Four Seasons Hotel and Resort

An artist's rendering of the completed Four Seasons Marrakech Hotel and Resort.

A plan of the Four Seasons resort and residential development, which is set within the lush Menara Gardens.

The gateway to the Menara Gardens.

The Atlas Mountains can be seen from the hotel of the Four Seasons Resort.

Marrakech is not far from the Four Seasons hotel and will provide a great source of entertainment for guests.

Marrakech at night.

The Four Seasons Hotel and Resort in Marrakech, Morocco, is a luxury five-star resort, which opened on 16 June 2011.

The complex started construction in early 2005. Its facilities and amenities include a series of five-star villas, some of which were sold to private ownership and fully serviced by Four Seasons.

This luxury development of 43 properties offers a choice of two and three-bedroom ryads (townhouses) and detached three and four-bedroom villas. Each property features a central courtyard and is finished to the highest standard, offering the best in indoor and outdoor living.

Developer and finance

The developer of the Marrakesh complex was Kingdom Hotel Investments (KHI), which partnered with The European Hotel Corporation (EHC) and Alliances Development Immobilier to develop the resort.

The $116m project includes a 141-room luxury hotel and 43 ryads and villas, which is branded and managed by Four Seasons Hotels and Resorts of Canada. KHI owns 78% of the project’s equity, and EHC and Alliance collectively own 22% of the equity.

Development site

The Four Seasons Marrakesh development is located on a spectacular site, nestled in the Menara Gardens, covering 16ha of mature landscape. The Menara Garden, located west of Marrakech, was created in the 12th century during the reign of the Almohad ruler.

A conglomeration of smaller gardens, the Menara is planted with palms and olives surrounding an artificial lake –, the point of confluence of a canal system – used to irrigate the surrounding gardens and orchards.

The hotel design and layout reflects and enhances the prominence of Morocco’s heritage and architectural culture. The Four Seasons Marrakesh is designed to fit into the Moroccan landscape, rather than compete with it.

The guestrooms have impressive views of the snow-capped Atlas Mountains. Skiing is a possible leisure pursuit, only a short journey from the hotel to the mountains.

Accommodation

The Four Seasons Marrakesh has 141 guestrooms including 27 suites. The guestrooms comprise Four Seasons Executive suites, Pavilion rooms, Premier rooms, Deluxe rooms and Superior rooms. The suites are categorised as Royal villa, Presidential suite, Grand Pavilion suite, Deluxe Pavilion suite, Pavilion suite and Deluxe suite.

The in-room amenities of the guestrooms include a 42in LCD TV, an iPod docking station, a DVD player, a complimentary newspaper, an iron and ironing board, an in-room safe, a multi-line telephone with voicemail and wired or wireless internet access. Each suite has a private balcony.

Four Seasons Marrakech facilities

Amenities at the Four Seasons Hotel Marrakech will include a 3,000m² spa and fitness centre with 15 special treatment rooms and two VIP spa rooms for massage, facials and body wraps. There is a 35m swimming pool, two clay tennis courts, and a full valet parking and concierge service.

Private owners of residences can take advantage of the resort’s in-residence dining and service. A private chef and catering is also available in-residence.

Residence owners can enjoy sporting facilities such as tennis, pool. They also have access to the hotel’s business centre and common areas, and can take advantage of private garage parking.

The hotel has two 18-hole, one 27-hole and one nine-hole golf courses. Full laundry and housekeeping services are also available.

Conference and meeting facilities

The Four Seasons Marrakesh resort has have extensive conference facilities, with a large main conference hall able to accommodate 600 delegates as well as smaller meeting rooms and a business centre with WiFi and broadband access.

The hotel has indoor and outdoor function space totallin 2,115m². It has a 6,600m² ballroom, which can accommodate up to 600 people.

Dining facilities

The Four Seasons Marrakesh hotel features two restaurants serving local and international cuisine and three lounges. The Bleu d’Orange restaurant opened in October 2009 and offers southern French cuisine. It has seating capacity for up to 30 people. The Solano – Brasserie du Sud restaurant specialises in Andalusian, Italian and Moroccan cuisine.

The Azzera Grill offers meat and fish dishes. The resort also features the Inara Bar and Lounge, which is located in the lobby, and the rooftop lounge Zest, at Bleu d’Orange.

Four Seasons Marrakesh contractors

HVS International of London provided consulting and valuation services. ReardonSmith was one of the project architect companies in the development of the hotel and residences.

ReardonSmith began working on the project in 2004 / 05 using a concept design created by Hill Glazier Architects. ReardonSmith was contracted to design and develop the palatial 141-room hotel.

The company has also designed 20 ryads and 23 villas, all set within a lavishly designed urban oasis.

GA Design International carried out the interior design of the hotel. Hamptons International, a UK-based agent, has already sold the first phase of residential properties at the Four Seasons development.