SMOKEY POINT — Joseph So caught his first glimpse of the Medallion Hotel a decade ago, during a drive on I-5, but it left a lasting impression.

“It interested me,” said the veteran hotelier, who boasts 25 years in the hospitality industry. “I saw an area with the potential for a lot of new development. I thought it was a hot spot in the making.”

On June 10, So purchased the Medallion Hotel, bringing with him the experience that he’s honed working for the Wyndham, Choice and Best Western chains of hotels, as well as several independent hotels.

Indeed, So hopes to make the Medallion part of a preexisting franchise chain eventually, but to get to the point, he’s devoting his efforts to growing the hotel.

“I’d like to build more rooms and add amenities,” said So, who is still brainstorming potential designs, but is inspired by the Shilla Seoul Hotel in his native South Korea. “We’re even considering a water park for young children. Our goal is to accommodate the local and regional markets, so we can serve our friends to the north in Canada as well.”

Within the next five years, So anticipates that this expansion will result in his employee base tripling from about 40 to nearly 120.

So spoke through his son, Thomas, as a translator, but he takes pride in his time in America, and feels strongly about making himself and his hotel part of the community.

“I’m glad to be doing business here,” So said. “I want to help develop relationships between Marysville, Arlington, Everett and Snohomish County. It’s by supporting each other that we can create a thriving regional economy. I want to see this area continue to grow.”