Testimonials & Awards
At Gaylord Hotels award-winning service is more than a goal; it's an expectation. Gaylord Opryland is the flagship property in Gaylord's "best in class" line of hotels that also includes Gaylord Palms, Gaylord Texan and Gaylord National. As such, Gaylord Opryland sets the benchmark for world-class dining and entertainment experiences.
By focusing on creating the highest-caliber cuisine and striving to deliver flawless service, Gaylord Opryland continually garners the most prestigious awards in the hospitality industry including:
Meetings-Related Awards
2002 - 2007 Gold Key Elite Award
Meetings & Conventions Magazine
Gaylord Opryland Resort & Convention Center was honored with the prestigious "M&C Gold Key Elite" award by Meetings & Conventions magazine for excellence in 2006. Only five properties in the entire world received this high distinction. "It takes more than impressive architecture, beautifully decorated accommodations and wonderful restaurants and amenities to make an award-winning meeting and convention property," MEETINGS AND CONVENTIONS noted. "Efficiency, creativity and a willingness to help are also important factors."
2004 - 2006 Gold Platter Elite Award
Meetings & Conventions Magazine
Gaylord Opryland Resort has been awarded the "M&C Gold Platter Elite" Award from Meetings and Conventions magazine. Meeting and convention professionals based their selection on strict criteria which included: enthusiasm and professionalism of staff; quality of food presentation; creativity of menu; originality of theme-party concepts; helpfulness and budgeting considerations; excellence of staff service and ambiance of dining rooms.
Gold Key Hall of Fame
Meeting & Conventions Magazine
Gaylord Opryland Resort & Convention Center was honored with the Gold Key Hall of Fame by Meetings & Conventions magazine. Gold Key Hall of Fame are properties who have won Gold Key Awards for at least 12 years.
1980-2006 Gold Key Award
Meetings & Conventions Magazine
MEETINGS & CONVENTION'S Gold Key Award is given annually to the finest meeting properties worldwide. Winners of this coveted award are nominated and chosen by the magazine's subscribers for overall excellence. Each year, planners base their selection on seven criteria: overall attitude of meeting staff; quality of meeting rooms; availability and quality of guest services; quality of food and beverage service; proficiency and ease of handling reservations; availability of audio visual services and other technical/support equipment, and possible range of recreational facilities (at resorts).
Gold Platter Hall of Fame
Meeting & Conventions Magazine
Gaylord Opryland Resort & Convention Center was honored with the Gold Platter Hall of Fame by Meetings & Conventions magazine. Gold Platter Hall of Fame are properties who have won Gold Platter Awards for at least 12 years. Only six properties are listed in the Hall of Fame. (Boca Raton Resort & Club, The Breakers, The Broadmoor, The Greenbrier, and the Phoenician)
2006 Award of Excellence
Corporate & Incentive Travel
The subscribers of Corporate & Incentive Travel voted Gaylord Opryland Resort as the facility that best served their meetings and incentive programs.
2004 Best of the South
MeetingSouth magazine
Named a 2004 Best of the South winner by meeting planners who have signed deals and delivered successful events throughout the past year. Winners are chosen based upon the quality of meeting space; guest rooms; guest services and amenities; food and beverage service; the efficiency and helpfulness of staff; the availability of technical equipment; recreational facilities and activities; and overall value and experience.
2004 Paragon Award
Corporate Meetings & Incentives magazine
Chosen by readers of this publication, each property is nominated because it did the best job of handling readers' meetings and incentive programs during the past year.
2004 Inner Circle Award
Association Meetings magazine
Inner Circle winners are selected in the hotel, resort, convention center and convention and visitors bureau categories based on how best each has serviced their meetings and conventions over the preceding 12 months.
2004 Merit & Distinction Award
Medical Meeting magazine
Nominations are based on the hosts that best handled readers' meetings or conventions in the previous 12 months, using each property's guest room quality, meeting rooms, catering and convention services, and audiovisual/technical support as criteria.
1984, 1986, 1991, 1993-2003 Gold Platter Award
Meetings & Conventions Magazine
This annual award, is bestowed upon the prominent catering departments that have continually excelled in their creative and culinary presentations. The 27 domestic properties honored were nominated and selected directly by the readers of MEETINGS & CONVENTIONS magazine. Maintaining the industry's toughest standards, these meeting and incentive professionals based their selections on seven important criteria: enthusiasm and professionalism of catering staff, quality of food presentation, creativity of menu, originality of theme-party concepts, overall helpfulness and budgeting considerations, excellence of staff service, and ambiance of dining rooms.
1984 - 2006 Pinnacle Award
Successful Meetings
Gaylord Opryland is the winner of the 2006 Pinnacle award for the 22nd consecutive year. Voted on by meeting planners recognizing a teams' commitment to providing theutmost in service and professionalism. And this year designated as a Bronze Circle inductee awarded to those properties that have won this top award for each of the past 20 years.
2003 Planners' Choice Award
Meeting News
Rewarded to hotels, resorts, convention centers, and convention bureaus that strive to deliver the highest levels of service, accomodations, and meeting facilities.
2003 Stars of the South Award Meetings South Presented by Meetings South, this award is given annually to the top industry players in the South as voted on by readers of Meetings South. This is the third consecutive year that Gaylord Opryland has received the award.
