Fairmont Hotels & Resorts has made a bold leadership move in Morocco, naming Michael Calixte as both Regional Vice President for Fairmont Morocco and General Manager of the Fairmont Royal Palm Marrakech. The appointment, effective since March 17, 2025, signals the brand’s commitment to deepening its luxury presence in the country.
Calixte now oversees Fairmont’s four flagship properties across Morocco: the Fairmont Royal Palm Marrakech, Fairmont Taghazout Bay, Fairmont La Marina Rabat-Salé, and Fairmont Tazi Palace Tangier. His dual role underscores the brand’s ambition to cement its reputation as a premier name in Moroccan hospitality.
A native of Bordeaux, Calixte brings with him decades of experience within the Accor group, which owns the Fairmont brand. He launched his career in 1989 at the Novotel Southampton in the UK and has since held leadership positions in 13 different countries. His resume includes stints with major Accor brands such as Sofitel, Novotel, and Pullman, where he developed a keen understanding of high-end hotel operations.
His career took a defining turn in the Middle East, where he played an instrumental role in launching the Sofitel Dubai Downtown in 2012. From there, he went on to lead the Sofitel Cairo Maadi before being tapped to head Accor’s operations in Algeria in 2020. By 2022, his responsibilities expanded to include Tunisia, marking him as a key regional player for the group.
Yet for Calixte, success in hospitality goes beyond titles and metrics. His philosophy is rooted in the human experience. “Service is everything,” he says. “The real difference is making each guest feel truly special. A genuine smile and thoughtful gestures create lasting memories.”
It’s this approach that he plans to bring to Marrakech, aiming to elevate the Fairmont Royal Palm as a top-tier golf destination, while also driving the performance and visibility of Fairmont’s entire Moroccan portfolio.
A self-proclaimed epicurean, Calixte has a passion for wine, fine dining—especially Asian cuisine—and meaningful connections. His blend of personal warmth and operational precision positions him as a compelling leader for Fairmont’s ambitions in Morocco, where the luxury hospitality sector continues to grow at a remarkable pace.
