Jessica Klement is the Vice President of Advocacy at the American Society of Travel Advisors
Every profession needs champions, and in travel, those champions are the advocates who show up.
Advocacy is what turns industry experience into influence and passion into progress. After another successful ASTA Legislative Day, I’m reminded that while policy discussions occur in specific moments, advocacy itself is a continuous process. It’s what ensures travel advisors have a voice long after the meetings end.
ASTA is the only association dedicated solely to representing travel advisors and the travel agency industry on Capitol Hill, within federal regulatory agencies and in all 50 state capitals. Our focus is to make sure lawmakers and regulators understand what advisors do, why they matter and how policies can either help or hinder their ability to serve travelers.
As we often say, “If you’re not at the table, you’re on the menu.” It’s a phrase that captures the essence of advocacy. Decisions will be made with or without us, so your presence, your perspective and your stories are critical.
That’s why ASTA works year-round to provide the tools and opportunities for advisors to get involved. Whether through pre-written email templates, phone scripts or events like Legislative Day, we make advocacy accessible. You don’t have to be a policy expert to make a difference; you just have to be willing to share how proposed policies affect your business and your clients.
Jessica Klement, VP of Advocacy, ASTA. (Photo Credit: ASTA)
Our recent Legislative Day once again demonstrated how powerful that can be. More than 200 travel advisors and partners from across the country came together to meet with lawmakers and tell their stories. They represented an industry of more than 300,000 professionals who help travelers navigate the world safely, efficiently and confidently. When advisors speak with one voice, policymakers take notice.
But advocacy isn’t confined to a single day in Washington. Every week, new proposals emerge at the federal and state levels, some that could support our industry and others that could unintentionally create obstacles. Engaged travel advisors play a key role in helping ASTA identify potential challenges early and push for fair, informed outcomes.
That’s how we’ve been able to fight back against unnecessary state sales taxes on travel services, protect independent contractor relationships and promote policies that recognize the professional standards of advisors, such as expanding tax-deferred educational savings plans to include the ASTA Verified Travel Advisor program.
Policymaking is a living process built on ideas, dialogue and revision. Advocacy is what keeps that process connected to real people. It ensures that legislators understand the ripple effects of their decisions on small businesses, entrepreneurs and consumers. When travel advisors share their experiences, they bring those policies out of the abstract and into the real world.
While Legislative Day remains one of the most visible examples of ASTA’s advocacy work, and our next one will take place April 20–21, 2026, the spirit of advocacy endures every day in the conversations, letters and actions that shape our future.
When we show up, together and consistently, we make sure that travel advisors are not only at the table but helping to set it.
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