WOLFGANG BIRK NAMED EXECUTIVE CHEF & GENERAL MANAGER OF OLD HICKORY STEAKHOUSE AND POSE ULTRA LOUNGE

Award-winning chef Wolfgang Birk has been named executive chef and general manager of Old Hickory Steakhouse and Pose Ultra Lounge at the Gaylord National Resort & Convention Center, opening April 2008 in National Harbor, Md. This announcement was made by Sheldon Suga, senior vice president and general manager.

Old Hickory Steakhouse is the resort's most sophisticated dining experience, boasting a serious menu steeped in the traditions of the world's finest steakhouses. It recreates the ambiance of an 18th century Georgian row house with a setting that includes an intimate piano lounge, a wine-cellar showcasing a collection of 2,000 wines, and a unique artisanal cheese cave.

Pose Ultra Lounge is sure to become the area's hottest new social scene. Perched high atop the resort's 18th floor, it offers dramatic vistas of the nation's capital and the Potomac River. A "small bites" menu featuring plates of perfect culinary dimensions in smaller portions will tempt tastebuds and encourage sharing in this dynamic social setting.

Birk will oversee culinary operations for both venues and infuse his unique vision into these distinct settings, creating a truly exceptional guest experience. His duties will include leading daily kitchen operations, managing culinary staff performance and executing strategic plans for these outlets.

"Old Hickory and Pose represent two of the most exciting components of the guest experience at Gaylord National," said Suga. "Wolfgang will be a terrific force in setting those standards and expectations from the moment we open the door."

Birk brings to Gaylord National a wealth of culinary expertise culled from the best kitchens of Spain, Italy, Germany, North America and beyond. Most recently, he served as executive chef of Miami's famous five-star, five-diamond Casa Casuarina (formerly known as the Versace Mansion).

Trained in Europe, Birk honed his craft over the past twenty years in such establishments as Cologne's three-Michelin-star Rino Casati, New York's Colors and Dean & DeLuca, as well as the five-star Carenage Bay Beach & Golf Club Resort in The Grenadines and Grand Bay Hotel's Bice Restaurant in Miami. Birk has also worked alongside many of the world's top chefs, and taught at New York's illustrious New School.

Birk's many honors include receiving the James Beard Foundation Award in 1998 and 2004, a best chef nomination in Food and Wine magazine in 2001, 2002, and 2003, and honorable mentions in the New York Times, New York Daily News and many additional international food magazines.

About Gaylord National
Gaylord National Resort and Convention Center, opening April 2008, is located along the banks of the Potomac River, less than eight miles south of the nation's capital, in National Harbor, Md., a new 300-acre waterfront destination offering world-class dining, retail and entertainment venues in Prince George's County, Md. The Gaylord National Resort and Convention Center is the largest convention resort on the Eastern Seaboard, offering 2,000 guest rooms, including 110 lavish suites; more than 470,000 square feet of convention, meeting, exhibit and pre-function space; acclaimed restaurants; Relâche™ Spa; and a soaring 18-story, 1.5-acre glass-covered atrium. For more information, visit www.gaylordnational.com.

About Gaylord Hotels
Gaylord Hotels™ is a pioneer in the hotel and convention industry with a collection of four upscale, meetings- focused resorts found near Nashville, Tennessee; Orlando, Florida; Dallas, Texas; and Washington, D.C. Every Gaylord property celebrates the geographical heritage of the destination in which it is located with regional themes and attractions designed exclusively for that resort. The company's hallmark - "everything in one place" - provides meeting attendees and leisure travelers with convenient onsite access to award-winning dining options, quality spa and fitness facilities, top-notch entertainment, on-site shopping and resort activities. Gaylord Hotels is owned and operated by Gaylord Entertainment (NYSE: GET), a leading hospitality and entertainment company based in Nashville, Tennessee. For more information, visit www.gaylordhotels.com.

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Amie Gorrell
Director of Public Relations
Gaylord National Resort & Convention Center
301-965-2111 571-251-2774
agorrell@gaylordhotels.com