MANILA, Philippines — Novotel and ibis Styles Manila Araneta City Heartists celebrated a triumphant end to the year, marking a series of outstanding achievements across the hospitality and travel industries. The award-winning and powerhouse team of Araneta Hotels Inc. garnered top honors at the prestigious HSMA Virtus Awards, showcasing unwavering dedication of excellence, and continuously revolutionizing Marketing landscape.
Further solidifying their reputation for innovation, Novotel Manila earned the coveted title of Travel Trade Media Excellence Award’s Midscale Hotel of the Year in the Philippines for its groundbreaking e-commerce marketing innovation—My Novotel Manila Boutique, a trailblazing digital platform that merges web-based commerce with hospitality services.
Adding a harmonious note to their success, the team emerged as global champions at the recent Accor Choir Games, uniting their passion for music and teamwork. Together, these milestones reflect a banner year for Novotel and ibis Styles Manila, cementing their place as industry leaders.
Championing excellence in the Accor Choir Games
Last October 30, Heartists from MEA and APAC joined together for the highly anticipated second annual Choir Games finale—a celebration of extraordinary musical talent, dedication and passion from our hotel and support office teams. And what a season it was!
The Choir Games have become a powerful platform for connecting heart to heart. Through the universal language of music, it bridge divides, share stories and honor the richness of the human experience, all in the spirit of heartfelt care. This year’s theme, "Seasons of Love," embodied our unwavering commitment to unity and compassion.
With over 95 choirs from 22 countries and more than 3,000 Heartists participating, this year’s celebration was truly unparalleled—a testament to the power of music in bringing people together.
Novotel and ibis Styles Manila Araneta City have proudly emerged as the grand winners of this year’s prestigious Accor Choir Games. Competing against over 1,000 hotel properties across the Middle East, Africa, and Asia-Pacific regions, they have achieved this remarkable honor together.
Inspired by the timeless musical Rent, the Heartists of Araneta Hotels Inc. created a heartfelt rendition of Seasons of Love, recognized universally for its celebration of life’s precious moments.
In a symbolic performance, eight vibrant chairs—representing the characters of the musical—are initially occupied by each of the eight singers, capturing the essence of living in the present, embracing challenges and nurturing compassion. These values, rooted deeply in the Filipino spirit, resonate with the world in powerful ways.
Maria Manlulu-Garcia, general manager of the first Novotel and ibis Styles brands in the country at the City of Firsts, also expressed her admiration for the winners from both hotel brands, saying, "Through the harmony of our voices and the spirit of the song we celebrate life’s fleeting moments, embracing challenges with courage, and nurturing compassion that transcends borders—values that light the soul and connect us all."
The iconic colorful chairs embark on a journey to spotlight diverse locations within Araneta City, fondly known as the “City of Firsts,” before traveling across the Philippines—from Luzon to Visayas to Mindanao. Along the way, notable landmarks, including the iconic Araneta Coliseum, Gateway Mall, Gateway Gallery, Fiesta Carnival, and New Frontier Theater, served as meaningful backdrops for the said production.
This journey celebrates the Philippines' rich cultural heritage and reflects Accor’s commitment to diversity, equity, and inclusion. Throughout the video, Filipino identity shines through translated lyrics, traditional folk and ethnic instruments, and a touch of balagtasan, a cherished Filipino form of spoken poetry and debate.
This artistic expression reinforces the Heartists’ message that love is a universal language, uniting people across borders and cultures. The passionate community of Heartists believes that by embracing one’s authentic self, we can make everyone feel valued, heard, and inspired.
To bring this vision to life, two rounds of auditions were held, showcasing the diverse talents of Heartists from both hotel brands. These individuals committed themselves to professional voice and dance training beyond their regular duties, underscoring their dedication to delivering a powerful message: "hospitality is a work of heart."
Garth Simmons, COO of Accor in Asia, personally came to congratulate the award winning team commented: "I think the Philippines is super talented in music, this has got to be a shot, particularly all the other stuff. It wasn’t just about seeing you. It was about the cultural relevance issue. I’m super proud of everybody. The talent is amazing. I couldn’t be prouder.”
HSMA Virtus Awards Sales and Marketing Leader of the Year
The Virtus Awards, the premier accolade recognizing top talents in the Philippine hotel sales and marketing sector, celebrated its 10th anniversary with a grand awarding ceremony last October 10. This year’s ceremony, held in Makati City, featured winners chosen from a competitive pool of 56 finalists, nominated by their respective HSMA member properties earlier in August.
