Today we’d like to introduce you to Jay Bowen.
Jay, we appreciate you taking the time to share your story with us today. Where does your story begin?
My love for travel started back home in Zululand, South Africa, where I volunteered at Backpackers Hostels giving tours around Zululand to international visitors. I loved meeting people from around the world, and I can honestly say this is where my love for travel started. After studying marketing at the London School of Marketing, I built a career across Europe, Africa, Australia, and the United States, working with brands like Malmaison and leading high-revenue campaigns for OTAs including Lastminute.com and Ebookers.com. I later served as Head of Marketing for Provenance Hotels, shaping brand strategy for 14 properties across the US.
When that group was sold, I decided I wanted my own hotel and found this cute abandoned historic 1910 property in Ashland, Oregon. Walking through the doors I could not only feel its history, but see what it could become. I’ve reimagined this historic hotel as a boutique cultural hub where art, music, and community meet hospitality. I’m also the founder of Thisledome Hospitality Corp, and I stay deeply invested in Ashland’s creative and civic life as Chair of the Travel Ashland Advisory Committee, Vice President of the Ashland Public Arts Advisory Commission, and a Member at Large of the Ashland Gallery Association.
Alright, so let’s dig a little deeper into the story – has it been an easy path overall and if not, what were the challenges you’ve had to overcome?
It has definitely not been a smooth road. I was hoping when I took on this venture that I would have investors or partners to support me in the re-opening of this historic hotel. But they pulled out just before leaving me to pivot to a whole new strategy for getting the doors open in 90 days. But that taught me not only to be agile, but to also lean heavily on my own marketing and renovating skills.
I did all the renovations myself. I have memories for every part of these walls as I remember standing there sometimes at 2am painting a room or a hallway.
It also made me realize that we have so many ways we can reuse and upcycle furniture and soft furnishings and that when people travel they don’t want a cold sterile aesthetic, they want to feel something, they want to experience something new, and so as I was sourcing furniture and art, I wanted to find something that would appeal to that traveler, instead of spending money to buy new sterile furniture with no personality.
Appreciate you sharing that. What should we know about The Columbia Hotel?
The Columbia Hotel is Ashland’s historic heart with a rebellious soul. Built in 1910 and one of the oldest hotels in Oregon, we’re not just a place to sleep, we’re a living love letter to art, music, and mountain town magic. We’re right in the heart of downtown Ashland, steps from the Oregon Shakespeare Festival, and our walls tell stories through bold murals by local artists, gallery-style spaces that shift with the seasons, and nods to the trailblazers, musicians, misfits, and Pacific Crest Trail hikers who inspire us daily.
We specialize in blending boutique hospitality with genuine community connection. Our Lobby Lounge and Bar hosts First Friday Art Shows, live music, drag shows, and private events, becoming a casual hangout where guests and locals enjoy local beers and the occasional live music set. As a European-style hotel, we offer a range of King, Queen, and Bunk Rooms, each uniquely styled with local art and upcycled, curated furnishings, some with shared bathrooms down the hall and others with private en-suites, all set within original Douglas fir floors and vintage fixtures I carefully preserved during our restoration.
What sets us apart is that we don’t separate hospitality from culture. We’re deeply inclusive, especially of LGBTQ+ culture and diverse communities, and we back that up through action: eliminating single-use items, using only upcycled dishware, supporting trail repair and reforestation, prioritizing local vendors, and creating opportunities for people in recovery. What I’m most proud of, brand-wise, is that we’ve built something authentic rather than polished. We’re historic, playful, a little edgy, and unapologetically ourselves. I want readers to know that whether you’re here for theater, trails, a dance floor, or just the vibes, we’re a creative clubhouse for the curious, the colorful, and the kind. Come as you are, leave a little more inspired. And as we tell everyone, we are Ashland’s Okayest Hotel. But we are so much more than that…
How do you think about luck?
Wow good question. I do believe in luck, in that I see an opportunity and jump at it. And I can say with The Columbia Hotel building being available for this kind of journey in the most beautiful town amongst gorgeous people, artists, musicians in the middle of a beautiful mountain range.
But the hard work to get it from a deserted building to a living breathing boutique hotel took some blood, sweat and some tears getting it open but the people I met along the way have been so critical in this journey. Like the artists who painted our murals, our friends in the LGBTQ+ community who help build our events and grow our friendships and the Ashland community at large who help spread the word and help us grow.
Pricing:
- We cater to PCT Hikers and love hosting them in the summer with over 750 staying each year
- During OSF Season we have a lot of school groups and the students love our bunk rooms and our hotel being so close to theatures
- We are pet friendly which is not common in Ashland
- We have bunk rooms which are great for families traveling with young kids
- We are an art and music hotel and live and breathe this vibe
Contact Info:
- Website: https://www.columbiahotelashland.com/
- Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/thecolumbia/
- Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/columbiahotelashland
