ASTA Calls on Advisors to Seek Support for SAVE Act from House Members

The American Society of Travel Advisors (ASTA) is asking advisors to reach out to their House members to co-sponsor the SAVE Act. 

Last week, Representatives Mark Amodei (R-NV), Charlie Crist (D-FL,) Bill Pascrell (D-NJ), and Dina Titus (D-NV) introduced the Securing Access for Venue Equity (SAVE) Act, which would make travel agencies and other hard-hit businesses eligible for the Shuttered Venue Operators Grant program. 

According to ASTA, under this program, applicants can qualify for grants equal to 45% of their 2019 gross revenue, up to $10 million.  

ASTA is asking for advisors to help gather as many cosponsors of this bipartisan bill as possible by calling or emailing Congress through their grassroots portal. 

After passing in the House, the legislation will make its way to the Senate for approval.  

According to surveys from ASTA, travel agency business income was down 82 percent in 2020 as compared to 2019, and even factoring in the relief programs created by the CARES Act the average travel agency has laid off close to 60 percent of its staff.  

With government restrictions on travel multiplying by the day, without immediate action from Congress the very future of this part of the travel industry, virtually all of whom are small businesses and two-thirds of whom are women business owners, is at risk.