What is your assessment of the tourism sector and of the hotel industry in Morocco?
The tourism sector in Morocco is under development. We have Marrakesh, a destination that has been chosen
among the top-10 destinations worldwide. There are also new areas such as Taghazout and Dakhla, which are gaining momentum quickly. As for hotels, there are plenty of new properties being constructed in Rabat, Casablanca, Marrakesh, and Tangier.
How did 2019 compare to the year before, andwhat has changed in terms of trends?
The first five months of 2019 were good for Marrakesh, Agadir, and Rabat, but it slowed down toward the third quarter. On the other hand, Casablanca had a slow start in 2019. Growth has declined mainly due to new openings and bad performance of other sectors, such as real estate and agriculture.
What are the biggest challenges in the sector that Mövenpick Hotel Casablanca has successfully overcome to maintain its position within the hotel industry?
The biggest challenge is to continuously update the property to meet the demanding requirements of customers and keep in close contact with guests to understand their needs.
Serving both business and leisure travelers, how do you position Mövenpick Hotel within the hospitality market?
Mövenpick Casablanca is oriented toward business travelers during weekdays, with a daily presence of local seminars. Over weekends and during the summer, we host the leisure segment in addition to several airline crews as well.
What are your unique offerings? How can people utilize your premises for business or special events?
Mövenpick Casablanca has a unique location, centrally located between the headquarters of major banks and next to the head office of major multinational organizations. Apart from an amazing sky bar rooftop with a pool, Mövenpick Casablanca offers a central location that is in close proximity to famous markets and cafes.
How are increasing innovations in technology affecting the hospitality industry and your operations?
We have succeeded in acquiring the latest technology in Wi-Fi and internet-enabled TV. At present, we are working on putting an iPad in each room. Guests will be able to use the iPad to order room service, control the room's lights, and operate the TV.
What is your outlook for the future?
With new openings in Morocco, and especially in Casablanca, we expect the competition to be furious. Moving forward, all hotels will need to concentrate on updating their infrastructure and improving guest satisfaction rates to retain their loyalty.
