GSA Releases FY2016 Per Diem Rates

The General Services Administration (GSA) has released federal per diem rates for FY2016 that will go into effect October 1, 2015.
 
In a notable change in policy, the standard continental United States (CONUS) rate will now be reviewed every year, as opposed to the previous policy under which it was reviewed every three years. Accordingly, the CONUS per diem rate is increasing to $89 per night for lodging, up from the previous rate of $83. Non-Standard Areas (NSAs), which have a higher per diem rate, will continue to be reviewed every year, as is the current policy.

FY2015 Rates for Oklahoma:
   
Some additional highlights from today’s announcement includes notification that two locations will become new NSAs in FY 2016: Grand Lake, CO (Grand County) and Pecos, TX (Reeves County). Fifteen locations that were NSAs in FY 2015 will move into the standard CONUS rate category:

• Huntsville, AL
• Modesto, CA
• Driggs/Idaho Falls, ID
• Springfield, IL
• Covington/Slidell, LA
• Hattiesburg, MS
• Los Alamos, NM
• Stateline/Carson City, NV
• Oak Ridge, TN
• Greenville, TX
• Fredericksburg, VA
• Norfolk/Portsmouth, VA
• Prince William/Manassas, VA
• Anacortes/Coupeville, WA
• Shepherdstown, WV
   

Click here for more specific information regarding different localities. 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 we continue to share with GSA the importance of maintaining per diems at sustainable rates. Going forward, we will continue working with GSA and the Administration to ensure that lodging per diem rates align with market conditions.