Per diem preview

New per diem rates for federal employees who travel on business during fiscal 2001 take effect this month.

The General Services Administration changed its per diem calendar this year to coincide with the fiscal year. In previous years, per diem rates were announced in December and took effect

Conference planners now will have a better idea of how to budget for travel as soon as their budgets are approved, says Bill Rivers, acting director of the travel management policy division at GSA. The date switch also bene,its hotels as it coincides with their rate development process. GSA collaborated with the American Hotel and Motel Association, the Interagency Travel Management Committee and the Society of Government Meeting Professionals to develop the new calendar.

Rates remained stable in 43 percent of locations for 2001. Rates increased in 30 percent of locations and decreased in 27 percent.

Travelers to New Orleans will be allowed to spend more money there next year-the rate increased to $139, up from $88 last year. San Francisco was another hot market the rate there went up $20, from $139 to $159.

In other metropolitan areas, however, rates changed only slightly. The Washington area per diem increased by only $1, from $118 to $119. The rate for Chicago also remained essentially flat. Per diem rates closely reflect local market conditions.

A list of the new rates is available at www.govexec.com/travel.

-Katy Saldarini