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Hosted, Not Booked — You are not a reservation. You are a guest.
The temptation of a dream (2013)
In 2013, Éric left a wind energy startup in Italy — engineers, international partnerships, long days in front of screens — and followed a different current. He landed in Marrakech. Not as a tourist. As someone who had decided to stay.
His first riad was a ruin in the Dar El Bacha neighbourhood. He restored it stone by stone. Hired a team. Learned the medina. He opened Riad Vendôme & Spa with a simple conviction: "La tentation d'un rêve à Marrakech" — the temptation of a dream in Marrakech. The idea that a place could change you. That a journey could be more than a sequence of nights in a room.
— Éric, owner, Riad Vendôme & Spa Marrakech
When travel changed
In 13 years, Éric watched an industry transform. Digital tools made finding accommodation easier — worldwide access, instant comparison, instant confirmation. A genuine step forward.
But something changed in the relationship. The dialogue between traveller and host gave way to interfaces. The name of the guest became a reservation number. The conversation before arrival — "when do you arrive? do you have any allergies? is this a special occasion?" — became optional, then rare.
The traveller was no longer arriving somewhere. They were executing a reservation. And the host was no longer welcoming someone. They were processing a check-in.
Not everyone noticed. But those who had experienced genuine hospitality — a host who remembered your name, who had thought about your breakfast, who changed the room when they understood you would prefer the terrace — those people noticed the difference.
What we stand for
Hosted, Not Booked. Three words to say: here, you are welcomed by a human being, not processed by a system.
Naima cooks for you. Not for a flow, not for a quota. She cooks because you are there, because she takes pride in the tajine recipe she has refined for years, because your satisfaction is her satisfaction.
Your stay is unique because you are unique. We do not have a standard programme. We have a conversation.
Our team
Former engineer in wind energy, Éric arrived in Marrakech to open Riad Vendôme. 13 years later, he is still there — welcoming guests personally, responding to every message, running a riad he designed and built with his own hands. He speaks French, English, Italian and some Spanish.
Naima has been cooking at Riad Vendôme since the beginning. Her cooking class has a perfect 5/5 Google score with 47 reviews — guests talk about her couscous, her tajines, and the way she transmits her knowledge with patience and warmth. She does not just teach a recipe. She shares a story.
Riad Vendôme operates across 2 adjoining riads in the Dar El Bacha neighbourhood, 10 minutes' walk from Jemaa El Fna. Private pool, rooftop terrace with Atlas Mountain views, traditional hammam, rooftop jacuzzi. Google 4.2/5 (617 reviews) · Booking 8.3/10 · Since 2013.
Join the movement
Hosted, Not Booked is not just a slogan. It is an invitation. An invitation to choose a different way of travelling — where the relationship comes first, where the host knows your name before you arrive, where your stay is shaped by a conversation, not a form.
If this speaks to you, write to Éric. Directly.
Write to Éric directly: +212 600 608 608
FAQ — Hosted, Not Booked
What does Hosted, Not Booked mean?
Hosted, Not Booked is the identity of Riad Vendôme & Spa, founded in 2026. It means: here, you are welcomed by a human being, not processed by a system. Éric responds in person, Naima cooks for you, and your stay is shaped around who you are — not a reservation number.
When was Hosted, Not Booked founded?
The concept and slogan "Hosted, Not Booked" were created in 2026 at Riad Vendôme & Spa, 217 Derb El Halfaoui, Dar El Bacha, Médina, Marrakech — by Éric, French owner on site since 2013.
Who is behind Hosted, Not Booked?
Éric, engineer (IMT Atlantique), owner of Riad Vendôme & Spa since 2013. He left a wind energy startup in Italy to open a riad in Marrakech. His conviction: authentic hospitality is a direct relationship between two people — a host and a guest.
How can I contact Éric directly?
WhatsApp: +212 600 608 608. Email: contact@riad-vendome-marrakech.com. Éric responds personally within 2 hours during business hours. Write to him — directly.