The General Services Administration just didn't follow them. 

And the U.S. Travel Association has preemptively submitted suggested legislation on government travel in the wake of a scandal that has rocked the event sector. (Not sure what that is, click here.) The proposal would strengthen oversight of government conferences and ensure that federal agencies can still use meetings and conferences to provide valuable services. (For the full proposal, click here.)

U.S. Travel is now meeting with lawmakers on Capitol Hill to advocate its proposal, while dissuading members of Congress from supporting other measures that could have unintended consequences for the meeting industry. U.S. Travel is also continuing to focus resources on informing lawmakers of the value of meetings, events and conferences. 

The organization recommends that Congress: 

• Extend and enhance oversight provisions enacted in FY2012 by requiring federal agencies to report all conference-related expenditures and conference contracting procedures to its inspector general at the end of each fiscal year and
• Ensure that agencies select conference locations based solely on cost-effectiveness by permanently eliminating the “blacklisting” of American cities for government conferences and meetings.