Red Lion Hotels Franchise News

What: Grand Opening for Memorial Day Weekend of New Waterslide
Where:
Poolside at Red Lion Hotel at the Park303 W. North River DriveSpokane, WA  99201
When: Thursday, May 24, 10am
Attached:  Photo of 1983 opening with then part-owner Don Barbieri:Photo Credit - The Spokesman-Review
May 24, 2012 // Franchising.com // Spokane, Wash. - The Red Lion Hotel at the Park is proud to announce the grand opening of its new 28-foot waterslide, waterfall and updated pool area.  In an attempt to recreate the original opening of the pool and slide on April Fools’ Day in 1983, the hotel general manager will be the first to slide into the pool fully dressed in a business suit. The inaugural ride down the slide is planned for May 24, 10am, at Red Lion Hotel at the Park, 303 W...

SPOKANE, Wash., May 8, 2012 /PRNewswire/ -- Red Lion Hotels Corporation (NYSE: RLH) announced today that Harry G. Sladich, Executive Vice President of Sales, Marketing and Distribution, has been named to the 2012-2015 Destination & Travel Foundation Board of Trustees, making this his second national tourism board designation. Sladich was named last year as a U.S. Travel Association At-Large Director.
"We believe it is important that you have a voice at the table to represent the DMO (Destination Marketing Organization) and travel industries," says Jim Duda, Executive Director of the Destination & Travel Foundation. "Board members are asked to guide and provide input to the strategic direction of the Destination & Travel Foundation...

SPOKANE, Wash., April 24, 2012 /PRNewswire/ -- Red Lion Hotels Corporation (NYSE: RLH) today announced that it will report 2012 first quarter results after the market closes on Wednesday, May 2.
The company will hold a conference call at 2:00 p.m. Pacific Time (5:00 p.m. Eastern Time) on Wednesday, May 2, 2012, to discuss the results for interested investors, analysts and portfolio managers. Hosting the call will be President and Chief Executive Officer Jon E. Eliassen and Executive Vice President and Chief Financial Officer Julie Shiflett. Executive Vice President and Chief Operating Officer George Schweitzer will also be available to answer questions.
To participate in the conference call, please dial the following number ten minutes prior to the scheduled time: (800) 230-1074...

SPOKANE, Wash., March 28, 2012 /PRNewswire/ -- Red Lion Hotels Corporation (NYSE: RLH), a western U.S. based owner and franchisor of midscale hotels, today announced that its board of directors has authorized Bank of America Merrill Lynch to explore strategic alternatives to maximize shareholder value, including a potential sale of the company or a strategic combination with a third party. The board has formed a Strategic Alternatives Committee comprising independent directors Ryland P. (Skip) Davis, Melvin L. Keating and Ronald Taylor. This Committee will work with Bank of America Merrill Lynch in its review.
"The Red Lion Hotels board of directors and management team are committed to maximizing shareholder value," said Jon E. Eliassen, President and Chief Executive Officer of Red Lion Hotels Corporation...

SPOKANE, Wash., March 20, 2012 /PRNewswire/ -- Red Lion Hotels Corporation (NYSE: RLH) announced today it is suspending its attrition clause for new meeting, convention and group business booked and consumed through the end of the year.
"We want to show meeting planners that Red Lion Hotels is committed to making their meetings more profitable and successful, and less stressful," says Stacie Harper, Vice President of Sales for Red Lion Hotels Corporation. "We are all in this together."
The "No Attrition" offer to meeting planners runs through December 31, 2012, for any new business booked and consumed between now and the end of the year at participating Red Lion Hotels.
The sales team at Red Lion Hotels developed the idea following a feedback session with meeting planners, where they described the pressures associated with an attrition clause as one of their biggest concerns...

SPOKANE, Wash., Feb. 28, 2012 /PRNewswire/ -- Red Lion Hotels Corporation (NYSE: RLH), a western U.S. based owner and franchisor of midscale hotels, today announced its results for the fourth quarter and year ended December 31, 2011. Comparable operating results and data from continuing operations (as disclosed in the table by the same title) for the periods included in this release exclude from hotel operations the results of the Red Lion Hotel on Fifth Avenue in Seattle, which was sold in the second quarter of 2011. Following the sale, this property continues to operate as a franchised hotel and the company is therefore required to report its financial results in continuing operations.
Fourth Quarter Overview:

RevPAR for comparable owned and leased hotels decreased 0...

SPOKANE, Wash., March 2, 2012 /PRNewswire/ -- Red Lion Hotels Corporation (NYSE: RLH) is pleased to announce three grand opening celebrations for its hotels in New Mexico. These hotels have expanded the company's western United States footprint from eight states to nine.
When: March 6, 4:30-7:30pm
What: Grand Opening and Ribbon Cutting
Where:
The Red Lion Hotel Farmington 700 Scott Avenue Farmington, NM 87401 505-327-5221 www.redlion.com/farmington
RSVP:
For more information or to RSVP, contact Virginia Gill at 505-566-5505 or catering@redlionfarmington.com, or log onto http://cms.redlion.com/6188-farmington-invite.aspx.
Red Lion Hotel Farmington is located in the Four Corners region of New Mexico...

