Can you briefly introduce yourself and your role as Head of Accommodation at Congrex Switzerland?
I have been with Congrex since 2008, and as department head, I lead a team responsible for managing accommodation services for various conferences and events. My responsibilities include overseeing hotel procurement, coordinating booking processes, and ensuring seamless accommodation experience for event participants. Together with my team, we handle tasks such as sourcing suitable hotels, negotiating rates, setting up online booking systems, and providing on-site support when necessary.
What does Congrex’s involvement in the Eurovision Song Contest accommodation management include?
Congrex works closely with Basel Tourisms to allocate and manage room blocks for various groups through our advanced booking tool – HotelMap. These groups include official delegations, performers, accredited press, and fans attending the event.
When did the planning process begin, and what are the key milestones leading up to the event?
Congrex has been involved in the hotel planning process of the Eurovision Song Contest since November 2024. However, planning for the entire event started in May 2024, shortly after Switzerland won the Eurovision Song Contest. The key milestones leading up to the ESC include a series of strategic and operational steps to ensure a seamless event. These cover, among other things:
- The Semi-Final Draw at the end of January, where delegations were assigned to one of the two semi-finals (13th and 15th May 2025)
- Ticket sales for fans
- Rehearsals on Friday, 16th May 2025
- The Grand Final on 17th May 2025
What are some unique challenges you anticipate when preparing the accommodation for the Eurovision Song Contest?
Given the complexity and scale of the event, some challenges may arise, such as:
- Managing High Demand: The ESC attracts thousands of attendees, including delegations, press, fans, and VIPs, all requiring accommodation
- Coordinating Multiple Stakeholder Needs: The different groups, mentioned before, have varying expectations, budgets, and requirements, such as proximity to the venue or specific accessibility needs.
What excites you most about working on the Eurovision Song Contest?
This event is different from our usual business, making it incredibly exciting to be involved in such a unique project in our hometown Basel.
We have the opportunity to work with people from various professional and cultural backgrounds. The Eurovision is one of the most watched live music events in the world, attracting millions of viewers globally. Being part of such a massive, high-profile event brings a sense of pride and excitement, as it is a rare opportunity to be involved into something with such a wide-reaching impact.
Congrex places great emphasis on values such as customer service, care, team spirit, reliability, and progress spirit. How does the value customer service influence your approach to managing accommodation for the Eurovision Song Contest?
By placing customer service at the heart of our approach, we ensure that accommodation management for the Eurovision Song Contest is not only efficient but also personal, supportive, and memorable for everyone involved.
