Summary of Significant Accounting Policies (Policies)

12 Months Ended

Dec. 31, 2016

Organization Consolidation And Presentation Of Financial Statements [Abstract]

Basis of Presentation and Principles of Consolidation

The accompanying consolidated financial statements of Viad Corp (“Viad” or the “Company”) have been prepared in accordance with accounting principles generally accepted in the United States of America (“GAAP”) and include the accounts of Viad and its subsidiaries. All significant intercompany account balances and transactions have been eliminated in consolidation.

Nature of Business

Viad is an international experiential services company with operations in the United States, Canada, the United Kingdom, continental Europe, and the United Arab Emirates. Viad is committed to providing best in class experiences to its clients, customers, and guests by offering products and services designed to meet their current and future needs. Viad operates through three reportable business segments: GES U.S., GES International, (collectively, “GES”), and Pursuit.

GES

GES, previously referred to as the Marketing & Events Group, is a global, full-service provider for live events that produces exhibitions, conferences, corporate events, and consumer events. GES offers a comprehensive range of live event services and innovative technology to event organizers and exhibitors including core services, event technology, and audio-visual services – all with a global reach.

GES’ clients include event organizers and corporate brand marketers. Corporate brand marketers include exhibitors and domestic and international corporations that want to promote their brands, services and innovations, feature new products, and build business relationships. GES serves corporate brand marketers when they exhibit at shows and when GES is engaged to manage their global exhibit program or produce their proprietary corporate events.

Pursuit

Pursuit, previously referred to as the Travel & Recreation Group, offers guests distinctive and world renowned experiences in iconic natural and cultural destinations in North America through its collection of unique hotels, lodges, recreational attractions, and transportation services. Pursuit is composed of four lines of business: (i) Hospitality; (ii) Attractions; (iii) Transportation; and (iv) Travel Planning. These four lines of business work together, driving economies of scope and meaningful scale in and around the iconic destinations of Banff, Jasper, and Waterton Lakes National Parks and Vancouver in Canada, and Glacier, Denali, and Kenai Fjords National Parks in the United States. Pursuit is composed of Brewster Travel Canada, the Alaska Collection, Glacier Park, Inc., and FlyOver Canada.

Use of Estimates

The preparation of financial statements in conformity with GAAP requires management to make estimates and assumptions that affect the reported amounts of assets and liabilities at the date of the financial statements and the reported amounts of revenue and expenses during the reported period. Estimates and assumptions are used in accounting for, among other things, the fair value of Viad’s reporting units used to perform annual impairment testing of recorded goodwill; allowances for uncollectible accounts receivable; provisions for income taxes, including uncertain tax positions; valuation allowances related to deferred tax assets; liabilities for losses related to self-insured liability claims; liabilities for losses related to environmental remediation obligations; sublease income associated with restructuring liabilities; assumptions used to measure pension and postretirement benefit costs and obligations; assumptions used to determine share-based compensation costs under the fair value method; and allocation of purchase price of acquired businesses. Actual results could differ from these and other estimates.

Cash and Cash Equivalents

Viad considers all highly-liquid investments with remaining maturities when purchased of three months or less to be cash equivalents. Viad’s cash and cash equivalents consist of cash and bank demand deposits and money market mutual funds. The Company’s investments in money market mutual funds are classified as available-for-sale and carried at fair value.

Allowances for Doubtful Accounts

Viad maintains allowances for doubtful accounts to reflect the best estimate of probable losses inherent in the accounts receivable balance. The allowances for doubtful accounts, including a sales allowance for discounts at the time of sale, are based upon an evaluation of the aging of receivables, historical trends, and the current economic environment.

Inventories

Inventories, which consist primarily of exhibit design and construction materials and supplies, as well as deferred show costs, including labor, show purchases, and commissions used in providing convention show services, are stated at the lower of cost (first-in, first-out and specific identification methods) or market.

Property and Equipment

Property and equipment are stated at cost, net of accumulated depreciation. Property and equipment are depreciated using the straight-line method over the estimated useful lives of the assets: buildings, 15 to 40 years; equipment, 3 to 12 years; and leasehold improvements, over the shorter of the lease term or useful life. Property and equipment are tested for potential impairment whenever events or changes in circumstances indicate that the carrying amount of the long-lived asset may not be recoverable through undiscounted cash flows.

Capitalized Software

Viad capitalizes certain internal and external costs incurred in developing or obtaining internal use software. Capitalized costs principally relate to costs incurred to purchase software from third parties, external direct costs of materials and services, and certain payroll-related costs for employees directly associated with software projects once application development begins. Costs associated with preliminary project activities, training, and other post-implementation activities are expensed as incurred. Capitalized software costs are amortized using the straight-line method over the estimated useful lives of the software, ranging from three to ten years. These costs are included in the consolidated balance sheets under the caption “Property and equipment, net.”

