Marrakech city and spa short break

Planet

CARBON REDUCTION

Our ground agents in Morocco have a Travelife Certification with Excellence, the first of its kind in Morocco; giving priority to acting responsibly in the protection of the environment as well as the participation in the local development. To do this they make sure they reduce the negative environmental and social impacts of all their activities, employing a team in internal sustainability management to increase awareness towards more responsible behaviour.

Some methods implemented include:
• Avoiding unnecessary business travel and giving preference to more sustainable transport options for employees and clients.
• Aiding locals by purchasing locally made goods and ethically planted foods
• Taking active steps to reduce energy consumption and environmental impact within their organisation by reducing paper use, using sustainable inks, waste recycling, minimizing electrical and water usage where possible, responsibly disposing wastewater, using environmentally friendly cleaning products.
• Using accommodation which has international sustainability certification and properties that are committed to improving their sustainability performance.

Your beautiful Riad accommodation on this trip offers incredible vegan and vegetarian food in its exquisite onsite restaurant. It’s also an advocate of independent vegetarian and vegan cafι and restaurants, and can offer guests many recommendations of the best places for serving delicious Moroccan sustainably grown regional food when staying in Marrakech.

ENVIRONMENT AND WILDLIFE

The Riad you stay at during this trip believes in the importance of sustainable practices and reduces its environmental footprint with the following initiatives:
• Separating waste collection – organic material, glass and plastic – for recycling
• Providing remaining soaps and toiletries unused by guests to those in need
• Replacing light bulbs with LED lighting
• Opting of other environmental heating methods rather than fireplaces
• Carefully choosing ingredients from local farmers and seasonal produce for our farm-to-table menu at its onsite restaurant

During your short break away you have two free days in Marrakech and your Riad can offer you a unique experience of a guided tour of Cactus Thiemann, a cactus farm and garden near Marrakech. This relatively unknown oasis just outside of town is the source of native plant species for many gardens in the Red City. This garden tour allows the opportunity to learn about the local flora and fauna and support the work of preserving species for green spaces in the capital city.

People

LOCAL ECONOMY
The accommodation you stay at on this trip is an individually owned Riad which is a traditional Moroccan house or palace with an interior courtyard, giving a true sense of history and culture of Morocco. The Riad is over one hundred years old, recently renovated and transformed into a luxury hotel. The Riad supports the local community through offering traditional experiences to its guests for example, its Hamman Spa with jobs for trained therapists, and its Shop offering handmade local goods.

During your stay you also have a Cooking Class in Marrakech, venturing to local market stalls in the Old Medina to buy local exotic ingredients, and learn and try out traditional Moroccan recipes and techniques with trained Moroccan cooks.

EMPLOYMENT, INCLUSIVITY AND DIVERSITY
We select ground agents and accommodation that employ Moroccan staff, which give multiple benefits, not only incredible knowledge to share of their country, but providing income for local families and the economy of the areas guests visit, as well as maintaining the culture and customs. For example, the Riad accommodation during this trip has been designed with the cultural implications in mind to preserve women's privacy, a traditional Muslim and Moroccan concept. There are no windows in the outward perimeter, while within the walls, the layout is designed so that you don't see what's inside.

Our ground handlers in Morocco give 2.5% of its yearly profits to local charities such as Amagar in Atlas, a remote village where there is no source of income. Through offering support in such areas, they are able to give opportunities to people who are often excluded or marginalized, and in Amagar, women have created a Cooperative to create their own income by seling local produce of their region such as olive oil, plants and herbal tea. Another charity they contribute their profits to is an orphanage in Marrakech called Centre Fourtou.

They are involved in numerous corporate social responsibility and Environmental Conservation projects including partnership with a local Not-for-profit Association in the area of the Atlas Mountains whose objectives are:
• Promotion of schooling in the area
• Participation in the improvement of the infrastructure
• Participation in the development of agriculture in the area
• Sensitising and mobilisation of the inhabitants, especially young people and the rural woman
• Sensitising with the safeguarding of the natural resources.
• To come to assistance of the rural woman (to fight tale illiteracy, to improve its way of life).

One option is to assist with the building of a school in a remote village paint and refresh the local school building. And equipping the local school for adult learners, assemble tables & chair or help to build some benches with cement and stones in the local schoolyard.