QUEZON CITY — Novotel Manila Araneta City marked its 10th anniversary with a blue-and-gold gala last month as it celebrated a decade as Accor’s pioneering property in the Philippines and a key landmark in the City of Firsts.
Since opening in 2015, Novotel Manila has helped reshape the district’s hospitality landscape with its design-driven spaces and service-first philosophy. Ten years on, it remains a flagship symbol of Accor’s growth in the country and a hub for both business and leisure travelers.
The anniversary gala at the Monet Grand Ballroom highlighted the hotel’s evolution through a decade-long visual showcase, a tribute to its “Heartists,” and performances led by the award-winning AHI Chorale. A 13-piece orchestra and a curated menu by Director of Culinary Massimiliano Pauletto set a sophisticated tone for the evening.
Maria Manlulu-Garcia, Accor Philippines’ first Filipina Area General Manager and head of Novotel and ibis Styles Manila Araneta City, reflected on the property’s journey, describing it as “a home built on passion, resilience, and countless shared memories.”
The celebration also honored the visionaries behind the hotel’s establishment, including Accor executives, Araneta Group leadership, and especially Chairman Jorge L. Araneta, whose push brought the first Novotel to the country. Partners from the Quezon City government, local tourism offices, corporate clients, and loyal guests were likewise recognized through the “Forever Novotel” Plaque of Appreciation.
The culmination of the hotel’s four-month “Drive, Dine & Dream” raffle campaign added excitement, with a brand-new SUV and luxury travel experiences awarded to guests.
As Novotel Manila enters its second decade, hotel leadership emphasized continued innovation and community-rooted hospitality. Ten years on, the property stands not just as a hotel, but as a testament to the vision, people, and partnerships that shaped its first chapter—and will guide the many more ahead.
MAIN PHOTO: In a celebratory toast (from left to right) were Bernd Schneider, Pioneer General Manager of the first Novotel in the Philippines and current Cluster General Manager of Raffles & Fairmont Makati; Xavier Cappelut, Vice President Operations of Accor for Vietnam, Maldives, and the Philippines; Joy De Mesa, Hotel Manager of Novotel Manila Araneta City; Quezon City District 3 Councilor Wency Lagumbay; Rowell Recinto, Araneta Group Board Director & Senior Management Consultant; Ivanovich Dmitri Tan Agote, OIC–Assistant Regional Director, Department of Tourism – National Capital Region; Maria Manlulu-Garcia, Area General Manager for Accor’s Premium, Midscale, and Economy Brands in the Philippines and Cluster General Manager for Novotel & ibis Styles Manila Araneta City; and John Peter Chick Castelo, Araneta Group Board Director,
Senior Vice President, Treasurer & Business Development.