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Anantara Resorts Announces Development in Morocco
12 May 2009
Anantara Resorts, a leading hospitality and leisure organisation in the Asia-Pacific region, is set to manage two unique five-star resorts in Morocco. This marks Anantara's first entry into the African market.
Anantara Marrakech Resort & Spa and Anantara Mogador Resort & Spa will both open in 2011. The two hotels are the first of many planned with H Partners, a Morocco-based hospitality investment company.
Construction work will begin later this year on the two resorts, which will be strong additions to the ever-expanding Anantara portfolio. Owned by the Thailand-based Minor International, Anantara offers indigenous and culturally evocative luxury resorts in sought after destinations with an emphasis on nature, gardens space and sensual harmony. The rooms are luxuriously appointed with a "sense of locality" and are usually housed in villa type or low-rise accommodation. The planned resorts in Morocco will be no exception.
Anantara Marrakech will be constructed within the Atlas Golf Resort on a six-hectare plot. As well as guest rooms and suites in the main building, the resort will feature pool villas that will form part of the hotel with a portion being for sale as residences. Hotel guests will be within 10 minutes of the Djemaa El Fna, the centre of the Marrakech medina and the heart of the labyrinth of alleyways and side streets of this vibrant marketplace. Additionally, guests will have access to the 18-hole Atlas Golf course.
Anantara Mogador will be located in the first phase of an upmarket development adjacent to the historic town of Essaouira on the Atlantic coast. The resort will include 40 luxuriously appointed guest rooms along with 60 lavish pool villas, both for sale as residences and for let by the hotel. Tying in elements of local architecture and lush gardens, the resort and spa will evoke a sense of its surroundings and provide guests with unparalleled cultural experiences.
This seaside destination, about two hours from Marrakech by car or short flight from Casablanca, is a popular destination for surfers, artists and film-makers, and is also known for its music festivals. Essaouira, formerly known as Mogador, is steeped in history having endured invasion attempts. The main citadel is surrounded by a fortress wall and within the ramparts of this UNESCO world heritage site are a number of cafés, art galleries and craft shops. The medina is filled with small riads, museums and restaurants.
William E. Heinecke, CEO of Minor International said: "MINT is delighted to be entering this exciting new market. The locations in Marrakech and Mogador are true to the Anantara pillars of offering authentic cultural experiences in the world's most enchanting destinations. H Partners bring a wealth of wisdom and understanding and this new venture will open up great development opportunities for the Anantara brand."
Fouad Chrabi, President of H Partners, said: "We are very excited about this joint venture with MINT, a leader in our industry with a highly respected reputation for excellence and innovation. Our strategic partnership with MINT will allow us to transform the hotel scene in Morocco and deliver accommodation and holiday experiences of the highest quality."
For hundreds of years throughout Thailand, people would leave a jar of water outside their house to provide refreshment and extend a welcome to the passing traveller. Anantara is taken from an ancient Sanskrit word that means 'without end', which symbolizes this sharing of water and heartfelt hospitality is at the core of the Anantara experience.
Anantara Resorts are currently located in the seaside town of Hua Hin and on Koh Samui, in the Gulf of Thailand, and in the Golden Triangle in the country's north. In the world-renowned destination of the Maldives, Anantara Dhigu and Anantara Veli are a 30-minute boat ride from the capital Male. Anantara Seminyak debuted in April 2008 in the most fashionable district of Bali - the Island of the Gods. Late 2008 saw the opening of Anantara Phuket, situated in the serenity of Mai Khao Beach, Thailand, followed by Anantara Desert Islands Resort & Spa on Sir Bani Yas Island off the coast of Abu Dhabi, and Anantara Si Kao which lies on the secluded Changlang Beach area south of Krabi, Thailand. The newest member of the Anantara family opened its doors in April 2009, Anantara Baan Rajprasong in Bangkok is the first services suites property for the Anantara group. www.anantara.com
Anantara is a member of Global Hotel Alliance (GHA), the world's largest alliance of independent hotel groups. GHA partner hotels are renowned for reflecting and respecting local traditions and culture through the their products and services www.globalhotelalliance.com
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12 May 2009
Anantara Resorts, a leading hospitality and leisure organisation in the Asia-Pacific region, is set to manage two unique five-star resorts in Morocco. This marks Anantara's first entry into the African market.
