HotelChatter - Marrakech

The Royal Mansour Marrakech Gets Delayed

juliana — 2009-10-23T15:14:21-05:00

<![CDATA[<img src="http://www.hotelchatter.com/files/1425/Royal_Mansour.jpg" class="top"> It's the first time we think this has ever happened on HotelChatter--a hotel actually emailed us to tell us they <a href="http://www.hotelchatter.com/tag/hotel delays">would not be opening on time</a>. Usually, we find out through the online reservations system but the <a href="http://www.hotelchatter.com/story/2009/6/10/85514/8846/hotels/The_King_Invites_the_Rich_to_Royal_Mansour_Marrakech">Royal Mansour Marrakech</a> decided to tell folks up front. Here's a statement from their PR rep:<blockquote> We wanted to let you know that the opening of Royal Mansour Marrakech has been delayed until the second quarter 2010. We are sorry for any inconvenience this has caused you, and realize that this uncertain opening date may mean forgoing coverage. The decision was taken to not open until everything was tip top perfect we are certain this project

La Mamounia Is Re-Opening; Here's Hoping It's Cleaned Up Its Act

juliab — 2009-06-23T14:04:37-05:00

<![CDATA[<img src="http://www.hotelchatter.com/files/6929/mamounia.jpg" class="top"> Three years is one long time for a refurb, but in the case of <a href="http://www.hotelchatter.com/hotel-reviews/La+Mamounia/ian/109312">La Mamounia</a> in Morocco, it seems like it may have been needed. The Marrakech hotel stalwart, which originally opened in 1923, closed its doors in July 2006 to the relief of <a href="http://www.tripadvisor.com/ShowUserReviews-g293734-d301256-r13043629-La_Mamounia-Marrakech.html#CHECK_RATES_CONT">TripAdvisor</a> reviewers, whose general consensus was that it was in dire need of a refurb, and probably an attitude adjustment while they were at it. But <a href="http://www.hotelchatter.com/story/2008/1/24/171524/771/hotels/Snapshot_Hotel_La_Mamounia_Closed_But_Still_Pretty_To_Look_At">this picture</a> taken last year gave us a bit more hope. And now, its been announced that it will reopen on September 29 this year. There will be 136 rooms and 71 suites in the new Mamounia, as well as three riads

The King Invites the Rich to Royal Mansour, Marrakech

amandak — 2009-06-10T10:15:37-05:00

<![CDATA[<img src="http://www.hotelchatter.com/files/3873/Royal_Mansour.jpg" class="top"> If the king owns the hotel, it's probably going to be somewhere close to a royal standard, right? That's why we've got a good feeling about Le Royal Mansour</a> in Marrakech, Morocco, with its 53 luxury riads and exotic location built into the ancient wall of the city.We've already <a href="http://www.hotelchatter.com/story/2009/5/5/9235/57828/hotels/A_Luxe_Mega_Riad_Is_Coming_to_Marrakech">started getting enthused</a> about Le Royal Mansour and now we've got a few more concrete details on the opening schedule. For a start, there'll be a kind of soft opening in September but it's only by invitation and so far, sadly, we haven't found ourselves on the invite list.The grand dare we say royal? opening will take place in November 2009, and you'd better start

A Luxe Mega-Riad Is Coming to Marrakech

juliab — 2009-05-05T09:26:06-05:00

Anyone who's been to Marrakech will be able to testify to the myriad of places to stay. We used to chalk this up to entrepreneurship on a national scale, but apparently it's been planned at the highest level: the king himself has decreed that he wants 10 million tourists bedding down by 2010, and he wants 160,000 extra beds to put them in.

One that looks particularly exciting is Le Royal Mansour, a mammoth collection of 53 riads (traditional Moroccan houses) stuck together to make 78 bedrooms, as well as a 2500 square-meter spa and hammam, and tunnels running underneath the complex for staff to get around stealthily.

NYT Reviews the Villa Rose Sultan Without Rose-Colored Glasses

KatieK — 2009-04-20T11:37:28-05:00

<![CDATA[<img src="http://www.hotelchatter.com/files/17697/19check600.jpg" class="top"> We love a <a href="http://www.hotelchatter.com/tag/celebrity%20scoop">hotel celebrity scoop</a> more than, well, anyone we can think of, and we get extra excited about a new hotel when it boasts big-name guests especially when the celebs in question are actually cool. So were intrigued by the <a href="http://www.hotelchatter.com/hotel-reviews/Villa+Rose+Sultan/ian/274164">Villa Rose Sultan</a>, a boutique hotel that opened last May hidden in the outskirts of Marrakech that has played host to Jake Gyllenhaal, according to this past weekends <a href="http://travel.nytimes.com/2009/04/19/travel/19check.html?ref=travel">review in the NYT</a>. But Donnie Darkos endorsement aside, the NYT didnt seem particularly impressed by the place maybe in part because of the hotels impressive pedigree: Apparently owner Majid Ej Jennane is grandson of imperial Meknes former pasha and earned his