End-of-year celebrations rhyme with Marrakech. The ochre city is popular for the last week of 2022. Six days before December 31, it was very difficult to find a room in the hotels of the city. For once, it is luxury and 5 stars that drive demand, followed by hotel clubs that are doing very well.
This craze also benefits three- and two-stars hotels whose prices are still affordable for latecomers. Thus, the public rates displayed for a room in a good three-star hotel start from 1,200 Dirhams (US$120) per night, twice the price displayed in low season. Like popular destinations, Marrakech is all the rage, and insiders and specialists alike know that the ochre city is almost full two to three times a year: end-of-year celebrations, spring, and during special events such as COP22 or the World Bank meetings (scheduled for October 2023). “As in any tourist destination in high season, to be able to benefit from a good price, you have to start early and book at least two months in advance”, says Mustapha Amalik, hotelier and Secretary General of the association of the hotel industry of the Marrakech-Safi region. Otherwise, latecomers will suffer the rules of the last-minute game and rates that may seem exorbitant whether in terms of air fares, 3 to 5 stars hotels room fees, guest houses, or even Airbnb. According to professionals, foreign visitors should be more numerous from December 25 as usual and the city should finish with an average occupancy rate of 67% (forecast), the fourth week being that of the great rush with occupancy rates of 90% in the luxury category, 88% in 5-star hotels, 97% in hotel clubs, and 80% in guest houses. For this potential clientele as well as for the city’s partygoers, hoteliers have all prepared festive programs for New Year’s Eve. Nothing could be more normal since customers are looking for animation. Also, as usual, hotel managers show a lot of imagination. Shows and decorations, foie gras and caviar... At the Royal Mansour hotel, one must pay 8,000 Dirhams (US$800) for a luxury dinner. At the Moroccan restaurant of the Mamounia hotel, it is 4,900 Dirhams (US$490). At restaurant Nouba, it costs 2.500 Dirhams (US$250) per person. At the Luma Restaurant, New Year’s Eve dinner is priced at 1,700 Dirhams (US$170) per person. Previously, celebrations will also to be found in the Jemâa El Fna square with the “Stars In The Place” free concert of singer Maître Gims scheduled for December 29. The mega-concert will feature artists Dadju, Nej, Naps, Rym, Black M, Linh, Eva, Grini, and Camélia Jordana. The organizers of the concerts expect records in terms of attendance with an estimated peak of more than 200,000 spectators.
Badra BERRISSOULE
