Fez — Palais Jamaï Fès is set to reopen in October, marking the return of a historic property overlooking one of Morocco’s most celebrated old cities.
Preferred Hotels & Resorts announced on September 29 that Palais Jamaï is joining its Legend Collection as part of an expansion of the luxury portfolio. The group lists the Fez property among 11 additions across several continents in 2026.
The company describes Palais Jamaï as a restored late-19th-century palace and positions the hotel within a broader shift toward luxury travel built around cultural heritage and a stronger sense of place.
𝗔 𝗽𝗮𝗹𝗮𝗰𝗲 𝘄𝗶𝘁𝗵 𝗮 𝗹𝗼𝗻𝗴 𝗙𝗮𝘀𝘀𝗶 𝗺𝗲𝗺𝗼𝗿𝘆
The original palace dates to the late 19th century. Construction began in 1879 for Grand Vizier Mohamed ben Arbi el Jamaï, according to project information from construction group TGCC.
TGCC documents a restoration intended to retain traditional features including zellige, carved wood, stucco, and arches while incorporating modern hotel infrastructure, safety requirements, and contemporary comfort.
That balance matters particularly in Fez, where architecture and craftsmanship are inseparable from the city’s identity.
Palais Jamaï’s own website promises a renewed property centered on heritage, architecture, gastronomy, and immersion in Fassi culture.
Its hillside position overlooking the medina gives the reopening another dimension. The hotel is not simply returning as an accommodation address, but as a restored historic building within the visual fabric of the city.
𝗛𝗲𝗿𝗶𝘁𝗮𝗴𝗲 𝗯𝗲𝗰𝗼𝗺𝗲𝘀 𝗽𝗮𝗿𝘁 𝗼𝗳 𝘁𝗵𝗲 𝗹𝘂𝘅𝘂𝗿𝘆 𝗲𝘅𝗽𝗲𝗿𝗶𝗲𝗻𝗰𝗲
Preferred Hotels & Resorts says its Legend Collection now includes more than 125 properties worldwide. Palais Jamaï joins a group that the company associates with distinctive design, service, dining, landscape, and strong connections to destinations.
The Fez opening reflects a wider hospitality trend in which travelers are increasingly being offered historic buildings as experiences in themselves.
For Morocco, that approach is especially visible in cities where traditional houses, palaces, riads, and historic structures are being adapted for contemporary tourism.
Yet the value of Palais Jamaï’s return will ultimately depend on how convincingly the restoration allows the building’s history to remain visible beneath its renewed luxury identity.
Its reopening in October places one of Fez’s long-standing hospitality landmarks back into circulation at a moment when international travel brands are increasingly marketing heritage not as background decoration, but as one of the main reasons to travel.
The return of Palais Jamaï also brings renewed attention to the craftsmanship, architecture, and hospitality traditions that have long shaped the image of Fez beyond Morocco.
