Traveling to Morocco is an exciting opportunity to experience the Sahara Desert and the Marrakech souks. On top of that, the friendliness of its people provides a pleasant and welcoming experience for many visitors. This warmth is evident in Jnane Tamsna.

This hotel, in Marrakech’s Palmeraie district, is creating quite a stir among the world’s hoteliers. In addition to being the first Black-owned hotel in Morocco, Jnane Tamsna has won the coveted Michelin Guide, solidifying its position as one of the world’s most outstanding accommodations.

Who Owns Jnane Tamsna?

Established by Meryanne Loum-Martin, a Senegalese-Parisian lawyer-turned-designer, and her husband, Gary Martin, an American ethnobotanist, Jnane Tamsna exhibits the power of vision and cultural authenticity. The hotel opened its doors over two decades ago and has become a hub of diversity and sustainability in the luxury hospitality sector.

Spread across five houses, Jnane Tamsna boasts 24 tastefully luxurious rooms, each with its own terrace. The hotel’s design celebrates Moroccan tradition and African art, bringing together the past and present. As Loum-Martin poetically describes to Michelin Guide, “The place is about a constant dialogue between the past and the present, between cultures, between outdoors and indoors… it feels authentic, rooted, and indeed serene because it’s timeless.”

What distinguishes Jnane Tamsna is its dedication to sustainability and local culture. The hotel grows its own organic food, sources locally, and implements innovative water management techniques in its sprawling gardens. These practices have earned it eco-friendly credentials and contributed to its undeniable allure.

What The Michelin Guide Approval Means

Heated pool | Jnane Tamsna Boutique Hotel in Marrakesh, Morocco | Photo credit: Jnane Tamsna

Jnane Tamsna’s endorsement by the Michelin Guide is evidence of its outstanding excellence. With an overall experience score of 18.1 out of 20, the hotel excels in its room quality (19.5), public spaces (19.0), and services (16.9). Guests at the property can enjoy various amenities, including swimming pools, tennis courts, and unique experiences like cooking classes, calligraphy lessons, and even magic classes for children.

The hotel’s Diversity Excursions are particularly noteworthy. It offers respectful cultural tourism experiences that connect guests with local historians, sociologists, architects, and musicians. The team’s commitment to authenticity and cultural immersion has attracted a star-studded clientele. Big names such as Brad Pitt, Nicole Kidman, David Bowie, Iman, Giorgio Armani, and Donna Karan have all spent time at the hotel.

Meryanne Loum-Martin’s journey as a pioneer in Morocco’s boutique hospitality space hasn’t been without challenges.

“The challenge was not being Black, nor a female,” she says. “It was being a pioneer and creating something which did not exist. The hospitality landscape then was big hotels.”

As Jnane Tamsna continues to evolve, Loum-Martin envisions a future that harmoniously fuses luxury, culture, and sustainability. “I hope many exciting developments await,” she says, hinting at promising chapters yet to unfold.