FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS
About Tralliance
1. What is Tralliance’s Mission?
Tralliance's mission is to manage and develop the .travel top-level domain, a segment of
the Internet devoted exclusively to the travel industry. The .travel domain gives
members of the travel industry improved visibility through two important avenues:
1. .travel Authentication; only authenticated travel industry participants may hold a
.travel domain name. This means that when consumers see a .travel domain name they will know that this is a bona fide travel entity which will give them greater confidence to conduct business online; and
2. a vertical travel-exclusive portal and search engine (www.search.travel) that is
built specifically for travel. It aggregates consumer relevant travel information that is built around destinations, which is ultimately how consumers buy travel.
Further information concerning Tralliance can be found at www.travel.travel or
www.tralliance.travel
About The Travel Partnership Corporation
2. What Is The Travel Partnership Corporation?
The Travel Partnership Corporation (TTPC) is a non-profit corporation formed for the
purpose of assisting in the development of policies for the .travel TLD. Membership in
TTPC is open to travel industry associations.
General Background Information on .travel
3. What is .travel?
.travel is the Internet top-level domain exclusively dedicated to businesses, organizations and individuals in the travel and tourism industry.
4. What is a Domain Name?
A domain name is used to provide a way to reach Internet services such as websites and email. Domain names must be unique. Thus, for example, there can be only one "majestic.travel".
5. 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".
6. What is ICANN?
ICANN stands for the Internet Corporation for Assigned Names and Numbers. ICANN is the global, non-profit, private sector body responsible for coordinating the Domain Name System (DNS) and is also responsible for centralized coordination of certain functions of the Internet, particularly top level domains and registrars.
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 address issues such as cyber-squatting and trademark infringement, but also to innovate new methods of search, navigation, and domain names distribution to add value services.
7. How is .travel different from other TLDs such as ".com"?
Dot-com domain names are registered 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 participant in the travel industry. .travel is an exclusive space
for the travel and tourism industry on the Internet, with every .travel registrant being
authenticated before licensing a .travel domain name(s). Each .travel domain name
must be used as the domain name for a website displaying travel content relevant to the domain name. The owner of the domain name has 60 days from registration to develop
their website. The .travel Registry will conduct audits to ensure continued compliance.
8. With a .travel domain, do 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
ultimately want. Technically, it is a simple matter to "point" your new .travel domain
addresses to your current ‘.com’ name. However, over time your customers and
contacts will become familiar with your .travel domain (brand) name. Once the transition
has been made, your .travel address could become your single home address.
Main Organizations Involved in .travel and their Roles
9. What is the .travel Registry?
The Registry is the body responsible for the registration of domain names in the TLD. The Registry is Tralliance Corporation.
10. What is a Registrar?
A Registrar is a business that is approved by ICANN to accept applications for registration of domain names by consumers. Registrars communicate registration requests to the applicable registry and, if the requested name is available, they complete the name registration with the Registry. Registrars take contact and administration data from a registrant and are responsible for renewing name registrations for a registrant.
Tralliance has approved a list of Registrars for the registration of .travel domain names.
11. What is an Authentication Provider?
Verification of eligibility is referred to as “Authentication.” Authentication is carried out by the Registry with the support of industry associations or an independent authenticating organization. These supporting bodies are referred to as “Authentication Providers.”
Authentication Providers carry out authentication for all applicants. All applicants must
select an Authentication Provider. In the case of industry associations that are acting as Authentication Providers, an applicant must be a member of the association in order for them to carry out authentication. In all other cases, the Registry provides authentication services or designates one or more authenticating parties.
Benefits for the Industry and Consumers
12. How do consumers benefit from the introduction of a .travel TLD?
Consumers know that the operators of .travel web sites have met published standards
as significant participants in the travel industry. Thus, consumers will immediately
recognize a .travel domain name as an ‘authentic’, validated travel and tourism entity
and, therefore, have greater confidence purchasing travel over the Internet through .travel web sites.
13. How does the travel industry benefit from this development?
Businesses that register .travel domain names are instantly seen by consumers as
recognized travel businesses with regard to conducting e-commerce transactions. This
serves the industry as well, since .travel enables the trade to confidently conduct
business with other .travel domain name holders that they may not know.
.travel registrants also benefit from the search engine and portal, www.search.travel, which enables consumers to search the web for valid travel information.
The .travel TLD, and www.search.travel are a means to increase revenues for all registrants across the full spectrum of travel providers and purveyors, through efficiently matching buyers and sellers.
