Araneta Hotels new executive trio champions women leadership

WOMEN leaders take over Araneta City as Araneta Hotels Inc. proudly welcomes a remarkable trio of hospitality executives who now lead its two flagship properties, Novotel Manila Araneta City and ibis Styles Manila Araneta City. Their combined leadership marks a significant milestone in the district’s continued growth, innovation, and commitment to inclusive hospitality, strengthening Araneta City as a hub of talent, purpose, and world class service.

Maria Manlulu-Garcia: Leading the future of Araneta hospitality

Maria Manlulu-Garcia stands at the forefront of this leadership transformation as Cluster General Manager of Araneta Hotels Inc. Her leadership style is rooted in authenticity, empathy, and a deep sense of purpose. She often draws parallels between hospitality and motherhood, a perspective that has shaped her approach to team development and operational excellence.

LED BY WOMEN Araneta Hotel Inc.’s leadership team led by Maria Manlulu-Garcia (center) Joy De Mesa and Felicia Aye Chan Mon. PHOTO FROM ARANETA HOTELS INC.

“Managing a hotel is very much like raising a child,” she explains. “Each property has its own personality, its own growth stages, and its own unique challenges. You need to know when to nurture, when to guide, and sometimes, when to be firm.” As a mother to two young professionals, a grandmother to an energetic 12-year-old, and a mother figure to more than 400 Heartists, she naturally brings what she calls a “parental instinct” into leadership. “It demands patience, guidance, and a deep commitment to nurturing growth in the right direction,” she shares, noting that this nurturing mindset is reflected in how her teams are encouraged to pursue excellence every day.

Her leadership is marked by a strong balance between firmness and compassion, a combination that proved invaluable during the most challenging phases of the pandemic. She believes that real hospitality begins behind the scenes, stating, “A hotel is only as strong as the people who run it.” She further reinforces the need for inclusive leadership by affirming, “Women do not want special treatment, we want equal opportunity.” Maria remains committed to creating an environment where every voice is valued, adding, “Leadership is not about being the loudest voice in the room. It is about making sure everyone else’s voice gets heard.” Under her guidance, Novotel and ibis Styles Manila Araneta City continue to grow with innovation, sustainability, and people centered leadership at their core.

Joy De Mesa: Redefining leadership at Novotel Manila with a triumphant comeback

Supporting this strategic direction is Joy De Mesa, newly appointed Hotel Manager of Novotel Manila Araneta City. A seasoned executive with extensive experience in sales, marketing, revenue management and hotel operations, Joy returns to Novotel with over two decades of leadership across renowned hospitality groups and multiple pre-opening projects. Her strong commercial background positions her to elevate Novotel’s market performance while enhancing guest experience and internal team culture. Known for her collaborative approach and sharp operational insight, Joy brings both stability and forward thinking to one of Metro Manila’s most established midscale hotels.

Maria Manlulu-Garcia ARANETA PHOTO

Reflecting on her return, Joy shares, “Coming back to Novotel feels like coming home with sharper vision and stronger purpose. This is more than a comeback. It is a commitment to lead with renewed energy and deliver the level of hospitality our guests and teams truly deserve.” She adds, “Leadership today requires not just competence, but compassion. My goal is to build a culture where excellence and empathy work side by side.” Her return marks a new chapter focused on growth, service excellence, and strengthening Novotel Manila Araneta City’s competitive presence.

Felicia Aye Chan Mon: Elevating style and service at ibis Styles Manila

Completing this leadership ensemble is Felicia Aye Chan Mon, Resident Manager of ibis Styles Manila Araneta City. With 16 years of global hospitality experience under Accor, she brings extensive operational expertise and a distinguished record of performance across properties in the Philippines, Vietnam, Myanmar, and Singapore. Her background showcases her ability to uphold brand standards, drive guest satisfaction, and champion revenue and team development. Felicia oversees the vibrant and design driven ibis Styles Manila Araneta City, ensuring that the property delivers a creative, energetic, and guest focused experience.

Felicia describes her leadership philosophy with heartfelt clarity. “ibis Styles Manila is a brand built on creativity and confidence, and my role is to translate that spirit into every guest interaction,” she notes. “I believe that a hotel’s personality comes alive through its people. When you empower teams with discipline, trust, and warmth, guests feel that energy instantly.” She further emphasizes, “Style is not just visual. It is a mindset. It is the way we welcome, the way we respond, and the way we care.” Her leadership strengthens the hotel’s commitment to accessible and stylish hospitality while fostering a culture rooted in consistency, passion, and heart.

Accor’s commitment to women in leadership

The rise of these three leaders reflects not only the vision of Araneta Hotels Inc. but also Accor’s global commitment to advancing women’s representation in leadership roles. Accor remains dedicated to achieving stronger gender balance across its global portfolio, supported by initiatives that promote mentorship, equal opportunity, and leadership empowerment. This direction aligns seamlessly with the progress happening in Araneta City, where the presence of Maria, Joy, and Felicia symbolizes a future shaped by representation, diversity, and inclusive leadership. The leadership philosophy shared across the team reinforces a culture built on collaboration, empowerment, and purpose driven hospitality.

A new era for Araneta Hotels Inc.

With these three women at the helm, Novotel and ibis Styles Manila Araneta City enter an exciting new era defined by compassion, innovation, inclusivity, and a shared mission to uplift people and communities. Their leadership signals the continued transformation of Araneta City as a destination powered by world class service, empowered talent, and a forward -looking hospitality vision.