Many of us into points love Park Hyatt, since it’s a luxury brand that allows us to earn & redeem points, and take advantage of elite benefits. The Park Hyatt Marrakech has been in the works for a very long time, and has had a seemingly endless opening delay. There’s now an exciting update, as the hotel just had its grand opening.
In this post:
Park Hyatt Marrakech welcomes first guests
Morocco has become an increasingly popular tourist destination in recent years, though Marrakech lacks good luxury points hotels. That has finally changed, with the opening of the Park Hyatt Marrakech, as of July 1, 2024.
What’s so strange is that in late December 2023, Hyatt announced that the Park Hyatt Marrakech “officially” opened its doors. However, that didn’t end up being the case, as it took more than six additional months for the property to open.
For context on the property, the 19-acre Park Hyatt Marrakech is in the Al Maaden residential and leisure development. It features 120 rooms, with views of the Atlas Mountains. Dining outlets at the property include TFAYA (the Moroccan brasserie), Pavillon Terrace & Pool (offering seasonal dishes overlooking the pool), and the Living Room (the hotel’s bar). The resort also features an 18-hole golf course, a spa, pool, gym, and more.
Standard rooms at the hotel are 55 square meters (~600 square feet), while standard suites at the hotel are 75 square meters (~750 square feet). So the standard rooms are generously sized, while standard suites aren’t incrementally much larger.
The resort isn’t inside the Medina, but rather it’s nine miles away. So it’s perhaps not ideal for tourists who want to explore all day. However, some may appreciate that the resort is a bit more secluded, as you can always go sightseeing during the day, and then retreat to the resort for a totally different vibe.
The opening delay at this property really has been on a different level. Just to give you a sense of how delayed this project has been, the Park Hyatt Marrakech was first announced in 2008, with an anticipated opening in 2011. Then it slipped to 2012. Then 2013. Then 2014. Then 2015. Then 2016. Then 2017. Then 2018. Then 2019. Then 2020. Then 2021. Then 2022. Then 2023. At least it finally opened in 2024!
While hotel delays are normal, a delay of over a decade, especially when construction had in fact started after the project was announced, sure makes you wonder what’s going on here, and what caused the delay. Is the hotel already in need of a renovation?
Below are some pictures of the property.
Park Hyatt Marrakech cash & points rates
The Park Hyatt Marrakech is a Category 7 World of Hyatt property (until recently this was supposed to be a Category 6 property, though with it finally opening, it went up a category). This means a free night redemption will cost you the following number of points:
- 25,000-35,000 points per night for a standard room
- 43,000-53,000 points per night for a standard suite
- 50,000-70,000 points per night for a premium suite
As far as cash rates at the Park Hyatt Marrakech go, they’re steep. They seem to currently start at an absolute minimum of over $500 per night, but only go up from there. If you are looking to book a cash stay here, I’d recommend doing so through the Hyatt Privé program, which offers extra perks like room upgrades, complimentary breakfast, and a hotel credit.
Based on the current points rates vs. cash rates, redeeming points will generally prove to be the better value. For what it’s worth, I value World of Hyatt points at 1.5 cents each.
Bottom line
The Park Hyatt Marrakech has opened its doors as of July 2024. This property was first announced over 15 years ago, so this is one of the more drawn out hotel openings we’ve seen. I’m looking forward to checking out this hotel (out of curiosity, if anything else), as it’s great to have a luxury points property in Marrakech. Between this and the recent opening of the St. Regis Tamuda Bay, I think we probably now have our two best points hotels in Morocco.
What do you make of the Park Hyatt Marrakech? Do you plan on visiting?
Congratulations on the 16 year build out.
Hey Ben … Unless you're hoping Hyatt invites you for a review, let me shed some light on what really drove the delayed opening of the Park Hyatt Marrakech. It's quite a story of persistence and overcoming multifaceted challenges that you are usually the first to brand when you find one:
2009-2010: The global financial crisis severely impacted funding and investment flows, causing initial delays in securing the necessary capital for the project.
2011-2012:...
Hey Ben … Unless you're hoping Hyatt invites you for a review, let me shed some light on what really drove the delayed opening of the Park Hyatt Marrakech. It's quite a story of persistence and overcoming multifaceted challenges that you are usually the first to brand when you find one:
2009-2010: The global financial crisis severely impacted funding and investment flows, causing initial delays in securing the necessary capital for the project.
2011-2012: Construction officially began but faced delays due to the slow recovery of the global economy and changing regulatory approval issues.
2013-2015: Design revisions to meet new market conditions and technical construction challenges further delayed progress. Workforce shortages and labor disputes also contributed to the slow pace, like other countries.
2016: Regional economic instability and political factors affected the project's continuity as the country was dealing with parliamentary elections, leading to a fragmented political landscape and delays in forming a government.
2017-2018: Minor natural disasters, including flooding and seismic activities, caused temporary halts and required additional safety measures.
2019-2020: The COVID-19 pandemic significantly disrupted global supply chains, labor availability, and on-site construction activities, leading to more delays.
2021-2022: Continued supply chain disruptions impacted the availability of construction materials and equipment. Hyatt's determination to maintain the quality of the offering prevented them from utilizing lower-quality products.
2023: The year of final touches and planning for the opening of a major addition to the group, while the industry faced a lot of unknowns and ambiguity.
Finally, in 2024, the Park Hyatt Marrakech officially opened its doors at the most optimal timing possible, considering ongoing events in Europe and the Middle East, which are major source markets.
This detailed timeline highlights the complexity and persistence required to bring such a luxury project to fruition. Additionally, it's worth mentioning that Marrakech and Casablanca boast other luxury accommodations offering unparalleled experiences. In Marrakech, The Oberoi and Mandarin Oriental are excellent options, while in Casablanca, the newly renovated Royal Mansour provides ultra-luxury stays before heading to Marrakech to enjoy its riads.
Just to clarify, I’m not biased towards Hyatt as I’m loyal to another group, but I’m definitely biased towards the country being Moroccan from Casablanca.
As always, it's a pleasure reading your insights. I wish we could have a German or European version of OMAAT—such an amazing value add you bring to everyone.
Another Hyatt that went up Category right before opening, have some decency, Hyatt.
Like so many other Hyatt properties, this one is inconveniently located. Pure and simple. Hyatt apologists will undoubtedly rationalize the property in similar fashion to the London Nine Elms location.
PS - Ben's use of "Medina" implies "in town inside the wall" as opposed to directly in the Medina. Please cut Ben some slack and don't chime in wagging your finger.