SPOKANE, Wash., Feb. 7, 2012 /PRNewswire/ -- Red Lion Hotels Corporation (NYSE: RLH) today announced that it will report 2011 fourth quarter and year end results after the market closes on Tuesday, February 28.
The company will hold a conference call at 2:00 p.m. Pacific Time (5:00 p.m. Eastern Time) on Tuesday, February 28, 2012, to discuss the results for interested investors, analysts and portfolio managers. Hosting the call will be President and Chief Executive Officer Jon E. Eliassen and Executive Vice President and Chief Financial Officer Julie Shiflett. Executive Vice President and Chief Operating Officer George Schweitzer will also be available to answer questions.
To participate in the conference call, please dial the following number ten minutes prior to the scheduled time: (800) 230-1096...

SPOKANE, Wash., Jan. 23, 2012 /PRNewswire/ -- Red Lion Hotels Corporation (NYSE: RLH) has partnered with TravelClick® to create industry leading web and mobile platforms for a dynamic and interactive travel research and booking experience that will forever change how guests interact with the brand online. TravelClick is renowned as an industry leader in designing and producing award-winning hotel websites. Each hotel property will have its own unique hyper-local online storefront with information tailored specifically to its region.
"Our hyper-local online experience will exploit the term 'concierge' on a whole new level," said Harry G. Sladich, Executive Vice President of Sales, Marketing & Distribution for Red Lion Hotels Corporation...

Denver Southeast Property to be Listed for Sale
December 07, 2011 // Franchising.com // Spokane, WA - Red Lion Hotels Corporation (NYSE: RLH) announced today it has rebranded the Red Lion Hotel Grants in New Mexico, making this the third hotel to join the brand in New Mexico in the last few weeks.
"Red Lion Hotels has been pleased with the support the company has received from all three of the communities in New Mexico where we now have franchise hotels," said Rich Carlson, Senior Vice President of Lodging Development for Red Lion Hotels Corporation. "These hotels serve as an enhancement to the Red Lion brand and our expansion into the Southwest."
The Red Lion Hotel Grants is located on the historic Route 66, about 80 miles west of Albuquerque...

SPOKANE, Wash., Nov. 17, 2011 /PRNewswire/ -- Red Lion Hotels Corporation (NYSE: RLH) announced today that two New Mexico hotels, the Red Lion Hotel Farmington and the Red Lion Hotel Gallup, have successfully transferred to the brand.
"We are very excited to be open for business in New Mexico," said Rich Carlson, Senior Vice President of Lodging Development for Red Lion Hotels Corporation. "These hotels represent the reemergence of the Red Lion brand in the Southwest. The owners of these properties now have three franchise hotels under the Red Lion brand and we expect to add another by the end of the year."
The Red Lion Hotel Farmington, the Red Lion Hotel Gallup and the Red Lion Hotel Oakland International Airport in California are among a group of hotels beneficially owned by Positive Investments, Inc...

SPOKANE, Wash., Nov. 9, 2011 /PRNewswire/ -- Red Lion Hotels Corporation (NYSE: RLH) has listed for sale the Red Lion Hotel Medford in Oregon and the Red Lion Inn Missoula in Montana.
"Our purchase last week from iStar Financial Inc. of the previously leased portfolio of hotels gives us the opportunity to take action toward monetizing non-core assets," said Jon E. Eliassen, President and Chief Executive Officer of Red Lion Hotels Corporation. "We will continue to look for ways to strategically position Red Lion with hotels that fit the brand going forward. Selling these two properties also furthers our effort to restructure our balance sheet, which will give the company more financial flexibility and increase shareholder value."
The Red Lion Hotel Medford is a select service property located downtown with 185 exterior entry rooms and more than 9,500 square feet of meeting space...

SPOKANE, Wash., Nov. 3, 2011 /PRNewswire/ -- Red Lion Hotels Corporation (NYSE: RLH), a western U.S. based owner and franchisor of midscale hotels, today announced its results for the third quarter ended September 30, 2011. Comparable operating results for the periods included in this release exclude from hotel operations the results of the Red Lion Hotel on Fifth Avenue in Seattle, which was sold in the second quarter of 2011. Following the sale, this property continues to operate as a franchised hotel and, therefore, the company is required to report its financial results in continuing operations.
Third Quarter and Key Subsequent Event Overview:

RevPAR for comparable owned and leased hotels increased 3.5 percent year over year
ADR for comparable owned and leased hotels increased 0...

SPOKANE, Wash., Nov. 3, 2011 /PRNewswire/ -- Red Lion Hotels Corporation (NYSE: RLH) announced today that as part of a global agreement among Red Lion, iStar Financial Inc. and Hilton Hotels, Red Lion paid $37 million to purchase 10 hotels formerly leased from a subsidiary of iStar. The purchase price was funded with cash proceeds received from the sale of Red Lion Hotel on Fifth Avenue, $32 million of which was paid through a tax deferred exchange. The transaction will reduce the company's lease obligations by approximately $4.3 million per year. In conjunction with the transaction, the company also assigned its sub-lease with Hilton Hotels to an affiliate of iStar Financial.
"Eliminating our master lease with iStar Financial has been a critical initiative of our ongoing balance sheet restructuring and we are pleased to have negotiated a favorable buyout," said Jon E...

