents software licenses capitalized under a SaaS agreement. Amortized over a period of 3 to 5 years. (6) Represents non-franchise customer contracts acquired in a business combination. Amortized on a straight-line basis over a period of 5 to 12 years. Impairment and subsequent sale of the SaaS for vacation rentals reporting unit in 2019 resulted in no remaining value. (7) Represents acquired lease rights recognized in conjunction with the acquisition of an office building and owned hotels. The costs are being amortized over various terms of the leases which range from 39 months to 10 years. Amortization expense for the years ended December 31, 2019, 2018 and 2017 amounted to $19.4 million , $19.4 million , and $9.9 million , respectively. The estimated annual amortization expense related to the Company’s amortizable intangible assets for each of the years ending December 31, 2020 through 2024 is as follows: Year: (in millions) 2020 $ 21.7 2021 $ 20.1 2022 $ 18.9 2023 $ 17.4 2024 $ 16.7 During the year ended 2019, the SaaS for vacation rentals reporting unit experienced a triggering event requiring the interim reevaluation of the reporting unit's long-lived assets group resulting in the recognition of an impairment of $7.3 million

Investments in Unconsolidated E

Investments in Unconsolidated Entities	12 Months Ended
	Dec. 31, 2019
Equity Method Investments and Joint Ventures [Abstract]
Investments in Unconsolidated Entities	Investments in Unconsolidated Entities The Company maintains a portfolio of investments owned through noncontrolling interests in equity method investments with one or more partners. The Company has equity method investments in joint ventures that represent variable interest entities ("VIEs") totaling $74.4 million and $103.0 million on the consolidated balance sheets at December 31, 2019 and 2018 , respectively. These investments relate to the Company's program to offer equity support to qualified franchisees to develop and operate Cambria Hotels in strategic markets. Based on an analysis of who has the power to direct the activities that most significantly impact these entities performance and who has an obligation to absorb losses of these entities or a right to receive benefits from these entities that could potentially be significant to the entity, the Company has determined that it is not the primary beneficiary of any of these VIEs. The Company based its qualitative analysis on its review of the design of the entity, its organizational structure including decision-making ability and the relevant development, operating management and financial agreements. Although the Company is not the primary beneficiary of these VIEs, it does exercise significant influence through its equity ownership and as a result the Company's investment in these entities is accounted for under the equity method. For the years ended December 31, 2019, 2018 and 2017 , the Company recognized losses totaling $11.3 million , $8.0 million and $7.1 million from the investment in these entities, respectively. The Company's maximum exposure to losses related to its investments in VIEs is limited to its equity investments as well as certain guaranties as described in Note 24 of these financial statements. Equity method investment ownership interests at December 31, 2019 and 2018 are as follows: Ownership Interest Equity Method Investment December 31, 2019 December 31, 2018 Main Street WP Hotel Associates, LLC 50 % 50 % FBC-CHI Hotels, LLC (2) — % 40 % CS Hotel 30W46th, LLC 25 % 25 % CS Brickell, LLC 50 % 50 % CS Maple Grove, LLC (3) — % 50 % CS Hotel West Orange, LLC 50 % 50 % Hotel JV Services, LLC (1) 16 % 16 % City Market Hotel Development, LLC 43 % 43 % CS Woodlands, LLC 50 % 50 % 926 James M. Wood Boulevard, LLC 75 % 75 % CS Dallas Elm, LLC 45 % 45 % Choice Hotels Canada, Inc. (1) 50 % 50 % Pine Street Long Beach LLC 50 % 50 % SY Valley Vineyard Resorts LLC 50 % 50 % CS Lakeside Santa Clara LLC 50 % 50 % CS Main Pleasant Hill LLC (4) — % 50 % BL 219 Holdco, LP 50 % — % Integrated 32 West Randolph LLC 20 % — % (1) Non-variable interest entity investments (2) During the third quarter of 2019, the Company redeemed the remaining 60% ownership interest in four of the hotels under the equity method investment and sold its 40% ownership interest in the fifth hotel. Following the redemption, the Company consolidated the operations of the four acquired hotels, and recognized a $6.0 million loss on the sale of the fifth hotel which is recorded in equity in net loss (income) of affiliates. The financial results of the 100% owned hotels have been consolidated in the Company's financial statements since July 23, 2019 . Reference Note 25. (3) During the second quarter of 2019, the Company sold its ownership interest in the equity method investment recognizing a gain of $1.4 million . (4) During the fourth quarter of 2019, the Company terminated its ownership interest in the equity method investment recognizing a loss of $0.4 million . The following tables present summarized financial information for all unconsolidated ventures in which the Company holds an investment that is accounted for under the equity method: Year Ended December 31, 2019 2018 2017 (in thousands) Revenues $ 109,896 $ 118,324 $ 87,033 Operating income 12,617 11,790 8,171 Income (loss) from continuing operations (1,400 ) 1,658 2,140 Net income (loss) $ (2,564 ) $ 477 $ 940 As of December 31, 2019 2018 (in thousands) Current assets $ 53,324 $ 75,453 Non-current assets 390,881 465,361 Total assets $ 444,205 $ 540,814 Current liabilities $ 27,583 $ 32,234 Non-current liabilities 261,039 239,581 Total liabilities $ 288,622 $ 271,815 In August 2015 , the Company entered into a $24.4 million promissory note with a development company which is a member of one of the Company’s unconsolidated joint ventures. In October 2016, the Company increased the loan and funded an additional $1.0 million . The Company has advanced a total of $25.4 million as of December 31, 2019 . The promissory note matures on September 3, 2023 , bears interest at variable rates, and is payable monthly. In October 2017 , May 2018 , and December 2018 , the Company entered into three promissory notes with a development company which is a member of one of the Company's unconsolidated joint ventures formed in 2018. The October 2017 promissory note matured in January 2019 and was repaid in full. The May 2018 and December 2018 promissory notes were extended and mature in May 2020 and March 2020 , respectively, bear interest at fixed and variable rates, and are payable monthly. At December 31, 2019 , the outstanding balance of the promissory notes totaled $20.5 million . In May 2019 , the Company entered into a joint venture agreement with a development company which has outstanding promissory notes totaling $50.1 million as of December 31, 2019 . The Company has determined the promissory notes are impaired and recorded allowances for credit losses on these impaired loans in the amount of $2.8 million . The promissory notes mature in November 2022 , bear interest at fixed and variable rates, and are payable monthly. The Company signed a management fee arrangement for marketing services with a joint venture partner. For the years ended December 31, 2019, 2018 and 2017 , fees earned and payroll costs reimbursed under this arrangement totaled $2.3 million , $1.7 million and $1.4 million , respectively. The Company entered into franchise agreements with certain of the unconsolidated joint ventures listed within Note 8. Pursuant to these franchise agreements, the Company recorded royalty and marketing and reservation system fees of approximately $25.2 million , $25.4 million , and $22.4 million , for the years ended December 31, 2019, 2018 and 2017 , respectively. The Company recorded $1.4 million and $1.1 million as a receivable due from these joint ventures as of December 31, 2019 and 2018 , respectively. In addition, the Company paid commissions of $0.3 million , $0.2 million , and $0.2 million for the years ended December 31, 2019, 2018 and 2017 , respectively, to an online travel agent for which the Company is a joint venture member.

Other Assets

Other Assets	12 Months Ended
	Dec. 31, 2019
Other Assets [Abstract]
Other Assets	Other Assets Other assets consist of the following at: December 31, 2019 2018 (in thousands) Land and buildings $ 29,700 $ 29,643 Capitalized franchise sales commissions (refer to Note 2) 55,662 51,929 Other assets 12,080 2,828 Total $ 97,442 $ 84,400 Land and buildings Land and buildings represents the Company's purchase of real estate as part of its program to incent franchise development in strategic markets for the Cambria Hotels brand and is classified as Other Assets as the real estate is not presently under active construction.

Accrued Expenses and Other Curr

Accrued Expenses and Other Current Liabilities	12 Months Ended
	Dec. 31, 2019
Accrued Liabilities [Abstract]
Accrued Expenses and Other Current Liabilities	Accrued Expenses and Other Current Liabilities Accrued expenses and other current liabilities consist of the following: December 31, 2019 2018 (in thousands) Accrued compensation and benefits $ 41,939 $ 42,518 Accrued interest 12,954 16,640 Dividends payable 12,535 11,977 Deferred rent and unamortized lease incentives — 2,772 Termination benefits 1,782 744 Current operating lease liabilities 10,099 — Other liabilities and contingencies 11,055 18,000 Total $ 90,364 $ 92,651

Deferred Revenue

Deferred Revenue	12 Months Ended
	Dec. 31, 2019
Deferred Revenue and Credits [Abstract]
Deferred Revenue	Deferred Revenue Deferred revenue consists of the following: December 31, 2019 2018 (in thousands) Initial franchising and relicensing fees $ 106,196 $ 104,287 Loyalty programs 60,428 53,749 System implementation fees 7,986 8,764 Procurement services fees 6,037 7,872 Other 3,609 3,220 Total $ 184,256 $ 177,892 Current portion $ 71,594 $ 67,614 Long-term portion 112,662 110,278 Total $ 184,256 $ 177,892 Refer to Note 2 for revenue recognition policies resulting in the deferral of revenue, including loyalty programs and the relationship between the loyalty programs deferred revenue and the liability for the guest loyalty program.

Other Non-Current Liabilities

Other Non-Current Liabilities	12 Months Ended
	Dec. 31, 2019
Other Liabilities, Noncurrent [Abstract]
Other Non-Current Liabilities	Other Non-Current Liabilities Other non-current liabilities consist of the following at: December 31, 2019 2018 (in thousands) Deferred rent and unamortized lease incentives $ — $ 7,903 Uncertain tax positions 3,094 1,788 Participating interest in notes receivable (refer to Note 4) — 24,409 Other liabilities 373 2,996 Total $ 3,467 $ 37,096 Uncertain tax positions have been recorded for potential exposures involving tax positions that could be challenged by taxing authorities.

Debt

Debt	12 Months Ended
	Dec. 31, 2019
Debt Disclosure [Abstract]
Debt	Debt Debt consists of the following at: December 31, 2019 2018 (in thousands) $400 million senior unsecured notes due 2022 with an effective interest rate of 6.0% less deferred issuance costs of $2.3 million and $3.2 million at December 31, 2019 and December 31, 2018, respectively $ 397,680 $ 396,844 $250 million senior unsecured notes with an effective interest rate of 6.19% less a discount and deferred issuance costs of $0.5 million at December 31, 2018 — 249,489 $600 million senior unsecured credit facility with an effective interest rate of 2.76% and 3.50%, less deferred issuance costs of $2.7 million and $3.0 million at December 31, 2019 and December 31, 2018, respectively 15,502 87,582 $400 million senior unsecured notes due 2029 with an effective interest rate of 3.88%, less a discount and deferred issuance costs of $6.0 million at December 31, 2019 394,039 — Construction loan with an effective interest rate of 6.23% and 6.70%, less deferred issuance costs of $0.6 million and $0.9 million at December 31, 2019 and December 31, 2018, respectively 32,465 7,652 Fixed rate collateralized mortgage with an effective interest rate of 4.57%, plus a fair value adjustment of $0.2 million and $0.4 million at December 31, 2019 and December 31, 2018, respectively 7,511 8,197 Economic development loans with an effective interest rate of 3.0% at December 31, 2019 and December 31, 2018, respectively 4,416 4,240 Other notes payable — 607 Total debt $ 851,613 $ 754,611 Less current portion 7,511 1,097 Total long-term debt $ 844,102 $ 753,514 Scheduled principal maturities of debt, net of unamortized discounts, premiums and deferred issuance costs, as of December 31, 2019 were as follows: Year Ending: Senior Notes Construction Loan Revolving Credit Other Notes Total (in thousands) 2020 $ — $ — $ — $ 7,511 $ 7,511 2021 — — — — — 2022 397,680 32,465 — — 430,145 2023 — — — 4,416 4,416 2024 — — 15,502 — 15,502 Thereafter 394,039 — — — 394,039 Total payments $ 791,719 $ 32,465 $ 15,502 $ 11,927 $ 851,613 Restated Senior Unsecured Credit Facility On August 20, 2018, the Company entered into a Restated Credit Agreement, which amended and restated the Company’s existing senior unsecured revolving credit agreement, dated July 21, 2015. The Restated Credit Agreement increased the commitments under the credit facility to $600 million and extended the final maturity date to August 20, 2023, subject to optional one -year extensions that can be requested by the Company prior to each of the first, second and third anniversaries of the closing date of the Restated Credit Agreement. The effectiveness of such extensions is subject to the consent of the lenders under the Restated Credit Agreement and certain customary conditions. The Restated Credit Agreement also provides that up to $35 million of borrowings under the Restated Credit Agreement may be used for alternative currency loans and up to $25 million of borrowings under the Revolver may be used for swingline loans. The Company may from time to time designate one or more wholly owned subsidiaries of the Company as additional borrowers under the Restated Credit Agreement, subject to the consent of the lenders and certain customary conditions. On July 2, 2019, the Company exercised the first one-year extension option on the Restated Credit Agreement, extending the maturity date from August 20, 2023 to August 20, 2024. There are no subsidiary guarantors under the Restated Credit Agreement. Previously, if certain subsidiaries of the Company subsequently incur certain recourse debt or become obligors in respect of certain recourse debt of the Company or certain of its other subsidiaries, the Restated Credit Agreement required such obligated subsidiaries to guarantee the Company’s obligations under the Restated Credit Agreement (the "springing guarantee"). In the event that the springing guarantee was triggered under the Restated Credit Agreement the same subsidiary guarantees would be required under the 2012 and 2019 Senior Notes and certain hedging and bank product arrangements, if any, with lenders that are parties to the Restated Credit Agreement. However, on February 18, 2020, the Company amended the Restated Credit Agreement to, among other things, remove the springing guarantee and other provisions and references in the Restated Credit Agreement related to the potential existence of subsidiary guarantors. The Company may at any time prior to the final maturity date increase the amount of the Restated Credit Agreement or add one or more term loan facilities under the Restated Credit Agreement by up to an additional $250 million in the aggregate to the extent that any one or more lenders commit to being a lender for the additional amount of such term loan facility and certain other customary conditions are met. The Restated Credit Agreement provides that the Company may elect to have borrowings bear interest at a rate equal to (i) LIBOR plus a margin ranging from 90 to 150 basis points or (ii) a base rate plus a margin ranging from 0 to 50 basis points, in each case, with the margin determined according to the Company’s senior unsecured long-term debt rating or under circumstances as set forth in the Restated Credit Agreement, the Company’s total leverage ratio in the event that such total leverage ratio is less than 2.5 to 1.0 . The Restated Credit Agreement requires the Company to pay a fee on the total commitments, calculated on the basis of the actual daily amount of the commitments (regardless of usage) times a percentage per annum ranging from 0.075% to 0.25% (depending on the Company’s senior unsecured long-term debt rating or under circumstances as set forth in the Restated Credit Agreement, the Company’s total leverage ratio in the event that such total leverage ratio is less than 2.5 to 1.0 ). The Restated Credit Agreement requires that the Company and its restricted subsidiaries comply with various covenants, including with respect to restrictions on liens, incurring indebtedness, making investments and effecting mergers and/or asset sales. With respect to dividends, the Company may not declare or make any payment if there is an existing event of default or if the payment would create an event of default. The Restated Credit Agreement imposes financial maintenance covenants requiring the Company to maintain a consolidated fixed charge coverage ratio of at least 2.5 to 1.0 and a total leverage ratio of not more than 4.5 to 1.0 or, on up to two nonconsecutive occasions, 5.5 to 1.0 for up to three consecutive quarters following a material acquisition commencing with the fiscal quarter in which such material acquisition occurred. The Company currently maintains an Investment Grade Rating, as defined in the Restated Credit Agreement, and therefore is not currently required to comply with the consolidated fixed charge coverage ratio covenant. The Restated Credit Agreement includes customary events of default, the occurrence of which, following any applicable cure period, would permit the lenders to, among other things, declare the principal, accrued interest and other obligations of the Company under the Restated Credit Agreement to be immediately due and payable. At December 31, 2019 , the Company was in compliance with all financial covenants under the Restated Credit Agreement. Debt issuance costs incurred in connection with the Restated Credit Agreement are amortized on a straight-line basis, which is not materially different than the effective interest method, through maturity. Amortization of these costs is included in interest expense in the consolidated statements of income. The proceeds of the Restated Credit Agreement are expected to be used for general corporate purposes, including working capital, debt repayment, stock repurchases, dividends, investments and other permitted uses set forth in the Restated Credit Agreement. Senior Unsecured Notes Due 2029 On November 27, 2019 , the Company issued unsecured senior notes in the principal amount of $400 million (the "2019 Senior Notes") at a discount of $2.4 million , bearing a coupon of 3.70% with an effective rate of 3.88% . The 2019 Senior Notes will mature on December 1, 2029 , with interest to be paid semi-annually on December 1 st and June 1 st . The Company used the net proceeds of this offering, after deducting underwriting discounts, commissions and other offering expenses, to repay the 2010 Senior Notes (referenced below) and for working capital and other general corporate purposes. Bond discounts and debt issuance costs incurred in connection with the 2019 Senior Notes are amortized on a straight-line basis, which is not materially different than the effective interest method, through maturity. Amortization of these costs is included in interest expense in the consolidated statements of income. The Company may redeem the 2019 Senior Notes, in whole or in part, at its option at the applicable redemption price before they mature. If the Company redeems the 2019 Senior Notes prior to September 1, 2029 (three months prior to the maturity date) (the “Par Call Date”), the redemption price will be equal to the greater of (a) 100% of the principal amount of the notes to be redeemed, or (b) the sum of the present values of the remaining scheduled principal and interest payments that would have been payable had the 2019 Senior Notes matured on the Par Call Date, discounted to the redemption date on a semi-annual basis at the applicable Treasury Rate plus 30 basis points, plus accrued and unpaid interest. If the Company redeems the 2019 Senior Notes on or after the Par Call Date, the redemption price will equal 100% of the principal amount of the notes to be redeemed, plus accrued and unpaid interest. Senior Unsecured Notes Due 2022 On June 27, 2012 , the Company issued unsecured senior notes in the principal amount of $400 million (the "2012 Senior Notes") at par, bearing a coupon of 5.75% with an effective rate of 6.0% . The 2012 Senior Notes will mature on July 1, 2022 , with interest to be paid semi-annually on January 1 st and July 1 st . The Company used the net proceeds of this offering, after deducting underwriting discounts, commissions and other offering expenses, together with borrowings under the Company's senior credit facility, to pay a special cash dividend totaling approximately $600.7 million to stockholders on August 23, 2012 . Debt issuance costs incurred in connection with the 2012 Senior Notes are amortized, utilizing the effective interest method through maturity. Amortization of these costs is included in interest expense in the consolidated statements of income. The Company may redeem the 2012 Senior Notes at its option at a redemption price equal to the greater of (a) 100% of the principal amount of the notes to be redeemed, or (b) the sum of the present values of the remaining scheduled principal and interest payments from the redemption date to the date of maturity, discounted to the redemption date on a semi-annual basis at the Treasury Rate plus 50 basis points. Senior Unsecured Notes Due 2020 On August 25, 2010 , the Company issued unsecured senior notes in the principal amount of $250 million (the "2010 Senior Notes") at a discount of $0.6 million , bearing a coupon of 5.7% with an effective rate of 6.19% . The 2010 Senior Notes were scheduled to mature on August 28, 2020 , with interest to be paid semi-annually on February 28 th and August 28 th . The Company used the net proceeds from the offering, after deducting underwriting discounts and other offering expenses, to repay outstanding borrowings and for other general corporate purposes. Bond discounts and debt issuance costs incurred in connection with the 2010 Senior Notes were amortized on a straight-line basis, which was not materially different than the effective interest method, through maturity. Amortization of these costs are included in interest expense in the consolidated statements of income. On December 16, 2019, with the net proceeds from the issuance of the 2019 Senior Notes, the Company redeemed the 2010 Senior Notes prior to the maturity date of August 28, 2020. The early redemption provisions of the 2010 Senior Notes required the Company to redeem the notes at a price equal to the sum of the present values of the remaining scheduled principal and interest payments from the redemption date to the date of maturity discounted to the redemption date on a semi-annual basis at the Treasury Rate plus 45 basis points. The Company paid $256.3 million to redeem the notes and recorded a loss on extinguishment of debt in the amount of $7.2 million , which included the make whole premium of $6.3 million and the write off of previously unamortized deferred financing fees and discounts. Construction Loan In March 2018, the Company entered into a construction loan agreement for the rehabilitation and development of a former office building into a hotel through a consolidated joint venture with a commercial lender, which is secured by the building. The construction loan can be drawn up to $34.9 million , bears an interest rate at LIBOR plus a margin of 435 basis points and has a maturity date of March 28, 2022 with two one -year extension options. The Company has made certain guaranties on this construction loan, referred to in Note 24. At December 31, 2019 , the Company recorded $0.9 million of capitalized interest costs. The Company incurred $0.9 million in debt issuance costs in connection with the construction loan which are amortized using the straight-line method, which is not materially different than the effective interest method, through the maturity date. Amortization of these costs is included in interest expense in the consolidated statements of income. During the third quarter of 2019, the Company completed construction of the hotel and purchased the remaining interest of the unaffiliated joint venture partner. Fixed Rate Collateralized Mortgage On December 30, 2014 , a court awarded the Company title to an office building as settlement for a portion of an outstanding loan receivable for which the building was pledged as collateral. In conjunction with the court award, the Company also assumed the $9.5 million mortgage on the property with a fixed interest rate of 7.26% . The mortgage, which is collateralized by the office building, requires monthly payments of principal and interest and matures in December 2020 with a balloon payment due of $6.9 million . At the time of acquisition, the Company determined that the fixed interest rate of 7.26% exceeded market interest rates and therefore the Company increased the carrying value of the debt by $1.2 million to record the debt at fair value. The fair value adjustment is being amortized over the remaining term of the mortgage utilizing the effective interest method. Economic Development Loans The Company entered into economic development agreements with various governmental entities in conjunction with the relocation of its corporate headquarters in April 2013. In accordance with these agreements, the governmental entities agreed to advance approximately $4.4 million to the Company to offset a portion of the corporate headquarters relocation and tenant improvement costs in consideration of the employment of permanent, full-time employees within the jurisdictions. At December 31, 2019 , the Company had been fully advanced the amounts due pursuant to these agreements. These advances bear interest at a rate of 3% per annum. Repayment of the advances is contingent upon the Company achieving certain performance conditions. Performance conditions are measured annually on December 31 st and primarily relate to maintaining certain levels of employment within the various jurisdictions. If the Company fails to meet an annual performance condition, the Company may be required to repay a portion or all of the advances including accrued interest by April 30 th following the measurement date. Any outstanding advances at the expiration of the Company's ten year corporate headquarters lease in 2023 will be forgiven in full. The advances will be included in long-term debt in Company's consolidated balance sheets until the Company determines that the future performance conditions will be met over the entire term of the agreement and the Company will not be required to repay the advances. The Company accrues interest on the portion of the advances that it expects to repay. The Company was in compliance with all current performance conditions as of December 31, 2019 .

Non-Qualified Retirement, Savin

Non-Qualified Retirement, Savings and Investment Plans	12 Months Ended
	Dec. 31, 2019
Retirement Benefits [Abstract]
Non-Qualified Retirement, Savings and Investment Plans	Non-Qualified Retirement, Savings and Investment Plans The Company sponsors two non-qualified retirement savings and investment plans for certain employees and senior executives. Employee and Company contributions are maintained in separate irrevocable trusts. Legally, the assets of the trusts remain those of the Company; however, access to the trusts’ assets is severely restricted. The trusts cannot be revoked by the Company or an acquirer, but the assets are subject to the claims of the Company’s general creditors. The participants do not have the right to assign or transfer contractual rights in the trusts. In 2002 , the Company adopted the Choice Hotels International, Inc. Executive Deferred Compensation Plan ("EDCP") which became effective January 1, 2003 . Under the EDCP, certain executive officers may defer a portion of their salary into an irrevocable trust and invest these amounts in a selection of available diversified investment options. In 1997 , the Company adopted the Choice Hotels International, Inc. Non-Qualified Retirement Savings and Investment Plan ("Non-Qualified Plan"). The Non-Qualified Plan allows certain employees who do not participate in the EDCP to defer a portion of their salary and invest these amounts in a selection of available diversified investment options. Under the EDCP and Non-Qualified Plan, (together, the "Deferred Compensation Plan"), the Company recorded current and long-term deferred compensation liabilities of $32.1 million and $26.1 million at December 31, 2019 and 2018 , respectively, related to these deferrals and credited investment return under these two deferred compensation plans. Compensation expense is recorded in SG&A expense on the Company’s consolidated statements of income based on the change in the deferred compensation obligation related to earnings credited to participants as well as changes in the fair value of diversified investments. The net increase (decrease) in compensation expense recorded in SG&A for the years ended December 31, 2019, 2018 and 2017 were $5.3 million , $(0.7) million , and $3.7 million , respectively. Under the Deferred Compensation Plan, the Company has invested the employee salary deferrals in diversified long-term investments which are intended to provide investment returns that offset the earnings credited to the participants. The diversified investments held in the trusts totaled $27.1 million and $21.3 million as of December 31, 2019 and 2018 , respectively, and are recorded at their fair value, based on quoted market prices. At December 31, 2019 , the Company expects $2.1 million of the assets held in the trust to be distributed during the year ended December 31, 2020 to participants. These investments are considered trading securities and therefore the changes in the fair value of the diversified assets is included in other gains and losses in the accompanying consolidated statements of income. The Company recorded investment gains (losses) during the years ended December 31, 2019, 2018 and 2017 of $4.9 million , $(1.3) million , and $3.2 million , respectively. The Deferred Compensation Plan held no shares of the Company's common stock at December 31, 2019 and 2018 .

Fair Value Measurements

Fair Value Measurements	12 Months Ended
	Dec. 31, 2019
Fair Value Disclosures [Abstract]
Fair Value Measurements	Fair Value Measurements The Company estimates the fair value of its financial instruments utilizing a three-tier fair value hierarchy, which prioritizes the inputs used in measuring fair value. The following summarizes the three levels of inputs, as well as the assets that the Company values using those levels of inputs. Level 1 : Quoted prices in active markets for identical assets and liabilities. The Company’s Level 1 assets consist of marketable securities (primarily mutual funds) held in the Deferred Compensation Plan. Level 2 : Observable inputs, other than quoted prices in active markets for identical assets and liabilities, such as quoted prices for similar assets and liabilities; quoted prices in markets that are not active; or other inputs that are observable. The Company’s Level 2 assets consist of money market funds held in the Deferred Compensation Plan. Level 3 : Unobservable inputs, supported by little or no market data available, where the reporting entity is required to develop its own assumptions to determine the fair value of the instrument. The Company does not currently have any assets whose fair value was determined using Level 3 inputs. The Company's policy is to recognize transfers in and transfers out of the three levels of the fair value hierarchy as of the end of each quarterly reporting period. There were no transfers between Level 1, 2 and 3 assets during the years ended December 31, 2019 and 2018 . As of December 31, 2019 and 2018 , the Company had the following assets measured at fair value on a recurring basis: Fair Value Measurements at Reporting Date Using Total Level 1 Level 2 Level 3 (in thousands) December 31, 2019 Mutual funds (1) $ 24,927 $ 24,927 $ — $ — Money market funds (1) 2,192 — 2,192 — Total $ 27,119 $ 24,927 $ 2,192 $ — December 31, 2018 Mutual funds (1) $ 19,378 $ 19,378 $ — $ — Money market funds (1) 1,923 — 1,923 — Total $ 21,301 $ 19,378 $ 1,923 $ — (1) Included in Investments, employee benefit plans, at fair value and other current assets on the consolidated balance sheets. Other Financial Instruments The Company believes that the fair values of its current assets and current liabilities approximate their reported carrying amounts due to the short-term nature of these items. In addition, the interest rates of the Company’s Restated Credit Agreement adjust frequently based on current market rates; accordingly its carrying amount approximates fair value. The Company believes the fair value of notes receivable approximate their carrying value, which is estimated utilizing an analysis of future cash flows and credit worthiness for similar types of arrangements. Based upon the availability of market data, the notes receivable have been classified as Level 3 inputs. The primary sensitivity in these calculations is based on the selection of appropriate interest and discount rates. For further information on the notes receivable, see Note 4. The fair value of the Company's $250 million 2010 Senior Notes, $400 million 2012 Senior Notes, and $400 million 2019 Senior Notes are classified as Level 2 as the significant inputs are observable in an active market. At December 31, 2019 and 2018 , the $400 million 2012 Senior Notes had an approximate fair value of $432.0 million and $415.7 million , respectively. On December 16, 2019 , with the net proceeds from the 2019 Senior Notes, the Company, at its option, redeemed the 2010 Senior Notes prior to the maturity date of August 28, 2020. Refer to Note 13. At December 31, 2018 , the $250 million 2010 Senior Notes had an approximate fair value of $257.0 million . At December 31, 2019 , the $400 million 2019 Senior Notes had an approximate fair value of $403.4 million . Fair value estimates are made at a specific point in time, are subjective in nature and involve uncertainties and matters of significant judgment. Settlement of such fair value amounts may be possible and may not be a prudent management decision.

