As I wrote in Sunday’s column, the country’s mood has turned Puritanical when it comes to travel by bailed-out bankers. The U.S. Travel Association has responded with a series of news releases, reminding Congress that jobs are at stake and decrying the current “witch-hunt mentality.” The association also has issued its suggestions for deciding when a meeting, event or incentive program is a junket and when it’s a legitimate travel expense. Here are some excerpts from the association’s suggested policy:

• The amount spent for an employee performance incentive/recognition event shall not exceed two (2) percent of the total compensation of eligible participants or 10 percent of total award earners’
  compensation.
• At least 90 percent of incentive program attendees shall be other than senior executives (as defined
  by applicable Treasury Department guidelines) from the host organization.
• All internal meetings or events attended only by senior executives (as defined by applicable Treasury Department guidelines) and/or board members shall be devoted to specific business purposes, and participating senior executives shall be responsible for any expenses incurred for non-business related activities.

“Legitimate business purposes,” the guidelines say, include product-launch events, employee meetings “to align vision, strategy and tactics,” employee-recognition events, trade shows and company-sponsored charity events. The association’s guidelines seem pretty common-sense, but they’re also broad. It seems like almost any trip, except for Dennis Kozlowski’s birthday party,  could fit into one of the permitted categories.