Under the banner of the American Society of Travel Advisors (ASTA), travel agency executives and industry advocates came together in Washington, D.C. for ASTA Legislative Day 2023.
Legislative Day (“Leg Day”) is a member-only event that brings travel industry leaders directly to members of Congress to discuss the top policy issues that impact their businesses, work life and even the client's travel experience. Before attending congressional meetings pre-scheduled by ASTA, travel advisors are given exclusive training to make sure they’re a confident travel advisor advocate.
Leg Day attendees—over 225 travel advisors plus supplier partners registrants from all 50 states—took their message to Capitol Hill, sharing ASTA’s stance on critical issues facing the corporate and leisure travel economy. The event featured over 200 meetings with members of Congress and staff.
“When it comes to the government, you face a choice—engage in the process or put your head in the sand, leave the field to the opposition and hope for the best. Starting well before COVID hit, ASTA and our members have engaged tirelessly, both in D.C. and in the states, and we have a series of wins to show for it,” said Zane Kerby, ASTA president & CEO. “By showing Congress who we are, who we employ and that we are paying attention, the government will understand that travel advisors watch out for the traveling public. Legislative Day is the most important way to send that message.”
Policy priorities discussed included ensuring that ASTA’s priorities are maintained in the multi-year Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) reauthorization bill (H.R. 3935/S. 1939), especially those related to airline refunds, the Department of Transportation’s Aviation Consumer Protection Advisory Committee and streamlining offline air consumer disclosures; and supporting the U.S. Department of Commerce’s $3.5 million funding request to set up the office of the new Assistant Secretary of Commerce for Travel and Tourism.
“Policymaking is a marathon, not a sprint,” said Eben Peck, ASTA’s executive vice president of advocacy. “Our goal is to raise awareness about the critical role travel advisors play in the broader travel and tourism industry, and to secure support from as many legislators as possible for policies that will help our members’ businesses recover post-COVID. Legislative Day is the most impactful thing our members can do to help make that happen.”
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