Pension and Postretirement Benefits (Tables)

12 Months Ended

Dec. 31, 2012

Defined Benefit Plan Disclosure [Line Items]

Components of net periodic benefit cost and other amounts recognized in other comprehensive income of Viad's postretirement benefit plans

	2012			2011			2010
	(in thousands)
Net Periodic Benefit Cost
Service cost	$	104		$	121		$	145
Interest cost		1,150			1,189			1,242
Expected return on plan assets		(406	)		(563	)		(588	)
Amortization of prior service cost		—			—			41
Recognized net actuarial loss		491			457			572
Net periodic benefit cost		1,339			1,204			1,412
Other Changes in Plan Assets and Benefit Obligations Recognized in Other Comprehensive Income
Net actuarial loss		1,942			1,589			1,190
Reversal of amortization item:
Net actuarial loss		(491	)		(457	)		(572	)
Prior service cost		—			—			(41	)
Total recognized in other comprehensive income		1,451			1,132			577
Total recognized in net periodic benefit cost and other comprehensive income	$	2,790		$	2,336		$	1,989

	2012			2011			2010
	(in thousands)
Net Periodic Benefit Cost
Service cost	$	146		$	128		$	130
Interest cost		814			868			1,039
Expected return on plan assets		(74	)		(135	)		(160	)
Amortization of prior service credit		(1,113	)		(1,277	)		(1,171	)
Recognized net actuarial loss		547			533			608
Net periodic benefit cost		320			117			446
Other Changes in Plan Assets and Benefit Obligations Recognized in Other Comprehensive Income
Net actuarial loss		224			24			421
Prior service credit		—			—			(1,197	)
Reversal of amortization item:
Net actuarial loss		(547	)		(533	)		(608	)
Prior service credit		1,113			1,277			1,171
Total recognized in other comprehensive income (loss)		790			768			(213	)
Total recognized in net periodic benefit cost and other comprehensive income	$	1,110		$	885		$	233

Summary of funded status of the plans

													Postretirement
	Funded Plans						Unfunded Plans						Benefit Plans
	2012			2011			2012			2011			2012			2011
	(in thousands)
Change in benefit obligation:
Benefit obligation at beginning of year	$	13,938		$	12,853		$	10,883		$	10,352		$	18,667		$	18,987
Service cost		—			—			104			121			146			128
Interest cost		659			678			491			511			814			868
Actuarial adjustments		1,419			1,157			799			609			250			106
Plan amendments		—			—			—			—			—			—
Benefits paid		(668	)		(750	)		(707	)		(710	)		(1,176	)		(1,422	)
Benefit obligation at end of year		15,348			13,938			11,570			10,883			18,701			18,667
Change in plan assets:
Fair value of plan assets at beginning of year		9,846			8,858			—			—			2,118			2,678
Actual return on plan assets		683			741			—			—			100			217
Company contributions		763			997			707			710			355			645
Benefits paid		(668	)		(750	)		(707	)		(710	)		(1,176	)		(1,422	)
Fair value of plan assets at end of year		10,624			9,846			—			—			1,397			2,118
Funded status at end of year	$	(4,724	)	$	(4,092	)	$	(11,570	)	$	(10,883	)	$	(17,304	)	$	(16,549	)

Fair value of the domestic plans' assets by asset class

			Fair Value Measurements at December 31, 2012
					Significant
			Quoted Prices		Other		Significant
			in Active		Observable		Unobserved
			Markets		Inputs		Inputs
Description	Total		(Level 1)		(Level 2)		(Level 3)
	(in thousands)
Domestic Pension Plans:
Cash	$	10,401	$	10,401	$	—	$	—
Other		223		—		223		—
	$	10,624	$	10,401	$	223	$	—
Postretirement Benefit Plans:
Cash	$	1,397	$	1,397	$	—	$	—

			Fair Value Measurements at December 31, 2011
					Significant
			Quoted Prices		Other		Significant
			in Active		Observable		Unobserved
			Markets		Inputs		Inputs
Description	Total		(Level 1)		(Level 2)		(Level 3)
	(in thousands)
Domestic Pension Plans:
U.S. equity securities	$	2,849	$	—	$	2,849	$	—
International equity securities		914		—		914		—
Aggregate fixed income securities		2,373		—		2,373		—
Long-term fixed income securities		3,412		—		3,412		—
Cash		72		72		—		—
Other		226		—		226		—
	$	9,846	$	72	$	9,774	$	—
Postretirement Benefit Plans:
U.S. equity securities	$	283	$	—	$	283	$	—
International equity securities		89		—		89		—
Aggregate fixed income securities		1,034		—		1,034		—
Long-term fixed income securities		490		—		490		—
Cash		222		222		—		—
	$	2,118	$	222	$	1,896	$	—

