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, 2018	Sep. 30, 2017	Sep. 30, 2018	Sep. 30, 2017
Numerator:
Net income		$ 37,389	$ 44,657	$ 51,492	$ 79,381
Less: Allocation to non-vested shares		(338)	(539)	(493)	(993)
Adjustment to the redemption value of redeemable noncontrolling interest		(84)		(174)
Net income allocated to Viad common stockholders (basic)		$ 36,967	$ 44,118	$ 50,825	$ 78,388
Denominator:
Basic weighted-average outstanding common shares		20,145	20,166	20,187	20,130
Additional dilutive shares related to share-based compensation		242	270	240	252
Diluted weighted-average outstanding shares		20,387	20,436	20,427	20,382
Basic income attributable to Viad common stockholders		$ 1.84	$ 2.19	$ 2.52	$ 3.89
Diluted income attributable to Viad common stockholders(1)	[1]	$ 1.83	$ 2.19	$ 2.51	$ 3.89

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