The Society of Government Travel Professionals was established in Washington, D.C. in 1984, as the Society of Travel Agents in Government (STAG).
SGTP and its members have been at the forefront of the evolution and advancement of government travel management from its inception in the early 1980’s.
The Federal Government, in response to airline deregulation and access to travel data from the computer reservation systems (CRS) initiated programs to gain control of the travel process and budget.
Travel professionals worked with government officials on those initiatives to create programs that were mutually beneficial – not always an easy task.
The most formidable obstacle was communication between government and industry.
Government personnel endeavored to understand the complexities of the travel industry as industry professionals maneuvered through the maze of government rules, regulations and business practices.
SGTP recognized very early that a forum for open communication was essential to realize the mutual goal of successful government travel management.
The first STAG Annual Conference in 1984 showed just how much both partners had to learn about the other in order to proceed with a logical progression of programs to truly affect the direction of travel management.
The first Annual Education Conference was proposed for the summer of 1984 to provide informational seminars for government personnel about the travel industry and to give government officials an opportunity to explain the complicated nature of government contracting for goods and services.
These annual events are now in their 24th year. Please visit The Society of Government Travel Professionals site for more information.