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INTERNATIONAL
Massive development
of infrastructure
It’s not only due to the cultural variety and the almost proverbial hospitality of its population that Morocco
has long established itself on the international MICE market. The required infrastructure has also been
developed, and it will be further expanded in a grand way in the coming years.
The Kingdom of Morocco,
more or less at the interface
between Europe and the
African continent, has grown
into a favorite among international
MICE organizers. In
Marrakech, probably the city
most popular among tourists
to that country, the share of
hotel nights generated by
meetings and incentives is at
between 12 and 15 percent of
the total hotel accommodation
business. For this on-going
year, the target is to raise
that share to 20 percent. In
Casablanca, the country’s economic
center, business tourism
(including MICE) contributes
a significant 70 percent to
hotel business.
In terms of infrastructure, the
country can absolutely keep
up with international competitors
when it comes to meetings
and incentives. In Skhirat,
a bit outside of the capital city
of Rabat, organizers of giltedged
conferences and
events will find the contemporarily
equipped Mohammed VI
Convention Center. With the
two international airports in
Casablanca and Rabat right
outside the door, this center is
very convenient to be reached
for travelers from all over the
Investments all
over the country
MICE destination Morocco
world. As an alternative, congress
organizers may stage
events at the International
Conference Center of the
Palmeraie. Only 20 minutes
away from downtown Marrakech,
the center as part of the
new stylish Palmeraie Golf
Palace offers clientele an allin-one
complex with accommodation,
meeting facilities,
catering, and all kinds of
sports options. In Marrakech
itself, there’s the Le Palais des
Congrès de Marrakesh with
congress capacities for up to
5,500 persons. Located at the
heart of the city, the congress
center is only 15 driving minutes
away from the international
airport and ten minutes
from the historic part of town.
The international events already
staged here include a
World Bank Meeting, the FIFA
Congress with 3,000 delegates,
and the International
Water Congress with 2,000
attendees, just to name a few.
This list of centers in Morocco
is certainly not conclusive, the
more so as there are plans to
significantly expand the relevant
infrastructure in the coming
years.
The Plan 2012, for example,
provides for a conference center
seating 5,000 persons, a
marina, golf clubs and spa re-
Morocco has long
established itself on
the international
MICE market.
sorts to be built at Casablanca,
also known as Jewel on the
Atlantic Coast. The number of
hotel rooms is supposed to be
raised from currently 13,000 -
among these numerous international
hotel chains - to
22,000 in 2015.
Considerable investments are
also being made in other parts
of the country. Tangier, for example,
just a stone’s throw
away from the Spanish coast,
is currently also going through
a phase of considerable modernization
and development.
A new business district
named Tangier City Center is
being built here at costs
amounting to around USD 128
million; it will also feature residential
housing, shopping
centers, an additional airport
terminal as well as the ultramodern
Tangier Med Port.
This will be flanked by an array
of new 5-star hotels. KA
102 1/2010