Income Taxes	9 Months Ended
Sep. 30, 2014
Income Tax Disclosure [Abstract]
Income Taxes	Income Taxes The effective tax rates for the nine months ended September 30, 2014 and 2013 were 1.8 percent and 29.8 percent, respectively. The income tax provisions were computed based on the Company’s estimated effective tax rate and forecasted income by jurisdiction expected to be applicable for the full fiscal year, including the impact of any unusual or infrequent items. The relatively low effective tax rates compared to the federal statutory rate of 35 percent were primarily due to foreign income which is taxed at lower rates. Additionally, 2014 was favorably impacted by the projected utilization of foreign tax credit carryforwards and the release of the related valuation allowance. Viad is required to estimate and record provisions for income taxes in each of the jurisdictions in which the Company operates. Accordingly, the Company must estimate its actual current income tax liability, and assess temporary differences arising from the treatment of items for tax purposes, as compared to the treatment for accounting purposes. These differences result in deferred tax assets and liabilities which are included in Viad’s consolidated balance sheets. The Company must assess the likelihood that deferred tax assets will be recovered from future taxable income and to the extent that recovery is not likely, a valuation allowance must be established. The Company uses significant judgment in forming a conclusion regarding the recoverability of its deferred tax assets and evaluates the available positive and negative evidence to determine whether it is more likely than not that its deferred tax assets will be realized in the future. These deferred tax assets reflect the expected future tax benefits to be realized upon reversal of deductible temporary differences and the utilization of net operating loss and tax credit carryforwards. The Company considered all available positive and negative evidence regarding the future recoverability of its deferred tax assets, including the Company’s recent operating history, taxpaying history and future reversals of deferred tax liabilities. The Company also evaluated its ability to utilize its foreign tax credits, given its recent utilization history and projected future domestic income. The foreign tax credits are subject to a 10-year carryforward period and begin to expire in 2019. As of December 31, 2013, $10.9 million of the $12.4 million was related to foreign tax credits. Based on the Company’s evaluation of all positive and negative evidence, it was determined to be more likely than not that the foreign tax credit carryforwards would be utilized before their expiration. Accordingly, the related valuation allowance was released during the third quarter of 2014. The positive evidence relied upon in making this assessment included the Company’s positive cumulative income position, the projected 2014 utilization of $5.4 million of foreign tax credit carryforwards, the history of utilizing all deferred tax assets including net operating losses, and future forecasts of domestic income. As noted above, Viad uses considerable judgment in forming a conclusion regarding the recoverability of its deferred tax assets. As a result, there are inherent uncertainties regarding the ultimate realization of these assets, which is primarily dependent upon Viad’s ability to generate sufficient taxable income in future periods. In future periods, it is reasonably possible that the relative weight of positive and negative evidence regarding the recoverability of Viad’s deferred tax assets may change, which could result in a material increase or decrease in the Company’s valuation allowance. If such a change in the valuation allowance were to occur, it would result in a change to income tax expense in the period the assessment was made. Viad had liabilities, including interest and penalties, associated with uncertain tax positions for continuing operations of $1.3 million and $0.7 million as of September 30, 2014 and December 31, 2013, respectively. In addition, as of September 30, 2014 and December 31, 2013, Viad had liabilities, including interest and penalties, for uncertain tax positions relating to discontinued operations of $1.1 million. Future tax resolutions or settlements that may occur related to these uncertain tax positions would be recorded through either continuing or discontinued operations (net of applicable federal tax benefit). The total liability associated with uncertain tax positions as of September 30, 2014 and December 31, 2013 was $2.4 million and $1.8 million, respectively, which was classified as both current and non-current liabilities. The Company expects the majority of the unrecognized tax benefits to be recognized by March 31, 2015.

Income Taxes

The effective tax rates for the nine months ended September 30, 2014 and 2013 were 1.8 percent and 29.8 percent, respectively.

The income tax provisions were computed based on the Company’s estimated effective tax rate and forecasted income by jurisdiction expected to be applicable for the full fiscal year, including the impact of any unusual or infrequent items. The relatively low effective tax rates compared to the federal statutory rate of 35 percent were primarily due to foreign income which is taxed at lower rates. Additionally, 2014 was favorably impacted by the projected utilization of foreign tax credit carryforwards and the release of the related valuation allowance.

Viad is required to estimate and record provisions for income taxes in each of the jurisdictions in which the Company operates. Accordingly, the Company must estimate its actual current income tax liability, and assess temporary differences arising from the treatment of items for tax purposes, as compared to the treatment for accounting purposes. These differences result in deferred tax assets and liabilities which are included in Viad’s consolidated balance sheets. The Company must assess the likelihood that deferred tax assets will be recovered from future taxable income and to the extent that recovery is not likely, a valuation allowance must be established. The Company uses significant judgment in forming a conclusion regarding the recoverability of its deferred tax assets and evaluates the available positive and negative evidence to determine whether it is more likely than not that its deferred tax assets will be realized in the future. These deferred tax assets reflect the expected future tax benefits to be realized upon reversal of deductible temporary differences and the utilization of net operating loss and tax credit carryforwards.

The Company considered all available positive and negative evidence regarding the future recoverability of its deferred tax assets, including the Company’s recent operating history, taxpaying history and future reversals of deferred tax liabilities. The Company also evaluated its ability to utilize its foreign tax credits, given its recent utilization history and projected future domestic income. The foreign tax credits are subject to a 10-year carryforward period and begin to expire in 2019. As of December 31, 2013, $10.9 million of the $12.4 million was related to foreign tax credits. Based on the Company’s evaluation of all positive and negative evidence, it was determined to be more likely than not that the foreign tax credit carryforwards would be utilized before their expiration. Accordingly, the related valuation allowance was released during the third quarter of 2014. The positive evidence relied upon in making this assessment included the Company’s positive cumulative income position, the projected 2014 utilization of $5.4 million of foreign tax credit carryforwards, the history of utilizing all deferred tax assets including net operating losses, and future forecasts of domestic income.

As noted above, Viad uses considerable judgment in forming a conclusion regarding the recoverability of its deferred tax assets. As a result, there are inherent uncertainties regarding the ultimate realization of these assets, which is primarily dependent upon Viad’s ability to generate sufficient taxable income in future periods. In future periods, it is reasonably possible that the relative weight of positive and negative evidence regarding the recoverability of Viad’s deferred tax assets may change, which could result in a material increase or decrease in the Company’s valuation allowance. If such a change in the valuation allowance were to occur, it would result in a change to income tax expense in the period the assessment was made.

Viad had liabilities, including interest and penalties, associated with uncertain tax positions for continuing operations of $1.3 million and $0.7 million as of September 30, 2014 and December 31, 2013, respectively. In addition, as of September 30, 2014 and December 31, 2013, Viad had liabilities, including interest and penalties, for uncertain tax positions relating to discontinued operations of $1.1 million. Future tax resolutions or settlements that may occur related to these uncertain tax positions would be recorded through either continuing or discontinued operations (net of applicable federal tax benefit). The total liability associated with uncertain tax positions as of September 30, 2014 and December 31, 2013 was $2.4 million and $1.8 million, respectively, which was classified as both current and non-current liabilities. The Company expects the majority of the unrecognized tax benefits to be recognized by March 31, 2015.