The ASTA Legislative Day 2024 commenced on September 16, 2024, at the National Press Club in Washington, D.C., attracting over 200 travel advisors. This event served as a platform for discussions on critical topics such as artificial intelligence in travel, corporate travel programs, and airline regulations [20f7b695].
ASTA President Zane Kerby underscored the significant role of travel advisors as economic drivers, particularly noting that Generation X and Baby Boomers primarily allocate their spending to groceries and travel. The statistics reveal that travel advisors are responsible for 59% of cruise bookings, 75% of tour packages, and 40% of air travel [20f7b695].
In 2023, travel advisors sold an impressive 735,000 air tickets daily, contributing to a total sales figure of $95.3 billion. Furthermore, gross travel agency bookings in the U.S. reached $115 billion in the same year, with projections indicating that by 2026, travel agency sales will account for 26% of the total travel market, valued at $141.3 billion [20f7b695].
The event also featured personal client experiences that highlighted the irreplaceable value of travel advisors in the industry. Discussions included challenges faced by American Airlines regarding their New Distribution Capability (NDC) rollout and the lengthy rulemaking process by the Department of Transportation (DOT) [20f7b695].
In conjunction with the ASTA Legislative Day, the GBTA U.S. Legislative Summit 2024, held earlier, focused on advocating for policies that support a sustainable future for business travel, emphasizing the economic impact of business travel, which contributes $484.4 billion annually to the GDP [46b63ad2]. Both events showcased the critical role of travel professionals in shaping the future of the travel industry and the economy at large.