Income Taxes

Income Taxes	12 Months Ended
	Dec. 31, 2019
Income Tax Disclosure [Abstract]
Income Taxes	Income Taxes Total income before income taxes, classified by source of income, was as follows: Year Ended December 31, 2019 2018 2017 (in thousands) U.S. $ 259,943 $ 251,056 $ 217,725 Outside the U.S. 9,986 22,202 31,492 Income from before income taxes $ 269,929 $ 273,258 $ 249,217 The provision for income taxes, classified by the timing and location of payment, was as follows: Year Ended December 31, 2019 2018 2017 (in thousands) Current tax expense Federal $ 31,556 $ 48,941 $ 63,279 State 10,154 8,966 5,183 Foreign 1,619 1,471 2,000 Deferred tax (benefit) expense Federal 3,380 (1,459 ) 55,007 State 1,635 (959 ) 1,676 Foreign (1,293 ) (57 ) (255 ) Income taxes $ 47,051 $ 56,903 $ 126,890 Net deferred tax assets consisted of: December 31, 2019 2018 (in thousands) Deferred tax assets: Accrued compensation $ 13,070 $ 12,790 Accrued expenses 32,193 30,721 Tax credits 8,978 2,438 Operating lease liabilities 7,324 — Foreign net operating losses 2,330 2,119 Partnership interests — 548 Other 2,827 3,033 Total gross deferred tax assets 66,722 51,649 Less: Valuation Allowance (10,840 ) (1,653 ) Deferred tax assets 55,882 49,996 Deferred tax liabilities: Property, equipment and intangible assets (22,280 ) (17,212 ) Operating lease ROU assets (7,324 ) — Partnership interests (3,002 ) — Other (2,529 ) (2,171 ) Deferred tax liabilities (35,135 ) (19,383 ) Net deferred tax assets $ 20,747 $ 30,613 The Company assesses available positive and negative evidence to estimate whether sufficient future taxable income will be generated to permit use of the existing deferred tax assets. On the basis of this evaluation, the Company recorded a net change to its valuation allowance of $9.2 million to bring the total valuation allowance to $10.8 million as of December 31, 2019. As of December 31, 2019, the Company had approximately $0.9 million of net operating losses related to state tax jurisdictions. The state net operating losses are due to expire at various dates but no later than 2039. In 2019, the Company identified $11.6 million of state tax credit carryforwards due to expire at various dates but no later than 2034. The Company believes that it is more likely than not that the benefits from certain state tax credit carryforwards will not be realized. Accordingly, the Company has provided a valuation allowance of $9.0 million for these credits. As of December 31, 2019 , the Company had foreign net operating losses of $7.3 million . The Company believes that it is more likely than not that the benefits from certain foreign NOL carryforwards will not be realized. Accordingly, the Company has provided a valuation allowance of $5.6 million on the deferred tax assets related to the foreign net operating losses. Most of the remaining foreign net operating losses have an indefinite carry forward life. The statutory United States federal income tax rate reconciles to the effective income tax rates for continuing operations as follows: Year Ended December 31, 2019 2018 2017 Statutory U.S. federal income tax rate 21.0 % 21.0 % 35.0 % State income taxes, net of federal tax benefit 3.4 % 2.9 % 1.8 % Benefits and taxes related to foreign operations (0.6 )% (0.5 )% (3.9 )% Excess tax benefit on share-based compensation (1.6 )% (1.8 )% (1.5 )% Unrecognized tax positions 1.6 % (0.4 )% (0.2 )% Transition Tax imposed on unrepatriated foreign earnings — % (0.1 )% 14.1 % Write-down of net deferred tax assets due to U.S. rate change — % 0.4 % 5.3 % Tax credits (9.6 )% (0.5 )% (0.3 )% Valuation allowance on tax credits 3.6 % — % — % Other (0.4 )% (0.2 )% 0.6 % Effective income tax rates 17.4 % 20.8 % 50.9 % The Company's effective income tax rates from continuing operations were 17.4% , 20.8% and 50.9% , for the years ended December 31, 2019, 2018 and 2017 , respectively. The Tax Cuts and Jobs Act subjects a U.S. shareholder to a minimum tax on “global intangible low-taxed income” ("GILTI") earned by certain foreign subsidiaries. The FASB Staff Q&A, Topic 740 No. 5, Accounting for Global Intangible Low-Taxed Income, states that an entity can make an accounting policy election to either recognize deferred taxes for temporary differences expected to reverse as GILTI in future years or provide for the tax expense related to GILTI resulting from those items in the year the tax is incurred. The Company has elected to recognize the resulting tax on GILTI as a period expense in the period the tax is incurred and has incurred tax for the year ended December 31, 2018. The effective income tax rate for the year ended December 31, 2019 was lower than the U.S. federal income tax rate of 21.0% due to tax credits recognized during the year of $11.6 million , excess tax benefits from share-based compensation, and the impact of foreign operations, partially offset by the impact of state income taxes. The effective income tax rate for the year ended December 31, 2018 was lower than the U.S. federal income tax rate of 21% due to excess tax benefits from share-based compensation and the impact of foreign operations, partially offset by the impact of state income taxes. As of December 31, 2019 , 2018 , and 2017 , the Company’s gross unrecognized tax benefits totaled $7.7 million , $1.6 million , and $2.3 million respectively. After considering the deferred income tax accounting impact, it is expected that about $4.4 million of the total as of December 31, 2019 would favorably affect the effective tax rate if resolved in the Company’s favor. The following table presents a reconciliation of the beginning and ending amounts of unrecognized tax benefits: 2019 2018 2017 (in thousands) Balance, January 1 $ 1,588 $ 2,284 $ 2,691 Changes for tax positions of prior years 4,633 (861 ) (16 ) Increases for tax positions related to the current year 2,084 165 138 Settlements and lapsing of statutes of limitations (567 ) — (529 ) Balance, December 31 $ 7,738 $ 1,588 $ 2,284 It is reasonably possible that the Company’s unrecognized tax benefits could decrease within the next 12 months by as much as $1.4 million due to settlements and the expiration of applicable statutes of limitations. The Company's federal income tax return for tax years 2015 and 2016 remain subject to examination by the Internal Revenue Service for a tax credit refund claim. Further, the Company's federal income tax return for tax years 2017 and 2018 also remain subject to examination by the Internal Revenue Service. The practice of the Company is to recognize interest and penalties related to income tax matters in the provision for income taxes. The Company did not incur any material interest or penalties for 2019 and 2018 . The Company had $0.3 million and $0.2 million of accrued interest and penalties at December 31, 2019 and 2018 , respectively.

Share-Based Compensation and Ca

Share-Based Compensation and Capital Stock	12 Months Ended
	Dec. 31, 2019
Share-based Payment Arrangement [Abstract]
Share-Based Compensation and Capital Stock	Share-Based Compensation and Capital Stock Dividends The Company currently pays a quarterly dividend on its common stock of $0.225 per share, however the declaration of future dividends is subject to the discretion of the board of directors. The Company may not declare or make any payment if there is an existing event of default under the Restated Credit Agreement or if the payment would create an event of default. During the year ended December 31, 2019 , the Company's quarterly dividend rate was $0.215 per share for the first three quarters. In the fourth quarter of 2019, the Company's board of directors announced an increase in the quarterly dividend rate to $0.225 per share. Annual dividends declared during the year ended December 31, 2019 were $0.87 per share or $48.5 million . During the year ended December 31, 2018 , the Company's quarterly dividend rate was $0.215 per share. Annual dividends declared during the year ended December 31, 2018 were $0.86 per share or $48.4 million . During the year ended December 31, 2017 , the Company's quarterly dividend rate was $0.215 per share. Annual dividends declared during the year ended December 31, 2017 were $0.86 per share or $48.6 million . In addition, during the years ended December 31, 2019, 2018 and 2017 , the Company paid previously declared but unrecorded dividends totaling $0.2 million , $0.1 million , and $0.1 million , respectively, that were contingent upon the vesting of performance vested restricted units. Share-Based Compensation The Company recognizes compensation cost related to share-based payment transactions in the financial statements based on the fair value of the equity or liability instruments issued. Compensation expense related to the fair value of share-based awards is recognized over the requisite service period based on an estimate of those awards that will ultimately vest. The Company estimates the share-based compensation expense for awards that will ultimately vest at the inception of the grant. Over the life of the grant, the estimate of share-based compensation expense for awards with performance and/or service requirements is adjusted so that compensation cost is recognized only for awards that ultimately vest. The Company has stock compensation plans pursuant to which it is authorized to grant stock-based awards of which 2.8 million shares of the Company's common stock remain available for grant as of December 31, 2019 . The Company’s policy allows the issuance of new or treasury shares to satisfy stock-based awards. Restricted stock, stock options, stock appreciation rights and performance share awards may be granted to officers, key employees and non-employee directors with contractual terms set by the Compensation and Management Development Committee of the Board of Directors. Stock Options The Company granted approximately 0.1 million , 0.1 million and 0.2 million options to certain employees of the Company at a fair value of approximately $2.2 million , $1.8 million and $2.1 million during the years ended December 31, 2019, 2018 and 2017 , respectively. The stock options granted by the Company had an exercise price equal to the market price of the Company’s common stock on the date of grant. The fair value of the options granted was estimated on the grant date using the Black-Scholes option-pricing model with the following weighted average assumptions: 2019 2018 2017 Risk-free interest rate 2.46 % 2.58 % 1.76 % Expected volatility 21.49 % 21.17 % 21.64 % Expected life of stock option 4.4 years 4.6 years 4.6 years Dividend yield 1.06 % 1.05 % 1.42 % Requisite service period 4 years 4 years 4 years Contractual life 7 years 7 years 7 years Weighted average fair value of options granted (per option) $ 15.84 $ 16.27 $ 10.81 The expected life of the options and volatility are based on the historical data which is believed to be indicative of future exercise patterns and volatility. Historical volatility is calculated based on a period that corresponds to the expected life of the stock option. The dividend yield and the risk-free rate of return are calculated on the grant date based on the then current dividend rate and the risk-free rate for the period corresponding to the expected life of the stock option. Compensation expense related to the fair value of these awards is recognized straight-line over the requisite service period based on those awards that ultimately vest. The aggregate intrinsic value of stock options outstanding and exercisable at December 31, 2019 was $36.5 million and $24.8 million , respectively. The total intrinsic value of options exercised during the years ended December 31, 2019, 2018 and 2017 was $15.8 million , $26.4 million and $9.2 million , respectively. The Company received $21.4 million , $41.4 million and $14.1 million in proceeds from the exercise of 0.4 million , 0.8 million and 0.4 million employee stock options during the years ended December 31, 2019, 2018 and 2017 , respectively. The following table summarizes information about stock options outstanding at December 31, 2019 : Options Outstanding Options Exercisable Range of Exercise Prices Number Outstanding at December 31, 2019 Weighted Average Weighted Number Exercisable at December 31, 2019 Weighted $39.01 to $48.75 148,737 1.2 years $ 45.59 148,737 $ 45.59 $48.76 to $65.00 477,821 3.1 years $ 56.54 338,814 $ 57.22 $65.01 to $81.55 247,337 5.7 years $ 81.32 26,373 $ 81.55 873,895 3.5 years $ 61.69 513,924 $ 55.10 Restricted Stock The following table is a summary of activity related to restricted stock grants: For the Year Ended December 31, 2019 2018 2017 Restricted shares granted 167,731 101,325 175,644 Weighted average grant date fair value per share $ 81.92 $ 81.21 $ 61.84 Aggregate grant date fair value ($000) $ 13,741 $ 8,229 $ 10,862 Restricted shares forfeited 32,735 46,785 30,375 Vesting service period of shares granted 12 - 48 months 12 - 48 months 12 - 48 months Fair value of shares vested ($000) $ 10,671 $ 8,025 $ 12,616 Compensation expense related to the fair value of these awards is recognized straight-line over the requisite service period based on those restricted stock grants that ultimately vest. The fair value of grants is measured by the market price of the Company’s common stock on the date of grant. Restricted stock awards generally vest ratably over the service period beginning with the first anniversary of the grant date. Awards granted to retirement eligible non-employee directors are recognized over the shorter of the requisite service period or the length of time until retirement since the terms of the grant provide that awards will vest upon retirement. Performance Vested Restricted Stock Units The Company has granted performance vested restricted stock units (“PVRSU”) to certain employees. The fair value is measured by the market price of the Company’s common stock on the date of grant. The vesting of these stock awards is contingent upon the Company achieving performance targets at the end of specified performance periods and the employees’ continued employment. The performance conditions affect the number of shares that will ultimately vest. The range of possible stock-based awards vesting is generally between 0% and 200% of the initial target. If minimum performance targets are not attained then no awards will vest under the terms of the various PVRSU agreements. Compensation expense related to these awards is recognized over the requisite period based on the Company's estimate of the achievement of the various performance targets. The Company has currently estimated that between 0% and 175% of the various award targets will be achieved. Compensation expense is recognized ratably over the requisite service period only on those PVRSUs that ultimately vest. The following table is a summary of activity related to PVRSU grants: For the Years Ended December 31, 2019 2018 2017 Performance vested restricted stock units granted at target 83,934 100,919 162,523 Weighted average grant date fair value per share $ 81.15 $ 81.25 $ 60.63 Aggregate grant date fair value ($000) $ 6,811 $ 8,200 $ 9,853 Stock units forfeited 18,379 27,255 74,734 Requisite service period 36 - 48 months 36 - 39 months 30 - 36 months During the years ended December 31, 2019, 2018 and 2017 , PVRSUs totaling 73,242 , 31,048 and 39,056 , respectively, vested at a fair value of $5.5 million , $2.5 million , and $1.8 million , respectively. During the year ended December 31, 2019 , an additional 1,583 units were awarded because the Company's performance exceeded the conditions provided in the awards. During the year ended December 31, 2018 , PVRSU award vested at target, therefore no additional PVRSU units were awarded. During the year ended December 31, 2017 , an additional 9,491 PVRSU units were awarded because the Company's performance exceeded the conditions provided in the awards. There were no stock units forfeited from the cancellation of shares for the year ended December 31, 2019 due to the Company not achieving certain performance conditions contained in the stock awards. Stock units forfeited include the cancellation of 416 , and 14,754 shares for the years ended December 2018 and 2017, respectively, since the Company did not achieve certain performance conditions contained in the stock awards. A summary of stock-based award activity as of December 31, 2019, 2018 and 2017 and the changes during the years are presented below: 2019 Stock Options Restricted Stock Performance Vested Options Weighted Average Exercise Price Weighted Shares Weighted Shares Weighted Outstanding at January 1, 2019 1,186,180 $ 54.13 303,765 $ 65.06 336,820 $ 63.28 Granted 141,827 $ 81.15 167,731 $ 81.92 83,934 $ 81.15 Performance-Based Leveraging* — $ — — $ — 1,583 $ 51.49 Exercised/Vested (446,456 ) $ 47.96 (126,664 ) $ 60.39 (73,242 ) $ 50.69 Expired — $ — — $ — — $ — Forfeited (7,656 ) $ 51.49 (32,735 ) $ 72.54 (18,379 ) $ 72.50 Outstanding at December 31, 2019 873,895 $ 61.69 3.5 years 312,097 $ 75.23 330,716 $ 70.03 Options exercisable at December 31, 2019 513,924 $ 55.10 2.6 years * PVRSU units outstanding have been increased by 1,583 units during the year ended December 31, 2019 , due to the Company exceeding the targeted performance conditions contained in PVRSU's granted in prior periods. 2018 Stock Options Restricted Stock Performance Vested Options Weighted Average Exercise Price Weighted Shares Weighted Shares Weighted Outstanding at January 1, 2018 1,976,326 $ 50.80 348,876 $ 57.05 294,204 $ 56.95 Granted 109,045 $ 81.55 101,325 $ 81.21 100,919 $ 81.25 Exercised/Vested (832,809 ) $ 49.66 (99,651 ) $ 55.64 (31,048 ) $ 60.60 Expired (2,018 ) $ 63.47 — $ — — $ — Forfeited (64,364 ) $ 55.79 (46,785 ) $ 60.40 (27,255 ) $ 64.49 Outstanding at December 31, 2018 1,186,180 $ 54.13 3.5 years 303,765 $ 65.06 336,820 $ 63.28 Options exercisable at December 31, 2018 753,681 $ 49.55 2.7 years 2017 Stock Options Restricted Stock Performance Vested Options Weighted Average Exercise Price Weighted Shares Weighted Shares Weighted Outstanding at January 1, 2017 2,193,502 $ 48.26 407,812 $ 50.61 235,980 $ 47.59 Granted 195,652 $ 60.70 175,644 $ 61.84 162,523 $ 60.63 Performance-Based Leveraging* — $ — — $ — 9,491 $ 45.59 Exercised/Vested (353,744 ) $ 39.88 (204,205 ) $ 48.61 (39,056 ) $ 46.22 Expired (10,133 ) $ 56.95 — $ — — $ — Forfeited (48,951 ) $ 54.12 (30,375 ) $ 55.02 (74,734 ) $ 39.59 Outstanding at December 31, 2017 1,976,326 $ 50.80 4.1 years 348,876 $ 57.05 294,204 $ 56.95 Options exercisable at December 31, 2017 1,279,500 $ 48.76 3.7 years * PVRSU units outstanding have been increased by 9,491 units during the year ended December 31, 2017 , due to the Company exceeding the targeted performance conditions contained in PVRSUs granted in prior periods. The components of the Company’s pretax stock-based compensation expense and associated income tax benefits are as follows: For the Year Ended December 31, (In millions) 2019 2018 2017 Stock options $ 2.2 $ 2.4 $ 9.2 Restricted stock 8.0 6.8 9.0 Performance vested restricted stock units 6.4 5.8 6.7 Total $ 16.6 $ 15.0 $ 24.9 Income tax benefits $ 4.0 $ 3.6 $ 9.2 The total unrecognized compensation costs related to stock-based awards that have not yet vested and the related weighted average amortization period over which the costs are to be recognized as of December 31, 2019 are as follows: Unrecognized Compensation Expense on Unvested Awards Weighted Average Remaining Amortization Period (in millions) Stock options $ 3.0 2.57 years Restricted stock 15.9 2.52 years Performance vested restricted stock units 8.7 1.83 years Total $ 27.6 Share Repurchases and Redemptions The Company purchased stock under a stock repurchase program to return excess capital to its shareholders. Treasury stock activity is recorded at cost in the accompanying consolidated financial statements. During the year ended December 31, 2019 , the Company repurchased 0.6 million shares of its common stock under the repurchase program at a total cost of $44.1 million . During the year ended December 31, 2018 , the Company repurchased 1.8 million shares of its common stock under the repurchase program at a total cost of $141.2 million . During the year ended December 31, 2017 , the Company repurchased 3,100 shares of its common stock under the repurchase program at a total cost of 0.2 million . On a cumulative basis through December 31, 2019 , the Company repurchased 51.1 million shares of its common stock (including 33.0 million prior to the two -for-one stock split effected in October 2005) under the share repurchase program at a total cost of $1.4 billion . During 2019 , the Company redeemed 79,603 shares of common stock at a total cost of $6.5 million from employees to satisfy the option price and minimum tax-withholding requirements related to the exercising of options and vesting of performance vested restricted stock units and restricted stock grants. During 2018 and 2017 , the Company redeemed 92,366 and 154,950 shares of common stock at a total cost of $7.4 million and $9.6 million , respectively. These redemptions were outside the share repurchase program initiated in June 1998.

Accumulated Other Comprehensive

Accumulated Other Comprehensive Loss	12 Months Ended
	Dec. 31, 2019
Accumulated Other Comprehensive Income (Loss), Net of Tax [Abstract]
Accumulated Other Comprehensive Loss	Accumulated Other Comprehensive Loss The components of accumulated other comprehensive loss is as follows: December 31, 2019 2018 2017 (in thousands) Foreign currency translation adjustments $ (4,550 ) $ (4,010 ) $ (2,401 ) Deferred loss on cash flow hedge — (1,436 ) (2,298 ) Total accumulated other comprehensive loss $ (4,550 ) $ (5,446 ) $ (4,699 ) Cash Flow Hedge In July 2010 , the Company entered into an interest rate swap agreement to protect itself from an increase in the market interest rate on $250 million of 10-year , fixed rate debt with the coupon to be set at market interest rates. The interest rate swap agreement was designated as a cash flow hedge under the accounting guidance for derivatives and hedging. In August 2010 , upon issuance of the related fixed-rate debt, the Company terminated and settled the interest rate swap agreement for a cash payment of $8.7 million . The Company recorded the effective portion of this deferred loss as a component of accumulated other comprehensive income (loss) and is amortizing it over the term of the related debt as interest expense. The ineffective portion was recognized immediately as a component of earnings under interest expense in the Company’s consolidated statements of income. On December 16, 2019, the Company paid off the 2010 Senior Notes early and the unamortized deferred loss of $0.6 million was written off and recorded as a loss on extinguishment of debt. The following represents the changes in accumulated other comprehensive loss, net of tax by component for the years ended December 31, 2019 and 2018 : Year Ended December 31, 2019 Year Ended December 31, 2018 Loss on Cash Flow Hedge Foreign Currency Items Total Loss on Cash Flow Hedge Foreign Currency Items Total (in thousands) (in thousands) Beginning Balance $ (1,436 ) $ (4,010 ) $ (5,446 ) $ (2,298 ) $ (2,401 ) $ (4,699 ) Other comprehensive loss before reclassification — (540 ) (540 ) — (1,609 ) (1,609 ) Amounts reclassified from accumulated other comprehensive income 1,436 — 1,436 862 — 862 Net current period other comprehensive income (loss) 1,436 (540 ) 896 862 (1,609 ) (747 ) Ending Balance $ — $ (4,550 ) $ (4,550 ) $ (1,436 ) $ (4,010 ) $ (5,446 ) The amounts below were reclassified from other accumulated other comprehensive income (loss) to the following line items in the Company's Consolidated Statements of Income. There is no income tax expense (benefit) attributable to these components. Component Amount Reclassified from Accumulated Other Comprehensive Income (Loss) Affected Line Item in the Consolidated Statement of Income Year Ended December 31, (In thousands) 2019 2018 Loss on cash flow hedge: Interest rate contract $ 790 $ 862 Interest expense Interest rate contract 646 — Loss on extinguishment of debt Total $ 1,436 $ 862

Earnings Per Share

Earnings Per Share	12 Months Ended
	Dec. 31, 2019
Earnings Per Share [Abstract]
Earnings Per Share	Earnings Per Share The computation of basic and diluted earnings per common share is as follows: Year Ended December 31, 2019 2018 2017 (in thousands, except per share amounts) Computation of Basic Earnings Per Share: Numerator: Net income $ 222,878 $ 216,355 $ 122,327 Income allocated to participating securities (1,352 ) (1,248 ) (845 ) Net income available to common shareholders $ 221,526 $ 215,107 $ 121,482 Denominator Weighted average common shares outstanding - basic 55,358 56,130 56,114 Basic earnings per share $ 4.00 $ 3.83 $ 2.16 Computation of Diluted Earnings Per Share: Numerator: Net income $ 222,878 $ 216,355 $ 122,327 Income allocated to participating securities (1,346 ) (1,241 ) (842 ) Net income available to common shareholders $ 221,532 $ 215,114 $ 121,485 Denominator: Weighted average common shares outstanding - basic 55,358 56,130 56,114 Diluted effect of stock options and PVRSUs 310 471 412 Weighted average commons shares outstanding - diluted 55,668 56,601 56,526 Diluted earnings per share $ 3.98 $ 3.80 $ 2.15 The Company’s unvested restricted shares contain rights to receive nonforfeitable dividends and thus are participating securities requiring the two-class method of computing earnings per share ("EPS"). The calculation of EPS for common stock shown above excludes the income attributable to the unvested restricted share awards from the numerator and excludes the dilutive impact of those awards from the denominator. At December 31, 2019, 2018 and 2017 , the Company had 0.9 million , 1.2 million , and 2.0 million outstanding stock options, respectively. Stock options are included in the diluted earnings per share calculation using the treasury stock method and average market prices during the period, unless the stock options would be anti-dilutive. For the years ended December 31, 2019 and 2017 , no anti-dilutive stock options were excluded from the diluted earnings per share calculation. For the year ended December 31, 2018 , the Company excluded 0.1 million of anti-dilutive stock options from the diluted earnings per share calculation. PVRSUs are also included in the diluted earnings per share calculation if the performance conditions have been met at the reporting date. However, at December 31, 2019, 2018 and 2017 , PVRSUs totaling 168,244 , 242,942 , and 251,228 , respectively, were excluded from the computation since the performance conditions had not been met.

Operating Leases

Operating Leases	12 Months Ended
	Dec. 31, 2019
Leases [Abstract]
Leases	Leases Lessee The Company determines if an arrangement is a lease and classification as operating or financing at lease inception. Operating leases are included in operating lease ROU assets, accrued expenses and other current liabilities, and operating lease liabilities on our consolidated balance sheets. The Company does not have any leases classified as financing. Operating lease ROU assets and operating lease liabilities are recognized based on the present value of the future minimum lease payments over the lease term at commencement date. Operating lease ROU assets are further offset by any prepaid rent, lease incentives and initial direct costs incurred. When a lease agreement does not provide an implicit rate, the Company utilizes its incremental borrowing rate based on the information available at commencement date in determining the present value of future minimum lease payments. Lease expense for minimum lease payments is recognized on a straight-line basis over the lease term. Variable lease payments include certain index-based changes in rent, certain nonlease components (such as maintenance and other services provided by the lessor), and other charges included in the lease. Variable lease payments are excluded from future minimum lease payments and expensed as incurred. The Company elected the practical expedient to not separate lease and non-lease components for all classes of underlying assets in which it is the lessee and made a policy election to not account for leases with an initial term of 12 months or less on the balance sheet. These short-term leases are expensed on a straight-line basis over the lease term. The Company has operating leases primarily for office space, buildings, and equipment. Our leases have remaining lease terms of one month to four years , some of which may include options to extend leases for up to fifteen years and some which may include options to terminate the leases within one year . The Company's lease costs were as follows: Year ended December 31, 2019 (in thousands) Operating lease cost $ 9,837 Sublease income (84 ) Total lease cost $ 9,753 Leases recorded on the consolidated balance sheet consist of the following: December 31, 2019 (in thousands) Assets: Operating lease right-of-use assets $ 24,088 Liabilities: Current operating lease liabilities $ 10,099 Long-term operating lease liabilities 21,270 Total lease liabilities $ 31,369 Other information related to the Company's lease arrangements is as follows: Year Ended December 31, 2019 (in thousands) Cash paid for amounts included in the measurement of lease liabilities: Operating cash flows from operating leases $ 12,322 ROU assets obtained in exchange for lease liabilities in non-cash transactions: Operating lease assets obtained in exchange for operating lease liabilities $ 3,818 Weighted-average remaining lease term 3.09 years Weighted-average discount rate (1) 3.60 % (1) Discount rates used for existing operating leases upon adoption of Topic 842 were established based on remaining lease term as of January 1, 2019. Maturities of lease liabilities are as follows: As of December 31, 2019 (in thousands) 2020 $ 11,043 2021 10,276 2022 8,558 2023 3,321 2024 2 Thereafter — Total minimum lease payments $ 33,200 Less imputed interest 1,831 Present value of minimum lease payments $ 31,369 During the year ended December 31, 2019 , the Company entered into a sale and leaseback transaction in which we sold an office building for a gain of $2.0 million within the Marketing and reservation system line item on the consolidated statements of income and entered into a lease terminating in 2020. This lease is included in the tables above. The Company adopted Topic 842 on January 1, 2019 using the optional transition method to present comparative periods prior to adoption date in accordance with Topic 840, including disclosure. The following table discloses future minimum lease payments in accordance with Topic 840: As of December 31, 2018 (in thousands) 2019 (net of minimum sublease rentals of $124) $ 12,509 2020 10,638 2021 9,258 2022 8,866 2023 3,514 Thereafter — Total $ 44,785 In the third quarter of 2019, we entered into two office lease agreements with unrelated third-parties that we expect to account for as operating leases. These leases are not reflected in our consolidated balance sheets or in the table above as the leases have not commenced. A lease with an approximately 3-year term is expected to commence in the first quarter of 2020 and a lease with an approximately 10-year term is expected to commence in the third quarter of 2021. Lessor The Company leases to third-party tenants (i) an office building with a remaining lease term of less than two years and (ii) a restaurant space within an operating hotel with a remaining lease term of less than ten years . Income for the two leases comprises of fixed and fixed escalating lease payments of $1.2 million for the year ended December 31, 2019 . Neither lease contains an option to purchase the underlying assets. The Company elected to not separate lease and nonlease components. Related Party The Company and family members of the Company's largest shareholder entered into an agreement that allows those family members to lease the Company aircraft from time to time for their personal use. The agreement provides for lease payments that contribute towards the fixed costs associated with the aircraft as well as reimbursement of the Company’s variable costs associated with operation of the aircraft, in compliance with, and to the extent authorized by, applicable regulatory requirements. The terms of the lease agreements are consistent with the terms of lease agreements that the Company has entered into with unrelated third parties for use of the aircraft. During the year ended December 31, 2019 , the Company received $12 thousand pursuant to this arrangement. In December 2013 , the Company's board of directors approved an arrangement between the Company and an entity controlled by the family members of the Company's largest shareholder to sublease approximately 2,200 square feet of office space located in Chevy Chase, Maryland. In May 2016, the sublease was amended for the expansion of the office space. The sublease was not renewed following April 2019. The sublease had a month-to-month term, with a 90 -day notice period and annual lease payments totaling approximately $0.1 million . During the year ended December 31, 2019 , the Company received approximately $49 thousand
Leases	Leases Lessee The Company determines if an arrangement is a lease and classification as operating or financing at lease inception. Operating leases are included in operating lease ROU assets, accrued expenses and other current liabilities, and operating lease liabilities on our consolidated balance sheets. The Company does not have any leases classified as financing. Operating lease ROU assets and operating lease liabilities are recognized based on the present value of the future minimum lease payments over the lease term at commencement date. Operating lease ROU assets are further offset by any prepaid rent, lease incentives and initial direct costs incurred. When a lease agreement does not provide an implicit rate, the Company utilizes its incremental borrowing rate based on the information available at commencement date in determining the present value of future minimum lease payments. Lease expense for minimum lease payments is recognized on a straight-line basis over the lease term. Variable lease payments include certain index-based changes in rent, certain nonlease components (such as maintenance and other services provided by the lessor), and other charges included in the lease. Variable lease payments are excluded from future minimum lease payments and expensed as incurred. The Company elected the practical expedient to not separate lease and non-lease components for all classes of underlying assets in which it is the lessee and made a policy election to not account for leases with an initial term of 12 months or less on the balance sheet. These short-term leases are expensed on a straight-line basis over the lease term. The Company has operating leases primarily for office space, buildings, and equipment. Our leases have remaining lease terms of one month to four years , some of which may include options to extend leases for up to fifteen years and some which may include options to terminate the leases within one year . The Company's lease costs were as follows: Year ended December 31, 2019 (in thousands) Operating lease cost $ 9,837 Sublease income (84 ) Total lease cost $ 9,753 Leases recorded on the consolidated balance sheet consist of the following: December 31, 2019 (in thousands) Assets: Operating lease right-of-use assets $ 24,088 Liabilities: Current operating lease liabilities $ 10,099 Long-term operating lease liabilities 21,270 Total lease liabilities $ 31,369 Other information related to the Company's lease arrangements is as follows: Year Ended December 31, 2019 (in thousands) Cash paid for amounts included in the measurement of lease liabilities: Operating cash flows from operating leases $ 12,322 ROU assets obtained in exchange for lease liabilities in non-cash transactions: Operating lease assets obtained in exchange for operating lease liabilities $ 3,818 Weighted-average remaining lease term 3.09 years Weighted-average discount rate (1) 3.60 % (1) Discount rates used for existing operating leases upon adoption of Topic 842 were established based on remaining lease term as of January 1, 2019. Maturities of lease liabilities are as follows: As of December 31, 2019 (in thousands) 2020 $ 11,043 2021 10,276 2022 8,558 2023 3,321 2024 2 Thereafter — Total minimum lease payments $ 33,200 Less imputed interest 1,831 Present value of minimum lease payments $ 31,369 During the year ended December 31, 2019 , the Company entered into a sale and leaseback transaction in which we sold an office building for a gain of $2.0 million within the Marketing and reservation system line item on the consolidated statements of income and entered into a lease terminating in 2020. This lease is included in the tables above. The Company adopted Topic 842 on January 1, 2019 using the optional transition method to present comparative periods prior to adoption date in accordance with Topic 840, including disclosure. The following table discloses future minimum lease payments in accordance with Topic 840: As of December 31, 2018 (in thousands) 2019 (net of minimum sublease rentals of $124) $ 12,509 2020 10,638 2021 9,258 2022 8,866 2023 3,514 Thereafter — Total $ 44,785 In the third quarter of 2019, we entered into two office lease agreements with unrelated third-parties that we expect to account for as operating leases. These leases are not reflected in our consolidated balance sheets or in the table above as the leases have not commenced. A lease with an approximately 3-year term is expected to commence in the first quarter of 2020 and a lease with an approximately 10-year term is expected to commence in the third quarter of 2021. Lessor The Company leases to third-party tenants (i) an office building with a remaining lease term of less than two years and (ii) a restaurant space within an operating hotel with a remaining lease term of less than ten years . Income for the two leases comprises of fixed and fixed escalating lease payments of $1.2 million for the year ended December 31, 2019 . Neither lease contains an option to purchase the underlying assets. The Company elected to not separate lease and nonlease components. Related Party The Company and family members of the Company's largest shareholder entered into an agreement that allows those family members to lease the Company aircraft from time to time for their personal use. The agreement provides for lease payments that contribute towards the fixed costs associated with the aircraft as well as reimbursement of the Company’s variable costs associated with operation of the aircraft, in compliance with, and to the extent authorized by, applicable regulatory requirements. The terms of the lease agreements are consistent with the terms of lease agreements that the Company has entered into with unrelated third parties for use of the aircraft. During the year ended December 31, 2019 , the Company received $12 thousand pursuant to this arrangement. In December 2013 , the Company's board of directors approved an arrangement between the Company and an entity controlled by the family members of the Company's largest shareholder to sublease approximately 2,200 square feet of office space located in Chevy Chase, Maryland. In May 2016, the sublease was amended for the expansion of the office space. The sublease was not renewed following April 2019. The sublease had a month-to-month term, with a 90 -day notice period and annual lease payments totaling approximately $0.1 million . During the year ended December 31, 2019 , the Company received approximately $49 thousand in rent payments associated with this lease. Subsequent to the sublease and affiliated lease ending in the office space in April 2019, the entity controlled by family member of the Company's largest shareholder entered into a separate lease with the third-party lessor. The Company reimburses the entity for use of the space by the Company's Chairman. During the year ended December 31, 2019 , the Company reimbursed the entity approximately $76 thousand .

