GSA announces per diem changes, rate review

Federal travelers can stay at nicer hotels at four Virginia locations under changes in per diem rates that the General Services Administration announced last week. GSA announced that it is reviewing per diem rates in 24 other locations across the country that were assigned the standard $55-per-night lodging rate and $35-per-day meals and incidental expenses rate. The rates in those locations may go up as well. Under the changes, federal travelers staying in Hopewell, Petersburg, Prince George and Dinwiddie County, Va., can now spend $77 a night on lodging and $30 on meals and incidental expenses. Those locations previously were covered by the standard rates. GSA assigned standard rates to the 24 locations under review just last month, when it announced the fiscal 2002 per diem rates for federal travelers. The locations under review are: Mobile, Ala.; Madrea, Redding, and Stockton, Calif.; Stanley, Idaho; Champaign-Urbana and Rock Island-Moline, Ill.; Anderson and Muncie, Ind.; Flintstone and Hagerstown, Md.; Bangor, Maine; Auburn, Grayling and Manistee, Mich.; Hannibal, Mo.; Jackson, Miss.; Lincoln, Neb.; Salem, Ore.; State College, Pa.; Block Island, R.I.; Spartanburg, S.C.; Chattanooga, Tenn.; and Plymouth, Wis. The fiscal 2002 rates took effect on Oct. 1. To see the rates in your next travel destination, go to GSA's Web site.