The Heathman Hotel in downtown Kirkland has gone through some changes during the past few years. The hotel had a major remodel and changed general managers in 2012. The award winning hotel is going through more changes.

The Heathman in Kirkland was sold for more than $17.4 million last week to investors from Los Angeles, according to King County records, and employees are optimistic that the new ownership means a bright future.

“We were able to retain all of our employees,” said hotel general manager Troy Longwith. “That was the first thing on everyone’s mind. We have a large number of employees who have been with the hotel from the start and this is the first ownership change. We are just a couple of days into this but they are committed to Kirkland longterm.”

Hotel Kirkland Limited Liability Co. purchased the 91-room four-story hotel on Feb. 18. The company is headed by Mark and John Beccaria, who are the principal owners of the Los Angeles based hotel investment group Beccaria Partners.

Longwith does anticipate some changes for the hotel but says that “nothing formal” has been decided.

The sale also marks the end of the hotel’s connection with its namesake in Portland, as it sold to a separate company for more than $64 million earlier this year according the the Puget Sound Buisness Journal.

Longwith said that while the two hotels will no longer have an affiliation, both hotels will retain their shared logo.

The four-star hotel, along with its sister site in Portland, the Portland Heathman, were put on the market in September by owner Healthman Hotel Portland LLC.

The Kirkland location was built in 2007 and underwent a remodel in 2012 following a catastrophic waterline malfunction that caused significant damage to the hotel’s Trellis restaurant and the hotel’s Penterra Spa, which has since been removed. Management’s dedication to its employees showed during the 62-day shutdown, as it retained almost all of its staff.

During the remodel, management replaced the spa with a private dining and meeting room with adjoining reception area that has floor-to-ceiling windows. In addition to the new private dining room, the hotel also added two meeting rooms downstairs, and a new expanded fitness center with all new equipment. The hotel’s guest rooms were completely refurbished during the shutdown as well, and all new carpets were installed in the hallways.

The hotel had a valuation of $8.5 million by the city when it was built.

The hotel was ranked No. 88 in the world in 2012 and won a AAA Four Diamond Award that same year.