Araneta Hotels Inc. marks a significant leadership milestone as women now hold ten of the fifteen executive committee positions across Novotel Manila Araneta City and ibis Styles Manila Araneta City, underscoring a strong commitment to talent development, merit-based progression, and inclusive leadership within its hospitality portfolio.

The leadership shift reflects the natural outcome of an organization that recognizes talent, nurtures growth, and rewards performance. These women have risen through the ranks on the strength of dedication, expertise, and consistent excellence.

Araneta Hotels’ long-term investment in internal growth aligns closely with Accor’s global Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion (DEI) strategy, which recognizes diverse leadership as a driver of operational excellence, innovation, and stronger guest engagement. It is this complementing partnership that continues to strengthen the culture of Novotel and ibis Styles Manila Araneta City, fostering unity, resilience, and shared purpose across both hotels.

Cluster leadership driving performance and culture

Overseeing both properties is Cluster General Manager Maria Manlulu-Garcia, whose leadership approach balances operational discipline with a people-first mindset. Under her direction, the hotels continue to deliver consistent brand standards while cultivating high-performing teams aligned with Accor’s service culture.

She is supported by two key female leaders at the property level. At Novotel Manila Araneta City, Hotel Manager Joy De Mesa leads commercial performance and service delivery, leveraging her background in operations and sales to drive guest satisfaction and revenue growth. At ibis Styles Manila Araneta City, Resident Manager Felicia Aye Chan Mon brings strong brand expertise and creative direction, reinforcing the hotel’s distinctive positioning through a dynamic, guest-centric service culture.

Women rising through the ranks

A defining feature of Araneta Hotels Inc.’s leadership structure is the progression of women who have grown within the organization. Marife Tolentino, who joined in 2015, now serves as Cluster Director of Finance, overseeing financial planning, cost control, and compliance across both hotels while supporting long-term commercial sustainability.

Kristine Alba, appointed Cluster Director of People and Culture, leads workforce engagement, talent development, and culture-building initiatives that support retention, performance, and leadership continuity. Her role is central to aligning people strategy with business objectives.

Operational excellence and sustainability are driven by Therese Galindo, Cluster Head for Guest Experience, Sustainability, and Safety, who has led service enhancement initiatives and the successful achievement of Green Key certification for both properties—reinforcing the hotels’ commitment to responsible tourism and operational efficiency.

Emerging leaders across key hotel functions

The leadership pipeline continues to expand across core hotel functions. Janelle Crisostomo, now Director of Rooms at Novotel Manila Araneta City, has led continuous improvement in rooms operations and guest touchpoints. Under her leadership, the property marked its 10th anniversary alongside international recognition, with its Presidential Suite named Philippines’ Leading Hotel Suite 2025 at the World Travel Awards.

“The rooms division is the heart of hotel operations, and thriving here means embracing challenges as opportunities to innovate,” she said. “Leadership is about consistency, understanding your people, and elevating the guest experience through collective effort.”

In Food and Beverage, May Malagamba, now Director of F&B, has guided the division to multiple regional and brand-level distinctions, including Best F&B Performer at the Accor Asia Awards 2023 and Best Breakfast Satisfaction 2024. Her leadership supports revenue growth while maintaining brand standards and guest satisfaction. She shared, “Events taught me precision, creativity, and the value of anticipating needs. I carried these lessons with me when I transitioned to Director of F&B, and I continue to grow by adapting and learning every day.”

Revenue strategy across both hotels is overseen by Cluster Director of Revenue Management Kim Escaler, whose analytical and commercial expertise drives pricing, distribution, and demand strategies aligned with market dynamics.

At ibis Styles Manila Araneta City, Director of Rooms Izza Mojica brings frontline operational experience to her leadership role, strengthening service delivery, team capability, and guest engagement at the property level. “Frontline operations shape you,” she said. “You learn to stay calm in pressure filled situations and find solutions with a smile. These challenges prepared me to lead and to understand both guest behavior and team dynamics.”

Leadership aligned with industry evolution

The increasing representation of women in leadership roles reflects broader shifts in the hospitality sector, where adaptability, emotional intelligence, and collaborative leadership are essential to long-term performance. Araneta Hotels Inc. views inclusive leadership as a strategic advantage—supporting innovation, strengthening team culture, and enabling more agile decision-making.

With women leading key operational, commercial, and support functions, Novotel and ibis Styles Manila Araneta City continue to position themselves as progressive hospitality players in the Philippine market. The company remains focused on developing talent, advancing diversity, and delivering consistent, high-quality guest experiences that support both business growth and community impact.