|
|
NASHVILLE, Tenn - May 27, 1999--Gaylord Entertainment
Company (NYSE:GET) has combined the Opryland Hotel in Nashville and the
Opryland Lodging Group, whose mission is to develop hotels in other markets,
into one business unit called the Opryland Hospitality Group, which is
intended to strengthen the Opryland Hotel brand, Company officials announced.
Dave Jones, who joined the company in 1998 as President and Chief Executive Officer of the Opryland Lodging Group, retains that title with the new Opryland Hospitality Group. Jack Gaines, who joined the company the same year, reports to Jones as President of Opryland Hotel Attractions. "This new organizational structure allows us to maximize the considerable
strengths of our hospitality leadership team and ensures we will develop
a truly integrated operation as we open our new hotels over the next several
years," said Terry London, President and Chief Executive Officer of Gaylord
Entertainment. "Dave Jones has done a great job of laying the groundwork
for the expansion of our Opryland Hotel convention destination concept,
and Jack Gaines is a tremendous leader for our biggest single property."
County, just a few minutes from Walt Disney World, and the 1,500-room Opryland Hotel Texas in Grapevine, Texas, just seven minutes from the Dallas-Fort Worth International Airport. The Opryland Hotel Florida is scheduled to open in 2002, and the Opryland Hotel Texas is scheduled to open in 2003. Each hotel will have a convention center in excess of 400,000 square feet, which will include an 185,000 square-foot exhibit hall. "The Opryland brand is exceptionally powerful in the hospitality industry, both in our primary market of meetings and conventions and in the leisure market," Jones said. "In Nashville, we have built a solid reputation for two reasons--the professionalism and friendliness of our team coupled with a fantastic hotel property. Through the Opryland Hospitality Group, we are ready to continue that tradition of excellence." In addition to the Opryland Hotel itself, Opryland Hotel Attractions in Nashville includes the 307-room Inn at Opryland, the 1,200-passenger General Jackson showboat, the Springhouse Golf Club, the Opryland KOA Kampground, the Opryland River Taxis and Grand Ole Opry Sightseeing Tours. Gaylord Entertainment Company is a diversified entertainment company operating in three business segments: hospitality and attractions; broadcasting and music; and cable networks. Among its properties are WSM radio and the Grand Ole Opry, the Opryland Hotel, Acuff-Rose Music Publishing, Word Entertainment, Z Music Television, Country Music Television International, the Wildhorse Saloon and the Ryman Auditorium. |
|