Consolidated Statements of Stockholders' Equity (USD $) In Thousands	Total	Common Stock	Additional Capital	Retained Earnings (Deficit)	Unearned Employee Benefits and Other	Accumulated Other Comprehensive Income	Common Stock in Treasury	Total Viad Equity	Non-Controlling Interest
Beginning Balance at Dec. 31, 2010	$ 386,711	$ 37,402	$ 606,902	$ (19,229)	$ (4,433)	$ 28,851	$ (270,534)	$ 378,959	$ 7,752
Net income	9,743			9,210				9,210	533
Payments of Ordinary Dividends, Common Stock	3,241
Dividends on common stock	(3,241)			(3,241)				(3,241)
Common stock purchased for treasury	(5,230)						(5,230)	(5,230)
Employee benefit plans	295		(11,086)				11,381	295
ESOP allocation adjustment	1,490				1,490			1,490
Share-based compensation-equity awards	3,688		3,688					3,688
Tax deficiencies from share-based compensation	(325)		(325)					(325)
Unrealized foreign currency translation adjustment	(4,331)					(4,331)		(4,331)
Unrealized gain (loss) on investments	(60)					(60)		(60)
Amortization of net actuarial loss	(1,777)					(1,777)		(1,777)
Amortization of prior service credit	(790)					(790)		(790)
Other, net	6		9	4	(8)		1	6
Ending Balance at Dec. 31, 2011	386,179	37,402	599,188	(13,256)	(2,951)	21,893	(264,382)	377,894	8,285
Net income	6,583			5,897				5,897	686
Payments of Ordinary Dividends, Common Stock	4,454
Dividends on common stock	(5,674)			(5,674)				(5,674)
Common stock purchased for treasury	(1,656)						(1,656)	(1,656)
Employee benefit plans	248		(9,456)				9,704	248
ESOP allocation adjustment	1,647				1,647			1,647
Share-based compensation-equity awards	4,036		4,036					4,036
Tax deficiencies from share-based compensation	96		96					96
Unrealized foreign currency translation adjustment	7,510					7,510		7,510
Unrealized gain (loss) on investments	53					53		53
Amortization of net actuarial loss	(1,311)					(1,311)		(1,311)
Amortization of prior service credit	(680)					(680)		(680)
Other, net	1		(2)	(1)	3		1	1
Ending Balance at Dec. 31, 2012	397,032	37,402	593,862	(13,034)	(1,301)	27,465	(256,333)	388,061	8,971
Net income	21,686							21,555	131
Payments of Ordinary Dividends, Common Stock	58,914
Dividends on common stock	(58,914)							(58,914)
Common stock purchased for treasury	(1,328)						(1,328)	(1,328)
Employee benefit plans	778		(6,456)				7,234	778
ESOP allocation adjustment	1,280				1,280			1,280
Share-based compensation-equity awards	3,053		3,053					3,053
Tax benefits from share-based compensation	404		404					404
Tax deficiencies from share-based compensation	404
Unrealized foreign currency translation adjustment	(11,311)					(11,311)		(11,311)
Unrealized gain (loss) on investments	154					154		154
Amortization of net actuarial loss	4,244							4,244
Amortization of prior service credit	(535)							(535)
Other, net	0		(1)	0			1	0
Ending Balance at Dec. 31, 2013	$ 356,543	$ 37,402	$ 590,862	$ (50,393)	$ (21)	$ 20,017	$ (250,426)	$ 347,441	$ 9,102