Reportable Segment Information

Reportable Segment Information	12 Months Ended
	Dec. 31, 2019
Segment Reporting [Abstract]
Reportable Segment Information	Reportable Segment Information Hotel Franchising: Hotel Franchising includes the Company's hotel franchising operations consisting of its fourteen brands. The fourteen brands are aggregated within this segment considering their similar economic characteristics, types of customers, distribution channels and regulatory business environments. Revenues from the hotel franchising business include royalty fees, initial franchise and relicensing fees, marketing and reservation system fees, procurement services revenue and other hotel franchising related revenue. The Company is obligated under its hotel franchise agreements to provide marketing and reservation services appropriate for the operation of its systems. These services do not represent separate reportable segments as their operations are directly related to the Company's hotel franchising business. The revenues received from franchisees that are used to pay for part of the Company's ongoing operations are included in hotel franchising revenues and are offset by the related expenses paid for marketing and reservation system activities to calculate hotel franchising operating income. The Company evaluates its hotel franchising segment based primarily on the results of the segment without allocating corporate expenses, income taxes or indirect general and administrative expenses, which are included in the Corporate & Other column. Corporate & Other revenues include owned hotel revenues and rental income related to an office building owned by the Company, as well as revenues related to the Company's vacation rental activities and its SaaS technology solutions divisions which provide cloud-based property management software to non-franchised hoteliers and vacation rental management companies. Equity in earnings or losses from hotel franchising related joint ventures is allocated to the Company's hotel franchising segment. The Company does not allocate interest expense, interest income, other gains and losses or income taxes to its segments. The intersegment revenue adjustment is from the elimination of Hotel Franchising revenue which include royalty and marketing and reservation system fees charged to our owned hotels against franchise fee expense recognized by our owned hotels in Corporate & Other operating income (loss). Our President and Chief Executive Officer, who is our chief operating decision maker (“CODM”), does not use assets by operating segment when assessing performance or making operating segment resource allocations and therefore assets by segment are not disclosed below. The following tables present the financial information for the Company's segments: For the Year Ended December 31, 2019 Hotel Franchising Corporate & Other Intersegment Eliminations Consolidated (In thousands) Revenues $ 1,085,860 $ 30,700 $ (1,740 ) $ 1,114,820 Operating income (loss) 392,405 (73,763 ) — 318,642 Depreciation and amortization 7,995 10,833 — 18,828 Income (loss) before income taxes 382,829 (112,900 ) — 269,929 For the Year Ended December 31, 2018 Hotel Franchising Corporate & Other Intersegment Eliminations Consolidated (In thousands) Revenues $ 1,027,047 $ 14,257 $ — $ 1,041,304 Operating income (loss) 378,014 (59,540 ) — 318,474 Depreciation and amortization 7,352 6,978 — 14,330 Income (loss) before income taxes 372,691 (99,433 ) — 273,258 For the Year Ended December 31, 2017 Hotel Franchising Corporate & Other Intersegment Eliminations Consolidated (In thousands) Revenues $ 930,479 $ 10,818 $ — $ 941,297 Operating income (loss) 356,187 (66,534 ) — 289,653 Depreciation and amortization 462 6,218 — 6,680 Income (loss) before income taxes 351,641 (102,424 ) — 249,217 The results of the Company's international operations are included in the Hotel Franchising and Corporate & Other segments. Revenues generated by foreign operations, including royalty, marketing and reservations system fees and other revenues for the years ended December 31, 2019, 2018 and 2017 were $69.5 million , $72.1 million , and $65.8 million

Related Party Transactions

Related Party Transactions	12 Months Ended
	Dec. 31, 2019
Related Party Transactions [Abstract]
Related Party Transactions	Related Party Transactions Transactions with Company's Largest Shareholder Effective October 15, 1997 , Choice Hotels International, Inc., which included both a franchising business and owned hotel business, separated the businesses via a spin-off into two companies: Sunburst Hospitality Corporation (referred to hereafter as “Sunburst”) and the Company. Subsequent to the spin-off, the Company’s largest shareholder retained significant ownership percentages in both Sunburst and the Company. As part of the spin-off, Sunburst and the Company entered into a strategic alliance agreement (as amended, the "Strategic Alliance Agreement"). Among other things, the Strategic Alliance Agreement provided for revised royalty and system fees and the determination of liquidated damages related to the termination of Choice branded Sunburst properties. The liquidated damage provisions extend through the life of the existing Sunburst franchise agreements. On June 5, 2019 , the Strategic Alliance Agreement was terminated and replaced with addenda to each of the five hotels under franchise. The addenda preserve certain terms from the Strategic Alliance Agreement with respect to the five hotels, including the revised royalty and system fee and liquidated damage provisions, which would also apply to new franchise agreements signed for the five hotels (as either a renewal or a change to another Choice brand not contemplated at the time of original agreement execution). No terms were substantially modified with respect to the five operating hotels under franchise. On June 5, 2019 and June 27, 2019 , the Company and Sunburst entered into master development agreements which provide Sunburst geographic exclusivity in two specified regions for development of six WoodSpring branded hotels. One new franchise agreement was signed between the Company and Sunburst during the year ended December 31, 2019 . As of December 31, 2019 , Sunburst operates 4 hotels under franchise with the Company. Total franchise fees, including royalty, marketing and reservation system fees, paid by Sunburst to the Company, included in the accompanying consolidated financial statements were $1.8 million , $1.9 million , and $2.0 million for the years ended December 31, 2019, 2018 and 2017 , respectively. As of December 31, 2019 and 2018 , accounts receivable included $0.2 million and $0.2 million , respectively, due from Sunburst. The Company and family members of the Company's largest shareholder entered into an agreement that allows those family members to lease the Company aircraft from time to time for their personal use; additionally, the have had leasing arrangements with an entity controlled by the family members of the Company's largest shareholder. Refer to Note 20, Operating Leases. Foreign Subsidiary Credit Agreement In August 2016 , the Company entered into a credit agreement with a related party to a foreign subsidiary. Borrowings under the agreement carry an interest rate of 4.0% per year. As of December 31, 2018 , the Company had $0.6 million outstanding under this agreement, which was reflected within the current portion of long term debt on the balance sheet. The Company settled the outstanding balance as part of the sale of the SaaS for vacation rentals reporting unit in the second quarter of 2019.

Transactions with Unconsolidate

Transactions with Unconsolidated Joint Ventures	12 Months Ended
	Dec. 31, 2019
Equity Method Investments and Joint Ventures [Abstract]
Transactions with Unconsolidated Joint Ventures	Investments in Unconsolidated Entities The Company maintains a portfolio of investments owned through noncontrolling interests in equity method investments with one or more partners. The Company has equity method investments in joint ventures that represent variable interest entities ("VIEs") totaling $74.4 million and $103.0 million on the consolidated balance sheets at December 31, 2019 and 2018 , respectively. These investments relate to the Company's program to offer equity support to qualified franchisees to develop and operate Cambria Hotels in strategic markets. Based on an analysis of who has the power to direct the activities that most significantly impact these entities performance and who has an obligation to absorb losses of these entities or a right to receive benefits from these entities that could potentially be significant to the entity, the Company has determined that it is not the primary beneficiary of any of these VIEs. The Company based its qualitative analysis on its review of the design of the entity, its organizational structure including decision-making ability and the relevant development, operating management and financial agreements. Although the Company is not the primary beneficiary of these VIEs, it does exercise significant influence through its equity ownership and as a result the Company's investment in these entities is accounted for under the equity method. For the years ended December 31, 2019, 2018 and 2017 , the Company recognized losses totaling $11.3 million , $8.0 million and $7.1 million from the investment in these entities, respectively. The Company's maximum exposure to losses related to its investments in VIEs is limited to its equity investments as well as certain guaranties as described in Note 24 of these financial statements. Equity method investment ownership interests at December 31, 2019 and 2018 are as follows: Ownership Interest Equity Method Investment December 31, 2019 December 31, 2018 Main Street WP Hotel Associates, LLC 50 % 50 % FBC-CHI Hotels, LLC (2) — % 40 % CS Hotel 30W46th, LLC 25 % 25 % CS Brickell, LLC 50 % 50 % CS Maple Grove, LLC (3) — % 50 % CS Hotel West Orange, LLC 50 % 50 % Hotel JV Services, LLC (1) 16 % 16 % City Market Hotel Development, LLC 43 % 43 % CS Woodlands, LLC 50 % 50 % 926 James M. Wood Boulevard, LLC 75 % 75 % CS Dallas Elm, LLC 45 % 45 % Choice Hotels Canada, Inc. (1) 50 % 50 % Pine Street Long Beach LLC 50 % 50 % SY Valley Vineyard Resorts LLC 50 % 50 % CS Lakeside Santa Clara LLC 50 % 50 % CS Main Pleasant Hill LLC (4) — % 50 % BL 219 Holdco, LP 50 % — % Integrated 32 West Randolph LLC 20 % — % (1) Non-variable interest entity investments (2) During the third quarter of 2019, the Company redeemed the remaining 60% ownership interest in four of the hotels under the equity method investment and sold its 40% ownership interest in the fifth hotel. Following the redemption, the Company consolidated the operations of the four acquired hotels, and recognized a $6.0 million loss on the sale of the fifth hotel which is recorded in equity in net loss (income) of affiliates. The financial results of the 100% owned hotels have been consolidated in the Company's financial statements since July 23, 2019 . Reference Note 25. (3) During the second quarter of 2019, the Company sold its ownership interest in the equity method investment recognizing a gain of $1.4 million . (4) During the fourth quarter of 2019, the Company terminated its ownership interest in the equity method investment recognizing a loss of $0.4 million . The following tables present summarized financial information for all unconsolidated ventures in which the Company holds an investment that is accounted for under the equity method: Year Ended December 31, 2019 2018 2017 (in thousands) Revenues $ 109,896 $ 118,324 $ 87,033 Operating income 12,617 11,790 8,171 Income (loss) from continuing operations (1,400 ) 1,658 2,140 Net income (loss) $ (2,564 ) $ 477 $ 940 As of December 31, 2019 2018 (in thousands) Current assets $ 53,324 $ 75,453 Non-current assets 390,881 465,361 Total assets $ 444,205 $ 540,814 Current liabilities $ 27,583 $ 32,234 Non-current liabilities 261,039 239,581 Total liabilities $ 288,622 $ 271,815 In August 2015 , the Company entered into a $24.4 million promissory note with a development company which is a member of one of the Company’s unconsolidated joint ventures. In October 2016, the Company increased the loan and funded an additional $1.0 million . The Company has advanced a total of $25.4 million as of December 31, 2019 . The promissory note matures on September 3, 2023 , bears interest at variable rates, and is payable monthly. In October 2017 , May 2018 , and December 2018 , the Company entered into three promissory notes with a development company which is a member of one of the Company's unconsolidated joint ventures formed in 2018. The October 2017 promissory note matured in January 2019 and was repaid in full. The May 2018 and December 2018 promissory notes were extended and mature in May 2020 and March 2020 , respectively, bear interest at fixed and variable rates, and are payable monthly. At December 31, 2019 , the outstanding balance of the promissory notes totaled $20.5 million . In May 2019 , the Company entered into a joint venture agreement with a development company which has outstanding promissory notes totaling $50.1 million as of December 31, 2019 . The Company has determined the promissory notes are impaired and recorded allowances for credit losses on these impaired loans in the amount of $2.8 million . The promissory notes mature in November 2022 , bear interest at fixed and variable rates, and are payable monthly. The Company signed a management fee arrangement for marketing services with a joint venture partner. For the years ended December 31, 2019, 2018 and 2017 , fees earned and payroll costs reimbursed under this arrangement totaled $2.3 million , $1.7 million and $1.4 million , respectively. The Company entered into franchise agreements with certain of the unconsolidated joint ventures listed within Note 8. Pursuant to these franchise agreements, the Company recorded royalty and marketing and reservation system fees of approximately $25.2 million , $25.4 million , and $22.4 million , for the years ended December 31, 2019, 2018 and 2017 , respectively. The Company recorded $1.4 million and $1.1 million as a receivable due from these joint ventures as of December 31, 2019 and 2018 , respectively. In addition, the Company paid commissions of $0.3 million , $0.2 million , and $0.2 million for the years ended December 31, 2019, 2018 and 2017 , respectively, to an online travel agent for which the Company is a joint venture member.

Commitments and Contingencies

Commitments and Contingencies	12 Months Ended
	Dec. 31, 2019
Commitments and Contingencies Disclosure [Abstract]
Commitments and Contingencies	Commitments and Contingencies The Company is not a party to any litigation other than litigation in the ordinary course of business. The Company's management and legal counsel do not expect that the ultimate outcome of any of its currently ongoing legal proceedings, individually or collectively, will have a material adverse effect on the Company's financial position, results of operations or cash flows. Contingencies The Company entered into various limited payment guaranties with regards to the Company’s VIEs supporting the VIE’s efforts to develop and own hotels franchised under the Company’s brands. Under these limited payment guaranties, the Company has agreed to guaranty a portion of the outstanding debt until certain conditions are met such as (a) the loan matures, (b) certain debt covenants are achieved, (c) the maximum amount guaranteed by the Company is paid in full, or (d) the Company, through its affiliates, ceases to be a member of the VIE. The maximum exposure of principal incidental to these limited payment guaranties is $7.5 million , plus unpaid expenses and accrued unpaid interest. The Company believes the likelihood of having to perform under the aforementioned limited payment guaranties was remote as of December 31, 2019 and December 31, 2018 . In the event of performance, the Company has recourse for two of the transactions in the form of a membership interest pledge as collateral for the guaranty. In a prior year, the Company transferred $24.4 million of a $50.1 million outstanding note receivable with a maturity date of November 30, 2019 to a third party. Refer to Note 4. Under the agreement, the counter party had the right to require the Company to purchase the outstanding interest in the note under certain circumstances, including if the Company declares a default against the borrower and enters into foreclosure proceedings. In February 2019, in connection with the Company's restructuring negotiations with the borrower, the Company mutually agreed with the counter party to repurchase the $24.4 million previously transferred prior to the maturity date. The Company retains the full loan balance as recorded in Notes receivable, net of allowances as of December 31, 2019 . Commitments The Company has the following commitments outstanding: • The Company provides financing in the form of franchise agreement acquisition payments to franchisees for property improvements, hotel development efforts and other purposes. At December 31, 2019 , the Company had commitments to extend an additional $300.4 million for these purposes provided certain conditions are met by its franchisees. • The Company committed to make additional capital contributions totaling $10.1 million to existing joint ventures related to the construction of various hotels to be operated under the Company's Cambria Hotels brand. • The Company committed to provide financing in the form of mezzanine loans or credit facilities to franchisees for Choice brand development efforts. The Company has committed to provide an aggregate of approximately $34.6 million , upon certain conditions being met. As of December 31, 2019 , $17.7 million has been disbursed. • In March 2018, the Company entered into a construction loan agreement for the rehabilitation and development of a former office building into a hotel through a consolidated joint venture with a commercial lender, which is secured by the building. The construction loan can be drawn up to $34.9 million . The Company has a carve-out guaranty and the unaffiliated joint venture partner has a completion guaranty in relation to the loan, in which both parties are required to meet certain financial covenants relating to liquidity and net worth. The rehabilitation of the building is considered a qualified asset that requires a significant amount of time to prepare for its intended use. Therefore, any interest costs incurred during the development period of the building is considered an element of the historical cost of the qualifying asset. At December 31, 2019 , the Company has borrowed $33.1 million of the construction loan and recorded $0.9 million of capitalized interest costs. The construction was completed and the hotel opened in the third quarter of 2019, resulting in the satisfaction of the completion guaranty. Additionally, the Company purchased the remaining interest of the unaffiliated joint venture partner in the third quarter of 2019. • The Company’s franchise agreements require the payment of franchise fees, which include marketing and reservation system fees. In accordance with terms of our franchise agreements, the Company is obligated to use the marketing and reservation system revenues it collects from the current franchisees comprising its various hotel brands to provide marketing and reservation services appropriate to support the operation of the overall system. To the extent revenues collected exceed expenditures incurred, the Company has a commitment to the franchisee system to make expenditures in future years. Conversely, to the extent expenditures incurred exceed revenues collected, the Company has the contractual enforceable right to assess and collect such amounts. In the ordinary course of business, the Company enters into numerous agreements that contain standard indemnities whereby the Company indemnifies another party for breaches of representations and warranties. Such indemnifications are granted under various agreements, including those governing (i) purchases or sales of assets or businesses, (ii) leases of real estate, (iii) licensing of trademarks, (iv) access to credit facilities, (v) issuances of debt or equity securities, and (vi) certain operating agreements. The indemnifications issued are for the benefit of the (i) buyers in sale agreements and sellers in purchase agreements, (ii) landlords in lease contracts, (iii) franchisees in licensing agreements, (iv) financial institutions in credit facility arrangements, (v) underwriters in debt or equity security issuances and (vi) parties under certain operating agreements. In addition, these parties are also generally indemnified against any third party claim resulting from the transaction that is contemplated in the underlying agreement. While some of these indemnities extend only for the duration of the underlying agreement, many survive the expiration of the term of the agreement or extend into perpetuity (unless subject to a legal statute of limitations). There are no specific limitations on the maximum potential amount of future payments that the Company could be required to make under these indemnities, nor is the Company able to develop an estimate of the maximum potential amount of future payments to be made under these indemnifications as the triggering events are not subject to predictability. With respect to certain of the aforementioned indemnities, such as indemnifications of landlords against third party claims for the use of real estate property leased by the Company, the Company maintains insurance coverage that mitigates potential liability.

Acquisition Acquisition

Acquisition Acquisition	12 Months Ended
	Dec. 31, 2019
Business Combinations [Abstract]
Acquisition	Acquisitions 2019 Asset Acquisition Prior to July 23, 2019 , the Company held a 40% ownership interest of a joint venture that owned five Cambria hotels recorded as an investment in unconsolidated entities. On July 23, 2019 , the Company redeemed the remaining 60% ownership interest in four of the hotels for approximately $169.0 million cash paid (inclusive of $0.7 million in capitalized transaction costs), net of cash acquired. The transaction was funded with cash and borrowings under the Company's revolving credit facility. In accordance with the provisions of ASU 2017-01, Business Combinations (Topic 805): Clarifying the Definition of a Business , the purchase represents an asset acquisition based on the concentration of value in the acquired land and buildings. This assessment was performed on the four hotels as a group of similar identifiable assets based on the similar risk characteristics as operating Cambria Hotels. The $25.0 million previously in investments in unconsolidated entities is included in the total net asset basis of $194.0 million . The total net asset basis was attributed to each asset and asset class based on a relative fair value allocation to qualifying assets, resulting in $21.7 million to land, $148.4 million to building and improvements, $27.0 million to furniture, fixtures, and equipment, $0.8 million to an in-place lease intangible asset, and $3.9 million to net liabilities assumed. 2018 WoodSpring Suites Business Combination On February 1, 2018 , the Company acquired 100% of the issued and outstanding equity interest of WoodSpring Suites. At the time of the acquisition, WoodSpring franchised 239 economy extended stay hotels across 35 U.S. states. The total consideration was $231.6 million , which consisted of cash paid, net of cash acquired, of $231.3 million as well as liabilities assumed of $0.4 million and a preliminary working capital adjustment of $0.1 million . The transaction has been accounted for as a business combination and accordingly, assets acquired, and liabilities assumed were recorded at their fair values as of the acquisition date. The results of WoodSpring have been consolidated with the Company since February 1, 2018 and are included in the Company’s hotel franchising segment. The Company allocated the purchase price based upon a preliminary assessment of the fair value of the assets and liabilities assumed as of February 1, 2018. The Company completed its assessment of the WoodSpring acquisition in the third quarter of 2018, identifying no adjustments to the fair value determination. As a result, the purchase price allocation is final as of the third quarter of 2018, with no adjustments made from the preliminary allocation. The fair value of the assets and liabilities is as follows: (in thousands) Cash $ 250 Accounts receivables 1,258 Prepaid 23 Contract assets 115,000 Tradename 22,000 Goodwill 93,384 Accounts payable (348 ) Total Consideration $ 231,567 The purchase price was based on the projected business growth and cash flows over the next several years and indicated a value that was in excess of the existing net book value of the business, resulting in the recognition of various identifiable intangible assets and goodwill as follows: (in thousands) Useful Life Franchise agreements acquired $ 115,000 12-20 years WoodSpring tradename 22,000 Indefinite Goodwill 93,384 Indefinite Total $ 230,384 The excess value recorded in goodwill is expected to be recovered through growth within the existing customer base, improvements in hotel RevPAR and new agreements signed with new franchisees and developers. The full amount of goodwill is deductible for tax purposes. The Company's pro forma results of operations for this acquisition have not been presented here because the effect of this acquisition was not material to the Company's consolidated results of operations.

Selected Quarterly Financial Da

Selected Quarterly Financial Data - (Unaudited)	12 Months Ended
	Dec. 31, 2019
Quarterly Financial Information Disclosure [Abstract]
Selected Quarterly Financial Data - (Unaudited)	Selected Quarterly Financial Data—(Unaudited) First Quarter Second Third Fourth 2019 (1) (in thousands, except per share data) Revenues $ 218,320 $ 317,684 $ 310,732 $ 268,084 $ 1,114,820 Operating income $ 45,050 $ 102,537 $ 102,420 $ 68,635 $ 318,642 Income before income taxes $ 36,479 $ 94,154 $ 85,924 $ 53,372 $ 269,929 Net income $ 30,081 $ 74,389 $ 76,239 $ 42,169 $ 222,878 Earnings per share: Basic $ 0.54 $ 1.34 $ 1.37 $ 0.76 $ 4.00 Diluted $ 0.54 $ 1.33 $ 1.36 $ 0.75 $ 3.98 First Quarter Second Third Fourth 2018 (1) (in thousands, except per share data) Revenues $ 209,394 $ 295,441 $ 291,490 $ 244,979 $ 1,041,304 Operating income $ 46,249 $ 109,016 $ 111,168 $ 52,041 $ 318,474 Income before income taxes $ 30,461 $ 100,024 $ 102,443 $ 40,330 $ 273,258 Net income $ 25,086 $ 79,839 $ 79,959 $ 31,471 $ 216,355 Earnings per share: Basic $ 0.44 $ 1.41 $ 1.42 $ 0.56 $ 3.83 Diluted $ 0.44 $ 1.40 $ 1.41 $ 0.56 $ 3.80 (1) The sum of the earnings per share for the four quarters may differ from annual earnings per share due to the required method of computing the weighted average shares in interim periods. The matters which affect the comparability of the quarterly results include the following: • Seasonality: The Company’s revenues and operating income reflect the industry’s seasonality and as a result are lower in the first and fourth quarters and higher in the second and third quarters. • Marketing and Reservation System Activities: Due to the seasonal nature of the Company’s hotel franchising business or multi-year investments that are required to support franchise operations, quarterly or annual deficits and surpluses may be generated from the Company’s contractual obligation to utilize marketing and reservation system revenues to provide franchise services defined in the franchise agreements. During the year ended December 31, 2019, the Company incurred surpluses (deficits) from marketing and reservation system activities totaling ($9.8) million , $12.3 million , ($1.4) million and ($2.9) million , respectively, in the first, second, third and fourth quarters. During the year ended December 31, 2018, the Company incurred surpluses (deficits) from marketing and reservation system activities totaling ($12.2) million , $20.8 million , $14.0 million and ($13.2) million , respectively, in the first, second, third and fourth quarters. • Investment income and losses: The Company’s net income reflects gains and losses related to the Company’s investments held in non-qualified retirement plans and are subject to market conditions. • Operating income and net income in 2019 reflect the Company's acquisition of four operating hotels in the third quarter of 2019. A fifth hotel previously under development by the Company opened in the third quarter of 2019. The Company recognized revenue related to these hotels totaling $8.7 million and $11.6 million during the third and fourth quarters of 2019, respectively. The addition of these owned hotels contributed operating income of $0.5 million and $0.4 million for the third and fourth quarter of 2019, respectively. In addition, the Company sold an unconsolidated joint venture interest resulting in a loss of $6.0 million in the third quarter of 2019. Refer to Notes 8 and 25 of our consolidated financial statements. • During the fourth quarter of 2019, the Company recorded a loss on extinguishment of debt of $7.2 million for the early redemption of the unsecured senior notes in the principal amount of $250 million due in August 2020 prior to their maturity date. • The Company acquired WoodSpring on February 1, 2018 and incurred acquisition transaction and integration costs totaling $4.2 million , $0.8 million , $0.6 million and $1.3 million in SG&A expenses in the first, second, third and fourth quarters of 2018, respectively. • The Company's fourth quarter 2018 results reflect an impairment of non-hotel franchising goodwill of $4.3 million in the impairment of goodwill line item and a loan valuation allowance charge of $2.8 million in SG&A expenses. In addition, the Company recognized an additional impairment of non-hotel franchising goodwill and long-lived assets of $3.1 million and $7.3 million , respectively, in the first quarter of 2019 related to the Company's SaaS for vacation rentals reporting unit. The reporting unit was disposed of on June 3, 2019 and the Company recognized an additional $4.7 million loss on the sale during the second quarter of 2019. Refer to Item 7, Critical Accounting Policies and Note 6 to our consolidated financial statements for additional information.

