Morocco: Serviced apartment group The Ascott Limited has signed two properties in Morocco to bolster its Middle East, Africa and Turkey [MEAT] portfolio.
The signing of Citadines Racine Casablanca and Citadines Connect Belvedere Casablanca will add 183 keys to Ascott’s existing portfolio in the region, as well as solidify the company’s footprint in Africa.
Ascott is entering into a management agreement with leading real estate developer Life Square to launch its first property in Morocco: Citadines Racine Casablanca by Q2 next year. In 2023, Ascott will open Citadines Connect Belvedere Casblanca in partnership with real estate conglomerate Chrifi Alaoui Immobilier SARL, marking the first Citadines Connect brand in the MEAT region.
Vincent Miccolis, regional general manager for the Middle East, Africa, Turkey and India at Ascott, said: “With an ever-growing demand for serviced residences and the absence of internationally branded apart-hotels in Morocco to meet the demands of international corporate travel, we are delighted to introduce Ascott’s award-winning brand, ‘Citadines’ in Casablanca, to contribute to the country’s growth in tourism and boost the city’s hospitality supply standards. We are excited about these new ventures and look forward to welcoming our guests to Casablanca.”
The serviced apartments, operating under Ascott’s European serviced residence brand Citadines, will serve both leisure and business travellers, from across Europe and around the world.
Miccolis added: “We are confident that the Citadines Apart’hotel and Citadines Connect brands will be widely welcomed in Africa and mirror the success they have achieved in other markets, including the Middle East. We partnered with Life Square and Alaoui Group as they have the regional insights and experience which is an essential component we look for in our partners, to better understand and service guests in the region.”
Located in the business district of Racine, in the heart of Casablanca, Citadines Racine Casablanca will comprise 123 keys, including 80 studio units, 23 one-bedroom units, and 20 two-bedroom units.
Meanwhile, Citadines Connect Belvedere Casablanca is a boutique-style property located within the Belvedere district of Casablanca. The historical property will be converted into a hotel incorporating the Citadines Connect brand standards, and will offer 60 keys for Standard and Deluxe rooms.
Earlier this year, Ascott announced plans to grow its portfolio in the MEAT region by more than 1800 units by the end of 2022, and 6,000 units by 2025. Speaking at the Arabian Travel Market, the company said it was on track to reach a total of 10,000 units in the region by 2025.
