Pension and Postretirement Benefits (Details 8) (USD $) In Thousands, unless otherwise specified	12 Months Ended
Dec. 31, 2012	Dec. 31, 2011	Dec. 31, 2010
Multi-employer pension plans
Viad Contribution	$ 20,669	$ 19,601	$ 15,349
Western Conference of Teamsters Pension Plan [Member]
Multi-employer pension plans
EIN	916145047
Plan No:	001
Pension Protection Act Zone Status	Green
FIP/RP Status Pending/ Implemented	No
Viad Contribution	5,694	5,720	4,551
Surcharge Paid	No
Collective bargaining agreements expiration date, first	Nov. 30, 2013
Collective bargaining agreements expiration date, last	Mar. 31, 2015
Southern California Local 831 - Employer Pension Fund (1) [Member]
Multi-employer pension plans
EIN	956376874
Plan No:	001
Pension Protection Act Zone Status	Green
FIP/RP Status Pending/ Implemented	No
Viad Contribution	2,358	2,232	1,870
Surcharge Paid	No
Collective bargaining agreements expiration date	Aug. 31, 2014
National Electrical Benefit Fund [Member]
Multi-employer pension plans
EIN	530181657
Plan No:	001
Pension Protection Act Zone Status	Green
FIP/RP Status Pending/ Implemented	No
Viad Contribution	1,814	1,691	1,313
Surcharge Paid	No
Collective bargaining agreements expiration date, first	May 31, 2014
Collective bargaining agreements expiration date, last	Jun. 16, 2014
Chicago Regional Council of Carpenters Pension Fund (2) [Member]
Multi-employer pension plans
EIN	366130207
Plan No:	001
Pension Protection Act Zone Status	Yellow
FIP/RP Status Pending/ Implemented	Implemented
Viad Contribution	1,749	1,411	1,018
Surcharge Paid	No
Collective bargaining agreements expiration date, first	May 31, 2013
Collective bargaining agreements expiration date, last	May 31, 2014
Southwest Carpenters Pension Trust [Member]
Multi-employer pension plans
EIN	956042875
Plan No:	001
Pension Protection Act Zone Status	Green
FIP/RP Status Pending/ Implemented	No
Viad Contribution	944	1,031	867
Surcharge Paid	No
Collective bargaining agreements expiration date	Jun. 30, 2015
Machinery Movers Riggers & Mach Erectors Local 136 supplemental Retirement Plan [Member]
Multi-employer pension plans
EIN	361416355
Plan No:	001
Pension Protection Act Zone Status	Red
FIP/RP Status Pending/ Implemented	Implemented
Viad Contribution	930	386	710
Surcharge Paid	No
Collective bargaining agreements expiration date	Jun. 30, 2014
Central States, Southeast and Southwest Areas Pension Plan [Member]
Multi-employer pension plans
EIN	366044243
Plan No:	001
Pension Protection Act Zone Status	Red
FIP/RP Status Pending/ Implemented	Implemented
Viad Contribution	874	725	717
Surcharge Paid	No
Collective bargaining agreements expiration date, first	Mar. 31, 2013
Collective bargaining agreements expiration date, last	Jul. 31, 2015
New England Teamsters & trucking Industry Pension [Member]
Multi-employer pension plans
EIN	046372430
Plan No:	001
Pension Protection Act Zone Status	Red
FIP/RP Status Pending/ Implemented	Implemented
Viad Contribution	334	339	290
Surcharge Paid	No
Collective bargaining agreements expiration date	Mar. 31, 2017
Steelworkers Pension Trust [Member]
Multi-employer pension plans
EIN	236648508
Plan No:	499
Pension Protection Act Zone Status	Green
FIP/RP Status Pending/ Implemented	No
Viad Contribution	326	422	425
Surcharge Paid	No
Collective bargaining agreements expiration date, first	Mar. 31, 2013
Collective bargaining agreements expiration date, last	Feb. 28, 2015
All other funds [Member]
Multi-employer pension plans
Viad Contribution	3,645	3,752	2,119
Total contribution to defined benefit plans [Member]
Multi-employer pension plans
Viad Contribution	18,668	17,709	13,880
Total contributions to other plans [Member]
Multi-employer pension plans
Viad Contribution	$ 2,001	$ 1,892	$ 1,469

The Tax Identification Number (TIN), also known as an Employer Identification Number (EIN), is a unique 9-digit value assigned by the IRS.