Goodwill

Goodwill is tested for impairment at the reporting unit level on an annual basis as of October 31, and between annual tests if an event occurs or circumstances change that would more-likely-than-not reduce the fair value of a reporting unit below its carrying value. Viad uses a discounted expected future cash flow methodology (income approach) in order to estimate the fair value of its reporting units for purposes of goodwill impairment testing. The estimates and assumptions regarding expected future cash flows, discount rates, and terminal values require considerable judgment and are based on market conditions, financial forecasts, industry trends, and historical experience. These estimates, however, have inherent uncertainties and different assumptions could lead to materially different results.

Cash Surrender Value of Life Insurance

Viad has Company-owned life insurance contracts which are intended to fund the cost of certain employee compensation and benefit programs. These contracts are carried at cash surrender value, net of outstanding policy loans. The cash surrender value represents the amount of cash the Company could receive if the policies were discontinued before maturity. The changes in the cash surrender value of the policies, net of insurance premiums, are included as a component of “Costs of Services” in Viad’s Consolidated Statements of Operations.

Self-Insurance Liabilities

Viad is self-insured up to certain limits for workers’ compensation, automobile, product and general liability, property loss, and medical claims. Viad has also retained certain liabilities related to workers’ compensation and general liability insurance claims in conjunction with previously sold operations. Provisions for losses for claims incurred, including estimated claims incurred but not yet reported, are made based on Viad’s prior historical experience, claims frequency, insurance coverage, and other factors. Viad has purchased insurance for amounts in excess of the self-insured levels.

Environmental Remediation Liabilities

Viad has retained certain liabilities representing the estimated cost of environmental remediation obligations primarily associated with previously sold operations. The amounts accrued primarily consist of the estimated direct incremental costs, on an undiscounted basis, for contractor and other services related to remedial actions and post-remediation site monitoring. Environmental remediation liabilities are recorded when the specific obligation is considered probable and the costs are reasonably estimable. Subsequent recoveries from third parties, if any, are recorded through discontinued operations when realized. The Company maintains environmental insurance that provides coverage for new and undiscovered pre-existing conditions at both its continuing and discontinued operations.

Fair Value of Financial Instruments

The carrying value of cash and cash equivalents, receivables, and accounts payable approximate fair value due to the short-term maturities of these instruments. Refer to Note 11 – Debt and Capital Lease Obligations for the estimated fair value of debt obligations.

Foreign Currency Translation

Viad conducts its foreign operations primarily in Canada, the United Kingdom, the Netherlands, Germany, and to a lesser extent, in certain other countries. The functional currency of Viad’s foreign subsidiaries is their local currency. Accordingly, for purposes of consolidation, Viad translates the assets and liabilities of its foreign subsidiaries into U.S. dollars at the foreign exchange rates in effect at the balance sheet date. The unrealized gains or losses resulting from the translation of these foreign denominated assets and liabilities are included as a component of accumulated other comprehensive income in Viad’s consolidated balance sheets. For purposes of consolidation, revenue, expenses, gains, and losses related to Viad’s foreign operations are translated into U.S. dollars at the average foreign exchange rates for the period.

Revenue Recognition

Viad recognizes revenue when persuasive evidence of an arrangement exists, delivery has occurred or services have been rendered, the sales price is fixed or determinable, and collectability is reasonably assured. GES derives revenue primarily by providing core services, event technology services, and audio-visual services to event organizers and exhibitors participating in live events. GES derives revenue from consumer events by charging visitors to view the touring exhibitions. Exhibition and event service’s revenue is recognized when services are completed, net of commissions. Exhibits and environments revenue is accounted for using the completed-contract method. Pursuit generates revenue through its hospitality, attractions, transportation, and travel planning services. Pursuit’s revenue is recognized at the time services are performed.

Share-Based Compensation

Viad recognizes and measures compensation costs related to all share-based payment awards using the fair value method of accounting. These awards generally include restricted stock, liability-based awards (including performance units and restricted stock units), and stock options. These awards contain forfeiture and non-compete provisions.

The fair value of restricted stock awards is based on Viad’s closing stock price on the date of grant. Viad issues restricted stock awards from shares held in treasury. Future vesting of restricted stock is generally subject to continued employment with Viad or its subsidiaries. Holders of restricted stock have the right to receive dividends and vote the shares, but may not sell, assign, transfer, pledge, or otherwise encumber the stock, except to the extent restrictions have lapsed.

Restricted stock awards vest between three and five years from the date of grant. Share-based compensation expense related to restricted stock is recognized using the straight-line method over the requisite service period of approximately three years except for certain awards with a five-year vesting period whereby expense is recognized based on an accelerated multiple-award approach over a five-year period. For these awards, 40 percent of the shares vest on the third anniversary of the grant and the remaining shares vest in 30 percent increments over the subsequent two anniversary dates.

