Youth advocates Danna Joi Campos and Ronnie Baloca receive a six-month apprenticeship program.

Using recycled scraps, reused decorations and repurposed materials, hotel employees, called “Heartists” to mean “artists serving with a heart,” personally decked the halls with creatively crafted Christmas ornaments.

“Our team wanted to go beyond the hotel walls and bring attention to a much bigger issue, which is sustainability,” Novotel Manila Araneta City general manager Mike Brown said.

Entering the hotel, guests are warmly welcomed at the main lobby by the epic centerpiece Christmas tree composed of 20 layers of 707 empty wine bottles illuminated with more than 2,600 light bulbs.

“It is indeed the glowing symbol of Novotel Manila Araneta City’s strong commitment to our AccorHotels global Planet 21 sustainability program, which is implementing ways to address environmental and social issues,” Therese Galindo, director of Guest Experience and Sustainability, shared.

Other unique decors include an innovative Christmas tree made of damaged trash bins with a reindeer made out of used soap and button eyes standing beside it, ready to prance along. While at the Gourmet Bar and Food Exchange Manila, Christmas trees made of used wooden spoons, mussels and scallop shells adorn the dining area.

The epic centerpiece Christmas tree made of 20 layers of 707 empty wine bottles illuminated by more than 2,600 light bulbs.

A heartfelt gift from Novotel Manila Araneta City — through its “RiiSE As One Committee” headed by hotel manager Maria Garcia — was also presented to two deserving youth advocates of EPCAT Youth and Children Advocates during the celebration.

A six-month apprenticeship program starting January 2020, was received by Danna Joi Campos and Ronnie Baloca together with ECPAT Philippines project development officer Louie Esguerra.

Another first in Araneta City. The Binibini beauties join Novotel Manila Araneta City hotel manager Maria Garcia and general manager Mike Brown and Araneta City chairman of the Management Committee Rowell Recinto as they light up the first sustainable Christmas tree in the property.

“We see that the issue of sexual exploitation is also cross-cut with poverty. With Novotel providing this apprenticeship program to two youth advocates of ECPAT is a big thing because this will provide them with more than decent work,” Esguerra said.

Novotel Manila Araneta City and ECPAT Philippines have since been in partnership in ensuring children’s rights, advocacy and child-safe tourism.

For more information about Novotel Manila Araneta City, visit www.novotel.com, www.accorhotels.com or www.novotelmanilaaranetacity.com.