07 The Essentials: Casablanca & Rabat

The EssentialsAfricamiddle east
Written By Whitney Shindelar

Casablanca and Rabat are often treated as quick stopovers—but these cities reveal Morocco’s modern pulse and authentic daily life. In this episode, Hicham Mhammedi Alaoui, Co-Founder of Experience Morocco and The Travel Collection, shares insights to help travel advisors understand how and when to include them in client itineraries. From Casablanca’s modern architecture, art galleries, and standout dining to Rabat’s green spaces, street art, and NGO community, this conversation gives advisors clarity on which travelers will appreciate each city and how to present them as meaningful additions to a Morocco journey.

Key Takeaways

  • Why Casablanca and Rabat deserve a place in Morocco itineraries.

  • How Morocco’s infrastructure and hotel scene are evolving ahead of the 2030 World Cup.

  • Casablanca’s role as the country’s culinary and architectural hub.

  • Rabat’s emerging street art, green spaces, and NGO community.

  • How to match clients to each city based on interests, trip length, and style of travel.

About the guest: 

Hicham Mhammedi Alaouiis the Co-Founder of Experience Morocco, a leading travel company crafting bespoke journeys that immerse visitors in Morocco’s culture, people, and landscapes. With a background in consulting and a passion for his home country, Hicham and his team bridge local expertise with world-class service to create experiences that go beyond sightseeing. He’s also the Co-Founder of The Travel Collection, a global network of trusted destination management companies

Whitney Shindelar

Undiscovered Sunsets was a long time in the making, even if I myself didn’t realize it. During my time at the University of Northern Iowa, I studied abroad in New Zealand. Upon graduating, I bought a one-way ticket to France, lived with a French family and studied with classmates from Turkey, China, Russia, Germany, Italy, and everywhere in between. In 2010 I began teaching English as a foreign language. This job quickly took me to China, where English teachers were in high demand and within three years, I began working in a 5-star hotel, speaking Mandarin throughout most of my day. In total, I lived abroad for 7 years.

I consider Undiscovered Sunsets to be the perfect mélange of my personal experience traveling the world and my professional experience working in the hospitality industry.

I look forward to designing your next adventure!

Next

06 The Stay Guide: Lake Como