GAYLORD OPRYLAND CLOSES DUE TO NASHVILLE’S FLOOD

Landmark Hotel Experiences Unprecedented Natural Disaster, Contacts Guests With Reservations in Next 90 Days to Cancel Bookings

Nashville, Tenn.—( May 5, 2010 ) As the national news media reports on the historic flooding in Nashville, Tennessee, one of the most-viewed and heart-breaking images was that of the iconic, landmark hotel, the Gaylord Opryland Resort, and its indoor atriums under 10 feet of water.

This hotel has long been famous for its incredible gardens, live music, award-winning restaurants, Country Christmas celebrations and southern hospitality.

As Gaylord Opryland is not currently able to properly host its vacationing guests with the award-winning service for which it is famous, the hotel is reaching out to all the guests with reservations on the books in the next 90 days.

A letter was emailed to every guest* with hotel reservations at Gaylord Opryland in the next three months.  [The letter is pasted below.] 

During the last 48 hours, Middle Tennessee experienced a historic series of storms that resulted in record rainfall and now widespread flooding.  Gaylord Opryland Resort, which sits adjacent to the Cumberland River experienced flood conditions in the early hours of Monday, May 3.  The river rose to levels that have not been seen in Nashville for the last 50 years as the water breached the levees.

As a result of the flood, the hotel is currently closed.

By the end of this month, we hope to have completed a preliminary assessment of the current situation, and will have more detailed information with regard to the reopening of Gaylord Opryland.

We are contacting our customers with reservations at Gaylord Opryland that are scheduled to arrive within the next 90 days to inform them that we unfortunately will not be able to host them properly at this time.

Should you have any questions with regard to the status of Gaylord Opryland Resort, we will be posting updates as conditions merit on  www.GaylordOpryland.com.  Thank you for your patience and understanding in this unprecedented situation.

For those guests who won't be able to experience Gaylord Opryland this summer as they had planned for its annual SummerFest activities, there are three other Gaylord Hotels that will continue with their own unique versions of SummerFest.  So, Gaylord customers seeking that special Gaylord Hotels experience can look to those other three resorts for their vacation needs.  Those hotels are Gaylord Palms (in the Orlando area), Gaylord National (in the Washington, D.C. area) and Gaylord Texan (in the Dallas area) and information about those experiences can be found at www.gaylordhotels.com .

About Gaylord Hotels®
Gaylord Hotels® is a collection of four upscale, resorts which afford endless opportunities for leisure travelers and conventioneers.  The hotel company's hallmark -- "everything in one place" -- provides vacationers with diverse dining options, quality spa and fitness center services, top-notch entertainment, on-site shopping and endless activities -- all within each resort.  Gaylord Hotels is a pioneer in the hotel and convention industry with properties in the nation's most desirable destinations. Gaylord Hotels include Gaylord Opryland® in Nashville, Tennessee; Gaylord Palms® in Kissimmee, Florida near Orlando; and Gaylord Texan® on Lake Grapevine near Dallas, Texas, and Gaylord National® on the Potomac in National Harbor, Maryland, which just celebrated its year anniversary in April 2009. Gaylord Hotels is owned and operated by Gaylord Entertainment (NYSE: GET), a leading hospitality and entertainment company based in Nashville, Tenn.  For more information, please visit: www.gaylordhotels.com.

*Email letters were sent to every guest for whom Gaylord Opryland had an email address. 

Media contacts:
Amy A. Atkinson
aatkinson@gaylordhotels.com
(615)-316-6806

Brian Abrahamson
babrahamson@gaylordentertainment.com
(615) 316-6302