CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF STOCKHOLDERS' EQUITY - USD ($) $ in Thousands		Total	Common Stock	Additional Capital	Retained Earnings (Deficit)	Unearned Employee Benefits and Other	Accumulated Other Comprehensive Income (Loss)		Common Stock in Treasury	Total Viad Equity	Non-Redeemable Non-Controlling Interest
Beginning Balance at Dec. 31, 2016		$ 370,638	$ 37,402	$ 573,841	$ 16,291	$ 172	$ (39,391)		$ (230,960)	$ 357,355	$ 13,283
Increase (Decrease) in Stockholders' Equity [Roll Forward]
Net income		58,230			57,707					57,707	523
Dividends on common stock ($0.40 per share)		(8,160)			(8,160)					(8,160)
Payment of payroll taxes on stock-based compensation through shares withheld		(2,119)							(2,119)	(2,119)
Employee benefit plans		4,177		(2,687)					6,864	4,177
Share-based compensation - equity awards		3,623		3,623						3,623
Unrealized foreign currency translation adjustment, net of tax		17,058					17,058			17,058
Unrealized gains on investments, net of tax effects of $0, $0, and $121		195					195			195
Change in net actuarial loss, net of tax effects of $(44), $305, and $163		344					344			344
Change in prior service cost, net of tax effects of $(48), $(52), and $(473)		(774)					(774)			(774)
Other, net		(275)		(319)	(2)	46				(275)
Ending Balance at Dec. 31, 2017		442,937	37,402	574,458	65,836	218	(22,568)		(226,215)	429,131	13,806
Increase (Decrease) in Stockholders' Equity [Roll Forward]
Net income		49,712			49,170					49,170	542
Dividends on common stock ($0.40 per share)		(8,154)			(8,154)					(8,154)
Payment of payroll taxes on stock-based compensation through shares withheld		(1,209)							(1,209)	(1,209)
Common stock purchased for treasury		(17,174)							(17,174)	(17,174)
Employee benefit plans		4,902		(1,905)					6,807	4,902
Share-based compensation - equity awards		2,849		2,849						2,849
Unrealized foreign currency translation adjustment, net of tax		(24,306)					(24,306)			(24,306)
Change in net actuarial loss, net of tax effects of $(44), $305, and $163		1,236					1,236			1,236
Change in prior service cost, net of tax effects of $(48), $(52), and $(473)		(153)					(153)			(153)
Adoption of ASU | ASU 2016-01					616		(616)	[1]
Adoption of ASU | Accounting Standards Update 2018-02	[2]						(1,568)
Adoption of ASU | Accounting Standards Update 2018-02					1,568		(1,568)
Other, net		(85)		(63)	(4)	(19)			1	(85)
Ending Balance at Dec. 31, 2018		450,555	37,402	575,339	109,032	199	(47,975)		(237,790)	436,207	14,348
Increase (Decrease) in Stockholders' Equity [Roll Forward]
Net income		24,344			22,035					22,035	2,309
Dividends on common stock ($0.40 per share)		(8,094)			(8,094)					(8,094)
Distributions to noncontrolling interest		(407)									(407)
Payment of payroll taxes on stock-based compensation through shares withheld		(3,046)							(3,046)	(3,046)
Employee benefit plans		5,530		(3,659)					9,189	5,530
Share-based compensation - equity awards		2,755		2,755						2,755
Unrealized foreign currency translation adjustment, net of tax		13,613					12,533			12,533	1,080
Change in net actuarial loss, net of tax effects of $(44), $305, and $163		(116)					(116)			(116)
Change in prior service cost, net of tax effects of $(48), $(52), and $(473)		(141)					(141)			(141)
Acquisitions		62,401									62,401
Other, net		(165)		38	(2)	$ (199)			(2)	(165)
Ending Balance at Dec. 31, 2019		$ 547,229	$ 37,402	$ 574,473	$ 122,971		$ (35,699)		$ (231,649)	$ 467,498	$ 79,731

[1] ^{(1) Upon the adoption of ASU 2016-01, Financial Instruments – Overall: Recognition and Measurement of Financial Assets and Financial Liabilities, we recorded a cumulative-effect adjustment from unrealized gains on investments to beginning retained earnings.}

[2] ^{Upon the adoption of ASU 2018-02, Income Statement – Reporting Comprehensive Income: Reclassification of Certain Tax Effects from Accumulated Other Comprehensive Income, we recorded a cumulative-effect adjustment from AOCI to beginning retained earnings.}