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Government travel tool is featured at 2013 NIGP Forum
The WSCA-NASPO Travel Center is a program that brings exclusive negotiated rates on air, hotel and car reservations to all 50 states and qualifying political subdivisions. The program will be featured at the 2013 Expo of the NIGP Forum. The forum takes place Aug.24-28 in Orlando, Fla.
“WSCA-NASPO Travel Center’s online booking tool, developed by USTravel and GetThere, is a ‘one-stop shop’ for all qualified state employees,” said Tim Hay. Hay is cooperative development coordinator of the WSCA-NASPO cooperative purchasing organization.
Government travel budgets can benefit when travel managers use the travel center, said Hay. “States with unmanaged travel programs can take advantage of WSCA-NASPO preferred rates nationwide, potentially saving millions of dollars on travel.”
Through the Travel Center, state-qualified government travelers gain access to negotiated rates on airlines, car rentals and GSA per-diem rates at more than 13,000 properties nationwide. Current participating states save $2.4 million per year on their travel programs through the WSCA-NASPO online booking tool. The tool reduces reservation steps and increases overall booking efficiency, saving participants time and money, said Hay.
Go to booth 1135 at the 2013 NIGP Forum for information on the WSCA-NASPO Travel Center. This site also has information.
All the agreements and listings on the travel center site have been competitively solicited through the state of Oregon public procurement processes. The travel center contains the WSCA/NASPO lodging program of more than 11,000 properties nationwide honoring at or below per-diem rates for public employees on official travel status. The travel center also provides access to the three contracted nationwide vehicle rental companies and the WSCA/NASPO discounted air agreements.
All of these agreements are open to:
• All participating states*
• Any political sub-division in a participating state*
• Any political sub-division with permission from a non-participating state*
*Participating states are those states that have executed Participating Addendums with the Booking Tool, Vehicle Rental and Airline Contractors. Any state and political sub-division may use the WSCA/NASPO Lodging Program without the execution a Participating Addendum.
The WSCA-NASPO Cooperative Purchasing Organization (WSCA-NASPO), LLC is a subsidiary entity of the Lexington, Ky.-based National Association of State Procurement Officials (NASPO). The subsidiary manages NASPO’s national cooperative purchasing program.
