Will Clover Island’s summer concerts continue after hotel sale? What the new owner says
The quirky Clover Island Inn has a new set of owners with big plans to transform the aging hotel into property worthy of being tagged with the Hilton brand.
The April 9 sale to The Kishan Group, based in Reno, Nev. and Blaine, Wash., sparked a flood of questions and grumblings about the future of the region’s most unique hotel.
The 150-room hotel sits on Clover Island and boasts 360-degree views of the Columbia River.
The Tri-City Herald sat down with Zeal Baines, one of the four principals with Kishan, to learn more about what is in store for its catering and events business, its employees and its popular summer concert series.
Baines, originally from New Zealand, lives in Blaine, on the U.S.-Canadian border near Bellingham. It’s about a five-hour drive from the Tri-Cities. Baines said he intends to be a hands-on owner and will visit at least once a month.
The new owners have begun making changes to the Clover Island Inn and bigger ones are coming, he said.
Exterior renovations will begin in a matter of weeks. Room makeovers could begin by fall.
In a perfect world, Hilton Spark signs will hang on Clover Island by summer 2025.
Between now and then, Kishan will finalize designs and negotiate an agreement with Hilton to ensure the changes meet the criteria for the property to become a Hilton “Spark ” — a new economy brand the company recently launched.
The makeover promises to revive a striking property that has struggled to attract the attention and investment it deserves.
It was originally built in 1977 on land leased from the Port of Kennewick, a spectacular setting in the shadow of the cable bridge.
About 20 years ago, it was in bankruptcy.
Clover Island Development, a group led by crane company owner Bill Lampson, stepped in to rescue the property, which they operated as an independent hotel with modest room rates.
In March, they sold it to CII Hospitality LLC, an investment arm of Kishan. It was time, Lampson told port officials, for a professional operator to take over.
Here’s a guide to what to expect at the Clover Island Inn in the coming year:
Crow’s Nest, food service, liquor
The new owners closed the Crow’s Nest restaurant and bar. The fourth-floor gathering spot boasts river views and nautical decor.
Baines said Kishan’s hand was forced by a lapse in the property’s liquor license between owners and by conditions in the kitchen.
It learned it would take 60-90 days to secure a new liquor license from the state of Washington. That, coupled with kitchen challenges, compelled it to shut down the restaurant.
The hotel will have a restaurant in the future, but it won’t look like the Crow’s Nest. The new spot will adhere to Hilton’s “Spark” standards. It’s not clear when or where it will be situated.
In the interim, Clover Island Inn is providing hot breakfasts to guests.
Banquet service
Banquets and events booked before the sale will proceed as planned.
CG Catering, the catering arm of Kennewick’s CG Public House, is taking over the banquet business. With Steve and Shirley Simmons at the helm, CG has a full-service catering license that allows alcohol sales.
Baines said managers will reach out to clients who have booked events to update them on the change in approach.
That includes, he promised, the Kennewick High School Class of 1984 reunion organizing committee, which inquired about its upcoming event via the Herald.
Employees
Kishan Group retained most, though not all, of the Clover Island Inn’s employees.
Baines confirmed that it laid off about 20 workers in the food and beverage department. The rest of the hotel staff was retained and is running Clover Island Inn as is while it begins the modernization process.
The property has a new manager too. Mark Blotz, the longtime general manager, has retired. Liza Clitar, formerly director of sales and marketing, has stepped into the GM role.
Summer concerts
The Clover Island Inn’s popular summer concerts will continue, Baines promised.
Concerts this summer will include country music artists Joe Nichols on June 16 and Neal McCoy on Aug. 4. Ticket sales are at thunderontheisland.com.
There will be differences.
A new, professional stage will be installed outside the inn in May, courtesy the Port of Kennewick The inn is leasing it from the port after it asked the public agency to invest in the equipment in 2023.
In the past, performances have been on a stage fashioned from a pair of flatbed trailers supplied by Lampson International. That has not been popular with musicians who have mostly performed for nearly 20 years without protection from the sun and the elements.
When Night Ranger performed in 2017, the inn had to borrow a stage from Yakima. The popular touring act has sold more than 17 million albums and had the clout to set its working conditions.
“The new stage is the most exciting thing,” Baines said, adding that it should help boost the number of performances on Clover Island.
He invites local groups to ask about using the stage for events, comedy, cheer groups, concerts and other performances.
Food and beverage service will be a challenge during concerts, he said.
The inn will direct concertgoers to the existing services available on Clover Island, including Ice Harbor Brewery and Cedar’s restaurant. He hopes to woo food trucks to participate as well.
Planned renovations
Exterior renovations will begin this spring and will bring the gray and white Hilton Spark scheme to Clover Island.
Baines said the color scheme is fixed, but it’s not yet clear if that will involve new siding, paint or some other approach. He said it makes sense to complete exterior work during good weather.
Interior renovations will start in the fall. In the interim, Kishan is ordering furniture, fixtures and equipment. All rooms will get a Hilton-style makeover, including several now used as storage.
The inn previously upgraded about 20 rooms but not to the Spark standards. They will be remade too, he said.
Work will occur in phases so the hotel can remain in business. Breaking even is the goal over the course of the conversion.
Why invest in the Tri-Cities?
Rapid population growth in the Tri-Cities attracted Kishan’s attention to the Clover Island Inn, as did its waterfront setting.
It would be nearly impossible to replicate the inn, he said, noting the challenge of building near the shoreline.
Kishan purchased the building and secured a new, 50-year agreement to lease the land it sits on from the port, which is eager to see Clover Island evolve into a popular visitor destination.
Baines admitted he was confused when he first drove into Kennewick to investigate the possible acquisition earlier this year. Clover Island is accessed via Columbia Drive, a gritty, industrial stretch that is hidden from the Columbia River by development and a levee.
He recalled driving past used car lots and thinking he must have taken a wrong turn, that there couldn’t be an island in the vicinity.
When Clover Island Drive led him across the causeway and past the iconic lighthouse, he was stunned by the change of scenery.
“Clover Island is a Tri-Cities oasis,” he said.
Kishan’s track record
The Kishan Group has a record of purchasing aging but well-situated properties, renovating them and rebranding them. Operating under popular brands such as Hilton increases their visibility and boosts occupancy rates.
The Kishan Group anticipates investing $2 million-$3 million in the conversion. Baines said the hotel’s rates won’t change much as a result of the modernization project.
It currently charges about $100 a night. That could go up by $20, below market for the Tri-Cities.
Kishan is a long-term investor that typically retains ownership of the hotel properties it renovates. The initial investment is private, but once the property has a corporate affiliation, Kishan intends to take out a traditional commercial mortgage.
Hilton Spark
Kishan selected the Spark model for Kennewick because it is a new budget-friendly Hilton brand that doesn’t yet have a presence in Washington. It will not compete with other Hilton-branded properties.
For the time being, the Clover Island Inn will retain its old name, its old website and its old booking systems.
It will not become a Hilton Spark until Hilton Spark inspectors decide it is worthy of the name, he said.
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