Stockholders' Equity - Reconciliation of Stockholders' Equity to Noncontrolling Interests (Details) - USD ($) $ in Thousands		3 Months Ended		9 Months Ended
		Sep. 30, 2016	Sep. 30, 2015	Sep. 30, 2016	Sep. 30, 2015
Noncontrolling Interest [Line Items]
Beginning Balance				$ 335,338	$ 347,702
Net income		$ 33,792	$ 7,230	46,318	27,563
Net income attributable to noncontrolling interest		992	688	765	515
Net income		34,784	7,918	47,083	28,078
Dividends on common stock				(6,079)	(6,020)
Common stock purchased for treasury				(679)	(4,776)
Employee benefit plans				4,693	5,243
Unrealized foreign currency translation adjustment	[1]	(3,849)	(11,491)	723	(23,117)
Tax benefits from share-based compensation				60	13
Other changes to AOCI				162	209
Other				28	(1)
Ending Balance		381,329	347,331	381,329	347,331
Non-Controlling Interest
Noncontrolling Interest [Line Items]
Beginning Balance				12,757	12,315
Net income attributable to noncontrolling interest				765	515
Other					(1)
Ending Balance		13,522	12,829	13,522	12,829
Total Viad Equity
Noncontrolling Interest [Line Items]
Beginning Balance				322,581	335,387
Net income				46,318	27,563
Dividends on common stock				(6,079)	(6,020)
Common stock purchased for treasury				(679)	(4,776)
Employee benefit plans				4,693	5,243
Unrealized foreign currency translation adjustment				723	(23,117)
Tax benefits from share-based compensation				60	13
Other changes to AOCI				162	209
Other				28
Ending Balance		$ 367,807	$ 334,502	$ 367,807	$ 334,502

[1] The tax effect on other comprehensive income (loss) is not significant.