GSA scandal continues to hurt meeting market
In the wake of the GSA scandal, the US Office of Management and Budget in a memo has proposed cutting travel budgets for government agencies by 30% every year through 2016. That is 10% deeper than previously ordered cuts.
"Other parts of the memo allow federal travel to continue to take place but with added oversight and internal controls," according to Meetings Focus.
These include requiring deputy secretaries to review any conference where the agency spending could exceed $100,000; prohibiting agencies from spending over $500,000 on a conference unless the agency’s secretary approves a waiver; and requiring agencies to post publicly each January on the prior year’s conference spending, including descriptions of agency conferences that cost more than $100,000.
The directive comes a few weeks after the US House and Senate passed separate bills to cut and freeze for the next five years some federal travel and meeting spending. That move was in response to a controversial 2010 GSA event held in Las Vegas that resulted in several congressional hearings and the resignation of GSA administrator Martha Johnson.
US Travel is concerned about the proposed cuts, noted Roger Dow, president and CEO, in a written statement to the industry.
"We will continue to monitor this issue closely," he said, "and work with the administration to mitigate any adverse impacts to travel."
By David Wilkening
David
Vegas’s Billion-Dollar Secrets – What They Don’t Want Tourists to Know
Visit Florida’s New CEO Bryan Griffin Shares His Vision for State Tourism with Graham
Chicago’s Tourism Renaissance: Graham Interviews Kristin Reynolds of Choose Chicago
Graham Talks with Cassandra McCauley of MMGY NextFactor About the Latest Industry Research
Destination International’s Andreas Weissenborn: Research, Advocacy, and Destination Impact
Graham and Don Welsh Discuss the Success of Destinations International’s Annual Conference
Graham and CEO Andre Kiwitz on Ventura Travel’s UK Move and Recruitment for the Role
Brett Laiken and Graham Discuss Florida’s Tourism Momentum and Global Appeal
Graham and Elliot Ferguson on Positioning DC as a Cultural and Inclusive Global Destination
Graham Talks to Fraser Last About His England-to-Ireland Trek for Mental Health Awareness
Kathy Nelson Tells Graham About the Honour of Hosting the World Cup and Kansas City’s Future
Graham McKenzie on Sir Richie Richardson’s Dual Passion for Golf and His Homeland, Antigua
ADS PRO 
Phocuswright reveals the world's largest travel markets in volume in 2025
Cyclone in Sri Lanka had limited effect on tourism in contrary to media reports
Higher departure tax and visa cost, e-arrival card: Japan unleashes the fiscal weapon against tourists
Singapore to forbid entry to undesirable travelers with new no-boarding directive
Euromonitor International unveils world’s top 100 city destinations for 2025