Accor and Risma say they will speed up their hotel expansion in Morocco after a visit to Casablanca by Accor CEO Sébastien Bazin on 2–3 April 2026. The visit also coincided with a meeting of Risma’s supervisory board and signals a new phase in a partnership that has lasted more than 30 years.
The companies confirmed a new Sofitel hotel will open on the Tangier corniche overlooking the Strait of Gibraltar. The aim is to meet rising demand for luxury hotels in the northern city, which is seeing major transport upgrades.
They also plan to renovate and refresh existing hotels to keep up with tougher competition.
A joint Tourism Academy will be created to train Moroccan workers to international hospitality standards and help them enter the job market. The move responds to growing demand for skilled staff as more hotels open.
In 2023, Accor sold its 33% stake in Risma to Mutris. Accor now focuses on managing brands and operations rather than owning buildings. Risma remains the main investor for Accor-branded hotels in Morocco, across luxury, mid-range and budget segments.
Morocco is spending about $600m to attract 17.5 million tourists a year by the end of 2026. The country already welcomed nearly 14.5 million visitors in 2023. Both companies say Morocco is a key market, especially ahead of the 2030 FIFA World Cup co-hosted with Spain and Portugal.
Experts estimate Morocco needs about 25,000 more hotel rooms by 2030. The new Sofitel in Tangier is part of that push.
