Debt and Capital Lease Obligations - Narrative (Details) - USD ($) $ in Thousands				1 Months Ended	3 Months Ended	6 Months Ended
		Jan. 01, 2017	Dec. 22, 2014	Dec. 31, 2015	Jun. 30, 2016	Jun. 30, 2016
Line of Credit Facility [Line Items]
Fixed charge coverage ratio						211.00%
Leverage ratio						171.00%
Total debt and capital lease obligations				$ 127,403	$ 131,025	$ 131,025
Revolving credit facility and term loan 2.5% and 2.4% weighted-average interest rate at June 30, 2016 and December 31, 2015, respectively, due through 2019	[1]			127,500	131,125	131,125
Capital lease obligations, 6.2% and 6.1% weighted-average interest rate at June 30, 2016 and December 31, 2015, respectively, due through 2018				1,475	1,571	1,571
Remaining borrowing capacity on line of credit					145,700	145,700
Letters of credit outstanding					1,300	1,300
Unamortized debt issuance costs	[2]			1,572	1,671	1,671
Maximum potential amount of future payments					9,000	$ 9,000
Recourse provisions						There are no recourse provisions that would enable Viad to recover from third parties any payments made under the guarantees
Fair value of debt				113,900	122,300	$ 122,300
Maximum | Acquisitions Consummated on or Prior to December 31, 2015
Line of Credit Facility [Line Items]
Leverage ratio			300.00%
Revolving Credit Facility
Line of Credit Facility [Line Items]
Revolving credit facility and term loan 2.5% and 2.4% weighted-average interest rate at June 30, 2016 and December 31, 2015, respectively, due through 2019					28,000	$ 28,000
Commitment fee percentage on line of credit						0.35%
Collateral on line of credit						Furthermore, there are no collateral or similar arrangements whereby Viad could recover payments
Term Loan
Line of Credit Facility [Line Items]
Revolving credit facility and term loan 2.5% and 2.4% weighted-average interest rate at June 30, 2016 and December 31, 2015, respectively, due through 2019					$ 103,100	$ 103,100
Amended and Restated Credit Agreement
Line of Credit Facility [Line Items]
Maturity date			Dec. 22, 2019
Annual share repurchase limit				20,000
Amended and Restated Credit Agreement | Minimum
Line of Credit Facility [Line Items]
Fixed charge coverage ratio			175.00%		350.00%
Amended and Restated Credit Agreement | Maximum
Line of Credit Facility [Line Items]
Leverage ratio			300.00%
Amended and Restated Credit Agreement | Maximum | Scenario Forecast
Line of Credit Facility [Line Items]
Leverage ratio		250.00%
Amended and Restated Credit Agreement | Senior Credit Facility
Line of Credit Facility [Line Items]
Borrowing capacity on line of credit			$ 300,000
Amended and Restated Credit Agreement | Revolving Credit Facility
Line of Credit Facility [Line Items]
Borrowing capacity on line of credit			175,000
Additional borrowing capacity on line of credit			100,000
Line of Credit borrowings used to support letter of credit			40,000
Amended and Restated Credit Agreement | Term Loan
Line of Credit Facility [Line Items]
Borrowing capacity on line of credit			$ 125,000
Credit Agreement Amendment
Line of Credit Facility [Line Items]
Maximum leverage ratio for acquisition						300.00%
Leverage ratio required for dividend or share activity						250.00%
Maximum leverage ratio for unsecured debt						300.00%
Annual share repurchase limit on leverage ratio basis				$ 20,000
Credit Agreement Amendment | Minimum
Line of Credit Facility [Line Items]
Fixed charge coverage ratio						175.00%
Credit Agreement Amendment | Maximum
Line of Credit Facility [Line Items]
Leverage ratio						350.00%
Top Tier Foreign Subsidiaries | Amended and Restated Credit Agreement
Line of Credit Facility [Line Items]
Percent of lenders security interest on capital stock foreign subsidiary				65.00%

[1] Represents the weighted-average interest rate in effect at the respective periods for the revolving credit facility and term loan borrowings, including any applicable margin. The interest rates do not include amortization of debt issuance costs or commitment fees.

[2] In accordance with ASU 2015-03, unamortized debt issuance costs are reflected as a direct deduction from the carrying amount of the related debt. The Company applied the new guidance retrospectively to all prior periods presented in the condensed consolidated financial statements. As a result, $1.6 million of unamortized debt issuance costs were reclassified from other investments and assets to a reduction in long-term debt on the December 31, 2015 condensed consolidated balance sheet.