Designed with a contemporary aesthetic, the resort will have 100 rooms, 140 golf and hillside villas with a residents club, 80 marina apartments, a beach club, and will include an 18-hole Jack Nicklaus golf course with a clubhouse and practice facilities.

 “Tourism in Morocco has essentially doubled in the last ten years,” said Kevin Scholl, WATG senior vice president and principal in charge of the project. “It’s exciting to help shape this new market by designing an environmentally sensitive and culturally-relevant destination.”

The project is adjacent to a wetland with migratory birds, so sustainable planning was incorporated into the design. An eco-park is being developed to provide wildlife a sanctuary and guests a serene place to experience nature.

The resort will be a 45-minute drive from Tangiers via a new highway. The project site is located on an idyllic piece of land at the southern end of tranquil Tamuda Bay. It is framed by the panoramic views of the surrounding Rif Mountains to the west and affords memorable views of the Mediterranean Sea and the Cabo Negro Peninsula.

The project is scheduled to open in 2012 and will be a Ritz-Carlton Reserve resort. These properties feature chic, intimate settings that weave indigenous flavors into their design and service.

WATG has a legacy of environmentally appropriate planning, architecture and design. A hallmark of WATG is its sensitivity to the influences of the local culture, the natural resources, the people and the spirit of the place. From its offices in London, Seattle, Irvine, Honolulu, Orlando and Singapore, WATG has designed hotels and resorts in 160 countries and territories across six continents.

www.watg.com