GAYLORD PALMS RESORT AND CONVENTION CENTER CAPTURES FLORIDA’S NATURAL ENVIRONMENTS IN ONE CENTRAL FLORIDA DESTINATION

Kissimmee, Fla—( May 23, 2011 ) Located in Central Florida, Gaylord Palms Resort and Convention Center offers the best of all worlds. The main attraction: Florida’s natural resources. Visit the tropics in Key West. See baby alligators in St. Augustine. Experience the Florida Everglades. And the theme parks: the front gate of Walt Disney World® is only 1.5 miles away and the resort is in close proximity to Universal Studios Florida, SeaWorld Orlando and GATORLAND®. Orlando International Airport is a short 20-minute drive away. And that is just the beginning.

The lush atmosphere of the Florida Everglades comes to life under the signature glass atrium. Take a stroll up a rugged wooden walkway over the misty bogs through majestic cypress trees. Don’t miss: Baby Grunt feedings! Watch as animal care specialists from Bottled Ocean offer an up close and personal interaction with a baby Grunt (alligator hatchlings).

The cobblestone streets of St. Augustine surround visitors with history. The Spanish architecture recalls a romantic view of Florida, as seen through the eyes of explorers such as Ponce de Leon. A replica of the Castillo de San Marcos, the oldest Spanish fort in the New World, displays the treasures from the Spanish ship Atocha, sought after for 16 years and discovered by Mel Fisher.

Don't miss: Alligator feedings. Watch as animal care specialists from Gatorland feed the alligators in Gator Springs.

Pampering fit for a star: You!

The recently renovated Relâche Spa is making BIG headlines! It’s one of only two spas in Orlando ranked a Four Star Spa by Forbes Travel Guide, has earned the distinction of “Simply the Best” Spa by Orlando Home & Leisure magazine, and is ranked  a Top 100 Resort Spa by Condé Nast Traveler magazine! At Relâche Spa, guests treat themselves to the popular Intraceutical Oxygen Facial treatments used to make celebrities such as Madonna and Eva Longoria look flawless and red carpet perfect. The top to bottom makeover also includes “Best of Florida” spa treatments in a setting that reflects tropical Florida. At the new Relâche Wellness Center, groups may now book wellness seminars, classes and private instruction at a new private area adjacent to the spa. And the spa’s new 4,000-square-foot Relâche Fitness Center is outfitted with Life Fitness cardio and strength training equipment and offers a schedule of fitness classes.

Some of the Orlando’s best dining: All under one atrium!

Guests do not need to venture far to discover a world of dining from elegant to casual to poolside. For dinner, the classic Old Hickory Steakhouse offers the highest quality certified Black Angus aged cuts and fresh seafood. Sunset Sam’s, a Key West Grill, with its towering 60-foot sailboat puts guests right in the middle of all of the fun of Key West with Floridian favorites for lunch and dinner. At the beautiful Villa de Flora, a

Mediterranean chef’s table is set in the grand dining room of a European villa and offers fresh and authentic creations for breakfast, lunch, dinner and Sunday brunch.

Craving sushi? Try SORA, where this modern, urban-style eatery specializes in the art of sushi and features eclectic, fusion-inspired cocktails and specialty drinks. For casual, poolside lunch and dinner, Cantina Del Sol serves American Bar & Grill favorites along with tropical drinks and memorable views.  For evening entertainment, drop by Auggie’s Jammin’ Bar. Looking for on-the-go bistro fare? Java Coast serves coffee drinks, bakery items, sandwiches, salads, wine and beer. And don’t forget ice cream at Häagen-Dazs!

Outdoor Recreation: World class golf!

Guests of Gaylord Palms Resort have an opportunity to play at Celebration Golf Club, located in the nearby town of Celebration. The Robert Trent Jones-designed golf course was the last to be designed by the legendary golf champion. It is rated four and a half stars in Golf Digest and ranked #12 by Florida Golf News. For details visit CelebrationGolf.com. Preferred tee times including transportation are available through the resort's concierge.

Indoor recreation: Shopping!

What is a vacation or a business trip without a little shopping!? The new and popular Brighton Collectibles presents a stunning collection of accessories hand-picked for Gaylord Palms. Disney Gateway offers a large selection of quality Disney-themed parks and resorts merchandise for guests of all ages. Golfers step out in style after a visit to the PGA Tour Shop, featuring best-selling golf apparel and merchandise, that include Tommy Bahama, Cutter & Buck, Ashworth, Greg Norman, Taylor Made, Maxfli, Wilson, Titleist and more. Palm Coast provides a taste of Florida's coastal lifestyle with upscale clothing and accessories.

Alligator Alley features a selection of Florida inspired apparel, stylish accessories for ladies and men as well as unique gifts. Mallory Square Market is stocked with traveling necessities, convenience items, snacks, sundries, health and beauty items, electronics, jewelry, gifts and cold beverages. Convenient to the Convention Center, the Marketplace News and Sundries has a selection of snacks, soft drinks, books and magazines, health and beauty aids, film, cameras, T-shirts, headwear and souvenirs.

Getting down to business: Meetings and Conventions Gaylord-style

Extraordinary meeting space, flawless service and an inspiring setting result in the perfect backdrop for a business meeting, convention or trade show. A dedicated convention center adjoining the hotel offers 400,000 square feet of convention, meeting and exhibition and pre-function space. Three ballrooms and meeting rooms, including a 178,000 square-foot exhibition hall, are conveniently located on two levels and connected to the hotel by an enclosed walkway. Small groups, including corporate meetings, may enjoy the more intimate setting of Emerald Bay. Specially designed technology is built into all phases of the hotel’s operations.

Just completed: The resort’s 85,000 square feet of pre-function space has been renovated with an Old Florida/St. Augustine look with new sofas, chairs, and small tables. Areas for networking, small gatherings or a place to catch up on work or check messages have been created within the space. Computer and phone charging stationsare conveniently located throughout the area. Meeting planners will enjoy the new Flagler and Vero meeting planner offices, each with a sleek, contemporary look with private balconies, refrigerator and plasma TV.

Conducting business is more convenient than ever at the new FedEx Business Center. Located in the Convention Center, it offers shipping, printing, copying, office equipment rentals, large document reproduction, offset printing and binding services. The center offers 24 hour e-mail access, printing and copying.

Gaylord Entertainment recently launched its “GET Green” program to reduce its impact on the environment. Its goals include reducing energy consumption and greenhouse gas emissions per square foot by 20 percent by 2015 and to pursue LEED certificationfor all future development. The initiative also focuses on waste reduction and water conservation.

The resort celebrates the unique eco-systems of Florida while striving to protect natural habitats from around the world. Certified as a Florida Green Lodging property, the resort’s extensive use of eco-friendly practices help to protect the environment and greatly reduces the resort's environmental impact.

Among the most unique green initiatives is the extensive use of live plants inside the resort's 4.5 acre glass-covered atrium. Over 500,000 individual plants not only create distinctive Florida eco-systems, but also filter the indoor air, acting as natural air purifiers.