14. My company currently has a ".com" name; why should I change to .travel?
Unlike “.com”, “.org”, “.co.uk” or the other top-level domains available on the Internet
today, .travel is an industry-restricted top-level domain which ensures that all .travel
Eligibility and Name Selection
15. Who is eligible to register a .travel name?
Any business, organization or individual who is a significant participant within one of twenty business sectors of the travel industry is eligible to register a name.
1. Airlines
2. Attractions/Theme Parks
3. Bed & Breakfast Houses
4. Bus/Taxi/Limousine Operators
5. Camp Facility Operators
6. Vehicle Rental Companies/Airport Specialty Car Park Companies
7. Computer Reservation/Travel Technology Providers
8. Convention & Visitor’s Bureaus
9. Cruise Lines
10. Ferries
11. Hotels/Resorts/Casinos 12. National Tourism Offices 13. Passenger Rail Lines 14. Restaurants
15. Tour Operators 16. Travel Agents 17. Travel Media
18. Travel-Consumer and Market Research Organizations 19. Travel Insurance
17. Can I register any name I want?
Yes, once authenticated, you may register any valid name that you want as long as
that domain name has not been licensed already. Please be advised that you will be
required to demonstrate proof of a working website doing travel related business
using your chosen .travel domain name(s) within 60 days of licensing.
Authentication and the Data Required
16. What is authentication?
All holders of a .travel name must be approved to hold a .travel name by having
their eligibility reviewed. That review of eligibility is called “authentication.”
17. How does .travel know that I’ve been authenticated?
All authentications are confirmed by .travel. You will be sent a Unique Identifying
Number (UIN) by .travel. You will use that number when you register any .travel
names in the future. Your UIN is permanent and will not change. It may be revoked if your eligibility changes.
18. Is my authentication valid forever?
No. Organizations can change. Your organization might merge, be sold or sell
assets during the time you hold a .travel. For that reason, you are required to
maintain eligibility at all times and the Registry may audit your authentication without notice.
19. Does authentication let me choose and guarantee a name?
No. Authentication gives .travel the information to determine that you are eligible.
20. What are the steps in authentication?
There are four steps. 1. Visit www.travel.travel and authenticate by submitting
an application. 2. Upon receipt of application, you will receive a Unique Identification Number (UIN). 3. A confirmation email will be sent showing your eligibility. 4. Contact an approved .travel Registrar with your UIN number and the name(s) you’re interested in purchasing.
21. What authentication information do I have to supply?
You are required to supply your name, contact information, and current URL, if you have one.
The Authentication Review Process
22. Who does the review and what are they reviewing?
Your association or an independent third party does the review. These reviewers are called Authentication Providers (see Question 11 above). Your data is
private and confidential and is received on a secure server of .travel. The
Authentication Provider association reviews to confirm that your authentication information matches the membership information they hold.
The independent third party Authentication Provider reviews all registrants that are not members of a travel association, or who do not wish to be authenticated by their association (see also Question 11 above).
Confirmation and Unique Identifying Number (UIN)
23. How do I know that the review is completed?
When the review is completed, you will receive an email if you are confirmed as
eligible to hold a name. If you are not eligible, your association or reviewer will
inform you and you will have an opportunity to request a review of your denial within 30 days. Tralliance carries out the review.
24. What if I lose my UIN?
Tralliance holds a permanent database of UINs and you can get your UIN from Tralliance at any time.
Name Registration
25. How do I get a .travel name?
Registering a domain name is a two-step process. All registrants must first be authenticated by an Authentication Provider. Once their eligibility is confirmed the applicant will next go to the website of an approved Registrar and by entering their UIN with the Registrar they will be permitted to register a domain name that is not already registered.
26. What is the price to register a .travel domain name?
All .travel domain names and all registry and search services, including eligibility authentication are included in the registration fee you pay to your Registrar. As the .travel Registry, Tralliance does not set the retail price for .travel domain names. The price is determined by individual Registrars.
Participation by Industry Associations
27. Which travel trade associations are participating?
The industry-wide initiative is supported by approximately 120 travel trade
associations from 9 industry sectors and 73 countries. The most up-to-date list
can be found at, www.ttpc.travel
28. Who does my authentication if I belong to more than one travel association?
We understand that some travel companies are members of several travel
associations. However, each .travel registrant that has multiple memberships
has the choice through which association they ultimately register. Registrants provide their eligibility data first through their associations, enabling their own associations to authenticate their eligibility and provide that authentication to Tralliance in readiness for the member's name selection.
29. How do I register if I don’t belong to an association or if my association is not an Authentication Provider?
The Tralliance Authentication Provider (TRAP) is available to handle authentication of any party that wishes to have them handle their authentication.
Visit www.travel.travel for complete instructions.
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Public Relations Contact: Heidi Siefkas-Cassemiro Tralliance
(954) 769-5970 [email protected]
