Morocco's Hospitality Sector Set to Flourish Ahead of 2030 World Cup
As Morocco prepares for the monumental task of hosting the FIFA World Cup in 2030, the nation is taking significant strides in enhancing its hospitality and tourism infrastructure. The forthcoming third edition of the Morocco Showcase, organized by API Events, is scheduled for November 26 in Casablanca. This event will bring together international brands, sovereign funds, tourism officials, development financing institutions, and local operators, highlighting Morocco's ambitious goals in the hospitality sector.
Casablanca is emerging as a global hub for the hotel industry, and the Morocco Showcase is poised to be a pivotal event. The Moroccan Society of Tourist Engineering (SMIT) has been announced as the institutional partner for this year's showcase, underscoring the importance of this event in attracting investment. Morocco aims to add a staggering 60,000 hotel beds by the time the World Cup kicks off, with several major international groups already committing to expanding their presence in the Moroccan market. Notably, the Radisson Hotel Group plans to increase its portfolio from 11 to 30 hotels by 2030, a move that signifies confidence in Morocco's potential for sustainable hotel development. Erwan Garnier, the Associate Vice President for Development in Africa at Radisson, noted that "Morocco presents a compelling outlook for hotel development, bolstered by substantial infrastructure investments and a clear ambition to grow its tourism sector." He emphasized that the Morocco Showcase provides a critical platform for investors, developers, and operators to forge partnerships and advance their projects during this vital period.
Market Dynamics and International Capital Influx
The W Hospitality Group's 2026 report on hotel chain projects in Africa positions Morocco as a leading destination for hotel investment on the continent, second only to Nigeria. Currently, there are 75 hotels and over 10,600 rooms in development across the country, with 70% expected to open by 2026 and 2027. David Desta, Vice President of Hospitality and Leisure for Africa at JLL, remarked that Morocco is solidifying its status as one of the most attractive destinations for hotel and tourism investment in Africa. He highlighted the strong demand from visitors, expanding air connectivity, public initiatives supporting tourism, and the continuous growth of international hotel chains as key factors fostering long-term confidence in the market. Desta anticipates sustained interest from investors in hospitality, mixed-use programs, and broader real estate opportunities, particularly in key cities such as Casablanca and Marrakech.
The Moroccan hospitality sector is experiencing significant momentum, driven by various stakeholders. Since 2025, Risma, a publicly traded owner-operator based in Casablanca, has executed major operations, including the acquisition of CMG, the owner of Radisson Blu Marrakech Carré Eden, valued at $67 million, and the sale of Sofitel Casablanca Tour Blanche to Pickalbatros for $46 million. Furthermore, the group has strengthened its partnership with Accor for the renovation and repositioning of hotels and the launch of the Tangier Corniche project. Additionally, the independent pan-African real estate private equity firm Kasada, supported by the Qatar Investment Authority and Accor, has been selected by the Mohammed VI Investment Fund to manage a fund dedicated to Moroccan tourism. In March, S&P Global affirmed Morocco's investment-grade rating at BBB- with a stable outlook, while Moody's confirmed Ba1 with a positive outlook, citing the resilience of the country's institutions and governance.
Murray Anderson, Commercial Director of API Events, remarked on the unprecedented commitment of international capital, ranging from Gulf Cooperation Council sovereign funds to development financing institutions, towards Morocco's hotel and infrastructure growth ambitions. The Morocco Showcase serves as a vital platform to connect key players in this growth sector with those interested in seizing opportunities, shaping the future of Morocco's hotel and real estate landscape leading up to and beyond the FIFA World Cup 2030. Specialized sessions will be held during the event, focusing on hotel performance metrics such as occupancy rates, average daily rates, and revenue per available room in major Moroccan cities compared to global benchmarks, as well as the impact of demand from major events in light of Morocco's trajectory towards 2030.
This event will also highlight how both local and regional operators are evolving alongside the expansion of international brands. A dedicated segment will discuss capital, products, and assets, examining how Moroccan family offices are transitioning from direct development to co-investment and fund structures while engaging diaspora interest into committed capital. Program directors will elaborate on the viability conditions for a development hub, including critical size, equity contributions, investor profiles, and location. The discussions will cover various sectors, including logistics demand along the Tangier Med corridor, foreign investment in special economic zones, and yields from offices and retail. The closing plenary session will invite Casablanca, Tangier, Marrakech, and Rabat to present investment opportunities directly to investors, showcasing land availability, asset categories suitable for each city, and segments where opportunities for new entrants remain open. The event will culminate in a gala dinner to present the Morocco Showcase Awards, celebrating achievements in categories such as Tertiary, Residential, Hospitality, Sustainable Development, Innovation, and a Lifetime Achievement Award.
As reported by aujourdhui.ma.