Future Adoption of Accounting S

Future Adoption of Accounting Standards	12 Months Ended
	Dec. 31, 2019
Accounting Policies [Abstract]
Future Adoption of Accounting Standards	Future Adoption of Accounting Standards In June 2016, the FASB issued ASU 2016-13, Financial Instruments - Credit Losses (Topic 326) and issued subsequent amendments to the initial guidance at various points thereafter ("Topic 326"), which will require the measurement of all expected credit losses for financial assets held at the reporting date based on historical experience, current conditions, and reasonable and supportable forecasts. Topic 326 requires enhanced disclosures, including qualitative and quantitative requirements, to provide insight to significant estimates and judgments used in estimating credit losses and the amounts recorded in the financial statements. The guidance is effective for annual reporting periods beginning after December 15, 2019 and interim periods within those fiscal years. Topic 326 requires the use of the modified retrospective approach for adoption. The Company will adopt Topic 326 on January 1, 2020 and currently expects a cumulative-effect adjustment to be recorded in retained earnings as of the date of adoption that will not be material to the consolidated financial statements. In August 2018, the FASB issued ASU 2018-13, Fair Value Measurement (Topic 820): Disclosure Framework—Changes to the Disclosure Requirements for Fair Value Measurement ("ASU 2018-13"). ASU 2018-13 modifies disclosure requirements on fair value measurements. The guidance is effective for annual reporting periods beginning after December 15, 2019 and interim periods within those fiscal years. Early adoption is permitted. The Company does not expect the adoption of ASU 2018-13 to have an impact on the consolidated financial statement disclosures. In August 2018, the FASB issued ASU 2018-15, Intangibles—Goodwill and Other—Internal-Use Software (Subtopic 350-40) : Customer’s Accounting for Implementation Costs Incurred in a Cloud Computing Arrangement That Is a Service Contract ("ASU 2018-15"). ASU 2018-15 aligns the requirements for capitalizing implementation costs incurred in a hosting arrangement that is a service contract with the requirements for capitalizing implementation costs incurred to develop or obtain internal-use software (and hosting arrangements that include an internal-use software license). The guidance is effective for annual reporting periods beginning after December 15, 2019 and interim periods within those fiscal years. Early adoption is permitted. The Company plans to adopt ASU 2018-15 on a prospective basis on January 1, 2020. As the majority of the Company's hosting arrangements are service contracts, the capitalization and subsequent amortization of implementation costs incurred after adoption are expected to impact the timing, but not classification, of expense recognition. In December 2019, the FASB issued ASU 2019-12, Simplifying the Accounting for Income Taxes ("ASU 2019-12"). ASU 2019-12 enhances and simplifies various aspects of the income tax accounting guidance in ASC 740. The guidance is effective for annual reporting periods beginning after December 15, 2020 and interim periods within those fiscal years. Early adoption is permitted. T he Company is evaluating the effect of adopting ASU 2019-12 but does not expect adoption will have a material impact on the consolidated financial statements and disclosures.

Subsequent Events

Subsequent Events	12 Months Ended
	Dec. 31, 2019
Subsequent Events [Abstract]
Subsequent Events	Subsequent Events On January 1, 2018, the Company adopted ASU 2016-16, Income Taxes (Topic 740) - Intra-Entity Transfers of Assets Other Than Inventory ("ASU 2016-16"), which provides guidance on recognition of current income tax consequences for inter-company asset transfers (other than inventory) at the time of transfer. On January 1, 2020, the Company completed a reorganization of its foreign legal entity structure, resulting in the recognition of income tax benefits and a deferred tax asset in the first quarter of 2020 in accordance with ASU 2016-16. On February 18, 2020, the Company entered into the First Amendment to the Amended and Restated Senior Unsecured Credit Agreement (the “Amendment”) among the Company, Deutsche Bank AG New York Branch, as administrative agent (the “Administrative Agent”) and the lenders party thereto. The Amendment amended the Restated Credit Agreement. Prior to the Amendment, the Credit Agreement provided that if certain subsidiaries of the Company were to incur certain recourse debt or become obligors in respect of certain recourse debt of the Company or certain of its other subsidiaries, those obligated subsidiaries were required to guarantee the Company’s obligations under the unsecured revolving credit facility provided pursuant to the Restated Credit Agreement (the “springing guarantee”). The Amendment, among other things, removes the springing guarantee and other provisions and references in the Restated Credit Agreement related to the potential existence of subsidiary guarantors. On February 28, 2020, the Company's board of directors declared a quarterly cash dividend of $0.225 per share of common stock. The dividend is payable on April 16, 2020 to shareholders of record on April 2, 2020.

Summary of Significant Accoun_2

Summary of Significant Accounting Policies (Policy)	12 Months Ended
	Dec. 31, 2019
Accounting Policies [Abstract]
Basis of Presentation	Basis of Presentation The accompanying consolidated financial statements present the financial position, results of operations and cash flows of Choice Hotels International, Inc., a Delaware corporation and subsidiaries (the "Company"). The Company consolidates entities under its control, including variable interest entities where it is deemed to be the primary beneficiary. Investments in unconsolidated affiliates where the Company is not deemed to be the primary beneficiary but where the Company exercises significant influence over the operating and financial policies of the investee are accounted for by the equity method. All significant inter-company accounts and transactions have been eliminated in consolidation. The consolidated financial statements are prepared in conformity with accounting principles generally accepted in the United States of America ("GAAP") and require management to make certain estimates and assumptions that affect the reported amounts of assets and liabilities and disclosure of contingent assets and liabilities at the date of the financial statements and the reported amounts of revenues and expenses during the reporting period. Accordingly, ultimate results could differ from those estimates. In the opinion of management, the accompanying consolidated financial statements include all normal and recurring adjustments that are necessary to fairly present the financial position, results of operations and cash flows of the Company.
Accounts Receivable and Credit Risk	Accounts Receivable and Credit Risk Accounts receivable consist primarily of franchise and related fees due from hotel franchisees and are recorded at the invoiced amount. The allowance for doubtful accounts is the Company’s best estimate of the amount of probable credit losses in the existing accounts receivable. The Company determines the allowance considering historical write-off experience and a review of aged receivable balances. However, the Company considers its credit risk associated with trade receivables to be partially mitigated due to the dispersion of these receivables across a large number of geographically diverse franchisees. The Company records bad debt expense in SG&A and marketing and reservation system expenses in the accompanying consolidated statements of income based on its assessment of the ultimate realizability of trade receivables considering historical collection experience and the economic environment. When the Company determines that an account is not collectible, the account is written-off to the associated allowance for doubtful accounts.
Advertising Costs	Advertising Costs The Company expenses advertising costs as the advertising occurs. Advertising expense was $158.4 million , $141.8 million , and $114.1 million for the years ended December 31, 2019, 2018 and 2017 , respectively. The Company includes advertising costs primarily in marketing and reservation system expenses on the accompanying consolidated statements of income.
Cash and Cash Equivalents	Cash and Cash Equivalents The Company considers all highly liquid investments purchased with a maturity of three months or less at the date of purchase to be cash equivalents. The Company maintains cash balances in domestic banks, which, at times, may exceed the limits of amounts insured by the Federal Deposit Insurance Corporation. In addition, the Company also maintains cash balances in international banks which do not provide deposit insurance.
Capitalization Policies	Capitalization Policies Property and equipment are recorded at cost and depreciated using the straight-line method over the estimated useful lives of the assets. Leasehold improvements are amortized over the shorter of the lease term or their useful lives. Major renovations and replacements incurred during construction are capitalized. Additionally, the Company capitalizes any interest incurred during construction of property and equipment or the development of software. Upon sale or retirement of property, the cost and related accumulated depreciation are eliminated from the accounts and any related gain or loss is recognized in the accompanying consolidated statements of income. Maintenance, repairs and minor replacements are charged to expense as incurred. Costs for computer software developed for internal use are capitalized during the application development stage and depreciated using the straight-line method over the estimated useful lives of the software. Software licenses pertaining to cloud computing arrangements that are capitalized are amortized using the straight-line method over the shorter of the cloud computing arrangement term or their useful lives.
Assets Held For Sale	Assets Held for Sale The Company considers assets to be held for sale when all of the following criteria are met: • Management commits to a plan to sell an asset; • It is unlikely that the disposal plan will be significantly modified or discontinued; • The asset is available for immediate sale in its present condition; • Actions required to complete the sale of the asset have been initiated; • Sale of the asset is probable and the Company expects the completed sale will occur within one year; and • The asset is actively being marketed for sale at a price that is reasonable given its current market value. Upon designation as an asset held for sale, the Company records the carrying value of each asset at the lower of its carrying value or its estimated fair value, less estimated costs to sell, and ceases recording depreciation. If at any time these criteria are no longer met, subject to certain exceptions, the assets previously classified as held for sale are reclassified as held and used and measured individually at the lower of the following: a. the carrying amount before the asset was classified as held for sale, adjusted for any depreciation (amortization) expense that would have been recognized had the asset been continuously classified as held and used; b. the fair value at the date of the subsequent decision not to sell.
Valuation of Intangibles and Long-Lived Assets	Valuation of Long-Lived Assets, Intangibles, and Goodwill The Company evaluates the potential impairment of property and equipment and other long-lived assets, including franchise rights and other definite-lived intangibles, annually or earlier upon the occurrence of an event or when other circumstances indicate that the Company may not be able to recover the carrying value of the asset. When indicators of impairment are present, recoverability is assessed based on net, undiscounted expected cash flows. If the net, undiscounted expected cash flows are less than the carrying amount of the assets, an impairment charge is recorded for the excess of the carrying value over the fair value of the asset. The fair value of intangibles and long lived assets are estimated primarily using undiscounted cash flow analyses. Significant management judgment is involved in evaluating indicators of impairment and developing any required projections to test for recoverability or estimate the fair value of an asset. Furthermore, if management uses different projections or if different conditions occur in future periods, future-operating results could be materially impacted. The Company recognized impairments on franchise sales commission assets and franchise agreement acquisition cost intangibles resulting from terminations of franchisees from the Choice system as discussed in Note 2. During the first quarter of 2019, the SaaS for vacation rentals reporting unit recognized impairment of long-lived assets as discussed in Note 6. Other than these recognized impairments, the Company did not identify any indicators of impairment of long-lived assets during the years ended December 31, 2019, 2018 and 2017 . The Company evaluates the impairment of goodwill and intangible assets with indefinite lives annually as of December 31 or earlier upon the occurrence of substantive unfavorable changes in economic conditions, industry trends, costs, cash flows, or ongoing declines in market capitalization that indicate that the Company may not be able to recover the carrying amount of the asset. In evaluating these assets for impairment, the Company may elect to first assess qualitative factors to determine whether it is more likely than not that the fair value of the reporting unit or the indefinite lived intangible asset is less than its carrying amount. If the conclusion is that it is not more likely than not that the fair value of the asset is less than its carrying value, then no further testing is required. If the conclusion is that it is more likely than not that the fair value of the asset is less than its carrying value, then a quantitative impairment test is performed for goodwill. For indefinite-lived intangibles, the carrying value is compared to the fair value of the asset and an impairment charge is recognized for any excess. The Company may elect to forgo the qualitative assessment and move directly to the quantitative impairment tests for goodwill and indefinite-lived intangibles. The Company determines the fair value of its reporting units and indefinite-lived intangibles using income and market methods. Goodwill is allocated to the Company's reporting units, which are determined by the availability of discrete financial information relied upon by segment management. Goodwill has been allocated to two
Variable Interest Entities	Variable Interest Entities In accordance with the guidance for the consolidation of variable interest entities ("VIE"), the Company analyzes its variable interests to determine if the entity in which the Company has a variable interest is a VIE. The Company's variable interests include equity investments, loans, and guaranties. The analysis includes both quantitative and qualitative consideration. For those entities determined to be VIEs, a further quantitative and qualitative analysis is performed to determine if the Company will be deemed the primary beneficiary. The primary beneficiary is the party who has the power to direct the activities of a variable interest entity that most significantly impact the entity's economic performance and who has an obligation to absorb losses of the entity or a right to receive benefits from the entity that could potentially be significant to the entity. The Company consolidates those entities in which it is determined to be the primary beneficiary.
Valuation of Investments in Equity Method Investments	Valuation of Investments in Equity Method Investments The Company evaluates an investment in a venture for impairment when circumstances indicate that the carrying value may not be recoverable, for example due to loan defaults, significant under performance relative to historical or projected operating performance, and significant negative industry or economic trends. When there is indication that a loss in value has occurred, the Company evaluates the carrying value compared to the estimated fair value of the investment. Fair value is based upon internally developed discounted cash flow models, third-party appraisals, and if appropriate, current estimated net sales proceeds from pending offers. If the estimated fair value is less than carrying value, management uses its judgment to determine if the decline in value is other-than-temporary. In determining this, the Company considers factors including, but not limited to, the length of time and extent of the decline, loss of values as a percentage of the cost, financial condition and near-term financial projections, the Company's intent and ability to recover the lost value and current economic conditions. For declines in value that are deemed other-than-temporary, impairments are charged to earnings.
Foreign Operations	Foreign Operations
Derivatives	Derivatives The Company periodically uses derivative instruments as part of its overall strategy to manage exposure to market risks associated with fluctuations in interest rates. All outstanding derivative financial instruments are recognized at their fair values as assets or liabilities. The impact on earnings from recognizing the fair values of these instruments depends on their intended use, their hedge designation and their effectiveness in offsetting changes in the fair values of the exposures they are hedging. The Company does not use derivatives for trading purposes. The effective portion of changes in fair value of derivatives designated as cash flow hedging instruments are recorded as a component of accumulated other comprehensive income (loss) and the ineffective portion is reported currently in earnings. The amounts included in accumulated other comprehensive income are reclassified into earnings in the same period during which the hedged item affects earnings. Amounts reported in earnings are classified consistent with the item being hedged. The Company formally documents all relationships between its hedging instruments and hedged items at inception, including its risk management objective and strategy for establishing various hedge relationships. Cash flows from hedging instruments are classified in the consolidated statements of cash flows consistent with the items being hedged. Hedge accounting is discontinued prospectively when (i) the derivative instrument is no longer effective in offsetting changes in fair value or cash flows of the underlying hedged item, (ii) the derivative instrument expires, is sold, terminated or exercised, or (iii) designating the derivative instrument as a hedge is no longer appropriate. The effectiveness of derivative instruments is assessed at inception and on an ongoing basis.
Guaranties	Guaranties The Company has historically issued certain guaranties to support the growth of its brands. A liability is recognized for the fair value of such guaranties upon inception of the guaranty and upon any subsequent modification, such as renewals, when the Company remains contingently liable. The fair value of a guaranty is the estimated amount at which the liability could be settled in a current transaction between willing unrelated parties. The Company evaluates these guaranties on a quarterly basis to determine if there is a probable loss requiring recognition.
Recently Adopted Accounting Guidance and Future Adoption of Accounting Standards	Recently Adopted Accounting Standards In February 2016, the Financial Accounting Standards Board ("FASB") issued Accounting Standards Update ("ASU") 2016-02, Leases (Topic 842) and issued subsequent amendments to the initial guidance at various points thereafter (collectively referred to as "Topic 842"). Topic 842 requires a lessee to recognize operating leases on its balance sheet by recording liabilities for its lease obligations and assets for its right-of-use ("ROU") of the underlying assets as of the lease commencement dates. This differs from prior treatment of operating leases in accordance with Accounting Standards Codification ("ASC") 840, Leases (Topic 840) ("Topic 840"), as operating leases were not captured on a lessee's consolidated balance sheet. Topic 842 prescribes that entities should recognize expenses on their consolidated statements of income in a manner similar to Topic 840 whereby minimum lease payments are recognized on a straight-line basis over a lease term. The Company elected to apply the package of practical expedients that allows entities to forego reassessing at the transition date: (i) whether expired or existing contracts are or contain leases; (ii) lease classification for any expired or existing leases; and (iii) whether initial direct costs for existing leases qualify for capitalization. Topic 842 allows entities an optional transitional method to apply the transition requirements at the effective date, rather than at the beginning of the earliest comparative period. An entity’s reporting for the comparative periods presented in the year of adoption continues to be in accordance with Topic 840, including the disclosure requirements of Topic 840. The Company adopted Topic 842 on January 1, 2019 using this optional transition method and therefore, the financial results reported in periods prior to January 1, 2019 are unchanged. Adoption of the standard during the first quarter of 2019 resulted in the recording of operating lease ROU assets of $28.0 million and operating lease liabilities of $38.5 million as of March 31, 2019. Topic 842 did not have an impact on our consolidated statements of income. Refer to Note 20. In June 2016, the FASB issued ASU 2016-13, Financial Instruments - Credit Losses (Topic 326) and issued subsequent amendments to the initial guidance at various points thereafter ("Topic 326"), which will require the measurement of all expected credit losses for financial assets held at the reporting date based on historical experience, current conditions, and reasonable and supportable forecasts. Topic 326 requires enhanced disclosures, including qualitative and quantitative requirements, to provide insight to significant estimates and judgments used in estimating credit losses and the amounts recorded in the financial statements. The guidance is effective for annual reporting periods beginning after December 15, 2019 and interim periods within those fiscal years. Topic 326 requires the use of the modified retrospective approach for adoption. The Company will adopt Topic 326 on January 1, 2020 and currently expects a cumulative-effect adjustment to be recorded in retained earnings as of the date of adoption that will not be material to the consolidated financial statements. In August 2018, the FASB issued ASU 2018-13, Fair Value Measurement (Topic 820): Disclosure Framework—Changes to the Disclosure Requirements for Fair Value Measurement ("ASU 2018-13"). ASU 2018-13 modifies disclosure requirements on fair value measurements. The guidance is effective for annual reporting periods beginning after December 15, 2019 and interim periods within those fiscal years. Early adoption is permitted. The Company does not expect the adoption of ASU 2018-13 to have an impact on the consolidated financial statement disclosures. In August 2018, the FASB issued ASU 2018-15, Intangibles—Goodwill and Other—Internal-Use Software (Subtopic 350-40) : Customer’s Accounting for Implementation Costs Incurred in a Cloud Computing Arrangement That Is a Service Contract ("ASU 2018-15"). ASU 2018-15 aligns the requirements for capitalizing implementation costs incurred in a hosting arrangement that is a service contract with the requirements for capitalizing implementation costs incurred to develop or obtain internal-use software (and hosting arrangements that include an internal-use software license). The guidance is effective for annual reporting periods beginning after December 15, 2019 and interim periods within those fiscal years. Early adoption is permitted. The Company plans to adopt ASU 2018-15 on a prospective basis on January 1, 2020. As the majority of the Company's hosting arrangements are service contracts, the capitalization and subsequent amortization of implementation costs incurred after adoption are expected to impact the timing, but not classification, of expense recognition. In December 2019, the FASB issued ASU 2019-12, Simplifying the Accounting for Income Taxes ("ASU 2019-12"). ASU 2019-12 enhances and simplifies various aspects of the income tax accounting guidance in ASC 740. The guidance is effective for annual reporting periods beginning after December 15, 2020 and interim periods within those fiscal years. Early adoption is permitted. T he Company is evaluating the effect of adopting ASU 2019-12 but does not expect adoption will have a material impact on the consolidated financial statements and disclosures.

Revenue (Tables)

Revenue (Tables)	12 Months Ended
	Dec. 31, 2019
Revenue from Contract with Customer [Abstract]
Contract with Customer, Asset and Liability	Significant changes in the contract liabilities balances during 2019 are as follows: (in thousands) Balance as of December 31, 2018 $ 153,180 Increases to the contract liability balance due to cash received 101,705 Revenue recognized in the period (91,038 ) Balance as of December 31, 2019 $ 163,847
Disaggregation of Revenue	The following table presents our revenues by over time and point in time recognition: Year Ended December 31, 2019 Over time Point in time Total Revenues: (in thousands) Royalty fees $ 388,151 $ — $ 388,151 Initial franchise and relicensing fees 27,489 — 27,489 Procurement services 58,248 3,181 61,429 Marketing and reservation system 499,368 78,058 577,426 Owned hotels 17,345 2,821 20,166 Other 38,860 141 39,001 Total Topic 606 revenues $ 1,029,461 $ 84,201 1,113,662 Non-Topic 606 revenues 1,158 $ 1,114,820 Year Ended December 31, 2018 Over time Point in time Total Revenues: (in thousands) Royalty fees $ 376,676 $ — $ 376,676 Initial franchise and relicensing fees 26,072 — 26,072 Procurement services 49,496 2,592 52,088 Marketing and reservation system 490,025 53,652 543,677 Other 40,360 1,058 41,418 Total Topic 606 revenues $ 982,629 $ 57,302 1,039,931 Non-Topic 606 revenues 1,373 $ 1,041,304 Year Ended December 31, 2017 Over time Point in time Total Revenues: (in thousands) Royalty fees $ 341,745 $ — $ 341,745 Initial franchise and relicensing fees 23,038 — 23,038 Procurement services 38,568 1,883 40,451 Marketing and reservation system 460,749 38,876 499,625 Other 28,744 6,298 35,042 Total Topic 606 revenues $ 892,844 $ 47,057 939,901 Non-Topic 606 revenues 1,396 $ 941,297

Other Current Assets (Tables)

Other Current Assets (Tables)	12 Months Ended
	Dec. 31, 2019
Prepaid Expense and Other Assets, Current [Abstract]
Schedule Of Other Current Assets	Other current assets consist of the following at: December 31, 2019 2018 (in thousands) Prepaid expenses $ 21,016 $ 18,412 Other current assets 3,711 6,831 Land held for sale — 7,000 Total $ 24,727 $ 32,243

Notes Receivable and Allowanc_2

Notes Receivable and Allowance for Losses (Tables)	12 Months Ended
	Dec. 31, 2019
Accounts and Financing Receivable, after Allowance for Credit Loss [Abstract]
Schedule of notes receivable	The following table shows the composition of the Company's notes receivable balances: December 31, 2019 2018 Credit Quality Indicator: (in thousands) Senior $ 98,545 $ 94,349 Subordinated 32,153 28,100 Unsecured 2,316 2,435 Total notes receivable 133,014 124,884 Allowance for losses on receivables specifically evaluated for impairment 4,426 4,426 Allowance for losses on non-impaired loans 130 259 Total loan reserves 4,556 4,685 Net carrying value $ 128,458 $ 120,199 Current portion, net $ 25,404 $ 36,759 Long-term portion, net 103,054 83,440 Total $ 128,458 $ 120,199
Past due balances of mezzanine and other notes receivable by credit quality indicators	Past due balances of notes receivable by credit quality indicators are as follows: 30-89 days Past Due > 90 days Past Due Total Past Due Current Total Notes Receivable As of December 31, 2019 (in thousands) Senior $ — $ — $ — $ 98,545 $ 98,545 Subordinated — — — 32,153 32,153 Unsecured — — — 2,316 2,316 $ — $ — $ — $ 133,014 $ 133,014 As of December 31, 2018 Senior $ — $ — $ — $ 94,349 $ 94,349 Subordinated — — — 28,100 28,100 Unsecured — — — 2,435 2,435 $ — $ — $ — $ 124,884 $ 124,884
Summary of activity related to allowance for losses	The following table summarizes the activity related to the Company’s Notes Receivable allowance for losses for the years ended December 31, 2019 and 2018 : December 31, 2019 2018 (in thousands) Beginning balance $ 4,685 $ 2,137 Provisions — 2,779 Write-offs (129 ) (231 ) Ending balance $ 4,556 $ 4,685

Property and Equipment (Tables)

Property and Equipment (Tables)	12 Months Ended
	Dec. 31, 2019
Property, Plant and Equipment [Abstract]
Components of Property and Equipment	The components of property and equipment are: December 31, 2019 2018 (in thousands) Land and land improvements $ 29,648 $ 2,197 Construction in progress and software under development 20,138 49,920 Computer equipment and software (1) 197,665 185,191 Buildings and leasehold improvements 229,961 30,019 Furniture, fixtures, vehicles and equipment 60,798 28,937 Property and equipment, at cost 538,210 296,264 Less: Accumulated depreciation and amortization (186,708 ) (168,729 ) Property and equipment, at cost, net $ 351,502 $ 127,535 (1) In 2019, $4.8 million of Assets under capital lease were transferred to Computer equipment and software as a result of adopting Topic 842 and paying off the lease. The $4.8 million of Assets under capital lease for the year ended 2018 have been reclassified to conform to current year presentation.
Schedule of Estimated Useful Lives	A summary of the ranges of estimated useful lives upon which depreciation rates are based follows: Computer equipment and software 2-7 years Buildings and leasehold improvements 10-40 years Furniture, fixtures, vehicles and equipment 3-10 years

Goodwill (Tables)

Goodwill (Tables)	12 Months Ended
	Dec. 31, 2019
Goodwill and Intangible Assets Disclosure [Abstract]
Schedule of Goodwill	The following is a summary of changes in the carrying amount of goodwill: December 31, 2018 Acquisitions Foreign Exchange Impairment Disposition December 31, 2019 Hotel Franchising $ 159,196 $ — $ — $ — $ — $ 159,196 Other 9,800 — (407 ) (3,097 ) (6,296 ) — Total $ 168,996 $ — $ (407 ) $ (3,097 ) $ (6,296 ) $ 159,196 December 31, 2017 Acquisitions Foreign Exchange Impairment Disposition December 31, 2018 Hotel Franchising $ 65,813 $ 93,383 $ — $ — $ — $ 159,196 Other 14,944 — (855 ) (4,289 ) — 9,800 Total $ 80,757 $ 93,383 $ (855 ) $ (4,289 ) $ — $ 168,996 The following table details the carrying amount of our goodwill: December 31, 2019 2018 (in thousands) Goodwill $ 173,070 $ 173,477 Accumulated impairment losses (7,578 ) (4,481 ) Disposition (6,296 ) — Net carrying amount $ 159,196 $ 168,996

Intangible assets (Tables)

Intangible assets (Tables)	12 Months Ended
	Dec. 31, 2019
Goodwill and Intangible Assets Disclosure [Abstract]
Schedule of Franchise Rights and Other Identifiable Intangible Assets	The components of the Company's intangible assets are as follows: As of December 31, 2019 As of December 31, 2018 Gross Carrying Amount Accumulated Amortization Net Carrying Value Gross Carrying Amount Accumulated Amortization Net Carrying Value (in thousands) Unamortized Intangible Assets Trademarks (1) $ 23,014 $ — $ 23,014 $ 23,014 $ — $ 23,014 Amortized Intangible Assets Franchise Rights (2) 190,637 90,280 100,357 190,663 82,632 108,031 Franchise Agreement Acquisition Costs (3) 198,352 41,667 156,685 164,174 34,986 129,188 Trademarks (4) 14,300 10,961 3,339 14,055 10,562 3,493 Capitalized SaaS Licenses (5) 10,880 5,261 5,619 5,468 2,903 2,565 Contract Acquisition Costs (6) — — — 5,389 1,763 3,626 Acquired Lease Rights (7) 3,041 1,634 1,407 2,237 966 1,271 417,210 149,803 267,407 381,986 133,812 248,174 Total $ 440,224 $ 149,803 $ 290,421 $ 405,000 $ 133,812 $ 271,188 (1) Represents the purchase price assigned to the WoodSpring and Suburban trademarks at acquisition. The trademarks are expected to generate future cash flows for an indefinite period of time. (2) Represents the purchase price assigned to long-term franchise contracts. The unamortized balance relates primarily to the acquisition of the WoodSpring franchise rights. The franchise rights are being amortized over lives ranging from 12 to 20 years on a straight-line basis. (3) Represents certain payments to customers as an incentive to enter in to new franchise agreements amortized over lives ranging from 5 to 30 years on a straight-line basis commencing at hotel opening. Refer to Note 2. (4) Represents definite-lived trademarks generally amortized on a straight-line basis over a period of 8 to 40 years. (5) Represents software licenses capitalized under a SaaS agreement. Amortized over a period of 3 to 5 years. (6) Represents non-franchise customer contracts acquired in a business combination. Amortized on a straight-line basis over a period of 5 to 12 years. Impairment and subsequent sale of the SaaS for vacation rentals reporting unit in 2019 resulted in no remaining value. (7) Represents acquired lease rights recognized in conjunction with the acquisition of an office building and owned hotels. The costs are being amortized over various terms of the leases which range from 39 months to 10 years.
Schedule of Intangible Assets, Estimated Annual Amortization Expense	The estimated annual amortization expense related to the Company’s amortizable intangible assets for each of the years ending December 31, 2020 through 2024 is as follows: Year: (in millions) 2020 $ 21.7 2021 $ 20.1 2022 $ 18.9 2023 $ 17.4 2024 $ 16.7

Investments in Unconsolidated_2

Investments in Unconsolidated Entities (Tables)	12 Months Ended
	Dec. 31, 2019
Equity Method Investments and Joint Ventures [Abstract]
Equity method investment ownership interests and financial information	Equity method investment ownership interests at December 31, 2019 and 2018 are as follows: Ownership Interest Equity Method Investment December 31, 2019 December 31, 2018 Main Street WP Hotel Associates, LLC 50 % 50 % FBC-CHI Hotels, LLC (2) — % 40 % CS Hotel 30W46th, LLC 25 % 25 % CS Brickell, LLC 50 % 50 % CS Maple Grove, LLC (3) — % 50 % CS Hotel West Orange, LLC 50 % 50 % Hotel JV Services, LLC (1) 16 % 16 % City Market Hotel Development, LLC 43 % 43 % CS Woodlands, LLC 50 % 50 % 926 James M. Wood Boulevard, LLC 75 % 75 % CS Dallas Elm, LLC 45 % 45 % Choice Hotels Canada, Inc. (1) 50 % 50 % Pine Street Long Beach LLC 50 % 50 % SY Valley Vineyard Resorts LLC 50 % 50 % CS Lakeside Santa Clara LLC 50 % 50 % CS Main Pleasant Hill LLC (4) — % 50 % BL 219 Holdco, LP 50 % — % Integrated 32 West Randolph LLC 20 % — % (1) Non-variable interest entity investments (2) During the third quarter of 2019, the Company redeemed the remaining 60% ownership interest in four of the hotels under the equity method investment and sold its 40% ownership interest in the fifth hotel. Following the redemption, the Company consolidated the operations of the four acquired hotels, and recognized a $6.0 million loss on the sale of the fifth hotel which is recorded in equity in net loss (income) of affiliates. The financial results of the 100% owned hotels have been consolidated in the Company's financial statements since July 23, 2019 . Reference Note 25. (3) During the second quarter of 2019, the Company sold its ownership interest in the equity method investment recognizing a gain of $1.4 million . (4) During the fourth quarter of 2019, the Company terminated its ownership interest in the equity method investment recognizing a loss of $0.4 million . The following tables present summarized financial information for all unconsolidated ventures in which the Company holds an investment that is accounted for under the equity method: Year Ended December 31, 2019 2018 2017 (in thousands) Revenues $ 109,896 $ 118,324 $ 87,033 Operating income 12,617 11,790 8,171 Income (loss) from continuing operations (1,400 ) 1,658 2,140 Net income (loss) $ (2,564 ) $ 477 $ 940 As of December 31, 2019 2018 (in thousands) Current assets $ 53,324 $ 75,453 Non-current assets 390,881 465,361 Total assets $ 444,205 $ 540,814 Current liabilities $ 27,583 $ 32,234 Non-current liabilities 261,039 239,581 Total liabilities $ 288,622 $ 271,815

