Local Hotels
The Marcus Whitman Hotel
- For guests arriving on that late flight into Walla Walla, there are no food options or room service available.
- They do provide a hot breakfast buffet 6:30am-9:30am on weekdays; 7:00am-10:00pm on weekends (served in the main dining room), included in the rate.
- The hotel is situated downtown, and is adjacent to food, beverage, and retail.
- The hotel is within walking distance to campus, for non-disabled guests.
- The hotel has an airport shuttle.
- Staff know the college and are incredibly receptive and reciprocal with our communications (ie. Chris Coates, Sales Manager - and front desk staff); the ethos that we know our guests are in good hands, and that we are comfortable and have peace in mind that hotel staff represent a good extension of the college on our behalf (can answer questions, provide assistance, present professionally, etc, etc).
- We have a special rate ("Luxury Tower Suite" with king bed $189.00 weekdays; slightly more on weekends, depending on the season/weekend).
- Feedback from guests: general feeling is that they are well looked after, however the accommodations are a little antiquated ("full of character"?). It's definitely a conversation point :)
The Courtyard Marriott
- For guests arriving on that late flight into Walla Walla, there are no food options or room service available.
- The Bistro is open from 5:00pm-10:00pm (stops serving food at 9:30pm), and breakfast is provided 6:30am-9:30am on weekdays; 7:00am-10:00pm on weekends for purchase.
- The hotel is downtown "adjacent" and not within walking distance of campus.
- The hotel has an airport shuttle.
- Staff know the college and are somewhat receptive and reciprocal with our communications, but more follow-up required (most often need to call and obtain a copy of a receipt, etc.)
- We have a special rate ($96.00 weekdays; slightly more on weekends, depending on the season/weekend).
The Finch
- No food options or room service available, full stop.
- The hotel is just across the street from campus.
- No airport shuttle. I have to coordinate with Jeremy Rucker at Walla Walla Taxi for airport runs.
- Joanie and I don't have a great deal of confidence in our relations with the hotel staff just yet, and the hotel often strikes us as understaffed - however, it's an entirely different operational ethos to a traditional hotel. It's decentralized, for the independent traveler.
- The college does have a special rate in place, but I have to ask each time, as it's a % rate that fluctuates depending on the time of year / time of the week.
I am just beginning to use The Finch more, so will report back. The guests that we're bringing to campus are millenials and Gen Z guests who are independent travelers and have come-of-age with this model. Joanie has utilized it for certain BOT guests.
Here's the selfish "work flow" reason that partially makes me want to explore The Finch and utilize it more... (1). because it's across the street, I can provide guests with Bon Appetit charge vouchers and they can purchase their meals and refreshments from Cleveland Commons and Reid Market, etc. So I don't have to get as many receipts from them for reimbursement (as if they were dining out at Bacon & Eggs and TMACs, etc), and making best efforts to keep costs down. If they are going out for dinner, then Dr. Johnson is typically hosting that, and the charge goes on his card. My aim is to have zero reimbursements, if possible... so as to keep the paperwork down on my end. Small bonus to the process, if I can pull it off. Same reason I purchase flights rather than reimburse (my only outliers are baggage fees and seat upgrades, etc). And (2). because [able-bodied] guests can walk across the street to campus, I don't have to leave my desk and get into my vehicle to go and collect them. I can simply meet them outside if Mem. Again, selfish for work-flow purposes, but true nonetheless :)