Magnetic Limassol

A series of impressive development projects in Limassol are catalysing a stronger economy, improved core infrastructure and an upgraded tourism product.

© cyprus from above

A SERIES OF IMPRESSIVE DEVELOPMENT PROJECTS in Limassol are catalysing a stronger economy, improved core infrastructure and an upgraded tourism product.

Magnetic LIMASSOL

Stepping up to take its seat at the table of up-and-coming lifestyle destinations, Limassol is a city in the throes of a dramatic evolution, whose bright future is being shaped by an impressive collection of unique international mega-projects.

Something special is currently underway in Limassol. A radical transformation which is being driven by multinational and international investors, prompting the rest of the world to sit up and pay close attention.

Perhaps it’s the convenient access to Cyprus from both air and sea, or maybe it’s the wonderful weather, the rich culture and fabulous dining, leisure and entertainment options; but recent years have seen the city step up as the clear frontrunner in terms of development, opportunity and innovation on the island.

Today, as its potential is increasingly recognised, this coastal hot spot is attracting serious investments. And in an interesting shift, many of the primary investors are now foreign companies, keen to enjoy a rich slice of this lucrative pie.

Among the key projects currently spearheading new directions for Limassol, three ventures from three very different industry sectors clearly stand out from the crowd – both for the exciting evolutions and opportunities they are mobilising, but also for spreading positive change as they weave their ambitious visions into the very fabric of the city.

These developments are also catalysing a stronger economy, improved core infrastructure and an upgraded tourism product – visible proof of their promise to give back to the city, its residents, and visitors who come to experience the charismatic landscape of the city.

Although from very different industries, all of these three projects have a common mission: to clear the way for this dynamic city to step into its full potential and take centre stage as the hottest new destination in the Mediterranean.

The Integrated Casino Resort will be a must-see tourism destination in Europe and the Middle East. There's nothing like it in the region. Craig Robertson Ballantyne, President, City of Dreams Mediterranean

JO MICHAELIDES

One look at Melco Group’s impressive portfolio and it’s clear good use, preparing this mega-development to fully realise that oits this Hong Kong-based conglomerate behind the City of three-pillar vision: to expand the island’s tourism horizons, Dreams ocon Mediterranean development means business when it contribute to economic growth, and provide more local comes em to international investment opportunities. employment opportunities. With vastly successful, large-scale properties in Macau “The ICR will be a must-see tourism destination in Europe and Manila, Melco has now turned its attention to Limassol, the Middle East,” explains Craig. “People in Europe want where othe plans are already underway to elevate city’s offering, same successful ICR concept as they can get in the US and adding oAsi a sprawling Integrated Casino Resort (ICR), just out-

Asia, but where can they find it? There is nothing like it in the reg side the centre. Introducing an all-new tourism concept toside to region, so it’s a great opportunity.” Cyprus, the resort is set to be the largest of its kind in Europe when it opens in 2021 when 2021.

HIGH END ENTERTAINMENT

Introducing the project is larger-than-life casino veteran The years of experience have taught Craig that in today’s

Craig Robertson Ballantyne, who landed in the gaming sector market a stand-alone casino simply doesn’t draw the crowds.

oby oIns

chance some 40 years ago, before quickly realising that he Instead, City of Dreams Mediterranean will follow in the footsteps of already successful models in gaming capitals such as owas ostep extremely good at it, while also totally captivated by its

ohighly oLas charged environment. Learning on the hoof, from the

Vegas and Macau, with the casino element serving as the obottom oeng up, Craig describes his career as something of a roller engine driving the resort, complemented and enhanced by an ocoaster;

oext one which has taken this charming Scotsman around extensive portfolio of non-gaming facilities. The resort style the world, working at some of the most famous gaming icons, complex features 52,000 square metres of pools and gardens from Lebanon and South Africa to his most recent post in alone, in addition to a sports centre, a high-end retail boulevard and even an amphitheatre. An on-site golf course is

Vladivostok.

Trading the long, freezing Russian winters for 300 days of bound to excite avid golfers such as Craig, who once dreamt Cyprus sunshine just over a year ago when he first took over of going pro before falling in love with the gaming industry. the project, Craig is already putting his decades of experience Indeed, this ICR will really offer something for everyone.

CITY OF DREAMS MEDITERRANEAN will follow in the footsteps ofalready successful models ingaming capitals such asLas Vegas and Macau.

CITY OF DREAMS

Rather than imposing imported international ideals on the island, Melco is determined to provide guests with an authentic Cypriot experience, paying homage to the island’s unique heritage and landscape. Cobbled walkways will reflect the quaint charm of rural mountain outposts, while the resort’s architectural layout is modelled on the hillside villages around the island.

