18 SPECIAL FEATURE
18 SPECIAL FEATURE LUXURY ACCOMMODATION & TRAVEL ADVERTORIAL SELMAN MARRAKECH: A Moroccan Thoroughbred Hotel Stylish five-star luxury in Marrakech with its own stable of pedigree horses Regularly ranked as one of the top luxury hotels in Morocco, Selman Marrakech stands out from its competitors in a number of ways; not least the red-brick exterior and opulent i n t e r i o r c o m b i n i n g classic Moorish style with Parisian flair courtesy of renowned French architect Jacques Garcia. It has an equestrian theme authenticated by the presence of a dozen thoroughbred horses in the hotel’s onsite paddock, which owner A b d e s l a m B e n n a n i Smires – a former member of the Moroccan national show-jumping team – explains: “I wanted to create a unique hotel project that offered the traveller a strong portrayal of our culture” he said. “The horse, profoundly linked to our history, seemed to me to perfectly encapsulate the spirit. I’ve had a chance to visit the most beautiful stables in the world, and each time it was an incredible experience. I wanted to be able to offer people the chance to gain access to and share in this otherwise closed equestrian world. Through doing so, the guest experiences a sense of sharing which is a principle so dear to the Moroccan people.” Yet an interest in horses is not required; Selman Marrakech has plenty to offer visitors with no equestrian inclination. T h e h o t e l b o a s t s swimming pool which, at 80m, is the longest in Marrakech, plus a spa experience unique within the Moroccan city – its in-house Henri Chenotendorsed biontology facility. The Bennani Smires family have striven to make the luxury accommodation “feel like home” which is certainly aspirational, considering the lavishly decorated interiors garnished liberally with objets d’art: surroundings fit for fashion royalty like Christian Louboutin who joined Monica Belluci there for a Dior event during the Marrakech International Film Festival 2012. Glamour and horses notwithstanding, Selman Marrakech does offer an intimate respite, at the foothills of the Atlas mountains and 10 minutes away from the famously frantic Marrakech medina to ensure tranquillity Hall 21.b / Stand 222 ITB BERLIN NEWS • Thursday 9 th March 2017 www.itb-berlin-news.com
SPECIAL FEATURE CRUISES 19 The European Cruise Market Key figures from IPK’s World Travel Monitor In recent years, cruises have become a boom segment of the travel industry, with a volume of around 22 million cruises worldwide last year. Behind North America, the undisputed leader with a market share of 59%, is Europe, on 32%. Cruises to European destinations account for 78% of the European market, with Spain being the most popular destination. The Caribbean occupies second place and is the only destination among the top five destinations of European cruise tourists that is outside Europe. The third most popular cruise destination among Europeans is Italy. DIVERSITY AND RELAXATION WHILE SPENDING MORE MONEY Few other types of holidays offer similar opportunities for relaxation as well as for making new experiences, either on board or on local excursions. When on cruises, Europeans especially enjoy relaxing, sightseeing as well as exploring foreign countries and cultures. Ultimately, it is also important to them to enjoy “the sea, water and nature”. There are many opportunities for tourists to spend extra money while being on a cruise – be it on an excursion, while shopping or enjoying an on-board spa. Even if cruises are said to no longer be as exclusive or expensive as they used to be, spending in this holiday segment is significantly higher than in others. While Europeans on average spent 107 euros per night on all holiday trips, cruise tourists EUROPEAN OUTBOND CRUISE TRAVEL TOP 5 DESTINATIONS Spain Carribean Italy France Sweden 0% 5% 10% 15% 20% doubled that figure with an average of 218 euros. LARGE NUMBER OF TRAVEL AGENCY BOOKINGS & HIGH GROWTH OF YOUNGER TRAVELLERS At 60%, the internet is also the preferred booking channel of Source: IPK International - World Travel Monitor Europeans when it comes to cruises. However, travel agencies continue to account for an above-average number of cruise bookings. On average, 25% of European holiday makers book via travel agencies, whereas among European cruise tourists this figure is 42% and hence much higher than in any other holiday segment. ITB BERLIN NEWS • Thursday 9 th March 2017
