GSA Announces 2002 Per Diem Rates for Federal TravelersRates Begin October 1, 2001 for Travel

GSA #9869

August 31, 2001
Contact: Eleni Martin (202) 501-1231
eleni.martin@gsa.gov

WASHINGTON, D.C. - The U.S. General Services Administration (GSA) today announced changes in per diem rates for federal employees on official travel in the 48 contiguous states and the District of Columbia. The rates were published today in the Federal Register and posted on the GSA website at http://www.policyworks.gov/perdiem.

The GSA Office of Governmentwide Policy, which is in charge of setting the per diem rates for the continental United States, announced the following information regarding per diem rates for the fiscal year 2002:

Individual rates have been set for 423 higher cost cities. Lodging in these locations is paid by the government up to a set limit and reimbursement for meals and incidental expenses range from a low of $30 to a high of $46.
22% of the per diem rates increased over fiscal year 2001, 68% remained the same; and 10% decreased.
The Federal Premier Lodging Program (FPLP) is launched in Chicago, IL and Denver and Jefferson County, CO. The FY 2002 lodging rate for these locations reflects the FPLP approach.
The per diem rates for the balance of the top 75 destinations will remain at their current lodging rate until contracts are in place. Once contracts are in place in a particular destination, the per diem rate will change to reflect the new FPLP lodging rate.
Since the Winter Olympics will be taking place in Salt Lake City, Utah, area effective January 15 through February 28, 2002, the lodging peak season rate for Park City, Utah, of $169 will apply to the counties of Weber, Davis, Salt Lake, Summit, and Utah to provide for the reimbursement of Federal employees' expenses covered by the per diem.

The Federal Travel Regulation was revised in January 2000 to include separate treatment of conferences. The new policy allows conference planners to negotiate up to 25% more than the going lodging rate limit and allows the government to pay for light refreshments during conference breaks.

The GSA Office of Governmentwide Policy posts a listing of hotels that were surveyed and are at or below the lodging rate in their geographical area; additional properties can be added to the list if they offer federal travelers a room at or below the lodging rate for that geographical area (http://policyworks.gov/perdiem).

The federal per diem rates are based on a lodgings-plus system, whereby employees are reimbursed for the actual cost of lodging up to a set limit. In addition, they receive a fixed amount for meals and incidental expenses. GSA's per diem rates also apply to employees of certain government contractors when traveling in connection with federal contracts. The Department of Defense sets travel per diem rates for locations outside the continental United States (Alaska, Hawaii, and the U.S. territories and possessions) and the Department of State sets rates for international travel.

Federal Premier Lodging Program

In January 2000, GSA introduced its Federal Premier Lodging Program (FPLP). This program allows GSA to contract with hotels for guaranteed rooms at guaranteed rates at or below the established per diem rates. GSA has recently awarded contracts in Chicago, IL, Denver and Jefferson County, CO. By the end of 2001, GSA's goal is to have contracts in place for the top 75 destinations.

For more information regarding GSA travel programs, contact: Bill Rivers at (202) 208-7631.

PLANNING NOTE FOR EDITORS

National Travel Forum 2002: Excellence in Travel Achieving Results Together
The forum is scheduled for June 17 - June 20, 2002, in Nashville, TN at the Opryland Hotel. It is co-sponsored by the General Services Administration (GSA), the Interagency Travel Management Committee and Government Executive Magazine. Over 1,500 participants are expected to attend this national travel forum. GSA is waging an aggressive effort to reinvent and transform federal travel policy. This conference is just one example of GSA's collaborative approach to providing customer service and meeting face-to-face with the many customers, partners and stakeholders who work with GSA to change how the government does business. For more information and to register on-line visit: http://www.nationaltravel2002.org or call Peggy DeProspero at 202-501-2826.