Debt and Capital Lease Obligations - Narrative (Details) - USD ($) $ in Thousands			9 Months Ended
		Dec. 22, 2014	Sep. 30, 2016	Dec. 31, 2015
Line of Credit Facility [Line Items]
Fixed charge coverage ratio			281.00%
Leverage ratio			161.00%
Total debt and capital lease obligations			$ 194,475	$ 127,403
Revolving credit facility and term loan 2.6% and 2.4% weighted-average interest rate at September 30, 2016 and December 31, 2015, respectively, due through 2019	[1]		194,438	127,500
Capital lease obligations, 6.2% and 6.1% weighted-average interest rate at September 30, 2016 and December 31, 2015, respectively, due through 2018			1,589	1,475
Remaining borrowing capacity on line of credit			77,700
Letters of credit outstanding			1,300
Unamortized debt issuance costs	[2]		1,552	1,572
Maximum potential amount of future payments			$ 9,900
Guarantees relate to facilities leased by the company			2021-09
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			$ 186,000	$ 113,900
Revolving Credit Facility
Line of Credit Facility [Line Items]
Revolving credit facility and term loan 2.6% and 2.4% weighted-average interest rate at September 30, 2016 and December 31, 2015, respectively, due through 2019			$ 96,000
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 2.6% and 2.4% weighted-average interest rate at September 30, 2016 and December 31, 2015, respectively, due through 2019			$ 98,400
Amended and Restated Credit Agreement
Line of Credit Facility [Line Items]
Maturity date		Dec. 22, 2019
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 | Maximum
Line of Credit Facility [Line Items]
Leverage ratio			350.00%
Credit Agreement Amendment | Minimum
Line of Credit Facility [Line Items]
Fixed charge coverage ratio			175.00%
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.