Booking.com Becomes the Official Travel Partner of the Eurovision Song Contest 2021
AMSTERDAM - Today leading digital travel platform Booking.com announced a new partnership with the European Broadcasting Union to become the Official Travel Partner of the Eurovision Song Contest in 2021.
With a mission to make it easier for everyone to experience the world and more than 28 million accommodation listings in more than 153,000 destinations worldwide, Booking.com is committed to help Eurovision fans everywhere make the most of their music-inspired travels. Whether that's a bucket list trip to one of Eurovision's legendary live shows or to experience the country, culture and traditions of one of their favorite performers as travel starts to open up again, Booking.com aims to seamlessly help people discover new places and broaden their horizons, as it is safe to do so.
Just as Eurovision has leveraged the power of music to inspire and break down barriers for the past 65 years, so does travel help promote enhanced understanding and acceptance. As such, Booking.com is honored to play a role in helping more than 180 million fans from across Europe and around the world to come together to celebrate one of the world's most-popular live television entertainment events and its message of unity and inclusion, whether that's in-person or from the comfort of home.
"As a company with proud Dutch roots and a passion for helping people to discover the amazing diversity the world has to offer, we are absolutely thrilled to come on board as the Official Travel Partner of Eurovision in 2021," said Arjan Dijk, Senior Vice President and Chief Marketing Officer at Booking.com. "In a time of separation, closed borders and restrictions, this year's theme of Open Up is more timely than ever and in perfect harmony with our own values and optimistic outlook as a brand for everyone. We're delighted to help welcome Eurovision fans to our home country and the vibrant city of Rotterdam, whether that's in-person or via the screen of their smartphone. We hope to inspire new audiences to further explore the amazing people and places that make the Eurovision experience so special - not only during this one week in May, but throughout the entire year."
"We are delighted to welcome Booking.com as the Official Travel Partner for the Eurovision Song Contest 2021," added Martin Österdahl, Executive Supervisor of the Eurovision Song Contest.
"This is a perfect partnership between the world's largest live music event and one of the world's leading digital travel companies. The Eurovision Song Contest gives millions of viewers every year the chance to experience the diversity of Europe in their own homes. As we eventually Open Up, our new partner can help them experience, in person, the languages, music and culture they discover through the Eurovision Song Contest."
In addition to an integrated brand presence during the live shows on May 18, May 20 and May 22, as the Official Travel Partner of the ESC, Booking.com will be working closely with the EBU on additional broadcast, digital and social activities and promotions leading up to and during the 2021 ESC to engage the millions of Eurovision fans throughout Europe and the world with exclusive Eurovision-related travel content and digital experiences.
About the Eurovision Song Contest
The Eurovision Song Contest is the world's largest live music event. It is organized annually by the European Broadcasting Union (EBU), the world's foremost alliance of public service media (PSM).
The competition, in which participating Member broadcasters of the EBU send a new song to represent their nation, takes place annually in the country that won the previous edition.
The event is produced by the EBU together with the broadcaster which sent the winning song.
41 broadcasters will take part in the 2021 Eurovision Song Contest in Rotterdam following the Netherlands win with the song "Arcade" by Duncan Laurence in 2019.
The Eurovision Song Contest has taken place every year since 1956 except in 2020 when the event was cancelled due to the coronavirus pandemic. 27 countries have won the competition at least once.
The 2019 competition reached over 180 million TV viewers in over 40 markets and millions more online.
About the European Broadcasting Union
The European Broadcasting Union (EBU) is the world's foremost alliance of public service media (PSM). Our mission is to make PSM indispensable.
We represent 115 media organizations in 56 countries in Europe, the Middle East and Africa; and have an additional 33 Associates in Asia, Africa, Australasia and the Americas.
Our Members operate nearly 2,000 television and radio channels alongside numerous online platforms. Together, they reach audiences of more than one billion people around the world, broadcasting in almost 160 languages.
We strive to secure a sustainable future for public service media, provide our Members with world-class content from news to sports and music, and build on our founding ethos of solidarity and co-operation to create a centre for learning and sharing.
Our subsidiary, Eurovision Services, aims to be the first-choice media services provider, offering new, better and different ways to simply, efficiently and seamlessly access and deliver content and services.
We have offices in Brussels, Rome, Dubai, Moscow, New York, Washington DC, Singapore, Madrid and Beijing. Our headquarters are in Geneva.
Discover more about the EBU at www.ebu.ch
About Booking.com
Part of Booking Holdings Inc. (NASDAQ: BKNG), Booking.com's mission is to make it easier for everyone to experience the world. By investing in the technology that helps take the friction out of travel, Booking.com's marketplace seamlessly connects millions of travelers with memorable experiences every day. For more information, follow @bookingcom on social media or visit globalnews.booking.com.
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Press Office Booking.com
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