What are the benefits to the travel and tourism industry, i.e., all .travel Registrants? Tralliance will be rolling out many value-added benefits over time, but will begin with the following:

• An authenticated name space , i.e., each .travel domain name will be authenticated by Tralliance-accredited third parties, including TTPC authenticating members, ensuring that the .travel space on the Internet is dedicated exclusively to travel and tourism entities.

• The ability to establish an Internet presence. Today, only approximately 8,000 websites are active (from a total of some 40,000 registered domains that purport to be in the travel industry) which, based on our preliminary estimate of approximately 1 million travel and tourism entities worldwide, shows an Internet adoption rate of less than 0.5%. .travel TLDs will reinforce identity on the Internet, add additional distribution channels, and provide direct access to consumers.

• Establish a stronger TRUST factor for both the trade and consumers alike to significantly enhance commerce for all bona fide providers and purveyors of travel products and/or services. Online travel purchases in 2005 are projected to reach $150 billion making it the largest sector of commerce conducted on the Internet. The introduction of this exclusive TLD will serve to further promote the efficiencies and convenience of e-commerce for consumers and suppliers alike, in all parts of the world. Introducing .travel ( and its attendant .travel Directory ) will enable all travel and tourism entities to gain their fair share of online sales instead of surrendering those revenues to a few aggregators, as is currently the case.
  
• The .travel Directory . The Directory will allow every .travel registrant to create their own detailed directory listing in what will become (over time) a precise online catalogue of all travel related products and services offered worldwide. The sophisticated, multi-language taxonomy will utilize a controlled vocabulary architecture that, in simple terms, will become an advanced product and service distribution tool to effectively and efficiently match buyers to sellers.