Marrakech Hotels See Surge in Holiday Bookings, Luxury Sector Thrives

"Compared to last year, the professionals who are members of the association and others acknowledge that the Red City is experiencing a stronger influx this year," says Mustapha Amalik, Secretary General of the Regional Confederation of the Hotel Industry of Marrakech-Safi, to Hespress. According to his explanations, "the luxury offer has received a significant share of bookings, given that the personalities who prefer this offer generally have an established program." Bookings are made by several categories of tourists.

"International stars come to Marrakech accompanied by delegations, which means that their accommodation arrangements are made weeks before their arrival," Amalik specifies. However, international stars are not the only tourists making reservations. There are "many tourists of different categories and nationalities who have chosen to place this city, combining authenticity and modernity, at the top of the list of candidate cities to welcome the new year," he adds.

Amalik also notes that there is "obvious availability and preparation among professionals at the moment." "The work is not finished and the aspirations of the players remain high to invest the remaining weeks so that the dynamism is global for all the establishments in the Red City," he explains.

In the Drâa-Tafilalet region, hotels are also experiencing a sharp increase in bookings. "Bookings are currently variable at the regional level. [...] The region is experiencing its tourist peak during this period. Every year, New Year’s Eve is a catalyst for this peak and pushes it to its maximum," says Soufian Bachar, President of the Regional Association of the Hotel Industry of Drâa-Tafilalet. According to him, there are hotels where there are no more rooms available. "The enthusiasm is back as it was for years, with the exception of the Covid-19 pandemic period," specifies the hotelier from the southeastern region.

He notes: "The situation is positive, but it remains fluctuating. We are waiting, as there are still a few weeks for the professionals, knowing that Moroccans also come to the desert at the end of the year, and it is known that they book their accommodation in the last days, unlike foreigners who do so very early." Bachar will also point out that "the luxury offer in Drâa-Tafilalet in general is not dense, with the presence of hotels and camps of this type in the Merzouga, Zagora and Ouarzazate deserts, but they can be counted on the fingers of one hand."

And he concludes: "This diversity is beneficial, and the region will soon have 5-star hotel units, in line with the evolution of professionals in terms of services in this region."