RISMA is expanding into Dakhla with plans to buy the four-star Bavaro Hotel and nearby land in a deal worth 85 million dirhams, as Morocco’s biggest listed hotel operator continues to grow its portfolio.
The company signed a preliminary agreement on 29 April 2026 with Les Villas de la Lagune to buy the hotel, which is already operating on the Dakhla lagoon, along with neighbouring plots of land.
The deal still needs approval from Morocco’s Competition Council and other conditions must be met before it can be completed. RISMA expects to close the acquisition later this year and said it will provide another update once the process is finished.
Les Villas de la Lagune is owned by MPS Dakhla, a tourism and leisure group that also owns other hotels in the city.
RISMA said the project will help it expand into one of Morocco’s fastest-growing tourist destinations. The company plans to develop the site under an international hotel brand.
The purchase comes after several major changes at RISMA.
In late 2025, the company bought CMG for 524 million dirhams, taking full ownership of the Radisson Blu Hotel Marrakech Carré Eden and its shopping centre. Earlier this year, it also raised 500 million dirhams from investors, reducing its debt and giving it more money to invest in new projects.
On 2 April 2026, RISMA ended its 30 year exclusive management agreement with Accor. It now manages 21 hotels itself under franchise agreements, allowing the company to keep more of its earnings.
The investment also comes as Morocco’s tourism industry continues to grow.
The country welcomed a record 19.8 million visitors in 2025, up 14% from the previous year. Classified hotels recorded 43.4 million overnight stays. RISMA reported an average occupancy rate of 64%, compared with the national average of 58%.
Dakhla has become one of Morocco’s fastest-growing tourism markets. According to the High Commission for Planning, the region’s GDP per person is 86,166 dirhams, more than twice the national average of 32,394 dirhams. Income per person is also growing by 5.8% a year.
The region is expected to benefit from major projects including the Dakhla Atlantic Port, due to open in 2028, and investment linked to Morocco’s co-hosting of the 2030 FIFA World Cup.
Founded in 1993, RISMA operates 22 hotels and one shopping centre across 11 cities in Morocco, covering luxury, upscale, mid-range and economy hotels.
