Marriott International has appointed Denis Laus as general manager of its new Taghazout Bay Marriott Resort, which is set to open in summer 2026.
Laus will be in charge of preparing the hotel before opening, including setting up operations, hiring staff, and making sure service standards match the brand’s global level.
He has over 20 years of experience in hotels. He recently ran the Armenia Marriott Hotel Yerevan, where he helped restart operations after the pandemic and achieved Armenia’s first Green Key eco certification. He has also worked in senior roles in Paris and Brussels within Marriott hotels.
What the resort will offer
The new resort will be a beachfront hotel aimed mainly at families and holidaymakers.
It will have 250 rooms, all with balconies or terraces and sea views. There will be several restaurants and dining areas with space for 550 guests, including an all-day restaurant, a speciality dining venue, and a poolside grill.
Facilities will include more than 600 square metres of meeting space, a large ballroom, an outdoor swimming pool, a children’s pool area, a 200 square metre gym, and a spa with eight treatment rooms planned.
Part of Morocco’s tourism plans
The hotel is part of Morocco’s wider plan to grow its tourism sector under its Vision 2030 strategy, which focuses on attracting higher-spending visitors and offering more premium experiences.
The resort is located in Taghazout Bay, about 15 kilometres north of Agadir. The area is a coastal tourism project managed by SAPST and stretches along 4.5 kilometres of coastline.
It is designed around four main themes: sport, with surfing and golf schools; culture, including an argan tree museum and eco-tourism routes; wellness, focused on relaxation and health retreats; and entertainment, with sports and cultural events throughout the year.
Bigger picture
Morocco is investing heavily in its hotel and tourism industry, planning around $4 billion in spending to add 25,000 new hotel rooms across the country. This growth is partly linked to preparations for hosting the 2030 FIFA World Cup alongside Spain and Portugal.
Marriott has also been expanding in Morocco, adding new brands such as Moxy Hotels and Autograph Collection Hotels.
Green focus and travel links
The Taghazout Bay resort is expected to follow environmentally friendly practices, building on Laus’s previous work on sustainability in Armenia.
At the same time, Morocco is improving transport links, with more direct flights now connecting European cities to Agadir and Marrakech.
The Taghazout area also continues to host international surfing and bodyboarding events, helping to attract visitors throughout the year.
