CW Government Travel to Manage GSA's Governmentwide Lodging Program

GSA #10116

September 24, 2004
Contact: Viki Reath (202) 501-1231
viki.reath@gsa.gov

WASHINGTON – The U.S. General Services Administration today awarded a competitive, one-year task order, with four one-year options, to CW Government Travel Inc. (CWGT) of San Antonio to manage the Federal Premier Lodging Program (FPLP).
 
Turning to industry to manage the four-year-old government-wide travel program is consistent with a July 2003 Government Per Diem Advisory Board recommendation to partner with industry on the management and marketing of FPLP.  Under GSA management, FPLP has grown to include hotels in 90 cities that guarantee rooms to federal travelers.

“GSA’s partnership with industry is consistent with world-class travel management, adding value to the travel products and services we provide to federal agencies,” said Tim Burke, eTravel Program Manager. “This FPLP transformation plays an important role in the development of ‘One-GSA-Travel.’ ”

Under the task order terms, starting Oct. 1, CWGT will use its expertise in marketing and hospitality services to negotiate hotel room rates for federal travelers in an increasing number of hotels that meet Federal Emergency Management Agency fire-safety standards and to market FPLP.

A GSA/CWGT team will manage the transition. Existing contracts expire on Thursday, Sept. 30.

“This was a logical next step for such a successful government program,” said Rick Freda, FPLP Program Coordinator. “GSA still oversees the program, while participating hotels and federal travelers get the benefit of a world-class hospitality management company.”

For information on the FPLP program visit www.gsa.gov/fplp. 

GSA is a centralized federal procurement and property management agency, created by Congress to improve government efficiency and help federal agencies better serve the public. It acquires, on behalf of federal agencies, office space, equipment, telecommunications, information technology, supplies, services and enables policy solutions. GSA’s 14,000 associates, provide services and solutions for office operations for more than one million federal workers in more than 8,000 government-owned and leased buildings in 2,000 U.S. communities.