Accor and Risma Deepen Morocco Partnership with Sofitel Tangier and Training Academy
Accor and Risma have announced a significant expansion of their three-decade partnership, unveiled during Accor Chairman and CEO Sébastien Bazin's visit to Morocco on 2 and 3 April. Key projects include the launch of a new Sofitel in Tangier - set on the city's new corniche with panoramic views of the Strait of Gibraltar - alongside an ambitious renovation and repositioning programme for existing hotels aimed at modernising the portfolio and enhancing competitiveness. The two groups will also co-fund a Tourism and Hospitality Training Academy, designed to develop local talent and support professional integration across Morocco's hospitality sector. Accor currently operates 43 hotels in Morocco under ten brands, totalling more than 6,600 rooms.
Following the unwinding of their cross-shareholding arrangement in 2023, the partnership is entering a new phase with an increased focus on franchising to accelerate hotel expansion. Risma Management Board Chairman Amine Echcherki noted that franchising will enable "faster and more diversified expansion," combining Accor's commercial and marketing reach with Risma's integrated management expertise. The announcements come as Morocco continues to record strong tourism growth - welcoming 4.3 million visitors in the first quarter of 2026, up 7% year-on-year - and as the country prepares to co-host the 2030 FIFA World Cup, further cementing its status as a leading global hospitality destination.
Source: Press Accor
