Grant Johnson: CoD Mediterranean has welcomed 3 million visitors since opening

City of Dreams Mediterranean has had a remarkable first year, welcoming over 3 million visitors from across the globe since its official opening, and according to Grant Johnson, General Manager City of Dreams Mediterranean and Cyprus Casinos, the aim is to solidify its position as a key driver of the island’s tourism industry.

In an interview with InBusiness, Johnson says it was not plain sailing, what with the many challenges facing the industry in the past year, but adds that this did not make it lose its appeal to high-net-worth visitors, including family travellers and MICE guests, seeking to experience City of Dreams Mediterranean’s diverse entertainment and leisure offerings.

One year after the opening of City of Dreams Mediterranean, generally speaking, what assessment can be made of the IR’s one-year presence on the island?

In general, City of Dreams Mediterranean has had a remarkable first year, despite the many challenges which affected the entire tourism industry. As the largest integrated resort in the region, we have already made an impact in Cyprus’ tourism landscape and contributed to the economy significantly during our first year of operation. Since its official opening, over 3 million visitors from across the globe have experienced the world-class luxury experience offered at the resort, including hundreds of thousands who attended conferences and other events at the biggest MICE facilities on the island.

This success is the result of the hard work and dedication of our team but also the warm hospitality of the Cypriot people. Looking ahead, our goal is to further enhance the visitor experience, and to solidify our position as a key driver of the island’s tourism industry.

We understand that international conditions in the past few years, especially the geopolitical developments in the wider region, were not favourable, not just for City of Dreams Mediterranean, but Cyprus’ entire tourism industry. The loss of the Russian market was followed by the war in Gaza and the loss of Israeli tourists. How was the resort affected by these events?

We can say that conditions in the past few years have not been ideal for the island’s tourism industry. First, we had the pandemic, followed by the war in Ukraine, and most recently the Gaza conflict. These events affected Cyprus directly since these countries were big markets. When the resort opened in the summer of 2023, the European tourism season was already at its peak, so we were compelled to turn to the wider region. And we were doing quite well until the sudden outbreak of the conflict in Gaza which greatly impacted our business operations. Fortunately, business has since picked up significantly and we are positive entering the peak summer season.

From which countries, primarily, does the resort attract visitors currently and what is their profile? Can we give numbers?

City of Dreams Mediterranean has managed to attract visitors from across the globe with the majority of travellers coming from Europe and the Middle East. The resort appeals to high-net-worth visitors, including family travellers and MICE guests, seeking to experience our diverse entertainment and leisure offerings.

As far as we know, City of Dreams Mediterranean is a year-round destination. To what degree – casino and tourist stays aside – has this target been achieved, and which events contributed towards this?

Melco’s philosophy is to strive to deliver world-class offerings that go beyond gaming, and this is what sets us apart from the competition. City of Dreams Mediterranean has already established its appeal as a premier Meetings, Incentives, Conferences and Exhibitions (MICE) venue, firmly placing Cyprus on the map of conference- and expo-tourism. Since opening its state-of-the-art MICE facilities, the resort has hosted over 120 events that drew over 300,000 visitors. From international conferences such as the IFX EXPO and I-CON conferences, to corporate meetings including LVMH, Google, NMBS and Exness.

Besides a business hub, our goal is to become the leading entertainment destination in the Mediterranean. Since opening, the resort has hosted a variety of renowned Greek and international singers like Helena Paparizou, Anna Vissi, Despina Vandi, Nancy Ajram, Myriam Fares, Melhem Zein and Karem Fares, as well as world-renowned DJs including some of the biggest names in the industry such as Lost Frequencies, Nicky Romero, and Valeron.

These exciting events and concerts have not only attracted music and entertainment lovers from across the region but also established the resort as a leading entertainment hub.

How is the summer season so far and how do you see it developing from now on? Do you think we will have a good tourism year under the circumstances?

We had a good June and we’re optimistic the entire tourism sector will have a great summer season. The challenge for Cyprus is always off peak. However, I think City of Dreams brings an added dimension to the destination that can help the island grow year-round tourism.

City of Dreams Mediterranean was awarded in the 16th In Business Awards in the Tourism- Hotels- Recreation – hospitality category. What does this, as well as other awards you participate in mean to you?

It was a great honour to be recognised, considering that City of Dreams Mediterranean has only been open for a year. As a recipient of more than 650 international, regional, and local awards Melco’s achievements highlight the company’s dedication to exceptional hospitality and service excellence.