July 20, 2012 (Written by Waldorf Astoria) – Your help is needed in opposing a proposed change in the way federal per diem rates are calculated. The U.S. General Services Administration (GSA) is considering removing “upper upscale” hotels (which would include the Hilton Hotels & Resorts and Embassy Suites brands, among others) from its per diem rate formula calculation. This could reduce the lodging per diem rate for federal travelers as much as 30% in major markets, which could cause all brands to see less government revenue. In urban core markets, full-service hotels will likely be priced out of range for federal travelers.