Page 44 - June 2021

SPECIAL FEATURE: INTEGRATED RESORTS
Livin’ La

Vida Local

The Londoner Macao, China Developer, Sands Retail

n integrated resort is a largely Singaporean term that on the most basic level refers to a major resort property that can include any
or all of the following, a hotel, a shopping mall, a conference centre and other entertainment facilities.
A These sites act as primary economic engines that make a disproportionate contribution to cash flow, driving overall returns and
facilitating investment in other facilities and amenities that are otherwise unsustainable.
Following the successful introduction of integrated resorts in Macau, Singapore and Las Vegas, many more countries around the world now
see them as a way to stimulate the economy, attract foreign investment, increase business and leisure tourist numbers, reduce unemployment,
provide multiple economic multipliers and revitalise underdeveloped areas.
City of Dreams Mediterranean, Cyprus’ first integrated resort and the biggest in Europe and the wider region, is advancing well towards
completion. Construction is progressing smoothly, with the IR being set to open in summer 2022. Upon completion, the pioneering project,
located in Limassol, will become Europe’s largest and premier integrated resort. It will feature a sixteen-storey, five-star hotel with more than
500 luxury guest rooms and suites, approximately 10,000sq m of MICE space, an outdoor amphitheatre, a family adventure park, and a variety
of fine-dining outlets and luxury retail. Its interior design will be based on Melco’s international luxury standards, specifically customised for
the Cyprus integrated resort, while the exterior design will feature distinct Mediterranean influences. The resort at Zakaki, Western Limassol
has direct access to the main highway network through an existing four lane road. The location is only 40 minutes from Larnaca airport and
30 minutes from Paphos airport.
Unibail-Rodamco-Westfield (URW) has announced the first entertainment partners for Westfield Hamburg-Überseequartier, including the
Legoland Discovery Centre. Westfield Hamburg-Überseequartier is a mixed-use district at the river Elbe from Unibail-Rodamco-Westfield,
scheduled to complete in Hamburg’s HafenCity in 2023. Merlin Entertainments’ Legoland Discovery Centre‘s first location in Hamburg
will cover 3,400sq m, making it one of the biggest Legoland Discovery Centres in Europe. In addition to the partnership with Merlin
Entertainments, URW has signed agreements with cinema operator Kinopolis, food retailer REWE and drugstore chain BUDNI. Kinopolis,

44 RETAIL & LEISURE INTERNATIONAL JUNE 2021