Virgin Limited Edition is preparing a 37-suite retreat outside Marrakech. Here is what has been confirmed, what will make it different and when travellers may finally be able to book.
Sir Richard Branson is expanding his Moroccan story.
Virgin Limited Edition is developing a new 37-suite retreat outside Marrakech, bringing together Moroccan craftsmanship, Berber influences, farm-grown food and an extensive wellness programme.
The project was first announced in March 2026. It is not a newly revealed hotel.
Its relevance now comes from the timetable.
Virgin previously said bookings would open in September 2026, ahead of the first guests arriving during the first quarter of 2027. As of 19 September, however, the property is not yet clearly available through Virgin Limited Edition’s public booking system.
Travellers should therefore wait for the official reservation page before treating dates, prices or availability as confirmed.
What is already clear is that Virgin is making a significant second commitment to Morocco.
VIRGIN IS NOT DISCOVERING MOROCCO
The new retreat will join Kasbah Tamadot, Virgin Limited Edition’s established property near Asni in the Atlas Mountains.
Kasbah Tamadot offers rooms, suites, riads and Berber-style tents in a mountain setting approximately one hour from Marrakech. The property has become one of the collection’s most recognised destinations.
The new development is intended to offer something different.
Rather than recreating the mountain experience, Virgin is building a countryside retreat within easier reach of Marrakech’s culture, restaurants, galleries and historic medina.
Guests could eventually combine both properties within one Moroccan journey: the gardens and cultural energy surrounding Marrakech, followed by a quieter stay in the Atlas Mountains.
That is what makes the expansion important.
Virgin is no longer treating Morocco as the location of one exceptional hotel. It is building the foundations of a small Moroccan collection.
A 37-SUITE RETREAT OPENING IN TWO STAGES
The hotel is being developed with Marrakech-based SAZANES Immobilier.
Construction was already underway when Virgin announced the partnership.
The first phase is expected to introduce 22 suites during the first quarter of 2027. A further 15 suites are planned for the first quarter of 2028, bringing the total to 37.
Development schedules can change, particularly when a hotel is opening in stages. Flights or other non-refundable arrangements should not be booked around these dates until Virgin confirms an individual reservation.
The official name of the property has also not yet been publicly announced.
Its relatively limited number of suites suggests an intimate retreat rather than a conventional large resort.
MOROCCAN CRAFTSMANSHIP WILL DEFINE THE DESIGN
Virgin says the property will be shaped by Moroccan craftsmanship, Berber traditions and its natural surroundings.
That gives the project a strong identity before its doors have opened.
Morocco offers an extraordinary design vocabulary: carved wood, woven textiles, metalwork, stone, plaster, ceramics and techniques transmitted through generations of artisans.
The opportunity is not simply to decorate an international hotel with Moroccan objects. It is to allow local materials, skills and makers to influence the architecture and interiors from the beginning.
SAZANES Immobilier describes its approach as combining discreet luxury with local materials, landscape and carefully designed living.
Detailed room designs and complete final interiors have not yet been publicly revealed. The finished property will therefore need to demonstrate how deeply those Moroccan influences have been incorporated.
THE FARM COULD BECOME THE MAIN ATTRACTION
Food is expected to play a central role in the experience.
The wider agricultural setting includes olive groves, citrus trees, orchards and vegetable gardens. Produce grown around the estate is intended to supply the hotel’s kitchens.
Plans include three restaurants, a Chef’s Table and a speakeasy-style bar.
The chefs, menus and prices have not yet been announced. But the setting creates the possibility of an experience built around seasons rather than imported luxury.
Morocco already possesses the flavours needed to give the property its own culinary personality: olive oil, preserved lemons, aromatic herbs, vegetables, fruit and recipes shaped by regional traditions.
The strongest result would connect international hospitality standards with ingredients and knowledge sourced close to Marrakech.
Guests should be able to taste where they are, not simply recognise a menu they could find in another luxury hotel.
THE HAMMAM WILL LEAD THE WELLNESS OFFER
The retreat is also expected to include a traditional Moroccan wellness facility, a hammam and a 40-metre swimming pool.
Planned activities include yoga, Pilates, tennis, padel and horse riding.
This places the project firmly within the modern wellness-travel market, but its Moroccan foundation could distinguish it from generic spa resorts.
The hammam is not a recently imported wellness trend. It is part of Morocco’s social and bathing culture, with its own rituals, materials and expertise.
A carefully designed experience can introduce international guests to that tradition while employing Moroccan practitioners and respecting its authentic character.
WHAT HAS BEEN CONFIRMED
Here is the verified picture as of 19 September 2026:
Virgin Limited Edition is developing a second hotel in Morocco.
The property is located outside Marrakech.
SAZANES Immobilier is the Moroccan development partner.
The hotel is planned to contain 37 suites.
The first 22 suites are scheduled for the first quarter of 2027.
The final 15 are scheduled for the first quarter of 2028.
Three restaurants and a Chef’s Table are planned.
A hammam, wellness facilities and a 40-metre swimming pool are expected.
Tennis, padel, horse riding, yoga and Pilates are included in the announced plans.
Virgin previously indicated that bookings would begin in September 2026.
A clear public reservation page for the property is not yet visible.
Prices, opening offers, final room categories and cancellation conditions remain unconfirmed.
A SECOND VOTE OF CONFIDENCE IN MOROCCO
The most significant detail is not the swimming pool or the number of restaurants.
It is Virgin’s decision to expand after already operating in Morocco.
International brands can enter a destination for many reasons. Opening a second property demonstrates a deeper level of confidence in its attractiveness, hospitality culture and ability to deliver distinctive experiences.
The new retreat also gives Morocco’s artisans, farmers, hospitality professionals and culinary talent another platform before an international audience.
Virgin’s next Moroccan escape is not ready to welcome guests yet, and MTD will not pretend otherwise.
But the direction is clear.
Richard Branson’s hospitality collection is building a larger future in Morocco, and Marrakech will host its next chapter.