Other Assets (Table)

Other Assets (Table)	12 Months Ended
	Dec. 31, 2019
Other Assets [Abstract]
Components of Other Assets	Other assets consist of the following at: December 31, 2019 2018 (in thousands) Land and buildings $ 29,700 $ 29,643 Capitalized franchise sales commissions (refer to Note 2) 55,662 51,929 Other assets 12,080 2,828 Total $ 97,442 $ 84,400

Accrued Expenses and Other Cu_2

Accrued Expenses and Other Current Liabilities (Tables)	12 Months Ended
	Dec. 31, 2019
Accrued Liabilities [Abstract]
Schedule of Accrued Expenses	Accrued expenses and other current liabilities consist of the following: December 31, 2019 2018 (in thousands) Accrued compensation and benefits $ 41,939 $ 42,518 Accrued interest 12,954 16,640 Dividends payable 12,535 11,977 Deferred rent and unamortized lease incentives — 2,772 Termination benefits 1,782 744 Current operating lease liabilities 10,099 — Other liabilities and contingencies 11,055 18,000 Total $ 90,364 $ 92,651

Deferred Revenue (Tables)

Deferred Revenue (Tables)	12 Months Ended
	Dec. 31, 2019
Deferred Revenue and Credits [Abstract]
Components of Deferred Revenue	Deferred revenue consists of the following: December 31, 2019 2018 (in thousands) Initial franchising and relicensing fees $ 106,196 $ 104,287 Loyalty programs 60,428 53,749 System implementation fees 7,986 8,764 Procurement services fees 6,037 7,872 Other 3,609 3,220 Total $ 184,256 $ 177,892 Current portion $ 71,594 $ 67,614 Long-term portion 112,662 110,278 Total $ 184,256 $ 177,892

Other Non-Current Liabilities (

Other Non-Current Liabilities (Tables)	12 Months Ended
	Dec. 31, 2019
Other Liabilities, Noncurrent [Abstract]
Schedule of Other Non-Current Liabilities	Other non-current liabilities consist of the following at: December 31, 2019 2018 (in thousands) Deferred rent and unamortized lease incentives $ — $ 7,903 Uncertain tax positions 3,094 1,788 Participating interest in notes receivable (refer to Note 4) — 24,409 Other liabilities 373 2,996 Total $ 3,467 $ 37,096

Debt (Tables)

Debt (Tables)	12 Months Ended
	Dec. 31, 2019
Debt Disclosure [Abstract]
Schedule of Components of Debt	Debt consists of the following at: December 31, 2019 2018 (in thousands) $400 million senior unsecured notes due 2022 with an effective interest rate of 6.0% less deferred issuance costs of $2.3 million and $3.2 million at December 31, 2019 and December 31, 2018, respectively $ 397,680 $ 396,844 $250 million senior unsecured notes with an effective interest rate of 6.19% less a discount and deferred issuance costs of $0.5 million at December 31, 2018 — 249,489 $600 million senior unsecured credit facility with an effective interest rate of 2.76% and 3.50%, less deferred issuance costs of $2.7 million and $3.0 million at December 31, 2019 and December 31, 2018, respectively 15,502 87,582 $400 million senior unsecured notes due 2029 with an effective interest rate of 3.88%, less a discount and deferred issuance costs of $6.0 million at December 31, 2019 394,039 — Construction loan with an effective interest rate of 6.23% and 6.70%, less deferred issuance costs of $0.6 million and $0.9 million at December 31, 2019 and December 31, 2018, respectively 32,465 7,652 Fixed rate collateralized mortgage with an effective interest rate of 4.57%, plus a fair value adjustment of $0.2 million and $0.4 million at December 31, 2019 and December 31, 2018, respectively 7,511 8,197 Economic development loans with an effective interest rate of 3.0% at December 31, 2019 and December 31, 2018, respectively 4,416 4,240 Other notes payable — 607 Total debt $ 851,613 $ 754,611 Less current portion 7,511 1,097 Total long-term debt $ 844,102 $ 753,514
Schedule of Maturities of Long-term Debt	Scheduled principal maturities of debt, net of unamortized discounts, premiums and deferred issuance costs, as of December 31, 2019 were as follows: Year Ending: Senior Notes Construction Loan Revolving Credit Other Notes Total (in thousands) 2020 $ — $ — $ — $ 7,511 $ 7,511 2021 — — — — — 2022 397,680 32,465 — — 430,145 2023 — — — 4,416 4,416 2024 — — 15,502 — 15,502 Thereafter 394,039 — — — 394,039 Total payments $ 791,719 $ 32,465 $ 15,502 $ 11,927 $ 851,613

Fair Value Measurements (Tables

Fair Value Measurements (Tables)	12 Months Ended
	Dec. 31, 2019
Fair Value Disclosures [Abstract]
Schedule of Fair Value of Assets	As of December 31, 2019 and 2018 , the Company had the following assets measured at fair value on a recurring basis: Fair Value Measurements at Reporting Date Using Total Level 1 Level 2 Level 3 (in thousands) December 31, 2019 Mutual funds (1) $ 24,927 $ 24,927 $ — $ — Money market funds (1) 2,192 — 2,192 — Total $ 27,119 $ 24,927 $ 2,192 $ — December 31, 2018 Mutual funds (1) $ 19,378 $ 19,378 $ — $ — Money market funds (1) 1,923 — 1,923 — Total $ 21,301 $ 19,378 $ 1,923 $ — (1) Included in Investments, employee benefit plans, at fair value and other current assets on the consolidated balance sheets.

Income Taxes (Tables)

Income Taxes (Tables)	12 Months Ended
	Dec. 31, 2019
Income Tax Disclosure [Abstract]
Schedule of Income before Income Tax, Domestic and Foreign	Total income before income taxes, classified by source of income, was as follows: Year Ended December 31, 2019 2018 2017 (in thousands) U.S. $ 259,943 $ 251,056 $ 217,725 Outside the U.S. 9,986 22,202 31,492 Income from before income taxes $ 269,929 $ 273,258 $ 249,217
Schedule of Components of Income Tax Expense (Benefit)	The provision for income taxes, classified by the timing and location of payment, was as follows: Year Ended December 31, 2019 2018 2017 (in thousands) Current tax expense Federal $ 31,556 $ 48,941 $ 63,279 State 10,154 8,966 5,183 Foreign 1,619 1,471 2,000 Deferred tax (benefit) expense Federal 3,380 (1,459 ) 55,007 State 1,635 (959 ) 1,676 Foreign (1,293 ) (57 ) (255 ) Income taxes $ 47,051 $ 56,903 $ 126,890
Schedule of Deferred Tax Assets and Liabilities	Net deferred tax assets consisted of: December 31, 2019 2018 (in thousands) Deferred tax assets: Accrued compensation $ 13,070 $ 12,790 Accrued expenses 32,193 30,721 Tax credits 8,978 2,438 Operating lease liabilities 7,324 — Foreign net operating losses 2,330 2,119 Partnership interests — 548 Other 2,827 3,033 Total gross deferred tax assets 66,722 51,649 Less: Valuation Allowance (10,840 ) (1,653 ) Deferred tax assets 55,882 49,996 Deferred tax liabilities: Property, equipment and intangible assets (22,280 ) (17,212 ) Operating lease ROU assets (7,324 ) — Partnership interests (3,002 ) — Other (2,529 ) (2,171 ) Deferred tax liabilities (35,135 ) (19,383 ) Net deferred tax assets $ 20,747 $ 30,613
Schedule of Effective Income Tax Rate Reconciliation	The statutory United States federal income tax rate reconciles to the effective income tax rates for continuing operations as follows: Year Ended December 31, 2019 2018 2017 Statutory U.S. federal income tax rate 21.0 % 21.0 % 35.0 % State income taxes, net of federal tax benefit 3.4 % 2.9 % 1.8 % Benefits and taxes related to foreign operations (0.6 )% (0.5 )% (3.9 )% Excess tax benefit on share-based compensation (1.6 )% (1.8 )% (1.5 )% Unrecognized tax positions 1.6 % (0.4 )% (0.2 )% Transition Tax imposed on unrepatriated foreign earnings — % (0.1 )% 14.1 % Write-down of net deferred tax assets due to U.S. rate change — % 0.4 % 5.3 % Tax credits (9.6 )% (0.5 )% (0.3 )% Valuation allowance on tax credits 3.6 % — % — % Other (0.4 )% (0.2 )% 0.6 % Effective income tax rates 17.4 % 20.8 % 50.9 %
Reconciliation of Unrecognized Tax Benefits	The following table presents a reconciliation of the beginning and ending amounts of unrecognized tax benefits: 2019 2018 2017 (in thousands) Balance, January 1 $ 1,588 $ 2,284 $ 2,691 Changes for tax positions of prior years 4,633 (861 ) (16 ) Increases for tax positions related to the current year 2,084 165 138 Settlements and lapsing of statutes of limitations (567 ) — (529 ) Balance, December 31 $ 7,738 $ 1,588 $ 2,284

Share-Based Compensation and _2

Share-Based Compensation and Capital Stock (Tables)	12 Months Ended
	Dec. 31, 2019
Share-based Payment Arrangement [Abstract]
Weighted Average Assumptions of Black-Scholes Option-Pricing Model	The fair value of the options granted was estimated on the grant date using the Black-Scholes option-pricing model with the following weighted average assumptions: 2019 2018 2017 Risk-free interest rate 2.46 % 2.58 % 1.76 % Expected volatility 21.49 % 21.17 % 21.64 % Expected life of stock option 4.4 years 4.6 years 4.6 years Dividend yield 1.06 % 1.05 % 1.42 % Requisite service period 4 years 4 years 4 years Contractual life 7 years 7 years 7 years Weighted average fair value of options granted (per option) $ 15.84 $ 16.27 $ 10.81
Schedule of Options Outstanding and Exercisable	The following table summarizes information about stock options outstanding at December 31, 2019 : Options Outstanding Options Exercisable Range of Exercise Prices Number Outstanding at December 31, 2019 Weighted Average Weighted Number Exercisable at December 31, 2019 Weighted $39.01 to $48.75 148,737 1.2 years $ 45.59 148,737 $ 45.59 $48.76 to $65.00 477,821 3.1 years $ 56.54 338,814 $ 57.22 $65.01 to $81.55 247,337 5.7 years $ 81.32 26,373 $ 81.55 873,895 3.5 years $ 61.69 513,924 $ 55.10
Summary of Activity Related to Restricted Stock Grants	The following table is a summary of activity related to restricted stock grants: For the Year Ended December 31, 2019 2018 2017 Restricted shares granted 167,731 101,325 175,644 Weighted average grant date fair value per share $ 81.92 $ 81.21 $ 61.84 Aggregate grant date fair value ($000) $ 13,741 $ 8,229 $ 10,862 Restricted shares forfeited 32,735 46,785 30,375 Vesting service period of shares granted 12 - 48 months 12 - 48 months 12 - 48 months Fair value of shares vested ($000) $ 10,671 $ 8,025 $ 12,616
Summary of Activity Related to PVRSU Grants	The following table is a summary of activity related to PVRSU grants: For the Years Ended December 31, 2019 2018 2017 Performance vested restricted stock units granted at target 83,934 100,919 162,523 Weighted average grant date fair value per share $ 81.15 $ 81.25 $ 60.63 Aggregate grant date fair value ($000) $ 6,811 $ 8,200 $ 9,853 Stock units forfeited 18,379 27,255 74,734 Requisite service period 36 - 48 months 36 - 39 months 30 - 36 months
Summary of Change in Stock-Based Award Activity	A summary of stock-based award activity as of December 31, 2019, 2018 and 2017 and the changes during the years are presented below: 2019 Stock Options Restricted Stock Performance Vested Options Weighted Average Exercise Price Weighted Shares Weighted Shares Weighted Outstanding at January 1, 2019 1,186,180 $ 54.13 303,765 $ 65.06 336,820 $ 63.28 Granted 141,827 $ 81.15 167,731 $ 81.92 83,934 $ 81.15 Performance-Based Leveraging* — $ — — $ — 1,583 $ 51.49 Exercised/Vested (446,456 ) $ 47.96 (126,664 ) $ 60.39 (73,242 ) $ 50.69 Expired — $ — — $ — — $ — Forfeited (7,656 ) $ 51.49 (32,735 ) $ 72.54 (18,379 ) $ 72.50 Outstanding at December 31, 2019 873,895 $ 61.69 3.5 years 312,097 $ 75.23 330,716 $ 70.03 Options exercisable at December 31, 2019 513,924 $ 55.10 2.6 years * PVRSU units outstanding have been increased by 1,583 units during the year ended December 31, 2019 , due to the Company exceeding the targeted performance conditions contained in PVRSU's granted in prior periods. 2018 Stock Options Restricted Stock Performance Vested Options Weighted Average Exercise Price Weighted Shares Weighted Shares Weighted Outstanding at January 1, 2018 1,976,326 $ 50.80 348,876 $ 57.05 294,204 $ 56.95 Granted 109,045 $ 81.55 101,325 $ 81.21 100,919 $ 81.25 Exercised/Vested (832,809 ) $ 49.66 (99,651 ) $ 55.64 (31,048 ) $ 60.60 Expired (2,018 ) $ 63.47 — $ — — $ — Forfeited (64,364 ) $ 55.79 (46,785 ) $ 60.40 (27,255 ) $ 64.49 Outstanding at December 31, 2018 1,186,180 $ 54.13 3.5 years 303,765 $ 65.06 336,820 $ 63.28 Options exercisable at December 31, 2018 753,681 $ 49.55 2.7 years 2017 Stock Options Restricted Stock Performance Vested Options Weighted Average Exercise Price Weighted Shares Weighted Shares Weighted Outstanding at January 1, 2017 2,193,502 $ 48.26 407,812 $ 50.61 235,980 $ 47.59 Granted 195,652 $ 60.70 175,644 $ 61.84 162,523 $ 60.63 Performance-Based Leveraging* — $ — — $ — 9,491 $ 45.59 Exercised/Vested (353,744 ) $ 39.88 (204,205 ) $ 48.61 (39,056 ) $ 46.22 Expired (10,133 ) $ 56.95 — $ — — $ — Forfeited (48,951 ) $ 54.12 (30,375 ) $ 55.02 (74,734 ) $ 39.59 Outstanding at December 31, 2017 1,976,326 $ 50.80 4.1 years 348,876 $ 57.05 294,204 $ 56.95 Options exercisable at December 31, 2017 1,279,500 $ 48.76 3.7 years * PVRSU units outstanding have been increased by 9,491 units during the year ended December 31, 2017 , due to the Company exceeding the targeted performance conditions contained in PVRSUs granted in prior periods.
Pre-Tax Stock-Based Compensation Expenses and Associated Income Tax Benefits	The components of the Company’s pretax stock-based compensation expense and associated income tax benefits are as follows: For the Year Ended December 31, (In millions) 2019 2018 2017 Stock options $ 2.2 $ 2.4 $ 9.2 Restricted stock 8.0 6.8 9.0 Performance vested restricted stock units 6.4 5.8 6.7 Total $ 16.6 $ 15.0 $ 24.9 Income tax benefits $ 4.0 $ 3.6 $ 9.2
Schedule of Unrecognized Compensation Cost, Nonvested Awards	The total unrecognized compensation costs related to stock-based awards that have not yet vested and the related weighted average amortization period over which the costs are to be recognized as of December 31, 2019 are as follows: Unrecognized Compensation Expense on Unvested Awards Weighted Average Remaining Amortization Period (in millions) Stock options $ 3.0 2.57 years Restricted stock 15.9 2.52 years Performance vested restricted stock units 8.7 1.83 years Total $ 27.6

Accumulated Other Comprehensi_2

Accumulated Other Comprehensive Loss (Tables)	12 Months Ended
	Dec. 31, 2019
Accumulated Other Comprehensive Income (Loss), Net of Tax [Abstract]
Components of Accumulated Other Comprehensive Loss	The components of accumulated other comprehensive loss is as follows: December 31, 2019 2018 2017 (in thousands) Foreign currency translation adjustments $ (4,550 ) $ (4,010 ) $ (2,401 ) Deferred loss on cash flow hedge — (1,436 ) (2,298 ) Total accumulated other comprehensive loss $ (4,550 ) $ (5,446 ) $ (4,699 )
Changes in Accumulated Other Comprehensive Loss, by Component	The following represents the changes in accumulated other comprehensive loss, net of tax by component for the years ended December 31, 2019 and 2018 : Year Ended December 31, 2019 Year Ended December 31, 2018 Loss on Cash Flow Hedge Foreign Currency Items Total Loss on Cash Flow Hedge Foreign Currency Items Total (in thousands) (in thousands) Beginning Balance $ (1,436 ) $ (4,010 ) $ (5,446 ) $ (2,298 ) $ (2,401 ) $ (4,699 ) Other comprehensive loss before reclassification — (540 ) (540 ) — (1,609 ) (1,609 ) Amounts reclassified from accumulated other comprehensive income 1,436 — 1,436 862 — 862 Net current period other comprehensive income (loss) 1,436 (540 ) 896 862 (1,609 ) (747 ) Ending Balance $ — $ (4,550 ) $ (4,550 ) $ (1,436 ) $ (4,010 ) $ (5,446 )
Reclassification out of Accumulated Other Comprehensive Loss	The amounts below were reclassified from other accumulated other comprehensive income (loss) to the following line items in the Company's Consolidated Statements of Income. There is no income tax expense (benefit) attributable to these components. Component Amount Reclassified from Accumulated Other Comprehensive Income (Loss) Affected Line Item in the Consolidated Statement of Income Year Ended December 31, (In thousands) 2019 2018 Loss on cash flow hedge: Interest rate contract $ 790 $ 862 Interest expense Interest rate contract 646 — Loss on extinguishment of debt Total $ 1,436 $ 862

Earnings Per Share (Tables)

Earnings Per Share (Tables)	12 Months Ended
	Dec. 31, 2019
Earnings Per Share [Abstract]
Computation of Basic and Diluted Earnings Per Common Share	The computation of basic and diluted earnings per common share is as follows: Year Ended December 31, 2019 2018 2017 (in thousands, except per share amounts) Computation of Basic Earnings Per Share: Numerator: Net income $ 222,878 $ 216,355 $ 122,327 Income allocated to participating securities (1,352 ) (1,248 ) (845 ) Net income available to common shareholders $ 221,526 $ 215,107 $ 121,482 Denominator Weighted average common shares outstanding - basic 55,358 56,130 56,114 Basic earnings per share $ 4.00 $ 3.83 $ 2.16 Computation of Diluted Earnings Per Share: Numerator: Net income $ 222,878 $ 216,355 $ 122,327 Income allocated to participating securities (1,346 ) (1,241 ) (842 ) Net income available to common shareholders $ 221,532 $ 215,114 $ 121,485 Denominator: Weighted average common shares outstanding - basic 55,358 56,130 56,114 Diluted effect of stock options and PVRSUs 310 471 412 Weighted average commons shares outstanding - diluted 55,668 56,601 56,526 Diluted earnings per share $ 3.98 $ 3.80 $ 2.15

Operating Leases (Tables)

Operating Leases (Tables)	12 Months Ended
	Dec. 31, 2019
Leases [Abstract]
Schedule of Lease Cost	The Company's lease costs were as follows: Year ended December 31, 2019 (in thousands) Operating lease cost $ 9,837 Sublease income (84 ) Total lease cost $ 9,753
Schedule of Operating Lease Assets and Liabilities	Leases recorded on the consolidated balance sheet consist of the following: December 31, 2019 (in thousands) Assets: Operating lease right-of-use assets $ 24,088 Liabilities: Current operating lease liabilities $ 10,099 Long-term operating lease liabilities 21,270 Total lease liabilities $ 31,369
Schedule of Operating Leases, Other Information	Other information related to the Company's lease arrangements is as follows: Year Ended December 31, 2019 (in thousands) Cash paid for amounts included in the measurement of lease liabilities: Operating cash flows from operating leases $ 12,322 ROU assets obtained in exchange for lease liabilities in non-cash transactions: Operating lease assets obtained in exchange for operating lease liabilities $ 3,818 Weighted-average remaining lease term 3.09 years Weighted-average discount rate (1) 3.60 % (1) Discount rates used for existing operating leases upon adoption of Topic 842 were established based on remaining lease term as of January 1, 2019.
Schedule of Operating Lease Maturities	Maturities of lease liabilities are as follows: As of December 31, 2019 (in thousands) 2020 $ 11,043 2021 10,276 2022 8,558 2023 3,321 2024 2 Thereafter — Total minimum lease payments $ 33,200 Less imputed interest 1,831 Present value of minimum lease payments $ 31,369
Schedule of Future Minimum Rental Payments for Operating Leases	The following table discloses future minimum lease payments in accordance with Topic 840: As of December 31, 2018 (in thousands) 2019 (net of minimum sublease rentals of $124) $ 12,509 2020 10,638 2021 9,258 2022 8,866 2023 3,514 Thereafter — Total $ 44,785

Reportable Segment Information

Reportable Segment Information (Tables)	12 Months Ended
	Dec. 31, 2019
Segment Reporting [Abstract]
Schedule of Financial Information for Company's Franchising Segment	The following tables present the financial information for the Company's segments: For the Year Ended December 31, 2019 Hotel Franchising Corporate & Other Intersegment Eliminations Consolidated (In thousands) Revenues $ 1,085,860 $ 30,700 $ (1,740 ) $ 1,114,820 Operating income (loss) 392,405 (73,763 ) — 318,642 Depreciation and amortization 7,995 10,833 — 18,828 Income (loss) before income taxes 382,829 (112,900 ) — 269,929 For the Year Ended December 31, 2018 Hotel Franchising Corporate & Other Intersegment Eliminations Consolidated (In thousands) Revenues $ 1,027,047 $ 14,257 $ — $ 1,041,304 Operating income (loss) 378,014 (59,540 ) — 318,474 Depreciation and amortization 7,352 6,978 — 14,330 Income (loss) before income taxes 372,691 (99,433 ) — 273,258 For the Year Ended December 31, 2017 Hotel Franchising Corporate & Other Intersegment Eliminations Consolidated (In thousands) Revenues $ 930,479 $ 10,818 $ — $ 941,297 Operating income (loss) 356,187 (66,534 ) — 289,653 Depreciation and amortization 462 6,218 — 6,680 Income (loss) before income taxes 351,641 (102,424 ) — 249,217

Selected Quarterly Financial _2

Selected Quarterly Financial Data - (Unaudited) (Tables)	12 Months Ended
	Dec. 31, 2019
Quarterly Financial Information Disclosure [Abstract]
Schedule of Quarterly Financial Data - (Unaudited)	First Quarter Second Third Fourth 2019 (1) (in thousands, except per share data) Revenues $ 218,320 $ 317,684 $ 310,732 $ 268,084 $ 1,114,820 Operating income $ 45,050 $ 102,537 $ 102,420 $ 68,635 $ 318,642 Income before income taxes $ 36,479 $ 94,154 $ 85,924 $ 53,372 $ 269,929 Net income $ 30,081 $ 74,389 $ 76,239 $ 42,169 $ 222,878 Earnings per share: Basic $ 0.54 $ 1.34 $ 1.37 $ 0.76 $ 4.00 Diluted $ 0.54 $ 1.33 $ 1.36 $ 0.75 $ 3.98 First Quarter Second Third Fourth 2018 (1) (in thousands, except per share data) Revenues $ 209,394 $ 295,441 $ 291,490 $ 244,979 $ 1,041,304 Operating income $ 46,249 $ 109,016 $ 111,168 $ 52,041 $ 318,474 Income before income taxes $ 30,461 $ 100,024 $ 102,443 $ 40,330 $ 273,258 Net income $ 25,086 $ 79,839 $ 79,959 $ 31,471 $ 216,355 Earnings per share: Basic $ 0.44 $ 1.41 $ 1.42 $ 0.56 $ 3.83 Diluted $ 0.44 $ 1.40 $ 1.41 $ 0.56 $ 3.80 (1) The sum of the earnings per share for the four quarters may differ from annual earnings per share due to the required method of computing the weighted average shares in interim periods.

Summary of Significant Accoun_3

Summary of Significant Accounting Policies - Narrative (Details)	3 Months Ended		9 Months Ended	12 Months Ended
	Mar. 31, 2019USD ($)	Dec. 31, 2018USD ($)	Dec. 31, 2019USD ($)	Dec. 31, 2019USD ($)reporting_unit	Dec. 31, 2018USD ($)	Dec. 31, 2017USD ($)	Sep. 30, 2019hotel	Aug. 01, 2019hotel	Jul. 23, 2019hotel	Feb. 01, 2018
Significant Accounting Policies [Line Items]
Number of hotels owned | hotel								5
Advertising expense				$ 158,400,000	$ 141,800,000	$ 114,100,000
Impairment of long-lived assets				$ 7,259,000	0	0
Number of reporting units | reporting_unit				2
Impairment of goodwill				$ 3,097,000	4,289,000	0
Foreign currency transaction gains and (losses)				(100,000)	300,000	(3,000)
WoodSpring
Significant Accounting Policies [Line Items]
Business acquisition, percentage of voting interests acquired										100.00%
Hotel Franchising
Significant Accounting Policies [Line Items]
Impairment of goodwill			$ 0		0	0
Impairment of intangible assets, indefinite-lived (excluding goodwill)				0	0	$ 0
Sass for Vacation Rentals
Significant Accounting Policies [Line Items]
Impairment of long-lived assets				7,300,000
Impairment of goodwill	$ 3,100,000
Other
Significant Accounting Policies [Line Items]
Impairment of goodwill		$ 4,300,000			$ 4,289,000
Other | Sass for Vacation Rentals
Significant Accounting Policies [Line Items]
Impairment of long-lived assets				$ 7,300,000
Impairment of goodwill	$ 3,100,000	$ 3,097,000
Four Hotels Joint Ventures
Significant Accounting Policies [Line Items]
Asset acquisition, number of hotels in joint ventures | hotel							4		4

Revenue Textual (Details)

Revenue Textual (Details) $ in Thousands	3 Months Ended								12 Months Ended
	Dec. 31, 2019USD ($)	Sep. 30, 2019USD ($)hotel	Jun. 30, 2019USD ($)	Mar. 31, 2019USD ($)	Dec. 31, 2018USD ($)	Sep. 30, 2018USD ($)	Jun. 30, 2018USD ($)	Mar. 31, 2018USD ($)	Dec. 31, 2019USD ($)	Dec. 31, 2018USD ($)	Dec. 31, 2017USD ($)
Revenue from External Customer [Line Items]
Current deferred revenue	$ 38,600								$ 38,600
Long-term deferred revenue	21,800								21,800
Number of hotels acquired | hotel		5
Revenue, remaining performance obligation, amount	163,800								163,800
Capitalized franchise sales commissions	55,662				$ 51,929				55,662	$ 51,929
Revenues	$ 268,084	$ 310,732	$ 317,684	$ 218,320	$ 244,979	$ 291,490	$ 295,441	$ 209,394	$ 1,114,820	1,041,304	$ 941,297
Minimum
Revenue from External Customer [Line Items]
Franchise agreement initial term in years									10 years
Franchise fee period									5 years
Maximum
Revenue from External Customer [Line Items]
Franchise agreement initial term in years									30 years
Franchise fee period									10 years
Selling, General and Administrative Expenses
Revenue from External Customer [Line Items]
Amortization expense and impairment loss									$ 10,000	9,000	7,800
Selling, General and Administrative Expenses and Marketing and Reservation System Expenses
Revenue from External Customer [Line Items]
Amortization expense and impairment loss									1,000	300	300
Corporate, Non-Segment
Revenue from External Customer [Line Items]
Revenues									30,700	14,257	10,818
Intersegment Eliminations
Revenue from External Customer [Line Items]
Revenues									(1,740)	0	0
Royalty fees
Revenue from External Customer [Line Items]
Revenues									388,151	376,676	341,745
Transferred at Point in Time | Marketing, Reservation and Procurement Services
Revenue from External Customer [Line Items]
Revenues									$ 81,200	$ 56,200	$ 40,800

Revenue Contract Liability (Det

Revenue Contract Liability (Details) $ in Thousands	12 Months Ended
	Dec. 31, 2019USD ($)
Changes in Contract Liability [Roll Forward]
Contract with customer, liability, beginning balance	$ 153,180
Increases to the contract liability balance due to cash received	101,705
Revenue recognized in the period	(91,038)
Contract with customer, liability, ending balance	$ 163,847

Revenue Revenue (Details)