POSITIVE INDICATORS

So, why Limassol? Craig describes the choice as a “no-brainer”; the significant development, investment and innovation that was already underway only served to further cement the decision to invest here.

A passionate advocate for his new home, Craig has always believed that Limassol – as the island’s multicultural centre of commerce, tourism and entertainment – was the only city for such a project. And luckily, Melco’s chairman Lawrence Ho agrees, citing Cyprus’s location within reach of both Europe and the Middle East, as well as Limassol’s position between the island’s two airports, as key factors that pointed the arrow towards Limassol as an attractive site for an ICR of this scale and calibre.

But it’s not just about how Melco will benefit from Limassol – it’s a mutually beneficial win-win proposition. This world-class facility is predicted to spark an influx of international visitors to Limassol, which in turn will boost the economy and spur further development and infrastructural enhancement.

While Craig feels that the city is already unique in its own right, adding new strings to its bow is always advantageous. “I always knew Limassol was a place that would grow,” says Craig. “All the indicators are very positive. But I want to see the ICR become a must-visit destination. That will have a knock-on effect and make Limassol even more attractive.”

A big believer that success builds success, Craig is confident that the realisation of the integrated resort will stimulate the development of new restaurants, offices, infrastructure, transport, logistics and investment in the area. “We've done enough research to get to a point where we can say, this ICR is a success waiting to happen. Now we have to transform Limassol, and I see the project as the trigger for that transformation.”

When it comes to the local residents, I want this Agora to become the backbone of the city

JO MICHAELIDES

Growing up in Limassol, as a child Panos Alexandrou would frequently take the bus to the old ‘Pantopolio’ municipal market with his family or school friends. Remembering the market as “a fun and atmospheric place, full of tradition, action and history,” Panos has fond memories of ice cream vendors letting him sample new flavours and traditional produce; traders giving him nuts or dried fruits to taste. He recalls the smells of spices and fish, sights of butchers getting their daily deliveries and the constant cacophony of sounds as merchants competed to sell their goods.

The old market operated that way until the early 2000s, when it closed for refurbishment and subsequent privatisation. Fuelled by wistful nostalgia and vast international experience in successful development, Panos jumped at the chance to get involved. Together with the municipality, he hopes to recreate the vibrant atmosphere of days gone by, giving the space an innovative facelift with a healthy injection of contemporary sophistication. Heralding the dawn of a new and improved era for the market, the ‘Agora’ project is designed to breathe new life into this historically significant space, simultaneously filling a gap in the market, to provide both local residents and tourists with a place to “connect, come together, eat, be entertained, enjoy themselves and experience something different every month.”

TWOFOLD OFFERING

Inspired by the local markets that exist around the world and which Panos visited during his extensive travels, the new Agora will offer a curated retail, dining and leisure experience when it opens in December 2019, with stalls and boutiques selling high-quality, unique, traditional or handmade products and street-food market-style dining options, serving local dishes, as well as tastes from abroad.

In essence, Panos’s vision for the project is twofold. On the one hand, he wants to give back to the people of Limassol, offering them a unique multicultural, communal hub for all ages: “When it comes to the local residents, I want this Agora to become the backbone of the city,” says Panos, whose passion for his project is instantly contagious. On the other hand, he wants to create a platform to drive tourism, where foreign visitors can come and experience the inherent hospitality and rich origins that make the island so unique.

“I want to give them an exclusive opportunity to buy beautiful traditional products only found in Cyprus; to learn how these products are made, and taste authentic local delicacies,” Panos explains.

A community man at heart, Panos is all about bringing people together, and this is clearly reflected in the project’s goals. Plans are already in motion for a mezzanine floor with communal office space, where forward-thinking professionals can rent desks and work, meet, network and exchange ideas, surrounded by like-minded specialists from different sectors. “I want to help people help each other; get them together to start doing business and working together, expand their horizons and grow. This in turn will benefit our city,” he says.

REVIVING THE CITY CENTRE

In Panos’s opinion, Limassol today finds itself at an interesting junction, and the Agora project is exactly what the city needs to revive its historical centre and steer the current spate of investment and development in the right direction.

“Limassol has developed much faster than other cities. It is now a legitimate up-and-coming destination at the forefront of progress in Cyprus, and we want to be part of this growth,” he says.

But simply adding a market isn’t enough, according to Panos, who insists that the project will prompt further infrastructural developments in the city, while stimulating the increased profitability of businesses located around the market.

“I think having a working market will benefit everyone in the area. The main shopping streets will have more people walking up and down, small city centre shops will thrive with more traffic, and the whole area will eventually be revamped,” he says.

