Black Meetings & Tourism - U.S. Travel Applauds Selections For GSA's Government Wide Travel Advisory Committee

Industry Briefs
U.S. Travel Applauds Selections For GSA's Government Wide Travel Advisory Committee
Appointments Will Bring Needed Expertise From Travel Community, Experience to Improve Federal Travel The U.S. Travel Association recently welcomed the U.S. General Services Administration's (GSA) selection of representatives from America's travel businesses and organizations to its new Governmentwide Travel Advisory Committee (GTAC). Among GTAC's appointments is U.S. Travel's Nan Marchand Beauvois, who is senior director of national councils. "The advisory committee is essential to making federal travel more transparent and efficient – without wasteful costs to taxpayers," said Roger Dow, president and CEO of the U.S. Travel Association. "Government travel, when conducted in a responsible, cost-effective way, provides services vital to America. By selecting a number of professionals with distinguished careers in travel, GSA is establishing the right blend of public- and private-sector leaders to improve federal travel policies." U.S. Travel staff and members appointed to GTAC are: Nan Marchand Beauvois, U.S. Travel Association; Patrick B. Moscaritolo, Greater Boston Convention and Visitors Bureau; Bryan Scott, Enterprise Holdings; and Paul Somogyi, Marriott International. In December 2012, GSA announced the formation of the GTAC to review existing travel policies, processes and procedures for government travelers. The committee will recommend methods to increase efficiency and reduce spending on government travel. GSA proposed to change the lodging per diem formula last year, which would have lowered reimbursable rates by as much as 30 percent in major metropolitan markets. U.S. Travel and a travel industry coalition advocated delaying this potentially devastating policy change and requested that GSA find more appropriate cost-saving measures through the federal advisory committee process. "Government travelers often pay discounted rates for lodging. While the per diem formula can be updated to more accurately reflect market prices, there are plenty of opportunities for savings outside of per diems. The GTAC will have the optimal mix of expertise and experience to help the government strike the right balance between reduced spending and paying the travel industry and its employees fair prices. U.S. Travel will continue working to build on this valuable partnership," Dow said.

Industry Briefs

U.S. Travel Applauds Selections For GSA's Government Wide Travel Advisory Committee

Appointments Will Bring Needed Expertise From Travel Community,
Experience to Improve Federal Travel

The U.S. Travel Association recently welcomed the U.S. General Services Administration's (GSA) selection of representatives from America's travel businesses and organizations to its new Governmentwide Travel Advisory Committee (GTAC). Among GTAC's appointments is U.S. Travel's Nan Marchand Beauvois, who is senior director of national councils.

"The advisory committee is essential to making federal travel more transparent and efficient – without wasteful costs to taxpayers," said Roger Dow, president and CEO of the U.S. Travel Association. "Government travel, when conducted in a responsible, cost-effective way, provides services vital to America. By selecting a number of professionals with distinguished careers in travel, GSA is establishing the right blend of public- and private-sector leaders to improve federal travel policies." U.S. Travel staff and members appointed to GTAC are:

Nan Marchand Beauvois, U.S. Travel Association;
Patrick B. Moscaritolo, Greater Boston Convention and Visitors Bureau;
Bryan Scott, Enterprise Holdings; and
Paul Somogyi, Marriott International.

In December 2012, GSA announced the formation of the GTAC to review existing travel policies, processes and procedures for government travelers. The committee will recommend methods to increase efficiency and reduce spending on government travel.

GSA proposed to change the lodging per diem formula last year, which would have lowered reimbursable rates by as much as 30 percent in major metropolitan markets. U.S. Travel and a travel industry coalition advocated delaying this potentially devastating policy change and requested that GSA find more appropriate cost-saving measures through the federal advisory committee process.

"Government travelers often pay discounted rates for lodging. While the per diem formula can be updated to more accurately reflect market prices, there are plenty of opportunities for savings outside of per diems. The GTAC will have the optimal mix of expertise and experience to help the government strike the right balance between reduced spending and paying the travel industry and its employees fair prices. U.S. Travel will continue working to build on this valuable partnership," Dow said.