Caparella has served as executive vice president planning, development and administration and president of PlanetHollywood.com for Planet Hollywood International Inc. in Orlando, Florida since September 1997. Prior to his position there, Caparella served as hotel manager for Walt Disney World Dolphin Hotel in Orlando, Florida; an ITT Sheraton managed property, from 1992-1997. Caparella was also general manager at the Sheraton Manhattan Hotel in New York City from December 1989-1992.

�John�s experience managing large caliber hotels and attractions in central Florida is a perfect fit for our new hotel. John has more than 20 years of hotel experience, I�m sure this will only strengthen the charge to be the premier hotel and convention center destination in Florida,� said Jones.

The Opryland Hotel Florida celebrated its �Topping Out� on October 25, 2000. A 1,000-pound, 16-foot gold sun sculpture was lifted by crane and placed atop the 180-foot roof.  The hotel is on schedule to open February of 2002, as the first Opryland Hotel property outside Nashville.

�What an exciting time to join the Opryland Hospitality Group. The sales team has been booking meetings, conventions and exhibitions at an exciting and very encouraging pace. Currently, there are 600,000 contracted room nights. We have reserved another 700,000 for contracts and proposals that are in negotiation.  This is a tribute to their efforts and to the distinct appeal of the Opryland brand,� said Caparella.

The Opryland Hotel Florida, a $385 million project features 400,000 square feet of meeting and exhibition space, four acres of domed gardens under glass, two pools and a variety of entertainment, retail and restaurant sites in traditional Floridian architecture. It is located on a 68-acre site on International Drive five minutes from the main gate of the Walt Disney World Resort. 

The Opryland Hospitality Group was formed in 1998 to take the successful convention hotel concept of Opryland Hotel Nashville to other markets. Opryland Hotels concentrate on the meetings and conventions industry by providing expansive facilities and attention-getting public spaces, focusing on service details and creating entertainment experiences. The Opryland Hospitality Group has a property also in development in Texas.

The Opryland Hospitality Group is a property of Gaylord Entertainment, a diversified entertainment company whose businesses operate in three groups: hospitality and attractions, creative content and interactive media.  It is headquartered in Nashville, Tenn., and its stock is traded on the New York Stock Exchange (symbol: GET).