Metro Manila
The first-ever female General Manager of Accor Philippines is making history not just for her gender, but also for taking massive strides in the midst of a reeling hotel industry. One of the industry’s most hard-hit by the COVID-19 pandemic was tourism. Hotels, resorts, and accommodations all around the world was either closed or lent their spaces for quarantine purposes, losing months’ worth of what would otherwise be expected revenue. In such a tough situation, Accor Management and Araneta Hotels Inc. rested one of its most beloved spaces in the country in the hands of a young leader with a stern mind and a passion for hospitality service. This leader is none other than Maria Manlulu-Garcia, who, beyond just being the first woman to be a general manager of an Accor Hotel in the Philippines, is also making true history with her own ability and merit. There will always be women who are born to lead, and Maria Manlulu-Garcia is a trailblazer in that regard. Her decisive leadership and invigorating empathy has allowed her not just to make history with her innovative decisions, but also touched the hearts of every person who walks into Novotel Manila Araneta City (excerpts from Lifestyle Asia)