PORT ANGELES — Location, location, location.
It’s the most recurring keyword in a search of Port Angeles’ Red Lion Hotel, 221 N. Lincoln St., which was listed on the market with commercial real estate company CBRE Group, Inc. earlier last week, said Robert Utz, general manager of the Port Angeles waterfront hotel.
Utz does not know of any pending offers, he said.
The Clallam County assessor valued the 187-room hotel and land overlooking the Strait of Juan de Fuca at $7,882,172 and its personal property at $801,929.
The 15,388-square-foot building itself was assessed at $5,415,020 and the land, $2,467,152.
On Oct. 5, Denver-based RLH Corp. announced its plans to sell 11 of its 18 Red Lion Hotels to invest in higher-margin hotel franchises, according to a press release.
The others are in Spokane, Olympia, Pasco and Richland; Salt Lake City, Utah; Boise and Post Falls, Idaho; Redding and Eureka, Calif.; and Bend, Ore.
Utz said there could be one buyer for all hotels, but more likely, they will be sold individually.
Port Angeles’ best selling point?
Situated between the Strait shoreline and the Olympic Mountains, “it has one of the most unique [locations] of any hotel in the state,” said Utz, who moved from a hotel development company in Rapid City, S.D., to become general manager in March 2015.
As for current Port Angeles Red Lion employees, Utz said he doesn’t expect job losses — at least not for those “on the ground.”
The Red Lion employs anywhere from 65 people in the offseason to 125 during its peak season, Utz said.
“The people most at risk in these transitions are myself and the director of sales — and the director of sales position is vacant right now,” Utz said.
“Whether it remains the Red Lion or becomes some other franchise, it’s still going to be a hotel. I don’t see any change for the rest of the staff. If it’s purchased by someone with deep pockets, it would actually be an uptick for the hotel and Port Angeles.”
For now, Utz, the Red Lion and Port Angeles wait.
“I hope the process doesn’t drag out long. I don’t expect it will,” Utz said. “I think there will be lots of interest among the investor community. I’m hoping for the best for the hotel and myself.”
“On these things, you just have to wait it out.”
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Reporter Sarah Sharp can be reached at 360-452-2345, ext. 56650, or at ssharp@peninsuladailynews.com.