Revenue Revenue (Details) - USD ($) $ in Thousands	3 Months Ended								12 Months Ended
	Dec. 31, 2019	Sep. 30, 2019	Jun. 30, 2019	Mar. 31, 2019	Dec. 31, 2018	Sep. 30, 2018	Jun. 30, 2018	Mar. 31, 2018	Dec. 31, 2019	Dec. 31, 2018	Dec. 31, 2017
Disaggregation of Revenue [Line Items]
Revenues	$ 268,084	$ 310,732	$ 317,684	$ 218,320	$ 244,979	$ 291,490	$ 295,441	$ 209,394	$ 1,114,820	$ 1,041,304	$ 941,297
Total revenues									1,114,820	1,041,304	941,297
Effect of Topic 606 Revenues
Disaggregation of Revenue [Line Items]
Revenues									1,113,662	1,039,931	939,901
Effect of Topic 606 Revenues | Transferred over Time
Disaggregation of Revenue [Line Items]
Revenues									1,029,461	982,629	892,844
Effect of Topic 606 Revenues | Transferred at Point in Time
Disaggregation of Revenue [Line Items]
Revenues									84,201	57,302	47,057
Effect of Non-Topic 606 Revenues
Disaggregation of Revenue [Line Items]
Non-Topic 606 revenues									1,158	1,373	1,396
Royalty fees
Disaggregation of Revenue [Line Items]
Revenues									388,151	376,676	341,745
Royalty fees | Effect of Topic 606 Revenues
Disaggregation of Revenue [Line Items]
Revenues									388,151	376,676	341,745
Royalty fees | Effect of Topic 606 Revenues | Transferred over Time
Disaggregation of Revenue [Line Items]
Revenues									388,151	376,676	341,745
Royalty fees | Effect of Topic 606 Revenues | Transferred at Point in Time
Disaggregation of Revenue [Line Items]
Revenues									0	0	0
Initial franchise and relicensing fees
Disaggregation of Revenue [Line Items]
Revenues									27,489	26,072	23,038
Initial franchise and relicensing fees | Effect of Topic 606 Revenues
Disaggregation of Revenue [Line Items]
Revenues									27,489	26,072	23,038
Initial franchise and relicensing fees | Effect of Topic 606 Revenues | Transferred over Time
Disaggregation of Revenue [Line Items]
Revenues									27,489	26,072	23,038
Initial franchise and relicensing fees | Effect of Topic 606 Revenues | Transferred at Point in Time
Disaggregation of Revenue [Line Items]
Revenues									0	0	0
Procurement services
Disaggregation of Revenue [Line Items]
Revenues									61,429	52,088	40,451
Procurement services | Effect of Topic 606 Revenues
Disaggregation of Revenue [Line Items]
Revenues									61,429	52,088	40,451
Procurement services | Effect of Topic 606 Revenues | Transferred over Time
Disaggregation of Revenue [Line Items]
Revenues									58,248	49,496	38,568
Procurement services | Effect of Topic 606 Revenues | Transferred at Point in Time
Disaggregation of Revenue [Line Items]
Revenues									3,181	2,592	1,883
Marketing and reservation system
Disaggregation of Revenue [Line Items]
Revenues									577,426	543,677	499,625
Marketing and reservation system | Effect of Topic 606 Revenues
Disaggregation of Revenue [Line Items]
Revenues									577,426	543,677	499,625
Marketing and reservation system | Effect of Topic 606 Revenues | Transferred over Time
Disaggregation of Revenue [Line Items]
Revenues									499,368	490,025	460,749
Marketing and reservation system | Effect of Topic 606 Revenues | Transferred at Point in Time
Disaggregation of Revenue [Line Items]
Revenues									78,058	53,652	38,876
Owned hotels
Disaggregation of Revenue [Line Items]
Total revenues									20,282	0	0
Owned hotels | Effect of Topic 606 Revenues
Disaggregation of Revenue [Line Items]
Revenues									20,166
Owned hotels | Effect of Topic 606 Revenues | Transferred over Time
Disaggregation of Revenue [Line Items]
Revenues									17,345
Owned hotels | Effect of Topic 606 Revenues | Transferred at Point in Time
Disaggregation of Revenue [Line Items]
Revenues									2,821
Other
Disaggregation of Revenue [Line Items]
Total revenues									40,043	42,791	36,438
Other | Effect of Topic 606 Revenues
Disaggregation of Revenue [Line Items]
Revenues									39,001	41,418	35,042
Other | Effect of Topic 606 Revenues | Transferred over Time
Disaggregation of Revenue [Line Items]
Revenues									38,860	40,360	28,744
Other | Effect of Topic 606 Revenues | Transferred at Point in Time
Disaggregation of Revenue [Line Items]
Revenues									$ 141	$ 1,058	$ 6,298

Other Current Assets - Schedule

Other Current Assets - Schedule Of Other Current Assets (Details) - USD ($) $ in Thousands	12 Months Ended
	Dec. 31, 2019	Dec. 31, 2018
Property, Plant and Equipment [Line Items]
Prepaid expenses	$ 21,016	$ 18,412
Other current assets	3,711	6,831
Land held for sale	0	7,000
Total	24,727	$ 32,243
Land
Property, Plant and Equipment [Line Items]
Land held for sale	7,000
Gain (loss) on disposition of property plant equipment	$ 100

Notes Receivable and Allowanc_3

Notes Receivable and Allowance for Losses - Schedule of notes receivable (Details) - USD ($) $ in Thousands	Dec. 31, 2019	Dec. 31, 2018
Accounts, Notes, Loans and Financing Receivable [Line Items]
Total notes receivable	$ 133,014	$ 124,884
Allowance for losses on receivables specifically evaluated for impairment	4,426	4,426
Allowance for losses on non-impaired loans	130	259
Total loan reserves	4,556	4,685
Net carrying value	128,458	120,199
Current portion, net	25,404	36,759
Long-term portion, net	103,054	83,440
Senior Notes
Accounts, Notes, Loans and Financing Receivable [Line Items]
Total notes receivable	98,545	94,349
Subordinated
Accounts, Notes, Loans and Financing Receivable [Line Items]
Total notes receivable	32,153	28,100
Unsecured
Accounts, Notes, Loans and Financing Receivable [Line Items]
Total notes receivable	$ 2,316	$ 2,435

Notes Receivable and Allowanc_4

Notes Receivable and Allowance for Losses - Narrative (Details) - USD ($) $ in Thousands	Sep. 12, 2017	Mar. 31, 2018	Dec. 31, 2019	Dec. 31, 2018	Dec. 31, 2017
Accounts, Notes, Loans and Financing Receivable [Line Items]
Interest accrual period			30 days
Impaired loans, unpaid principal balance			$ 51,800	$ 51,800
Loan reserves			4,556	4,685
Transfer of notes receivable to third party	$ 24,200	$ 200
Outstanding notes receivable			128,458	120,199
Other Long-term Liabilities
Accounts, Notes, Loans and Financing Receivable [Line Items]
Transfer of notes receivable to third party			0	24,400
Mezzanine & Other Notes Receivable
Accounts, Notes, Loans and Financing Receivable [Line Items]
Loan reserves			4,556	4,685	$ 2,137
Mezzanine & Other Notes Receivable | Variable Interest Entity, Not Primary Beneficiary
Accounts, Notes, Loans and Financing Receivable [Line Items]
Notes receivable			126,500	114,300
Mezzanine & Other Notes Receivable | Variable Interest Entity, Not Primary Beneficiary | Interest Rate Below Market Rate
Accounts, Notes, Loans and Financing Receivable [Line Items]
Notes receivable, discount			1,300	1,500
Notes receivable			16,300	12,900
Notes Receivable
Accounts, Notes, Loans and Financing Receivable [Line Items]
Outstanding notes receivable	$ 49,100			50,100
Senior and Subordinated Tranches
Accounts, Notes, Loans and Financing Receivable [Line Items]
Impaired loans, unpaid principal balance			50,100
Impaired Loans | Mezzanine & Other Notes Receivable
Accounts, Notes, Loans and Financing Receivable [Line Items]
Loan reserves on impaired loans			4,400	2,800
Impaired loans, carrying value			52,000	52,100
Average notes on nonaccrual status			1,700	1,800
Interest income on impaired loans, cash basis method				44
Non-impaired Loans | Mezzanine & Other Notes Receivable
Accounts, Notes, Loans and Financing Receivable [Line Items]
Loan reserves			$ 100	$ 300

Notes Receivable and Allowanc_5

Notes Receivable and Allowance for Losses - Past due balances of mezzanine and other notes receivable (Details) - Mezzanine & Other Notes Receivable - USD ($) $ in Thousands	Dec. 31, 2019	Dec. 31, 2018
Financing Receivable, Credit Quality Indicator [Line Items]
Total Past Due	$ 0	$ 0
Current	133,014	124,884
Total Notes Receivable	133,014	124,884
Senior Notes
Financing Receivable, Credit Quality Indicator [Line Items]
Total Past Due	0	0
Current	98,545	94,349
Total Notes Receivable	98,545	94,349
Subordinated
Financing Receivable, Credit Quality Indicator [Line Items]
Total Past Due	0	0
Current	32,153	28,100
Total Notes Receivable	32,153	28,100
Unsecured
Financing Receivable, Credit Quality Indicator [Line Items]
Total Past Due	0	0
Current	2,316	2,435
Total Notes Receivable	2,316	2,435
Financing Receivables, 30 to 89 Days Past Due
Financing Receivable, Credit Quality Indicator [Line Items]
Total Past Due	0	0
Financing Receivables, 30 to 89 Days Past Due | Senior Notes
Financing Receivable, Credit Quality Indicator [Line Items]
Total Past Due	0	0
Financing Receivables, 30 to 89 Days Past Due | Subordinated
Financing Receivable, Credit Quality Indicator [Line Items]
Total Past Due	0	0
Financing Receivables, 30 to 89 Days Past Due | Unsecured
Financing Receivable, Credit Quality Indicator [Line Items]
Total Past Due	0	0
Financing Receivables, Equal to Greater than 90 Days Past Due
Financing Receivable, Credit Quality Indicator [Line Items]
Total Past Due	0	0
Financing Receivables, Equal to Greater than 90 Days Past Due | Senior Notes
Financing Receivable, Credit Quality Indicator [Line Items]
Total Past Due	0	0
Financing Receivables, Equal to Greater than 90 Days Past Due | Subordinated
Financing Receivable, Credit Quality Indicator [Line Items]
Total Past Due	0	0
Financing Receivables, Equal to Greater than 90 Days Past Due | Unsecured
Financing Receivable, Credit Quality Indicator [Line Items]
Total Past Due	$ 0	$ 0

Notes Receivable and Allowanc_6

Notes Receivable and Allowance for Losses - Summary of activity related to allowance for losses (Details) - USD ($) $ in Thousands	12 Months Ended
	Dec. 31, 2019	Dec. 31, 2018
SEC Schedule, 12-09, Movement in Valuation Allowances and Reserves [Roll Forward]
Beginning balance	$ 4,685
Ending balance	4,556	$ 4,685
Mezzanine & Other Notes Receivable
SEC Schedule, 12-09, Movement in Valuation Allowances and Reserves [Roll Forward]
Beginning balance	4,685	2,137
Provisions	0	2,779
Write-offs	(129)	(231)
Ending balance	$ 4,556	$ 4,685

Property and Equipment (Details

Property and Equipment (Details) $ in Thousands	Jul. 23, 2019USD ($)hotel	Dec. 31, 2019USD ($)	Dec. 31, 2018USD ($)	Dec. 31, 2017USD ($)	Sep. 30, 2019hotel
Property, Plant and Equipment [Line Items]
Property and equipment, gross		$ 538,210	$ 296,264
Less: Accumulated depreciation and amortization		(186,708)	(168,729)
Property and equipment, at cost, net		351,502	127,535
Capital assets reclassified		4,800
Depreciation and amortization		18,828	14,330	$ 6,680
Depreciation expense, excluding marketing and reservation		9,700	5,500	5,200
Land and land improvements
Property, Plant and Equipment [Line Items]
Property and equipment, gross		29,648	2,197
Construction in progress and software under development
Property, Plant and Equipment [Line Items]
Property and equipment, gross		20,138	49,920
Computer equipment and software(1)
Property, Plant and Equipment [Line Items]
Property and equipment, gross		197,665	185,191
Buildings and leasehold improvements
Property, Plant and Equipment [Line Items]
Property and equipment, gross		229,961	30,019
Furniture, fixtures, vehicles and equipment
Property, Plant and Equipment [Line Items]
Property and equipment, gross		60,798	28,937
Property and equipment
Property, Plant and Equipment [Line Items]
Interest costs capitalized		200	200
Software development
Property, Plant and Equipment [Line Items]
Property and equipment, at cost, net		45,200	38,900
Depreciation and amortization		$ 9,700	$ 11,200	$ 11,700
Four Hotels Joint Ventures
Property, Plant and Equipment [Line Items]
Asset acquisition, number of hotels in joint ventures | hotel	4				4
Asset acquisition, consideration transfered	$ 169,000
Cambria Hotel
Property, Plant and Equipment [Line Items]
Asset acquisition, consideration transfered	$ 194,000

Property and Equipment - Estima

Property and Equipment - Estimated useful lives (Details)	12 Months Ended
	Dec. 31, 2019
Minimum | Computer equipment and software(1)
Property, Plant and Equipment [Line Items]
Estimated useful life	2 years
Minimum | Buildings and leasehold improvements
Property, Plant and Equipment [Line Items]
Estimated useful life	10 years
Minimum | Furniture, fixtures, vehicles and equipment
Property, Plant and Equipment [Line Items]
Estimated useful life	3 years
Maximum | Computer equipment and software(1)
Property, Plant and Equipment [Line Items]
Estimated useful life	7 years
Maximum | Buildings and leasehold improvements
Property, Plant and Equipment [Line Items]
Estimated useful life	40 years
Maximum | Furniture, fixtures, vehicles and equipment
Property, Plant and Equipment [Line Items]
Estimated useful life	10 years

Schedule of Carrying Amount of

Schedule of Carrying Amount of Goodwill (Details) - USD ($) $ in Thousands	Dec. 31, 2019	Dec. 31, 2018	Dec. 31, 2017
Goodwill and Intangible Assets Disclosure [Abstract]
Goodwill	$ 173,070	$ 173,477
Accumulated impairment losses	(7,578)	(4,481)
Disposition	(6,296)	0
Net carrying amount	$ 159,196	$ 168,996	$ 80,757

Goodwill Schedule of Changes in

Goodwill Schedule of Changes in Goodwill (Details) - USD ($) $ in Thousands	3 Months Ended	12 Months Ended
	Dec. 31, 2018	Dec. 31, 2019	Dec. 31, 2018	Dec. 31, 2017
Goodwill [Roll Forward]
Goodwill, beginning balance		$ 168,996	$ 80,757
Acquisitions		0	93,383
Foreign Exchange		(407)	(855)
Impairment		(3,097)	(4,289)	$ 0
Disposition	$ 0	(6,296)	0
Goodwill, ending balance	168,996	159,196	168,996	80,757
Hotel Franchising
Goodwill [Roll Forward]
Goodwill, beginning balance		159,196	65,813
Acquisitions		0	93,383
Foreign Exchange		0	0
Impairment		0	0
Disposition	0	0	0
Goodwill, ending balance	159,196	159,196	159,196	65,813
Other
Goodwill [Roll Forward]
Goodwill, beginning balance		9,800	14,944
Acquisitions		0	0
Foreign Exchange		$ (407)	(855)
Impairment	(4,300)		(4,289)
Disposition	0		0
Goodwill, ending balance	$ 9,800		$ 9,800	$ 14,944

Goodwill Additional Details (De

Goodwill Additional Details (Details) $ in Thousands	Feb. 01, 2018USD ($)	Jun. 30, 2019USD ($)	Mar. 31, 2019USD ($)	Dec. 31, 2018USD ($)	Dec. 31, 2019USD ($)reporting_unit	Dec. 31, 2018USD ($)	Dec. 31, 2017USD ($)	Jun. 03, 2019USD ($)
Goodwill [Line Items]
Acquisition					$ 0	$ 93,383
Number of reporting units | reporting_unit					2
Impairment of goodwill					$ (3,097)	(4,289)	$ 0
Goodwill				$ 168,996	159,196	168,996	80,757
Impairment of long-lived assets					(7,259)	0	0
Loss on sale of business		$ (4,700)			(4,674)	0	0
Assets				1,138,370	1,386,672	1,138,370
Sass for Vacation Rentals
Goodwill [Line Items]
Impairment of goodwill			$ (3,100)
Goodwill			6,400					$ (6,296)
Impairment of long-lived assets					(7,300)
Hotel Franchising
Goodwill [Line Items]
Acquisition					0	93,383
Impairment of goodwill					0	0
Goodwill				159,196	159,196	159,196	65,813
Other
Goodwill [Line Items]
Acquisition					0	0
Impairment of goodwill				(4,300)		(4,289)
Goodwill				9,800		9,800	$ 14,944
Other | Sass for Vacation Rentals
Goodwill [Line Items]
Impairment of goodwill			$ (3,100)	(3,097)
Goodwill				$ 9,800	0	$ 9,800
Impairment of long-lived assets					(7,300)
WoodSpring
Goodwill [Line Items]
Business acquisition, percentage of voting interests acquired	100.00%
Acquisition	$ 93,400
Goodwill	$ 93,384
Intangible Assets | Sass for Vacation Rentals
Goodwill [Line Items]
Assets					4,300
Operating Lease Right-of-use Asset | Sass for Vacation Rentals
Goodwill [Line Items]
Assets					1,700
Property, Plant and Equipment | Sass for Vacation Rentals
Goodwill [Line Items]
Assets					$ 1,300

Intangible assets - Components

Intangible assets - Components of Franchise Rights and Other Intangible Assets (Details) - USD ($) $ in Thousands	12 Months Ended
	Dec. 31, 2019	Dec. 31, 2018
Finite-Lived Intangible Assets [Line Items]
Unamortized Intangible Assets	$ 23,014	$ 23,014
Amortized intangible assets, gross carrying amount	417,210	381,986
Accumulated Amortization	149,803	133,812
Amortized intangible assets, net carrying value	267,407	248,174
Gross Carrying Amount	440,224	405,000
Net Carrying Value	290,421	271,188
Franchise Rights
Finite-Lived Intangible Assets [Line Items]
Amortized intangible assets, gross carrying amount	190,637	190,663
Accumulated Amortization	90,280	82,632
Amortized intangible assets, net carrying value	100,357	108,031
Franchise Agreement Acquisition Costs
Finite-Lived Intangible Assets [Line Items]
Amortized intangible assets, gross carrying amount	198,352	164,174
Accumulated Amortization	41,667	34,986
Amortized intangible assets, net carrying value	156,685	129,188
Trademarks
Finite-Lived Intangible Assets [Line Items]
Amortized intangible assets, gross carrying amount	14,300	14,055
Accumulated Amortization	10,961	10,562
Amortized intangible assets, net carrying value	3,339	3,493
Capitalized SaaS Licenses
Finite-Lived Intangible Assets [Line Items]
Amortized intangible assets, gross carrying amount	10,880	5,468
Accumulated Amortization	5,261	2,903
Amortized intangible assets, net carrying value	5,619	2,565
Contract Acquisition Costs
Finite-Lived Intangible Assets [Line Items]
Amortized intangible assets, gross carrying amount	0	5,389
Accumulated Amortization	0	1,763
Amortized intangible assets, net carrying value	0	3,626
Acquired Lease Rights
Finite-Lived Intangible Assets [Line Items]
Amortized intangible assets, gross carrying amount	3,041	2,237
Accumulated Amortization	1,634	966
Amortized intangible assets, net carrying value	$ 1,407	$ 1,271
Minimum | Franchise Rights | WoodSpring
Finite-Lived Intangible Assets [Line Items]
Finite-lived intangible asset, useful life	12 years
Minimum | Franchise Agreement Acquisition Costs
Finite-Lived Intangible Assets [Line Items]
Finite-lived intangible asset, useful life	5 years
Minimum | Trademarks
Finite-Lived Intangible Assets [Line Items]
Finite-lived intangible asset, useful life	8 years
Minimum | Capitalized SaaS Licenses
Finite-Lived Intangible Assets [Line Items]
Finite-lived intangible asset, useful life	3 years
Minimum | Contract Acquisition Costs
Finite-Lived Intangible Assets [Line Items]
Finite-lived intangible asset, useful life	5 years
Minimum | Acquired Lease Rights
Finite-Lived Intangible Assets [Line Items]
Finite-lived intangible asset, useful life	39 months
Maximum | Franchise Rights | WoodSpring
Finite-Lived Intangible Assets [Line Items]
Finite-lived intangible asset, useful life	20 years
Maximum | Franchise Agreement Acquisition Costs
Finite-Lived Intangible Assets [Line Items]
Finite-lived intangible asset, useful life	30 years
Maximum | Trademarks
Finite-Lived Intangible Assets [Line Items]
Finite-lived intangible asset, useful life	40 years
Maximum | Capitalized SaaS Licenses
Finite-Lived Intangible Assets [Line Items]
Finite-lived intangible asset, useful life	5 years
Maximum | Contract Acquisition Costs
Finite-Lived Intangible Assets [Line Items]
Finite-lived intangible asset, useful life	12 years
Maximum | Acquired Lease Rights
Finite-Lived Intangible Assets [Line Items]
Finite-lived intangible asset, useful life	10 years

Intangible assets - Narrative (

Intangible assets - Narrative (Details) - USD ($) $ in Thousands	12 Months Ended
	Dec. 31, 2019	Dec. 31, 2018	Dec. 31, 2017
Goodwill and Intangible Assets Disclosure [Abstract]
Amortization expense	$ 19,400	$ 19,400	$ 9,900
Impairment of long-lived assets	$ (7,259)	$ 0	$ 0

Intangible assets - Franchise R

Intangible assets - Franchise Rights Future Amortization Expense (Details) $ in Millions	Dec. 31, 2019USD ($)
Goodwill and Intangible Assets Disclosure [Abstract]
2020	$ 21.7
2021	20.1
2022	18.9
2023	17.4
2024	$ 16.7

Investments in Unconsolidated_3

Investments in Unconsolidated Entities (Details) - USD ($) $ in Millions	12 Months Ended
	Dec. 31, 2019	Dec. 31, 2018	Dec. 31, 2017
Schedule of Equity Method Investments [Line Items]
Net income (loss) attributable to variable interest entities	$ 11.3	$ 8	$ 7.1
Variable Interest Entity, Not Primary Beneficiary
Schedule of Equity Method Investments [Line Items]
Investment in unconsolidated joint ventures	$ 74.4	$ 103

Investments in Unconsolidated_4

Investments in Unconsolidated Entities Investments Ownership Interest (Details) $ in Thousands	3 Months Ended			12 Months Ended
	Dec. 31, 2019USD ($)	Sep. 30, 2019USD ($)hotel	Jun. 30, 2019USD ($)	Dec. 31, 2019USD ($)	Dec. 31, 2018USD ($)	Dec. 31, 2017USD ($)	Jul. 23, 2019hotel
Schedule of Equity Method Investments [Line Items]
Gain on sale of assets, net		$ 6,000		$ 100	$ 82	$ 257
Variable Interest Entity, Not Primary Beneficiary | Main Street WP Hotel Associates, LLC
Schedule of Equity Method Investments [Line Items]
Equity method investment, ownership percentage	50.00%			50.00%	50.00%
Variable Interest Entity, Not Primary Beneficiary | FBC-CHI Hotels, LLC
Schedule of Equity Method Investments [Line Items]
Equity method investment, ownership percentage	0.00%			0.00%	40.00%
Variable Interest Entity, Not Primary Beneficiary | CS Hotel 30W46th, LLC
Schedule of Equity Method Investments [Line Items]
Equity method investment, ownership percentage	25.00%			25.00%	25.00%
Variable Interest Entity, Not Primary Beneficiary | CS Brickell, LLC
Schedule of Equity Method Investments [Line Items]
Equity method investment, ownership percentage	50.00%			50.00%	50.00%
Variable Interest Entity, Not Primary Beneficiary | CS Maple Grove, LLC
Schedule of Equity Method Investments [Line Items]
Equity method investment, ownership percentage	0.00%			0.00%	50.00%
Loss on equity method investment			$ 1,400
Variable Interest Entity, Not Primary Beneficiary | CS Hotel West Orange, LLC
Schedule of Equity Method Investments [Line Items]
Equity method investment, ownership percentage	50.00%			50.00%	50.00%
Variable Interest Entity, Not Primary Beneficiary | Hotel JV Services, LLC
Schedule of Equity Method Investments [Line Items]
Equity method investment, ownership percentage	16.00%			16.00%	16.00%
Variable Interest Entity, Not Primary Beneficiary | City Market Hotel Development, LLC
Schedule of Equity Method Investments [Line Items]
Equity method investment, ownership percentage	43.00%			43.00%	43.00%
Variable Interest Entity, Not Primary Beneficiary | CS Woodlands, LLC
Schedule of Equity Method Investments [Line Items]
Equity method investment, ownership percentage	50.00%			50.00%	50.00%
Variable Interest Entity, Not Primary Beneficiary | 926 James M. Wood Boulevard, LLC
Schedule of Equity Method Investments [Line Items]
Equity method investment, ownership percentage	75.00%			75.00%	75.00%
Variable Interest Entity, Not Primary Beneficiary | CS Dallas Elm, LLC
Schedule of Equity Method Investments [Line Items]
Equity method investment, ownership percentage	45.00%			45.00%	45.00%
Variable Interest Entity, Not Primary Beneficiary | Choice Hotels Canada, Inc.
Schedule of Equity Method Investments [Line Items]
Equity method investment, ownership percentage	50.00%			50.00%	50.00%
Variable Interest Entity, Not Primary Beneficiary | Pine Street Long Beach LLC
Schedule of Equity Method Investments [Line Items]
Equity method investment, ownership percentage	50.00%			50.00%	50.00%
Variable Interest Entity, Not Primary Beneficiary | SY Valley Vineyard Resorts LLC
Schedule of Equity Method Investments [Line Items]
Equity method investment, ownership percentage	50.00%			50.00%	50.00%
Variable Interest Entity, Not Primary Beneficiary | CS Lakeside Santa Clara LLC
Schedule of Equity Method Investments [Line Items]
Equity method investment, ownership percentage	50.00%			50.00%	50.00%
Variable Interest Entity, Not Primary Beneficiary | CS Main Pleasant Hill LLC
Schedule of Equity Method Investments [Line Items]
Equity method investment, ownership percentage	0.00%			0.00%	50.00%
Loss on equity method investment	$ (400)
Variable Interest Entity, Not Primary Beneficiary | BL 219 Holdco, LP
Schedule of Equity Method Investments [Line Items]
Equity method investment, ownership percentage	50.00%			50.00%	0.00%
Variable Interest Entity, Not Primary Beneficiary | Integrated 32 West Randolph LLC
Schedule of Equity Method Investments [Line Items]
Equity method investment, ownership percentage	20.00%			20.00%	0.00%
Four Hotels Joint Ventures
Schedule of Equity Method Investments [Line Items]
Asset acquisition, ownership interest acquired							60.00%
Asset acquisition, number of hotels in joint ventures | hotel		4					4

Investments in Unconsolidated_5

Investments in Unconsolidated Entities Summarized Financial Information (Details) - USD ($) $ in Thousands	12 Months Ended
	Dec. 31, 2019	Dec. 31, 2018	Dec. 31, 2017
Equity Method Investment, Summarized Financial Information, Income Statement [Abstract]
Revenues	$ 109,896	$ 118,324	$ 87,033
Operating income	12,617	11,790	8,171
Income (loss) from continuing operations	(1,400)	1,658	2,140
Net income (loss)	(2,564)	477	$ 940
Equity Method Investment, Summarized Financial Information, Assets [Abstract]
Current assets	53,324	75,453
Non-current assets	390,881	465,361
Total assets	444,205	540,814
Equity Method Investment, Summarized Financial Information, Liabilities [Abstract]
Current liabilities	27,583	32,234
Non-current liabilities	261,039	239,581
Total liabilities	$ 288,622	$ 271,815

Other Assets - Components Of Ot

Other Assets - Components Of Other Assets (Details) - USD ($) $ in Thousands	Dec. 31, 2019	Dec. 31, 2018
Other Assets [Abstract]
Land and buildings	$ 29,700	$ 29,643
Capitalized franchise sales commissions	55,662	51,929
Other assets	12,080	2,828
Total	$ 97,442	$ 84,400

Accrued Expenses and Other Cu_3

Accrued Expenses and Other Current Liabilities (Details) - USD ($) $ in Thousands	Dec. 31, 2019	Dec. 31, 2018
Accrued Liabilities [Abstract]
Accrued compensation and benefits	$ 41,939	$ 42,518
Accrued interest	12,954	16,640
Dividends payable	12,535	11,977
Deferred rent and unamortized lease incentives		2,772
Termination benefits	1,782	744
Current operating lease liabilities	10,099
Other liabilities and contingencies	11,055	18,000
Total	$ 90,364	$ 92,651

Deferred Revenue - Components O

Deferred Revenue - Components Of Deferred Revenue (Details) - USD ($) $ in Thousands	Dec. 31, 2019	Dec. 31, 2018
Contract With Customers, Liability And Non-606 Deferred Revenue [Line Items]
Deferred revenue	$ 184,256	$ 177,892
Current deferred revenue	71,594	67,614
Long-term deferred revenue	112,662	110,278
Initial franchising and relicensing fees
Contract With Customers, Liability And Non-606 Deferred Revenue [Line Items]
Deferred revenue	106,196	104,287
Loyalty programs
Contract With Customers, Liability And Non-606 Deferred Revenue [Line Items]
Deferred revenue	60,428	53,749
System implementation fees
Contract With Customers, Liability And Non-606 Deferred Revenue [Line Items]
Deferred revenue	7,986	8,764
Procurement services fees
Contract With Customers, Liability And Non-606 Deferred Revenue [Line Items]
Deferred revenue	6,037	7,872
Other
Contract With Customers, Liability And Non-606 Deferred Revenue [Line Items]
Deferred revenue	$ 3,609	$ 3,220

Other Non-Current Liabilities_2

Other Non-Current Liabilities (Details) - USD ($) $ in Thousands	Dec. 31, 2019	Dec. 31, 2018
Other Liabilities, Noncurrent [Abstract]
Deferred rent and unamortized lease incentives		$ 7,903
Uncertain tax positions	$ 3,094	1,788
Participated interest in notes receivable	0	24,409
Other liabilities	373	2,996
Other liabilities, total	$ 3,467	$ 37,096

