Litigation, Claims, Contingencies and Other - Narrative (Details) (USD $)	12 Months Ended
	Dec. 31, 2014 Agreement	Dec. 31, 2013	Dec. 31, 2012
Commitments and Contingencies Disclosure [Abstract]
Environmental remediation liability	$ 4,700,000	$ 5,000,000
Maximum potential amount of future payments	5,900,000
Guarantees relate to leased facilities expiry date	October 2017
Recourse provision to recover guarantees	0
Bargaining agreements	100
Percent of Viad's regular full-time employees are covered by collective-bargaining agreements	30.00%
Contribution to multi-employer pension plans	23,152,000	20,313,000	20,669,000
Self Insurance Reserve, General Liability	4,600,000
Loss Contingencies [Line Items]
Self Insurance Reserve	19,900,000
Workers' Compensation Liability	12,400,000
Self Insurance Reserve, General and Auto Insurance	7,500,000
Self Insurance Reserve	4,500,000
Payments for Self Insurance Claims, Net	4,800,000	6,600,000	5,600,000
Self-insured excess liability	7,728,000	5,009,000
Self Insurance Reserve, Workers Compensation	3,100,000
Maximum
Loss Contingencies [Line Items]
Insurance Liability, Per Claim, General Range	400,000.0
Minimum
Loss Contingencies [Line Items]
Insurance Liability, Per Claim, General Range	$ 200,000.0