NEW YORK - A new online domain for the travel industry was opened for business; allowing airlines, theme parks, restaurants, tourism offices and others in travel and tourism to be eligible for websites and e-mail addresses ending in ".travel," according to combined news agencies.
The new domain could give consumers confidence that they are dealing with a legitimate travel business or group, but the mantra of "buyer beware" applies, as operators of the domain will not be performing any credit or criminal background checks or offering any guarantees.
New York-based Tralliance Corp, a unit of Internet communications company Theglobe.com, won approval to run ".travel" earlier this year from the Internet’s key oversight agency, the Internet Corporation for Assigned Names and Numbers (ICANN).
Since July 1, industry groups such as the Adventure Travel Trade Association and the International Hotel and Restaurant Association have been verifying that companies and organizations belong to one of 18 eligible industry sectors.
Those approved were allowed to register ".travel" names on October 3, 2005.
Among the domains registered were Amtrak.travel, Bluebird-Inn.travel, Disneyland.travel and RoyalCaribbeanCruise.travel.
Companies can use their names right away, although it may take time to update Internet directories.
So far, many of the eligible travel sectors are in transportation, including airlines, bus operators, cruise lines and passenger rail lines, a group that covers suburban commuter lines but not city subway systems.
Hotels, casinos, camp facilities, travel agents and providers of travel technologies are also eligible.
To prevent overlap with ".aero", an existing domain for the aviation industry, airports and aerospace companies do not qualify - but airlines do.