Filenews 12 July 2023 - by Ioanna Mantipia
Cyprus tourism enters a new trajectory with the official opening of City of Dreams Mediterranean on July 10, the first multi-thematic resort in Europe, thus marking a new era for our country and its tourism product.
The aim is for tourist visits to exceed 300,000 all year round and for Cyprus to establish itself as a destination for high quality tourism and a hub of international business and conference destination.
City of Dreams Mediterranean is characterized as the "diamond" of the Mediterranean and officially places the small island of Aphrodite among the best tourist destinations worldwide. This is one of the largest development projects ever implemented in Cyprus, with a total investment exceeding €600 million.
The first multi-thematic resort, the largest in Europe and in the wider Eastern Mediterranean region, now comes to contribute to the sustainable development of the Cypriot economy, attracting thousands of tourists every year, while creating hundreds of jobs and developing a value chain for the local community, through partnerships with Cypriot suppliers and local businesses.
Yesterday, the President and CEO of Melco Resorts & Entertainment, Mr. Lawrence Ho, presented the vision of the company that led to the undertaking and implementation of the project, to dozens of journalists on the occasion of the inauguration of City of Dreams Mediterranean in the evening of the same day, in the presence of the President of the Republic.
A wedding the occasion for the creation of City of Dreams Mediterranean
Mr. Lawrence Ho was extremely revealing during his speech, who did not hesitate to reveal that a wedding in 2007 in Cyprus was the reason for the creation of City of Dreams Mediterranean. "16 years ago my wife and I were invited to a wedding here in Cyprus. The first impression we had from that visit is why we are all here today." He noted that the hospitality, the sun, the beaches, the culture of Cyprus, are what they loved and left with wonderful memories. "When I heard that there were opportunities to license casinos and after this experience, I didn't need anything else to decide. And we are here," he noted.
He stressed that yesterday marks the beginning of the most exciting chapter, pointing out that City of Dreams Mediterranean is creating a new story, which Cyprus will be able to tell. "It combines the culture, hospitality and beauty of the island with a new form of entertainment and experiences." He said they will continue to strive to achieve perfection and a working environment that recognizes the importance of people and their achievements. "From the beginning I said that if we take care of our colleagues, they will take care of our customers. Because our goal is to be a company that people choose to work for and stay long-term."
It is, as Mr Lawrence Ho said, a product of the hard work of thousands of people and through cooperation with the government, the business community, colleagues and residents of this island. He noted that the resort offers top-notch luxury, inspired and enriched with a local element and aroma. It offers and creates many new possibilities and allows Cyprus to unlock new markets in the region and beyond. "It will provide an opportunity for new areas in tourism in the Middle East, Europe and North Africa."
In addition, he said that the Government was proactive, supportive and with a clear vision on how to boost tourism, ready to build the foundations needed for a new safe and responsible gaming industry. He explained that the advantages of the project are obvious to everyone. For the economy, the workforce and the community. He said this is the first project and a major investment outside Asia by Melco.
On behalf of Mr. Menelaos Shakolas, CEO of CNS Group, said that July 10, 2023 is an important day for everyone at CNS Group. "We are very proud of the excellent partnership we have had with Melco, a company whose experience, expertise and absolute dedication have made this amazing multi-theme resort possible."
In his address, Mr. Grant Johnson, General Manager of City of Dreams Mediterranean, thanked the Cypriot people for embracing the project, noting that the combination of the brand, the know-how they have in entertainment, the experience offered by our gambling, the quality of accommodation of our guests, along with the Cypriot culture and hospitality, is an extremely powerful mixture. "Cyprus is now ready to compete in the field of luxury tourism and major conferences throughout Europe and the Middle East."
Among other things, he noted that the biggest challenge for them was and is the workforce. He explained that City of Dreams Mediterranean is the most challenging project as it was affected during the pandemic era and until its completion. Today, City of Dreams Mediterranean employs 2,000 employees and is expected to be staffed with another 400 in the near future.
Luxurious accommodation with 500 suites available
City of Dreams Mediterranean features a 14-storey luxury hotel with 500 rooms and suites, more than 8,000 square meters of exhibition and conference space, an open-air amphitheatre, an adventure park for families, as well as a plethora of fine dining restaurants and luxury retail outlets. Its interior design is based on Melco's international luxury standards, specially tailored for the Cypriot resort, while the exterior design features distinct Mediterranean influences.
It offers an unparalleled experience that satisfies all tastes, from luxurious hospitality to designer shops, iconic architecture, art, sports facilities, an open-air amphitheatre, a family-friendly adventure park, world-class conference and exhibition spaces, as well as modern gambling and fine dining restaurants. It also features the largest presidential suite in Cyprus, with an interior area of 425 sq.m. and a terrace of 155 sq.m.
City of Dreams Mediterranean is the first development in Cyprus to receive an "Excellent" rating from BREEAM for its sustainability strategy at the project design stage. Recently, City of Dreams Mediterranean was also honoured by the European Property Awards 2023 for its achievements in three categories: Best Hotel Architecture in Europe, Best Sustainable Commercial Development in Europe and Best New Hotel Construction and Design in Cyprus.
