The day began with everybody meeting around the glittering pool for a leisurely breakfast. The breakfast was an extravagant buffet which included Hermés pastries, exclusive to La Mamounia, the pistachio croissant proving to be a firm favourite! Following the earthquake, our Smart Hosts wanted to ensure that everybody was comfortable with the plans for the day, therefore we re-evaluated how the days activities should unfold. After speaking to our local team, they advised us the best way to proceed and assured us that the majority of people are were going about business as usual. We are forever grateful for the staff, performers and guides who came back to work and continued to deliver an exceptional service at a difficult time for their country, and amazingly with a smile still on their face.
Our CEO, Greg, had designed a scavenging extravaganza and we were thrilled that we were still able to experience some of the surprises he had in store. In the late morning, guests were split into teams, given a purse of Moroccan Dirhams and whisked off on 1940’s motorbikes. They were given a series of clues and had to navigate the city by directing the driver and finding ‘X marks the spot’ (in our case… the Smart Group logo spray painted onto various buildings), the aim of the game was to discover which item they had to buy from the markets, and for the least amount of money. The first stop was at Blacksmith Alley, a busy, bustling street filled with the smell of hot steel and fire. After locating the correct blacksmith, teams had to barter for the correct item, once successful, they would receive the next clue, which happened to be at a tiny bakery hidden in one of the back alleys. The clue was to ‘break bread’ with their team… the next clue was INSIDE the bread! We hit the open road and sped along to the stunning Palm Grove of Marrakesh, this clue led us right outside Cristiano Ronaldo’s house. After a quick picture, the teams raced back to the finish line at La Mamounia! Filled with adrenaline, the guests were ready to unwind at our beautiful lunch location, La Sultana, a rooftop oasis in amongst the chaos of a bustling city. Guests were greeted with cold glasses of chilled rosé and served a delicious three course lunch.
Our Saturday evening dinner took place in the impeccable gardens of La Mamounia, dining al fresco under the warm blanket of a Moroccan evening. We encouraged our Friends to dress as colourful as possible and when they arrived, it was clear why! The tablescape was a kaleidoscope of colour inspired by the souks and spices of Marrakesh. Each guest was given a fez and personalised tambourine, to join in the festivities. After being greeted by lively local drummers, we were treated to a traditional feast featuring mountains of tagine, alongside jewelled salads and pastillas – absolutely delicious! Towards the end of dinner, four mesmerising belly dancers lured everybody out of their seats to continue the revelries on the dancefloor – our Smart Friends have got the moves, as our video proves!
