PRESS RELEASES

Opryland Hotel Grapevine Receives Re-branding

Friday, November 2, 2001

November 30th
Colleyville City Park
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Opryland Texas™ being built in Grapevine, Texas broke ground in June 2000, and is scheduled to open in Summer 2004. The 1,508 room hotel and convention center is located eight minutes from Dallas/Fort Worth Airport. Like its planned sister property in Kissimmee-St. Cloud, Florida, Gaylord Opryland Texas will feature a grand atrium enclosing four acres as well as 400,000 square feet of pre-function, meeting and exhibition space all under one roof. The property will also include three themed restaurants with an additional restaurant located on the point overlooking Lake Grapevine. Situated directly on Lake Grapevine, Gaylord Opryland Texas will be surrounded by 36 holes of golf. The ambiance of the hotel will reflect Texas' proud heritage and incorporate the tradition of superior hospitality, service and entertainment that is the signature of the Gaylord Opryland in Nashville and the parent company—Gaylord Entertainment Company.

The most recent announcement by Gaylord Entertainment is the re-branding of its industry-leading Opryland convention hotels under the new brand "Gaylord Hotels."  The branding change is part of Gaylord's overall company initiative to re-focus and energize its core hospitality and convention business.  Gaylord will begin using the new brand name immediately. Gaylord's original Nashville property will be renamed Gaylord Opryland; its Kissimmee, Florida property -- Gaylord Palms; and, the Grapevine, Texas property -- Gaylord Opryland Texas.

According to Colin Reed, chief executive officer of Gaylord Entertainment, this re-branding is based on extensive research among meeting planners, associations, travel agents and consumers of meeting and convention hotels.

"The research showed the Gaylord name connotes an upscale and high quality image that accurately reflects the brand," said Mr. Reed.  "The Opryland name enjoys strong regional name recognition in Nashville and Texas, but suggests an image that is not consistent with the product that Gaylord will open in Florida in 2002 or in other locations around the country."  

"We feel that these re-branding efforts will help us to most effectively market our convention and hotel properties. We firmly believe that our state-of-the-industry properties, with unsurpassed meeting, convention and exhibition space, and exciting on-site entertainment venues make Gaylord the premier convention and meeting destination company in the country," stated Reed.

For additional information on Gaylord Opryland Texas, visit their website at www.oprylandtexas.com.