On Monday, July 10th, the first integrated casino resort in Europe, City of Dreams Mediterranean, officially opened its doors to the residents and guests of Limassol.
The grand event in celebration of this momentous occasion was attended by the President of Cyprus, Nicos Anastasiades, high-ranking officials, and media representatives. Participants were given a tour of the resort and then enjoyed a meal at one of its restaurants.
Lawrence Ho, Chairman, and CEO of Melco Resorts & Entertainment, shared the story of how the idea for this grand project came to fruition. In 2007, he and his wife were invited to a wedding on the island of Cyprus, where they were captivated by their initial impressions. Ho was impressed by the hospitality of the Cypriot people, the sun, beaches, and local culture. When he learned that Cyprus granted licenses for gaming activities, he made the decision to build a casino resort without hesitation. Ho emphasized that the opening day of City of Dreams Mediterranean in Limassol marks the beginning of an exhilarating chapter for Cyprus.
City of Dreams Mediterranean combines the island's culture, hospitality, and beauty with a new form of entertainment and experiences. It is a unique project for Cyprus that significantly enhances the country's status as a tourist destination," said Lawrence Ho, Chairman, and CEO of Melco Resorts & Entertainment.
Grant Johnson, General Manager of City of Dreams Mediterranean, then spoke about the unique features, services, and amenities offered by the multi-themed resort. Among other things, he noted that their biggest challenge was and still remains the workforce. Johnson explained that City of Dreams Mediterranean is the most complex project they have undertaken, having been affected by the pandemic. Currently, 2,000 employees are working at City of Dreams Mediterranean, and the staff will increase by another 400 people next year.
The massive multi-themed resort, the largest in Europe and the broader Eastern Mediterranean region, is expected to make a significant contribution to the sustainable development of the Cypriot economy. It will attract thousands of tourists annually, create hundreds of jobs, and develop partnerships with Cypriot suppliers and local businesses.
It is worth noting that the project commenced in 2017.
Initially, City of Dreams Mediterranean was scheduled to open to visitors in 2021. However, the completion date was postponed several times.
The casino resort, owned by the consortium of Melco International Development Ltd and The Cyprus Phassouri (Zakaki) Limited, is located near the New Port in Limassol, between the Akrotiri salt lake and the My Mall shopping center.
City of Dreams Mediterranean includes a 14-story luxury hotel with 500 rooms and suites, over 8,000 square meters of exhibition and conference halls, an open-air amphitheater, a family adventure park, a spa center, as well as numerous exquisite restaurants and upscale shops. The interior design of the building is based on Melco's international luxury standards specially adapted for the Cypriot resort, while the exterior design features distinct Mediterranean influences. The casino is part of the luxury hotel and houses 136 gaming tables and 1,200 slot machines.
City of Dreams Mediterranean is the largest investment project ever undertaken in Cyprus, with an estimated value of over 650 million euros. According to the calculations of the Cyprus government, it is expected to contribute up to 700 million euros to the country's treasury annually, which is equivalent to 4% of the Republic of Cyprus' GDP. Furthermore, City of Dreams Mediterranean is projected to attract an additional 300,000 tourists to the island each year, helping to address the issue of seasonality in tourism.
For detailed information about all the projects in Limassol, you can contact the specialists at the number one real estate agency in Cyprus, DOM, by phone at +357 25 212 212 or arrange a personal meeting at Demetri Psatha 24, Kolonakiou 4102, Limassol, Cyprus.