馃嚥馃嚘MoroccoNorth Africa
Best Western plans 25 hotels in Morocco by 2030, targeting 2,750 rooms
via Le Matin3 min read
Best Western Hotels & Resorts has unveiled its development plan for Morocco, aiming for 25 hotels and 2,750 rooms by 2030. This expansion is driven by Morocco's strong tourism growth, with 19.8 million tourist arrivals recorded in 2025, a 14% increase from 2024. This performance is attributed to the 2023-2026 Tourism Roadmap, launched under the leadership of King Mohammed VI, which has enhanced air connectivity, accommodation capacity, service quality, and territorial investment. Best Western has established a subsidiary, BWH NWA, in Casablanca, dedicated to hotel development in North Africa and the Mediterranean. This move, coupled with an exclusive partnership with Wejhat Hospitality, underscores the group's focus on Morocco as a priority market. Pierre Siegel, president of Best Western France, highlighted Morocco's economic growth, tourism potential, and diverse infrastructure as key factors for this decision, noting the royal commitment to developing tourism and hotel infrastructure across the country. The "Road Map" targets various Moroccan cities and regions, emphasizing a structured approach that complements Best Western's 19 brands, ranging from 2-star plus to 5-star properties. Salah Oumoudden and Philippe Storti, co-founders of Wejhat Hospitality Management Africa, believe this partnership opens new opportunities for hoteliers and investors in the Kingdom. Olivier Cohn, CEO of Best Western, sees Morocco as a pillar of the chain's growth due to its exceptional touris
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Must ReadThe Dakhla Atlantic Port project has reached 62% completion, with significant progress on the maritime bridge, protective structures, and land reclamation. Approximately half of the planned land platforms have been completed, with full completion targeted by year-end. Prefabrication and installation of fishing industry berths have begun, with the first quay expected this year, alongside the start of prefabrication for the heavy package quay. The port is designed to support the Royal Vision for Sahelian countries by providing Atlantic access and fostering shared logistics within a future industrial and logistical zone. Economic and market studies have identified high-potential sectors including agriculture, international road transport, agribusiness, various goods, renewable energies, and extractive industries. The Moroccan Agency for International Cooperation is leading task forces to discuss these subjects. The Dakhla Atlantic Port is a long-term economic and geostrategic development vision, aiming to capture future opportunities rather than solely responding to existing demand. Morocco is investing public funds with the expectation of medium to long-term economic and financial returns, creating a high-performance, intelligent deep-water port. Unlike Tanger Med, which is primarily a container and Ro-Ro port, Dakhla Atlantic will be a versatile port capable of handling over 40 million tons of goods, including containers, liquid and solid bulk, and ship maintenance and repair.
Abdelmouna茂m Faouzi, founding president of Yool Education, discussed the integration of artificial intelligence AI into Moroccan schools during the "L'Info en Face" program on Matin TV. He emphasized that the focus should be on how to use AI to address the challenges facing the Moroccan educational system, rather than debating its entry into schools. Faouzi views AI as both a threat and an opportunity, depending on its application. He advocates for developing a Moroccan model for AI integration, rather than simply replicating foreign experiences, given the country's unique social realities and educational priorities such as school dropout rates, territorial disparities, unequal access to learning, and supporting students in difficulty. Faouzi believes that the approach should prioritize concrete solutions and functionalities, with a legal framework to follow. He also stressed the importance of cooperation between the state and private innovation actors. Yool Education, a Moroccan online tutoring platform, exemplifies this approach by combining distance learning, digital resources, and AI to personalize learning. The platform aims to complement traditional schooling by providing individualized support based on student data, evaluations, quizzes, and interactions. Faouzi highlighted that this personalized approach is crucial for addressing the large number of students who leave the Moroccan school system prematurely each year, estimated at 300,000. The platform also includes co
A partnership agreement has been signed by Mohammed Fikrat, Chairman of the Management Board of Cr茅dit Agricole du Maroc Group, Mark Bowman, Vice President for Policy and Partnerships at the EBRD, and Mehdi Zirari, Deputy CEO of the AT Sa茂ss Group. This initiative is part of the Sa茂ss Project, supported by the EBRD and the Green Climate Fund, which aims to sustainably preserve water resources in the Sa茂ss plain while promoting inclusive economic development for rural populations. The partners will combine their expertise to implement an integrated system offering financial education, entrepreneurial capacity building, local support, and access to suitable financing solutions. The program will target women farmers, members of women's cooperatives, and women with projects or entrepreneurs in the development phase. It includes awareness campaigns, financial education training, and personalized support to strengthen their economic autonomy and access to financial services. Cr茅dit Agricole du Maroc will leverage its ecosystem, including CERCAM, its research center, and specialized entities, for this initiative. This agreement reflects the shared commitment of CAM and the EBRD to sustainable development, integrating economic, social, and environmental dimensions, with a focus on women's financial inclusion as a driver of resilience and transformation in rural areas.