Kenzi Hotels Group has added three of its hotels to an internationally recognised sustainability list after they were awarded the Travelife Gold Certification, a standard used across the global hospitality industry.
The newly certified properties are Kenzi Menara Palace and Kenzi Club Agdal Medina in Marrakech, along with Kenzi Azghor in Ouarzazate.
The award follows an independent review of the hotels’ environmental, social and economic practices. With this latest recognition, the group now has six certified hotels out of ten, while the remaining properties are still working through the process.
Travelife for Accommodation is a UK-based programme that helps hotels improve how they manage their impact on the environment and local communities. To reach Gold level, hotels must meet a detailed set of 163 requirements. These include saving water and energy, protecting workers’ rights, supporting fair working conditions, working with local suppliers, and protecting local wildlife and natural habitats.
The group’s progress comes as Morocco pushes ahead with its Vision 2030 plan, with tourism expected to play a bigger role as the country prepares to co-host the 2030 FIFA World Cup. Authorities are encouraging growth in the sector while also trying to limit environmental damage and protect cultural heritage.
In Marrakech, where water shortages are a growing concern, many hotels have started using systems that reduce water use and switch to solar energy. Some are also turning more to local building materials and traditional Moroccan craftsmanship to reduce the environmental cost of importing goods.
In Ouarzazate, a gateway to the Sahara, tourism is closely tied to the desert environment. Here, sustainability efforts often focus on managing waste in dry conditions and supporting small local cooperatives that produce goods such as argan oil and rose water.
The wider tourism sector in Morocco continues to grow strongly. In the first three months of 2026, the country welcomed 4.3 million visitors, an increase of 7 percent compared with the same period last year. Tourism income reached about 2.3 billion US dollars by the end of February, up more than 22 percent year on year.
The sector is also changing, with more focus on experiences beyond beach holidays, including golf tourism, wellness stays and cultural travel. At the same time, major infrastructure projects such as new high-speed rail lines and motorway links between Kenitra, Casablanca and Marrakech are being developed ahead of 2030.