Debt - Schedule Of Components O

Debt - Schedule Of Components Of Debt (Details) - USD ($)	12 Months Ended
	Dec. 31, 2019	Dec. 31, 2018	Nov. 27, 2019	Jun. 27, 2012	Aug. 25, 2010
Debt Instrument [Line Items]
Total debt	$ 851,613,000	$ 754,611,000
Less current portion	7,511,000	1,097,000
Total long-term debt	844,102,000	753,514,000
Senior Notes | $400 Million Senior Notes
Debt Instrument [Line Items]
Total debt	397,680,000	396,844,000
Debt instrument, face amount	$ 400,000,000	$ 400,000,000		$ 400,000,000
Debt instrument effective interest rate	6.00%	6.00%		6.00%
Deferred issuance costs	$ 2,300,000	$ 3,200,000
Senior Notes | $250 Million Senior Notes
Debt Instrument [Line Items]
Total debt	0	249,489,000
Debt instrument, face amount	250,000,000	$ 250,000,000			$ 250,000,000
Debt instrument effective interest rate		6.19%			6.19%
Discount and deferred issuance costs		$ 500,000
Senior Notes | $600 Million Senior Note
Debt Instrument [Line Items]
Total debt	15,502,000	$ 87,582,000
Debt instrument, face amount	$ 600,000,000
Debt instrument effective interest rate	2.76%	3.50%
Deferred issuance costs	$ 2,700,000	$ 3,000,000
Senior Notes | $400 Million Senior Note
Debt Instrument [Line Items]
Total debt	$ 394,039,000	0
Debt instrument, face amount		400,000,000	$ 400,000,000
Debt instrument effective interest rate	3.88%		3.88%
Deferred issuance costs	$ 6,000,000
Construction Loan
Debt Instrument [Line Items]
Total debt	$ 32,465,000	$ 7,652,000
Debt instrument effective interest rate	6.23%	6.70%
Deferred issuance costs	$ 600,000	$ 900,000
Collateralized Mortgage
Debt Instrument [Line Items]
Total debt	$ 7,511,000	$ 8,197,000
Debt instrument effective interest rate	4.57%	4.57%
Fair value adjustment	$ 200,000	$ 400,000
Economic Development Loans
Debt Instrument [Line Items]
Total debt	$ 4,416,000	$ 4,240,000
Debt instrument effective interest rate	3.00%	3.00%
Other Notes Payable
Debt Instrument [Line Items]
Total debt	$ 0	$ 607,000

Debt - Maturities Of Debt (Deta

Debt - Maturities Of Debt (Details) $ in Thousands	Dec. 31, 2019USD ($)
Long-term Debt, Fiscal Year Maturity [Abstract]
2020	$ 7,511
2021	0
2022	430,145
2023	4,416
2024	15,502
Thereafter	394,039
Total payments	851,613
Senior Notes
Long-term Debt, Fiscal Year Maturity [Abstract]
2020	0
2021	0
2022	397,680
2023	0
2024	0
Thereafter	394,039
Total payments	791,719
Construction Loan
Long-term Debt, Fiscal Year Maturity [Abstract]
2020	0
2021	0
2022	32,465
2023	0
2024	0
Thereafter	0
Total payments	32,465
Revolving Credit Facilities
Long-term Debt, Fiscal Year Maturity [Abstract]
2020	0
2021	0
2022	0
2023	0
2024	15,502
Thereafter	0
Total payments	15,502
Other Notes Payable
Long-term Debt, Fiscal Year Maturity [Abstract]
2020	7,511
2021	0
2022	0
2023	4,416
2024	0
Thereafter	0
Total payments	$ 11,927

Debt - Narrative (Details)

Debt - Narrative (Details)

Dec. 16, 2019USD ($)

Nov. 27, 2019USD ($)

Jul. 02, 2019

Aug. 23, 2012USD ($)

Jun. 27, 2012USD ($)

Aug. 25, 2010USD ($)

Mar. 31, 2018USD ($)debt_extension

Mar. 31, 2018USD ($)debt_extension

Dec. 31, 2019USD ($)

Dec. 31, 2018USD ($)

Dec. 31, 2017USD ($)

Dec. 30, 2014USD ($)

Apr. 30, 2013USD ($)

Debt Instrument [Line Items]

Loss on extinguishment of debt

$ 7,188,000

$ 0

$ 0

Construction loan

$ 34,900,000

$ 34,900,000

London Interbank Offered Rate (LIBOR) | Minimum

Debt Instrument [Line Items]

Debt instrument, basis spread on variable rate

0.90%

London Interbank Offered Rate (LIBOR) | Maximum

Debt Instrument [Line Items]

Debt instrument, basis spread on variable rate

1.50%

Base Rate | Minimum

Debt Instrument [Line Items]

Debt instrument, basis spread on variable rate

0.00%

Base Rate | Maximum

Debt Instrument [Line Items]

Debt instrument, basis spread on variable rate

0.50%

2012 Special Cash Dividend | 2012 Special Cash Dividend

Debt Instrument [Line Items]

Payments of special dividends

$ 600,700,000

Construction Loan

Debt Instrument [Line Items]

Debt instrument, extension, term

1 year

Debt issuance costs, net

$ 900,000

Debt instrument effective interest rate

6.23%

6.70%

Number of loan extensions | debt_extension

2

2

Interest costs capitalized

$ 900,000

Construction Loan | London Interbank Offered Rate (LIBOR)

Debt Instrument [Line Items]

Debt instrument, basis spread on variable rate

4.35%

0.435%

Collateralized Mortgage

Debt Instrument [Line Items]

Debt instrument stated interest rate

7.26%

Debt instrument effective interest rate

4.57%

4.57%

Mortgage obligation

$ 9,500,000

Debt instrument, future balloon payment

6,900,000

Debt instrument, unamortized premium

$ (1,200,000)

Economic Development Loans

Debt Instrument [Line Items]

Debt instrument stated interest rate

3.00%

Debt instrument effective interest rate

3.00%

3.00%

Economic development agreements - total advances agreed upon

$ 4,400,000

Economic development agreements - term

10 years

$400 Million Senior Note | Revolving Credit Facilities

Debt Instrument [Line Items]

Debt instrument, extension, term

1 year

$400 Million Senior Note | Senior Notes

Debt Instrument [Line Items]

Debt instrument, face amount

$ 400,000,000

$ 400,000,000

Senior notes, discount

$ 2,400,000

Debt instrument stated interest rate

3.70%

Debt instrument effective interest rate

3.88%

3.88%

$400 Million Senior Note | Senior Notes | Treasury Rate

Debt Instrument [Line Items]

Debt instrument, basis spread on variable rate

0.30%

$600 Million Senior Note | Revolving Credit Facilities

Debt Instrument [Line Items]

Line of credit maximum borrowing capacity

$ 600,000,000

Debt instrument, extension, term

1 year

Debt instrument additional borrowing capacity

$ 250,000,000

Total leverage ratio (not more than)

2.5

$600 Million Senior Note | Revolving Credit Facilities | Minimum

Debt Instrument [Line Items]

Credit facility, commitment fee percentage

0.075%

Fixed charge coverage ratio (not less than)

2.5

$600 Million Senior Note | Revolving Credit Facilities | Maximum

Debt Instrument [Line Items]

Total leverage ratio (not more than)

4.5

Credit facility, commitment fee percentage

0.25%

$600 Million Senior Note | Revolving Credit Facilities | Total Leverage Ratio exceeds 5.50 to 1.00 | Maximum

Debt Instrument [Line Items]

Total leverage ratio (not more than)

5.5

$600 Million Senior Note | Revolving Credit Facilities | Alternative Currency Loans

Debt Instrument [Line Items]

Line of credit maximum borrowing capacity

$ 35,000,000

$600 Million Senior Note | Revolving Credit Facilities | Swingline Loans

Debt Instrument [Line Items]

Line of credit maximum borrowing capacity

25,000,000

$600 Million Senior Note | Senior Notes

Debt Instrument [Line Items]

Debt instrument, face amount

$ 600,000,000

Debt instrument effective interest rate

2.76%

3.50%

$600 Million Senior Note | Senior Notes | London Interbank Offered Rate (LIBOR) | Minimum

Debt Instrument [Line Items]

Debt instrument, basis spread on variable rate

0.90%

$600 Million Senior Note | Senior Notes | London Interbank Offered Rate (LIBOR) | Maximum

Debt Instrument [Line Items]

Debt instrument, basis spread on variable rate

1.50%

$600 Million Senior Note | Senior Notes | Base Rate | Minimum

Debt Instrument [Line Items]

Debt instrument, basis spread on variable rate

0.00%

$600 Million Senior Note | Senior Notes | Base Rate | Maximum

Debt Instrument [Line Items]

Debt instrument, basis spread on variable rate

0.50%

$400 Million Senior Notes | Senior Notes

Debt Instrument [Line Items]

Debt instrument, face amount

$ 400,000,000

$ 400,000,000

$ 400,000,000

Debt instrument stated interest rate

5.75%

Debt instrument effective interest rate

6.00%

6.00%

6.00%

$400 Million Senior Notes | Senior Notes | Treasury Rate

Debt Instrument [Line Items]

Debt instrument, basis spread on variable rate

0.50%

$400 Million Senior Notes | Senior Notes | Debt Instrument Redemption

Debt Instrument [Line Items]

Debt instrument, percentage of principal amount to be redeemed

100.00%

$400 Million Senior Notes | Senior Notes | Debt Instrument Redemption | Treasury Rate

Debt Instrument [Line Items]

Debt instrument, basis spread on variable rate

0.50%

$250 Million Senior Notes | Senior Notes

Debt Instrument [Line Items]

Debt instrument, face amount

$ 250,000,000

$ 250,000,000

$ 250,000,000

Senior notes, discount

$ 600,000

Debt instrument stated interest rate

5.70%

Debt instrument effective interest rate

6.19%

6.19%

Repayments of debt

$ 256,300,000

Loss on extinguishment of debt

7,200,000

Debt instrument, unamortized premium

$ (6,300,000)

$250 Million Senior Notes | Senior Notes | Treasury Rate

Debt Instrument [Line Items]

Debt instrument, basis spread on variable rate

0.45%

$250 Million Senior Notes | Senior Notes | Debt Instrument Redemption | Treasury Rate

Debt Instrument [Line Items]

Debt instrument, basis spread on variable rate

0.45%

Non-Qualified Retirement, Sav_2

Non-Qualified Retirement, Savings and Investment Plans (Details) $ in Millions	12 Months Ended
	Dec. 31, 2019USD ($)planshares	Dec. 31, 2018USD ($)shares	Dec. 31, 2017USD ($)
Retirement Benefits [Abstract]
Number of non-qualified retirement savings and investment plans | plan	2
Deferred compensation liability, current and long-term	$ 32.1	$ 26.1
Number of Deferred Compensation Plans | plan	2
Increase (decrease) in compensation expense	$ 5.3	(0.7)	$ 3.7
Deferred compensation plan assets	27.1	21.3
Restricted investments, current	2.1
Investment gains (losses)	$ 4.9	$ (1.3)	$ 3.2
Deferred compensation arrangement with individual, shares issued (in shares) | shares	0	0

Fair Value Measurements - Sched

Fair Value Measurements - Schedule Of Fair Value Of Assets (Details) - USD ($) $ in Thousands	Dec. 31, 2019	Dec. 31, 2018
Assets
Assets measured at fair value	$ 27,119	$ 21,301
Mutual Funds
Assets
Mutual funds and money market funds, fair value	24,927	19,378
Money Market Funds
Assets
Mutual funds and money market funds, fair value	2,192	1,923
Fair Value, Level 1
Assets
Assets measured at fair value	24,927	19,378
Fair Value, Level 1 | Mutual Funds
Assets
Mutual funds and money market funds, fair value	24,927	19,378
Fair Value, Level 1 | Money Market Funds
Assets
Mutual funds and money market funds, fair value	0	0
Fair Value, Level 2
Assets
Assets measured at fair value	2,192	1,923
Fair Value, Level 2 | Mutual Funds
Assets
Mutual funds and money market funds, fair value	0	0
Fair Value, Level 2 | Money Market Funds
Assets
Mutual funds and money market funds, fair value	2,192	1,923
Fair Value, Level 3
Assets
Assets measured at fair value	0	0
Fair Value, Level 3 | Mutual Funds
Assets
Mutual funds and money market funds, fair value	0	0
Fair Value, Level 3 | Money Market Funds
Assets
Mutual funds and money market funds, fair value	$ 0	$ 0

Fair Value Measurements - Narra

Fair Value Measurements - Narrative (Details) - USD ($)	12 Months Ended
	Dec. 31, 2019	Dec. 31, 2018	Nov. 27, 2019	Jun. 27, 2012	Aug. 25, 2010
$250 Million Senior Notes | Senior Notes
Fair Value, Assets and Liabilities Measured on Recurring and Nonrecurring Basis [Line Items]
Debt instrument, face amount	$ 250,000,000	$ 250,000,000			$ 250,000,000
Debt instrument, fair value		257,000,000
$400 Million Senior Notes | Senior Notes
Fair Value, Assets and Liabilities Measured on Recurring and Nonrecurring Basis [Line Items]
Debt instrument, face amount	400,000,000	400,000,000		$ 400,000,000
$400 Million Senior Note | Senior Notes
Fair Value, Assets and Liabilities Measured on Recurring and Nonrecurring Basis [Line Items]
Debt instrument, face amount		400,000,000	$ 400,000,000
Debt instrument, fair value	403,400,000
Fair Value, Level 1
Fair Value, Assets and Liabilities Measured on Recurring and Nonrecurring Basis [Line Items]
Fair value, transfer in and out	0	0
Fair Value, Level 2
Fair Value, Assets and Liabilities Measured on Recurring and Nonrecurring Basis [Line Items]
Fair value, transfer in and out	0	0
Fair Value, Level 2 | $250 Million Senior Notes | Senior Notes
Fair Value, Assets and Liabilities Measured on Recurring and Nonrecurring Basis [Line Items]
Debt instrument, face amount					$ 250,000,000
Fair Value, Level 2 | $400 Million Senior Notes | Senior Notes
Fair Value, Assets and Liabilities Measured on Recurring and Nonrecurring Basis [Line Items]
Debt instrument, face amount				$ 400,000,000
Debt instrument, fair value	432,000,000	415,700,000
Fair Value, Level 3
Fair Value, Assets and Liabilities Measured on Recurring and Nonrecurring Basis [Line Items]
Fair value, transfer in and out	$ 0	$ 0

Income Taxes - Pretax Income (D

Income Taxes - Pretax Income (Details) - USD ($) $ in Thousands	3 Months Ended								12 Months Ended
	Dec. 31, 2019	Sep. 30, 2019	Jun. 30, 2019	Mar. 31, 2019	Dec. 31, 2018	Sep. 30, 2018	Jun. 30, 2018	Mar. 31, 2018	Dec. 31, 2019	Dec. 31, 2018	Dec. 31, 2017
Income Tax Examination [Line Items]
Income from before income taxes	$ 53,372	$ 85,924	$ 94,154	$ 36,479	$ 40,330	$ 102,443	$ 100,024	$ 30,461	$ 269,929	$ 273,258	$ 249,217
U.S.
Income Tax Examination [Line Items]
Income from before income taxes									259,943	251,056	217,725
Outside the U.S.
Income Tax Examination [Line Items]
Income from before income taxes									$ 9,986	$ 22,202	$ 31,492

Income Taxes - Provision For In

Income Taxes - Provision For Income Taxes (Details) - USD ($) $ in Thousands	12 Months Ended
	Dec. 31, 2019	Dec. 31, 2018	Dec. 31, 2017
Current tax expense
Federal	$ 31,556	$ 48,941	$ 63,279
State	10,154	8,966	5,183
Foreign	1,619	1,471	2,000
Deferred tax (benefit) expense
Federal	3,380	(1,459)	55,007
State	1,635	(959)	1,676
Foreign	(1,293)	(57)	(255)
Income taxes	$ 47,051	$ 56,903	$ 126,890

Income Taxes - Net Deferred Tax

Income Taxes - Net Deferred Tax Assets (Details) - USD ($) $ in Thousands	Dec. 31, 2019	Dec. 31, 2018
Valuation Allowance [Line Items]
Accrued compensation	$ 13,070	$ 12,790
Accrued expenses	32,193	30,721
Tax credits	8,978	2,438
Foreign net operating losses	2,330	2,119
Other	2,827	3,033
Total gross deferred tax assets	66,722	51,649
Less: Valuation Allowance	(10,840)	(1,653)
Deferred tax assets	55,882	49,996
Property, equipment and intangible assets	(22,280)	(17,212)
Operating lease ROU assets	(7,324)	0
Partnership interests	(3,002)	0
Other	(2,529)	(2,171)
Deferred tax liabilities	(35,135)	(19,383)
Deferred Tax Assets, Net	20,747	30,613
Valuation Allowance on Foreign Deferred Tax Assets
Valuation Allowance [Line Items]
Operating lease liabilities	7,324	0
Valuation Allowance on Foreign Net Operating Losses
Valuation Allowance [Line Items]
Partnership interests	$ 0	$ 548

Income Taxes - Effective Rate (

Income Taxes - Effective Rate (Details)	12 Months Ended
	Dec. 31, 2019	Dec. 31, 2018	Dec. 31, 2017
Income Tax Disclosure [Abstract]
Statutory U.S. federal income tax rate	21.00%	21.00%	35.00%
State income taxes, net of federal tax benefit	3.40%	2.90%	1.80%
Benefits and taxes related to foreign operations	(0.60%)	(0.50%)	(3.90%)
Excess tax benefit on share-based compensation	(1.60%)	(1.80%)	(1.50%)
Unrecognized tax positions	1.60%	(0.40%)	(0.20%)
Transition Tax imposed on unrepatriated foreign earnings	0	(0.001)	0.141
Write-down of net deferred tax assets due to U.S. rate change	0.00%	0.40%	5.30%
Tax credits	(9.60%)	(0.50%)	(0.30%)
Valuation allowance on tax credits	3.60%	0.00%	0.00%
Other	(0.40%)	(0.20%)	0.60%
Effective income tax rates	17.40%	20.80%	50.90%

Income Taxes - Narrative (Detai

Income Taxes - Narrative (Details) - USD ($) $ in Thousands	3 Months Ended	12 Months Ended
	Mar. 31, 2019	Dec. 31, 2019	Dec. 31, 2018	Dec. 31, 2017	Dec. 31, 2016
Operating Loss Carryforwards [Line Items]
Increase in valuation allowance	$ 9,200
Valuation allowance		$ (10,840)	$ (1,653)
Net operating loss, state tax jurisdictions		900
Valuation allowance, tax credit carryforward		$ 9,000
Effective income tax rates		17.40%	20.80%	50.90%
Tax credits recognized		$ 11,600
Unrecognized tax benefits		7,738	$ 1,588	$ 2,284	$ 2,691
Unrecognized tax benefits, impact on effective tax rate		4,400
Settlements and lapsing of statutes of limitations within the next 12 months		1,400
Income tax penalties and interest accrued		300	$ 200
Foreign Operations
Operating Loss Carryforwards [Line Items]
Foreign net operating loss carryforwards		7,300
Valuation allowance on foreign net operating loss carryforwards		5,600
State and Local Jurisdiction
Operating Loss Carryforwards [Line Items]
Tax credit carryforward, amount		$ 11,600

Income Taxes - Tax Contingency

Income Taxes - Tax Contingency (Details) - USD ($) $ in Thousands	12 Months Ended
	Dec. 31, 2019	Dec. 31, 2018	Dec. 31, 2017
Reconciliation of Unrecognized Tax Benefits, Excluding Amounts Pertaining to Examined Tax Returns [Roll Forward]
Unrecognized tax benefits, beginning balance	$ 1,588	$ 2,284	$ 2,691
Changes for tax positions of prior years, increase	4,633
Changes for tax positions of prior years, decrease		(861)	(16)
Increases for tax positions related to the current year	2,084	165	138
Settlements and lapsing of statutes of limitations	(567)	0	(529)
Unrecognized tax benefits, ending balance	$ 7,738	$ 1,588	$ 2,284

Share-Based Compensation and _3

Share-Based Compensation and Capital Stock - Narrative (Details) $ / shares in Units, $ in Thousands	1 Months Ended	3 Months Ended									9 Months Ended	12 Months Ended			258 Months Ended
	Oct. 31, 2005	Dec. 31, 2019USD ($)$ / sharesshares	Dec. 31, 2018$ / shares	Sep. 30, 2018$ / shares	Jun. 30, 2018$ / shares	Mar. 31, 2018$ / shares	Dec. 31, 2017$ / shares	Sep. 30, 2017$ / shares	Jun. 30, 2017$ / shares	Mar. 31, 2017$ / shares	Sep. 30, 2019$ / shares	Dec. 31, 2019USD ($)$ / sharesshares	Dec. 31, 2018USD ($)$ / sharesshares	Dec. 31, 2017USD ($)$ / sharesshares	Dec. 31, 2019USD ($)shares
Share-based Compensation Arrangement by Share-based Payment Award [Line Items]
Dividends declared (in dollars per share) | $ / shares												$ 0.87
Dividends												$ 48,500
Dividends												$ 48,609	$ 48,449	$ 48,682
Number of shares available for grant (in shares) | shares		2,800,000										2,800,000			2,800,000
Options granted (in shares) | shares												141,827	109,045	195,652
Options granted, fair value												$ 2,200	$ 1,800	$ 2,100
Aggregate intrinsic value of stock, options, outstanding		$ 36,500										36,500			$ 36,500
Aggregate intrinsic value of the stock options, exercisable		$ 24,800										24,800			$ 24,800
Total intrinsic value of options exercised												15,800	26,400	9,200
Proceeds from exercise of stock options												$ 21,410	$ 41,360	$ 14,107
Stock options exercised (in shares) | shares												446,456	832,809	353,744
Stock repurchased during period (in shares) | shares												600,000	1,800,000	3,100	51,100,000
Common stock purchased under stock repurchase program, value												$ 44,100	$ 141,200	$ 200	$ 1,400,000
Common stock split, conversion ratio	2
Shares paid for tax withholding for share-based compensation (in shares) | shares												79,603	92,366	154,950
Payments related to tax withholding for share-based compensation												$ 6,500	$ 7,400	$ 9,600
Common Stock
Share-based Compensation Arrangement by Share-based Payment Award [Line Items]
Common stock dividends, periodic payment (dollars per share) | $ / shares		$ 0.225
Dividends declared (in dollars per share) | $ / shares			$ 0.215	$ 0.215	$ 0.215	$ 0.215	$ 0.215	$ 0.215	$ 0.215	$ 0.215	$ 0.215		$ 0.86	$ 0.86
Dividends													$ 48,400	$ 48,600
Prior To Stock Split
Share-based Compensation Arrangement by Share-based Payment Award [Line Items]
Stock repurchased during period (in shares) | shares															33,000,000
Performance Vested Restricted Stock Units
Share-based Compensation Arrangement by Share-based Payment Award [Line Items]
Dividends												$ 200	$ 100	$ 100
Grants vested (shares) | shares												73,242	31,048	39,056
Grant date fair value of shares vested												$ 5,500	$ 2,500	$ 1,800
Performance-based leveraging (in shares) | shares												1,583		9,491
Grants vested, initial target (shares) | shares												0	416	14,754
Performance Vested Restricted Stock Units | Minimum
Share-based Compensation Arrangement by Share-based Payment Award [Line Items]
Vesting range												0.00%
Vesting percentage for stock-based award target achievement												0.00%
Performance Vested Restricted Stock Units | Maximum
Share-based Compensation Arrangement by Share-based Payment Award [Line Items]
Vesting range												200.00%
Vesting percentage for stock-based award target achievement												175.00%

Share-Based Compensation and _4

Share-Based Compensation and Capital Stock - Weighted Average Assumptions Of Black-Scholes Option-Pricing Model (Details) - Stock Options - $ / shares	12 Months Ended
	Dec. 31, 2019	Dec. 31, 2018	Dec. 31, 2017
Share-based Compensation Arrangement by Share-based Payment Award [Line Items]
Risk-free interest rate	2.46%	2.58%	1.76%
Expected volatility	21.49%	21.17%	21.64%
Expected life of stock option	4 years 4 months 24 days	4 years 7 months 6 days	4 years 7 months 6 days
Dividend yield	1.06%	1.05%	1.42%
Requisite service period	4 years	4 years	4 years
Contractual life	7 years	7 years	7 years
Weighted average fair value of options granted (in dollars per share)	$ 15.84	$ 16.27	$ 10.81

Share-Based Compensation and _5

Share-Based Compensation and Capital Stock - Range Of Exercise Prices (Details)	12 Months Ended
	Dec. 31, 2019$ / sharesshares
Share-based Payment Arrangement, Option, Exercise Price Range [Line Items]
Options outstanding, number outstanding (in shares) | shares	873,895
Weighted Average Remaining Contractual Life	3 years 6 months
Options outstanding, weighted average exercise price (in dollars per share)	$ 61.69
Options exercisable, number exercisable (in shares) | shares	513,924
Options exercisable, weighted average exercise price (in dollars per share)	$ 55.10
$39.01 to $48.75
Share-based Payment Arrangement, Option, Exercise Price Range [Line Items]
Exercise price range, lower range limit (in dollars per share)	39.01
Exercise price range, upper range limit (in dollars per share)	$ 48.75
Options outstanding, number outstanding (in shares) | shares	148,737
Weighted Average Remaining Contractual Life	1 year 2 months 12 days
Options outstanding, weighted average exercise price (in dollars per share)	$ 45.59
Options exercisable, number exercisable (in shares) | shares	148,737
Options exercisable, weighted average exercise price (in dollars per share)	$ 45.59
$48.76 to $65.00
Share-based Payment Arrangement, Option, Exercise Price Range [Line Items]
Exercise price range, lower range limit (in dollars per share)	48.76
Exercise price range, upper range limit (in dollars per share)	$ 65
Options outstanding, number outstanding (in shares) | shares	477,821
Weighted Average Remaining Contractual Life	3 years 1 month 6 days
Options outstanding, weighted average exercise price (in dollars per share)	$ 56.54
Options exercisable, number exercisable (in shares) | shares	338,814
Options exercisable, weighted average exercise price (in dollars per share)	$ 57.22
$65.01 to $81.55
Share-based Payment Arrangement, Option, Exercise Price Range [Line Items]
Exercise price range, lower range limit (in dollars per share)	65.01
Exercise price range, upper range limit (in dollars per share)	$ 81.55
Options outstanding, number outstanding (in shares) | shares	247,337
Weighted Average Remaining Contractual Life	5 years 8 months 12 days
Options outstanding, weighted average exercise price (in dollars per share)	$ 81.32
Options exercisable, number exercisable (in shares) | shares	26,373
Options exercisable, weighted average exercise price (in dollars per share)	$ 81.55

Share-Based Compensation and _6

Share-Based Compensation and Capital Stock - Summary Of Activity Related To Restricted Stock Grants (Details) - Restricted Stock - USD ($) $ / shares in Units, $ in Thousands	12 Months Ended
	Dec. 31, 2019	Dec. 31, 2018	Dec. 31, 2017
Share-based Compensation Arrangement by Share-based Payment Award [Line Items]
Restricted shares granted (in shares)	167,731	101,325	175,644
Weighted average grant date fair value (in dollars per share)	$ 81.92	$ 81.21	$ 61.84
Aggregate grant date fair value	$ 13,741	$ 8,229	$ 10,862
Restricted shares forfeited (in shares)	32,735	46,785	30,375
Fair value of shares vested	$ 10,671	$ 8,025	$ 12,616
Minimum
Share-based Compensation Arrangement by Share-based Payment Award [Line Items]
Vesting service period of shares granted	12 months	12 months	12 months
Maximum
Share-based Compensation Arrangement by Share-based Payment Award [Line Items]
Vesting service period of shares granted	48 months	48 months	48 months

Share-Based Compensation and _7

Share-Based Compensation and Capital Stock - Summary Of Activity Related To PVRSU Grants (Details) - Performance Vested Restricted Stock Units - USD ($) $ / shares in Units, $ in Thousands	12 Months Ended
	Dec. 31, 2019	Dec. 31, 2018	Dec. 31, 2017
Share-based Compensation Arrangement by Share-based Payment Award [Line Items]
Performance vested restricted stock units granted at target (in shares)	83,934	100,919	162,523
Weighted average grant date fair value (in dollars per share)	$ 81.15	$ 81.25	$ 60.63
Aggregate grant date fair value	$ 6,811	$ 8,200	$ 9,853
Stock units forfeited (in shares)	18,379	27,255	74,734
Minimum
Share-based Compensation Arrangement by Share-based Payment Award [Line Items]
Requisite service period	36 months	36 months	30 months
Maximum
Share-based Compensation Arrangement by Share-based Payment Award [Line Items]
Requisite service period	48 months	39 months	36 months

