HBA Manila affirms its role in design industry celebrating 60 years worldwide and 10 years in PH

(From left) Christine Sevilla-Senior Director of Development Southeast Asia, Radisson Hotel Group, Barun Jolly, SVP&Business Unit Gen.manager, Robinsons Hotels and Resorts, Esperanza Garcia, CEO of Anza Hospitality and Norman Agleron of HBA Manila. —CONTRIBUTED PHOTOS

HoSkar Night Manila, held at the Grand Hyatt Manila, has evolved into a quiet barometer of where hospitality in the region is heading.

While the event rotates across major Asian cities, its Manila edition felt particularly significant this year, as HBA marked its 60th anniversary and HBA Manila its 10th.

“What stood out this year is how aligned the region is in redefining value—not louder design, but smarter, more meaningful environments,” said Norman Agleron, HBA partner at HBA Manila, reflecting on a night that brought together nearly 300 leaders in hospitality development.

Making this event even more special for the global design group was the participation of Gerard Lee, partner at Light Directions Limited, which provides holistic lighting solutions into HBA design process, and Joe Lau, design principal at HBA Architecture.

A growing following

HoSkar Night is part of an annual regional circuit that has made stops in Ho Chi Minh City, Bangkok, Hanoi, Phnom Penh, Dubai, and other fast-growing hospitality hubs.

The Manila leg consistently draws a strong turnout, and this year’s edition was no exception. Despite the weather, the energy was unmistakably forward-leaning.

A framework for quiet luxury

As one of the event’s featured speakers, Agleron presented The Eight Core Considerations in Luxury Interior Design, a distilled framework that guides how HBA designs for relevance and emotional connection wherever and whichever client they design for.

The considerations span location, spatial context, operational needs, client experience, brand identity, cultural narrative, sustainability and wellness, and timelessness—all examined not as trends, but as long-term markers of value.

“True luxury is quiet, intentional and emotionally resonant,” he said.

In a landscape that often chases novelty, the point landed: longevity is now the differentiator.

(From left) Norman Agleron of HBA Manila, Yasin Munshi-VP of Development Asia for Minor hotels, Barun Jolly-Senior VP & Business Unit GM,Rbinsons hotels&resorts, and Gerard Lee-Director of Lights Directions Limited

Access to trends

“For Philippine developers, the value lies in access—access to trends, to new business models, and to people shaping the future of hospitality in Asia,” Agleron said.

With the rise of branded residences, lifestyle-driven resorts, and experience-led development, the appetite for grounded, data-informed design has never been stronger.

For HBA Manila, the gathering highlighted its expanding role and growing influence in the market.

The studio has delivered projects across Metro Manila, Cebu, Bohol, Boracay and several emerging destinations. It has collaborated with brands that are redefining the region’s luxury and lifestyle through projects ranging from large-scale luxury resorts and branded residences to immersive food and beverage concept and art-led environments.

Trust and momentum

“The engagement reinforced the trust clients have in our global network and in the Manila studio specifically,” Agleron shared.

The interest in integrated design—supported by HBA’s OneHBA strategy—felt especially timely. With architecture, lighting, art, graphics, procurement, product design, and strategy now aligned under one framework, the group sees an opportunity to deliver more cohesive guest experiences across project types, combining deep regional knowledge with centralized expertise.

“It gave us confidence as we plan our next decade—expanding our portfolio, deepening partnerships, and continuing to elevate the design conversation in the Philippines and across the region,” he added.