La Mamounia’s Centennial Celebration: A Night of Luxury and Legacy

On the evening of Saturday, October 7th, 2023, the prestigious historic La Mamounia Hotel in Marrakech marked its centenary, a significant milestone in the long and illustrious history of this iconic Palace, which has welcomed dignitaries and luminaries from around the world for a century.

To celebrate its 100th anniversary in style, La Mamounia organized a series of special events and receptions this year, including the sumptuous dinner that took place on Saturday evening, October 7th, in the hotel’s gardens.

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For the dinner, New York chef JG Vongerichten and Parisian chef Pierre Hermé took the helm.

The reception left a lasting impression on the numerous guests who gathered to celebrate the hotel’s history, heritage, and its renowned reputation. Guests had the opportunity to appreciate the new spaces designed by interior architects Patrick Jouin and Sanjit Manku, such as the new Majorelle and Churchill bars, the cinema, and most notably, the art installations in the lobby.

A monumental chandelier made up of 4,500 pieces of glass and 500 silver pieces, representing the tradition of Berber jewelry, was unveiled on the same evening. This exceptional piece is bound to astonish future visitors for decades to come. Patrick Jouin stated, “Here, we have reversed the past and designed the future.”

Today, La Mamounia is an essential luxury destination in Marrakech, continuing to captivate travelers from around the world. Its centenary is an opportunity to celebrate not only its glorious past but also its ability to remain an unparalleled benchmark in the world of Moroccan hospitality and luxury.

The centenary celebration showcased Moroccan artists and artisans, demonstrating to guests from around the world that culture is also an instrument of resilience and rebirth.

Cocktails were served on the terraces before moving to the dinner table.

La Mamounia is a hotel at the pinnacle of international hospitality excellence: an ambassador of well-being to its guests, it ranks among the top 10 hotels in the world and is placed 6th in the brand-new “The World’s 50 Best Hotels” ranking.

The dinner was held in the hotel’s historic gardens, 8 hectares dedicated to nature.

“It’s a dream night – a truly spectacular celebration for this iconic hotel. No one in the world does it like La Mamounia,” one guest remarked.

Just a few weeks after the devastating earthquake that struck the region, there was no intention to overlook this tragedy during the hotel’s centenary. More than 10 million dirhams (1 million euros), along with clothing, medicine, food, and services, were contributed to aid the victims.

As guests took their seats, an incredible dinner was served on an endless table, with the culinary teams of chefs Jean-Georges Vongerichten, Pierre Hermé for the desserts, and Rachid Agouray working tirelessly behind the scenes.

Pierre Jochem, General Manager of La Mamounia, addressed the attendees.

A superb piano performance by the virtuoso from Lille, Sofiane Pamart, was a highlight of the evening. The artist possesses a modernity, flexibility, and fluidity in his playing that make him irresistible and highly accessible.

Sofiane Pamart has perfect pitch. He was identified at a very young age, reproducing music he heard on television by ear. Interestingly, no one in his family was a musician. His maternal grandfather, of Berber origin, came from southern Morocco to work in the mines of northern France. His mother, a literature professor, had to fight to “break free from her circumstances.” It was she, whom he credits for his strict upbringing, who enrolled him in the conservatory at the age of 7 and continuously pushed him to strive for excellence.

Contributions from chef Pierre Hermé included his famous macarons and a special creation for the occasion.

This is a night that will forever be etched in the memory of the guests, a celebration of a remarkable milestone in the history of La Mamounia, a hotel that continues to stand as a symbol of luxury, culture, and resilience in Marrakech.