Liability-based awards (including performance units and restricted stock units) are recorded at estimated fair value, based on the number of units expected to vest and the level of achievement of predefined performance goals, where applicable, and are remeasured on each balance sheet date based on Viad’s stock price, and the Monte Carlo simulation model, until the time of settlement. A Monte Carlo simulation requires the use of a number of assumptions, including historical volatility and correlation of the price of Viad’s stock and the price of the common shares of a comparator group, a risk-free rate of return, and an expected term. To the extent earned, liability-based awards are settled in cash based on Viad’s stock price. Compensation expense related to liability-based awards is recognized ratably over the requisite service period of approximately three years.

Equity-based awards (including performance units) are recorded at estimated fair value, based on the number of units expected to vest and the level of achievement of predefined performance goals, until the time of settlement. To the extent earned, equity-based awards are settled in Viad’s comment stock. Compensation expense related to equity-based awards is recognized ratably over the requisite service period of approximately three years.

The fair value of each stock option grant is estimated on the date of grant using the Black-Scholes option pricing model. Share-based compensation expense related to stock option awards is recognized using the straight-line method over the requisite service period of approximately five years. The exercise price of stock options is based on the market value of Viad’s common stock at the date of grant. The Company has not granted stock options since 2010.

Common Stock in Treasury

Common stock purchased for treasury is recorded at historical cost. Subsequent share reissuances are primarily related to share-based compensation programs and recorded at weighted-average cost.

Income Per Common Share

Viad applies the two-class method in calculating income per common share as unvested share-based payment awards that contain nonforfeitable rights to dividends are considered participating securities. Accordingly, such securities are included in the earnings allocation in calculating income per share.

Impact of Recent Accounting Pronouncements

The following table provides a brief description of recent accounting pronouncements:

Standard	Description	Date of adoption	Effect on the financial statements
Standards Not Yet Adopted
ASU 2014-09, Revenue from Contracts with Customers (Topic 606)	The standard establishes a new recognition model that requires revenue to be recognized in a manner to depict the transfer of goods or services to a customer at an amount that reflects the consideration expected to be received in exchange for those goods or services. The Company may adopt either retrospectively to each prior period presented with the option to elect certain practical expedients or with the cumulative effect recognized at the date of initial application and providing certain disclosures. Subsequent to the issuance of ASU 2014-09, the FASB issued several amendments in 2016 which do not change the core principle of the guidance stated in ASU 2014-09. Rather, they are intended to clarify and improve understanding of certain topics included within the revenue standard.	January 1, 2018	The Company is currently evaluating the impact of the adoption of this new guidance on its financial position or results of operations including analyzing its current portfolio of customer contracts. The Company has assigned internal resources in addition to the engagement of a third-party service provider to assist in the evaluation of the impact on its accounting policies, processes, and system requirements. Based on the Company’s preliminary assessment, the adoption of this standard will not have a material impact on Viad’s consolidated financial statements. The Company expects the immaterial impact to primarily relate to the deferral of certain commissions which were previously expensed as incurred but will generally be capitalized and amortized over the period of contract performance, and the deferral of certain costs incurred in connection with trade shows which were previously expensed as incurred but will generally be capitalized and expensed upon the completion of the show. The Company is not planning to early adopt the standard and has not determined which transition method it will use. Additionally, the new guidance requires enhanced disclosures, including revenue recognition policies to identify performance obligations to customers and significant judgments in measurement and recognition. The Company is continuing its assessment, which may identify other impacts.
ASU 2015-11, Inventory (Topic 330) - Simplifying the Measurement of Inventory	The amendment applies to inventory measures using first-in, first-out or average cost and will require entities to measure inventory at the lower of cost or net realizable value. Net realizable value is the estimated selling price in the normal course of business, minus the cost of completion, disposal and transportation. Replacement cost and net realizable value less a normal profit margin will no longer be considered.	January 1, 2017	The adoption of this new guidance is not expected to have a significant effect on Viad’s consolidated financial statements.
ASU 2016-02, Leases (Topic 842)	The amendment requires lessees to recognize on their balance sheet a right-of-use asset and a lease liability for leases with lease terms greater than one year. The amendment requires additional disclosures about leasing arrangements, and requires a modified retrospective approach to adoption. Early adoption is permitted.	January 1, 2019	The Company is currently evaluating the potential impact of the adoption of this new guidance on its financial position or results of operations including analyzing its existing operating leases. Based on the Company’s preliminary assessment, the adoption of this standard will have a material impact on Viad’s consolidated balance sheets, but the income statement is not expected to be materially impacted. The Company expects the most significant impact will relate to identifying facility and equipment leases and embedded lease arrangements. The Company has not determined in which period it will adopt the new guidance. Adoption is dependent on the Company’s analysis on information necessary to restate prior periods. The Company is continuing its assessment, which may identify other impacts.

