As the country’s first integrated resort — with a 500-room hotel, Gary Player golf course, ESPA spa, casino, 2000+ conference centre, Sanctuary night club, residential villas, and all beach and leisure facilities — Mazagan is aiming across the board for visitors, he adds.
“The meeting and event sector is an important element for instance, with groups already received from the UK and France as well as locally — we anticipate 50% of group business for leisure and corporate, and 50% individual clientele in future.”
While the main challenge has been to promote an unknown destination in Morocco, Comble said another aim was to translate the natural hospitality of the local staff in to international service standards.
“In 2010 alone, we have invested more than one million euros in the training of employees,” he says.
SMIT’s Omar Bennani emphasises the commitment to get this right.
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“The tourism department has formalised a strategy to accompany job creation between 2008 and 2012 — this foresees the training of around 62,000 graduates nationwide in the sector of hotel business by 2012.”
Project Round-Up
Saidia — FADESA. On the Mediterranean, 17,000 beds are planned with beach as the prime attraction, as well as golf, spa and marina facilities.
Mazagan — Kerzner, SOMED, CDG, MAMDA and MCMA. Less than one hour from Casablanca, the site stretches nine miles and includes golf and conference facilities, with plans for 7600 beds.
Mogador — Thomas & Piron, l’Atelier, Colbert Orco and Risma. Near Essaouira on the Atlantic, it will feature 10,600 beds and at least three golf courses.
Lixus — Thomas & Piron and Orco. Around 12,000 beds are on the drawing board at this resort, an hour from Tangier on the Atlantic where the major focus will be on golf courses, an equestrian centre and marina as well as beaches.
Taghazout — Colony Capital and Satocan. North of Agadir, beach is the draw here with 18,000 beds in the pipeline.
Plage Blanche — FADESA. Some 19,500 beds are planned and eco tourism will be a focus amid the beach and dune coastline with an ecological park planned as well as golf course and spa.
Oued Chbika — Orascom. Located in the south between the Sahara and the Atlantic, the first phase will comprise eight hotels with 2,500 rooms, real estate, marina, golf course, congress centre, sports centre, spa and restaurants and retail.
Tamouda Bay — eight hotels and four golf courses planned.
Casablanca — marina, golf course and associated hotels are planned under a regional redevelopment scheme to double bed numbers to 20,000.
New terminals are underway at Casablanca, Marrakech and Oujda airports; a high-speed rail network is planned between Casablanca and Tangier, more than halving journey time to just over two hours.
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