Park Plaza announces Marrakech Art’otel

Park Plaza Hotels is to open an Art’otel-branded property in the Moroccan city of Marrakech in 2009. Located opposite the National Theatre of Marrakech, on the corner of Avenue Hassan II, the design-led hotel will feature 70 rooms, meeting space, a traditional Moroccan restaurant, piano bar, roof terrace with swimming pool and onsite parking – guests will also have access to a fitness centre situated in the adjacent leisure complex. The hotel is being developed by Moroccan film director Souheil Benbarka, and will include an art gallery as well as works by signature artists in all guest rooms. There are currently six other Art’otels – three in Berlin, and one each in Dresden, Potsdam and Budapest. The property will be operated by a local subsidiary of Global V Hospitality, under a franchise agreement with Park Plaza Hotels – the same company will operate the forthcoming Park Plaza Marrakech, also due to open in 2009 and located in the Menara area of the city. For more information visit artotels.com, parkplaza.com. Report by Mark Caswell