According to Gaylord’s research of major meetings markets, the Denver metropolitan market was rated a top ten destination by meeting planners and is one of the highest growth areas in the country.
“We are thrilled by the prospect of a Gaylord property in the Denver Market, which has fast become one of the most desirable tourist and business travel destinations in the United States and a destination of choice for meeting planners and conventions,” said Colin V. Reed, chairman and chief executive officer, Gaylord Entertainment. “Our loyal customers who return over and over again to our existing properties have been telling us for some time that they would love to be able to replicate the Gaylord experience in a market in the Western region of the United States. We believe that this is the perfect location for meeting that demand.”
The project is expected to cost approximately $800 million and will be funded by Gaylord, potential joint venture partners and the tax incentives that are being provided as a result of the agreement between the company and the city of Aurora.
Last night, the Aurora City Council approved an agreement with Gaylord that includes a financial package. Under this agreement, the city pledges to collect virtually all of the new taxes generated by the Gaylord Resort and Convention Center and reinvest them into the project. Components of the financial plan will require agreement by additional local jurisdictions and selection by the State of Colorado as a recipient of funds from the recently enacted Regional Tourism Act. Over the next 12 months Gaylord will continue to work with city, county and state officials to secure the necessary approvals required for the incentive plan and for construction to commence.
Gaylord has selected Colorado-based Hensel Phelps Construction Co. as the general contractor for the project. Gaylord hopes to break ground on construction in mid-to-late 2012.
“When you see the quality and service at a Gaylord property you understand why they get so much repeat business. This project will bring thousands of new visitors to Colorado,” said Ed Tauer, Mayor of Aurora, Colo. “The community benefits are awesome. Our top priority is jobs, and this brings over 1,800 new jobs with a great employer.”
The property is expected to initially feature:
- 1,500 luxurious guest rooms
- 400,000 square feet of exhibition and meeting space
- A dramatic atrium setting offering panoramic views of the full Rocky Mountain vista, from Longs Peak down to Pikes Peak
- Numerous hotel amenities that Gaylord’s customers have come to expect
About Gaylord Entertainment
Gaylord Entertainment (NYSE: GET), a leading hospitality and entertainment company based in Nashville, Tenn., owns and operates Gaylord Hotels (www.gaylordhotels.com), its network of upscale, meetings-focused resorts and the Grand Ole Opry (www.opry.com), the weekly showcase of country music's finest performers for 85 consecutive years. The company's entertainment brands and properties include the Radisson Hotel Opryland, Ryman Auditorium, General Jackson Showboat, Gaylord Springs Golf Links, Wildhorse Saloon, and WSM-AM. For more information about the company, visit www.GaylordEntertainment.com .
This press release contains statements as to the Company’s beliefs and expectations of the outcome of future events that are forward-looking statements as defined in the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995. These forward-looking statements are subject to risks and uncertainties that could cause actual results to differ materially from the statements made. These include risks and uncertainties associated with obtaining financing, governmental and third party approvals related to new developments, economic conditions affecting the hospitality business generally, rising labor and benefits costs, the timing of any new development projects, increased costs and other risks associated with building and developing new hotel facilities, the geographic concentration of our hotel properties, business levels at the Company’s hotels, our ability to successfully operate our hotels and our ability to refinance our indebtedness as it matures. Other factors that could cause operating and financial results to differ are described in the filings made from time to time by the Company with the Securities and Exchange Commission and include the risk factors described in our Annual Report on Form 10-K for the fiscal year ended December 31, 2010. The Company does not undertake any obligation to release publicly any revisions to forward-looking statements made by it to reflect events or circumstances occurring after the date hereof or the occurrence of unanticipated events.