WLA and WRA plans to form a unified hospitality association in 2016 generates news coverage across the state.
The Washington Lodging Association and the Washington Restaurant Association issued a press release on Monday, Nov. 30, announcing plans to form a hospitality association in 2016. WLA and WRA have been working together under a joint operating agreement since Oct. 1, and as part of the transition Anthony Anton is now WLA’s CEO. Here is some of the coverage from around the state:
State restaurant, lodging associations partnering (The Columbian, Dec. 1, 2015)
The Washington Restaurant Association and the Washington Lodging Association are strengthening a partnership that the organizations say will lead to the creation of one of the state’s largest trade associations next year….Read more
Restaurant, hotel associations will form single hospitality group in 2016
Two of the state’s largest business associations say they will merge next year under a single new identity. The Washington Restaurant Association and the Washington Lodging Association have already taken initial steps toward melding their organizations. The two groups have been operating since Oct. 1 under a joint arrangement. Under that agreement, the operations and staff from the two groups are working from the restaurant association’s Olympia offices. WRA’s president and chief executive officer Anthony Anton is now also serving as the Washington Lodging Association’s chief executive officer….Read more
Washington restaurant and lodging associations combining forces (Business Examiner Media Group, Nov. 30, 2015)
The Washington Restaurant Association and the Washington Lodging Association are joining forces to become one of the state’s largest trade associations. The two associations began operations under a joint operating agreement on Oct. 1, combining operations in the WRA’s Olympia office, according to an announcement sent out today….Read more
State lodging, restaurant associations pursue merger (Puget Sound Business Journal, Nov. 30, 2015)
The Washington Restaurant Association and Washington Lodging Association are moving ahead with plans to merge. The two organizations originally announced their intentions to join forces last spring. They’ve been running under a joint operating agreement the past two months but remain separate legal entities…..Read more
Washington Restaurant Association, Lodging Association announce merger plans (The Olympian, Nov. 30, 2015)
The Washington Restaurant Association of Olympia and the Washington Lodging Association of Seattle plan to merge next year as a unified hospitality association under a new brand, the two groups announced Monday. Before that, though, the two organizations began working under a joint operating agreement that took effect Oct. 1….Read more
LEARN MORE ABOUT JOINT OPERATIONS AND THE PLAN TO FORM A UNIFIED HOSPITALITY ASSOCIATION:
Joint WLA/WRA operations to begin October 1 (Sept. 2, 2015)
A letter from WLA and WRA’s presidents and CEOs: A new association for a new era (July 1, 2016)