A self-proclaimed entrepreneur who is “by default creative and visionary”, Panos sees the Agora as a stepping stone towards an avenue of growth that will allow the people to thrive, but that will also boost both the tourism industry and the economy, and ultimately serve as a base from which the city can grow and flourish. If major markets such as Camden or Borough Market in London, or popular urban markets in Tel Aviv, Amsterdam, Barcelona or Madrid are anything to go by, the Agora is well on its way to become the next urban capital of cool for all generations to enjoy.

THE OLD ‘PANTOPOLIO’ municipal market was a “fun and atmospheric place, full of tradition, action and history”.

Clearly, when huge multinational conglomerates such as DP World want to invest in Limassol, it’s a sign that the destination has the world’s attention and is on the right track towards further progress, innovation and growth. The company, which already boasts an impressive portfolio of 78 operating marine and inland terminals across six continents, took over operations at the new Limassol Port as DP World Limassol in 2016. Its crown jewel – a pristine new cruise passenger terminal, complete with conference and exhibition facilities – was officially inaugurated in May 2018. The man in charge of this exciting and promising venture is Charles Meaby, a dynamic and passionate marine expert, who fuses consummate professionalism with an innate and laid-back sense of humour and personability. With Charles at its helm, the new port is successfully steering Limassol towards can even brighter future, with a long-term future goal to grow both trade and tourism in the city and subsequently the island. c“We are an enabler of trade and a company that has eyes for the future,” says Charles. “We work with governments to grow and empower economies, and so far, we’re very pleased with what we find in Cyprus. So, the future is exciting, especially with a company like DP World who are prepared to back good ideas.” Charles himself has a proven track record of leaving destinations in better shape than when he first arrived. This seasoned manager has over 25 years of experience working in major ports, cruising and shipping terminals across the world, from the UK to South Africa and the Bahamas.

“Building on these experiences I hope I can bring a little bit of the spice and opportunity to Limassol, to promote the destination and get cruise companies to understand the product, but also to work with local authorities to ensure we have top quality customer service,” he says. To maximize the opportunities and benefits, the new cruise terminal is also available for hiring when requests are communicated in advance and no cruise vessels are expected on the desired date.

CRUISING TOWARDS SUCCESS

This spice and opportunity that DP World brings to Limassol is promoting the rebirth of a bona fide cruising sector on the island, with a string of positive impacts on trade, economy and tourism in its wake.

Growth is already predicted for 2019, with the portfolio of operators who are including Limassol on their itineraries growing steadily each year. As the new passenger terminal can accommodate even the largest cruise vessels operating today, there is still plenty of room for more traffic. Driven by characteristic optimism and a genuine love for this city

The port is an architecturally outstanding “front door” to Cyprus and to a city that is set to go from strength to strength. Charles Meaby, General Manager, DP World Limassol

JO MICHAELIDES

© DP WORLD LIMASSOL

The port’s crown jewel is a pristine new cruise passenger terminal, complete with conference and exhibition facilities.

© DP WORLD LIMASSOL

that has fast become his home, Charles strongly believes that Limassol has what it takes. “Limassol has all the right ingredients,” he says, “From personal experience, living and working here, the opportunities to have a full, sophisticated lifestyle are endless for the whole family.”

His personal list of special features includes the island’s ideal location at the crossroads between three continents, the safety, security and innate ‘filoxenia’ (Greek for ‘hospitality’), the vibrant atmosphere and cultural diversity paired with a rich and interesting history, as well as convenient access by sea and an openness to opportunity. In Charles’s mind, the advent of new world-class facilities at a port that is set in such an environment makes Limassol’s future as a modern hub for tourism and development almost a given.

A COLLABORATIVE EFFORT

Naturally, the DP World Limassol team cannot do it alone. Instead, they are striving to develop into an integrated and continuously evolving part of the city. “What will really make this work and get the numbers up to where they should be is collaboration between all parties,” says Charles. “We can serve as a

catalyst, bringing our knowledge and our expertise to encourage development, opportunity and innovation.”

One of the ways the port is collaborating with local authorities is to help improve the connectivity between the port and the city. Regular public buses already pass in front of the passenger terminal on a regular basis, but more infrastructural development is in the pipeline, including better road access, footpaths and cycle ways to allow cruise passengers to take a coastal route directly into the city.

With the space and capacity for high-volume turnarounds, the port is also planning areas for excursion buses offering multiple day trips around the island. And on a more local level, plans are also in place to develop a retail and leisure offering, making the port a part of the city that residents and tourists alike can visit and enjoy.

Seeing the port as an architecturally outstanding “front door” to Cyprus and to a city that is set to go from strength to strength, Charles is certain that the project will upgrade and enhance Limassol as a destination. He explains: “It is all about building that momentum together to provide a quality product, with all aspects working together as a well-oiled machine.”