From The Jacksons to international thought leaders, Farah Shammas is creating a new generation of events in Cyprus
What if Cyprus wasn’t simply somewhere people came to holiday but somewhere the world came to perform, connect, learn and be inspired?
That is the idea behind the work of Farah Shammas, the Cypriot-based hospitality executive and entrepreneur behind two major international events coming to Limassol this autumn.
On 23 October 2026, legendary American group The Jacksons will perform live at Monte Caputo, Limassol, in a major concert bringing one of the world’s most recognisable musical names to Cyprus.
Just weeks later, on 12–13 November, Shammas will host SUM IT UP – The Work-Smart, Live-Smart Summit at St Raphael Resort & Marina, bringing international speakers, entrepreneurs, wellness experts and thought leaders together for two days focused on health, happiness, balance, leadership and living a more meaningful life.
Among the international names already confirmed is Karen Millen OBE, the iconic British fashion entrepreneur.
But for Shammas, these are not simply two events.
They represent a bigger ambition: to make Cyprus a place where people don’t just come for the sunshine, they come for the experiences.
“Cyprus has everything,” says Shammas. “We have the location, the hospitality, the weather, and an incredible quality of life. I want us to think bigger about what Cyprus can host and what we can offer internationally. Why should people always have to leave Cyprus to experience something extraordinary?”
The events also reflect Shammas’ own unusual journey.
A Lebanese Cypriot entrepreneur and Managing Director of St Raphael Resort & Marina, Shammas has spent years working in hospitality and building businesses and communities around wellness, leadership and personal development. She is also the founder of Farah’s Club and host of the Farah Shammas podcast and Hotel Talk podcast.
Her connection to St Raphael is particularly personal. She is the granddaughter of Shukri Hanna Shammas, one of the co-founders of C.A.T. (Contracting and Trading Group), who was also instrumental in the development of the St Raphael project, a vision that helped transform a previously undeveloped stretch of Limassol coastline into one of Cyprus’ best-known luxury destinations.
Decades later, his granddaughter is using that same setting to bring a new generation of international experiences to the island.
THE JACKSONS – 23 OCTOBER 2026
The Jacksons’ Limassol concert will give Cypriot audiences the opportunity to see the legendary group live for the first time in Cyprus at Monte Caputo, continuing the band’s extraordinary musical legacy and bringing a major international concert experience to the island.
SUM IT UP – 12–13 NOVEMBER 2026
SUM IT UP is designed to be something different from a traditional business conference.
The summit explores the question many people are asking today: How do we succeed without sacrificing our health, happiness, and lives in the process?
Across two days, international speakers will explore everything from entrepreneurship and leadership to wellness, relationships, purpose, and personal growth with practical ideas audiences can take away and use in their own lives.
For Shammas, the ultimate message is simple:
Cyprus can be small on the map and still think very big.
And she intends to prove it.
Also read: Victoria’s Secret Cyprus store coming to Mall of Cyprus
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