Filenews 13 November 2021 - Interview by Ioanna Mantzipa
It comes to radically change the data in the domestic tourism industry of Cyprus and to place the small island of Aphrodite among the best destinations worldwide. This is the City of Dreams Mediterranean one, 14-storey five-star hotel which will feature unique combinations of facilities, entertainment venues with state-of-the-art gaming machines, conference and exhibition halls, sports facilities, outdoor amphitheatre, adventure park, dining areas and luxury shops.
The first multidisciplinary resort in Cyprus, the largest in Europe and the wider region of the Eastern Mediterranean, opens its doors to the public in the second half of 2022, strengthening the country's economy, offering alternative forms of tourism as well as thousands of jobs.
In an interview with "F", the General Manager of the City of Dreams Mediterranean and the Cyprus Casinos, Mr. Grant Johnson, referred to Melco's huge investment of more than 600 million euros. euro, saying that the multidisciplinary casino-resort will be the diamond of the Mediterranean. The aim, he said, is to establish Cyprus as an international destination, attracting high-income visitors throughout the year.
Mr. Johnson referred to the small problems that arose and caused a delay in the completion of the project, stressing that these are mainly due to the pandemic. Among other things, he said that with the operation of the City of Dreams Mediterranean, the existing casino C2 Limassol will terminate its operation while the staff will be absorbed in the casino-resort.
He added that Melco's pursuit is to create a resort that will be a landmark for the region and will contribute to the development of alternative forms of tourism.
How much has been invested in the multidisciplinary casino resort of Cyprus?
With the total amount of investment exceeding €600 million, The City of Dreams Mediterranean is one of the largest development projects ever undertaken in Cyprus. It will have a 14-storey 5-star hotel with more than 500 luxurious rooms and suites, conference and exhibition halls of approximately 10,000 square meters and gaming areas that will extend to 7,500 sq. m. Its interior design is based on Melco's international luxury standards, specially adapted for the multidisciplinary resort in Cyprus, while the exterior of the building is characterized by distinct Mediterranean influences. Upon completion, the City of Dreams Mediterranean will become the largest multidisciplinary resort in Europe and the wider region. Its operation is expected to fundamentally change the data for the domestic tourism industry, establishing the island as a global destination for luxurious entertainment and hospitality.
What were the main problems that arose during the construction of the multidisciplinary casino-resort?
The biggest obstacles we faced were mainly linked to the outbreak of the pandemic. Last year, the site's sites remained closed for a period of time due to the restrictive measures implemented, and some issues related to supply chains arose. We have also encountered some difficulties in relation to the staffing of the site, as a very large number of workers are employed. Naturally, during the construction phase and with the progress of the project, small adjustments had to be made from time to time concerning, for example, the layout of some premises and the extension of specific infrastructure, however, at this stage work is progressing on a planned basis.
How and in what ways will it attract foreign investments to Cyprus?
The development of Europe's largest multidisciplinary resort in Cyprus, I believe, sends a strong message to aspiring investors about the country's long-term prospects. We are confident that the launch of the City of Dreams Mediterranean will contribute significantly to the further strengthening of the country's economy. It will enrich the tourism product of Cyprus, as it will contribute, among other things, to the development of alternative forms of tourism, such as conference tourism, while it will upgrade the country's existing infrastructure in the hospitality sector, attracting tens of thousands of high-income visitors, creating jobs and combating seasonality.
To this end, Melco actively participates in the effort to attract visitors to Cyprus, as well as stakeholders of tourism organizations active in the global tourism and hospitality industry, while continuously promoting the country as an attractive investment destination, maintaining strategic alliances with key state agencies, such as the Deputy Ministry of Tourism.
What about satellite casinos after the completion of the casino resort in Limassol?
When City of Dreams Mediterranean opens its doors, the operation of C2 Limassol, the temporary casino in Limassol, will be terminated and the staff will be transferred to the multidisciplinary resort. The remaining casinos in all other areas will continue to operate smoothly.
Another question that concerns citizens is whether anyone will be able to visit the City of Dreams Mediterranean. Will this be possible or will it be directed at a specific section of citizens?
