DoD Dine Smart Program Pilot

Defense Travel Management Office - The DoD Center for Travel Excellence

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Travel Programs

Travel Programs > Dining

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Dining Fact Sheet

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The Dinova app lets you filter by safety
protocols and maps restaurants nearby
to help you find the perfect place to eat.
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Introducing DoD Dine Smart Traveler Rewards

Enroll today to earn points towards gift cards every time you dine at participating restaurants and pay with your Government Travel Charge Card when on official travel. It just takes two minutes to sign up. Click here to enroll.

DoD Dine Smart Program

DoD Dine Smart is a preferred dining program that earns the Department of Defense rebates on meal expenses when travelers use their Government Travel Charge Card (GTCC) to pay at participating restaurants. Since DoD policy requires travelers to use their GTCC for all official travel expenses, including meals, it is easy to participate.

How it Works

Enroll

Visit dod.dinova.com
to register with
myDinova Rewards

Search

Use Dinova’s mobile app to search 20,000+ participating restaurant locations

Dine+Charge

Enjoy your food and use your Travel Card – all TDY meals
at Dinova restaurants count

Earn

Get 1 point for every $1 you spend on your Travel Card at in-network restaurants

DoD Dine Smart operates through Dinova, a dining network with more than 20,000 participating restaurant locations throughout the United States. To earn rebates for DoD, travelers just have to pay their restaurant check with their Government Travel Charge Cards. Travelers can also register for DoD Dine Smart Traveler Rewards to earn points that can be redeemed for gift cards.

Travelers can search for in-network restaurants through Dinova’s mobile restaurant locator app, which is DISA-approved for download on DoD-issued devices, or through Dinova’s online search tool. The app also offers filters for safety protocols, such as mask requirements, available outdoor seating, curbside takeaway, and drive thru availability.

DoD Dine Smart Traveler Rewards

DoD travelers, who sign up for DoD Dine Smart Traveler Rewards, earn points every time they use their Government Travel Charge Cards to pay for meals at participating restaurants, while on official travel. Rewards points can then be redeemed for gift cards. With a one-time enrollment, your Government Travel Charge Card is linked to the Rewards program, and your points are automatically tracked. Click here to register now.

Policy

Although the use of DoD Dine Smart restaurants when traveling is not a requirement, your use of the Government Travel Charge Card for all expenses, including meals, when TDY/TAD is required by the Joint Travel Regulations (JTR), paragraph 010204.

Frequently Asked Questions

1. How can I earn points to get a free gift card?

First, sign up for the DoD Dine Smart Traveler Rewards program through the Dinova app or by following this link: dod.dinova.com. Then, when on official travel, use your Government Travel Charge Card to pay for your meal at restaurants in the Dinova network – you earn 1 point for every $1 spent. Your reward points will be tracked automatically and can be monitored through the app or at dod.dinova.com.

To redeem points, you’ll log into the myDinova Rewards site, select the gift card you want for the amount relative to the points you’ve earned, and the electronic gift card will be delivered to your email address or to any recipient of your choosing within 72 hours.

NOTE: Use of your Government Travel Charge Card for all meals when you are on official travel is a policy requirement. If you don’t use your Travel Card to pay for your meals while on official travel, not only are you non-compliant, you cannot get retroactive credit toward points for your meals. You must use your Travel Card at the time of the transaction.

2. What are the benefits of using the program?

There are several benefits for using the program. First, the Department earns rebates each time a traveler uses their Government Travel Charge Card to pay for meals at Dinova network restaurants. Second, the DoD Dine Smart Traveler Rewards program allows travelers to earn gift cards, based on their meal expenses at participating restaurants, while on official travel.

3. What’s the difference between DoD Dine Smart and Dinova?

DoD Dine Smart is a Department of Defense preferred dining program that is powered by Dinova, a dining network with over 18,000 participating restaurant locations throughout the United States. To use DoD Dine Smart, you’ll access the Dinova website or mobile app to search for participating network restaurants. Also, the DoD Dine Smart Traveler Rewards program is managed through the myDinova Rewards app or at dod.dinova.com.

4. Am I required to use my Government Travel Charge Card to pay for meals when on official travel?

Yes. The Joint Travel Regulations §010204 states, “The Government Travel Charge Card Regulations require a travel cardholder to use the Individually Billed Account GTCC to pay for all authorized expenses related to government travel” including meals.

5. Can DoD see what I buy at restaurants when I use my Government Travel Charge Card?

No. Restaurants do not provide data on what you order. The only data shared is the name of the restaurant, its location, and final cost. We will not know if you have a glass of wine or beer!

6. Are DoD travelers automatically enrolled in the DoD Dine Smart Traveler Rewards program? Is it mandatory?

Participation in DoD Dine Smart Traveler Rewards is neither automatic nor required. DoD travelers must opt-in in order to participate and accumulate points. The DoD Dine Smart program rebates occur automatically; the DoD earns rebates on Dinova restaurant meals paid for with GTCCs regardless of whether or not the individual traveler decides to participate in the DoD Dine Smart Traveler Rewards program.

7.How does Dinova know when DoD employees dine in-network?

When you sign up for DoD Dine Smart Traveler Rewards, through the myDinova app, and register your GTCC, your card number is encrypted and then used to identify only yourdining transactions. Dinova uses this encrypted information to award points on your total transaction amount and calculates any bonus points from special promotions, as applicable. You don’t have to show your military ID or CAC.

8. My favorite restaurant does not participate in the program. Can it be invited to join?

Absolutely! We continue to work with Dinova to encourage restaurants, where DoD travelers already dine, to join the program. If you would like to make a recommendation, send an email to support@mydinova.com
.

9. I’m concerned about downloading the app onto my DoD-issued telephone. Is it really OK?

Yes, both the iPhone and Android Apps are DISA-approved for download on DoD-issued devices.

10.What should a DoD Dine Smart Traveler Rewards participant do if their email address changes?

You have the ability to edit your email address by visiting your myDinova Account Profile page at dod.dinova.com and updating the email associated with your account.