SPOKANE, Wash., Oct. 18, 2011 /PRNewswire/ -- Red Lion Hotels Corporation (NYSE: RLH) today announced that it will report 2011 third quarter results after the market closes on Thursday, November 3.
The company will hold a conference call at 2:00 p.m. Pacific Time (5:00 p.m. Eastern Time) on Thursday, November 3, 2011, to discuss the results for interested investors, analysts and portfolio managers. Hosting the call will be President and Chief Executive Officer Jon E. Eliassen and Executive Vice President and Chief Financial Officer Julie Shiflett. Executive Vice President and Chief Operating Officer George Schweitzer will also be available to answer questions.
To participate in the conference call, please dial the following number ten minutes prior to the scheduled time: (800) 230-1085...

SPOKANE, Wash., Oct. 13, 2011 /PRNewswire/ -- Red Lion Hotels Corporation (NYSE: RLH) completed its $40 million credit facility with Wells Fargo Bank making available up to $10 million on a revolving line, in addition to $30 million in term debt obtained in September 2011.
As additional collateral for the facility, the company pledged the Red Lion Colonial Hotel in Helena, MT, as well as the Red Lion Hotel Denver Southeast and the Red Lion Hotel Kalispell and Kalispell Center Mall in Montana. The debt secured by the Red Lion Colonial Hotel in Helena was retired using cash reserves. The $10 million revolving line of credit with Wells Fargo is currently unused.
"We have made significant progress in reducing our debt and restructuring our balance sheet during the past few months," said Julie Shiflett, Executive Vice President and Chief Financial Officer of Red Lion Hotels Corporation...

SPOKANE, Wash., Oct. 10, 2011 /PRNewswire/ -- Red Lion Hotels Corporation (NYSE: RLH) announced the company has signed a franchise license agreement for a hotel in Grants, NM; the third in the past month.
The property is owned by Positive Investments, Inc., which owns the two recently announced Red Lion Hotels in Farmington and Gallup, NM, as well as the Red Lion Hotel Oakland International Airport in Oakland, California.
"We are gratified to see Positive Investments continue to align itself with the Red Lion brand," said Rich Carlson, Senior Vice President of Lodging Development for Red Lion Hotels Corporation. "Red Lion is committed to continuing to expand in New Mexico and throughout the Southwest through franchising."
The Red Lion Hotel Grants is located on the historic Route 66, about 80 miles west of Albuquerque...

September 28, 2011 // Franchising.com // Spokane, WA - Red Lion Hotels Corporation (NYSE: RLH) announced the company has signed franchise license agreements with the owner of two New Mexico hotels. The two properties are among a group of hotels owned by Positive Investments, Inc., which is also the owner of the Red Lion Hotel Oakland International Airport in Oakland, California.
″These hotels operate under strong management already known to Red Lion,″ said Rich Carlson, Senior Vice President of Lodging Development for Red Lion Hotels Corporation. ″We are committed to growing the Red Lion brand in the West and we are very excited to enter the New Mexico market with an experienced owner like Positive Investments.″
The future Red Lion Hotel Farmington is located in the Four Corners region of New Mexico...

SPOKANE, Wash., Sept. 13, 2011 /PRNewswire/ -- Red Lion Hotels Corporation (NYSE: RLH) is pleased to announce that the company has expanded its credit facility with Wells Fargo Bank. Under this secured facility, Red Lion Hotels obtained $18 million in term debt in addition to the $12 million outstanding under the original facility. Substantially all of the additional term debt proceeds have been used to pay off maturing loans secured by the Red Lion Hotel at the Park in Spokane and the Red Lion Hotel Olympia.
In addition, a new $10 million revolving line of credit will be available under the facility upon the company's pledge of additional collateral, which is expected to be completed in the next 30 days. The company plans to use an advance under the new line to pay off the loan maturing in October 2011 secured by the Red Lion Colonial Hotel in Helena...

July 22, 2011 // Franchising.com // (SPOKANE, WA, July 21, 2011) - Red Lion Hotels Corporation (NYSE: RLH) today announced that it will report second quarter 2011 results after the market closes on Thursday, August 4.

The company will hold a conference call at 2:00 p.m. Pacific Time (5:00 p.m. Eastern Time) on Thursday, August 4, 2011 to discuss the results for interested investors, analysts and portfolio managers. Hosting the call will be President and Chief Executive Officer Jon E. Eliassen and Executive Vice President and Chief Financial Officer Dan Jackson. Executive Vice President and Chief Operating Officer George Schweitzer will also be available to answer questions.

To participate in the conference call, please dial the following number ten minutes prior to the scheduled time: (800) 230-1085...