Debt and Capital Lease Obligations - Narrative (Details) - USD ($)					1 Months Ended	3 Months Ended	12 Months Ended
		Jan. 01, 2017	Dec. 31, 2016	Dec. 22, 2014	Dec. 31, 2015	Jun. 30, 2016	Dec. 31, 2015	Dec. 31, 2014	Dec. 31, 2013	May. 18, 2011
Line of Credit Facility [Line Items]
Interest rate on credit facility							2.40%	2.40%
Weighted interest rate on long term debt					6.10%		6.10%	6.00%
Fixed charge coverage ratio							218.00%
Leverage ratio							167.00%
Balance of long term debt					$ 128,975,000		$ 128,975,000	$ 141,020,000
Revolving credit facility and term loan 2.4% and 2.4% weighted-average interest rate at December 31, 2015 and 2014, respectively, due through 2019 (1)	[1]				127,500,000		127,500,000	139,500,000
Capital lease obligations, 6.1% and 6.0% weighted-average interest rate at December 31, 2015 and 2014, respectively, due through 2018					1,475,000		1,475,000	1,520,000
Remaining borrowing capacity on line of credit					158,700,000		158,700,000
Letters of credit outstanding					1,300,000		1,300,000
Maximum potential amount of future payments					10,400,000		$ 10,400,000
Recourse provisions							There are no recourse provisions that would enable Viad to recover from third parties any payments made under the guarantees
Accumulated Amortization					$ 9,881,000		$ 9,881,000	$ 3,693,000
Debt, Weighted Average Interest Rate					3.20%		3.20%	4.00%	4.20%
Fair value of debt					$ 113,900,000		$ 113,900,000	$ 123,000,000
Acquisitions Consummated Between January 1, 2016 and December 31, 2016
Line of Credit Facility [Line Items]
Leverage ratio				225.00%
Acquisitions Consummated After December 31, 2016
Line of Credit Facility [Line Items]
Leverage ratio				200.00%
Maximum | Acquisitions Consummated on or Prior to December 31, 2015
Line of Credit Facility [Line Items]
Leverage ratio				250.00%
Revolving Credit Facility
Line of Credit Facility [Line Items]
Revolving credit facility and term loan 2.4% and 2.4% weighted-average interest rate at December 31, 2015 and 2014, respectively, due through 2019 (1)					15,000,000		$ 15,000,000
Commitment fee percentage on line of credit							0.35%
Collateral on line of credit							Furthermore, there are no collateral or similar arrangements whereby Viad could recover payments.
Term Loan
Line of Credit Facility [Line Items]
Revolving credit facility and term loan 2.4% and 2.4% weighted-average interest rate at December 31, 2015 and 2014, respectively, due through 2019 (1)					112,500,000		$ 112,500,000
Capital Leases
Line of Credit Facility [Line Items]
Gross amount of assets recorded under capital leases					3,500,000		3,500,000	3,500,000
Accumulated Amortization					2,100,000		$ 2,100,000	$ 2,100,000
Amended and Restated Credit Agreement
Line of Credit Facility [Line Items]
Maturity date				Dec. 22, 2019
Annual share repurchase limit					$ 20,000,000
Leverage ratio required for dividend or share activity					200.00%
Required level of restricted cash					$ 100,000,000
Amended and Restated Credit Agreement | Minimum
Line of Credit Facility [Line Items]
Fixed charge coverage ratio				175.00%
Amended and Restated Credit Agreement | Minimum | Scenario Forecast
Line of Credit Facility [Line Items]
Fixed charge coverage ratio						200.00%
Amended and Restated Credit Agreement | Maximum
Line of Credit Facility [Line Items]
Leverage ratio				300.00%
Amended and Restated Credit Agreement | Maximum | Scenario Forecast
Line of Credit Facility [Line Items]
Leverage ratio		250.00%	275.00%
Amended and Restated Credit Agreement | Senior Credit Facility
Line of Credit Facility [Line Items]
Borrowing capacity on line of credit				$ 300,000,000
Amended and Restated Credit Agreement | Revolving Credit Facility
Line of Credit Facility [Line Items]
Borrowing capacity on line of credit				175,000,000						$ 180,000,000
Additional borrowing capacity on line of credit				100,000,000
Line of Credit borrowings used to support letter of credit				40,000,000
Amended and Restated Credit Agreement | Term Loan
Line of Credit Facility [Line Items]
Borrowing capacity on line of credit				$ 125,000,000
Credit Agreement Amendment
Line of Credit Facility [Line Items]
Fixed charge coverage ratio							175.00%
Leverage ratio							350.00%
Leverage ratio required for dividend or share activity							250.00%
Maximum leverage ratio for acquisition							300.00%
Maximum leverage ratio for unsecured debt							300.00%
Annual share repurchase limit on leverage ratio basis					$ 20,000,000
Top Tier Foreign Subsidiaries | Amended and Restated Credit Agreement
Line of Credit Facility [Line Items]
Percent of lenders security interest on capital stock foreign subsidiary					65.00%

[1] (1) Represents the weighted-average interest rate in effect at December 31 for revolving credit facility and term loan borrowings, including any applicable margin. The interest rates do not include amortization of debt issuance costs or commitment fees.