Common and Preferred Stock - Narrative (Details) - USD ($) $ / shares in Units, $ in Thousands			12 Months Ended
	Aug. 05, 2020	Mar. 29, 2020	Dec. 31, 2020	Dec. 31, 2019	Dec. 31, 2018	Feb. 07, 2019
Class Of Stock [Line Items]
Junior participating preferred Stock, Authorized			2,000,000
Junior participating preferred Stock, Outstanding			0
Preferred Stock, Shares Authorized			5,000,000
Preferred Stock, Shares Outstanding			135,000
Preferred stock dividend rate percentage		10.00%
Frequency of periodic payment of cumulative dividend	quarterly
Common Stock Repurchases (Textual) [Abstract]
Authorized repurchase of additional shares						500,000
Repurchased shares			53,784	0	340,473
Shares remain available for repurchase			546,283
Common stock purchased for treasury			$ 2,800		$ 17,200
Dividends payable, date of record		Apr. 13, 2020
Preferred stock, voting rights		one preferred stock purchase right per each outstanding share of Viad common stock to purchase one one-hundredth of a share
Preferred stock exercise price		$ 115
Preferred stock, redemption price per share		$ 0.01
Preferred stock, redemption date		Feb. 28, 2021
Convertible Series A Preferred Stock
Class Of Stock [Line Items]
Preferred stock dividend rate percentage	5.50%
Frequency of periodic payment of cumulative dividend	quarterly
Convertible preferred stock conversion price per share	$ 21.25
Dividends paid in kind			$ 3,000
Crestview Partners | Convertible Series A Preferred Stock
Class Of Stock [Line Items]
Convertible Preferred Stock, Shares Issued upon Conversion	135,000
Preferred Stock, Par value	$ 0.01
Purchase price	$ 135,000
Shares issued, price per share	$ 1,000
Delayed draw commitment	$ 45,000
Capital raising expense	$ 9,200