Ascott bolsters its African footprint with Citadines Racine Casablanca and Citadines connect belvedere Casablanca

• Leading international lodging owner-operator accelerates its expansion plans with two properties and 183 keys in Morocco 

Middle East: The Ascott Limited, one of the world’s leading serviced apartments group, is set to further solidify its presence in Africa after successfully signing two properties in Morocco as part of its Middle East, Africa and Turkey (MEAT) portfolio. Citadines Racine Casablanca and Citadines Connect Belvedere Casablanca will add 183 keys to Ascott’s existing MEAT portfolio, in line with the group’s ambitious expansion plans in the region.

Ascott will introduce its expertise in operating serviced residences to Morocco, entering into a management agreement with Life Square, one of the leading real estate developers in North Africa, to launch its first property in the country: Citadines Racine Casablanca in Q2 of 2022. Furthermore, Ascott is also partnering with one of Morocco’s most well established real estate conglomerates, Chrifi Alaoui Immobilier SARL to launch Citadines Connect Belvedere Casablanca.  The property, slated to open in 2023, will mark the first iconic ‘Citadines Connect’ brand in the MEAT region. 

Mr. Vincent Miccolis, Ascott’s Regional General Manager for the Middle East, Africa, Turkey and India, says: “With an ever-growing demand for serviced residences and the absence of internationally branded apart-hotels in Morocco to meet the demands of international corporate travel, we are delighted to introduce Ascott’s award-winning brand, ‘Citadines’ in Casablanca, to contribute to the country’s growth in tourism and boost the city’s hospitality supply standards. We are excited about these new ventures and look forward to welcoming our guests to Casablanca.”

Citadines is Ascott’s prominent serviced residence brand in Europe, and is popular amongst vibrant travellers across the world for its flexibility, practicality and well-connected neighbourhoods. The serviced apartments will serve both leisure and business travellers, from around Europe and internationally.

“We are confident that the Citadines Apart’hotel and Citadines Connect brands will be widely welcomed in Africa and mirror the success they have achieved in other markets, including the Middle East. We partnered with Life Square and Alaoui Group as they have the regional insights and experience which is an essential component we look for in our partners, to better understand and service guests in the region.”

Citadines Racine Casablanca

Located in the business district of Racine, in the heart of Casablanca, the property will comprise 123 keys, including 80 chic studio units, 23 spacious one-bedroom units and 20 comfortable two-bedroom units. Furthermore, the property will also feature a state-of-the-art gym and sports facilities, an exquisite resident lounge and a lavishly decorated restaurant. 

Citadines Racine Casablanca is easily accessible from across the city; it is a 15-minute drive from Casablanca’s main train station - Casa Voyageurs and the Marché Central tramway station. Guests seeking both short and long stay options will benefit from its ideal location in the city’s central business district, while being a few minutes’ drive away to the city’s well-known Anfaplace shopping centre, and with an easy reach to Morocco Mall. 

Citadines Connect Belvedere Casablanca 

The boutique-style property is located within the Belvedere district of Casablanca, strategically situated at the intersections of ‘Boulevard de la Resistance’ and ‘Boulevard Mohammed V’, the two main arteries of the city. Enriched with Casablanca’s vibrant architectural heritage, the property is also classified as a historical site by the local authorities. 

The new partnership with Ascott and Chrifi Alaoui Immobilier SARL will see the historical property converted into a hotel incorporating the Citadines Connect brand standards, which showcase the cultural heritage and style of the external façade of the property. Through this partnership, Citadines Connect Belvedere Casablanca will offer guests the perfect blend of urban hotel experience and a deep-rooted understanding of Casablanca’s high-spirited culture, showcasing 60 keys inclusive of elegantly designed Standard rooms and sophisticated Deluxe rooms, alongside a state-of-the-art rooftop gym, a lavish guest lounge and a quaint Café. Guests can conveniently explore Casablanca’s vivid and eloquent attractions as the property is within a two-minute walk from the Tramway Station and a 15-minute walk from Casa Voyageurs, a short distance from the Prince Moulay Abdellah neighborhood, the old medina and the prestigious Hassan II Mosque, the second-largest functioning mosque in Africa.

For further information, please visit: www.discoverasr.com 

-Ends 

About The Ascott Limited

The Ascott Limited (Ascott) is a Singapore company that has grown to be one of the leading international lodging owner-operators. Ascott's portfolio spans more than 200 cities across over 30 countries in Asia Pacific, Central Asia, Europe, the Middle East, Africa and the USA.

Ascott has more than 72,000 operating units and over 56,000 units under development, making a total of more than 128,000 units in over 800 properties.

The company’s serviced apartment, coliving and hotel brands include Ascott The Residence, The Crest Collection, Somerset, Quest, Citadines, lyf, Préférence, Vertu, Harris, Citadines Connect, Fox, Yello, Fox Lite and POP!.

Ascott’s loyalty programme, Ascott Star Rewards, offers exclusive benefits to its members when they book directly with Ascott for their stays at its participating properties.

Ascott, a wholly owned subsidiary of CapitaLand Limited, pioneered Asia Pacific’s first international-class serviced apartment with the opening of The Ascott Singapore in 1984. Today, the company boasts over 30 years of industry track record and award-winning brands that enjoy recognition worldwide.

For more information, please visit www.discoverasr.com. 

About CapitaLand Limited

CapitaLand Limited (CapitaLand) is one of Asia’s largest diversified real estate groups. Headquartered and listed in Singapore, it owns and manages a global portfolio worth about S$138.7 billion as at 30 June 2021. CapitaLand’s portfolio spans across diversified real estate classes which includes commercial, retail; business park, industrial and logistics; integrated development, urban development; as well as lodging and residential. With a presence across more than 250 cities in over 30 countries, the Group focuses on Singapore and China as its core markets, while it continues to expand in markets such as India, Vietnam, Australia, Europe and the USA.

CapitaLand has one of the largest real estate investment management businesses globally. It manages six listed real estate investment trusts (REITs) and business trusts as well as over 20 private funds. CapitaLand launched Singapore’s first REIT in 2002 and today, its stable of REITs and business trusts comprises CapitaLand Integrated Commercial Trust, Ascendas Real Estate Investment Trust, Ascott Residence Trust, CapitaLand China Trust, Ascendas India Trust and CapitaLand Malaysia Mall Trust.

CapitaLand places sustainability at the core of what it does. As a responsible real estate company, CapitaLand contributes to the environmental and social well-being of the communities where it operates, as it delivers long-term economic value to its stakeholders.

Visit www.capitaland.com for more information.

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Justin Froes
Email: justin.f@qcomms.ae 

© Press Release 2021