SUSTAINABILITY
For future generations, our duty is to protect, preserve and restore our culture, our nature reserve in Oualidia, and to be custodians of the areas in which we are located. With your help and our actions behind the scenes, each stay can help drive positive changes towards the conservation of Morocco’s natural environment and cultural heritage.
We have gathered our Conservation & Sustainability philosophy below for our guests, who like us are concerned by the future of our planet. Our programme is based on the following environmental and cultural principles:
- Reduction of waste and optimization of natural resources
- Compliance with environmental regulations and following of best practices in the field
- Consideration of environmental impacts in decision making
- Regular revision of objectives & performance
- Consideration for guests’ environmental concerns
- Sharing environmental concerns with business partners in order to offer sustainable activities through concierge services
- To showcase Morocco’s unique natural and cultural heritage
Terroir Cuisine
La Sultana’s Terroir Cuisine philosophy is the belief that the flavours and ingredients are direct results of the climate, geography and farming practices native to Morocco, and thus express a sense of place. Honouring this philosophy, local and seasonal ingredients are sourced from a small network of Slow Food producers, including saffron from Taliouine, salt from Zerradoun, cumin from Alnif and Argan oil from Tensift-El Haouz, whilst fish and meat options are also carefully sourced from local-ethical producers.
To bring the best quality to our guests, we handpick the best local suppliers in the field and select organic products whenever possible to encourage sustainable agricultural practices. We have achieved a breakfast selection at least 50% "organic” (coffee included).
Locally sourced, Made in Morocco
Morocco is our home and we constantly make sure that our restaurants serve only local produce, the hotel boutiques stock products from local artisans and our Spas use locally made products, to be true to ourselves and provide a strong sense of place for our guests. Our position on responsible purchasing practices is to ban imported goods (except cosmetics such as Clarins & Darphin) and to commit to using re-usable, compostable, or environmentally friendly products throughout our properties.
In order to promote Moroccan creativity & design, in the hotel boutiques we display only local and hand-made goods. We also have a display of handmade items supplied by our charities: all the proceeds go towards supporting their actions.
Organic Garden
Living Architectural Heritage
La Sultana Marrakesh has been refurbished using traditional Moroccan decoration techniques, to create an intemporal place from a bygone era with present-day comfort. The expert craftsmen (Melems), stone and plaster carvers and zellige makers all used techniques and knowledge passed from generation to generation and are highly valuable in today’s Moroccan cultural heritage.
Decades after the refurbishment, we are keeping centuries-old techniques alive at La Sultana Marrakesh and using them to tell stories of the present through an Architectural Heritage tour of the property. The tour is led by our Living Architectural & Heritage Curators who walk guests through the different decorative arts: zellige, plaster, brick, tadelakt, craftsmanship techniques. The tour includes a stop at their workshops to see them in action and feel the materials and tools they use. In so doing, we keep traditions alive for future generations and nourish real eagerness to understand these local traditions.
In the ancient UNESCO-listed habitat of Marrakesh
La Sultana Marrakesh is located in the heart of the UNESCO-listed Medina and the souks of Marrakesh. The Medina is really what makes the Red City worth visiting and the restoration project of La Sultana Marrakesh was designed to preserve and promote the city’s unique architecture. The neighbourhood is very authentic with ancient houses and little shops shaped by time. This is actually one of the reasons why the Medina was listed as part of UNESCO's World Heritage as it is “an ancient habitat and represents an outstanding example of a living historic town with its tangle of lanes, its houses, souks”. Another reason is the decisive role the Medina of Marrakesh has played in medieval urban development, as an urban model for other Moroccan cities like Fès.
Through excursions like our “Urban Safari” and daily maintenance of properties in the vicinity, we help to maintain a strong cultural local area for future generations.
Moroccan culinary art
Morocco is one of those countries where the food you eat will be part of your journey and will stay with you as a vivid memory. Through promoting our local cuisine we give guests the opportunity to bring the basics of Moroccan cuisine home through cooking classes. Guests can learn how to prepare a tagine, traditional Moroccan bread and local pastries.
All our cooking classes start with the mint tea ritual and the possibility to go to the souk to source local ingredients before the course starts. Guests can enjoy their creation at La Table du Souk for Lunch (morning Tagine class – duration 2 hours) or enjoy some Moroccan pastries on the rooftop lounge (specific topic afternoon cooking class – duration 1 hour).
Eco-Building
Made from local stones, La Sultana Oualidia was carefully built in order to blend in with its natural surroundings and minimize its visual impact on the environment. This is the visible part of this eco-friendly building; the main aspect is that it recycles 100% of the water used.
La Sultana Marrakesh features Riad architecture with patios, thick brick walls and fountains naturally keeping fresh air inside the property and minimizing the need for air-conditioning.
Our People
Since the inception of our company more than 15 years ago, we have been dedicated to a level of social and environmental responsibility that begins with our employees.
Across La Sultana Marrakesh & La Sultana Oualidia, we employ over two hundred people from local communities and offer add-on health, security and retirement schemes, which contribute to a low turnover rate and to retaining talent. We provide continued in-house staff training and education with regard to the environment which benefit their daily contribution to the quality of service and attention to detail at the hotels.
Empowering Women
Overall 40% of the management at La Sultana Hotels is made up of women and we count a total of 37% of our employees as women. As a company we make sure to provide equal opportunity for everyone.
