Income Per Share - Reconciliation of Basic and Diluted Income Per Share (Details) - USD ($) $ / shares in Units, shares in Thousands, $ in Thousands	3 Months Ended								12 Months Ended
	Dec. 31, 2017	Sep. 30, 2017	Jun. 30, 2017	Mar. 31, 2017	Dec. 31, 2016	Sep. 30, 2016	Jun. 30, 2016	Mar. 31, 2016	Dec. 31, 2017	Dec. 31, 2016	Dec. 31, 2015
Numerator:
Net income attributable to Viad (diluted)	$ (21,674)	$ 44,657	$ 27,947	$ 6,777	$ (4,049)	$ 33,792	$ 19,509	$ (6,983)	$ 57,707	$ 42,269	$ 26,606
Less: Allocation to non-vested shares									(700)	(571)	(385)
Net income allocated to Viad common stockholders (basic)									$ 57,007	$ 41,698	$ 26,221
Denominator:
Basic weighted-average outstanding common shares									20,146	19,990	19,797
Additional dilutive shares related to share-based compensation									259	187	184
Diluted weighted-average outstanding shares									20,405	20,177	19,981
Basic income attributable to Viad common stockholders									$ 2.83	$ 2.09	$ 1.32
Diluted income attributable to Viad common stockholders									$ 2.83	$ 2.09	$ 1.32