"I would say it is essential to have good staff who can be trusted to look after both the house and the guests - again we were lucky with our manager and our cook, but they weren't hard to find, as there are many Moroccans who want to work for Europeans" Victoria Elliston (Riad Timila).
Nowadays it is not at all challenging to find good affable trustworthy English speaking riad staff in Marrakech.
The whole industry and enterprise of the city is focused on its booming tourist sector with a wave of mass job creation and wealth of new eductaional facilities such as the University of Tourism that offer all kinds of appropriate training for Moroccans.
There are always nice English friends here and members of the ever growing ex-pat community sending round emails about Moroccans they know and like and can recommend, who are looking for work. Typically these people would be cleaners, nannies, cooks, or, say, live-in guardians and fully blown riad managers.
Coupled with my own network of local contacts I have built up in the last few years working in the Medina property market, it has become fairly easy for me to recommend to Chic Marrakech clients keen and eager locals for commercial guest houses like guides, drivers and managers, along with essential support staff for private homes.
I would also wholeheartedly recommend a recruitment agency, Keff Services, that has recently opened, which specialises in providing staff for riads. Keff is run by a lovely personable lady, Mouna. (0524437559 / keffservices@menara.ma).
Keff effectively match canidates to suit staffing requirements and all the Moroccans they present have been properly interviewed and scrutinized.
Furthermore, in regard to the administrative side of riads, which is something I am often asked about, particularly in respect of commercial guest houses, there is a wonderful financal advisor / accountant, Reda Hatim, who is definitely worth approaching. (Reda Finance Conseil 0661084550 / reda_finance@yahoo.fr).
Reda helps clients deal with everything from establishing riads as registered businesses, to managing the payment of staff.
I personally use Reda as my accountant. He has proved most helpful.
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