Our Communities
Each Stay at La Sultana Marrakesh & La Sultana Oualidia drives positive change for natural and cultural conservation in Morocco through our commitments to select local charities.
As a company we provide regular financial contributions and promote the actions of national charities, Les Enfants de Dar Bouidar, to our guests and business partners.
From 2022, we pledge to allocate 50% of our carbon emissions costs to earth-friendly projects and charities. Our financial contribution fosters activities that have positive impacts for Moroccan people and communities.
Water table production
La Sultana is proud to have invested to implement a water production unit for still & sparkling water. Our project was to develop the hotels to accommodate our own bottling unit for still and sparkling drinking water (in glass bottles). By establishing on-site filtration and bottling facilities, each property eliminates the transportation impacts and use of plastic water bottles. Ecological gains are tremendous, avoiding plastic and transportation of glass bottles from suppliers while offering the best quality at all times.
Energy-saving
For the implementation of energy reduction practices, La Sultana Marrakesh has obtained environmental certification from Green Key every year since 2016. (...)
Water conscious
La Sultana Oualidia is proud to be 100% sustainable in its use of water.
A technical infrastructure runs below ground consisting of miles of pipework. (...)
Waste management
In each property, waste is recorded, sorted and recycled (compost, oil, glass, paper, batteries, plastic). (...)
Each stay at La Sultana Marrakesh & La Sultana Oualidia drives positive change for natural and cultural conservation in Morocco through company actions and contribution to select local charities.
Dar Bouidar : Orphan project
Location : Marrakesh, Atlas Mountains
What is it?
The Charity “Les Enfants de Dar Bouidar" created by Hansjörg Huber supports over 100 abandoned children to provide them with a new home, health check-up and an education.
www.atlas-kinder.org/
How do we help?
As a company we provide a maintenance & financial contributions and also the team of La Sultana Marrakech gives some of its time to set up enjoyable picnic lunches with the children.
How can you participate?
A gift box is displayed at the Front Desk and donations are given to the charity on your behalf.
Travel Link Fondation
Location : Marrakesh & Atlas Mountains region
What is it?
Travel link foundation is a non-profit organization based in Morocco to raise awareness and find sustainable solutions over the most critical issues that directly affect the life in the Atlas Mountains villages.
https://travellinkfoundation.org/
How do we help?
As a company we provide an annual financial contribution.
How can you participate?
A gift box is displayed at the Front Desk and donations are given to the charity on your behalf.
Education For All: College education for girls in Morocco
Location : Marrakesh & High Atlas Mountains region
What is it?
Education For All (EFA) give girls the chance of a college education in Morocco because they believe that if you educate a girl, you educate the next generation as well.
EFA was established to help provide the opportunity for girls from the High Atlas mountain region. They build and run high-quality boarding houses for girls from 12–18. Everything is provided for free. The overall environment makes it easy for the girls to settle in and thrive in their studies.
https://www.efamorocco.org/
How do we help? As a company we provide an annual financial contribution.
How can you participate? A gift box is displayed at the Front Desk and donations are given to the charity on your behalf.
https://www.efamorocco.org/
Beach Clean Up
Location: Lagoon & Atlantic Ocean coastline, Oualidia Morocco
What is the environmental assessement?
Plastic pollution is a growing threat for birds and marine species of the natural reserve.
How do we help?
Every day we clean-up the beach near La Sultana Oualidia and every Thursday with the help of the local boatmen and local community we help bring any litter to the shore. Twice a year, every member of the La Sultana Oualidia team takes part in a ‘Lagoon Clean Up Day’ in order to have a more significant impact on reducing the litter in the lagoon.
To help raise awareness of the lagoon’s important ecosystem, La Sultana Oualidia hosts its ‘Lagoon Clean Up Day’ on World Wetland Day, which celebrates the Convention on Wetlands date of inauguration - 2 February 1971.
Thanks to all our daily guests' excursions in the nature reserve we closely monitor the health of the ecosystem and never leave without a bag to pick up any discarded rubbish we encounter during the excursion.
How can you participate?
The team invites volunteers to partake and will be delighted to provide a bag for them to put any discarded rubbish inside. Once finished, the bag can be returned to La Sultana Oualidia’s concierge who will ensure it is recycled or disposed of appropriately. Volunteers are then invited to enjoy a cup of Moroccan Mint tea as a thank-you for helping to keep Oualidia clean.
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Save the Birds of the World in Oualidia
Location: Lagoon & Salt marsh, Oualidia Morocco
What is the environmental assessment?
Oualidia’s lagoon is an exceptional site of ecological importance for bird conservation that extends over 12 km. Protected by the RAMSAR Convention on Wetlands of International Importance, the lagoon is a stopover haven for most water bird species that migrate the east-Atlantic route between Spain and sub-Saharan Africa in Spring and Autumn. Rare bird species including pink flamingos, grey herons, great cormorants, storks and spatulas visit the lagoon during these seasons.
How do we help?
In addition to the regular Beach Clean-up actions, our “Bird Safari” excursion is specifically designed to raise awareness among our valued guests and staff to show the value of the nature reserve's species and invite everyone to protect them.
The Bird Infirmary is where we take care of any injured birds we may see with the help of a local vet.
How can you participate?
Our team will be pleased to introduce you to the different bird species and the ecosystem of the lagoon during a Bird Watching Safari.
