Marrakech – Mandarin Oriental Hotel Group in Marrakech has appointed Alain-Thomas Briere as its new General Manager.
The luxury resort, set in 20 acres of tantalizingly aromatic gardens and olive trees and just minutes from the magnificent Marrakech city center, celebrated its eighth birthday on October 19.
An elaborate dinner was held to mark this happy occasion after the hotel showcased “The Tent,” one of its attractions which includes a mix of “delicious” cocktails and Moroccan tapas.
“The Tent” draws inspiration from the exotic tastes of Morocco, which it converts into a modern tapas experience that is meant to be enjoyed.
Panoramic view of the concept of “The Tent”
Alain-Thomas expressed his excitement at joining the Mandarin Oriental, saying: “I’m delighted to return to Morocco and to join the Mandarin Oriental in the Marrakech family.”
“This is an exceptional property, and I am excited to work with the wonderful team here to elevate our guests’ experiences even further,” he added.
Marrakech’s global appeal
Briere went on to praise the evolution and appeal of Marrakech’s ecotourism sub-industry.
“Marrakech is a city rich in history, culture, and beauty, and we aim to showcase all these elements while providing the unparalleled service that Mandarin Oriental is renowned for,” he beamed.
Hospitality is one of the most important values in Marrakech, Briere argued, describing the city as the center of Moroccan hospitality with its world-leading, irresistible tourist attractions.
“What we’re trying to do here with such a special product, gardens, and villas that we have is to create an environment where our guests feel absolutely wild with their experience,” Briere told Morocco World News (MWN) in an interview.
“I think that Marrakech is one of the only cities in the world where you can actually do that because the sense of hospitality in Marrakech and in Morocco is really coming from the heart.”
One of the hotel’s attractions
In the already thriving Moroccan tourism industry, the prospects of hosting both the 2025 Africa Cup of Nations and the 2030 World Cup has had everyone excited about what the organization of such big-budget and prestigious events might mean for Morocco as a country and a world-leading tourist attraction.
Citing both these two prestigious football events and the annual IMF-World Bank, which Marrakech hosted earlier this month, Briere argued that Moroccan tourism has bright days ahead.
Management is all about ‘quality teamwork’
When discussing the management of the city’s hospitality industry, Briere emphasized the aspect of teamwork beyond the individual strategy for running the companies.
“It takes every single one of the employees in the hotel to support each other and to look at opportunities to do things better,” he said, stressing that it is a mindset that needs to be created to achieve the highest service level.
Yet the manager emphasized “quality management” in hotels, saying that it is a daily task that requires a lot of training to achieve quality goals. The process of meeting such objectives begins with the hiring process and ensures that new team members share your values, he said.
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Briere has extensive experience and a track record of success in high-end hospitality operations, which he inherited from his father. He was born into a family of hoteliers and his father worked in the hospitality industry. Hotels were part of his upbringing in this atmosphere.
Sample of Mandarin’s culinary delights
Briere has held a wide range of positions in the hospitality industry over the years. He began his career as a chef in London before switching to stewarding and housekeeping, among other positions. The last position he held was General Manager at W Hotels between 2018 and 2023.
Between 1997 and 2000, he graduated from Charles de Gaulle High School in London with a degree in socio-economics. He also completed a Bachelor of Science in International Hospitality Management from 2000 to 2005 at the School of Hotel Management (EHL), where he received a “Success Award” for his final project.
In his statement to MWN following his appointment to head the Mandarin Hotel Group’s Marrakech operations, Briere insisted that the most crucial aspect of a hotel manager’s job is to lead by example, be a part of the hotel’s story and daily operations, interact with guests, collaborate closely with staff members, offer feedback, and consider the experiences one can offer.
