Virgin Limited Edition Kasbah Tamadot hotel closed following Morocco earthquake

Staff and guests are safe, but the building suffered some damage

Virgin Limited Edition has closed its Kasbah Tamadot hotel to inspect the damage caused by Morocco’s most deadly earthquake for more than 60 years, which erupted near popular tourist and economic hub Marrakech on 8 September 2023.

The Sir Richard Branson-owned company said all of the hotel’s staff and guests are safe, but the Atlas Mountains site has been temporarily shut.

A spokesperson Virgin Limited Edition said: “For those guests who are now unable to stay at Kasbah Tamadot, we have offered alternatives at our other properties, including Son Bunyola, Ulusaba Private Game Reserve, Mahali Mzuri, Mont Rochelle, The Lodge and Necker Island, as well as onboard Virgin Voyages.”

The spokesperson continued: “Our primary concern at this time is ensuring the safety and welfare of our team, their families and our guests, as well as the local communities. As ever, our communities remain an incredibly important part of the Kasbah Tamadot family and our teams, despite many losing their homes themselves, have been delivering water and food supplies to local villages.”

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The company's website’s statement read: The earthquake that hit Morocco is a major national disaster and our thoughts go out to the many who have lost friends and family. While our Kasbah du Toubkal was close to the epicentre and has suffered some damage, we are pleased to let you know that all our staff and guests are safe and unhurt and have now left the Kasbah. The Kasbah is closed until further notice. There is no electricity, phone or internet and the road to Imlil is currently closed but there is hope this will reopen on Sunday [17 September]. We currently have very limited telecommunications with Imlil.

The Morocco Earthquake Response Fund has been set up by the Eve Branson Foundation to help the affected communities in the Atlas Mountains. Close to US$150,000 was raised in the weekend following the earthquake. 

Among the other travel organisations running fundraisers for Morocco are Intrepid, The Charitable Travel Fund and The Tui Care Foundation.