Federal Travel Lodging Cap Rises to $113

New federal lodging per diem rates took effect Oct. 1, raising the standard nightly cap from $110 to $113, while 295 destinations have higher local limits. An Engine analysis of hotel rates found the allowance stretches furthest in some cities outside major hubs: 96% of rates in Aurora, Colorado, fit under its $203 cap, compared with 67% in Denver, and 85% in Irving, Texas, fit under Dallas’s $184 cap. By contrast, only 38% of analyzed rates in New York and Chicago and 44% in Boston fell within their caps, despite those cities having among the highest lodging limits. The findings suggest travelers may be able to find more lodging options by staying outside a costly city center.