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What's driving investment opportunities in Morocco & Israel?

Israel and Morocco’s tourism economies, served by a healthy hospitality real estate market, are recovering quickly from the crisis caused by the pandemic. The recently signed Abraham Accords have strengthened relations between the two countries by fostering stronger business ties, facilitating travel and opening up investment opportunities. Just over a year after the agreement was signed, the impact on trade relations is already being felt, and looks promising for the tourism and hospitality sector in particular.
On 23rd March the Moroccan Agency for Tourism Development – SMIT, Morocco’s Ministry of Tourism and Israel’s Ministry of Tourism, hosted the Morocco Israel Tourism Investment Summit in partnership with Hospitality Insights. The event was held virtually with speakers from both governments, as well as hospitality real estate investors, developers, hoteliers and consultants, to encourage cooperation and investment in tourism in both markets.


“Following the signing of The Abraham Accords a real push has been initiated in the last few years between Morocco and Israel. And we believe it's time to materialise these excellent relationship that have been initiated by concrete business and investment opportunities in both Morocco and Israel for the benefits of our respective tourism industries” said Imad Barrakad, CEO of Moroccan Agency for Tourism Development, SMIT.
Doron Aharon, Deputy Director-General, Israel Ministry of Tourism added that “there is no better way for both countries to cooperate than in hospitality. Israelis and Moroccans both share a high level of expertise in this field.” He described hospitality as “not just a business sector; it’s a value; it’s a way of living.”

The ministers of tourism from the State of Israel and the Kingdom of Morocco welcomed us warmly as they shared reasons why the countries are an attractive destination right now for developers and investors alike, with a particular emphasis on the luxury sector and leisure properties. 

We heard from Neil Jacobs, Six Senses CEO, discussing the hospitality investment landscape in Israel and Morocco, where the brand has already developed hotel and wellness centres. 
STR presented their market overview and performance update and investors shared their views and insight on these markets, where they foresee returns in both hospitality and tourism ventures and all in all, their outlook was quite bullish. 

If you attended the event, it is available in full here: Morocco Israel Tourism Investment Summit, you can also register now to watch it on demand. 

Thank you to our sponsors:
Doron Aharon, Deputy Director-General, Israel Ministry of Tourism   
Imad Barrakad, CEO, Moroccan Agency for Tourism Development – SMIT  
Salim Mikram, Partner, Istich Consulting
And to our speakers:
H.E. Ms. Fatim- Zahra Ammor Minister of Tourism, Handicraft, and Social and Solidarity Economy, Kingdom of Morocco
H.E. Mr. Yoel Razvozov, Minister of Tourism, State of Israel  
Thomas Emanuel, Director, STR 
Natalia Bayona, UNWTO, Director of Innovation, Education and Investment
Itai Green, Founder and CEO, Innovate Israel 
Patrick Whyte, Editor-in-Chief in the EMEA Region, Questex Travel and Hospitality
Leon Avigad, CEO and Co-Founder, Brown Hotels 
Hamid Bentahar, President, CNT
Michael Hay, Founder, Vision Hospitality 
Neil Kaye, President, Silverock Group 
Daniel Roger, MD, Fattal Hotels
Jalil Benabbés-Taarji, Director & CEO, Tikida Group
Russell Kett, Chairman, HVS London
Neil Jacobs, CEO, Six Senses
Ronit Copeland, Owner & CEO, Copeland Hospitality
Lorin Maugery, Head of Foreign Investor Relations, Israel Ministry of Tourism
 

Watch the full webinar on demand here