## Federal Traveler Survey

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## The General Services Administration is reviewing the method by which Per Diem Travel Allowances are determined. The Government Wide Per Diem Advisory Board would like your opinion. Please answer the following survey based on your travel experiences while on government business. Your responses will remain confidential. 

Thank you for your service.

GSA Governmentwide Per Diem Advisory Board (August 2002)

## 

1\) My job function

a)  DOD Military Travelers

b)  DOD Civilian Traveler

c)  Federal Civilian Government Traveler

d)  Cost Reimbursable Contractor

e)  Other \_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_ (Please
    specify)

2\) My position in the organization

a)  Line Employee (E1-E6, GS1-GS6)

b)  Supervisor (E7-E9, W1-W5, GS7-GS10)

c)  Management (O1-O6, GS11-13)

d)  Upper Management (Executive Service,O7 and above, GS 14 and above,
    Professional )

3\) Number of overnight trips per year

> a\) 5 or less
>
> b\) 5-10
>
> c\) 10-20

e)  More than 20

4\) Average Length of stay

a)  Overnight

b)  2-3 nights

c)  5 nights

d)  6 nights or more

5\) How do you book your hotel rooms when traveling on official
business?

> a\) Through my agency's travel agency (with my air and car)
>
> b\) My agency provides desktop software for booking travel
>
> c\) Through hotel brand internet site
>
> d\) Through "generic" internet travel site (Orbitz, Travelocity,
> Priceline, etc.)
>
> e\) By calling hotel directly (or calling hotel reservations center)
>
> f\) Other \_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_ (Please specify)

6\) In my US travel, my destinations are mainly:

a)  Downtown areas of larger cities

b)  Suburban locations

c\) Airport areas

d\) Military bases

e\) Rural, isolated areas

e)  All of the above

7\) I regularly travel to these U.S. states (check all that apply)

(List of States)

8\) I regularly travel to these U.S. Cities (check all that apply)

(List of Cities)

9\) Assuming several hotels are offering rates at or below Per Diem for
your trip, please rank the other factors that go into your decision,
based on order of importance.

\_\_ Price of hotel (I look for the lowest price)

\_\_ Price of hotel (I look for the highest price -- at or below Per
Diem)

\_\_ Location (close to destination)

\_\_ Hotel Brand

\_\_ Frequent Travel Program

\_\_ Recommendations of fellow employees

\_\_ Health Club

\_\_ Safety

\_\_ Other \_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_ (Please specify)

10\) Do the lodging allowances generally provide enough money for you to
find acceptable hotels for your trip, when your destination is a
downtown location?

a\) More than enough -- I always find good hotels at per diem rates

b\) Adequate -- I usually can find a hotel at the approved rates

> c\) Less than adequate -- I usually have to search for an acceptable
> hotel at the Per Diem rates

d\) Never enough -- I always have trouble finding hotels at government
rates

11\) Do the lodging allowances generally provide enough money for you to
find acceptable hotels for your trip, when your destination is NOT a
downtown location?

a\) More than enough -- I always find good hotels at per diem rates

b\) Adequate -- I usually can find a hotel at the approved rates

> c\) Less than adequate -- I usually have to search for an acceptable
> hotel at the Per Diem rates

d\) Never enough -- I always have trouble finding hotels at government
rates

12\) In the event that you find it difficult to find a hotel room within
the per diem rate, do you feel this is due to:

> a\) Hotels will not honor government rate because they dislike
> government
>
> travelers and want customers with more "spending power".

b\) Special events in the city have "pushed" the hotel rates up

c\) Per Diem allowance is much too low for the area

d\) Lack of good and/or safe hotels in the area

> e\) Seasonal prices in the area exceed Per Diem allowance

f)  Other
    \_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_

> (Please Specify)

13\) How often are you forced to spend more money than the Per Diem
allowance, in order to find adequate lodging to complete your mission?

a)  Almost never

b)  Once or twice per year

c)  Once a month

d)  Almost always

14\) GSA surveys medium quality hotels (2 Star and 3 Star) to set the
per diem rates. In general, do you feel the quality of hotels that the
Per Diem rates provide for are clean, safe, and comfortable.

\_\_\_ Yes

\_\_\_ No

15\) Do you feel the restraints imposed by the Per Diem limits make
traveling for the government a good value for the taxpayer or an extreme
burden for the traveler?

a)  Government and taxpayer receive good value, and I have no travel
    problems based on the Per Diem rates

b)  Government and taxpayer receive good value, but travel under these
    restrictions is not pleasant.

c)  If the government spent a little more, the taxpayer would really get
    a better value because the travelers would better served.

d)  Traveling on government business is very difficult because of the
    low allowances we receive. I avoid it whenever I can.

16\) Are there certain cities that you travel to that need to have
seasonal Per Diem (rather than a flat-year round Per Diem) set for them.

(Select all that apply)

17\) GSA sets the per diem rates for the continental United States
(CONUS). Are you aware of how to lodge a complaint with GSA in regards
to per diem, and if so have you done so?

a\) No -- I did not know that I could lodge a complaint with GSA

b\) Yes -- I did know I could lodge a complaint, but have never done so.

c\) Yes -- I have lodged a complaint/suggestion with GSA in regards to

> Per Diems

18\) GSA has set seasonal rates in some cities. Do you think seasonal
rates make it easier to find hotel rooms when you are traveling or just
confuse the issue?

a\) Seasonal rates make it much easier to find a hotel

b\) Seasonal rates make it somewhat easier to find a hotel

c\) Seasonal rates don't seem to make finding a hotel easier

d\) Seasonal rates just confuse me and/or the hotels

19\) GSA has set a \$55 per diem for CONUS areas outside of designated
(high use) destinations. Is \$55 an adequate rate to find hotel rooms in
most locations where it applies?

a\) \$55 rates are accepted by the hotels in most areas with no
problems.

b.  I struggle to find \$55 in most areas I travel to

c.  I never can find a decent hotel for \$55

20\) GSA sets a Meal Per Diem of \$28 to \$44 (depending on location)
The CONUS meal rate is \$28 per day. Do you find the allowances provided
adequate, or do you find yourself having to spend more than allowed for
meals when traveling/

a)  Meal rates are fine; I usually do not use all of the allowance.

b)  Meal rates are adequate.

c)  Meal rates are somewhat below current prices and I have to be
    careful where I eat.

d)  Meal rates are much too low.

21\) GSA sets a Per Diem Incidental Expense rate of \$2.00 per day. Does
this amount meet your needs?

a)  \$2.00 Per Day is adequate

b)  \$2.00 Per Day does not cover my incidental expenses

22\) Any additional comments in regards to Per Diem Lodging, Meals or
Incidental Expense rates:

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Thank you for participating!