Income Per Share - Reconciliation of Basic and Diluted Income Per Share (Details) (USD $) In Thousands, except Per Share data, unless otherwise specified	3 Months Ended																12 Months Ended
	Dec. 31, 2013		Sep. 30, 2013		Jun. 30, 2013		Mar. 31, 2013		Dec. 31, 2012		Sep. 30, 2012		Jun. 30, 2012		Mar. 31, 2012		Dec. 31, 2013	Dec. 31, 2012	Dec. 31, 2011
Numerator:
Net income attributable to Viad	$ (4,618)	[1]	$ 11,855	[1]	$ 6,253	[1]	$ 8,065	[1]	$ (21,196)	[1]	$ 19,976	[1]	$ 6,090	[1]	$ 1,027	[1]	$ 21,555	$ 5,897	$ 9,210
Less: Allocation to non-vested shares																	(485)	(157)	(248)
Net income allocated to Viad common stockholders																	21,070	5,740	8,962
Denominator:
Weighted-average outstanding common shares																	19,850	19,701	19,719
Net income attributable to Viad common stockholders (Per Share)	$ (0.23)	[1],[2]	$ 0.58	[1],[2]	$ 0.31	[1],[2]	$ 0.40	[1],[2]	$ (1.07)	[1],[2]	$ 0.99	[1],[2]	$ 0.30	[1],[2]	$ 0.05	[1],[2]	$ 1.06	$ 0.29	$ 0.45
Numerator:
Net income attributable to Viad	$ (4,618)	[1]	$ 11,855	[1]	$ 6,253	[1]	$ 8,065	[1]	$ (21,196)	[1]	$ 19,976	[1]	$ 6,090	[1]	$ 1,027	[1]	$ 21,555	$ 5,897	$ 9,210
Denominator:
Weighted-average outstanding common shares																	19,850	19,701	19,719
Additional dilutive shares related to share-based compensation																	415	304	336
Weighted-average outstanding and potentially dilutive shares																	20,265	20,005	20,055
Net income attributable to Viad common stockholders (per share)	$ (0.23)	[1],[2]	$ 0.58	[1],[2]	$ 0.31	[1],[2]	$ 0.40	[1],[2]	$ (1.07)	[1],[2]	$ 0.99	[1],[2]	$ 0.30	[1],[2]	$ 0.05	[1],[2]	$ 1.06	$ 0.29	$ 0.45

[1] The fourth quarter of 2012 includes a tax charge of $13.4 million representing a valuation allowance for certain deferred tax assets associated with foreign tax credit carryforwards.

[2] The sum of quarterly income per share amounts may not equal annual income per share due to rounding.