RayNovelli.com

963-Acre Philippine Fiesta Village Relaunched; Resort Giant Novelli, New Team Set Dec 3 Fete; The California Mirror (Fontana, CA); November 18, 1994

Los Angeles, Nov. 15 – the 963-acre Philippine Fiesta Village resort in Tehachapi, California was relaunched today as a unique and magnificent theme resort where Filipino families can socialize and have fun in a wholesome, idyllic environment.

This was announced by Ray Novelli, chairman and CEO of First Nationwide Resort Management, Inc. (FNRM) of Irvine in Orange County, new owners of Spring Creek Resorts (SCR) which operates the PFV, in a press conference at the Radisson Wilshire attended by members of the Filam media and community leaders.
To mark the resumption of operations and activities, Novelli said a Philippine fiesta will be celebrated at the resort on Saturday, Dec. 3 where all SCR members, their relatives and friends, as well as Filipino media and community leaders are invited to attend.

Aside from the sumptuous feast typical of a Philippine fiesta celebration, the affair will be highlighted by a clubhouse performance of popular entertainers topbilled by “Kulutra”, a prominent cultural dance troupe composed of former Bayanihan dancers.

The fiesta will be an ideal opportunity for Filipino families to congregate and fellowship in a “home away from home”, meet the new owners and management team of the PFV and see the initial improvements already started as part of the plan to elevate the resort to a world-class status, said Danny Macabuhay, a noted Filipino media and marketing specialist.

SCR and the Philippine Fiesta Village contended with court suits and administrative questions before the Department of Corporations which led to the stoppage of its operations. Both court and DC issues have since been addressed, dropped and settled.

“Both settlements now allow the resort to go full speed ahead and concentrated on what has to be done in the best interest of resort members”, Joe Ehrlich, counsel for SCR, said.

The man on top of PFV resurgence is Novelli, a giant in the resort and travel industry who owns and operates over 73 top-of-the-line facilities under FNRM and the All Seasons Resorts, on of the first membership resort companies in the U.S.

Novelli is well-established in the industry having established Revcon Motorcoach, Inc., a motorhome manufacturing company, Presidential Air, and international airline, and Ponderosa Park, America’s foremost country music showplace where gold record performers like Dolly Parton, Garth Brooks and other superstars have been topbilled.

With its new owners and management, SCR members may now enjoy other benefits that include vacation and recreational access to other resort facilities of the Novelli group of companies. In the press conference, Novelli introduced other key members of his management team that include his wife Marlies Novelli, director of resort services; Chip Yonge, director of real estate operations; Trish Waldman, director of sales and marketing; Ofelia Garcia, special asst. to the chairman and CEO, and Robert Mitchell, consultant of the Philippine Fiesta Village who was principally involved in successful negotiations for the transfer of ownership of SCR.

Mrs. Novelli, who is of German descent, appealed to Filam community leaders to help
and advise the management team on how best the Philippine Fiesta Village may serve the interest of its Filipino members, as well as what design and cultural inputs are desirable to reflect an authentic Philippine resort.

The Philippine Fiesta Village in Tehachapi is about two hours drive from Los Angeles, a
few miles past Palmdale and Lancaster, Macabuhay said. He said those who want more information regarding the “Philippine Fiesta” event at the resort on Dec 3 can call (805) 822-6825.

Phillipine Fiesta Village relaunching under the auspices of new owners First Nationwide Resort Management, Inc. of Irvine, CA was announced during a press conference on Nov.15 at the Radisson Wilshire. Presscon photos show counterclockwise beginning at left: The New Team officer, Robert Mitchell – consultant who packaged the revival of PFV, Ray Novelli – chairman and CEO of FNRM, and Chip Yonge – director of real estate operations; standing L-R, Ofelia Garcia – asst. to Mr. Novelli, Trish Waldman – director of sales and marketing, and Marlies Novelli – wife of Ray Novelli and director of resort services. Bottom left photo shows Dr. Lovy Ebro, Roland Fernandez and Joe Jison of CM with Robert Mitchell. Photo below shows Danny Macabuhay, also of CM, opening the press conference attended by representative of the leading Filam newspapers, radio and television programs based in Southern California.