The American Society of Travel Advisors (ASTA), along with advisor members, travel agency executives, and industry advocates, descended on Washington D.C. this week for its annual Legislative Day. The advocacy initiative brings travel industry leaders directly to Capitol Hill to discuss the top policy issues that affect their businesses and their clients' travel experience.

The lobbying effort will result in more than 200 meetings scheduled with congressional offices and ASTA members from around the country.

"Over the next two days, we head to Capitol Hill to share the stories of our businesses and our clients, highlighting that we are travel demand creators and a driving force of the American economy," said Zane Kerby, president & CEO of ASTA. "Engaging in the legislative process is imperative to ensure policy makers understand how the travel policies they create affect travel advisors–their constituents."

This year, advisors are seeking congressional support for two pieces of legislation endorsed by ASTA. Rep. Maria Salazar (R-FL), with the support of Reps. Dina Titus (D-NV) and Mark Alford (R-MO), introduced the Flight Refund Fairness Act (H.R. 9952), which ensures small business travel agencies are not responsible for refunding their clients for canceled flights until the agency receives the funds from the airlines.

"The Flight Refund Fairness Act recognizes that small businesses are the backbone of our nation's economy," Kerby said. "Ninety-eight percent of travel agencies are considered small businesses by the Small Business Administration, and those who use a travel advisor know they have someone in their corner working tirelessly to obtain their refund when a flight is canceled. A recent DOT rule puts the onus of providing that refund on travel agencies and would be catastrophic to these small businesses. ASTA wholeheartedly thanks Representatives Salazar, Titus and Alford for recognizing this unfair new policy with their introduction H.R. 9552."

ASTA members will also request co-sponsorship of the ACPAC Modernization Act (H.R. 3780), which would add a ticket agent seat to the Aviation Consumer Protection Advisory Committee at the US Department of Transportation.

"Since DOT regulates travel agencies as sellers of airline tickets," Kerby said, "travel advisors should have an opportunity to weigh in on policies that affect them. As more consumers turn to travel advisors for their travel needs, it has become increasingly clear that a ticket agent seat should be added to this committee."

As part of their congressional meetings, ASTA members will share with policymakers ASTA's fact sheet and 2024 legislative priorities. For more information, visit www.asta.org.