Rabat – In a ceremony held in Rabat this week on January 16, the inaugural Morocco Tourism Awards (MTA) celebrated excellence in the Moroccan tourism sector. As it happened, Hamid Bentahar, President of the National Tourism Confederation and Accor Management Morocco, stole the limelight as he won the prestigious title of Tourism Leader of the Year.
Organized by Tourisma Post and supported by various media partners, this maiden edition of the Morocco Tourism Awards unfolded as a night of recognizing outstanding contributions to the tourism industry.
The awards’ nomination process, facilitated by journalists and media executives from national outlets, was designed to ensure neutrality and a critical evaluation of the sector.
This commitment to a fair and unbiased selection process underscores the credibility of the Morocco Tourism Awards in recognizing genuine excellence.
Ahlam Jebbar, founder of “Tourisma Post,” emphasized the importance of neutrality in her opening speech. “The great difficulty of an awards meeting is to have the neutrality and autonomy necessary to be able to make the right choices,” she said.
The event, graced by the presence of André Azoulay, Advisor to King Mohammed VI, acknowledged individuals, destinations, and institutions that demonstrated unparalleled creativity and dedication to promoting the Moroccan hospitality sector throughout 2023.
Bentahar, a symbol of leadership
Hamid Bentahar stood out as the winner of the “Leader of Tourism of the Year” award, the most prestigious of the 14 prizes presented during the award ceremony.
This accolade, a nod to his roles as President of the National Tourism Confederation and President of Accor Management Morocco, constituted a recognition of his leadership, team mobilization skills, and talent-nurturing abilities within the dynamic tourism sector.
Bentahar befittingly spoke of gratitude and hope in his acceptance speech.
“This year 2023 remains an exceptional year,” he said, beaming proudly. “Today is a day of gratitude and recognition for all those who contribute to making this sector a creator of jobs, a bearer of hope, and a lever for the sustainable development of our country.”
A native of El Jadida, on the Atlantic coast of Morocco, Hamid Bentahar has carved out an outstanding path in the world of luxury hospitality, both on a national and international level.
With a remarkable three-decade career in the international luxury hospitality sector, he has ascended to a key position in the development of the Accor hotel group in Africa and the Indian Ocean.
Bentahar’s journey includes serving as Vice-President of Operations at Accor-Hotel Morocco and Vice-President of Luxury and Upscale Operations for Africa and the Indian Ocean. Since 2008, he has also held the pivotal role of President of the Marrakech Regional Tourism Council (CRT).
Knighthood and recognition
In 2016, Hamid Bentahar received the esteemed Legion of Honor from France in recognition of his commitment to the development of the tourism industry in Morocco and beyond.
Christian Cambon, President of the France-Morocco Friendship Group and Secretary of the French Senate, graced the ceremony, which was held at the Sofitel in Marrakech, a city that is integral to Bentahar’s personal and professional history.
Bariza Khiari, Senator of Paris and Vice-President of the France-Morocco Friendship Group, also attended the event.
2023 was a year of Moroccan resilience amid challenges
Reflecting on the challenges Moroccan tourism faced in 2023, Bentahar remarked on the exceptional nature of the year despite global adversities.
He emphasized the resilience demonstrated by the Moroccan tourism sector and its professionals.
Defying both the Covid crisis and the devastating September 8 earthquake, Morocco’s industrious and resilient tourism professionals managed to achieve record-breaking results in comparison to 2019, which stood as the pinnacle year for Moroccan tourism.
Attributing this success to the mobilization of Morocco and the visionary leadership of King Mohammed VI, Bentahar expressed gratitude for the collective efforts that transformed the sector into a reliable creator of employment, a beacon of hope, and a key driver for the sustainable development in Morocco.
In this sense, the recognition of Hamid Bentahar as Tourism Leader of the Year not only validates his individual achievements, but also symbolizes the broader success of the Moroccan tourism industry.
In an interview with Morocco World News on the sidelines of the Morocco Tourism Awards, he highlighted the commendable resilience of the Moroccan hospitality sector during the difficult times of the COVID-19 pandemic and the recent earthquake in Al Haouz.
He also praised the vital role played by the media in showcasing the industry’s resilience and success.
The fact that the Moroccan tourism sector has achieved outstanding results despite facing daunting challenges in 2023 means there is room for optimism, Bentahar argued.
He pointed to major events Morocco is preparing to host, notably the 2025 Africa Cup of Nations and 2030 World Cup, to illustrate that the horizon for Moroccan hospitality is particularly bright and promising.
As it is used to navigating challenges with resilience, Moroccan tourism is bound to emerge stronger, setting a high standard for continued excellence and innovation, he concluded.