Payments and receipts reflecting expected future service

	Funded		Unfunded
	Plans		Plans
	(in thousands)
2013	$	385	$	219
2014		492		218
2015		612		218
2016		616		217
2017		619		216
2018-2022		3,707		1,066

Amounts recognized in accumulated other comprehensive income

	Funded			Unfunded			Postretirement
	Plans			Plans			Benefit Plans			Total
	(in thousands)
Net actuarial loss	$	9,052		$	4,548		$	6,706		$	20,306
Prior service credit		—			—			(2,900	)		(2,900	)
Subtotal		9,052			4,548			3,806			17,406
Less tax effect		(3,433	)		(1,725	)		(1,443	)		(6,601	)
Total	$	5,619		$	2,823		$	2,363		$	10,805

Amounts recognized in accumulated other comprehensive income as of December 31, 2011 consisted of:

	Funded			Unfunded			Postretirement
	Plans			Plans			Benefit Plans			Total
	(in thousands)
Net actuarial loss	$	8,238		$	3,911		$	7,029		$	19,178
Prior service credit		—			—			(4,013	)		(4,013	)
Subtotal		8,238			3,911			3,016			15,165
Less tax effect		(3,146	)		(1,493	)		(1,153	)		(5,792	)
Total	$	5,092		$	2,418		$	1,863		$	9,373

Net amount recognized in Viad's consolidated balance sheets

									Postretirement
	Funded Plans				Unfunded Plans				Benefit Plans
	2012		2011		2012		2011		2012		2011
	(in thousands)
Other current liabilities	$	—	$	—	$	816	$	717	$	392	$	440
Non-current liabilities		4,724		4,092		10,754		10,166		16,912		16,109
Net amount recognized	$	4,724	$	4,092	$	11,570	$	10,883	$	17,304	$	16,549

Accumulated benefit obligation in excess of plan assets

	Domestic Plans
	Funded Plans				Unfunded Plans
	2012		2011		2012		2011
	(in thousands)
Projected benefit obligation	$	15,348	$	13,938	$	11,570	$	10,883
Accumulated benefit obligation		15,348		13,938		11,322		10,589
Fair value of plan assets		10,624		9,846		—		—

	Foreign Plans
	Funded Plans				Unfunded Plans
	2012		2011		2012		2011
	(in thousands)
Projected benefit obligation	$	15,387	$	13,141	$	3,032	$	2,939
Accumulated benefit obligation		14,307		12,049		3,032		2,939
Fair value of plan assets		12,997		11,028		—		—

Weighted-average assumptions used to determine benefit obligations

	Domestic Plans
	Funded Plans						Unfunded Plans						Postretirement Benefit Plans						Foreign Plans
	2012			2011			2012			2011			2012			2011			2012			2011
Discount rate		4.11	%		4.92	%		3.80	%		4.75	%		3.85	%		4.70	%		4.06	%		4.60	%
Rate of compensation increase		N/A			N/A			4.50	%		4.50	%		N/A			N/A			3.00	%		3.00	%

	Domestic Plans
													Postretirement
	Funded Plans						Unfunded Plans						Benefit Plans						Foreign Plans
	2012			2011			2012			2011			2012			2011			2012			2011
Discount rate		4.93	%		5.45	%		4.75	%		5.10	%		4.70	%		5.10	%		4.65	%		5.10	%
Expected return on plan assets		4.20	%		6.35	%		N/A			N/A			4.65	%		6.10	%		5.45	%		5.50	%
Rate of compensation increase		N/A			N/A			4.50	%		4.50	%		N/A			N/A			3.00	%		3.00	%

