Fairmont Hotels & Resorts has announced a new property, Fairmont Marrakech, Morocco, slated to open in 2011. Building on its growing presence in Europe, Africa and the Middle East, the resort will join other hotels in the region including Fairmont Zanzibar, Tanzania; Fairmont Towers Heliopolis, Cairo; Fairmont Mara Safari Club, Kenya and London’s Savoy, reopening in 2009 following an extensive restoration.

The 190-room resort will be designed to offer its guests a true experience capturing the essence of Marrakech. A mix of contemporary and traditional architecture, unique amenities and details which reflect authentic expressions of Morocco will allow guests to celebrate the origins of this dynamic culture. The property will feature five food and beverage outlets, 13,000 square feet of banquet and meeting space, including a 4,300 square foot ballroom, and Fairmont Gold, the brand’s exclusive lifestyle offering featuring warm and personalized service with amenities such as a private reception desk and a comfortable guest lounge.

A 14,000 square foot Willow Stream Spa and health club will feature 14 treatment rooms, a hammam, specialty showers, steam room, ice fountain and a variety of lounges for relaxing. The complex will also include 32 new Fairmont-branded residential villas.

Marrakech is quickly becoming an established upscale destination in North Africa and is increasingly seen as a world-class golf destination. The city, Morocco’s second largest, is in a spectacular desert setting, situated close to the snow-topped Atlas Mountains. Dynamic Marrakech has no end of diversions for visitors, including the town square of Jemaa l-Fna, which bustles with acrobats, dancers and musicians and by night welcomes an array of food stalls, and the many souks (traditional markets). Other notable attractions include the Koutoubia Mosque, whose minaret is visible from most points in the city, the romantic Menara gardens, and the many palaces that bear the mark of the European influence on this cosmopolitan city.

A new golf course will be developed adjacent to the hotel, and the famed Marrakech Royal Golf Club is a short drive away, making the destination an appealing one for fans of the game. Fairmont Marrakech is located on the famous Mohamed VI Boulevard in the Parc de l’Agdal and conveniently situated less than a mile from the Medina, the ancient part of the city, and home to many of the area’s most notable landmarks.

Fairmont is partnering with Ste l’ Eden de Marrakech, a company headed by Simon-Xavier Guerrand Hermes, of the Hermes Luxury goods family. Ste l’ Eden de Marrakech has appointed THED International, a French company headed by Georges Dahan, to manage the project.

“Fairmont Marrakech is positioned to be a unique luxury destination resort in the region offering a true Moroccan ambiance together with the service excellence for which the brand is recognized,” said Simon-Xavier Guerrand Hermes, President, Ste l’ Eden de Marrakech, “Fairmont was chosen to manage the resort and residential products as its name has become synonymous with understated elegance and preeminent hospitality across the globe and we are proud that Fairmont Marrakech will join a collection of iconic and legendary hotels”.

Thomas W. Storey, President, Fairmont Hotels & Resorts said, “We are pleased to introduce our guests to this distinctive resort in Morocco, one of the world’s fastest growing tourist destinations. This new property reinforces our expansion in the region and demonstrates our commitment to working with key partners to develop world-class properties and build upon our brand’s global strength.”

Fairmont Marrakech joins a number of recent announcements across the globe, including Fairmont Hyderabad, India; Fairmont Roco Ki, Dominican Republic; Fairmont Haitang Bay Resort, Sanya, China; Fairmont Abu Dhabi Creek and Fairmont Manila, Philippines.