AUBURN’S LA QUINTA OWNERS EARN 2016 FRANCHISEE OF THE YEAR AWARD
La Quinta Inns & Suites recently recognized franchise owners Satpal and Pinder Sohal as recipients of the brand’s 2016 Franchisee of the Year award.
Franchisees since 2011, the Sohals own La Quinta Inn & Suites in Auburn and Olympia and have plans to build a third La Quinta hotel.
The award acknowledges their leadership and operating excellence as their hotels are consistently ranked top among the company’s system of more than 885 hotels. “Our ability to attract and retain experienced franchise partners who share our commitment to the La Quinta brand is the ultimate measure of success for our franchising program,” said Rajiv Trivedi, executive vice president and chief development officer for La Quinta. “The Sohal’s success is directly related to making people their number one priority and delivering an outstanding guest experience. They are great advocates of the La Quinta brand and operate their hotels at a high level.”
The Franchisee of the Year award was presented at the 2017 La Quinta Conference in Dallas that attracted more than 1,600 attendees from across North America, including general managers, franchise owners and suppliers. La Quinta’s growth is a testament to the brand’s commitment to guest satisfaction and a strong relationship with its franchise partners.
Learn more at LQ.com.
November 18 2014
Construction of an 80-room La Quinta hotel is finally underway in Tumwater on Capitol Boulevard, making it the first newly constructed hotel in Thurston County in four years.
And that’s good news for franchise owner Satpal Sohal, who first pitched the idea of a new hotel in Tumwater at 4600 Capitol Boulevard SE about two years ago.
“The biggest hurdle was financing,” said Sohal, but he finally secured about $10 million for the total project. He is aiming to open the La Quinta, his fifth hotel, by the end of May, just in time to capture hotel reservations generated by the U.S. Open golf championship at Chambers Bay, Pierce County.
“Everyone is prepared for it,” he said about the golf tournament, including his La Quinta in Auburn. He also operates an Econolodge in Chehalis, a Quality Inn in Liberty Lake and an independent hotel in Umatilla, Ore.
In addition to 80 rooms, the four-story hotel will feature a beer and wine bar, conference space, an indoor swimming pool, fitness center and a small store selling sundries. It also will offer breakfast service and employ about 15 people, Sohal said.
Another hurdle for the hotel project was that it needed to secure a conditional use permit in order to exceed a 50-foot building height limit, Tumwater Community Development Director Mike Matlock said. But that was only needed for the elevator tower, he said.
Most of the building is under 50 feet, Matlock said.
Although this is the first newly constructed hotel in Thurston County since a Best Western Plus sprouted in Lacey in 2011, several hotels have changed hands and continue to be updated.
Downtown Olympia’s Governor Hotel has new owners and has undergone renovations, with more planned. The former Capitol Plaza Hotel, also on Capitol Way, has a new owner, and renovations are underway there, and the former Phoenix Inn downtown switched brands to the Double Tree by Hilton.
The new Tumwater hotel occupies acreage that was once owned by developer Tri Vo, who had planned a 10-building, mixed-use development called Bellatorre that was curtailed by the recession. South Sound Bank eventually foreclosed on the property, which was still undeveloped, and subdivided it into lots.
Thursday February 8 2018
MARYSVILLE — Three projects are in the works that would triple the number of hotel rooms in the city.
Those behind the plans say they chose Marysville for its fast-paced growth and proximity to I-5 and to the Tulalip Resort Casino and Seattle Premium Outlets.
Hilton Home2 Suites is under construction on 116th Street NE, just off I-5 and across 116th from the WinCo grocery store. It is expected to open this spring.
The other two hotels are La Quinta, also on 116th Street NE, and Hotel America, on 88th Street NE. The city has issued a building permit for La Quinta and approved the site plan for Hotel America, city spokeswoman Connie Mennie said.
There currently are 147 rooms at three hotels in the city. These projects are set to add 296 more. The Hilton plans include 90 rooms, La Quinta 114 and Hotel America 92, according to the city.
