Located in the southeastern city of Walla Walla, Washington, in the Columbia River Gorge, The Marcus Whitman Hotel & Conference Center is undergoing the final stages of a major renovation project that touches on guest rooms, the lobby, and its on-site dining destinations—including the addition of The Marc Cafe.
Only the second considerable upgrade to the property in its 96 years of existence, this project seeks to enhance the interior across all aspects to accommodate the modern traveler. All 133 guest rooms will be receiving new furniture, paint/wallpaper, lighting, hardware, and carpeting by this summer. The rooms are spread between two spaces, the Historic Tower (part of the original hotel first built in 1928 and the tallest building in Walla Walla) and the West Wing (attached to the tower and the conference center).
The upgrades to the lobby have already been completed, which included the addition of new and re-upholstered furniture, rugs, paint, and lighting while maintaining the original woodworking, flooring, and chandeliers. The property also features more than 13,000 square feet of meeting and event space spanning historic ballrooms, executive boardrooms, and intimate meeting rooms that can accommodate groups of 10 to 450.
The existing The Marc Restaurant (led by Executive Chef Chris Capps) and The Marc Bar also went through a full transformation and have reopened. The restaurant serves up fresh, Pacific Northwest-inspired farm-to-table fare with locale wine pairings from an experienced on-staff sommelier, pulling from Walla Walla’s location in rich wine country. The bar sits adjacent to the restaurant and offers craft cocktails, wine flights, zero-proof options, and small bites. The new cafe located in the hotel’s lobby provides shareable plates and light bites sourced from local farmers, artisans, ranchers, fishermen, and more.
The Marcus Whitman Hotel & Conference Center is a short one-hour flight from Seattle-Tacoma International Airport (direct flights available daily), a three-hour drive from Spokane, and a four-hour drive from both Seattle and Portland, Oregon.
