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WASHINGTON, D.C. — ASTA members got to try their hand at being lobbyists for a day on Wednesday during the Society’s annual Legislative Day.
Participants were invited to first attend several training sessions at the Watergate Hotel, then on Wednesday they descended on Capitol Hill for a series of meetings with their representatives.
“You should be commended,” Zane Kerby, ASTA president and CEO, said to the agents in attendance. “There are 320 million Americans. A tiny, tiny fraction of them are going to go up on the hill and do what you’re going to do today, but you’re probably the only travel agent or agency owner or cruise line executive that they will see all year.”
Meeting face-to-face with representatives is important, he said, so they can put names to the faces of the constituents who put them in office, and hear about the issues that matter to them.
“You’re there to remind them that you’re watching them as they vote on issues that are important to your business,” he said.
Agents were briefed on the issues ASTA decided to focus on at Legislative Day this year: the FAA Reauthorization bill and ensuring agents do not face more mandatory disclosures when selling air travel; the Travel Agent Retail Fairness Act, a recently introduced bill that would enable some agencies to qualify for a retail exemption from overtime regulations; and the Freedom to Travel to Cuba Act, which would repeal all restrictions on travel to Cuba.
Eben Peck, the Society’s senior vice president of government and public affairs, told attendees that ASTA had a longer list of issues, but narrowed the focus to three timely topics.
During the morning’s sessions, agents were given briefings on each issue and given a chance to ask questions before heading to Capitol Hill. They were also offered some advice from insiders, like Roy Schultheis, chief of staff to U.S. Rep. Carlos Curbelo (R-Fla.).
Schultheis emphasized that the agents’ attendance was important to their representatives.
“We do need to see you and hear from you,” he said, pointing out that what the agents say helps set their representatives’ agendas and priorities.
In their meetings on Capitol Hill, agents focused on educating their representatives on the issues, asking for their support, and forging relationships to build on in the future. They also gave each representative a summary of the issues provided by ASTA for future reference.
Christopher Dane, president of Hickory Global Partners, was attending Legislative Day this year for the third time.
“The whole process to me was fascinating and valuable,” he said. “They actually listen, and they want to know [about issues affecting agents].”
This year, over 100 agents participated in Legislative Day. Earlier in the week, ASTA also held its Premium Business Summit and Corporate Advisory Council Meeting in Washington. This year marked the first time all three events were held in the same week, which ASTA billed as its Capitol Summit 2017.
Sоurсе: travelweekly.com
