AN INDUSTRY PARTNERSHIP FOR ".travel" LAUNCHED

At a summit meeting held in Montreal, 26 November, senior representatives from across the spectrum of travel business formed the Travel Partnership to take the ".travel" internet Top Level Domain (TLD) initiative forward.

Last year IATA applied to ICANN to create the ".travel" TLD, to help improve the standards and security of internet trading and to provide other important benefits for the global travel industry and its customers around the world. IATA is pleased to see the Travel Partnership now becoming the driving force behind ".travel".

IATA Director General and CEO Pierre J. Jeanniot welcomes this strong spirit of industry co-operation. " From the largest airlines and travel agency groups to the smallest hotel, the travel industry is united in trying to introduce a new initiative that will help it rebound from the unprecedented crisis following the terrorist attack of 11 September."

The Travel Partnership voiced their accord " An agreement outlining the roles and principles was adopted today - it fully addresses the mechanism of this important industry initiative."

The Travel Partnership calls upon ICANN (Internet Corporation for Assigned Names and Numbers) to act favourably and expeditiously on the outstanding ".travel" application and requests the US Department of Commerce and governments of the world to support the application for ".travel".