Per Diem Perdition

he government's per diem lodging rates for designated markets in the continental United States will stay the same through fiscal 2003, says the General Service Administration's Travel Management Policy Division.

But the decision does not apply to destinations included in the Federal Premier Lodging Program-those lodging rates will change as contracts are awarded. For a list of those destinations, go to www.gsa.gov/fplp. Participating properties can be found in Alabama, Colorado, Illinois, Maryland, New York, Oregon, Tennessee, Virginia, Washington state and Washington, D.C.

Over the next few months, GSA will review the standard per diem rate for the continental United States (that is, the rate for cities not specifically mentioned in the per diem list). The maximum is $55 for lodging and $30 for meals and incidental expenses. The agency also will evaluate per diem lodging rates for specific destinations in response to complaints from federal travelers. Changes, effective Oct. 1, will be published in the Federal Register and on GSA's Web site in early September.

Federal travelers who are unable to find a hotel within the per diem rate in specific cities can report it on the "No Vacancy" link on GSA's Web site. Go to www.gsa.gov, then click on "Travel," then "Per Diem," then "Domestic Per Diem," then scroll down to the bottom for the "No Vacancy" sign. GSA cited complaints by travelers when it changed per diem rates for 29 cities, from Atlantic City, N.J., to Yuma, Ariz., last year. So it's worth letting GSA know if you run into trouble finding a place to stay.

Find the latest information on per diem rates at http://www.gsa.gov/perdiem.