Basis of Presentation and Principles of Consolidation (Policies)

3 Months Ended

Mar. 31, 2014

Organization, Consolidation and Presentation of Financial Statements [Abstract]

Consolidation, Policy [Policy Text Block]

The accompanying unaudited, condensed consolidated financial statements of Viad Corp (“Viad” or the “Company”) have been prepared in accordance with accounting principles generally accepted in the United States of America (“GAAP”) for interim financial information and with the instructions to Form 10-Q and Article 10 of Regulation S-X. Accordingly, they do not include all of the information and footnotes required for complete financial statements. The condensed consolidated financial statements of Viad include the accounts of Viad and all of its subsidiaries. All significant intercompany account balances and transactions between Viad and its subsidiaries have been eliminated in consolidation.

In the opinion of management, all adjustments (consisting of normal recurring accruals) considered necessary for a fair presentation have been included. Operating results for the three months ended March 31, 2014 are not necessarily indicative of the results that may be expected for the year ending December 31, 2014.

For further information, refer to the consolidated financial statements and related footnotes for the year ended December 31, 2013 included in the Company’s Form 10-K, filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission on March 7, 2014.

Segments

Nature of Business

Viad’s reportable segments consist of Marketing & Events U.S., Marketing & Events International (together the “Marketing & Events Group”) and the Travel & Recreation Group.

Marketing & Events Group

The Marketing & Events Group, comprised of Global Experience Specialists, Inc. and affiliates (“GES”), specializes in all aspects of the design, planning and production of face-to-face events, immersive environments and brand-based experiences for clients, including show organizers, corporate brand marketers and retail shopping centers. In addition, the Marketing & Events Group provides a variety of immersive, entertaining attractions and brand-based experiences, sponsored events, mobile marketing and other branded entertainment and face-to-face marketing solutions for clients and venues, including shopping malls, movie studios, museums and leading consumer brands.

Travel & Recreation Group

The Travel & Recreation Group consists of Brewster Inc. (“Brewster”), Glacier Park, Inc. (“Glacier Park”) and Alaskan Park Properties, Inc. (“Alaska Denali Travel”). Brewster provides tourism products and experiential services in the Canadian Rockies in Alberta and in other parts of Western Canada. Brewster’s operations include the Banff Gondola, Columbia Icefield Glacier Adventure, Glacier Skywalk (opened May 1, 2014), motorcoach services, charter and sightseeing services, tour boat operations, inbound package tour operations and hotel operations. During 2013, Glacier Park, an 80 percent owned subsidiary of Viad, operated five lodges, three motor inns and one four-season resort hotel and provided food and beverage operations, retail operations and tour and transportation services in and around Glacier National Park in Montana and Waterton Lakes National Park in Alberta, Canada. Glacier Park’s concession contract with the U.S. National Park Service (the “Park Service”) for Glacier National Park expired on December 31, 2013. The ongoing operations of Glacier Park as of January 1, 2014 include: Glacier Park Lodge in East Glacier, Montana; Grouse Mountain Lodge in Whitefish, Montana; St. Mary Lodge in St. Mary, Montana; Motel Lake McDonald, an in-holding within Glacier National Park; and the Prince of Wales Hotel in Waterton Lakes National Park. Alaska Denali Travel operates the Denali Backcountry Lodge and Denali Cabins. In addition to lodging, Alaska Denali Travel also provides food and beverage operations and package tour and transportation services in and around Denali National Park and Preserve.

With regard to Glacier Park’s concession operations within Glacier National Park, refer to Note 20, Discontinued Operations for further discussion.