Morocco is entering an unprecedented phase of infrastructure, tourism, and hospitality development as the country prepares to co-host the 2030 FIFA World Cup, strengthening its position as one of Africa’s most attractive destinations for international capital investment. As Africa’s most-visited country, Morocco is leveraging rising visitor demand, expanding air connectivity, major infrastructure projects, and government-backed tourism initiatives to accelerate the development of its hospitality sector.
Against this backdrop, the Morocco Showcase is set to highlight the country’s growing appeal to global investors, developers, hotel operators and real estate stakeholders. The third annual edition of the event will be held in Casablanca, with Société Marocaine d’Ingénierie Touristique (SMIT), Morocco’s tourism development agency, serving as the institutional investment partner.
Morocco Targets 60,000 New Hotel Beds by 2030
Morocco’s Tourism Ministry has set an ambitious target of adding 60,000 hotel beds ahead of the 2030 FIFA World Cup, reflecting the scale of preparation underway to accommodate expected growth in international visitors. The expansion is creating opportunities across hotel development, mixed-use projects, tourism infrastructure, and broader real estate investment.
International hotel groups are already responding to the country’s growth prospects. Radisson Hotel Group, for instance, plans to expand its Moroccan portfolio from 11 hotels to 30 hotels by 2030, demonstrating growing confidence among global hospitality brands in the market’s long-term potential. Erwan Garnier, Associate Vice President, Development, Africa, at Radisson Hotel Group, said Morocco presents a compelling opportunity for hotel development, supported by infrastructure investment and a clear ambition to expand its tourism sector.
According to Garnier, Radisson is working with property owners to determine suitable brands and operating models for different locations, ranging from urban business centres to established leisure destinations. He said preparations for the FIFA World Cup provide an opportunity to develop hotels capable of generating sustainable commercial returns well beyond the tournament itself.
Global Investors Show Growing Confidence
The anticipated expansion in Morocco’s hospitality sector is supported by a substantial pipeline of new hotel projects. The W Hospitality Group’s 2026 Hotel Chain Development Pipelines in Africa report ranks Morocco second on the continent, with 75 hotels and 10,606 rooms currently in the development pipeline. Around 70% of these hotels are scheduled to open in 2026 and 2027, indicating that the market is already moving rapidly to expand accommodation capacity ahead of the World Cup.
David Desta, Vice President, Hotels & Hospitality, Africa, at JLL, said Morocco continues to strengthen its position as one of Africa’s most attractive hospitality and tourism investment markets. He pointed to strong visitor demand, expanding air connectivity, government-backed tourism initiatives and the continued expansion of international hotel brands as key factors supporting long-term investor confidence. Desta expects sustained investment interest not only in hospitality but also in mixed-use and broader real estate developments, particularly in gateway cities such as Casablanca and Marrakech.
Major Hotel Transactions Signal Market Momentum
The increase in investment is also reflected in major transactions involving established hotel assets. Since 2025, Casablanca-listed owner-operator Risma has completed two significant acquisitions, including the Tangier Corniche plot and the acquisition of CMG, the owner of Radisson Blu Marrakech Carré Eden and the adjoining mall. The transactions were valued at approximately $67 million.
Risma also completed the $46 million sale of Sofitel Casablanca Tour Blanche to Pickalbatros, highlighting the increasing activity among hotel owners and operators in the Moroccan market. In April, Risma further strengthened its partnership with Accor through plans for the renovation and repositioning of existing hotels, as well as the development of the Tangier Corniche project. The activity demonstrates the growing role of institutional investors, international hotel operators and local companies in reshaping Morocco’s hospitality landscape.
Casablanca Capital Market Expands
Morocco’s growing hospitality investment story is being supported by a strengthening capital market. The Casablanca Stock Exchange has surpassed MAD 1 trillion ($103 billion) in market capitalisation and welcomed its 80th listing in December 2025. The exchange also launched a futures market and clearing house in April, further expanding the country’s financial market infrastructure and potentially providing investors with additional instruments for managing risk and accessing capital. The strengthening of the capital market comes alongside continued interest from international institutional investors and private equity firms seeking exposure to Morocco’s tourism and infrastructure development.
