WALLA WALLA, Wash. – A new ownership group has purchased the Red Lion Inn & Suites Walla Walla, effective January 12, 2018, and will begin a comprehensive renovation of the property's 85 guest rooms and communal space, creating an updated lodging destination in downtown Walla Walla. The hotel will officially close today and is anticipated to reopen in 2019.

Leading the effort is the same team behind the renovation and reopening of The LARK, a hotel in downtown Bozeman, Montana.

THINKTANK Design Group, a Bozeman-based architectural firm, is the project architect and Seattle-based hospitality management and consulting company Columbia Hospitality has been selected to manage and operate the hotel. The mergers and acquisitions firm METIS served as the exclusive advisor in the acquisition.

The revamped hotel is anticipated to become an independent lodging destination for business and leisure travelers, as well as college students and families, offering close proximity to Whitman College, along with restaurants, wineries, tasting rooms and dozens of attractions in downtown Walla Walla.

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 wine, adult beverage, and hospitality industries. For more information about Metis please visit www.metisnw.com

About Columbia Hospitality

Columbia Hospitality, Inc. (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, conference centers, distinctive venues, private and public golf facilities, restaurants and bars, and residential properties. Columbia creates exc eptional experiences for guests and team members while achieving phenomenal results for property owners. With over 25 years of proven success in management, Columbia has also consulted on over 200 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.

Carley Fredrickson
Public Relations, GreenRubino for Columbia Hospitality
Columbia Hospitality Inc.