Income (Loss) Per Share - Reconciliation of Basic and Diluted Loss Per Share (Details) - USD ($) $ / shares in Units, $ in Thousands		3 Months Ended				9 Months Ended
		Sep. 30, 2021	Jun. 30, 2021	Mar. 31, 2021	Sep. 30, 2020	Sep. 30, 2021	Sep. 30, 2020
Numerator:
Net income (loss) attributable to Viad (diluted)		$ 15,067			$ (30,758)	$ (70,111)	$ (323,621)
Allocation to participating securities		3,141			0	0	0
Dividends on convertible preferred stock		(1,950)	$ (1,923)	$ (1,898)	(1,134)
Adjustment to the redemption value of redeemable noncontrolling interest		(488)			(468)	(1,091)	(926)
Net income (loss) allocated to Viad common stockholders (basic)		9,488			(32,360)	(76,973)	(325,681)
Allocation to participating securities		36
Net Income (Loss) Available to Common Stockholders, Diluted, Total		$ 9,524			$ (32,360)	$ (76,973)	$ (325,681)
Denominator:
Basic weighted-average outstanding common shares		20,420			20,293	20,396	20,263
Additional dilutive shares related to share-based compensation		322
Diluted weighted-average outstanding shares		20,742			20,293	20,396	20,263
Basic loss attributable to Viad common stockholders		$ 0.46			$ (1.59)	$ (3.77)	$ (16.07)
Diluted loss attributable to Viad common stockholders	[1]	$ 0.46			$ (1.59)	$ (3.77)	$ (16.07)
Paid in Cash
Numerator:
Dividends on convertible preferred stock		$ (1,950)			$ 0	$ (1,950)	$ 0
Paid in Kind
Numerator:
Dividends on convertible preferred stock					$ (1,134)	$ (3,821)	$ (1,134)

[1] Diluted loss per share amount cannot exceed basic loss per share