Morocco's hotel pipeline reaches 75 projects and 10,606 rooms ahead of 2030 World Cup

Morocco ranks second in Africa for hotel development pipelines, with 75 hotels and 10,606 rooms in the pipeline and 70 per cent of them scheduled to open in 2026 and 2027, according to W Hospitality Group's 2026 Hotel Chain Development Pipelines in Africa report.

The figure comes as the country prepares to host the third annual Morocco Showcase in Casablanca on November 26, bringing together international hotel brands, investors, tourism officials and local operators to discuss hospitality, infrastructure and real estate opportunities. The event is organised by API Events, with the Moroccan Agency for Tourism Engineering (SMIT) as institutional investment partner.

International groups are already expanding. Radisson Hotel Group aims to grow its Moroccan presence from 11 hotels to 30 by 2030. "Morocco offers a compelling opportunity for hotel development, supported by investment in infrastructure and a clear ambition to grow its tourism sector," said Erwan Garnier, associate vice president for development in Africa at Radisson Hotel Group. "Radisson Hotel Group is working with owners to identify the right brand and operating model for each location, from urban business hubs to established leisure destinations."

On the ownership side, Casablanca-listed Risma has completed several transactions since 2025, including the acquisition of a plot on Tangier's Corniche and the purchase of CMG, which owns Radisson Blu Marrakech Carré Eden and the adjoining shopping mall, for $67 million. It also sold the Sofitel Casablanca Tour Blanche to Pickalbatros for $46 million and strengthened its partnership with Accor to renovate and reposition hotels and develop the Tangier Corniche project.

David Desta, vice president for hotels and hospitality in Africa at JLL, said visitor demand, expanding air connectivity, government tourism initiatives and international hotel brands continue to support investor interest. Kasada, a pan-African real estate private equity firm backed by the Qatar Investment Authority and Accor, has meanwhile been selected by the Mohammed VI Investment Fund to manage a Moroccan tourism fund, while the Casablanca event will also examine financing for mixed-use developments, logistics along the Tangier Med corridor and office and retail yields.