Following a devastating earthquake in Morocco, Marrakesh remains a strong meetings destination
On September 8, 2023, Morocco experienced an earthquake of 6.8 magnitude. It’s epicenter in was the Al Haouz province in the High Atlas Mountain Range, about 45 miles southwest of major tourist destination Marrakesh. Areas as far as Casablanca felt vibrations. The earthquake struck around 11:11 p.m. local time (3:11 p.m. PST) and left 2,946 people dead and 5,674 injured. Approximately 50,000 buildings and houses are fully or partially collapsed.
Morocco is no stranger to earthquakes, but those of this scope are uncommon. The country has recorded nine quakes with a magnitude above five but below six since 1990.
Live from the Ground with KTI Voyages
Gabriella Ribeiro, president and founder of TRUMARKETING, hosted a live chat today featuring Jalil Berrada of KTI Voyages (Kabash Tours International) to discuss the Morocco earthquake. TRUMARKETING is a boutique sales and marketing firm representing tourist boards, destination management companies (DMCs) and hotel partners around the globe in promotional and sales campaigns. KTI Voyages is one of TRUMARKETING’s DMCs in Morocco, with branch offices in every major city.
Berrada was in Casablanca when the quake hit. He rushed to Marrakesh two days afterward to help. There, he witnessed how the luxury hotels in the city cared for the community. Only days after the earthquake, operations in Marrakesh moved as usual. The government’s repair efforts are centered mainly in the Atlas countryside villages which saw the extent of the damage. There, they are working to preserve everything that was lost. With these efforts, they aim to maintain the countryside’s beautiful atmosphere and Morocco as a world destination.
The Earthquake’s Impact in Marrakesh
Ninety percent of the community in Marrakesh retained their homes, and 99% of hotels in Marrakesh are running normally, according to Berrada. The most damage hotels faced were some cracks in the walls, which they repaired rapidly. “Restaurants are open, rooftops in the medina are open, nightlife has picked up, life starts again,” Berrada says. “Marrakesh is a very strong destination. We know that whenever something like this happens in a destination, everything stops, but Marrakesh was well-prepared to pick up normally very quickly.”
Although some major monuments remain closed, many have already reopened. The Moroccan government is continually assessing those that are closed to ensure that they are completely safe to welcome guests. If your plans include visiting one of these monuments that are still closed, Berrada advises considering one of the open options.
All major roads, too, are open and safe for travel. People who are taking tours between cities can expect no disruptions.
The State of Meetings and Events in Morocco
Some of the best news Berrada shared is that the 2023 Annual Meeting of the World Bank Group and the International Monetary Fund are still posed to hold their events in Marrakesh as originally planned. “This is a very good signal to clients that the destination is okay, that Morocco will survive and life will go on,” he says. The city is not seeing any major cancellations.
For those who want to help, says Berrada, trust that Morocco is safe. If you have meetings booked there, keep those bookings. The hotels, venues and restaurants in Morocco need your business now more than ever. Share this news with your network to help support the economic health of these businesses and look to Marrakesh as a destination for future meetings and events.
