MANDARIN Oriental Hotel Group has signed a long-term agreement to manage a luxury resort currently under development in Marrakech, Morocco.
Mandarin Oriental, Marrakech, is scheduled to open in 2014. It will be an intimate and exclusive retreat, set in 20 hectares of landscaped olive groves in the heart of the exotic Palmeraie region, with the snow-capped Atlas Mountains providing a stunning backdrop. The resort comprises luxurious accommodation, providing an unparalleled spacious and elegant living environment, offering the utmost in privacy. Innovative dining, a signature Mandarin Oriental spa and verdant gardens featuring orchards, pools, water features and fountains provide guests with the perfect resort environment from which to explore the regionís rich heritage.
Positioned within the lush, landscaped grounds will be 54 individual villas or riads, each housed in 300 sq m of private walled gardens, featuring their own pools and hot tubs, open-air showers, extensive areas for sunbathing and shaded alfresco dining. In keeping with traditional Moroccan customs, each riad will feature an interior courtyard, creating a calming, reflective arrival experience. The resortís palatial main building will house a further seven expansive suites, each with their own rooftop pool, taking the total number of guestrooms to 61.
An eclectic selection of Moroccan and international cuisines will be provided by five innovative restaurants and bars. The hotel will also feature an 80-seat ballroom with three additional function rooms.
The Spa at Mandarin Oriental, Marrakech, is an expansive 1,800-sq-m affair with eight private treatment rooms, including two deluxe couplesí suites, as well as significant water and heat therapies and a comprehensive fitness centre and indoor pool.
Celebrated French architect Pascal Desprez has modelled the resortís architecture on Moroccoís rich heritage and the cultural influences of the region. Renowned Paris based design-duo Gilles & Boissier will oversee the interior design of the main buildingís public areas.
The resort is ideally located for access to the regionís varied and extensive leisure activities. Perfect for year-round golfing, Marrakechís three premium clubs are all located within close range of the resort. The cityís celebrated walled medina, with its palaces, mosques and lively souks, is a short drive away.