2002 World Class Award
Insurance Meetings Management Magazine
Voted on each year by key insurance executives and travel planners responsible for meeting decisions and meeting travel planners within the insurance industry.
Food-Related Awards
2004 - 2006 (DiRōNA) Award
Distinguished Restaurants of North America
One of the most prestigious recognitions for fine dining went to Gaylord Opryland's Old Hickory Steakhouse, a signature restaurant at Gaylord Hotels. Named in 2004 as one of only 56 new restaurants in North America selected for their outstanding menu and service.
Gaylord Opryland Resort & Convention Center's signature restaurant, the Old Hickory Steakhouse, won the 2004 through 2006 Distinguished Restaurants of North America (DiRōNA) Award—one of the most prestigious awards for fine dining. Only 797 restaurants in the world are part of this elite roster, as the DiRōNA Award is bestowed upon only the most distinguished restaurateurs. To become eligible, restaurants first must be in operation under the same ownership for a minimum of three years. An anonymous, independent 75-point inspection of the property is conducted to review the quality of the food, wine, service, physical property and décor. The DiRōNA Award is the only program of its kind—scrutinizing every aspect of the dining experience, from the making of reservations to the presentation of the check.
2004 - 2005 Wine Spectator Award of Excellence
Wine Spectator
The annual Wine Spectator Restaurant Awards list provides a guide to restaurants that set themselves apart with thoughtful and ambitious wine programs. Restaurants submit an extensive entry and are judged based upon their wine list, as well as how well the wine list accompanies the restaurant's atmosphere and cuisine. The Wine Spectator Award of Excellence honors restaurants that create sound wine programs appropriate to their restaurant's cuisine and style.
2006 "Best of Citysearch"
Best Hotel Dining, Old Hickory Steakhouse: Audience Winner
Best Special-Occasion Dining, Old Hickory Steakhouse: Editorial Winner
Best Seafood, Cascades Seafood Restaurant: Editorial & Audience Winner
Best Group Dining, Wildhorse Saloon: Editorial Winner
Best of Citysearch Hotels allows website visitors the opportunity to vote for their favorite hotel or lodging in 14 separate categories. Audience winners were determined by the number of votes each nominee received during a certain voting period.
2008 Tennessean readers' choice poll, the "Toast of Music City"
Most Creative Cocktails: Fuse, 1st place
Best Dance Club: Fuse, 1st place
Best DJ: DJ Tyrus at Fuse, 1st place
Best Server: Liz Buerlson at Fuse, 2nd place
Best Place for a First Date: Fuse, 2nd place
Best Seafood: Cascades, 2nd place
Best Place to Spot Celebrities: Fuse, 3rd place
Best Steak: Old Hickory, 3rd place
Best Buffet: Water's Edge Marketplace Buffet, 3rd place
General Awards
2002 World's Best Award
Travel & Leisure
Voted on by readers who rated the quality of top hotels around the world for business travelers.
1999 - 2005 Reader's Choice Award
Southern Living Magazine
Voted on my readers as a top overall destination.
2005 AAA "GEM" Attraction Award
AAA
Awarded to destinations which are of exceptional interest and quality—offering a Great Experience for AAA Members.
2006 "Best of Citysearch"
Best Tourist Hotel: Editorial and Audience Winner
Best Family Friendly: Editorial and Audience Winner
Best Hotel Pool: Editorial and Audience Winner
Best Business Hotel: Audience Winner
Best Romantic Hotel: Audience Winner
Best Luxury Hotel: Audience Winner
Best Hotel Staff: Audience Winner
Best Getaway: Audience Winner
Best of Citysearch Hotels allows website visitors the opportunity to vote for their favorite hotel or lodging in 14 separate categories. Audience winners were determined by the number of votes each nominee received during a certain voting period. Editorial winners are chosen by Citysearch editors.
2007 "Best of Tennessee Readers' Poll" At Home Tennessee Magazine
Best Hotel for Pleasure Travel
Best Romantic Dinner: Old Hickory Steakhouse
Best Spa: Relâche, The Spa at Gaylord Opryland
At Home Tennessee Magazine readers chose the best homes, restaurants, arts and fashions the state of Tennessee has to offer.
2008 Tennessean readers' choice poll, the "Toast of Music City"
Best Spa (overall): Relâche, 1st place
Most Creative Cocktails: Fuse, 1st place
Best Dance Club: Fuse, 1st place
Best DJ: DJ Tyrus at Fuse, 1st place
Best Employer: Gaylord Entertainment Company, 1st place
Best Manicure/Pedicure: Relâche, 2nd place
Best Massage: Relâche, 2nd place
Best Server: Liz Buerlson at Fuse, 2nd place
Best Place for a First Date: Fuse, 2nd place
Best Place to Spot Celebrities: Fuse, 3rd place
Best Festival or Event: A Country Christmas, 3rd place
Nashville Lifestyles magazine chose Fuse as one of its Top Ten Design Spaces for 2008.
More Media Resources
- Press Releases
- Press Kit
- Photos, Images and Logos
- Meet Our Senior Leaders
- Meet Our Celebrity Stars
- Fun Facts about Gaylord Opryland
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