A different kind of Cyprian holiday is on the horizon as City of Dreams Mediterranean looks to attract more UK visitors by offering a 'long-haul experience in a short-haul destination’, combining five-star accommodation with entertainment, nightlife, sport, and year-round activities
Speaking at WTM London, the Director of Resort Sales, Costandinos Christofi, and the Vice President and Director of Resort Sales & Marketing, John Sinke, sat down with Travel Bulletin to discuss the ‘Vegas outside of Vegas’ in the heart of Limassol.
“Cyprus is a well-known destination for British travellers. It's a popular destination, a safe destination, and it's a place that British travellers can come to and have been coming to for many years,” Constandinos said.
“With the introduction of our resort, we've given a new type of resort – a long-haul-style destination for short-haul flights. We've basically brought a Vegas or Dubai experience to a four-hour flight from the UK.”
A new type of customer
The resort is taking a more targeted approach to the UK travel trade, looking to build strong relationships with agents and operators whose clients are already considering luxury long-haul holidays.
Traditionally, Cyprus sellers have focused on the destination's established sun-and-sea product, but City of Dreams Mediterranean aims to reach travellers seeking a different kind of five-star break.
“We're more focused on agents that sell Dubai luxury holidays in long-haul destinations and specific products that would reflect a five-star long-haul experience, like Atlantis, for example,” Constandinos said. “We're working hand in hand with travel agents and tour operators to recognise there's a new product inside.”
Entertainment year-round
With 320 days of sunshine a year, Cyprus has the potential to attract visitors beyond the traditional summer season. The resort is eager to make the most of that climate by combining its entertainment programme with island-wide experiences.
“Throughout the year, the experiences outside of the beach holidays in the summer are mainly around the Troodos Mountains, where you can see water pools. You can go hiking. You can visit traditional villages, even Christmas villages in December. Those are very, very pretty because they're all very old villages, very charming, and there's even skiing for about one or two months, whilst the climate is still mild down near the coast, so that's why some people even manage to go skiing during the day, and also on the same day go to the beach,” John said.
At the resort itself, the entertainment programme runs year-round, with concerts, comedy shows and other performances taking place at weekends. The resort team believes this gives it an advantage over other resorts in Cyprus.
“Whereas some other hotels in Cyprus actually close during the winter season, we actually double down on the winter season, and we offer entertainment in Centre Stage, our casino, bar, restaurant, and then we also have our nightclub/French restaurant, which is called Anais.”
Beyond entertainment, the resort is targeting travellers seeking an active break. Its facilities include a tennis academy with 12 courts, three padel courts and an adventure park.
The nearby Limassol Greens golf resort, which opened in December 2025, is another important part of the resort offering. Located around five minutes away, it gives guests the opportunity to combine golf with the resort's wider entertainment offering.
“Because of the mild climate, you can actually play golf throughout the year,” John said. “In Cyprus, you won't need the wellies or the umbrellas!”
The combination of sport and entertainment is a particular focus for the UK market, with the resort team identifying golf breaks as an opportunity to attract new customers and encourage longer stays.
“Sometimes those golf trips get a little boring because you have a lot of fun during the day. But what do you do in the evening? This is the really interesting combination, to combine the best of both worlds: sports and entertainment,” John said.
Agents key in positioning
Fam trips and agent education are essential to ensuring the resort reaches the right customers. The resort team wants agents to understand how City of Dreams Mediterranean differs from a conventional Cyprus hotel and to communicate its entertainment-led proposition to clients considering a luxury break.
“Agents play a crucial role because we understand they know their customers and the products that their customers like,” Constandinos said. “We don't want to be put into the category of just another Cyprus hotel. We're a standout product which focuses on entertainment, gastronomy and activities.”
“Once those agents come on the fam trips and they understand that this end product is actually a Dubai or Las Vegas product that's just located in Cyprus, that's one of the most vital parts.”
Looking ahead, the resort's ambition is to build on its vast entertainment programme that has helped shape its first three years of operation.
For the UK market, however, golf is expected to be a particular focus area, with agents encouraged to combine time on the course at Limassol Greens with the resort's restaurants, casino, and evening entertainment.
“It's sports, it's entertainment, it's nightlife. Yes, it's a family resort that offers great family facilities, but it's more geared towards a traveller who's looking for a unique experience.”
By combining the convenience of a short-haul flight with a luxury, entertainment-led resort experience, City of Dreams Mediterranean is hoping to give UK agents a new way to sell Cyprus year-round.
WTM London is running from November 3rd-5th, 2026, at ExCel London.
