Document and Entity Information [Abstract] ASSETS Assets [Abstract] Current assets: Assets, Current [Abstract] Cash and cash equivalents Cash and Cash Equivalents, at Carrying Value Restricted cash Restricted Cash and Cash Equivalents, Current Accounts receivable, net Accounts Receivable, Net, Current Inventories Inventory, Net Prepaid expenses and other Prepaid Expense and Other Assets, Current Assets held for sale Assets Held-for-sale, Current Assets held for sale Total current assets Assets, Current, Total Total current assets Property and equipment, net Property, Plant and Equipment, Net Goodwill Goodwill Intangible assets, net Intangible Assets, Net (Excluding Goodwill) Other assets, net Other Assets, Noncurrent Other assets, net Total assets Assets, Total Total assets LIABILITIES Liabilities [Abstract] Current liabilities: Liabilities, Current [Abstract] Accounts payable Accounts Payable, Current Accrued payroll and related benefits Employee-related Liabilities, Current Accrued interest payable Interest Payable, Current Advance deposits Customer Advances and Deposits, Current Other accrued expenses Other Accrued Liabilities, Current Revolving credit facility, due within one year Line of Credit, Current Current portion of long-term debt Secured Debt, Current Current portion of long-term debt Total current liabilities Liabilities, Current, Total Total current liabilities Long-term debt, due after one year Secured Long-term Debt, Noncurrent Deferred income Deferred Revenue, Noncurrent Deferred income taxes Deferred Tax Liabilities, Noncurrent Debentures due Red Lion Hotels Capital Trust Junior Subordinated Debenture Owed to Unconsolidated Subsidiary Trust, Noncurrent Debentures due Red Lion Hotels Capital Trust Total liabilities Liabilities, Total Total liabilities Commitments and contingencies Commitments and Contingencies STOCKHOLDERS' EQUITY Stockholders' Equity, Including Portion Attributable to Noncontrolling Interest [Abstract] Red Lion Hotels Corporation stockholders' equity Stockholders' Equity Attributable to Parent [Abstract] Preferred stock - 5,000,000 shares authorized; $0.01 par value; no shares issued or outstanding Preferred Stock, Value, Issued Preferred stock, par value Preferred Stock, Par or Stated Value Per Share Preferred stock, shares authorized Preferred Stock, Shares Authorized Preferred stock, shares issued Preferred Stock, Shares Issued Preferred stock, shares outstanding Preferred Stock, Shares Outstanding Common stock - 50,000,000 shares authorized; $0.01 par value; 19,067,541 and 18,869,254 shares issued and outstanding Common Stock, Value, Issued Common stock, par value Common Stock, Par or Stated Value Per Share Common stock, shares authorized Common Stock, Shares Authorized Common stock, shares issued Common Stock, Shares, Issued Common stock, shares outstanding Common Stock, Shares, Outstanding Additional paid-in capital, common stock Additional Paid in Capital, Common Stock Retained earnings Retained Earnings (Accumulated Deficit) Retained earnings Total Red Lion Hotels Corporation stockholders' equity Stockholders' Equity Attributable to Parent, Total Total Red Lion Hotels Corporation stockholders' equity Noncontrolling interest Stockholders' Equity Attributable to Noncontrolling Interest Noncontrolling interest Total equity Stockholders' Equity, Including Portion Attributable to Noncontrolling Interest, Total Total equity Total liabilities and stockholders' equity Liabilities and Equity, Total Total liabilities and stockholders' equity Revenue: Revenue, Net [Abstract] Hotels Revenue from Hotels Franchise Franchise Revenue Entertainment Entertainment Entertainment Other Other Revenue, Net Other Total revenues Revenue, Net, Total Total revenues Operating expenses: Costs and Expenses [Abstract] Hotels Direct Costs of Hotels Franchise Franchise Costs Entertainment Expenses Entertainment Entertainment Other Other Cost of Operating Revenue Depreciation and amortization Cost of Goods and Services Sold, Depreciation and Amortization Hotel Facility And Land Lease Hotel facility and land lease Hotel facility and land lease Loss (Gain) on asset dispositions, net Gain (Loss) on Disposition of Property Loss (Gain) on asset dispositions, net Undistributed corporate expenses General and Administrative Expense Undistributed corporate expenses Total expenses Costs and Expenses, Total Total expenses Operating income (loss) Operating Income (Loss) Operating income (loss) Other income (expense): Nonoperating Income (Expense) [Abstract] Interest expense Interest Expense Interest expense Other income, net Other Nonoperating Income (Expense) Other income, net Income Loss Before Taxes Income (loss) before taxes Income (loss) before taxes Income (loss) before taxes Income tax expense (benefit) Income Tax Expense (Benefit) Income tax expense (benefit) Net income (loss) from continuing operations Income (Loss) from Continuing Operations, Including Portion Attributable to Noncontrolling Interest Net income (loss) from continuing operations Discontinued operations Income (Loss) from Discontinued Operations, Net of Tax, Including Portion Attributable to Noncontrolling Interest [Abstract] Income (loss) from discontinued business units, net of income tax (benefit) expense of $0 and ($66) for the three months ended and $0 and ($142) for the six months ended June 30, 2011 and 2010 respectively Discontinued Operation, Income (Loss) from Discontinued Operation During Phase-out Period, Net of Tax Income (loss) from discontinued business units, net of income tax (benefit) expense of $0 and ($66) for the three months ended and $0 and ($142) for the six months ended June 30, 2011 and 2010 respectively Income tax (benefit) expense on discontinued business units Discontinued Operation, Tax Effect of Income (Loss) from Discontinued Operation During Phase-out Period Net income (loss) from discontinued operations Income (Loss) from Discontinued Operations, Net of Tax, Including Portion Attributable to Noncontrolling Interest Net income (loss) from discontinued operations Net income (loss) Net Income (Loss), Including Portion Attributable to Noncontrolling Interest Net income (loss) Less: Net income or loss attributable to noncontrolling interest Net Income (Loss) Attributable to Noncontrolling Interest Less: Net income or loss attributable to noncontrolling interest Net income (loss) attributable to Red Lion Hotels Corporation Net Income (Loss) Attributable to Parent Net income (loss) attributable to Red Lion Hotels Corporation Earnings per share - basic Earnings Per Share, Basic [Abstract] Net income (loss) from continuing operations Income (Loss) from Continuing Operations, Per Basic Share Net income (loss) from discontinued operations Income (Loss) from Discontinued Operations, Net of Tax, Per Basic Share Net income (loss) attributable to Red Lion Hotels Corporation Earnings Per Share, Basic Net income (loss) attributable to Red Lion Hotels Corporation Weighted average shares -basic Weighted Average Number of Shares Outstanding, Basic Earnings per share - diluted Earnings Per Share, Diluted [Abstract] Net income (loss) from continuing operations Income (Loss) from Continuing Operations, Per Diluted Share Net income (loss) from discontinued operations Income (Loss) from Discontinued Operations, Net of Tax, Per Diluted Share Net income (loss) attributable to Red Lion Hotels Corporation Earnings Per Share, Diluted Net income (loss) attributable to Red Lion Hotels Corporation Weighted average shares -diluted Weighted Average Number of Shares Outstanding, Diluted Operating activities: Net Cash Provided by (Used in) Operating Activities [Abstract] Net income (loss) Adjustments to reconcile net income (loss) to net cash provided by (used in) operating activities: Adjustments to Reconcile Net Income (Loss) to Cash Provided by (Used in) Operating Activities [Abstract] Depreciation and amortization Depreciation, Depletion and Amortization Gain on disposition of property, equipment and other assets, net Gain (Loss) on Disposition of Assets Gain on disposition of property, equipment and other assets, net Deferred income tax provision (benefit) Deferred Income Tax Expense (Benefit) Equity in investments Income (Loss) from Equity Method Investments Equity in investments Stock based compensation expense Share-based Compensation Provision for doubtful accounts Provision for Doubtful Accounts Change in current assets and liabilities: Increase (Decrease) in Operating Capital [Abstract] Restricted cash Increase (Decrease) in Restricted Cash for Operating Activities Restricted cash Accounts receivable Increase (Decrease) in Accounts Receivable Accounts receivable Inventories Increase (Decrease) in Inventories Inventories Prepaid expenses and other Increase (Decrease) in Prepaid Expense and Other Assets Prepaid expenses and other Accounts payable Increase (Decrease) in Accounts Payable Accrued payroll and related benefits Increase (Decrease) in Employee Related Liabilities Accrued interest payable Increase (Decrease) in Interest Payable, Net Deferred income Increase (Decrease) in Deferred Revenue Other accrued expenses and advance deposits Increase (Decrease) in Other Operating Liabilities Other accrued expenses and advance deposits Net cash (used in) provided by operating activities Net Cash Provided by (Used in) Operating Activities Net cash (used in) provided by operating activities Investing activities: Net Cash Provided by (Used in) Investing Activities [Abstract] Purchases of property and equipment Payments to Acquire Property, Plant, and Equipment Purchases of property and equipment Proceeds from disposition of property and equipment Proceeds from Sale of Property, Plant, and Equipment Advances to Red Lion Hotels Capital Trust Payments to Acquire Equity Method Investments Advances to Red Lion Hotels Capital Trust Other, net Payments for (Proceeds from) Other Investing Activities Other, net Net cash (used in) provided by investing activities Net Cash