Income Per Share - Reconciliation of Basic and Diluted Income Per Share (Details) - USD ($) $ / shares in Units, shares in Thousands, $ in Thousands		3 Months Ended		9 Months Ended
		Sep. 30, 2016	Sep. 30, 2015	Sep. 30, 2016	Sep. 30, 2015
Numerator:
Net income attributable to Viad (diluted)		$ 33,792	$ 7,230	$ 46,318	$ 27,563
Less: Allocation to non-vested shares		(454)	(100)	(629)	(402)
Net income allocated to Viad common stockholders (basic)		$ 33,338	$ 7,130	$ 45,689	$ 27,161
Denominator:
Basic weighted-average outstanding common shares		20,017	19,831	19,972	19,782
Additional dilutive shares related to share-based compensation		190	143	178	164
Diluted weighted-average outstanding shares		20,207	19,974	20,150	19,946
Basic income attributable to Viad common stockholders		$ 1.67	$ 0.36	$ 2.29	$ 1.37
Diluted income attributable to Viad common stockholders	[1]	$ 1.67	$ 0.36	$ 2.29	$ 1.37

[1] Diluted income per share amount cannot exceed basic income per share.