Get to know Christine Dadda of Madada Mogador

July 25, 2022

Get to know Christine Dadda of Madada Mogador

The vision of Christine Dadda, Madada Mogador is a unique boutique hotel situated in Essaouira, Morocco. Nestled in the 16th Century ramparts of ancient Mogador, the district was granted UNESCO World Heritage status in 2001. Madada Mogador overlooks the blue Atlantic Ocean, and with its entrance in the medina the property exudes historic character, while only a few metres from the beach. Formerly the house of Jewish merchants, the original building dates to the 1800’s. Purchased in 2000, the Madada underwent a 4 year renovation, carefully employing traditional techniques and materials to reimagine the building, mixing ancient knowledge and contemporary design. Today Madada Mogador offers guests 9 rooms and suites with a resolutely modern look, though rooted in tradition and rich history.

The beginning

Christine Dadda is no stranger to travel, having spent 14 years working as an air hostess for Airfrance. Seeing so much of the world, she developed an idea that she wanted to create her own hospitality business, a space to welcome travellers like herself. Searching for her place in the sun, she first discovered Morocco in 1998. Living in Monaco at the time, Marrakesh was a revelation to her. “I couldn’t believe it. I had tears in my eyes, just filled with emotion at all of the colours, the sites, the smells.” Overwhelmed at how welcoming the Moroccan people were, she had arrived at the beginning of the Riad boom. Staying for a week, Dadda visited Essaouira, and by chance met the person in charge of tourism development for the city. At this time, there was very little in Essaouira, maybe just a couple of hotels. During that same weekend on the coast, she found the house that would become Madada today.

After some searching, Dadda was able to contact the owners, and decided to buy the building in 1998. Two years later, it was finally hers, and the long process of refurbishment began, eventually concluding in 2004. It was a gamble at the time, as Marrakesh was seen as the place to be. No one gave Essaouira a second thought. Even the notary for the sale admitted that he didn’t understand her thinking, such was the risk. Nobody imagined Essaouira was going to become what it is today. But Christine was adamant. She fell in love with the house, perched on the walls of the city , with its views out to the wild ocean, and she really saw the potential. Literally everything needed attention, but she felt positive. She was doing it alone, completely oblivious to the difficulties that would arise.

People tried to discourage her, a woman alone…

Having secured a loan, the project was under way, and yet every step felt like a battle, not least with the local authorities. At some point she realised she had made a very good investment, as influential people from the city wanted to get the house back, and they tried to make her life harder. Christine remained true to her vision though, and she did her best to navigate the numerous problems as they arose.

Two and a half years into the project, she was close to breaking. However, Prince Albert of Monaco was visiting an area close to Essaouira. As a citizen of Monaco, Christine made herself know to the Monaco government. On October 28th 2002, Prince Albert came to visit what was then still a building site, with renovations slowly progressing. This changed everything. At that time, Morocco was trying to court foreign investment. With European royalty visiting, and making a TV segment at the house, people took note. The Prince even made enquiries with the right people as to why the work was taking so long.

The royal visit opened the doors for the project, and really enabled Christine to complete her dream. The Madada now proudly displays a picture of the Prince. In spring 2022, taking part in the Rally des Gazelles, Prince Albert made a return visit to see Christine’s work and dined at Madada’s much feted destination restaurant.

Onwards

The key USP for Madada is the incredible location. Nestled in the ancient city walls, opening onto the beach, it’s a unique prospect. Like a fortress within a fortress. The city walls have been granted Unesco heritage status, and visitors can still catch a glimpse of Essaouira’s important history as a busy port. The house itself dates back to the 1800’s, and differs from the usual Riads as it was used to store spices and merchandise, a busy trading hub. With its location on the spice route, the city was a bustling port during the building’s original heyday.

This history is highlighted by the Masada’s locally famous restaurant. La Table Madada. Formerly a carob warehouse where the king’s traders stored their goods prior to export them to Europe, La Table is steeped in Essaouira’s history and offers a speciality menu reflecting its location on the Moroccan coast. Under magnificent stone arches, the day’s catch is transformed into outstanding local cuisine, prepared and served by the all Moroccan team. La Table has, quite rightly, become something of a local institution, and guests can even book cookery courses during their stay at Madada.

With her hands-on experience in hospitality, Christine maintains a tight team, ensuring that guests receive a tailored service for an extraordinary visit. It’s important to her that the team is all Moroccan, as is the cuisine on offer. When approached by Sharp Hotels, Christine immediately saw a fit for the Madada, with a sense of shared passion and ideals. Post-lockdown, Christine is even more driven to refine her creation, seeking to really provide the very best experience for her guests, and she is investing further. Unafraid to keep on pushing, Christine’s vision and forward thinking attitude will continue to ensure that the Madada goes from strength to strength.

The Madada Mogador has a timeless quality, perfectly reflecting Essaouira itself, and this design-led boutique hotel makes for a unique stay in this enchanting city. To learn more on this boutique property and to book your stay, visit the hotel page here.