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Governor Arnold Schwarzenegger has directed that all government travel and expense reporting be transparent. In the spirit of this directive, the Department of General Services would like to remind government travelers of the benefits of the Statewide Travel and Meeting Management Program.
The DGS Statewide Travel and Meeting Management Program (STAMMP) utilizes a Business Travel Account (BTA) program that helps departments manage their travel costs. This is built around a centrally billed, cardless American Express (AMEX) account for airline, car rental, lodging and meeting and conference management. The BTA reduces travel expense claims (TEC) and includes customized accounting features to control costs. The program identifies opportunities for cost savings, economies of scale, and cooperative travel and meetings across departments and agencies.
The system includes the following benefits and safeguards:
- The ability to pre-audit trips either through State certified travel agencies and/or Southwest Airlines online booking tool (SWABIZ)
- Set travel cost limits
- Manage the reservation process for departments by their cost centers for air, car and lodging, by centrally billing through the BTA
- Monitor daily, weekly, monthly travel through the American Express online portal
- Produce pre-audit, post-audit, and travel agency reports, and travel manager/coordinator reports
- Bill travel expenses directly to each department
- Simplify and standardize travel expense claims (TEC) and reduce staff time
- Ensure compliance by making departments accountable for all travel through training and workshops
- Provide door-to-door coverage in case of an accident ($350,000) while on state business
- Produce volume reports for airline, car rental, lodging and state travel ad hoc reports
The American Express Government Card is also available for frequent State travelers. Users assume all charge liability.
The DGS Traveler Guide contains the following information that will assist state managers, supervisors and other interested personnel in enforcing state travel policies. Among other things, the Traveler Guide contains the following information:
About STAMMP
The DGS Statewide Travel and Meeting Management Program (STAMMP) was launched in July, 2008. STAMMP, which is administered via the Office of Fleet and Asset Management (OFAM), offers efficient and cost-effective travel and meeting management services to government entities, at no charge.
Overview of Services
The DGS Office of Fleet and Asset Management ( OFAM) assists State employees with their travel needs by obtaining the most economical rates available through the use of contracted travel-related services. Services include:
- Centrally billed travel-payment systems -- the American Express BTA, CRBTA, and MPA, and the Voyager fleet card
- YCAL and VCAL airfares, which include features such as guaranteed seating, and refundable tickets on popular airline routes (through Virgin America, Jet Blue, United, and US Air)
- The American Express government card
- Competitive rates on short-term commercial rental cars (through Enterprise Rent-A-Car and National/Alamo)
- Cost savings at lodging establishments that honor the State rate
- Travel agency services at a low fee per transaction.
Because each department manages its own travel program, policies may differ by department.
NOTE: Services are for Official State business use only. Commercial rental car contracts are intended to meet the short-term travel needs of State employees traveling on State business.
Information for first-time travelers
Renting a commercial rental car? Rent a compact or intermediate vehicle from an approved commercial rental car agency to stay within contracted daily maximum rates. See the Commercial Car Rental page.
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