$35 here

I think it's a California thing. All of the companies I have worked for are based in California and have high meal per diem rates, as eating in California is expensive.

I'll never be completely done with Hilton (virtually impossible). But I'm no longer going to stay there when I have reasonable options.

Our T+E policy comes out as a net win for me so I'm not going to fight things like no room service (which I generally wouldn't order anyway). And if I had to order room service I would just have to fill out an exception (which no one would probably look at anyway) and it would get approved.

Marriott would likely murder small animals in order to get the kind of revenue your travel schedule offers, but elite status is considerably more difficult to get and maintain.

I would like the idea of having no pre-set limit on meals, just submit the receipt for what you spent. And don't be a :rolleyes: about it and eat out at $80 per plate restaurants every day. Sadly, they care more about limiting liability than making travel easier.

What a strange number. Perhaps your T&E department head is a fan of Hitchiker's or LOST?

My former employer (the one that introduced me to CO, miles, FT, etc..) didn't really have a per diem. I always traveled with the VP and she spared no expense. We once had a meal at the Beverly Hilton that came up to $430 for us 2 (wine and tip included). She had no idea it would be that much and offered to cover some of the bill but the big boss said don't worry about it. I kinda miss those days but that company was a sh!t show and now I actually make enough money to support myself so I'm better off.

My company has no daily limit. The client is paying T&E on my current rollout so I have to adhere to a $60 limit per day, which rises to $80 in certain cities. I once read an article that quoted a study that found, averaged out over time, employees with no limit but were required to submit all receipts, actually spent less on meals. It turns out that if a company imposes a daily limit, employees will attempt to spend up to the limit every day.

Our expense policy is up to $100 per day, which takes into account some of the cities where we do business. We are fortunate that receipts are not required for anything under $50. There have occasionally been some $49 "dinners" that have included little or no food. :eek:

Heading out to ATL. Later, Box.

They're got damned right about that one. :-:@:-):-:

I'm got kinda lucky with our policy. Before we were bought out managers were empowered and while there was a daily limit if you went over one day, under the next, but it average to at or under the limit it was all forgiven. After our buyout, but before the tentacles were fully wrapped around us I did that for one meal. I think I spend ~$50 one day and $30 the next and didn't get dinged for it.

A few months later a co-worker went over one day by $2 and had to cut a check for the company. Suffice to say the time spent figuring out what forms to fill out, filling out the forms and submitting it all during work hours cost more than the $2.

But, Policy Is The Law! :rolleyes:

My old company's per diem was $75 fixed. We got to take that home whether we spent it or not. I paid for my honeymoon with that money.

I'd likely murder small animals if I had to stay at that many Marriotts. :D

Yup. The company I work for is very much a "we trust our employees until they breach that trust" organization. We have unlimited sick/personal days but they reserve the right to question or have us validate any non-vacation absence.

A new member of management came in many moons ago, saw that policy, and tried to change it. HR ran a report that showed how many fewer days employees take off since they started this policy compared to the standard set number of days. Sure, it's harder to account for from a liability stand-point, but the productivity and morale is significantly higher.

Same goes with the T+E policy. Get the job done. Get it done with as minimal expense as possible while maintaining your standard quality of life when you're on the road, and no one really questions it. They have to put policies in writing, in case someone uses and abuses, but it's generally "use your best judgment."

I don't think I've ever spent more than $40 for supper when I wasn't entertaining someone (other than myself). But there's technically nothing to stop me from doing it other than my conscious.

Not if everyone keeps talking about it. :-:

Won 1000 Continental miles today:D