Moroccan debut for Mandarin Oriental

The Mandarin Oriental Marrakech joins the group’s earlier opening, the 104-room Milan addition, which made its debut in July.

The newest hotel for the group - which now takes it to 29 operational hotels - is set in 20 hectares of gardens, 10 minutes from the city.

The design of the 54 villas at Mandarin Oriental Marrakech was inspired by Berber and Moorish influences, with each of them coming with its own walled garden, with pool, hot tub and alfresco dining.

As well as the villas, the hotel has a further nine suites, seven of which have their own rooftop plunge pool.

“Mandarin Oriental, Marrakech is set to become the region’s most sought after and exclusive resort,” said the hotel’s general manager Mark Bradford.

The hotel’s interiors have been created by French-based duo Dorothee Boissier and Patrick Gilles, the current stars of hotel design who were once mentored by interior design legends Philippe Starck and Christian Liaigre.

Gilles & Boissier have just completed the first Baccarat Hotel, which opened in New York this year and are working on the renovation of the Four Seasons Hotel Mexico, also due for completion this year.

They also designed The Chess hotel in their hometown of Paris and plan to open a hotel in Rabat in Morocco later next year and one in Dubai by 2018.

The overall architect of the Mandarin Oriental Marrakech is Pascal Despez and the hotel has several F&B options - Mes’Lalla serves a contemporary Moroccan cuisine under renowned chef Meryem Cherkaoui and by Le Salon Berbere offers international cuisine. Beside the hotel’s main pool, there is also the Pool Garden, offering healthy dishes prepared with local produce.

The Spa includes large treatment suites with private terraces and gardens, two hammams, an indoor heated pool, a fitness centre and a yoga studio, as well as hair and beauty salons.

Guests can also benefit from direct access to the Golf Royal and Golf Al Maaden courses, while the Amelkis course is also nearby.

To celebrate the opening, the hotel has created the Experience Marrakech package, valid until February 5, which includes a complimentary third night for every two consecutive paid nights, daily buffet breakfast, WiFi, round-trip transfer from Marrakech Menara Airport and fast-track service through the airport. Meanwhile, the Delight in Marrakech package offer includes a resort credit of up to €300 per day as well as breakfast and limousine airport transfer.

MOHG has a further 17 projects in development in Asia, The Americas and Europe, Middle East and North Africa.