2010-MOROCCO TRAVEL MART-MARRAKECH

My recent adventure was to the 'Morocco Travel Mart'-MTM in Marrakech, Morocco in January 2010 - invited as a 'hosted buyer' by Morocco tourism.

Here along with 500+ other agents/meeting & event planners - from all over the world - primarily from Europe and France in particular for the third annual event.

We flew into Morocco via Casablanca on Royal Air Maroc which offered warm hospitality in flight aboard our 7-hours flight from JFK.

Attendees were spread out over several 4-and 5-star resort and hotel properties and 'riad' (B&B's) in Marrakech. Our small American group of four were assigned the 5-star 'Eden Andalaou Resortan Spa', the most remote but well-situated with two swimming pools with a spectacular view of the awesome Atlas mountains.

Rooms are Moroccan/French-themed ith arched doorways and well-appointed bathrooms with bidets and tub and showers with either a large sitting sitting or a smaller sitting area with balcony overlooking either the swimming pool and courtyard area or the gardens.

The spa I head was pretty aesome, but due to limited time constraints (and a substantial entry fee just to use the sauna or treadmills), I did not partake but rather enjoyed the serenity poolside.

After we checked into our resort, we made arrangements to take the complimentary shuttle into the city center or 'Jamaa El Fna', where one could arrange a city tour, shop, ride a horse-drawn carriage or eat at one of the many restaurants or riads.

Lunch as a colorful, multi-course delicious meal served on a rooftop riad with the sounds and smells of Marrakech in full-blown sensuality.

After lunch, some of us did the hop-on/hop-off tour which cost $16, and consisted of two mini tours of the 'inner medina' and 'outer medina' - the walled city and the outlying suburbs and 'palmerie'-an area of miles of palm trees that could include a camel ride.

Before or after the tour one could relax in the sqaure - 'Jamaa El Fna' and take in the sights and sounds and even be charmed by snake charmers or admire the lovely children.

Later that evening some of us returned for the 'Night Market' and an opportunity to sample

various made-to-order appetizers and snacks in the area as well as chocolate desserts and mint-laced tea.

Local vendors sold spices, fruits and vegetables, and various souvenirs as live music filled the square. This is a wonderful way to enjoy Marrakech by night.

The following two days it was down to business at the fairgrounds for 'MTM 2010'.

Here buyers attended pre-arranged appointments with various hoteliers, DMCs, tour operators and companies, as well as vendors selling Morrocan-themed spa produtcs and oils and local crafts such as hand-made leather shoes and purses and local clothing. It was nice to squeeze in some shopping in while taking care of business.

In the evening, we were hosted at various luxury resorts/hotels at 'dnners' I would more likely call 'receptions' as they were no seated tables but rather buffet-style setups with hot and cold food items with drinks - alcoholic and non-alcoholic - flowing all evening.

Networking could yield invitations to private functions at other hotels or 'riads' which included full Moroccan dinners and bellydancing.

Attendees also were invited to a local nightclub 'Panach' where many danced until the wee hours of the morning.

The closing gala event at the ultra-luxury 5-star 'Palmiere Palace & Golf Resort' which featured live entertainment and Flamenco dancing and hot and cold buffet items with a seemingly endless open bar with beverages being served in glasses fit for royalty. This definitely was a grand send-off and finale on abeautiful moon-lit evening.

For sure, Marrakech, Morocco has something to offer everyone with such lovely people who are anxious to make your stay memorable.