Meliá Hotels International is cashing in on Morocco’s flour- ishing tourism industry, opening three properties (more than 700 rooms) in Saidia before 2017.
The Spanish hotel firm has joined forces with SDS, a part- nership between the major Mo- roccan group CDG and the Mo- roccan Tourism Development Fund, to open a Meliá ‘Beach Hotel’ with 396 rooms; a ‘Club Hotel’ with 150 rooms (2016); and luxury holiday apartments with 190 luxury rooms (2017).
Meliá is one of several global hotel brands signed up to the scheme as GDC already owns more than 8,000 beds with at least 5,300 under development.
“The potential of the country is huge, receiving more than10 million tourists last year with government plans to double this number in the next decade, part of the country’s Vision 2020 Plan to establish Morocco as one of the top 20 tourist destinations worldwide,” said Meliá Hotels International vice chairman and CEO Gabriel Escarre. Morocco’s close proximity to Spain where the Meliá brands were well rec- ognised, as well as key European feeder markets, made the coun- try attractive,” he added.
Meliá is also eyeing opportu- nities in Casablanca, Agadir, Ra- bat and Marrakech where leisure and corporate demand is strong.
