.hotel
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| Status: | Proposed |
| country: | International |
| Manager: | HOTEL® Top-Level-Domain GmbH (dotHOTEL) |
| Registry Provider: | Afilias |
| Type: | Niche |
More information: 
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.hotel is a proposed TLD for exclusive use by hotels and related businesses worldwide.[1] The company behind .hotel is HOTEL® Top-Level-Domain GmbH or dotHOTEL®. [2] Its mission is to provide a secure and credible namespace for the global hotel industry, meaning its providers, suppliers, and customers, as well as to provide products and services enhancing the efficiency and convenience of marketing and e-commerce for hotels and related organizations worldwide.[3]
.hotel is supported by the International Hotel and Restaurant Association, the largest global association of hospitality providers,[4] as well as by the Federated Hospitality Association of Southern Africa, DesignHotels.com, the German Hotel Association (IHA), WorldHotels, FEHGRA Argentina, Corinthia Hotels International, and Der Europäische Hof Hotel Europa, among others.[5]
In December 2010, dotHOTEL selected Afilias as the DNS and registry services provider for the .hotel TLD application to be submitted to ICANN.[6]
Structure[edit | edit source]
Aside from its Managing Directors, Johannes Lenz-Hawliczek and Katrin Ohlmer, HOTEL Top-Level-Domain GmbH is comprised of an international Advisory Board that advises, supports, and make recommendations for the policies and operations regarding .hotel. It is designed to ensure that the interests of the global hotel community are being represented in a fair manner. The founding members of the board are:
- Dr. Ghassan Aidi, President of the International Hotel & Restaurant Association (IH&RA)
- Joe McInerney, President and CEO of the American Hotel & Lodging Association (AH&LA)
- Markus Luthe, member of the executive committee of the European hotel association HOTREC (Hotels, Restaurants & Cafés in Europe)
- Philipp Grabensee, Chairman of the Board of Afilias, representing the domain name industry.[7]
Registration[edit | edit source]
In order to register for a .hotel domain name, one must be able to provide evidence that they fall under one of the following groups: individual hotels, hotel chains, hotel marketing organizations, hotel associations and organizations, or organizations and stakeholders principally involved in the hotel industry. Before registration becomes open to the public, registration will be made open to trademark holders within the industry, allowing them to register domains based on their intellectual property rights.
Once registration is opened, the .hotel TLD will be available at most common registrars, where hotels and other hotel community members already hold their domain portfolios. A .hotel TLD is estimated to cost €60 per year per domain name.[8]