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Anantara Resorts, a leading hospitality and leisure organisation in the Asia-Pacific region, is set to manage two unique five-star resorts in Morocco. This marks Anantara’s first entry into the African market.
Anantara Marrakech Resort & Spa and Anantara Mogador Resort & Spa will both open in 2011. The two hotels are the first of many planned with H Partners, a Morocco-based hospitality investment company.
Construction work will begin later this year on the two resorts, which will be strong additions to the ever-expanding Anantara portfolio. Owned by the Thailand-based Minor International, Anantara offers indigenous and culturally evocative luxury resorts in sought after destinations with an emphasis on nature, gardens space and sensual harmony. The rooms are luxuriously appointed with a “sense of locality” and are usually housed in villa type or low-rise accommodation. The planned resorts in Morocco will be no exception.
Anantara Marrakech will be constructed within the Atlas Golf Resort on a six-hectare plot. As well as guest rooms and suites in the main building, the resort will feature pool villas that will form part of the hotel with a portion being for sale as residences. Hotel guests will be within 10 minutes of the Djemaa El Fna, the centre of the Marrakech medina and the heart of the labyrinth of alleyways and side streets of this vibrant marketplace. Additionally, guests will have access to the 18-hole Atlas Golf course.
Anantara Mogador will be located in the first phase of an upmarket development adjacent to the historic town of Essaouira on the Atlantic coast. The resort will include 40 luxuriously appointed guest rooms along with 60 lavish pool villas, both for sale as residences and for let by the hotel. Tying in elements of local architecture and lush gardens, the resort and spa will evoke a sense of its surroundings and provide guests with unparalleled cultural experiences.
This seaside destination, about two hours from Marrakech by car or short flight from Casablanca, is a popular destination for surfers, artists and film-makers, and is also known for its music festivals. Essaouira, formerly known as Mogador, is steeped in history having endured invasion attempts. The main citadel is surrounded by a fortress wall and within the ramparts of this UNESCO world heritage site are a number of cafes, art galleries and craft shops. The medina is filled with small riads, museums and restaurants.
William E. Heinecke, CEO of Minor International said: “MINT is delighted to be entering this exciting new market. The locations in Marrakech and Mogador are true to the Anantara pillars of offering authentic cultural experiences in the world’s most enchanting destinations. H Partners bring a wealth of wisdom and understanding and this new venture will open up great development opportunities for the Anantara brand.”
Fouad Chrabi, President of H Partners, said: “We are very excited about this joint venture with MINT, a leader in our industry with a highly respected reputation for excellence and innovation. Our strategic partnership with MINT will allow us to transform the hotel scene in Morocco and deliver accommodation and holiday experiences of the highest quality.”
Theodore is the Co-Founder and Managing Editor of TravelDailyNews Media Network; his responsibilities include business development and planning for TravelDailyNews long-term opportunities.
