CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF STOCKHOLDERS' EQUITY AND MEZZANINE 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	Mezzanine Equity Redeemable Non Controlling Interest	Convertible Series A Preferred Stock
Beginning Balance at Dec. 31, 2017	$ 442,937	$ 37,402	$ 574,458	$ 65,836	$ 218	$ (22,568)	$ (226,215)	$ 429,131	$ 13,806	$ 6,648
Increase Decrease In Stockholders' Equity Roll Forward
Net income (loss)	49,712			49,170				49,170	542	(317)
Dividends on common stock	(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	(24,306)					(24,306)		(24,306)		(673)
Amortization of net actuarial gain (loss), net of tax	1,236					1,236		1,236
Amortization of prior service cost, net of tax	(153)					(153)		(153)
Adoption of ASU | ASU 2016-01				616		(616)
Adoption of ASU | Accounting Standards Update 2018-02 [Member]				1,568		(1,568)
Other, net	(85)		(63)	(4)	(19)		1	(85)		251
Ending Balance at Dec. 31, 2018	450,555	37,402	575,339	109,032	199	(47,975)	(237,790)	436,207	14,348	5,909
Increase Decrease In Stockholders' Equity Roll Forward
Net income (loss)	24,344			22,035				22,035	2,309	(821)
Dividends on common stock	(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	13,613					12,533		12,533	1,080	(234)
Amortization of net actuarial gain (loss), net of tax	(116)					(116)		(116)
Amortization of prior service cost, net of tax	(141)					(141)		(141)
Acquisitions	62,401								62,401
Other, net	(165)		38	(2)	$ (199)		(2)	(165)		1,318
Ending Balance at Dec. 31, 2019	547,229	37,402	574,473	122,971		(35,699)	(231,649)	467,498	79,731	6,172
Increase Decrease In Stockholders' Equity Roll Forward
Net income (loss)	(375,470)			(374,094)				(374,094)	(1,376)	(1,482)
Dividends on common stock	(2,038)			(2,038)				(2,038)
Issuance of Series A convertible preferred stock											$ 125,763
Dividends on convertible preferred stock	(3,006)		(3,006)					(3,006)			3,006
Distributions to noncontrolling interest	(1,526)								(1,526)
Payment of payroll taxes on stock-based compensation through shares withheld	(1,688)						(1,688)	(1,688)
Common stock purchased for treasury	(2,785)						(2,785)	(2,785)
Employee benefit plans	2,479		(7,901)				10,380	2,479
Share-based compensation - equity awards	4,444		4,444					4,444
Unrealized foreign currency translation adjustment	8,428					7,113		7,113	1,315	(390)
Amortization of net actuarial gain (loss), net of tax	(1,955)					(1,955)		(1,955)
Amortization of prior service cost, net of tax	(100)					(100)		(100)
Other, net	87		90	(3)				87		925
Ending Balance at Dec. 31, 2020	$ 174,099	$ 37,402	$ 568,100	$ (253,164)		$ (30,641)	$ (225,742)	$ 95,955	$ 78,144	$ 5,225	$ 128,769