In September, Kerin McKinnon, Vice President of Business Development at Atlas Travel, attended the American Society of Travel Advisors (ASTA) Conference for Legislative Day in Washington, D.C. The event brought together over 200 ASTA members from 42 states, united in their mission to shape travel policy.
Atlas Travel services a wide spectrum of companies throughout Massachusetts, supported by a dedicated team of employees. With such a robust presence in the travel sector, Kerin was honored to voice their interests and concerns on Capitol Hill.
During this event, Kerin and other ASTA attendees met with four congressional offices, including Congressman Seth Moulton (6th District) and Congressman Bill Keating (9th District), as well as the senate offices of Senators Elizabeth Warren and Ed Markey.
While ASTA attendees typically meet with congressional staff to discuss their legislative priorities, this occasion allowed them to also converse directly with both Congressmen Moulton and Keating. The conversations centered on two crucial pieces of proposed legislation:
- Flight Refund Fairness Act: This bill aims to establish a seven-day refund policy for travel agencies, mirroring the consumer protections currently in place to enhance fairness and support for agencies navigating refund processes.
- ACPAC Modernization Act: This act seeks to amplify the voice of the travel agency community within the Aviation Consumer Protection Advisory Committee (ACPAC), advocating for an additional seat on the committee, which historically consisted of only four committee members, to ensure adequate representation.
Both legislative proposals are bipartisan initiatives that come with no financial cost and already have sponsors in the House. ASTA members are actively seeking additional co-sponsors and sponsors in the Senate to advance these important measures.
Participating in this democratic process serves as a powerful reminder of the impact of advocacy and the importance of being heard on Capitol Hill. Kerin expressed gratitude for the opportunity to represent the travel community and looks forward to closely monitoring the evolution of these bills.
