Hotel Operations

Sage Takes Over Woodmark Hotel, 100 Rooms on Lake Washington

Sage Hospitality Group assumes management of the 100-room Woodmark Hotel & Still Spa in Kirkland, WA, adding a 30-year Lake Washington landmark to its portfolio.

Sage Hospitality Group Expands Pacific Northwest Portfolio with The Woodmark Hotel & Still Spa on Lake Washington
Sage Hospitality Group Expands Pacific Northwest Portfolio with The Woodmark Hotel & Still Spa on Lake Washington — 12019 / pixabay

Sage Hospitality Group has assumed management of the 100-room Woodmark Hotel & Still Spa in Kirkland, Washington, bringing a three-decade-old waterfront landmark on Lake Washington into its growing portfolio of independent and lifestyle hotels.

The Denver-based company announced the takeover of the luxury boutique property, which sits just east of Seattle in Kirkland's Carillon Point waterfront district. The deal adds one of the Pacific Northwest's most recognized independent hotels to a Sage portfolio that now spans lifestyle hotels, restaurants and entertainment venues across the United States.

"The Woodmark represents the type of destination we seek to bring into our portfolio," said Daniel del Olmo, President and CEO of Sage Hospitality Group. "Its iconic waterfront setting, strong connection to the Kirkland community and reputation for exceptional hospitality have made it a standout property in the Pacific Northwest."

Del Olmo added that Sage is "excited to partner with ownership and the hotel team to build on that success while continuing to create memorable experiences for guests, associates and the community."

What does the property bring to Sage's portfolio?

The Woodmark has operated on the shores of Lake Washington for more than 30 years, serving both travelers and local residents. Its location gives it convenient access to both Bellevue and downtown Seattle — two of the region's strongest corporate and leisure demand drivers — while its waterfront position anchors it as a destination in its own right.

The asset breakdown tells the story of a full-service boutique operation:

  • 100 guestrooms and suites, many with private balconies overlooking Lake Washington
  • Still Spa, the property's dedicated wellness offering
  • Carillon Kitchen, the hotel's locally inspired restaurant
  • 9,000 square feet of meeting and event space

That combination — rooms, spa, food and beverage, and group-ready event capacity — positions the Woodmark across multiple revenue streams, from leisure getaways to local events and small-to-midsize corporate gatherings.

Who is Sage Hospitality Group?

Sage, now in its 41st year in business, operates as a purpose-led hospitality development, investment and management company based in Denver, Colorado. Its structure spans four companies working together: Sage Hotel Management, Sage Restaurant Concepts, Sage Studio, and Sage Investments.

The company describes its approach as "artful hospitality" — creating places, in its words, "that people want to go to, not through." Sage's stated focus for the Woodmark deal aligns with that positioning: distinctive properties with strong community connections and a unique sense of place, rather than commodity assets.

The management agreement model matters here. Sage has taken over operations of the Woodmark rather than acquiring it, partnering with the property's existing ownership. That structure leaves Sage responsible for performance while ownership retains the asset — a common arrangement for independent luxury boutiques seeking scale and operational expertise without giving up the brand identity that makes them distinctive.

The Woodmark will continue to operate as an independent hotel, keeping its name, its waterfront identity and its role in the Kirkland community intact.

What changes for the Kirkland property?

For guests and locals, the immediate answer is: very little, on the surface. The hotel keeps its name, its restaurant and its spa. The deeper change is operational. Sage brings four decades of experience in developing and operating lifestyle hotels and restaurants nationwide, and its stated intent is to build on the property's existing reputation rather than reposition it.

For Sage, the addition deepens its presence in the Pacific Northwest and extends a portfolio strategy built around independent, community-rooted properties. For the Woodmark's ownership, the deal brings in an operator with the scale to compete for group business, leisure travelers and events in the competitive Seattle-area market.

Del Olmo's framing suggests continuity with investment: leveraging the hotel's standout reputation while Sage's systems and experience work underneath. How that translates into renovation activity, F&B evolution at Carillon Kitchen or expanded spa programming will be the story to watch in the months ahead.

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Daniel Okafor

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Correspondent covering companies, deals and strategy in Restaurant and hotel operations at The Pass Brief.

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