Welcome Letter

Welcome to a new fiscal year!

The Citi team has been active in supporting many of your 2024 fiscal year end activities and trust that you have successfully turned the page to focus on 2025.

The 2025 fiscal year will usher in another critical change across the SmartPay program with the announcement of Dave Shea’s retirement at the end of January. Given Dave’s long-standing tenure with SmartPay and his 40 year career with GSA, it is the end of an era! We certainly wish him all of the very best in retirement and thank him for the many years of leadership of the program.

We hope you had a happy holiday season and the opportunity to celebrate, re-charge and enjoy time with friends and family. The Citi team looks forward to hitting the ground running in January!

Dear DoD,

Welcome to the latest edition of our Department of Defense (DoD) Quarterly Newsletter where we want to keep you updated on the latest travel developments, provide insights to enhance program efficiency, and spotlight opportunities to optimize travel operations across the Department of Defense. As travel continues to play a critical role in supporting the mission of the DoD, we observed a number of noteworthy trends that shape our approach to travel management. Alongside these trends, we are excited to highlight self-servicing capabilities through CitiManager, enabling travelers to manage their accounts with greater flexibility and efficiency. These tools empower DoD personnel to streamline trip planning and card management, ensuring smoother operations and faster resolution of any travel-related challenges.

In the 4^th quarter of 2024, the following travel trends were observed:

• Increased Travel Volume: There was a notable rise in mission-critical travel, reflecting DoD’s commitment to global operations and strategic initiatives.
• Hotel Rates: The Americas experienced an increase in hotel rates during this period, impacting travel budgets and accommodation planning.
• Airlines: Commercial airlines reported an average load factor of 86.2% in August 2024, indicating high demand and fuller flights.
• Shift to Digital Tools: Many DoD travelers are increasingly adopting mobile and online tools for trip planning, booking, and expense management which help streamline workflows and improve the user experience.

These insights underscore the evolving landscape of DoD travel, providing valuable context for optimizing travel operations and addressing emerging challenges.

As we close out the year, we would like to thank the DoD for your partnership and dedication to excellence. Wishing you and your loved ones a joyful holiday season and a prosperous new year!

Warm Regards,

Yasi Farazad