Since the takeover of Washington Mutual by JP Morgan Chase there has been much uncertainty over what will happen to Washington Mutual employees and Washington Mutual's assets.
Washington Mutual's leadership training facility Cedarbrook, located in SeaTac, is one of those uncertainties.
Washington Mutual owns the building and uses it as a training facility for their employees.
Marc Stiles, spokesman for Columbia Hospitality, which manages the facility, said right now they are operating business as usual and that they have not heard of any changes.
Beyond that, Stiles could not answer any further questions.
Cedarbrook is open to the public for business retreats, weddings and other events. Former Cedarbrook general manager Lenny Zilz said 75 percent of their business comes from Washington Mutual.
SeaTac City Manager Craig Ward said if it were to close it would result in the loss of tax revenue to the city, but Ward said he did not know how much.
He added that it is a great training facility and he hopes it is able to stay open.
Cedarbrook is nestled on 17 acres of natural wetlands in a residential area near Bow Lake. The rustic setting is about five minutes shuttle ride east of Sea-Tac International Airport. Employees from around the country can be easily flown in for training sessions, according to Cedarbrook staffers.
The two-story conference center features Northwest architectural styles and contains 102 guest rooms. The Stuffed Mushroom Dining Room provides meals.
The Puget Sound Business Journal listed Cedarbrook as one of the top 25 banquet and meeting facilities in the Puget Sound region.
Bridal Guide named the facility as the top wedding venue in the state, while Seattle Bride picked it as one of the most desirable locations for a wedding reception.
Cedarbrook's closure could hamper SeaTac's efforts to attract new business. SeaTac has also sought to bring more tourists into the city with a planned entertainment district next to the upcoming airport/city center light rail station at International Boulevard and South 176th St.
The station is set to open in December 2009, in time for the January 2010 winter Olympics in Vancouver, B.C.
