Gaylord CEO Honored with PCMA Chairman's Award

Gaylord CEO Recognized for Overcoming Flooding Crisis and Completing Historic Reopening

Las Vegas, Nevada—( January 10, 2011 )

In recognition of extraordinary leadership and overcoming difficult challenges during a time of crisis, the Professional Convention Management Association (PCMA) selected Colin Reed, Gaylord Entertainment Chairman and CEO, to receive the prestigious 2010 PCMA Chairman's Award. Reed accepted the honor in person during today's General Session at the 2011 PCMA Annual Meeting in Las Vegas.

In early May of 2010, Nashville experienced a historic series of storms that brought a record 13.5 inches of rain in just two days, causing widespread flooding to the region. Under Reed's direction, the Gaylord Opryland safely evacuated 1,500 guests overnight as the flooding left the majority of the resort underwater, closing it indefinitely. In early June, Reed promised that the property would reopen by November 15, and after six months of intensive planning, restoring, and rebuilding, the Gaylord Opryland reopened to great fanfare on the promised date. Gaylord seized the opportunity to improve the property, redesigning guest rooms, enhancing meeting facilities, and adding new amenities, resulting in a new and improved resort and convention center, an update to this well-loved property both in Nashville and around the globe.

“The PCMA Chairman's Award is the highest honor PCMA bestows each year to an individual or organization for their unique achievements or contributions to the meetings industry in the previous year,” said PCMA Chairman Kati Quigley. “Colin Reed demonstrated extraordinary leadership during a time of crisis, ensuring the safety of their guests, and then went on to meet the challenge of restoring this magnificent property in a record amount of time, while seizing the opportunity to make improvements and updates to one of our country's most beloved properties. This was truly a remarkable accomplish by any measure.”

By accepting this award at today's general session, Reed joins an impressive lineup of previous award winners including Texas Roadhouse CEO G.J. Hart, former Delta Air Lines CEO Gerald Grinstein and Jonathan Tisch, Chairman and CEO of Loews Hotels.

For more information on the 2011 PCMA Annual Meeting visit pcma2011.org.

 

About PCMA
The Professional Convention Management Association (PCMA) is the professional resource center and premier educator for the meetings and convention industry. Founded in 1957, PCMA represents the interests of meeting management executives from associations, non-profit organizations, corporations, independent meeting planning companies, and multi-management firms who recognize the importance of meetings to their organization. PCMA empowers members with the tools they need to succeed as meeting professionals and to promote the value of the industry to their organizations and the general public. Headquartered in Chicago, PCMA has 17 chapters throughout the United States and Canada. For additional information, please visit the PCMA web site at pcma.org.

Issued by PCMA, January 10, 2011
Contact:
Robert Zak, Senior Director, Marketing and Communications
Direct: 312.423.7271, E-mail: rzak@pcma.org