Income (Loss) Per Share - Reconciliation of Basic and Diluted Income (loss) Per Share (Details) - USD ($) $ / shares in Units, shares in Thousands, $ in Thousands		12 Months Ended
		Dec. 31, 2021	Dec. 31, 2020	Dec. 31, 2019
Numerator:
Net income (loss) attributable to Viad (diluted)		$ (92,655)	$ (374,094)	$ 22,035
Less: Allocation to participating securities				(147)
Dividends on convertible preferred stock		(7,721)	(3,006)
Adjustment to the redemption value of redeemable noncontrolling interest		(1,797)	(926)	(1,318)
Net income (loss) allocated to Viad common stockholders (basic)		(102,173)	(378,026)	20,570
Add: Allocation to participating securities
Net income (loss) allocated to Viad common stockholders (diluted)		$ (102,173)	$ (378,026)	$ 20,570
Denominator:
Basic weighted-average outstanding common shares		20,411	20,279	20,146
Additional dilutive shares related to share-based compensation				138
Diluted weighted-average outstanding shares		20,411	20,279	20,284
Basic income (loss) attributable to Viad common stockholders		$ (5.01)	$ (18.64)	$ 1.02
Diluted income (loss) attributable to Viad common stockholders	[1]	$ (5.01)	$ (18.64)	$ 1.02
Paid in Cash
Numerator:
Dividends on convertible preferred stock		$ (3,900)
Paid in Kind
Numerator:
Dividends on convertible preferred stock		$ (3,821)	$ (3,006)

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