July 1, 2003- Seattle, WA—Columbia Hospitality, Inc. (CHI) a Seattle-based hospitality management and consulting company, has been selected to operate and manage western Washington’s newest conference center, The Centre of Bremerton. This is the second property added to the CHI portfolio in as many months. As of June 12, 2003, CHI was retained to manage the new waterfront conference center, which is slated to open summer of 2004. In May, CHI was signed on to manage Harbor Steps Conference Center in Seattle.

As the management firm, CHI is responsible for the sales, marketing, catering and food services as well as the day-to-day operations of the facility. The City of Bremerton and Kitsap County are building the facility to revitalize its downtown waterfront area. “The conference center complex will be the cornerstone to a new Bremerton waterfront,” said Bremerton Mayor Cary Bozeman. “It is the key component to bringing people to Bremerton for travel, leisure and a wonderful place to live. The commitment made by all of the parties involved has been amazing, and the citizen`s stand behind that commitment.

“This new mixed-use complex will bring new modern day life to our community,” said Gary Sexton, the director of economic development for the City of Bremerton. “The conference center, hotel and various retail spaces and restaurants will not only bring the citizens of Kitsap County and the surrounding area to our wonderful city, but will attract others from around the country to experience what we have to offer.”

CHI plans to draw primarily local and regional conferences to the Centre, however they feel confident it can draw national business as well because of its location, amenities and nearby recreation. “The Centre of Bremerton is a very unique addition to all of our other meeting venues,” said John Oppenheimer, CEO and president of Columbia Hospitality. “This will be our first destination conference center. Along with the adjacent hotel, retail space, restaurants and nearby first-class golf courses, we are really going to focus on retreats and comprehensive meeting packages that will include golf and other recreation.”

The Centre of Bremerton is ideal for local, regional and national conferences seeking a truly destination meeting venue. Along with its beautiful location, The Centre at Bremerton boasts four spacious, water-view meeting rooms with over 7,000 square feet of total meeting and event space. Some of The Centre’s amenities will include, cutting edge audio/visual equipment, high-speed Internet access, video conferencing, and a full service business center, which will include fax machine, phone, copier, and a message center.

For more information on how to pre-book your next meeting at The Centre at Bremerton contact general manager Erik Ruud at [email protected].

ABOUT COLUMBIA HOSPITALITY- Columbia Hospitality, Inc. (CHI) is a Seattle based hospitality management and consulting firm formed in 1995 after corporate leaders consulted with the Port of Seattle for two years on a waterfront conference center project - Bell Harbor International Conference Center. CHI now manages a growing property portfolio that includes Bell Harbor International Conference Center, World Trade Center Seattle, the Marina Club at Shilshole Bay, Talaris Conference Center, Harbor Steps Conference Center, The Inn at Langley, Friday Harbor House, and The Resort at Deer Harbor. CHI was the developer and is now the operator of the Washington Mutual Leadership Center at Cedarbrook, which opened in December 2002. In June of 2003, CHI was awarded the management contract for The Centre of Bremerton in Bremerton, Washington slated to open in the summer of 2004.

——-