Packaged Travel/Third Party Booking Companies

When using travel services companies such as Travelocity or Expedia please use the following guidelines to ensure your expenses are allowable:

• Do not bundle any travel services regardless of destination. Do not book air, hotel and/or rental car on the same purchase. These companies do not provide sufficiently detailed receipts to satisfy the State’s auditing requirements, and are prohibited expenses.
• Do not book a hotel stay in Texas. These companies do not provide a breakdown of taxes and fees. As a tax exempt agency, we must be able to provide the State proof that no state taxes were paid. Any taxes or fees charged by travel service companies on hotel stays in Texas will be considered personal expenses.
• Also remember that travelers must use contracted vendors whenever possible.

Under no circumstances should a traveler package or bundle travel service purchases. Purchasing any combination of travel services (airfare, rental car and hotel accommodations, for example) in one transaction through a travel services website such as Travelocity or Expedia  are not allowable expenses. These companies do not provide receipts with enough detail to satisfy the State’s auditing requirements.