ABOUT US
Jnane Tamsna is a black-owned, family-run farm to table boutique hotel in Marrakech's Palmeraie. The story begins in 2001, when co-owners Meryanne Loum-Martin and Gary Martin first opened its doors. Jnane Tamsna blends her architecture and interiors, his garden design, and the original landscape. The owners live on-site with their daughter Thaïs and Smokey, the family dog. Their son Edward is currently based in California.
Gary founded The Global Diversity Foundation (GDF), a nonprofit promoting environmental conservation through community engagement. Jnane Tamsna's guests love that booking a wedding, retreat, or individual stay here is an opportunity to support work in the local community by allocating a portion of the proceeds to GDF's initiatives.
Meryanne, a Parisian lawyer-turned-designer with a depth of cultural influences, conceived the architecture. The warm yellow houses contrast beautifully with the crisp Marrakech blue sky, verdant flora, and wheaten desert ground.
“We take it as a compliment when guests ask, ‘When did you restore this old house?’. It lets us know we have succeeded in creating a timeless space that betrays its youth.”
Meryanne Loum-Martin
Gary, an ethnobotanist, created the 9-acre garden. Home to over 400 varieties of plants, it is where we source the organic seasonal vegetables featured in our cuisine. The dedicated gardening team respects this desert environment with sustainability practices such as recycling water, composting, and carefully selecting plants that can thrive in arid climates. Gary founded The Global Diversity Foundation (GDF), a non-profit promoting environmental conservation through community engagement. Jnane Tamsna's guests love that booking a wedding, retreat, or individual stay here is an opportunity to support work in the local community by allocating a portion of the proceeds to GDF's initiatives.
Thaïs, a musician and cultural curator, runs the Creatives-in-Residence programme. As residents, individuals from across artistic disciplines can delve deeper into their practice whilst finding rest and inspiration in the local cultural scene. This is furthered through exchanges with the hotel's cosmopolitan and dynamic clientele.
Edward is currently pursuing a PhD in Black Geographies at University of California, Berkeley.
Since its opening on December 27th 2001, Jnane Tamsna has seen guests return year after year, creating a community of its own. The hotel is designed to be a safe space, where visitors can rely on an experience reflecting ethics and values of community, culture, sustainability, and resilience.