Cyprus To Host Europe’s First Integrated Resort

On May 12, Melco Resorts & Entertainment, an international Hong Kong-based developer, operator and owner of casino gaming and entertainment resorts, revealed that City of Dreams Mediterranean will officially open on Monday, July 10, 2023, marking the official opening of the first integrated resort in Europe.

Layout of the IR:

City of Dreams Mediterranean is located on the Mediterranean island of Cyprus, minutes away from the lively city center of Limassol. It consists of 500 elegant guest rooms and suites, involving the biggest Presidential Suite on the island. Once open, Europe’s first IR will display an unrivaled array of offerings, involving Europe’s largest casino, luxury restaurants, rich entertainment and the largest exhibition center in Cyprus. Additionally, the chic rooms are equipped with a soft, welcoming color scheme and incorporate various Mediterranean influences and are based on Melco’s exacting Cyprus-friendly standards. Each room has its own private balcony with a unique view of the Akrotiri Salt Lake, the Troodos Mountain range and the famous Lady’s Mile Beach. As of October 2022, the hotel-room reservation mechanism for the IR was already open and reservations are being accepted for June this year onward.

It also includes a 7,500 sq. meter casino equipped with the world’s most famous table games, a dedicated poker area, modern slot machines and live entertainment. But that’s not all; because in addition to a great open gaming space designed by Westar, the Platinum Club for VIP members provides clients with another level of signature service.

The IR provides pleasant culinary experiences in eight restaurants and bars. With Olivier Belliard as executive chief, the cuisine includes Pan-Asian fusion by Amber Dragon, Middle Eastern delights by Aura, European contemporary by Anaïs, authentic Mediterranean flavors by Oléa and more. What’s more, it has open kitchen designs, interactive cooking demonstrations, produce grown in the on-site organic garden, all of which provide a whole other level of cuisine.

For families there is the biggest resort pool complex in Cyprus, an adventure park with a zip line, a trampoline area and the exciting Waverider. In addition, there is a Kids City, aka the kids’ club, which is equipped with many creative and interesting activities for ages 4-12. However, with 8,000 sq. meters of indoor and outdoor event space, the IR can host events of all sizes, from large weddings to large conferences and concerts.

In terms of properties, they include the Grand Ballroom that can host more than 1,000 guests, the multi-functional Forum, modern meeting rooms and a Roman-style amphitheater. It also has Renu Spa & Fitness which main focus is on on rejuvenating treatments influenced by the Morpheus Spa in City of Dreams Macau, which was rewarded “Spa of the Year” by the Forbes Travel Guide 2020.

A designer shopping promenade and unparalleled entertainment with guest DJs and legendary world-class acts are also part of the unique IR experience.

City of Dreams Mediterranean will take the concept of a contemporary luxury resort to a whole new unparalleled level. This will cause major changes in the island’s tourism and hospitality sector, as all investors will seek to build something like this. Moreover, it is the first development in Cyprus to receive a BREEAM (Building Research Establishment Environmental Assessment Methodology) Excellent rating at the design stage. However, the main goal of City of Dreams Mediterranean is sustainability.

Special soft opening period:

Melco also reported a special soft opening period for the hotel and invited guests to take place on June 12, 2023. After that, the public opening will take place on July 10, 2023.

Commenting on the official opening, Mr. Grant Johnson, General Manager of City of Dreams Mediterranean, said: “We are thrilled to finally open the doors of City of Dreams Mediterranean to our valued guests. A landmark project and our first venture in Europe, it will bring Melco’s award-winning standards of entertainment and leisure and welcome innovation to Cyprus’ luxury hotel scene. We look forward to captivating our guests with contemporary design, first-class entertainment, and immersive experiences.”

A great economic opportunity for Cyprus:

As the company also operates casino resorts in Macau, and one in the Philippines, Melco Resorts reported in its 2022 annual report filed on March 31 “a budget of US$575 million to US$600 million for City of Dreams Mediterranean.” In this regard, Melco Resorts chairman and chief executive Lawrence Ho Yau Lung during the company’s conference call with analysts on Wednesday to talk about the group’s first-quarter 2023 earnings, said: “The operational results of our temporary and satellite casinos have proven that there is strong demand in Cyprus We’re excited to open City of Dreams Mediterranean in mid-June and showcase our expertise with the first integrated resort of its kind in the region.”

At the same time as it was building its Cyprus IR, the company operated a temporary casino in Limassol under the “C2” brand. Additionally, under the terms of its license, it also manages satellite casinos under that brand in Nicosia, Ayia Napa and Paphos.

Moreover, in February, the then president of the Republic of Cyprus said that “he expected the launch of City of Dreams Mediterranean to bring obvious benefits to the country’s economy helping to increase tourist arrivals and create new jobs.”