Reference 1: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef

-Publisher SEC

-Name Regulation 12B

-Number 240

-Section 12b

-Subsection 1

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Three digit plan number for a pension or postretirement benefit plan to which two or more unrelated employers contribute where assets contributed by one participating employer may be used to provide benefits to employees of other participating employers.

+ References

Reference 1: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef

-Publisher FASB

-Name Accounting Standards Codification

-Topic 715

-SubTopic 80

-Section 50

-Paragraph 5

-Subparagraph (b)

-URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=14450570&loc=SL14450657-114947

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Amount of contributions made to multiemployer plans by the employer. A multiemployer plan is a pension or postretirement benefit plan to which two or more unrelated employers contribute where assets contributed by one participating employer may be used to provide benefits to employees of other participating employers.

+ References

Reference 1: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef

-Publisher FASB

-Name Accounting Standards Codification

-Topic 715

-SubTopic 80

-Section 50

-Paragraph 11

-URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=14450570&loc=SL14450702-114947

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-Name Accounting Standards Codification

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-SubTopic 80

-Section 50

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Indicate the multiemployer plan's certified zone status as currently required by the Pension Protection Act of 2006 or a subsequent amendment thereof. The zone status categories are red (critical status), orange (seriously endangered), yellow (endangered), and green (none of the above). The acceptable values are "red", "orange", "yellow", "green", "other", and "NA". A multiemployer plan is a pension or postretirement benefit plan to which two or more unrelated employers contribute where assets contributed by one participating employer may be used to provide benefits to employees of other participating employers.

+ References

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-Publisher FASB

-Name Accounting Standards Codification

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-SubTopic 80

-Section 50

-Paragraph 5

-Subparagraph (c)

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Expiration date of the collective bargaining arrangement requiring contributions to the multiemployer plan, in CCYY-MM-DD format. A multiemployer plan is a pension or postretirement benefit plan to which two or more unrelated employers contribute where assets contributed by one participating employer may be used to provide benefits to employees of other participating employers.

+ References

Reference 1: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef

-Publisher FASB

-Name Accounting Standards Codification

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-SubTopic 80

-Section 50

-Paragraph 5

-Subparagraph (d)

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Expiration date of the collective bargaining arrangement requiring contributions to the multiemployer plan that will expire first in a group of associated collective bargaining arrangements, in CCYY-MM-DD format. A multiemployer plan is a pension or postretirement benefit plan to which two or more unrelated employers contribute where assets contributed by one participating employer may be used to provide benefits to employees of other participating employers.

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-Section 50

-Paragraph 5

-Subparagraph (d)

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Expiration date of the collective bargaining arrangement requiring contributions to the multiemployer plan that will expire last in a group of associated collective bargaining arrangements, in CCYY-MM-DD format. A multiemployer plan is a pension or postretirement benefit plan to which two or more unrelated employers contribute where assets contributed by one participating employer may be used to provide benefits to employees of other participating employers.

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-Paragraph 5

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- Definition

Indicate whether a funding improvement plan or rehabilitation plan has been implemented or is pending for a pension or postretirement benefit plan to which two or more unrelated employers contribute where assets contributed by one participating employer may be used to provide benefits to employees of other participating employers. The acceptable values are "no", "pending", "implemented", "other", and "NA".

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-Publisher FASB

-Name Accounting Standards Codification

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Indicate whether the employer paid a surcharge to the pension or postretirement benefit plan to which two or more unrelated employers contribute where assets contributed by one participating employer may be used to provide benefits to employees of other participating employers. The acceptable values are "no", "yes", and "NA".

+ References

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-Publisher FASB

-Name Accounting Standards Codification

-Topic 715

-SubTopic 80

-Section 50

-Paragraph 5

-Subparagraph (f)(2)

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