Q: What do I do if the conference I am attending has a special conference or hotel rate?
A: You may still book a room directly through the conference organization to take advantage of such discounts. When Concur was implemented, SMU recognized that rates used for conferences are often discounted and therefore a general exemption was included in the travel policy. Conference hotels can be booked outside the Concur system but will need to be reported through the expense process, whether they are booked through an SMU travel card or through a personal credit card seeking reimbursement. As with all travel, a travel request must be submitted in advance noting that the conference hotel rate will be used. Travel requests and travel reports should be coordinated and cross referenced.
