Setting the stage for legendary productions like the annual Country Music Association (CMA) Awards and the weekly Grand Ole Opry, the world's longest-running live radio program, Nashville knows how to wow a crowd, and the destination's landmark Gaylord Opryland Resort & Convention Center is no exception.
During its grand reopening celebration in November, roughly six months after Nashville's devastating floods of May 2010, Gaylord Opryland rolled out the red carpet for more than 1,000 invitees, treating them to everything from private concerts and holiday shows to fine food and wine, spa treatments and golf.
The three-day event gave everyone, including hundreds of meeting planners and travel industry leaders, a chance to see firsthand the results of an impressively orchestrated, $225 million-plus initiative that started with flood cleanup and continued with repairs, restorations and renovations that have left the property sparkling—and given the resort's employees, referred to as "stars" by the company, a renewed sense of pride.
"It's the passion and commitment that our 'stars' have for this business," says Peter Weien, senior vice president and general manager of Gaylord Opryland. "Look how we rallied without any federal assistance, how we responded as a community. We're letting the world know we're back and we're better than ever."
At the recent 2011 PCMA Annual Meeting in Las Vegas, Colin Reed, Gaylord Entertainment chairman and CEO, received the prestigious 2010 PCMA Chairman's Award in recognition of extraordinary leadership and overcoming difficult challenges during Gaylord Opryland's flood recovery effort.
A testament to its ability to pull off large events and host multiple groups with ease, the 2,881-room property, the largest non-gaming hotel facility in the continental U.S., was full during the reopening celebration, with three other large groups as well as leisure travelers enjoying the newly revamped surroundings—and roughly 3,000 friendly "stars" attending to their every need.
Kemp Gallineau, senior vice president and chief sales officer for Gaylord Entertainment, says the property's size and the personalized service are among its biggest selling points.
"You don't find many properties that can do groups of that size," he says, adding that the resort can host six to 20 groups at the same time. "We focus on the experience and understanding their needs, whether it's leisure travelers or a group. The level of service we provide keeps them coming back."
The all-encompassing nature of the property is another plus, according to Weien.
"The biggest asset of this hotel is the vast amount of facilities and amenities that exist, and it's all contained under one roof," he says. "So logistically, it's very easy to executive an event. Everything you'd expect to find at a resort other than an ocean is here."
The iconic Nashville property, long known for its glass-roofed atrium setting, lush landscaping, waterfalls and endless diversions, including numerous restaurants, shops and nightlife venues, has even more in store after the renovation and restoration.
The elegantly modern Cascades Lobby, complete with a glass mosaic rotunda and blown-glass sculpture by Ludek Hroch that is titled Resurgence, shines after being completely redesigned, while the Cascades Atrium is as inviting as ever, with the new Falls Bar overlooking two waterfalls. Three new restaurants include Ravello, specializing in Southern Italian cuisine; Solario, featuring authentic Mexican dishes, including fresh guacamole made tableside; and The Conservatory Bar, boasting upscale wines.
Guest rooms also received enhancements. The lower-level Delta guest rooms that were affected by the flood were completely torn out and rebuilt, while the entire Magnolia wing of the hotel, including guest rooms, was refreshed with inviting contemporary touches.
Improvements were also made to group facilities, which include a total of 600,000 square feet of meeting and exhibition space.
Several large meeting venues were used during the reopening celebration, including the highly versatile Delta Ballroom, which staged three impressive events: a Keith Urban concert featuring an artsy, musician-themed reception and a formal sit-down dinner highlighting the talents of Gaylord chefs; a Sheryl Crow concert that opened with a dine-around reception with food stations spotlighting the cuisine and wine of the resort's restaurants; and a Trace Adkins and Craig Morgan community concert featuring a carnival-themed reception with picnic tables, hot pretzel carts, hamburger stands and bags of peanuts.
Attendees were also invited to many events surrounding the resort's A Country Christmas, including a special seasonal show, the Radio City Christmas Spectacular starring the Rockettes, at the property's Grand Ole Opry House. The venue showcases the famous Grand Ole Opry, and is a popular group attraction.
"The heart of 'Music City' is the Grand Ole Opry, and groups can do a variety of things there, from attending the Opry show to having a kickoff or closing general session," Weien says. "We've also been able to accommodate group meals right on the Opry stage."
Other great ways to incorporate Nashville's music scene into agendas include events on the resort's General Jackson Showboat or heading downtown to the Wild Horse Saloon or the historic Ryman Auditorium, which are owned by Gaylord Entertainment and are available for private events. A National Historic Landmark, the Ryman is a former home of the Grand Ole Opry, and it continues to present top musical performances.
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Gaylord Opryland Resort & Convention Center
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