This April, with the sun making an appearance and the possibility of travel drawing closer, we are looking at places we cannot wait to travel to. First on that list is the iconic Royal Mansour Hotel in Marrakech.
Royal Mansour Marrakech is an institution that has become synonymous with Moroccan luxury. Known to defy expectations and excellence, this royal hotel and its exceptional private riads are a must stay location when visiting Marrakech. But Royal Mansour Marrakech does not simply rely on its laurels, it continually stays updated in every aspect of the hotel. Using lockdown and lack of travel due to covid to regroup, Royal Mansour Marrakech have refreshed and expanded their wellness offering in their incredible Spa, as well as extending their gardens and introducing an Artist in Residence program. To learn a little more about what is going on at Royal Mansour Marrakech, The Sybarite speaks to the Director of the Royal Mansour Spa, Malika Rojhani.
Could you tell us a bit about yourself, your background, and how you got into a wellness/ spa career?
I came back to Royal Mansour Marrakech in February 2019. I got into wellness because I was always looking for a balance between my mental, physical, and spiritual health. I am deeply convinced that these are the pillars of a healthy life. Our industry has grown very quickly these last years and there is a big demand, which gives me an opportunity to further develop my career in the Wellness industry.
What is it like working for such a beautiful and well-known establishment such as Royal Mansour Marrakech?
The Spa Royal Mansour is my baby. I am proud to be part of the group of people who opened this beautiful house. I have watched my baby grow up and blossom into this world leading, magical palace that it is today. I feel very fortunate to work for such a wonderful company.
What are the recent changes made to the spa at Royal Mansour Marrakech? Why should people visit?
I made big changes in all areas. Starting with the human factor (recruitment of the specialists, internal and external training and developing talents) as well as new brand partnerships (Intraceuticals, Subtle Energies and Dr. Burgener). Our vision is to position our spa as a leading wellness destination and, for that, we have created a variety of wellness programs focused around mental and physical health which will be available to guests from September. We are leaders and we bring new services and experiences to our lovely guests.
What is a typical day like for you? And what would a typical day in the spa as a guest look like?
My typical day is filled with meetings, emails, sharing information with my team and ticking off my to-do list. A guest journey will include a warm welcome and consultation with our spa receptionists, orientation, and explanation of our offers. Followed by a rejuvenating treatment, before unwinding in the very beautiful relaxation area or a drink in our spa garden, taking in the aromatic scent of orange blossom and birdsong. What could be more relaxing and rebalancing than being surrounded by water, greenery, nature and spending some time with ourselves?
What do you love most about Royal Mansour Marrakech?
I love Royal Mansour Marrakech because it’s unique and I cannot compare to another property. It is like a family/home, we develop our people, we train them and we give them opportunities to show their creativity, we invest in people and this is very important. We are committed towards our owner and we are proud of being here.
How has your role and the spa been affected by Covid this last year? Do you see more people taking time for themselves and their wellness?
We took advantage of Covid to think about how we would welcome back our guests – what will be their first needs? We have reviewed our SOPs and procedures and have created new ones. This is the best time to change our mindsets, we all have seen changes caused by Covid, we are aware that all our habits must change. Due to Covid, we have all been given the chance to rethink and to rebuild new opportunities to take control of our lives. We all want to live better, age better and be happy (mentally, physically, and spiritually).
What can we hope to see from The Royal Mansour spa in the future?
Creativity, new offers and services. New and fresh blood.
What is your favourite destination worldwide and where are you hoping to visit post Covid restrictions?
I love Thailand! I would love to visit other Asian countries too such as Vietnam and Indonesia. I would love to go for a Safari trip, Tanzania is first on my list, so if I can travel, I think it will be the first country to see.