Rotana enters Morocco with iconic resort

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Cox Gazette | Online Desk April 4, 2020, 12:01 AM

Making its foray into Morocco’s hospitality sector, Rotana, one of the leading hotel management companies in the region with hotels across the Middle East, Africa, Eastern Europe, and Turkey, has signed a management agreement to operate the iconic Palmeraie Resort in the country’s major economic centre Marrakech, under its new name, Palmeraie Rotana Resort.

Located in the heart of the famous palm oasis in Marrakech, Palmeraie Rotana Resort is a stone’s throw away from major landmarks and top attractions in the city, making it the ideal choice for business and leisure travellers alike.

Founded in 1993 on a sprawling 230-hectare site, Palmeraie Rotana Resort consists of the 315-room five-star Hôtel du Golf Rotana, the Golf Club Rotana with 11 exclusive suites and the 314-key Palmeraie Palace, for which a full refurbishment is currently being planned.

Palmeraie Rotana Resort also offers a Conference Centre, which can host up to 3,000 delegates, and a widely acclaimed gourmet destination offering 13 restaurants, in addition to a full-fledged fitness centre and Zen the Spa at Rotana.

The many highlights of the Palmeraie Rotana Resort include an 18-hole championship golf course spread among lagoons and palm trees, stretching over 120 acres. Designed by famous golf course architect Robert Trent Jones, Sr., who built or rebuilt around 400 courses in 45 states in the US and 35 countries worldwide during his seven-decade long career, the golfing destination provides golf lovers with superb greens that have a unique panorama of the Atlas Mountains.

Guy Hutchinson, President & CEO, Rotana, said: “At Rotana, we continue to pursue market expansion and sustainable growth by extending our brand presence to new geographies. With this exceptional opportunity in Morocco, we have reached a new milestone in our journey to transform the region’s hospitality industry”.

Driven by Morocco’s efforts to diversify source markets and its targeted promotion initiatives under the ambitious national development plan Vision 2020, the country’s tourism sector has witnessed a steady increase in international visitor arrivals and overnight stays. In 2019, the Kingdom recorded 13 million tourist arrivals, registering a 5.2 per cent increase from the previous year. As the top tourist destination in the country, Marrakech received nearly three million tourists and recorded more than 8 million overnight stays in 2019.

Hutchinson added: “We will immediately deliver upgrades for the Hôtel du Golf Rotana, the Golf Club Rotana and other key components within the development. The Palmeraie Palace will remain unbranded until it undergoes a full renovation, which is currently in the early stages of planning. Our absolute focus, however, will be on improving the quality of operations, enhancing the product offerings and delivering a level of performance across the complex that will continue to enhance the fine reputation of this outstanding resort.”

On a separate note the president and CEO told TTN, “As a company that considers the health and safety of its employees and guests as the utmost priority, Rotana already has the necessary precautionary measures and protocols in place to deal with medical and other emergencies. Following the global alarm over the spread of Covid19, we have established further health and safety practices and procedures, in accordance with the highest international standards, and in collaboration with the local health authorities. Additionally, in line with the recommended World Health Organisation awareness training, our teams have been briefed about the specific protocols to follow in relation to this virus and are fully prepared with preventative and responsive measures.”