Novotel Manila Araneta City

The hotel was launched in February 2012 with a ceremonial lowering of a time capsule, as well as a presentation of the hotel's features.[1] The hotel is a joint venture by Araneta Center Hotel, Inc. and AccorHotels.[2] The cost for the construction of the hotel was around ₱3 billion and was topped off on July 29, 2014.[3] It was initially planned to open partially by the end of 2014,[4] and was later moved on early 2015[5] that the hotel will start accepting guests, however, the hotel had its soft opening later in October 2015.[6] On March 8, 2016, then-President Benigno Aquino III, along with other executives, led the grand launch of the hotel.[7]

The hotel is located adjacent to the Araneta Coliseum, standing at the coliseum's south-eastern corner and is accessible to nearby transport hubs and railway stations such as the MRT 3 Cubao Station, the LRT 2 Cubao Station and other transport terminals. The hotel is also accessible to nearby malls and buildings within the Araneta City, such as the Gateway Mall, the SM Cubao, the Farmers Plaza, the Ali Mall, the Manhattan Gardens condominiums, the Araneta City Cyberpark towers, the New Frontier Theater, and the upcoming Gateway Mall 2 and the Ibis Styles Araneta City.

The building of Novotel Manila Araneta Center has a total of 24 floors.[7] The Araneta Group, under Jorge L. Araneta tapped EEI Corporation as the main contractor in the construction of the hotel building.[2] Araneta also tapped London-based architect Sudhakar Thakurdesai as the design consultant of the project, while tapping Kang Tang of Taiwan and lighting firm Lumino Design for the lighting works of the hotel. Araneta tapped Thai-firm IA49 as the interior designers of the project, while local firm PGAA Creative Design was tapped for the landscaping works of the hotel.[8]

The hotel has 40,000 m² (430,000 sq ft) of total floor area and features an urban contemporary architecture that emphasizes natural light in the building. The hotel also offers a variety of rooms, ranging from the Superior Rooms, Deluxe Rooms, Executive Rooms, Executive Suites, and a Presidential Suite measuring 694 square meters located at the 24th floor.

The hotel also houses a gym, a play area (Novotel Kids Club), a spa room (In Balance Spa), 7 meeting rooms, and the pillarless Monet Grand Ballroom capable of housing a total of 1,500 people. The hotel also features the Wintz Garden; and the Premier Lounge, offering complete views of the Metro Manila skyline and the Province of Rizal.

The hotel offers 5 different restaurants, namely the Food Exchange Manila, the Gourmet Bar, the 6th Pool Bar and Lounge, Indulge Gelato, and the Sabor Bar de Vinos, owned by Jorge L. Araneta. The foods supplies in the hotel are served fresh from the Araneta Group farm located at San Mateo, Rizal. The hotel also offers a variety of indoor and outdoor venues, for MICE (Meetings, Incentives, Conventions and Exhibitions) Amenities, including the Versailles Event Garden, with 2,500 square meter of grass and open spaces. The garden also includes an events tent, and archways.

The hotel's In Balance Spa was recognized as one of the five recipients in the Philippines to be awarded the ASEAN Spa Services Standard Award 2019 – 2021.[9] The hotel's culinary team won the silver award in the Filipino Cuisine category, while Chef Mikee Villanueva won the bronze award in Fantasy Plated Dessert category at the World Food Expo, held at the SMX Convention Center Manila in Pasay City.[10]

The hotel also received recognition from Agoda and Tripadvisor, as the hotel was awarded the Agoda’s 2020 Customer Review Award, and the 2020 Tripadvisor Travellers’ Choice Award, for the hotel's services based on the customer's ratings, overall quality experience and high customer reviews. [11]