Sovereign Wealth and Private Equity Capital Enter Tourism
Pan-African independent real estate private equity firm Kasada, backed by the Qatar Investment Authority and Accor, has been selected by the Mohammed VI Investment Fund to manage a Moroccan tourism fund. The move highlights the increasing participation of major institutional and sovereign-backed investors in Morocco’s tourism development ambitions.
Morocco’s sovereign credit profile is also supporting investor confidence. In March, S&P Global affirmed Morocco’s investment-grade rating at BBB- with a stable outlook, while Moody’s affirmed the country’s rating at Ba1 with a positive outlook, citing institutional and governance strengths. These developments provide a broader investment backdrop for the hospitality and real estate sectors as Morocco accelerates preparations for the 2030 World Cup.
Morocco Showcase to Connect Investors and Developers
Murray Anderson, Commercial Director at API Events, said Morocco is witnessing an unprecedented commitment of global capital, including investment from Gulf Cooperation Council sovereign wealth funds and development finance institutions. He said the Morocco Showcase would bring together major stakeholders already involved in the country’s development as well as investors assessing new opportunities.
The event is intended to facilitate partnerships and investment discussions while examining how Morocco’s hospitality and real estate sectors can evolve before and after the 2030 FIFA World Cup. The programme will feature expert-led sessions examining hotel performance, capital markets, real estate development, and the future of Morocco’s tourism industry.
Hospitality Sector to Examine Hotel Performance and New Brands
One of the key hospitality sessions will assess hotel performance in Morocco’s leading cities, focusing on occupancy, average daily rates and revenue per available room compared with international markets. The sessions will also examine how mega-events could influence demand as Morocco moves toward 2030 and how the country can convert event-driven visitor growth into sustainable long-term tourism demand.
Another area of discussion will be the expansion of local and regional hotel operators alongside major international brands. The Showcase will also examine the growing presence of boutique, luxury and eco-tourism brands in Morocco, including business models, management fees and the entry of European boutique operators into the Moroccan market.
Investors Focus on Capital, Mixed-Use and Real Estate Opportunities
Beyond hospitality, the Morocco Showcase will feature discussions on capital, real estate and wealth creation. Sessions will examine how Moroccan family offices are moving from direct property development toward co-investment and fund structures. The event will also explore how interest from the Moroccan diaspora can be converted into committed investment capital.
Mixed-use development will be another major focus, with industry leaders expected to discuss the requirements for commercially viable precincts, including project scale, equity requirements, investor profiles, and location. The industrial, commercial, and alternative real estate streams will examine logistics demand along the Tangier Med corridor, foreign investment in special economic zones, and office and retail yields.
Casablanca, Tangier, Marrakech and Rabat to Pitch Investment Opportunities
The closing plenary will allow Morocco’s major cities to present their investment propositions directly to capital providers. Casablanca, Tangier, Marrakech, and Rabat will outline land availability and pricing, suitable asset classes, and areas where investors may still find early-mover opportunities. The city-level presentations are expected to provide investors with a clearer understanding of the opportunities available across Morocco’s different tourism, commercial and real estate markets.
Morocco Showcase Awards to Recognise Industry Leaders
The event will conclude with the Morocco Showcase Awards gala dinner, recognising achievements across several segments of the property and hospitality industries. Awards will be presented in categories including Commercial, Residential, Hospitality, Green Development, Innovation, and Lifetime Achievement. The awards will provide an opportunity to recognise companies, projects and individuals contributing to Morocco’s expanding real estate, tourism, and hospitality ecosystem.
Event Details
The third annual Morocco Showcase is scheduled for November 26 at the Marriott Hotel in Casablanca. The event will be held as an in-person bilingual conference in English and French and will feature parallel industry sessions, a deals room and an awards gala. The event is being organised by API Events, a business-to-business platform focused on real estate investment and hotel development in Africa. Its conferences and industry programmes bring together investors, developers, hotel operators and capital providers across sectors including hospitality, residential, retail, mixed-use, commercial, industrial and emerging real estate assets.
With Morocco preparing to host the 2030 FIFA World Cup alongside Spain and Portugal, the country’s infrastructure and hospitality expansion is creating a window of opportunity for international investors. The combination of rising tourism demand, major hotel development, expanding financial markets, government-backed investment initiatives and increasing participation from international capital is positioning Morocco for a potentially transformative period of tourism and real estate growth extending well beyond the 2030 tournament.
