Tacoma — The Washington Restaurant Association and Washington Lodging Association have formalized their merger and will announce a new joint brand Oct. 1.
The two groups began operations under a joint agreement last October, combining staff and operational functions in the restaurant association’s Olympia office.
Last week, the two associations signed final contracts “and created cornerstone plans for a united hospitality association in Washington,” according to the WRA website.
The combined association will have more than 6,000 members and advocate on behalf of an industry that employs more than 250,000 Washingtonians and generates $17.7 billion in revenue each year, according to the WRA.
