Gaylord Accelerates Texas Project

GRAPEVINE, TX— At an Acceleration Celebration held here July 29, Gaylord Entertainment Co. President and CEO Colin Reed said the Gaylord Opryland Texas Resort & Convention Center will open in April 2004— earlier than previously expected. The Texas property was slated to open in June 2004. Reed noted revised designs and recently announced divestitures enabled Gaylord to outline a faster track to complete the hotel. The Gaylord Opryland Texas features 1,510 guestrooms and 400,000 square feet of convention, exhibition and meeting space. It also offers a unique Texan theme. In one atrium, guests will experience the San Antonio Riverwalk, another atrium will take guests on a tour of the peaceful Hill Country, while a third will focus on the western heritage of the Lone Star State. Gaylord Entertainment also appointed the hotel’s new vice president of sales and marketing Bob McPherrin. McPherrins responsibilities will include: positioning of the resort to achieve booking pace, average daily revenue goals; leading and training the sales staff; and directing the marketing and public relations function. He previously worked as the regional director of sales and marketing for Six Continents Hotels in New York City. Meanwhile, Gaylord has inked two strategic agreements for the new Texas hotel. The new resort has finalized a deal with Cowboys Golf Club, a two-minute drive from the resort, to offer guests special access to the 18-hole, 7,017-yard championship course. It has also hired Wilson & Associates of Dallas to handle interior architectural design services for the hotel.