Storyline
With its warm temperatures and intricate history, the Moroccan capital Rabat is seeing growth in its luxury tourism sector, with five new luxury hotel projects under construction. One hotel boss says they’re seeing an increase in guests from Asia, particularly Taiwan.
Once the former palace of Sultan Moulay Slimane during the 18th century, then a military hospital from 1912, this grand property is now the Four Seasons Hotel Rabat.
Spanning two hectares, the hotel boasts an architectural design that reflects Moroccan heritage. The hotel’s buildings preserve design elements dating back to the sultan’s era, such as carefully carved wooden ceilings.
“The goal is to attract the largest number of international tourists,” says Noureddine Sridi, a regional tourism delegate in Rabat.
The hotel has 200 rooms and suites. Some lucky guests may even get to sleep where a sultan once slept.
“We are very proud of the history of the place … the team is all aware of what it used to be and share the history of the place with all the guests checking in,” says general manager Gregory Viaud.
Some 23 kilometres from Rabat, in Harhoura, the Conrad Rabat Arzana Hotel overlooks the Atlantic Ocean. General manager Jean Yong Pittion says they’re seeing an increase in guests from Asia, particularly Taiwan.
“In particular, Taiwan, for example, there’s a tour operator and they show a great interest to Morocco, looking for a new destination, something new that a lot of people are actually looking at now.”
And regional tourism delegate Noureddine Sridi says guests don’t just visit Rabat for the luxury, they’re looking for a slice of rich history too.
“The goal is to discover Rabat through its history, as it offers them a range of historical monuments, such as the Hassan Tower, the Mausoleum of Mohammed V, the Chellah site, the Oudayas, and the old city,” he says.
Morocco, whose beaches, exotic cities and pristine mountains are popular among Europeans, relies on tourism for about seven percent of its GDP.
This article and video were provided by The Associated Press.
Script
[Four Seasons Hotel, once the palace of Sultan Moulay Slimane in the 18th century, then transformed into the Marie Feuillet military hospital from 1912 to 1999]
[Hotel exterior]
[Traditional wooden roof]
[Swimming pool]
[Guests sitting next to swimming pool]
[Swimming pool to Atlantic Ocean]
[Noureddine Sridi, regional tourism delegate in Rabat, working on computer in office]
Noureddine Sridi (interview): “We have approximately ten luxury hotels, all of them international brands. The goal is to attract the largest number of international tourists. There are also approximately five luxury hotel projects currently under construction.”
[Chef working in kitchen at Four Seasons hotel
[Cinnamon in dish]
[Tables in hotel restaurant]
[Flower vases to store entrance]
[Worker in store hanging traditional outfit next to other clothes]
[Traditional accessories]
[Gregory Viaud, general manager of Four Seasons Hotel Rabat Kasr Al Bahr, holding book and sitting in the lobby]
Gregory Viaud (interview): “The Four Seasons clientele that goes from Four Seasons to Four Seasons, they look at luxury hotels because they don’t want to worry about anything. They just need to pick up the phone, tell us what they need, and we will make it happen. We also try to anticipate the guests’ needs, anticipate the service.”
[Four Seasons Hotel Rabat Kasr Al Bahr entrance]
Gregory Viaud (interview): “Because we are very proud of the history of the place, from the sultan to the military hospital, the team is all aware of what it used to be and share the history of the place with all the guests checking in. Especially with the clientele coming at leisure, it would be very interesting to know what happened in the place. One of our rooms, you can actually sleep where the sultan used to sleep.”
[Ocean to Conrad Rabat Arzana in Harhoura (23 km from Rabat)]
[Swimming pool on suite balcony to ocean view]
[Suite from bed to bath]
[Bath to bathroom]
[Spa room, heated sand massage]
[Jean Yong Pittion, general manager of Conrad Rabat Arzana in Harhoura, talking with team members in hotel library]
Jean Yong Pittion (interview): “We obviously have a different type of service, for example, the way to welcome, Marhaba, the customers. We do the mint tea, which is a typical and traditional way of welcoming the guests. So, we always have this in mind to keep that, you know, embrace the local culture, while we keep obviously the high-level standard of all standards that’s part of our day-to-day running the hotel.”
[Conrad Rabat Arzana tea room]
[Desserts in fridge]
[“Trompe l’oeil” cake]
[Restaurant to chef]
[Sushi being prepared by chef]
[Bartender mixing ingredients, making a cocktail]
[Spirits bottles]
Jean Yong Pittion (interview): “What we saw recently really increasing is, for example, the Chinese market or the Asian market. In particular, Taiwan, for example, there’s a tour operator and they show a great interest to Morocco, looking for a new destination, something new that a lot of people are actually looking at now.”
[Ocean to swimming pool]
[Guests sitting in front of pool]
[Flowers]
[Lobby]
[Conrad Rabat Arzana entrance]
Noureddine Sridi (interview): “Tourists who visit these luxury hotels have also other offerings, as they are not coming just to stay in a luxury hotel. The goal is to discover Rabat through its history, as it offers them a range of historical monuments, such as the Hassan Tower, the Mausoleum of Mohammed V, the Chellah site, the Oudayas, and the old city.”
[Marriott Rabat hotel entrance]
[Entrance to lobby]
[Marriott lobby]
[Restaurant]
[Conference hall]
Noureddine Sridi (interview): “We have also begun to attract Russian tourists, as they have significant purchasing power and prefer beach and cultural tourism, and other things. For this reason, Russian tourists visit Agadir, Essaouira, and Tangier, and a number of them visit Rabat, and other places. We consider them an added value.”
[Dawliz hotel in Salé to Bouregreg River]
[Bouregreg River, Hassan Tower and Rabat Grand Theater]
[Classic cars at entrance of Dawliz hotel in Salé]
This script was provided by The Associated Press.