Australian Hotels Association (AHA) comments on gTLD applications

[Brad Watts <watts@xxxxxxxxxxxxx>]

The following comments are submitted on behalf of the Australian Hotels
Association (AHA):



The Australian Hotels Association (AHA) supports the Hotrec Hospitality
Europe (HOTREC) in filing a formal “community objection” against the recent
generic top-level domain gTLD applications.



The AHA represents the Australian hotel industry which is a significant
contributor to the national economy, both in terms of supporting local
suppliers and by employing some 300,000 Australians.  Hotels are also
ingrained in the nation’s social fabric as important meeting places and
entertainment venues.



AHA’s membership of more than 5,000 licensed hotel businesses includes
pub-style hotels plus three, four and five-star accommodation hotels
located in each state and territory.  The AHA’s members are serviced by
branches located in every Australian capital city and a Canberra-based
national office.



The AHA is of the opinion that the above mentioned applicants are not
ensuring the non-discriminatory access for all hotels around the world to
the applied for domain name; neither the protection of consumers, as there
is no guarantee that a real hotel service is behind every “.hotel” domain
name.



AHA and its members are a part of the hotel community described by HOTREC
in its objection and support all of the arguments set forth in the HOTREC’s
objection. The gTLD applications create a likelihood of material detriment
to the rights or legitimate interests of a significant portion of this
hotel community and, notably, the applicant is not acting and does not
intend to act in accordance with the interests of the hotel community.



In the light of the above, the AHA requests that the objection filed by
HOTREC be sustained.



Yours sincerely,

* *

Mr Des Crowe

National Chief Executive Officer

Australian Hotels Association (AHA)





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*Australian Hotels Association (AHA) - ACT Branch*
Level 4, 24 Brisbane Avenue Barton ACT 2600
Australia