GSA Releases FY2017 Per Diem Rates

August 12, 2016

Working with government officials to ensure that hotel per diem rates reflect the realities of the market has been a key priority of AH&LA. We wanted to share with you that today, the General Services Administration (GSA) released federal per diem rates for FY2017 that will go into effect October 1, 2016. These rates show an increase to the standard continental United States (CONUS) rate from $89 per night for lodging to a new rate of $91. 
  
GSA also announced that there will be no new "non-standard areas" (NSAs) with higher rates in FY 2017, and that three locations that were NSAs in FY 2016 will move into the standard CONUS rate category: Lexington Park/Leonardtown/Lusby, MD; New Bern, NC; and Minot, ND. 
  
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.   

FY2017 Rates for Oklahoma*:



We have also heard reports that GSA may undertake a review of certain elements of the per diem methodology, including the determination of the geographic boundaries for "non-standard areas" that receive higher rates, but confirmation of those reports and details of any such review are not yet available. We will share more information as soon as it becomes available. 
  
AH&LA will continue to work aggressively with government officials to advance our industry's position and reinforce the need to ensure rates reflect true economic conditions. Government travel is incredibly important to our industry and we continue to share with GSA the importance of maintaining per diems at sustainable rates. 
 
If you have any additional questions about today's announcements or the rates in general, please contact Craig Kalkut at (ckalkut@ahla.com).

*Footnotes
  1. Traveler reimbursement is based on the location of the work activities and not the accommodations, unless lodging is not available at the work activity, then the agency may authorize the rate where lodging is obtained.
  2. Unless otherwise specified, the per diem locality is defined as"all locations within, or entirely surrounded by, the corporate limits of the key city, including independent entities located within those boundaries."
  3. Per diem localities with county definitions shall include"all locations within, or entirely surrounded by, the corporate limits of the key city as well as the boundaries of the listed counties, including independent entities located within the boundaries of the key city and the listed counties (unless otherwise listed separately)."
  4. When a military installation or Government-related facility (whether or not specifically named) is located partially within more than one city or county boundary, the applicable per diem rate for the entire installation or facility is the higher of the rates which apply to the cities and/or counties, even though part(s) of such activities may be located outside the defined per diem locality.
  5. Meals and Incidental Expenses, see Breakdown of M&IE Expenses for important information on first and last days of travel.