The room totals don’t include the Tulalip Resort Casino or other properties near Marysville but outside of city limits.
The new hotels are expected to bring in more money for local festivals and activities. Marysville has a lodging tax of 2 percent per stay. Based on a national average for occupancy and $77 a night per room (room costs will vary), the hotels could generate $112,000 per year for the city, Mennie said in an email. That goes toward grants for events and programs to draw overnight visitors.
The grant awards are decided in a competitive process by the Lodging Tax Advisory Committee. Recent recipients include: Maryfest for the Strawberry Festival; the Greater Marysville Tulalip Chamber for the Marysville Brew and Cider Fest; and the Marysville Dog Owners Group for Poochapalooza. About $111,000 in grants were awarded for 2018 events, according to a city news release.
Work started on the Hilton Home2 Suites in early 2017. It’s built for extended stays, a newer concept for the Hilton line, said Richard Heide, the owner’s representative for the project. The building is five stories tall and each room will have a sink, dishwasher and microwave. The $11 million hotel is about 70 percent done, with workers doing drywall this week, he said.
“There’s some rezoning that’s been done recently by Marysville for aerospace,” Heide said. “We’re hoping to gain corporate clients. That’ll be a decent portion of the business.”
Marysville’s 116th Street NE is rapidly being developed, with new fast food restaurants as well as two of the three hotels.
“It’s just growing,” he said. “It’s around the I-5 corridor … You’ve got the outlets and the casino very close by, right across the freeway.”
Developer Satpal Sohal describes the planned La Quinta as a modern, five-story building with a breakfast room, meeting space, gym, indoor swimming pool and a few deluxe suites. He aims to have construction under way within the next few months and the hotel open in 2019.
“There’s definitely a demand for it, a need for more hotels in that market,” Sohal said.
There have been times when increasing construction costs left him wondering if he should wait to build “until the market is less crazy,” Sohal said. The original budget was $15 million, and that has inflated to $18 million, he said. Still, he sees a niche for La Quinta in Marysville.
“For people who don’t want to stay in downtown Everett and want to be out of the city, (Marysville) is a great bedroom community,” he said. “That whole pocket is doing well.”
The three hotels in the city aren’t the only new lodging options going up around Marysville. In December, the Tulalip Tribes broke ground on a new casino and hotel off of Marine Drive that will replace the existing Quil Ceda Creek Casino. That’s expected to add another 150 hotel rooms in the area.
Kari Bray: 425-339-3439; kbray@heraldnet.com.
October 22 2023
Sohal Hotels is pleased to announce the acquisition of the La Quinta Inn and Suites in SeaTac WA, following a $4 million renovation of the property.
The La Quinta Inn and Suites in SeaTac is conveniently located near Seattle-Tacoma International Airport, offering easy access to local attractions and amenities. With this renovation, the property will feature modern and updated guest rooms, state-of-the-art facilities, and a range of amenities to ensure a comfortable and enjoyable stay for our guests.
"We are excited to activate the La Quinta Inn and Suites in SeaTac and provide our guests with a completely refreshed and updated property," said Satpal Sohal, co-founder of Sohal Hotels. "Our goal is to provide exceptional hospitality and memorable experiences to our guests, and we believe that this renovation will help us achieve that."
The renovation includes upgrades to all 143 guest rooms, common areas, and facilities. The property will offer amenities such as complimentary breakfast, high-speed internet, a fitness center, and a business center.
"We are committed to providing our guests with the best possible experience, and this renovation is just one example of that commitment," said Pinder Sohal, co-founder of Sohal Hotels. "We are excited to welcome guests to the La Quinta Inn and Suites in SeaTac and offer them an exceptional stay."
For more information about Sohal Hotels and its properties, visit www.sohalhotels.com.
January 1, 2025
New rooms coming to SeaTac WA
SOHAL HOTELS: AT YOUR SERVICE
Exceeding Expectations