Standard	Description	Date of adoption	Effect on the financial statements
Standards Not Yet Adopted (Continued)
ASU 2016-09, Compensation - Stock Compensation (Topic 718) - Improvements to Employee Share-Based Payment Accounting	The amendment identifies areas for simplification involving several aspects of accounting for share-based payment transactions, including the income tax consequences, classification of awards as either equity or liabilities, an option to recognize gross stock compensation expense with actual forfeitures recognized as they occur, as well as certain classifications on the statement of cash flows. Early adoption is permitted.	January 1, 2017	The impact of the adoption of this new guidance will be dependent on the timing of when share-based awards vest or options are exercised, the Company’s tax rate, and the intrinsic value at the time share-based awards vest or options are exercised.
ASU 2016-15, Statement of Cash Flows (Topic 230) - Classification of Certain Cash Receipts and Cash Payments	The amendment provides guidance on eight specific cash flow issues with the objective of reducing the existing diversity in practice in how certain cash receipts and cash payments are presented and classified in the statement of cash flows. Early adoption is permitted.	January 1, 2018	The Company is currently evaluating the potential impact of the adoption of this new guidance on its financial position or results of operations.
ASU 2016-16, Income Taxes (Topic 740) - Intra-Entity Transfers of Assets Other Than Inventory	The amendment eliminates an exception in ASC 740 which prohibits the recognition of current and deferred income tax effects for intra-entity transfers of assets other than inventory until the asset has been sold to an outside party. The amendment requires an entity to recognize the income tax consequences of intra-entity transfers of assets other than inventory at the time that the transfer occurs.	January 1, 2018	The Company is currently evaluating the potential impact of the adoption of this new guidance on its financial position or results of operations.
ASU 2017-01, Business Combination (Topic 805) - Clarifying the Definition of a Business	The amendment provides guidance on evaluating whether transactions should be accounted for as acquisitions (or disposals) of assets or businesses.	January 1, 2018	The Company is currently evaluating the potential impact of the adoption of this new guidance on its financial position or results of operations.
ASU 2017-04, Intangibles - Goodwill and Other (Topic 350) - Simplifying the Test for Goodwill Impairment	The amendment eliminates the requirement to estimate the implied fair value of goodwill if it was determined that the carrying amount of a reporting unit exceeded its fair value. Goodwill impairment will now be recognized by the amount by which a reporting unit’s carrying value exceeds its fair value, not to exceed the carrying amount of goodwill. The amendment should be applied prospectively and is effective for annual or any interim goodwill impairment tests in fiscal years beginning after December 15, 2019. Early adoption is permitted for interim or annual goodwill impairment tests performed on testing dates after January 1, 2017.	January 1, 2020	The adoption of this new guidance is not expected to have a significant effect on Viad’s consolidated financial statements and the Company expects the adoption to reduce the complexity surrounding the analysis of goodwill impairment.

Standard	Description	Date of adoption	Effect on the financial statements
Standards Recently Adopted
ASU 2014-12, Compensation - Stock Compensation (Topic 718) - Accounting for Share-Based Payments When the Terms of an Award Provide that a Performance Target Could be Achieved after the Requisite Service Period	The amendment requires that a performance target that affects vesting, and that could be achieved after the requisite service period, be treated as a performance condition. As such, the performance target should not be reflected in estimating the grant date fair value of the award.	January 1, 2016	The Company adopted this guidance prospectively to all awards granted after the effective date. The adoption of this guidance did not have a material impact on the consolidated financial statements.
ASU 2015-03, Interest - Imputation of Interest Simplifying the Presentation of Debt Issuance Costs ASU 2015-15, Presentation and Subsequent Measurement of Debt Issuance Costs Associated with Line-of-Credit Arrangements	The amendments require debt issuance costs related to a recognized debt liability to be presented in the balance sheet as a direct deduction from the carrying amount of that debt liability. For line-of-credit arrangements, an entity may defer and present debt issuance costs as an asset and subsequently amortize the deferred debt issuance costs ratably over the term of the line-of-credit arrangement.	January 1, 2016	The Company adopted this guidance on a retrospective basis which resulted in the reclassification of unamortized debt issuance costs of $1.6 million from other long-term assets to a reduction in long-term debt on the December 31, 2015 consolidated balance sheet.
ASU 2015-16, Business Combinations (Topic 805) - Simplifying the Accounting for Measurement-Period Adjustments	The amendment requires an acquirer to recognize adjustments to provisional amounts that are identified during the measurement period in the reporting period in which the adjustment amounts are determined.	January 1, 2016	The adoption of this guidance did not have a material impact on the consolidated financial statements.