The top-level domain (TLD) .HOTELS is a domain extension that is specific to the hotel industry and related activities. A top-level domain (TLD) is the last part of a domain name, coming after the final dot. Common examples include .COM, .NET, .ORG, but there are many more, including industry-specific ones like .HOTELS. They play a crucial part in setting the context of a website and are part of the global Domain Name System (DNS) used to navigate the internet (Source: Internet Corporation for Assigned Names and Numbers (ICANN)).
.HOTELS is a generic top-level domain (gTLD), which means it is open to registration by any individual or organization worldwide, but often with specific use-case criteria (Source: ICANN). More specifically, .HOTELS is a sponsored TLD (sTLD) operated by Booking.com. sTLDs are specialized domains that are proposed and sponsored by private agencies or organizations that establish and enforce rules restricting the eligibility to use the TLD (Source: ICANN).
Following ICANN’s expansion of the range of TLDs available in 2011, Booking.com applied for .HOTELS with the primary intent being to provide a dedicated internet space for hotels, hotel chains, and relevant groups, under the overarching principle of consumer trust, choice, and experience in the hotel context. Although initially contested by Despegar Online SRL and Travel Reservations SRL, an arbitration process awarded the TLD to Booking.com in 2016 (Source: World Intellectual Property Organization (WIPO)).
Being an industry-specific TLD, .HOTELS has potential benefits for SEO and brand identity. It can make a website more visible on the internet, since search engines may rank .HOTELS websites higher when users type in relevant search queries. It can also increase brand credibility by letting visitors know at first glance what services the website provides, making it an effective marketing tool (Source: Google Trends 2015, Moz).
It should be noted, however, that as of 2020, the .HOTELS domain is not open to public registration, with Booking.com being the sole registrar and user following their successful application (Source: ICANN). This is subject to change if further rules regarding this domain’s usage are determined by the current registrar.
To sum up, the .HOTELS TLD is an industry-specific domain, currently operated and used solely by Booking.com, purposed to provide a dedicated online space for hotel-related services or information. It carries potential SEO benefits and a clear branding message, but is currently restricted from public registration.
Sources:
1. ICANN https://www.icann.org/resources/pages/tlds-2012-02-25-en
2. World Intellectual Property Organization (WIPO) http://domainincite.com/20460-booking-com-prevails-in-fight-over-hotel-domains
3. Google Trends 2015, Moz https://moz.com/blog/the-ultimate-guide-to-seo-friendly-urls
4. ICANN https://www.icann.org/resources/agreement/hotels-2014-12-18-en
