City of Dreams Mediterranean, which opened in July 2023, is rapidly transforming Cyprus’ position in the Meetings, Incentives, Conferences & Exhibitions (MICE) sector. With 8,000m² of event space, the resort has already hosted major players like iFX Expo, Google, LVMH, and Exness, and served as the venue for the high-profile ‘i-Con Island Conference’ for the third year running.
The resort’s appeal lies in versatility across all its integrated expo facilities and premium event halls, five-star accommodation and standout spaces for parties and networking. A representative from Nexxie Group, which organizes the i-Con Island Conference for which I was given a delegate pass, praised the "flexibility of meeting spaces and scope for future growth," emphasizing how well the resort balances business with luxury experiences.
Klea Symeou, MD of Savvy Events DMC & President of Cyprus Incentives and Meetings Associates (CIMA), called City of Dreams a “transformational addition” to Cyprus' MICE offerings and added “it has elevated not only the island’s infrastructure but also the global perception of what Cyprus can deliver. As an association representing the leading DMCs and MICE professionals of Cyprus, CIMA recognises City of Dreams as a landmark project, a true game changer that positions Cyprus as a serious contender for international conferences, incentives, and corporate events at the highest level.”
Experiencing the delegate journey
The i-Con Island Conference showcased this potential to me first-hand. The huge Expo Centre has a dedicated entrance, whilst delegates staying at the resort have direct internal access from the hotel’s 500 luxury rooms and suites to all the Expo Centre spaces. During i-Con, the 2,000m² Grand Ballroom, the largest on the Cyprus within a resort setting, featured the 90 supplier stands and a terraced Street Food Court beyond. Outdoors, activations included a basketball zone, street art installations, and alfresco networking with beanbags and food trucks. The event barely tapped into the resort’s 2,000-capacity Event Lawn or 200-seat amphitheatre.
i-Con’s keynote speeches, workshops, VIP lounge and media centre were easily navigable. The main stage was designed around the hotel’s ‘Gaming Zone’, usually open to the hotel’s younger guests to satiate their gaming needs. Opposite the registration area, two sets of escalators ferried participants up towards the ‘Thematic Zone’ and down towards the VIP Lounge, Co-working space and media area. Upstairs, the 5 meetings rooms were amalgamated into three large spaces for a series of workshop-style talks.
The escalator downstairs traversed VIP delegates into a more relaxed environment, where keynote speakers could quietly prepare themselves or be interviewed by the media team. Other VIP delegates were also utilising the co-working spaces, refrigerated complimentary drinks and even a pool table, creating a relaxed, functional atmosphere for top-tier delegates.
Dining and recreation options further elevate the delegate and guest experience. With nine restaurants, a luxury spa, Europe’s largest casino, adventure park and a vast pool complex, the resort doubles as an incentive haven. The Marcos Baghdatis Tennis Academy adds another dimension, offering ATP-standard facilities and group packages. As an example, I-Con Island Conference utilised the hotel’s exquisite French Restaurant ‘Anais’, whose wrap-around terrace accommodated 600, for ‘Cupid’s Secret Garden, an afterwork drinks & bites’ DJ party.
Located on the eastern periphery of Limassol and within easy reach of Cyprus' cultural and natural landmarks, the resort is more than a venue, but becomes part of the event story which was important to witness. As i-Con’s continued partnership shows, City of Dreams isn’t just hosting events; it’s helping define them.