Multi-employer pension plans

			Plan		Pension Protection Act Zone Status		FIP/RP Status Pending/		Viad Contributions						Surcharge		Expiration Date of Collective- Bargaining
Pension Fund	EIN		No.		2012	2011	Implemented		2012		2011		2010		Paid		Agreement(s)
											(in thousands)
Western Conference of Teamsters Pension Plan		91-6145047		001	Green	Green		No	$	5,694	$	5,720	$	4,551		No		11/30/13 to 3/31/15
Southern California Local 831—Employer Pension Fund (1)		95-6376874		001	Green	Green		No		2,358		2,232		1,870		No		8/31/2014
National Electrical Benefit Fund		53-0181657		001	Green	Green		No		1,814		1,691		1,313		No		5/31/14 to 6/16/14
Chicago Regional Council of Carpenters Pension Fund (2)		36-6130207		001	Yellow	Yellow		Yes		1,749		1,411		1,018		No		5/31/13 to 5/31/14
Southwest Carpenters Pension Trust		95-6042875		001	Green	Green		No		944		1,031		867		No		6/30/2015
Machinery Movers Riggers & Mach Erect Local 136 Supplemental Retirement Plan  (1) (2)		36-1416355		001	Red	Red		Yes		930		386		710		No		6/30/2014
Central States, Southeast and Southwest Areas Pension Plan		36-6044243		001	Red	Red		Yes		874		725		717		No		3/31/13 to 7/31/15
New England Teamsters & Trucking Industry Pension (3)		04-6372430		001	Red	Red		Yes		334		339		290		No		3/31/2017
Steelworkers Pension Trust		23-6648508		499	Green	Green		No		326		422		425		No		3/31/13 to 2/28/15
All other funds (4)										3,645		3,752		2,119
Total contributions to defined benefit plans										18,668		17,709		13,880
Total contributions to other plans										2,001		1,892		1,469
Total contributions to multi-employer plans									$	20,669	$	19,601	$	15,349

Foreign Pension Plans [Member]

Defined Benefit Plan Disclosure [Line Items]

Components of net periodic benefit cost and other amounts recognized in other comprehensive income of Viad's postretirement benefit plans

	2012			2011			2010
	(in thousands)
Net Periodic Benefit Cost
Service cost	$	491		$	366		$	304
Interest cost		737			729			780
Expected return on plan assets		(622	)		(665	)		(597	)
Recognized net actuarial loss		201			73			54
Net periodic benefit cost		807			503			541
Other Changes in Plan Assets and Benefit Obligations Recognized in Other Comprehensive Income
Net actuarial loss		958			1,936			299
Reversal of amortization of net actuarial loss		(201	)		(73	)		(54	)
Total recognized in other comprehensive income		757			1,863			245
Total recognized in net periodic benefit cost and other comprehensive income	$	1,564		$	2,366		$	786

Summary of funded status of the plans

	Funded Plans						Unfunded Plans
	2012			2011			2012			2011
	(in thousands)
Change in benefit obligation:
Benefit obligation at beginning of year	$	13,141		$	11,453		$	2,939		$	2,929
Service cost		491			366			—			—
Interest cost		607			583			130			146
Actuarial adjustments		1,086			1,421			113			173
Benefits paid		(328	)		(351	)		(220	)		(231	)
Translation adjustment		390			(331	)		70			(78	)
Benefit obligation at end of year		15,387			13,141			3,032			2,939
Change in plan assets:
Fair value of plan assets at beginning of year		11,028			10,834			—			—
Actual return on plan assets		860			100			—			—
Company contributions		1,111			709			220			231
Benefits paid		(328	)		(351	)		(220	)		(231	)
Translation adjustment		326			(264	)		—			—
Fair value of plan assets at end of year		12,997			11,028			—			—
Funded status at end of year	$	(2,390	)	$	(2,113	)	$	(3,032	)	$	(2,939	)

Fair value of the domestic plans' assets by asset class

			Fair Value Measurements at December 31, 2012
Description	Total		Quoted Prices in Active Markets (Level 1)		Significant Other Observable Inputs (Level 2)		Significant Unobserved Inputs (Level 3)
	(in thousands)
U.S. equity securities	$	1,185	$	1,185	$	—	$	—
International equity securities		4,871		4,494		377		—
Canadian fixed income securities		6,744		6,744		—		—
Other		197		197		—		—
	$	12,997	$	12,620	$	377	$	—

			Fair Value Measurements at December 31, 2011
Description	Total		Quoted Prices in Active Markets (Level 1)		Significant Other Observable Inputs (Level 2)		Significant Unobserved Inputs (Level 3)
	(in thousands)
U.S. equity securities	$	977	$	977	$	—	$	—
International equity securities		3,995		3,639		356		—
Canadian fixed income securities		5,975		5,975		—		—
Other		81		81		—		—
	$	11,028	$	10,672	$	356	$	—

Payments and receipts reflecting expected future service

					Postretirement		Medicare
	Funded		Unfunded		Benefit		Part D Subsidy
	Plans		Plans		Plans		Receipts
	(in thousands)
2013	$	784	$	832	$	1,768	$	268
2014		762		810		1,760		272
2015		791		795		1,744		273
2016		737		771		1,719		273
2017		774		794		1,647		271
2018-2022		4,200		4,181		7,434		1,267