<ARTICLE>          5

<LEGEND>           THIS SCHEDULE CONTAINS SUMMARY FINANCIAL
                   INFORMATION EXTRACTED FROM VIAD CORP'S
                   FORM 10-Q FOR THE QUARTERLY PERIOD ENDED
                   SEPTEMBER 30, 1997 AND IS QUALIFIED IN ITS
                   ENTIRETY BY REFERENCE TO SUCH FINANCIAL
                   STATEMENTS.

<MULTIPLIER>       1,000

       
 
                                                                 Exhibit 27
                                                                           
                                    VIAD CORP
                            FINANCIAL DATA SCHEDULE 
                                                            

<FISCAL-YEAR-END>                                               DEC-31-1997

<PERIOD-END>                                                    SEP-30-1997

<PERIOD-TYPE>                                                         9-MOS

<CASH>                                                                9,957

<SECURITIES>                                                              0

<RECEIVABLES>                                                       184,152

<ALLOWANCES>                                                         12,053

<INVENTORY>                                                         103,617

<CURRENT-ASSETS>                                                    813,701

<PP&E>                                                              863,024

<DEPRECIATION>                                                      408,768

<TOTAL-ASSETS>                                                    3,461,210

<CURRENT-LIABILITIES>                                             2,354,106

<BONDS>                                                             421,089

<COMMON>                                                            145,663

<PREFERRED-MANDATORY>                                                 6,611

<PREFERRED>                                                               0

<OTHER-SE>                                                          355,302

<TOTAL-LIABILITY-AND-EQUITY>                                      3,461,210

<SALES>                                                                   0

<TOTAL-REVENUES>                                                  1,806,897

<CGS>                                                                     0

<TOTAL-COSTS>                                                     1,641,286

<OTHER-EXPENSES>                                                     25,742

<LOSS-PROVISION>                                                          0

<INTEREST-EXPENSE>                                                   38,073

<INCOME-PRETAX>                                                     100,757

<INCOME-TAX>                                                         29,712

<INCOME-CONTINUING>                                                  71,045

<DISCONTINUED>                                                            0

<EXTRAORDINARY>                                                      (8,458)

<CHANGES>                                                                 0

<NET-INCOME>                                                         62,587

<EPS-PRIMARY>                                                          0.66

<EPS-DILUTED>                                                          0.66