New domain for travel trade likely this year
WTTC Summit Special: The travel could trade could have its own internet domain later this year, according to its promoters. The proposal is for a ‘dot-travel’ sponsored top level domain name to be launched specifically for bona fide travel and tourism operators’ web sites.
Ron Andruff, CEO of Tralliance, told travel business leaders at the Fourth Summit of the World Travel and Tourism Council in Doha, Qatar, that a consultation period had been extended by two weeks, but the plans were on track after a period of delay since the original application was made.
The domain will be structured as a searchable directory and subscribers will be required to provide details of their functions and offers. The application for the establishment of the dot-travel domain has been submitted to the Internet Corporation for Assigned Names and Numbers (ICANN), the body which supervises global Internet domain registrations. It is available for public viewing and comment on the ICANN web site, www.icann.org
The Travel Partnership Corporation (TTPC), a non-profit corporation, has been formed to promote the addition to the Internet of a new sponsored top-level domain (sTLD) to be known as .travel; and, to recommend policies and practices concerning the administration of the registered domain names in the .travel sTLD. TTPC’s interim borad of directors is chaired by Jean-Claude Baumgarten, President of the WTTC, and includes Kevin Dobby, Senior Vice President of IATA.
“The Public Forum, part of the award process, which ICANN previously advised would close on April 30th, 2004, has been extended by an additional 14 days to May 14, 2004” said Tralliance’s Ron Andruff. “However, importantly, ICANN also notes that the timeline, vis-à-vis the independent evaluation and contract phases, will continue as previously notified.. Therefore, May 1st marks the beginning of the 90-day evaluation phase, with awards anticipated on or around August 2004.”
TTPC and Tralliance Corporation have divided key dot-travel operations among specialist services. TTPC, will develop the .travel community through: creation of products and services, pricing, eligibility, name selection, dispute handling and communication. Tralliance will provide day-to-day management of the registry.
David Browne reporting from WTTC, Doha
Ginny McGrath
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