The General Services Administration (GSA) today released federal per diem rates for FY2015 that will go into effect Oct. 1, 2014. The standard continental United States (CONUS) per diem rate remained at $83 per night for lodging. This rate, which is reviewed every three years, was increased last year from the previous rate of $77. Some notable changes occurred to FY2015 per diem lodging rates for Non-Standard Areas (NSAs); they include:
- The New York City (Manhattan) fall season was increased from $303 to $304.
- While Chicago’s fall season dropped from $209 to $194, its summer season was raised from $166 to $192.
- The fall season for San Francisco was increased from $226 to $251.
- Washington, D.C., per diem rates were raised from $219 to $222 for the heavy fall travel season and reduced from $167 to $162 during the summer months
- Five locations that were NSAs in FY 2014 will move into the standard CONUS rate category.
- Two locations will become new NSAs in FY 2015: Kayenta, Ariz. (Navajo County) and San Angelo, Texas (Tom Green County).
Federal per diem rates, used by government travelers to obtain hotel rooms at a standard discount, are established each year based on actual market data compiled and provided by Smith Travel Research. “Government travel is incredibly important to our industry and I personally met with top officials at both GSA and OMB in June to underscore this very point,” AH&LA President/CEO Katherine Lugar stated in an email to AH&LA members. “While today’s release shows that some areas had positive changes, others experienced decreases. Going forward we will continue working with GSA and the Administration to ensure that lodging per diem rates align with market conditions and also reflect good value for the government.”
