I AGREED with Alice about the per diem. I'm one of the poor ones who cannot easily find $800 US in a couple of weeks. I've already brought it up as a problem with the travel staff.  However, the UN uses this system, and a lot of orgs follow the UN system with regard to travel.  

My company uses the UN system.

There is nothing that prevents advance payment of at least a certain percentage of the per-diem. Since we will all be in the same location, it could be done in cash in the local currency upon arrival (unless staff tells me that this is unfeasible ofr sume reason, like currency regulations of the host country). There should be no problem in implementing this in Los Angeles in October, for instance.

Cheers,

Roberto