Lakeway Inn & Conference Center $1.5 Million Dollar Renovation Complete - Includes new Western Washington University Viking Suite

Bellingham, Wash. - The Lakeway Inn & Conference Center - Bellingham Washington's largest full-service hotel -- recently completed a $1.5 million renovation overseen by the property's management company, Providence Hospitality Partners (PHP). All hard and soft goods were replaced at the 132 room hotel and renovation included new furniture, light fixtures, luxury bedding packages, carpet, and draperies; 32" LCD flat-panel televisions and valet refrigerators. The renovation also included upgraded bathroom amenities with granite counter tops and marble floors, upgraded coffee service, curved shower rods and more. In addition, the hotel's pool area is completely resurfaced and new pool furniture purchased.

Already completed are the redesign of the Lakeway Inn's food and beverage outlets - the Oboe Cafe and Poppe's Bistro. The new restaurant concept introduces a menu that features regional Northwest cuisine and Poppe's breaks away from the conventional hotel lounge image with a tapas and martini bar theme.

The overall design theme of the project is Northwestern Mission, chosen by Providence Hospitality as a reflection of the region and is indicative of the management company's overall philosophy.

"Even when we are operating a franchise property, we operate them as if they were a one off, stand alone hotel," explains PHP President David Storm. "We have years of experience managing historic properties - what we like to call the original 'lifestyle' hotels - and we believe that there are valuable lessons to learn from these unique properties."

One of elements borrowed from their experience with historic properties is the concept of the 'themed suite'. While the historic PHP managed Hotel Colorado may have the Molly Brown Suite, The Lakeway Inn now features a Viking Suite - in honor of the Western Washington University popular football team. The Viking Suite, room 415, incorporates the team colors - blue and white - in the design, as well as various Viking logo items. Historical photographs and several books covering WWU history completes the picture.

"People want to be educated and entertained; and they want a sense of community. That is why we develop special events and themes that tie into the community and culture of the area where our properties are located. Consequently, our guests should expect to see wine dinners featuring the wines of Washington State and the remarkable seafood of the region, as well as events celebrating Bellingham's own - the Western Washington team, the Vikings."

Providence Hospitality Partners has managed the Lakeway Hotel & Conference Center since November 2005. Originally built in 1979, the property features 132 rooms and suites, two restaurants, an indoor pool, spa, sauna and fitness center, a business center, high-speed Internet throughout and 11,000 sq. feet of meeting space. The hotel, located at 714 Lakeway Drive in Bellingham, is a 100% smoke free hotel and will remain open for business during the renovation.

Providence Hospitality Partners has been in the hotel management business for over 18 years, and is an approved management company for Marriot, Omni, Radisson,, Sheraton and Hilton Hotels. Based in Denver, Colorado, PHP specializes in historic and boutique hotels as well as "turning around" underperforming properties. They currently manage 10 hotels in the Western U.S., including the historic properties the Hotel Colorado in Glenwood and the Plains Hotel in Cheyenne, Wyoming. Providence Hospitality Partners have just completed another major renovation - the $15 million renovation and conversion of a Holiday Inn to a Crowne Plaza Hotel in Ventura, California.