not sure I'm following this statement?

It's based on my experience and my husband's experience, on separate government contracts with smallish companies (his was defense, mine health care/pharma related). The contracting officers see their big companies(Pfizer, Northrup Grumman) getting contracted per diem rates and don't believe the small guys don't get the same thing.

Marriott allows government employees to use the government rate for official travel and for leisure travel. It would be illegal or, at least, a serious violation of government travel regulations for a government employee to use a government credit card for personal (leisure) travel.

My opinion only ... There has to be something basically wrong about using Government rates for leisure travel !!

Yeah, this has been a pet peeve of mine for ages. Contractors on legitimate gov business can't use the rate, gov employees travelling for fun on weekend can.

Marriott's call, but makes no sense to me.

No matter how many exclamation points are used, Marriott has explicitly granted this privilege to government employees and the military. The United States Office of Government Ethics has determined that it is an acceptable practice. http://www.oge.gov/DisplayTemplates/...ub.aspx?id=921
http://www.marriott.com/File%20Block...eals/chart.htm

And it is not like it costs the taxpayer anything.

There were two .. Sorry :) it's the thought that's counts !! Gov rates are for business not pleasure. Sorry if it affects your travel plans ;)

1. Thanks for your sympathy, but it doesn't affect my travel plans.
2. You mean, "according to 4getofn, Gov rates are for business not pleasure?" Not sure of the impact of that, but don't you think it should be up to Marriott to decide who qualifies for its government rates?

Most other hotels have similar policies.

The "office of government ethics" says its okay :) hahaha

You're entitled to your opinion, but I'm guessing if OGE had found it wasn't okay, you would have been the first to post that info, and without the ha's. BTW, still don't get your position. It's Marriott's government rate. In our free enterprise system, they get to decide their own rules and to decide who gets to use the rate, and when.

Note exceptions, IGH (Holiday Inn, etc.) and Choice hotels (Comfort, etc.) and Starwood (Sheraton, etc.) are all official travel only, not leisure.

Marriott's government rates are a marketing tool. Nothing more, nothing less. They are implemented in a way that can be confusing/frustrating, but they are not official or actually sanctioned by the government in any way.