Metis Advises on Acquisition of Red Lion Inn & Suites Walla Walla
SEATTLE, February 1, 2018 – Metis, the Pacific Northwest’s leading M&A advisory firm specializing in the hospitality and alcohol industries, today announced it acted as the exclusive financial and transactional advisor on the purchase of Walla Walla’s Red Lion Inn & Suites by an undisclosed ownership group. The property will immediately go under renovation to be introduced as an updated lodging destination and is anticipated to reopen in 2019.
The hotel will be managed by Columbia Hospitality, a Seattle-based hospitality management and consulting company. Founded in 1995 by John Oppenheimer, Columbia Hospitality’s growing portfolio includes award-winning hotels, public and private golf facilities, conference centers, distinctive venues and residential properties.
With its location in the heart of downtown Walla Walla, the renovated hotel is anticipated to become a fun and inviting wine country lodging option. The property redesign will be led by THINKTANK Design Group, the same team behind the renovation and reopening of The LARK, a hotel in downtown Bozeman, Montana. Also managed by Columbia Hospitality, The LARK concept has been very successful catering to a wide swath of students, business, and leisure travelers with modern guestrooms, thoughtfully designed communal spaces, and pride of place.
“We have worked with John for some time and appreciate the vision, professionalism, and know-how that he and his team bring to their projects,” said Erik McLaughlin, managing partner of Metis. “When he asked me if I was interested in helping him with a new project in my hometown of Walla Walla, we jumped at the chance. I am confident that Columbia Hospitality will be a great employer in our community and provide visitors to our town a great place to stay.”
“Erik brings clear-eyed focus to a process that has many twists and turns,” said John Oppenheimer, CEO of Columbia Hospitality. “I’ve worked with him before and I’ll continue to work with him time and again because of his team’s expertise, persistence, and ability to bring people together to get a deal done.”
For more information about this transaction, please contact the Metis team:
Erik McLaughlin
Managing Partner
Jessica Leung
Analyst
About Metis
Metis, an Exvere company, advises Pacific Northwest businesses on capital transactions including mergers, acquisitions, and recapitalizations. With offices in Seattle, Walla Walla, and the Willamette Valley, Metis offers concentrated experience and expertise in the Pacific Northwest hospitality, wine, and alcohol industries. For more information about Metis, please visit www.metisnw.com.
About Columbia Hospitality
Columbia Hospitality (Columbia) is a Seattle-based hospitality management and consulting company that was established in 1995 by founder and CEO John Oppenheimer. Columbia’s growing portfolio includes award-winning hotels, public and private golf facilities, conference centers, distinctive venues and residential properties. Columbia creates exceptional experiences for guests and team members while achieving phenomenal results for property owners. With over 20 years of proven success in management, Columbia has also consulted on over 100 hospitality projects worldwide, delivering a high level of customized service to partners and investors. For more information about Columbia and to view the entire portfolio visit www.columbiahospitality.com.
Media Contact
Constance McBarron
Barokas PR for Metis
206-264-8220
