Debt and Capital Lease Obligations - Narrative (Details) - USD ($) $ in Thousands				9 Months Ended
		Dec. 28, 2016	Dec. 22, 2014	Sep. 30, 2017	Sep. 30, 2016	Dec. 31, 2016
Line of Credit Facility [Line Items]
Leverage ratio				126.00%
Fixed charge coverage ratio				318.00%
Total debt and capital lease obligations				$ 185,201		$ 249,211
Revolving Credit Facility, Balance Outstanding	[1]			184,688		212,750
Capital lease obligations, total				1,584		1,469
Remaining borrowing capacity on line of credit				68,700
Letters of credit outstanding				1,300
Unamortized debt issuance cost				1,071		1,464
Maximum potential amount of future payments				$ 7,500
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				$ 179,800		252,800
Cash paid for interest on debt				5,500	$ 3,700
Revolving Credit Facility
Line of Credit Facility [Line Items]
Revolving Credit Facility, Balance Outstanding				$ 105,000
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, Balance Outstanding				$ 79,700
Brewster Inc. Revolving Credit Facility
Line of Credit Facility [Line Items]
Borrowing capacity on line of credit		$ 38,000
Maturity date		Dec. 28, 2017
Maturity date extension period		1 year
Revolving Credit Facility, Balance Outstanding	[1]					$ 36,456
Remaining borrowing capacity on line of credit				$ 38,000
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 facilities and term loan borrowings, including any applicable margin. The interest rates do not include amortization of debt issuance costs or commitment fees.