Hospitality assets

Buying a hotel or a kasbah in Morocco

Boutique hotels, riad hotels, kasbahs in the South, lodges in the Agafay desert: these properties rarely sell on the open market. I support private investors and family offices, discreetly, from search to closing.

The process

How a hotel acquisition unfolds

A hotel acquisition is prepared like a business deal, in full confidentiality.

Search mandate and confidentiality

You set your criteria; I sound out the market and the owners. Sensitive files are only opened after a non-disclosure agreement.

File analysis

Accounts, occupancy, average rate, revenue per room, staff, contracts: we read the property as a business.

Viewing and technical audit

Building, equipment, safety, water and energy, works to come: a technical view before discussing price.

Full due diligence

Legal, tax, employment and planning. See what a due diligence covers.

Offer, agreement and closing

Structured offer, purchase of the property or share transfer, warranties, then signing and handover.

City or countryside

What changes outside the city

Hotel or riad in the city

Urban area, free purchase for a foreigner, title deeds more common, guests all year round. The constraints mainly concern access and planning.

Kasbah or lodge in the countryside

The land is sometimes agricultural: for a foreign buyer, a certificate of non-agricultural use may be required. Water, access and permits need particular attention.

Valuation

How the price of a hotel is assessed

The price of a hotel combines the value of the property and that of the business: operating profit, consistency of income, condition of the building and works to come, classification and permits, online reputation, quality of the team. A beautiful hotel that is poorly run can be an opportunity, provided you know why it underperforms.

For full support, see my real estate and hospitality advisory, or read investing in a guest house in Morocco.

Owners

Thinking of selling a property?

I present your hotel or kasbah to qualified investors, without public listing, through the Morocco Sotheby’s International Realty network. Let us start with a confidential valuation.

Frequently asked questions

Buying a hospitality business

Can a foreigner buy a hotel in Morocco?

Yes. In urban areas, purchase is free. For a property on agricultural land, specific conditions and procedures apply.

Is it better to buy the property or the company’s shares?

It depends on the file: a share transfer ensures continuity of the business, buying the property isolates you from liabilities. We compare both with your tax adviser.

How long does an acquisition take?

Usually several months, between file analysis, due diligence and the lifting of conditions. Good preparation shortens the timeline considerably.

What happens to the staff?

When the business is taken over, employment contracts normally continue. Their situation is part of the employment audit.

This page is provided for general information and does not constitute legal, tax or financial advice.

A property in mind?

Let us discuss your criteria in full confidence: destination, size, budget and timing.