Travel groups congratulate Trump, set policy agendas: Travel Weekly

Travel industry groups took the opportunity to congratulate President-elect Donald Trump as they outlined their policy priorities for the next administration.

In a message to members, ASTA said there are still “many unknowns at the state and local level,” and that the races of some of its biggest allies on Capitol Hill were undecided as of Wednesday afternoon, including Jacky Rosen, a Democratic leader . senator in Nevada, and Republican Rep. from Oregon, Lori Chavez-DeRemer.

“As we continue to examine the results, one thing is certain: as global advocates for travel advisors for nearly a century, we have worked with countless administrations and conferences to advance the interests of travel professionals,” ASTA wrote. “We look forward to reintroducing ourselves to the Trump administration and new Cabinet members who will influence travel policy.”

With the Senate set to be controlled by the Republican Party, ASTA said Republican Senator Ted Cruz of Texas will most likely chair the Senate Committee on Commerce, Science and Transportation.

The Society also said its priorities remained largely the same. They include pushing lawmakers and regulators to reverse a policy that forces ticket agents to refund customers for flight cancellations before receiving that money from the airline, and reevaluating a Department of Labor overtime rule that would impose steep salary increases imposes on small businesses.

“We look forward to working with the Trump-Vance Administration and lawmakers from both parties at every level of government to keep the hotel industry, and the many thousands of small businesses and workers who power it, moving forward,” American Hotel & Kevin said Carey, interim CEO of the Lodging Association.

Carey listed several priority issues for the trade group, including supporting business-friendly tax rates, expanding workforce policies, combating regulatory overreach, protecting the hotel franchise model and ensuring fair competition among hotels and short-term rentals.

Airlines for America said it looks forward to working with the new administration “to advance policy priorities that will benefit American consumers, commerce and the economy.”

“Commercial aviation – including passenger airlines and cargo carriers – proudly accounts for five percent of the U.S. gross domestic product, directly employs one million people and supports more than ten million jobs nationwide,” the group said.