The hotels in Kiev are planning to invest about 9,5 million euros in order to be prepared to host tourists and the participants of the 2005 Eurovision Song Contest.

As Mikhailo Pozhyvanov, the deputy head of the Kiev City Administration informed the journalists, the majority of the participants and guests will be accommodated in Tourist, Bratyslava, and Slavutych, the three star hotels altogether offer 1900 places. By the end of 2004 some new hotels will start functioning. These are Radisson SAS, Opera, and the second row of the Premier Palace hotel. By May 2005 Sofia Sheraton, Leipzig, and Teatralniy centres are planned to be openned.

The works to be done include the replacement of elevators, conditioners, the installation of autonomous heating systems and the renewal of furniture and room equipment. As Mr. Pozhyvanov noted, today the Kiev hotels are capable to host 15 thousand persons at a time, after the new hotels will have been put into operation, the places will be available for 2-3 thousand persons in addition. The Administration is also ready to host tourists in Kiev sanatoriums.