2026 ASIA’S SPECIAL ACHIEVEMENT FOR HOTEL MANAGER (GM), HOTEL & RESORT - Maria Manlulu-Garcia - GM of Novotel Manila Araneta City and ibis Styles Manila Araneta City
Company: Novotel Manila Araneta City
Special achievement for: Maria Manlulu-Garcia - General Manager of Novotel Manila Araneta City and ibis Styles Manila Araneta City
Location: Manila, Philippines
Representative: Maria Manlulu-Garcia
Stakeholder/ Owner: Araneta Hotels Inc
Maria Manlulu-Garcia is recognized for her outstanding leadership as General Manager of Novotel Manila Araneta City and ibis Styles Manila Araneta City, where she has consistently elevated operational performance, service excellence, and people-centric culture. Her special achievement lies in her ability to lead large-scale, multi-brand hotel operations while maintaining strong guest satisfaction and team engagement across both properties.
Under her direction, both hotels have achieved exceptional Reputation Performance Scores above 91, alongside prestigious recognitions such as the Tripadvisor Travelers’ Choice award and repeated LISTeN Program Champion titles. Maria has successfully integrated global Accor standards with localized service delivery, ensuring both consistency and cultural relevance.
Her leadership is defined by transparency, inclusivity, and resilience, particularly in navigating post-pandemic recovery and operational challenges. She empowers teams to perform with autonomy while fostering a service culture rooted in empathy and excellence. Beyond performance metrics, her impact extends to talent development, diversity advocacy, and sustainable practices aligned with international hospitality benchmarks.
This combination of strategic leadership, operational strength, and human-centered management positions Maria Manlulu-Garcia as a standout General Manager in Asia’s hospitality industry.
