Malo Health and Wellness

The Portugal-based group internationally known for cutting-edge oral health treatment services announced a new project in Dar Bouazza (vicinity of Casablanca) that will include a clinic, a SPA and a 5 star hotel for a total value of MAD 280 million. The Malo Health Group operates mega clinics in many of the world’s major capital cities including Sao Paulo, Milan and Moscow. The project is backed by Palmeraie Group.

Real Estate Index

A Property Index is due to be released by year end and is aimed at making the real estate market in Morocco more transparent and regulated.
The Index, which will indicate the property prices by city, district and type, is being promoted by the Federation Nationale des Promoteurs Immobiliers (FNPI) and Bank Al Maghrib, the Central Bank of Morocco. It will be republished every 6 months.

The Address Hotels + Resorts in Morocco

Emaar Hospitality Group’s home-grown 5 star premium hotel brand signed its 1st management contract with Azmi Abdelhadi (AAH) Group to operate a luxury property in Marrakech. Jnan Amar Polo Retreat is scheduled to open in 2011 and is spread over 40 hectares. The Saudi-based developer will begin construction this year of the $85m polo resort and hotel and could save up to 30% on costs if construction began this year.

Agreement to build 20 economy hotels

The Moroccan Government has signed an agreement with 3 operators to construct 20 economy hotels, with investments of MAD 844 million. The 2 and 3 star hotels will be built in several Moroccan cities by 3 groups - American, French and Moroccan - and will be managed by Louvres Hotels, owned by American group Starwood.

Tourism stats

2008 was a record year for tourism in Morocco with more than 8 million visitors (increase of 7% on 2007); the month of August alone totalising 1.368 million passengers. Morocco aims to bring in 10 million tourists by 2010. From the figures of the Tourism Observatory on overnight stays in hotels emerges that, in the first ten months of the year, the sharpest drop was registered in tourists from the UK, -21%, followed by those from Belgium (-13%), France (-8%) and Italy (-7%). These negative results are partially compensated by tourism from the Arab Countries (+18%), the Netherlands (+33%) and Spain (+8%).