New hotels continue to up the luxury quotient in Marrakech (Delano, Selman, oh my!)- with a slew of additional properties in the pipeline (like Banyan Tree and Baglioni). Back in June, we reported on the Taj Palace Marrakech, which opens its doors this month after much anticipation. An immense palm-dotted estate-- sprawling across 53 hectares against an awesome backdrop of the Atlas Mountains-- sets the stage for this opulent, domed resort, the first palace hotel for the Taj Group outside of India.
Designed by Stuart Church, the 161 guest rooms are inspired by the traditions of the Berber Kasbahs with an undeniable Indian influence. The smallest guest room starts at a whopping 80 square meters, the largest in town. Conde Nast Traveller points out that the finest suite, the Royal, “doubled as an Abu Dhabi hotel room for Sarah Jessica Parker et al in Sex and the City 2.” The Jiva Grande Spa represents another Marrakech superlative- its 14 treatment rooms and hammams comprise the city's largest spa. Taj has also sought to create destination restaurants in hiring top chefs like Morimoto and Sriram Aylur (behind the Quilon in London.) For more information, visit www.tajhotels.com.