Share-Based Compensation and _8

Share-Based Compensation and Capital Stock - Summary of Change in Stock-Based Award Activity (Details) - $ / shares	12 Months Ended
	Dec. 31, 2019	Dec. 31, 2018	Dec. 31, 2017
Share-based Compensation Arrangement by Share-based Payment Award, Options, Outstanding [Roll Forward]
Options outstanding, beginning balance (in shares)	1,186,180	1,976,326	2,193,502
Options granted (in shares)	141,827	109,045	195,652
Performance-based leveraging (in shares)	0		0
Options exercised/vested (in shares)	(446,456)	(832,809)	(353,744)
Options expired ( in shares)	0	(2,018)	(10,133)
Options forfeited (in shares)	(7,656)	(64,364)	(48,951)
Options outstanding, ending balance (in shares)	873,895	1,186,180	1,976,326
Options exercisable at December 31, 2019 (in shares)	513,924	753,681	1,279,500
Share-based Compensation Arrangement by Share-based Payment Award, Options, Outstanding, Weighted Average Exercise Price [Abstract]
Options outstanding, beginning balance, weighted average exercise price (in dollars per share)	$ 54.13	$ 50.80	$ 48.26
Options granted - weighted average exercise price (in dollars per share)	81.15	81.55	60.70
Performance-based leveraging - weighted average exercise price (in dollars per share)	0		0
Options exercised/vested - weighted average exercise price (in dollars per share)	47.96	49.66	39.88
Options expired - weighted average exercise price (in dollars per share)	0	63.47	56.95
Options forfeited - weighted average exercise price (in dollars per share)	51.49	55.79	54.12
Options outstanding, ending balance, weighted average exercise price (in dollars per share)	61.69	54.13	50.80
Options exercisable at December 31 - weighted average exercise price (in dollars per share)	$ 55.10	$ 49.55	$ 48.76
Weighted average remaining contractual life - options outstanding at December 31	3 years 6 months	3 years 6 months	4 years 1 month 6 days
Weighted average remaining contractual life - options exercisable at December 31	2 years 7 months 6 days	2 years 8 months 12 days	3 years 8 months 12 days
Restricted Stock
Share-based Compensation Arrangement by Share-based Payment Award, Equity Instruments Other than Options, Nonvested, Number of Shares [Roll Forward]
Shares outstanding, beginning balance (in shares)	303,765	348,876	407,812
Shares granted (in shares)	167,731	101,325	175,644
Performance-based leveraging (in shares)	0		0
Shares exercised/vested (in shares)	(126,664)	(99,651)	(204,205)
Shares forfeited (in shares)	(32,735)	(46,785)	(30,375)
Shares outstanding, beginning balance (in shares)	312,097	303,765	348,876
Weighted Average Grant Date Fair Value [Roll Forward]
Shares outstanding, beginning balance, weighted average grant date fair value (in dollars per share)	$ 65.06	$ 57.05	$ 50.61
Shares granted, weighted average grant date fair value (in dollars per share)	81.92	81.21	61.84
Performance-based leveraging - weighted average grant date fair value (in dollars per share)	0		0
Shares exercised/vested - weighted average grant date fair value (in dollars per share)	60.39	55.64	48.61
Shares forfeited - weighted average grant date fair value (in dollars per share)	72.54	60.40	55.02
Shares outstanding, ending balance, weighted average grant date fair value (in dollars per share)	$ 75.23	$ 65.06	$ 57.05
Performance Vested Restricted Stock Units
Share-based Compensation Arrangement by Share-based Payment Award, Equity Instruments Other than Options, Nonvested, Number of Shares [Roll Forward]
Shares outstanding, beginning balance (in shares)	336,820	294,204	235,980
Shares granted (in shares)	83,934	100,919	162,523
Performance-based leveraging (in shares)	1,583		9,491
Shares exercised/vested (in shares)	(73,242)	(31,048)	(39,056)
Shares forfeited (in shares)	(18,379)	(27,255)	(74,734)
Shares outstanding, beginning balance (in shares)	330,716	336,820	294,204
Weighted Average Grant Date Fair Value [Roll Forward]
Shares outstanding, beginning balance, weighted average grant date fair value (in dollars per share)	$ 63.28	$ 56.95	$ 47.59
Shares granted, weighted average grant date fair value (in dollars per share)	81.15	81.25	60.63
Performance-based leveraging - weighted average grant date fair value (in dollars per share)	51.49		45.59
Shares exercised/vested - weighted average grant date fair value (in dollars per share)	50.69	60.60	46.22
Shares forfeited - weighted average grant date fair value (in dollars per share)	72.50	64.49	39.59
Shares outstanding, ending balance, weighted average grant date fair value (in dollars per share)	$ 70.03	$ 63.28	$ 56.95

Share-Based Compensation and _9

Share-Based Compensation and Capital Stock - Pretax Stock-Based Compensation Expenses And Associated Income Tax Benefits (Details) - USD ($) $ in Millions	12 Months Ended
	Dec. 31, 2019	Dec. 31, 2018	Dec. 31, 2017
Share-based Compensation Arrangement by Share-based Payment Award [Line Items]
Pretax stock-based compensation expense	$ 16.6	$ 15	$ 24.9
Income tax benefits	4	3.6	9.2
Stock Options
Share-based Compensation Arrangement by Share-based Payment Award [Line Items]
Pretax stock-based compensation expense	2.2	2.4	9.2
Restricted Stock
Share-based Compensation Arrangement by Share-based Payment Award [Line Items]
Pretax stock-based compensation expense	8	6.8	9
Performance Vested Restricted Stock Units
Share-based Compensation Arrangement by Share-based Payment Award [Line Items]
Pretax stock-based compensation expense	$ 6.4	$ 5.8	$ 6.7

Share-Based Compensation and_10

Share-Based Compensation and Capital Stock - Unrecognized Compensation (Details) $ in Millions	12 Months Ended
	Dec. 31, 2019USD ($)
Share-based Compensation Arrangement by Share-based Payment Award [Line Items]
Unrecognized Compensation Expense on Unvested Awards	$ 27.6
Stock Options
Share-based Compensation Arrangement by Share-based Payment Award [Line Items]
Unrecognized Compensation Expense on Unvested Awards	$ 3
Weighted Average Remaining Amortization Period	2 years 6 months 25 days
Restricted Stock
Share-based Compensation Arrangement by Share-based Payment Award [Line Items]
Unrecognized Compensation Expense on Unvested Awards	$ 15.9
Weighted Average Remaining Amortization Period	2 years 6 months 7 days
Performance Vested Restricted Stock Units
Share-based Compensation Arrangement by Share-based Payment Award [Line Items]
Unrecognized Compensation Expense on Unvested Awards	$ 8.7
Weighted Average Remaining Amortization Period	1 year 9 months 29 days

Accumulated Other Comprehensi_3

Accumulated Other Comprehensive Loss - Components Of Accumulated Other Comprehensive Income (Loss) (Details) - USD ($) $ in Thousands	Dec. 31, 2019	Dec. 31, 2018	Dec. 31, 2017
Accumulated Other Comprehensive Income (Loss), Net of Tax [Abstract]
Foreign currency translation adjustments	$ (4,550)	$ (4,010)	$ (2,401)
Deferred loss on cash flow hedge	0
Deferred loss on cash flow hedge		(1,436)	(2,298)
Total accumulated other comprehensive loss	$ (4,550)	$ (5,446)	$ (4,699)

Accumulated Other Comprehensi_4

Accumulated Other Comprehensive Loss - Narrative (Details) - USD ($)	1 Months Ended		12 Months Ended
	Aug. 31, 2010	Jul. 31, 2010	Dec. 31, 2019	Dec. 31, 2018	Dec. 31, 2017
Derivative [Line Items]
Loss on debt extinguishment			$ 7,188,000	$ 0	$ 0
Interest Rate Swap
Derivative [Line Items]
Debt instrument, face amount		$ 250,000,000
Debt instrument, term		10 years
Payment to settle interest rate swap agreement	$ 8,700,000
Interest rate contract
Derivative [Line Items]
Loss on debt extinguishment			600,000
Loss on Cash Flow Hedge | Reclassification out of Accumulated Other Comprehensive Income | Interest rate contract
Derivative [Line Items]
Loss on debt extinguishment			$ 646,000	$ 0

Accumulated Other Comprehensi_5

Accumulated Other Comprehensive Loss - Changes in Accumulated Other Comprehensive Loss (Details) - USD ($) $ in Thousands	12 Months Ended
	Dec. 31, 2019	Dec. 31, 2018	Dec. 31, 2017
AOCI Attributable to Parent, Net of Tax [Roll Forward]
Beginning balance	$ (183,772)	$ (258,601)	$ (365,282)
Other comprehensive income (loss), net of tax	896	(747)	3,823
Ending balance	(23,511)	(183,772)	(258,601)
Loss on Cash Flow Hedge
AOCI Attributable to Parent, Net of Tax [Roll Forward]
Beginning balance	(1,436)	(2,298)
Other comprehensive loss before reclassification	0	0
Amounts reclassified from accumulated other comprehensive income	1,436	862
Other comprehensive income (loss), net of tax	1,436	862
Ending balance	0	(1,436)	(2,298)
Foreign Currency Items
AOCI Attributable to Parent, Net of Tax [Roll Forward]
Beginning balance	(4,010)	(2,401)
Other comprehensive loss before reclassification	(540)	(1,609)
Amounts reclassified from accumulated other comprehensive income	0	0
Other comprehensive income (loss), net of tax	(540)	(1,609)
Ending balance	(4,550)	(4,010)	(2,401)
AOCI Attributable to Parent
AOCI Attributable to Parent, Net of Tax [Roll Forward]
Beginning balance	(5,446)	(4,699)	(8,522)
Other comprehensive loss before reclassification	(540)	(1,609)
Amounts reclassified from accumulated other comprehensive income	1,436	862
Other comprehensive income (loss), net of tax	896	(747)	3,823
Ending balance	$ (4,550)	$ (5,446)	$ (4,699)

Accumulated Other Comprehensi_6

Accumulated Other Comprehensive Loss - Reclassified From AOCI (Details) - USD ($) $ in Thousands	12 Months Ended
	Dec. 31, 2019	Dec. 31, 2018	Dec. 31, 2017
Reclassification Adjustment out of Accumulated Other Comprehensive Income on Derivatives [Line Items]
Loss on debt extinguishment	$ 7,188	$ 0	$ 0
Total other income and expenses, net	48,713	45,216	$ 40,436
Interest rate contract
Reclassification Adjustment out of Accumulated Other Comprehensive Income on Derivatives [Line Items]
Loss on debt extinguishment	600
Loss on Cash Flow Hedge | Interest rate contract | Reclassification out of Accumulated Other Comprehensive Income
Reclassification Adjustment out of Accumulated Other Comprehensive Income on Derivatives [Line Items]
Interest expense	790	862
Loss on debt extinguishment	646	0
Total other income and expenses, net	$ 1,436	$ 862

Earnings Per Share - Computatio

Earnings Per Share - Computation Of Basic And Diluted Earnings Per Common Share (Details) - USD ($) $ / shares in Units, shares in Thousands, $ in Thousands	3 Months Ended								12 Months Ended
	Dec. 31, 2019	Sep. 30, 2019	Jun. 30, 2019	Mar. 31, 2019	Dec. 31, 2018	Sep. 30, 2018	Jun. 30, 2018	Mar. 31, 2018	Dec. 31, 2019	Dec. 31, 2018	Dec. 31, 2017
Earnings Per Share [Abstract]
Net income	$ 42,169	$ 76,239	$ 74,389	$ 30,081	$ 31,471	$ 79,959	$ 79,839	$ 25,086	$ 222,878	$ 216,355	$ 122,327
Weighted average common shares outstanding -- basic (in shares)									55,358	56,130	56,114
Basic earnings per share:
Income allocated to participating securities, basic									$ (1,352)	$ (1,248)	$ (845)
Net income available to common shareholders, basic									$ 221,526	$ 215,107	$ 121,482
Basic earnings per share (in dollars per share)	$ 0.76	$ 1.37	$ 1.34	$ 0.54	$ 0.56	$ 1.42	$ 1.41	$ 0.44	$ 4	$ 3.83	$ 2.16
Diluted earnings per share:
Income allocated to participating securities, diluted									$ (1,346)	$ (1,241)	$ (842)
Net income available to common shareholders, diluted									$ 221,532	$ 215,114	$ 121,485
Diluted effect of stock options and PVRSUs (in shares)									310	471	412
Weighted average commons shares outstanding -- diluted (in shares)									55,668	56,601	56,526
Diluted earnings per share (in dollars per share)	$ 0.75	$ 1.36	$ 1.33	$ 0.54	$ 0.56	$ 1.41	$ 1.40	$ 0.44	$ 3.98	$ 3.80	$ 2.15

Earnings Per Share - Narrative

Earnings Per Share - Narrative (Details) - shares	12 Months Ended
	Dec. 31, 2019	Dec. 31, 2018	Dec. 31, 2017	Dec. 31, 2016
Antidilutive Securities Excluded from Computation of Earnings Per Share [Line Items]
Outstanding stock options (in shares)	873,895	1,186,180	1,976,326	2,193,502
Stock Options
Antidilutive Securities Excluded from Computation of Earnings Per Share [Line Items]
Anti-dilutive stock options excluded from EPS calculation (in shares)	0	100,000	0
Performance Vested Restricted Stock Units
Antidilutive Securities Excluded from Computation of Earnings Per Share [Line Items]
Dilutive stock excluded from EPS calculation due to performance conditions not met (in shares)	168,244	242,942	251,228

Operating Leases (Details)

Operating Leases (Details) $ in Thousands	1 Months Ended		3 Months Ended	9 Months Ended	12 Months Ended
	May 31, 2016USD ($)	Dec. 31, 2013ft²	Dec. 31, 2019lease	Sep. 30, 2019USD ($)	Dec. 31, 2019USD ($)	Sep. 30, 2021	Mar. 31, 2020
Operating Leased Assets [Line Items]
Lessee, operating lease, remaining lease term					1 month
Operating lease, renewal term			15 years		15 years
Operating lease, termination period					1 year
Lessor, operating lease, number of leases | lease			2
Operating lease, lease income					$ 1,200
Related party, operating lease expense reimbursed					$ 76
Maximum
Operating Leased Assets [Line Items]
Lessee, operating lease, remaining lease term					4 years
Forecast
Operating Leased Assets [Line Items]
Lessee, operating lease not yet commenced, term of contract						10 years	3 years
Office Building
Operating Leased Assets [Line Items]
Sale and leaseback transaction, gain (loss), net					$ 2,000
Lessor, operating lease, remaining lease term					2 years
Hotel
Operating Leased Assets [Line Items]
Lessor, operating lease, remaining lease term					10 years
Lease Agreements | Leased office space | Family Member(s) of Largest Shareholder
Operating Leased Assets [Line Items]
Payments received from related party					$ 12
Area under lease, related party (in square feet) | ft²		2,200
Related party transaction sublease notice period		90 days
Annual lease payments, related party	$ 100			$ 49

Operating Leases Lease Cost (De

Operating Leases Lease Cost (Details) - USD ($) $ in Thousands	12 Months Ended
	Dec. 31, 2019	Dec. 31, 2018
Leases [Abstract]
Operating lease cost	$ 9,837
Sublease income	$ (84)	$ (124)
Total lease cost		$ 9,753

Operating Leases Operating Leas

Operating Leases Operating Lease Assets and Liabilities (Details) $ in Thousands	Dec. 31, 2019USD ($)
Leases [Abstract]
Operating lease right-of-use assets	$ 24,088
Current operating lease liabilities	10,099
Long-term operating lease liabilities	21,270
Total lease liabilities	$ 31,369

Operating Leases Operating Le_2

Operating Leases Operating Lease Other Information (Details) $ in Thousands	12 Months Ended
	Dec. 31, 2019USD ($)
Leases [Abstract]
Operating cash flows from operating leases	$ 12,322
Operating lease assets obtained in exchange for operating lease liabilities	$ 3,818
Weighted-average remaining lease term	3 years 1 month 2 days
Weighted average discount rate, percent	3.60%

Operating Leases Operating Le_3

Operating Leases Operating Lease Maturities (Details) $ in Thousands	Dec. 31, 2019USD ($)
Leases [Abstract]
2020	$ 11,043
2021	10,276
2022	8,558
2023	3,321
2024	2
Thereafter	0
Total minimum lease payments	33,200
Less imputed interest	1,831
Operating lease liabilities	$ 31,369

Operating Leases Operating Le_4

Operating Leases Operating Lease Future Minimum Lease Payments (Details) - USD ($) $ in Thousands	12 Months Ended
	Dec. 31, 2019	Dec. 31, 2018
Leases [Abstract]
2019 (net of minimum sublease rentals of $124)		$ 12,509
2020		10,638
2021		9,258
2022		8,866
2023		3,514
Thereafter		0
Total		44,785
Sublease income	$ 84	$ 124

Reportable Segment Informatio_2

Reportable Segment Information - Schedule Of Financial Information For Company's Franchising Segment (Details) $ in Thousands	3 Months Ended								12 Months Ended
	Dec. 31, 2019USD ($)brand	Sep. 30, 2019USD ($)	Jun. 30, 2019USD ($)	Mar. 31, 2019USD ($)	Dec. 31, 2018USD ($)	Sep. 30, 2018USD ($)	Jun. 30, 2018USD ($)	Mar. 31, 2018USD ($)	Dec. 31, 2019USD ($)brand	Dec. 31, 2018USD ($)	Dec. 31, 2017USD ($)
Segment Reporting Information [Line Items]
Number of brands | brand	14								14
Revenues	$ 268,084	$ 310,732	$ 317,684	$ 218,320	$ 244,979	$ 291,490	$ 295,441	$ 209,394	$ 1,114,820	$ 1,041,304	$ 941,297
Operating income (loss)	68,635	102,420	102,537	45,050	52,041	111,168	109,016	46,249	318,642	318,474	289,653
Depreciation and amortization									18,828	14,330	6,680
Income before income taxes	$ 53,372	$ 85,924	$ 94,154	$ 36,479	$ 40,330	$ 102,443	$ 100,024	$ 30,461	269,929	273,258	249,217
Foreign Operations
Segment Reporting Information [Line Items]
Revenues									69,500	72,100	65,800
Operating Segments | Hotel Franchising
Segment Reporting Information [Line Items]
Revenues									1,085,860	1,027,047	930,479
Operating income (loss)									392,405	378,014	356,187
Depreciation and amortization									7,995	7,352	462
Income before income taxes									382,829	372,691	351,641
Corporate, Non-Segment
Segment Reporting Information [Line Items]
Revenues									30,700	14,257	10,818
Operating income (loss)									(73,763)	(59,540)	(66,534)
Depreciation and amortization									10,833	6,978	6,218
Income before income taxes									(112,900)	(99,433)	(102,424)
Intersegment Eliminations
Segment Reporting Information [Line Items]
Revenues									$ (1,740)	$ 0	$ 0

Related Party Transactions (Det

Related Party Transactions (Details) $ in Thousands	1 Months Ended		9 Months Ended	12 Months Ended
	May 31, 2016USD ($)	Dec. 31, 2013ft²	Sep. 30, 2019USD ($)	Dec. 31, 2019USD ($)hotelagreements	Dec. 31, 2018USD ($)	Dec. 31, 2017USD ($)	Jun. 05, 2019hotel	Aug. 31, 2016	Oct. 15, 1997company
Related Party Transaction [Line Items]
Number of companies following spin-off | company									2
Number of hotels operated by related party | hotel							5
Number of franchise agreements | agreements				1
WoodSpring
Related Party Transaction [Line Items]
Number of hotels operated by related party | hotel				6
Sunburst
Related Party Transaction [Line Items]
Number of hotels operated by related party | hotel				4
Due from related party				$ 200	$ 200
Sunburst | Franchise Fees
Related Party Transaction [Line Items]
Payments received from related party				1,800	1,900	$ 2,000
Family Member(s) of Largest Shareholder | Leased office space | Lease Agreements
Related Party Transaction [Line Items]
Payments received from related party				$ 12
Area under lease, related party (in square feet) | ft²		2,200
Related party transaction sublease notice period		90 days
Annual lease payments, related party	$ 100		$ 49
Affiliated Entity | Credit agreement
Related Party Transaction [Line Items]
Debt instrument stated interest rate								4.00%
Line of credit, outstanding					$ 600

Transactions with Unconsolida_2

Transactions with Unconsolidated Joint Ventures (Details)	12 Months Ended			15 Months Ended	53 Months Ended
	Dec. 31, 2019USD ($)	Dec. 31, 2018USD ($)	Dec. 31, 2017USD ($)	Dec. 31, 2018USD ($)Promissory_note	Dec. 31, 2019USD ($)	Oct. 31, 2016USD ($)	Aug. 31, 2015USD ($)
Related Party Transaction [Line Items]
Receivables, net	$ 141,566,000	$ 138,018,000		$ 138,018,000	$ 141,566,000
Member of Unconsolidated Joint Venture
Related Party Transaction [Line Items]
Number of promissory notes entered into | Promissory_note				3
Advances to affiliates	50,100,000				50,100,000
Allowance for credit losses	2,800,000				2,800,000
Management fee expense	2,300,000	1,700,000	$ 1,400,000
Member of Unconsolidated Joint Venture
Related Party Transaction [Line Items]
Royalty and marketing and reservation system fees	25,200,000	25,400,000	22,400,000
Receivables, net	1,400,000	1,100,000		$ 1,100,000	1,400,000
Commissions paid to travel agent	300,000	$ 200,000	$ 200,000
Member of Unconsolidated Joint Venture | Loans Payable
Related Party Transaction [Line Items]
Debt instrument, face amount							$ 24,400,000
Related party transaction, additional loan amount						$ 1,000,000
Payments to fund long-term loans to related parties					25,400,000
Promissory note outstanding	$ 20,500,000				$ 20,500,000

Commitments and Contingencies (

Commitments and Contingencies (Details) $ in Thousands	1 Months Ended	12 Months Ended
	Feb. 26, 2019USD ($)	Dec. 31, 2019USD ($)transaction	Dec. 31, 2018USD ($)	Dec. 31, 2017USD ($)	Mar. 31, 2018USD ($)
Loss Contingencies [Line Items]
Bank loan issued to VIE, partially guaranteed by parent		$ 7,500
Number of transactions with recourse | transaction		2
Impaired loans, unpaid principal balance		$ 51,800	$ 51,800
Repurchase of notes receivable		20,722	$ 36,045	$ 19,738
Other commitment		34,600
Other commitment, payment		17,700
Construction loan					$ 34,900
Forgivable Notes Receivable
Loss Contingencies [Line Items]
Other commitment		300,400
Capital Contribution to Joint Venture
Loss Contingencies [Line Items]
Commitment due in next twelve months		10,100
Senior and Subordinated Tranches
Loss Contingencies [Line Items]
Proceeds from sale of notes receivable		24,400
Impaired loans, unpaid principal balance		50,100
Repurchase of notes receivable	$ 24,400
Construction Loan
Loss Contingencies [Line Items]
Debt drawn		33,100
Construction Loan
Loss Contingencies [Line Items]
Interest costs capitalized		$ 900

Acquisition (Details)

Acquisition (Details) $ in Thousands	Jul. 23, 2019USD ($)hotel	Feb. 01, 2018USD ($)hotelStates	Sep. 30, 2019hotel	Dec. 31, 2019USD ($)	Jul. 22, 2019hotel	Dec. 31, 2018USD ($)
Business Acquisition [Line Items]
Investments in unconsolidated entities				$ 78,655		$ 109,016
Number of hotels acquired | hotel			5
Cambria Hotel
Business Acquisition [Line Items]
Asset acquisition, consideration transfered	$ 194,000
Investments in unconsolidated entities	$ 25,000
Five Hotel Joint Ventures
Business Acquisition [Line Items]
Asset acquisition, number of hotels in joint ventures | hotel					5
Four Hotels Joint Ventures
Business Acquisition [Line Items]
Asset acquisition, number of hotels in joint ventures | hotel	4		4
Asset acquisition, ownership interest acquired	60.00%
Asset acquisition, consideration transfered	$ 169,000
Asset acquisition, transaction costs capitalized	700
Four Hotels Joint Ventures | Cambria Hotel
Business Acquisition [Line Items]
Asset acquisition, land	21,700
Asset acquisition, building and improvements	148,400
Asset acquisition, furniture, fixtures, and equipment	27,000
Asset acquisition, in-place lease intangible asset	800
Asset acquisition, consideration transferred, liabilities incurred	$ 3,900
WoodSpring
Business Acquisition [Line Items]
Business acquisition, percentage of voting interests acquired		100.00%
Number of hotels acquired | hotel		239
Number of states in which acquired business operates | States		35
Consideration transferred		$ 231,600
Consideration transferred, net		231,300
Consideration transferred, liabilities incurred		400
Working capital adjustment		$ 100

Acquisition Preliminary (Detail

Acquisition Preliminary (Details) - USD ($) $ in Thousands	Dec. 31, 2019	Dec. 31, 2018	Feb. 01, 2018	Dec. 31, 2017
Business Acquisition [Line Items]
Goodwill	$ 159,196	$ 168,996		$ 80,757
WoodSpring
Business Acquisition [Line Items]
Cash			$ 250
Accounts receivables			1,258
Prepaid			23
Contract assets			115,000
Tradename			22,000
Goodwill			93,384
Accounts payable			(348)
Total Consideration			$ 231,567

Acquisition Intangible Assets (

Acquisition Intangible Assets (Details) - USD ($) $ in Thousands	Feb. 01, 2018	Dec. 31, 2019	Dec. 31, 2018	Dec. 31, 2017
Business Acquisition [Line Items]
Goodwill		$ 159,196	$ 168,996	$ 80,757
WoodSpring
Business Acquisition [Line Items]
Goodwill	$ 93,384
Total	230,384
Tradename | WoodSpring
Business Acquisition [Line Items]
WoodSpring tradename	22,000
Franchise agreements | WoodSpring
Business Acquisition [Line Items]
Franchise agreements acquired	$ 115,000
Minimum | Franchise agreements | WoodSpring
Business Acquisition [Line Items]
Franchise agreements acquired (in years)	12 years
Maximum | Franchise agreements | WoodSpring
Business Acquisition [Line Items]
Franchise agreements acquired (in years)	20 years

Selected Quarterly Financial _3

Selected Quarterly Financial Data - (Unaudited) (Details)	3 Months Ended								12 Months Ended
	Dec. 31, 2019USD ($)$ / shares	Sep. 30, 2019USD ($)hotel$ / shares	Jun. 30, 2019USD ($)$ / shares	Mar. 31, 2019USD ($)$ / shares	Dec. 31, 2018USD ($)$ / shares	Sep. 30, 2018USD ($)$ / shares	Jun. 30, 2018USD ($)$ / shares	Mar. 31, 2018USD ($)$ / shares	Dec. 31, 2019USD ($)$ / shares	Dec. 31, 2018USD ($)$ / shares	Dec. 31, 2017USD ($)$ / shares	Jul. 23, 2019hotel	Aug. 25, 2010USD ($)
Quarterly Financial Information Disclosure [Abstract]
Revenues	$ 268,084,000	$ 310,732,000	$ 317,684,000	$ 218,320,000	$ 244,979,000	$ 291,490,000	$ 295,441,000	$ 209,394,000	$ 1,114,820,000	$ 1,041,304,000	$ 941,297,000
Operating income	68,635,000	102,420,000	102,537,000	45,050,000	52,041,000	111,168,000	109,016,000	46,249,000	318,642,000	318,474,000	289,653,000
Income before income taxes	53,372,000	85,924,000	94,154,000	36,479,000	40,330,000	102,443,000	100,024,000	30,461,000	269,929,000	273,258,000	249,217,000
Net income	$ 42,169,000	$ 76,239,000	$ 74,389,000	$ 30,081,000	$ 31,471,000	$ 79,959,000	$ 79,839,000	$ 25,086,000	$ 222,878,000	$ 216,355,000	$ 122,327,000
Earnings per share:
Basic (in dollars per share) | $ / shares	$ 0.76	$ 1.37	$ 1.34	$ 0.54	$ 0.56	$ 1.42	$ 1.41	$ 0.44	$ 4	$ 3.83	$ 2.16
Diluted (in dollars per share) | $ / shares	$ 0.75	$ 1.36	$ 1.33	$ 0.54	$ 0.56	$ 1.41	$ 1.40	$ 0.44	$ 3.98	$ 3.80	$ 2.15
Effect of Fourth Quarter Events [Line Items]
Operating income (loss)	$ 68,635,000	$ 102,420,000	$ 102,537,000	$ 45,050,000	$ 52,041,000	$ 111,168,000	$ 109,016,000	$ 46,249,000	$ 318,642,000	$ 318,474,000	$ 289,653,000
Revenues	268,084,000	310,732,000	317,684,000	218,320,000	244,979,000	291,490,000	295,441,000	209,394,000	1,114,820,000	1,041,304,000	941,297,000
Gain on sale of assets, net		6,000,000							100,000	82,000	257,000
Operating expenses									781,248,000	718,623,000	651,901,000
Impairment of long-lived assets									(7,259,000)	0	0
Loss on sale of business			(4,700,000)						(4,674,000)	0	0
Impairment of goodwill									(3,097,000)	(4,289,000)	0
Loss on extinguishment of debt									7,188,000	0	0
Sass for Vacation Rentals
Effect of Fourth Quarter Events [Line Items]
Impairment of long-lived assets									(7,300,000)
Impairment of goodwill				(3,100,000)
Other
Effect of Fourth Quarter Events [Line Items]
Impairment of goodwill					(4,300,000)					(4,289,000)
Other | Sass for Vacation Rentals
Effect of Fourth Quarter Events [Line Items]
Impairment of long-lived assets									(7,300,000)
Impairment of goodwill				(3,100,000)	(3,097,000)
WoodSpring
Effect of Fourth Quarter Events [Line Items]
Acquisition transaction and integration costs					1,300,000	600,000	800,000	4,200,000
Marketing and reservation system
Quarterly Financial Information Disclosure [Abstract]
Revenues									577,426,000	543,677,000	499,625,000
Operating income	(2,900,000)	(1,400,000)	12,300,000	(9,800,000)	(13,200,000)	14,000,000	20,800,000	(12,200,000)
Effect of Fourth Quarter Events [Line Items]
Operating income (loss)	(2,900,000)	(1,400,000)	$ 12,300,000	$ (9,800,000)	(13,200,000)	$ 14,000,000	$ 20,800,000	$ (12,200,000)
Revenues									577,426,000	543,677,000	$ 499,625,000
$250 Million Senior Notes | Senior Notes
Effect of Fourth Quarter Events [Line Items]
Loss on extinguishment of debt									7,200,000
Debt instrument, face amount	250,000,000				$ 250,000,000				$ 250,000,000	$ 250,000,000			$ 250,000,000
Four Hotels Joint Ventures
Quarterly Financial Information Disclosure [Abstract]
Revenues	11,600,000	8,700,000
Operating income	400,000	500,000
Effect of Fourth Quarter Events [Line Items]
Operating income (loss)	400,000	$ 500,000
Asset acquisition, number of hotels in joint ventures | hotel		4										4
Revenues	$ 11,600,000	$ 8,700,000

Subsequent Events (Details)

Subsequent Events (Details) - $ / shares	Feb. 28, 2020	Dec. 31, 2019
Subsequent Events [Line Items]
Dividends declared (in dollars per share)		$ 0.87
Subsequent event
Subsequent Events [Line Items]
Dividends declared (in dollars per share)	$ 0.225