With the theme “A Decade of Distinction,” the event, hosted by the Hotel Sales and Marketing Association (HSMA)—the leading organization of hotel sales and marketing professionals in the country—paid tribute to the remarkable achievements of the Philippine hospitality industry. It highlighted the exemplary individuals and teams who have significantly contributed to the industry's collective success.
HSMA president Loleth So announced the four prestigious awards for 2024, which included three individual categories—Associate, Manager and Leader—along with a team award for the Outstanding Marketing Campaign.
In the individual category, Erwin Doña III, director of marketing and communications at Novotel and ibis Styles, was honored with the Virtus Outstanding Sales and Marketing Leader Award. His transformative approach to marketing communications—elevating it from a creative discipline to a strategic, revenue-driven pillar of hotel branding—cemented his well-deserved recognition.
In 2022, Michee Crudo, the director of sales, received this prestigious recognition. Additionally, the marketing team garnered attention as a finalist for the 2023 Marketing Campaign of the Year, further cementing the hotel's reputation as a powerhouse of talent in sales and marketing.
This is the second time Doña has received the prestigious award. In 2018, he was also honored with the Marketing Campaign of The Year Award for another property, which showcased a theme celebrating the vanguard of Filipino heritage.
Midscale Hotel of the Year - Philippines at the TDM Travel Trade Excellence Awards 2024
Novotel Manila Araneta City proudly takes home the title of Midscale Hotel of the Year – Philippines at the prestigious TDM Travel Trade Excellence Awards 2024 – Asia. This accolade celebrates the hotel’s innovative creation of My Novotel Manila Boutique, a cutting-edge digital platform that seamlessly integrates e-commerce with its service offerings.
As the flagship Novotel property in the Philippines, Novotel Manila Araneta City envisions transcending traditional hospitality by expanding its services beyond the physical confines of the hotel. With My Novotel Manila Boutique, the hotel is redefining convenience and accessibility, offering tailored solutions for the evolving needs of modern travelers.
Developed in collaboration with a digital cluster team in Bangkok during the pandemic-driven shift to digital, My Novotel Manila Boutique enables the hotel to reach guests wherever they are. The platform provides effortless access to exclusive offers, staycation packages and unique perks, all through a user-friendly and secure online interface.
"With its intuitive design, My Novotel Manila Boutique empowers our future guests to tailor their experience with bespoke offers that suit their unique preferences. From exclusive accommodation packages to perks like cinema and concert tickets, dining credits, buffet deals, spa treatments and wellness services, the platform offers an unparalleled range of options for an exceptional stay," says Novotel Manila hotel manager Darwin Labayandoy.
Its TakeMeOut food delivery service showcases culinary delights from the hotel’s renowned kitchens, complemented by indulgent desserts from the Indulge line. The platform also supports event planning, making it easy for guests to organize intimate gatherings, weddings, and special occasions.
To enhance the guest experience, the platform integrates seamlessly with the Accor Live Limitless (ALL) loyalty programme, offering members exclusive rewards, benefits, and access to special events.
With secure payment gateways and strict data protection measures compliant with the latest privacy laws, the platform ensures peace of mind for its users. Moreover, Novotel Manila’s marketing team has optimized digital engagement through targeted online advertising and innovative content strategies, delivering a guest experience that mirrors the hotel’s in-person hospitality.
Through innovation, digital transformation, and a guest-centric approach, Novotel Manila Araneta City continues to set a benchmark in the midscale hotel sector, demonstrating the importance of evolving with both guest expectations and technological advancements.
The two hotel brands kicked off the year with an impressive streak of achievements, including being crowned champions at the Accor Asia Awards for Novotel Manila as the Best F&B Performer in the region. They also earned the prestigious LISTeN Program Award for their Reservations team, secured multiple medals at the Philippine Culinary Cup, received recognition at the Asia’s Best Employer Brand Awards, and celebrated the Exemplary Leader Award presented to its very own general manager, the very first woman and Filipino leader of Accor in the Philippines, Maria Manlulu-Garcia by the esteemed Dr. Tarita Shankar.
These milestones solidify the hotel’s position as a trailblazer in the Philippine hospitality landscape, inspiring future innovations in the midscale hotel segment.
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Editor’s Note: This press release from Novotel is published by the Advertising Content Team that is independent from our Editorial Newsroom.