NTU, the Ukrainian national broadcaster has announced the name of the official 2017 Eurovision Song Contest travel agent.

NTU has disclosed the name of the official 2017 Eurovision Song Contest travel agent:

The company Pilot has been chosen as the official travel agent of the Eurovision Song Contest 2017. This decision was made following the selection held by the National Television Company of Ukraine (NTU), the Host Broadcaster of the Eurovision Song Contest in Kyiv, since November.

The official travel agent of the Eurovision Song Contest 2017 must have an online service allowing foreign visitors to book hotel rooms for the time of Eurovision in Kyiv in a quick and convenient manner. Therefore, Pilot will be the company to provide these services to official delegations, press, the EBU representatives, sponsors and partners of the show as well as fans of the Eurovision Song Contest coming to the capital of Ukraine in May 2017.

Mr. Oleksandr Kharebin, Executive Producer of the Eurovision Song Contest 2017 says:

The online service of the travel agent must be as convenient as possible to book and pay for hotel rooms. The travel agent must also offer hotel rooms of different price categories. The online booking system presented by Pilot as well as the proficiency of their staff convinced us that it is a worthy travel partner for the international song contest.

Due consideration in the selection of the travel partner of the Eurovision Song Contest 2017 was given to the requirements and standards of the European Broadcasting Union (EBU). Important selection criteria included the experience of the company in the market, its reputation and the availability of sufficient facilities.

Ms. Olena Korchynska, Director General of Pilot, shared that many of the staff members support and like Eurovision. So it is both a responsibility and honour for them to be the travel agent of the Eurovision Song Contest in Ukraine.

We will provide a 24/7 English speaking support service for delegations. We will consider the wishes of every country so that is as convenient for everyone as possible and to leave everyone with the best impressions about Ukraine. For our part, we also intend to have a sequence of negotiations with our Stockholm counterparts to adopt their Eurovision experience to the utmost and take into account all important details.

In respect of hotel room prices Olena adds:

At the moment, I cannot name the hotels we will cooperate with or the prices they will charge, but I would like to mention that some four-star and especially five-star hotels approach their work during the Eurovision Song Contest with great responsibility and realize that Ukraine should present itself in the best possible way.

Booking of the official hotels of the Eurovision Song Contest 2017 for the period of the ESC in Kyiv will start after the Host City Insignia Exchange between the Mayor of Kyiv and the Mayor of Stockholm, the Host City of the Contest in 2016.

As a reminder, the capital city of Ukraine will host the 62nd international Eurovision Song Contest in spring. 43 countries have confirmed their participation in the Contest. It is a record number of participants that repeated only twice in the history of Eurovision back in 2008 and 2011. Victoria Romanova and Oleksandr Kharebin have been approved as the Eurovision 2017 Executive Producers. The main venue of the Eurovision Song Contest next year is the International Exhibition Centre.

The Eurovision Song Contest will be returning to the majestic Ukrainian capital for the 2nd time in Eurovision history.

The 2017 Eurovision Song Contest is scheduled to be held on 9, 11 and 13 May at the IEC in Kyiv, Ukraine.