Of course, there are the riads in Morocco, the traditional version of the urban residence with these welcoming guest houses for stays with family or friends. But when it comes to contemporary aparthotels.., the offer is still very underdeveloped. An international chain such as Adagio, for example, has only one establishment in the country, in Casablanca, while the Ascott group has had no presence there until now. The country's economic dynamism and, in the longer term, the hosting of the Football World Cup in 2030, co-hosted with Spain and Portugal, should open up new avenues of conquest.
As part of this, Ascott has embarked on an expansion phase, with six establishments planned within the next two years, making Morocco the the cornerstone of its development on the African continent where the world leader in extended-stay hotels is also expecting to open new hotels in Abidjan, Addis Ababa, Dakar, Lagos, Nairobi and Yaoundé. " We're excited about the prospect of further establishing our presence in Morocco, a fast-growing market with considerable potential." said Vincent Miccolis, Managing Director for the Middle East, Africa and Turkey at The Ascott Limited.
As part of this expansion, Ascott has just opened the Citadines Almaz Casablanca. Located near Casablanca's south-west ring road, just ten minutes from the Moroccan economic capital's main business centres such as Casanearshore, Sidi Maarouf and Casablanca Finance City, and half an hour from the airport, this new establishment offers 61 flats for extended stays. Business travellers will also find a restaurant and meeting rooms, a gym and a swimming pool, for an experience that combines work, relaxation and city life.
This first opening in Casablanca will be followed by others. Later this year, in the third quarter, Ascott will open a new residence with 123 flats in the heart of the "golden triangle", in the Racine district. At the end of next year, in the fourth quarter of 2026, the group will add a business hotel through the Citadines brand range for short stays. Located between the business district, the medina and the boulevard Prince Moulay Abdallah, the Citadines Connect Belvédère Casablanca will have 60 units.
At the same time, the Ascott group has just announced the opening of a Citadines in another major Moroccan business city, Tangier. Located in the immediate vicinity of Tangiers international airport, the free trade zone and the industrial zone, the future Citadines Bab Tangiers will offer 130 flats when it opens in 2027.
Marrakech is also part of this development plan, with two establishments due to open by the end of 2026, a 90-room lifestyle hotel nestling in the Guéliz district, The Unlimited Collection Marrakechand a 100-unit upmarket residence, Ascott Hivernage Marrakech, just a stone's throw from Jemaa el-Fna Square and the souks of the medina.
