Debt	3 Months Ended
Mar. 31, 2013
Debt [Abstract]
Debt	Note 9. Debt In May 2011, Viad entered into an amended and restated revolving credit agreement (the “Credit Facility”). The Credit Facility provides for a $130 million revolving line of credit, which may be increased up to an additional $50 million under certain circumstances. The term of the Credit Facility is five years (expiring on May 18, 2016) and borrowings are to be used for general corporate purposes (including permitted acquisitions) and to support up to $50 million of letters of credit. The lenders have a first perfected security interest in all of the personal property of Viad and GES, including 65 percent of the capital stock of top-tier foreign subsidiaries. As of March 31, 2013, Viad’s total debt of $2.5 million consisted entirely of capital lease obligations. As of March 31, 2013, Viad had $128.2 million of capacity remaining under the Credit Facility reflecting outstanding letters of credit of $1.8 million. Borrowings under the Credit Facility (of which GES is a guarantor) are indexed to the prime rate or the London Interbank Offered Rate, plus appropriate spreads tied to Viad’s leverage ratio. Commitment fees and letters of credit fees are also tied to Viad’s leverage ratio. The fees on the unused portion of the Credit Facility are currently 0.35 percent annually. The Credit Facility contains various affirmative and negative covenants that are customary for facilities of this type, including a fixed-charge coverage ratio, leverage ratio, minimum cash balance, dividend limits and share repurchase restrictions. Significant other covenants include limitations on: investments, additional indebtedness, sales/leases of assets, acquisitions, consolidations or mergers and liens on property. As of March 31, 2013, Viad was in compliance with all covenants. Effective December 12, 2012, the Credit Facility was amended to remove the limitation on share repurchases of $10 million in the aggregate per calendar year pursuant to certain conditions. The amendment allows share repurchases unless the Company’s leverage ratio, as defined in the Credit Facility, is greater than 1.50 to 1.00 or a default or an unmatured default, as defined in the Credit Facility, exists. The amendment also allows dividends to be declared and paid in excess of $10 million in the aggregate per calendar year, as well as distributions on its capital stock, as defined in the Credit Facility, unless the Company’s leverage ratio, as defined in the Credit Facility, is greater than 1.50 to 1.00 or a default or an unmatured default, as defined in the Credit Facility, exists. The estimated fair value of total debt was $2.4 million and $2.1 million as of March 31, 2013 and December 31, 2012, respectively. The fair value of debt was estimated by discounting the future cash flows using rates currently available for debt of similar terms and maturity.

Debt

3 Months Ended

Mar. 31, 2013

Note 9. Debt

In May 2011, Viad entered into an amended and restated revolving credit agreement (the “Credit Facility”). The Credit Facility provides for a $130 million revolving line of credit, which may be increased up to an additional $50 million under certain circumstances. The term of the Credit Facility is five years (expiring on May 18, 2016) and borrowings are to be used for general corporate purposes (including permitted acquisitions) and to support up to $50 million of letters of credit. The lenders have a first perfected security interest in all of the personal property of Viad and GES, including 65 percent of the capital stock of top-tier foreign subsidiaries. As of March 31, 2013, Viad’s total debt of $2.5 million consisted entirely of capital lease obligations. As of March 31, 2013, Viad had $128.2 million of capacity remaining under the Credit Facility reflecting outstanding letters of credit of $1.8 million.

Borrowings under the Credit Facility (of which GES is a guarantor) are indexed to the prime rate or the London Interbank Offered Rate, plus appropriate spreads tied to Viad’s leverage ratio. Commitment fees and letters of credit fees are also tied to Viad’s leverage ratio. The fees on the unused portion of the Credit Facility are currently 0.35 percent annually.

The Credit Facility contains various affirmative and negative covenants that are customary for facilities of this type, including a fixed-charge coverage ratio, leverage ratio, minimum cash balance, dividend limits and share repurchase restrictions. Significant other covenants include limitations on: investments, additional indebtedness, sales/leases of assets, acquisitions, consolidations or mergers and liens on property. As of March 31, 2013, Viad was in compliance with all covenants.

Effective December 12, 2012, the Credit Facility was amended to remove the limitation on share repurchases of $10 million in the aggregate per calendar year pursuant to certain conditions. The amendment allows share repurchases unless the Company’s leverage ratio, as defined in the Credit Facility, is greater than 1.50 to 1.00 or a default or an unmatured default, as defined in the Credit Facility, exists. The amendment also allows dividends to be declared and paid in excess of $10 million in the aggregate per calendar year, as well as distributions on its capital stock, as defined in the Credit Facility, unless the Company’s leverage ratio, as defined in the Credit Facility, is greater than 1.50 to 1.00 or a default or an unmatured default, as defined in the Credit Facility, exists.

The estimated fair value of total debt was $2.4 million and $2.1 million as of March 31, 2013 and December 31, 2012, respectively. The fair value of debt was estimated by discounting the future cash flows using rates currently available for debt of similar terms and maturity.