Five-star hotel Joy~Nostalg Hotel & Suites Managed by Accor once again kicks off the holiday season like no other by turning its annual Christmas Tree lighting event into a platform that promotes the spirit of the holidays, as well as the value of sustainability.
Titled “Woven Wonders,” the November 20 event showcased Joy~Nostalg’s unique Christmas Tree that drew cheers and amusement from the crowd of media members and special guests. This year’s installation features vibrant and sustainable decorations of fabric trimmings, or retaso, from the countrys premier fashion designers. The star-studded list includes Puey Quiñones, Wilson Limon of NIñOFRANCO, Gabby Garcia of TAGPI, and Adrienne Charuel of Maison Métisse.
“Our Christmas Tree Lighting Event this year, titled ’Woven Wonders,’ is a lovely reminder that each of us is a unique thread, woven together to create something truly meaningful,” says Odette Huang, General Manager of Joy~Nostalg Hotel & Suites Managed by Accor. “To make our tapestry of community come together, we have decorated our Christmas Tree with fabrics from the countrys top designers. While these retasos are usually discarded and forgotten, this season, they have been upcycled and repurposed to become gorgeous festive embellishments.”
According to Wilson Limon of NIñOFRANCO, supporting Joy~Nostalgs meaningful Christmas tree event is an opportunity for fashion designers to promote the country’s rich local culture and world-class artisanal craftsmanship. “We value the spirit of sustainability and join Joy~Nostalg in celebrating the holidays in a meaningful manner,” the designer added.
Giving the retasos second life as holiday décor also reduces textile wastes that “overburden our landfills,” Huang added. Another layer of sustainability in Joy~Nostalg’s Christmas Tree lighting event is its continuing collaboration with the Negrense Volunteers for Change Foundation. For the second straight year, Joy~Nostalg has partnered with the Bacolod-based non-profit organization in its mission to “link dreams to donors, and donors to dreams.”
ye…features vibrant and sustainable
decorations of fabric trimmings, or
retaso, from the country’s premier fashion
designers
The organization created new Christmas Tree trimmings for Joy~Nostalg from used Nespresso capsules. The hotel also reused decors that the organization produced last year, while adding new ones meticulously crafted and transformed into colorful parol decors, uniquely designed for Joy~Nostalg’s beautiful Christmas tree.
“We hold sustainability very close to our hearts and strive to do our share in looking after what we do for our planet, our community, people we interact with, our staff, our guests and our partners,” Huang said. “Every little bit of effort helps us thrive and move away from the disposable mindset. We embrace practices that have a profound and enduring impact on our lives and on the future.”
Another sustainability effort of Joy~Nostalg involves a partnership with RETASTRO, a local brand dedicated to the practice of “upcycling.” The collaboration covers RETASTRO’s “Simoy ng Disyembre Candles” project, wherein used coffee grounds from Joy~Nostalg will be used to create candles. Each one will serve as a tribute to the environment, the Filipino culture, and the love for the rich aroma of freshly brewed coffee. The candles will also feature a design that pays homage to the Nito weave decorative jars, an indigenous arts and crafts product of the Iraya-Mangyan tribe from Puerto Galera in Oriental Mindoro.
The meaningful Christmas Tree lighting event of Joy~Nostalg on November 20 happens to fall on the annual, global celebration of World Children’s Day. As such, Joy~Nostalg has chosen to help the Philippine General Hospital (PGH) Chaplaincy in its mission to assist young cancer patients by gifting them with teddy bears. The hotel offers two teddy bears for P500 and accepts teddy bear donations that guests can place at a drop box in the lobby. The teddy bears will be handed to the PGH Chaplaincy beneficiaries in December.
“Woven Wonders” ties in with the 15th-anniversary celebrations of Joy~Nostalg, located at the heart of the Ortigas CBD. Huang describes the hotel’s journey as one of growth, marked by continuous improvement and resilience.
“Looking ahead, the next fifteen years promise to be even more inspiring as we pursue a commitment to excellence and be aligned with Accors thrust for responsible hospitality,” Huang said. “We will focus on meaningful advocacies that drive sustainable practices, contributing positively to our environment, community and most especially the growth of our people in the organization. Together, we will build a legacy to create a future where our actions not only elevate our services but also support a more sustainable and kinder world.”