While Fairmont has just made a remarkable entry into Qatar, with a hotel housed in the emblematic Katara Towers and associated with a prestigious 132-suite Raffles, the month of November was above all an opportunity for Accor's premium brand to strengthen its presence in Morocco with two prestigious establishments in addition to those already open in Marrakech and Taghazout. Alongside these more leisure-oriented destinations, Fairmont is setting up in two of the country's major cities, Tangier and Rabat.
At the beginning of the month, the Fairmont Tazi Palace made its debut at TangierLocated in the residential district of Boubana, 10 minutes from the city centre and the Corniche. The result of the conversion of a historic 1920s palace into a hotel, the hotel is organised around Andalusian gardens and intimate spaces to offer 133 rooms, suites and penthousesThere are two restaurants, one serving Persian cuisine and the other focusing on the Mediterranean, and a speakeasy-style bar.
Given the economic importance of Tangier in Morocco, the hotel is targeting business customers, and has meeting rooms with indoor facilities, a 300 square metre plenary hall and two 68 square metre lounges. " Our facilities can easily accommodate events of all sizes, from board meetings to meetings and conferences for up to 300 people.says Fabien Gastinel, CEO of the Fairmont Tazi Palace. We can arrange each room to suit the needs of our customers. Refreshments, snacks and meals or outdoor networking areas can also be arranged." . This is because the verdant exteriors lend themselves to VIP events, whether on the rooftop of the Katara Suite, in the Andalusian gardens or on the pool terrace. And of course there's a swimming pool, as well as a vast spa for relaxation.
After this opening in the north of Morocco, the brand will set course for Rabat on 28 November. The Moroccan capital will see the opening of the Fairmont La Marina Rabat Salé, at the confluence of the Atlantic Ocean and the Bouregreg. This location, on the banks of the river estuary, was ideally suited to the development of a urban resort where " travellers can come on business and continue their stay with a city break at the water's edge" says Jérôme Lobier, General Manager of the hotel. The Fairmont La Marina Rabat Salé intends to establish itself as a leading venue in the Moroccan capital for business trips and professional meetings, with, among other things, a conference centre with 7 meeting rooms, a Majliss VIP lounge and a 500 m2 ballroom.
In Rabat, a MICE-oriented urban resort
With a capacity of 350 people in theatre format, this modular venue lends itself equally well to seminars, cocktail parties and gala dinners, or even the organisation of exhibition stands in conjunction with an event. Another advantage of this conference centre is that it is not housed within the walls of the hotel, but is located directly opposite, with a dedicated entrance. " This makes for a smooth and pleasant journey, with participants welcomed without mixing with individual customers." according to the hotel manager.
Similarly, all the hotel's restaurants are open to the city, without guests having to pass through its lobby. In all, the Fairmont La Marina Rabat Salé has three restaurants, including one serving Moroccan cuisine and one serving French cuisine. a French brasserie designed like these contemporary halls, in an "easy going" spirit. It's a sort of food court, with a shucking bench, two grills and a rotisserie, among other things. As for the rooftop terrace - no renowned hotel today without an attractive rooftop - it houses a lounge bar and a restaurant with Nikkei influences around its swimming pool.
In total, the hotel offers 186 rooms, including 27 suitesThere are also 88 flats with 1 to 3 bedrooms. These are private residences that can occasionally be used to extend the hotel's offer for longer business stays. The hotel also offers Gold rooms and suites with butler service, dedicated concierge and access to the lounge. " Customers who choose this Gold experience will also be able to take advantage of exclusive events organised on a regular basis with local decision-makers and business leaders" says Jérôme Lobier.
Rabat's hotel industry, in addition to the diplomatic and administrative spheres typical of a capital city, benefits from the corporate activity of a city which, while not having the economic clout of Casablanca, attracts many business travellers, notably due to its proximity to the Kenitra free trade zone. " The hotels in Rabat are often full, a new five-star hotel was a real need" says the hotel manager. This high occupancy rate is supporting the development of 5-star hotels, an offer currently condensed around the Sofitel Le Jardin des Roses and the MGallery Le Diwan on the Accor side, but also the hotel The View, the La Tour Hassan Palace, the Story and the Dawliz Rabat Art & Spa.
While a Marriott has recently been added to the Moroccan capital's upmarket offering, the opening of the Fairmont precedes the arrival of other prestigious brands in Rabat such as Ritz-Carlton, Four Seasons, Conrad and no doubt InterContinental. " We need to do this to raise the city's profile. The more you are, the more attractive it is." says Jérôme Lobier.
Just an hour's drive from Casablanca and its international hub1.5 hours from Tangiers by TGV, Rabat intends to go beyond its role as administrative capital and give itself a new identity. a "city of light" feelIt's a pleasant city to live in, with plenty of green spaces and an eminently cultural atmosphere. To consolidate its reputation, Rabat is no slouch when it comes to major projects such as the construction of the Grand Théâtre de Rabat, one of Zaha Hadid's latest works, or the Mohammed VI Tower, which will be one of the tallest in Africa at 250 metres and 55 storeys high, some of which will house a new luxury hotel. At the same time, its airport is waiting for a second terminal to increase its capacity from one million passengers to four million by 2024.