Anantara Marrakech Resort & Spa and Anantara Mogador Resort & Spa will both open in 2011. The two hotels are the first of many planned with H Partners, a Morocco-based hospitality investment company.
Construction work will begin later this year on the two resorts, which will be strong additions to the ever-expanding Anantara portfolio. Owned by the Thailand-based Minor International, Anantara offers indigenous and culturally evocative luxury resorts in sought after destinations with an emphasis on nature, gardens space and sensual harmony. The rooms are luxuriously appointed with a "sense of locality" and are usually housed in villa type or low-rise accommodation. The planned resorts in Morocco will be no exception.
Anantara Marrakech will be constructed within the Atlas Golf Resort on a six-hectare plot. As well as guest rooms and suites in the main building, the resort will feature pool villas that will form part of the hotel with a portion being for sale as residences. Hotel guests will be within 10 minutes of the Djemaa El Fna, the centre of the Marrakech medina and the heart of the labyrinth of alleyways and side streets of this vibrant marketplace. Additionally, guests will have access to the 18-hole Atlas Golf course.
Anantara Mogador will be located in the first phase of an upmarket development adjacent to the historic town of Essaouira on the Atlantic coast. The resort will include 40 luxuriously appointed guest rooms along with 60 lavish pool villas, both for sale as residences and for let by the hotel. Tying in elements of local architecture and lush gardens, the resort and spa will evoke a sense of its surroundings and provide guests with unparalleled cultural experiences.
This seaside destination, about two hours from Marrakech by car or short flight from Casablanca, is a popular destination for surfers, artists and film-makers, and is also known for its music festivals. Essaouira, formerly known as Mogador, is steeped in history having endured invasion attempts. The main citadel is surrounded by a fortress wall and within the ramparts of this UNESCO world heritage site are a number of cafés, art galleries and craft shops. The medina is filled with small riads, museums and restaurants.
William E. Heinecke, CEO of Minor International said: "MINT is delighted to be entering this exciting new market. The locations in Marrakech and Mogador are true to the Anantara pillars of offering authentic cultural experiences in the world's most enchanting destinations. H Partners bring a wealth of wisdom and understanding and this new venture will open up great development opportunities for the Anantara brand."
Fouad Chrabi, President of H Partners, said: "We are very excited about this joint venture with MINT, a leader in our industry with a highly respected reputation for excellence and innovation. Our strategic partnership with MINT will allow us to transform the hotel scene in Morocco and deliver accommodation and holiday experiences of the highest quality."
For hundreds of years throughout Thailand, people would leave a jar of water outside their house to provide refreshment and extend a welcome to the passing traveller. Anantara is taken from an ancient Sanskrit word that means 'without end', which symbolizes this sharing of water and heartfelt hospitality is at the core of the Anantara experience.
Anantara Resorts are currently located in the seaside town of Hua Hin and on Koh Samui, in the Gulf of Thailand, and in the Golden Triangle in the country's north. In the world-renowned destination of the Maldives, Anantara Dhigu and Anantara Veli are a 30-minute boat ride from the capital Male. Anantara Seminyak debuted in April 2008 in the most fashionable district of Bali - the Island of the Gods. Late 2008 saw the opening of Anantara Phuket, situated in the serenity of Mai Khao Beach, Thailand, followed by Anantara Desert Islands Resort & Spa on Sir Bani Yas Island off the coast of Abu Dhabi, and Anantara Si Kao which lies on the secluded Changlang Beach area south of Krabi, Thailand. The newest member of the Anantara family opened its doors in April 2009, Anantara Baan Rajprasong in Bangkok is the first services suites property for the Anantara group. www.anantara.com
Anantara is a member of Global Hotel Alliance (GHA), the world's largest alliance of independent hotel groups. GHA partner hotels are renowned for reflecting and respecting local traditions and culture through the their products and services www.globalhotelalliance.com
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