Provided by (Used in) Investing Activities Net cash (used in) provided by investing activities Financing activities: Net Cash Provided by (Used in) Financing Activities [Abstract] Borrowings on revolving credit facility Proceeds from Long-term Lines of Credit Repayment of revolving credit facility Repayments of Long-term Lines of Credit Repayment of revolving credit facility Repayment For Retirement Of Revolving Credit Facility Retirement of revolving credit facility Retirement of revolving credit facility Retirement of revolving credit facility Repayment of long-term debt Repayments of Secured Debt Repayment of long-term debt Proceeds from stock options exercised Proceeds from Stock Options Exercised Proceeds from issuance of common stock under employee stock purchase plan Proceeds from Issuance of Shares under Incentive and Share-based Compensation Plans, Excluding Stock Options Additions to deferred financing costs Payments of Financing Costs Additions to deferred financing costs Common stock redeemed Payments for Repurchase of Common Stock Common stock redeemed Net cash (used in) provided by financing activities Net Cash Provided by (Used in) Financing Activities Net cash (used in) provided by financing activities Net change in cash from operating activities of discontinued operations Net Cash Provided by (Used in) Discontinued Operations Change in cash and cash equivalents: Cash and Cash Equivalents, Period Increase (Decrease) [Abstract] Net (decrease) increase in cash and cash equivalents Cash and Cash Equivalents, Period Increase (Decrease) Net (decrease) increase in cash and cash equivalents Cash and cash equivalents at beginning of period Cash and cash equivalents at end of period Supplemental disclosure of cash flow information: Supplemental Cash Flow Information [Abstract] Cash paid during periods for: Cash Paid During Periods For Abstract Cash paid during periods for: Interest on long-term debt Interest Paid Noncash operating, investing and financing activities: Cash Flow, Noncash Investing and Financing Activities Disclosure [Abstract] Tax Effect On Conversion Of Equity Tax effect on conversion of equity Tax effect on conversion of equity Reclassification Of Property And Other Assets To Assets Held For Sale Reclassification of property and other assets to assets held for sale Reclassification of property and other assets to assets held for sale Reclassification Of Goodwill To Assets Held For Sale Reclassification of goodwill to assets held for sale Reclassification of goodwill to assets held for sale Organization Nature of Operations [Text Block] Organization [Abstract] Organization [Abstract] Organization Basis Of Presentation [Text Block] Basis of Presentation Basis of Presentation Basis of Presentation [Abstract] Basis of Presentation [Abstract] Liquidity [Text Block] Liquidity Liquidity Liquidity [Abstract] Liquidity [Abstract] Liquidity Property and Equipment Property, Plant and Equipment Disclosure [Text Block] Property and Equipment/Assets Held for Sale [Abstract] Property and Equipment/Assets Held for Sale [Abstract] Goodwill and Intangibles Goodwill and Intangible Assets Disclosure [Text Block] Goodwill and Intangibles [Abstract] Goodwill and Intangibles [Abstract] Disclosure Of Assets Held For Sale [Text Block] Assets Held for Sale Assets Held for Sale Credit Facility and Long Term Debt Debt Disclosure [Text Block] Credit Facility and Long Term Debt [Abstract] Credit Facility and Long Term Debt [Abstract] Business Segments Segment Reporting Disclosure [Text Block] Business Segments [Abstract] Business Segments [Abstract] Net Income (Loss) Per Share Earnings Per Share [Text Block] Net Income (Loss) Per Share [Abstract] Net Income (Loss) Per Share [Abstract] Income Taxes Income Tax Disclosure [Text Block] Income Taxes [Abstract] Income Taxes [Abstract] Stock Based Compensation Disclosure of Compensation Related Costs, Share-based Payments [Text Block] Stock Based Compensation [Abstract] Stock Based Compensation [Abstract] Fair Value of Financial Instruments Fair Value Disclosures [Text Block] Fair Value of Financial Instruments [Abstract] Fair Value of Financial Instruments [Abstract] Commitments and Contingencies Commitments and Contingencies Disclosure [Text Block] Commitments and Contingencies [Abstract] Commitments and Contingencies [Abstract] Discontinued Operations Disposal Groups, Including Discontinued Operations, Disclosure [Text Block] Discontinued Operations [Abstract] Discontinued Operations [Abstract] Amendment Flag Current Fiscal Year End Date Document Period End Date Document Type Entity Central Index Key Entity Common Stock, Shares Outstanding Entity Current Reporting Status Entity Filer Category Entity Registrant Name Entity Voluntary Filers Entity Well-known Seasoned Issuer Entity Public Float Document Fiscal Period Focus Document Fiscal Year Focus Consolidated Balance Sheets [Abstract] Consolidated Statements of Operations [Abstract] Consolidated Statements of Cash Flows [Abstract]