Comments from HOTEL Top-Level-Domain S.a.r.l. on Drawing Process

[".hotel | Johannes Lenz-Hawliczek" <johannes@xxxxxxxxxxxxx>]

This is a comment by HOTEL Top-Level-Domain S.a.r.l., the applicant for the 
community-based .hotel TLD.
 
HOTEL Top-Level-Domain Sarl is a participant in the Community TLD Applicant 
Group (CTAG) and fully supports the separate statement made by this group.
 
In principle we welcome the DRAW proposal since it offers the possibility to 
provide ICANN with a much needed success story to regain trust in the global 
Internet community. However, while recognizing the importance of IDN gTLDs, the 
proposal lacks the two other categories of public interest TLDs: the Geographic 
Names and Community TLDs.
 
Community applicants could only apply for the respective Community TLD with a 
broad support from this particular community. In addition, Community TLDs have 
to incorporate many mechanisms into their policies to take the interests of the 
community into account and be held accountable to their respective community.
 
The prioritization of a total of 130 GEO and Community TLDs – in addition to 
the 116 IDN TLDs - offers not only a better Geographical diversity, but as well 
a unique chance to be central to the ICANN gTLD success story. Furthermore, it 
will postpone the allocation of the Standard TLDs only for another 6 weeks. In 
light of the whole gTLD process, which started in 2005, this should be 
acceptable for all parties. It would as well maintain the special treatment of 
Communities manifested in the Applicant Guidebook by defining preferred 
delegation for Community TLDs over Standard TLDs.
 
Additionally, several Governmental Advisory Committee (GAC) representatives 
stated their request to prioritize Geo and Community TLDs and along with the 
IDNs at the ICANN meeting in Toronto.
 
With this background we are certain that the Geo and Community TLD applications 
fulfill the requirements set by ICANN to give a priority to certain categories 
of TLDs: to promote DNS diversity, make the Internet more accessible, increase 
avenues of participation and serve the public interest.
 
Mixing applications for Geo and Community TLDs (and IDNs) with other 
applications would question ICANN's ability to prioritize and to work in the 
public interest, an important and critical part of its mission.
 
Respectfully

Johannes Lenz-Hawliczek 
Managing Director 
 
HOTEL Top-Level-Domain S.à.r.l. 
23, bd. Charles Marx 
L-2130 Luxembourg / Luxembourg 
+352 20 992 610
+352 24 611 186 (Fax)
johannes@xxxxxxxxxxxxx 
www.dothotel.info