Background to .travel
  • What is .travel?
    .travel is the Internet top level domain exclusively for businesses, organizations and individuals in the travel industry. .travel will register domain names with the extension, “.travel ”, for example, “discoveryholidays.travel”.
  • What is a Domain Name?
    A domain name is a label that represents a string of numbers called an "Internet Protocol (IP) address." Domain names must be unique. Thus, for example, there can be only one "majestic.travel".
  • What is a Top Level Domain (TLD)?
    A top level domain is the word or letters that come after the last "dot" in a domain name or Internet address. The most commonly known top level domains are ".com", ".net" and ".org". More recent additions include ".biz", ".museum", or ".info". There are also country-specific top level domains (ccTLDs), such as ".uk" for the United Kingdom and ".jp" for Japan .travel, then, is a TLD.

    kyoto protocol summary

  • What is ICANN?
    Created In 1998 by the U.S. Department of Commerce to assume responsibility for centralized technical coordination functions of the Internet, ICANN (Internet Corporation for Assigned Names and Numbers) is the global, non-profit, private sector body responsible for coordinating the Domain Name System (DNS) to ensure that it continues to function effectively. ICANN'S mission is to protect the stability, integrity and utility of the DNS and the one authoritative root on behalf of the global internet community. It is responsible for development of consensus policies, which include those that allow the orderly introduction of the new TLDs . The new TLDs are intended to alleviate issues such as cyber-squatting and trademark infringement, but also to create innovative new methods of search, navigation, and domain names distribution to add value services. Taken together, these improvements represent next generation of the Internet. Some examples of the new TLDs recently authorized by the ICANN in the last round are ".museum" (exclusively used for museums), and ".coop" (for cooperatives). Further information concerning ICANN and its governance process can be found at the ICANN website, www.icann.org.
  • What is the DNS?
    The Internet Domain Name System -- in its simplest definition--helps users to find their way around the Internet. Every computer on the Internet has a unique address--just like a telephone number--which is a rather complicated string of numbers called its "IP address". The DNS makes locating a server easier by allowing a familiar string of letters (a domain name) to be used instead of arcane IP addresses, e.g., icann.org, instead of 192.84.65.30. It is the uniqueness of the domain name that makes it possible for your messages to get to your intended recipients.
  • How will .travel be different from other TLDs such as ".com"?
    Dot-com domain names are registered on a first-come-first-served basis, with no requirement that registrants meet any registration criteria. By contrast, eligibility to hold a .travel domain name requires that the registrant be a verified business or organization operation in the travel industry. Prior to 2001, the principal alternatives to the “.com” TLD were the country code TLDs e.g., .us (USA) .de (Germany); these country code TLDs are not suitable for many travel-related businesses which deal in global markets. Moreover, these TLDs do not apply criteria to ensure the validity of a business or organization as a precondition to domain name registration. .travel will be an exclusive space for the travel and tourism industry on the Internet, with every .travel registrant being authenticated before it is given a domain name(s).
  • With a .travel domain, would I keep my .com, (.net or .org) domain name?
    You may want to continue to maintain your current domain name(s) for a period of time because it is generally useful to have multiple channels for users to find your web site. The size of your business will dictate how many .travel and other domain names you will ultimately want. Technically it is a simple matter to "point" your current domain addresses to your new .travel name (in the same manner as physical mail is forwarded from your old address to your new one). However, over time your customers and contacts will become familiar with your .travel domain (brand) name. Therefore, once the transition has been made, your .travel address could become your single home address.