City of Dreams Mediterranean offers a wide range of luxurious experiences and top-notch services and is aimed at various audiences and types of visitors from different markets. Featuring a unique combination of facilities, including a 14-storey five-star hotel, entertainment venues with state-of-the-art gaming machines, conference and showrooms, sports facilities, outdoor amphitheatre, adventure park, dining areas and luxury shops, the multidisciplinary resort will become a "must-visit" destination. The City of Dreams Mediterranean will attract visitors from new, for Cyprus, tourist markets, such as the Middle East, North Africa, but also Europe-wide, who did not have the opportunity to enjoy the experience of our multidisciplinary resorts in Asia.
What is the goal and vision with the creation of the multidisciplinary resort in Cyprus?
The City of Dreams Mediterranean will completely change the situation in the fields of tourism and hospitality in Cyprus. The aim of this pioneering project is to establish Cyprus as an international destination for high-level hospitality and entertainment, attracting high-income visitors throughout the year. Melco's aim is to create a resort that will be a landmark for the region – contributing to the strengthening of the economy of Cyprus, creating, among other things, thousands of jobs and thus leading to the formation of a value chain for the local community, through cooperation with local suppliers and businesses. At the same time, the City of Dreams Mediterranean will contribute to the development of alternative forms of tourism and to the upgrading of the existing infrastructure of the domestic tourism industry, while at the same time addressing seasonality and bringing real and long-term benefits to the Cypriot economy and society.
It will help create 6,500 jobs
Understandably, such a large project will also require a lot of staff. Are there any numbers for the staff that will be needed in order to staff both the hotel and the casino and other services they will provide?
Melco has already established itself as one of the largest employers in Cyprus. City of Dreams Mediterranean will create approximately 2,500 permanent jobs once fully operational, and will contribute to the creation of approximately 6,500 full-time direct and indirect jobs in total. Therefore, the company will recruit professionals from a wide range of industries such as entertainment, hospitality, administration and finance, as well as the areas of safety and health. Today the company employs more than 700 people, with the number expected to rise to 2,500 with the start of operation of the resort. Also, for the construction of the project, around 1,200 people are employed by the Consortium of contractors.
At Melco we believe that our success and sustainable growth is based on our people, therefore, we place special emphasis on providing quality jobs and a high level of training. In particular, as far as recruitment is concerned, the Company's global philosophy is "we hire on attitude, image and potential and we train on skills" – i.e. we hire based on personality, image and perspective and train with the aim of developing skills. We aim at the personal and professional empowerment of our staff, in order to ensure our guests the best quality of service. At the same time, we provide competitive reward and benefit packages, as well as opportunities for professional advancement within Melco and in the international entertainment industry.
The pandemic has affected the schedule
The initial plans set the casino in place in early 2020, when is it expected to be completed and operate properly? There has been a delay, what is the reason?
The pandemic affected our original schedule, as construction projects had to be interrupted for some time, following restrictions to mitigate the spread of COVID-19. Now, however, work continues as normal, with City of Dreams Mediterranean preparing to open its doors to the public in the second half of 2022.
These kinds of complex, large-scale deployments require quality and excellence in all areas. From architectural design, to exterior design and static studies, to mechanical and electrical engineering, interior design and building sustainability. The City of Dreams Mediterranean is manufactured in accordance with Melco's international luxury standards, following the highest sustainability standards. Melco has assembled a well-trained team of architects, engineers and designers, among others, for the development of this project, while the construction of the building uses specialized equipment, complex infrastructure and state-of-the-art technology. We are committed to the completion of the project, which will be a milestone for Cyprus and the wider region, as soon as possible. At the same time, we are monitoring very carefully the various external factors that may affect the project schedule, such as, for example, any interruptions in supply chains due to the pandemic.
Has anything changed that may be troubling you about the original plans and changes that occurred after the pandemic?
The travel and tourism sectors have been affected quite strongly by the pandemic, with the consequences still being felt. However, despite the challenges, we were very pleased to see our industry gradually recover in the second quarter of 2021, so we are optimistic that the tourism and hospitality industry will be back soon. Building a more resilient tourism product for Cyprus and shaping a sustainable model of tourism development is vital and we are confident that the City of Dreams Mediterranean will play a central role in achieving this goal. In addition, it is worth mentioning that Melco took advantage of the pauses that the pandemic has brought to its business to invest in its people and technology in its destinations around the world – automating its workflow, enhancing productivity and ensuring protection in the game and fair play.
