Exhibit 99.1



           Isabella Cunningham Elected to Viad Corp Board of Directors

     PHOENIX--(BUSINESS WIRE)--Dec. 7, 2005--Dr. Isabella Cunningham, a
professor of advertising and communications, has been elected to the board of
directors of Viad Corp (NYSE:VVI) it was announced by Robert H. Bohannon, Viad's
chairman, president and chief executive officer. With the election of
Cunningham, the Viad board will have nine directors.
     Bohannon said, "We are extremely pleased to have someone with Dr.
Cunningham's expertise in the areas of advertising and marketing join our board.
Her work in the academic and communication research arenas and her many years of
community service will be a great asset."
     Cunningham is the Ernest A. Sharpe Centennial Professor in communications
and also chairs the department of advertising at The University of Texas at
Austin. During her illustrious career, Cunningham has authored and co-authored
several books and numerous articles on consumer behavior, marketing and global
advertising. She has been active on many university committees and a member of
several professional and honorary associations and editorial boards. Considered
an expert witness in advertising and promotional communications, Cunningham has
done extensive legal consulting throughout the United States in regional and
federal cases involving advertising. She has additionally been appointed to
several commissions and committees related to state and regional activities of
government and non-profit agencies.
     Cunningham has served on the board of trustees or board of directors for
numerous organizations, including the National Museum of Natural History
(Smithsonian) and the Susan G. Komen Breast Cancer Foundation. She is currently
a member of the St. Edward's University board of trustees and the boards of
directors of the Texas Medical Association Foundation and The Children's Defense
Fund of Texas, and many others. Cunningham has also served on numerous corporate
boards, including Cornell Companies, DuPont Photomasks, Inc., and Franklin
Federal Bancorp as well as the advisory boards of Franklin Federal's successors
Norwest Bank and Wells Fargo Bank.
     Cunningham holds a master's degree in marketing and jurisprudence doctorate
degree from universities in Sao Paulo, Brazil. After coming to the United States
in 1966 she earned master's and doctorate degrees in marketing from Michigan
State University.
     Viad is an S&P SmallCap 600 company. Major subsidiaries include GES
Exposition Services of Las Vegas, Exhibitgroup/Giltspur of Chicago, Brewster
Transport Company Limited of Banff, Alberta, Canada, and Glacier Park, Inc. of
Phoenix. For more information, visit the company's Web site at www.viad.com.

     CONTACT: Viad Corp, Phoenix
              Angela Phoenix, 602-207-5608
              aphoenix@viad.com