Press Release
October 26, 2000
KISSIMMEE-ST. CLOUD, FL -- A glorious new sun rose today in the Sunshine State as the Opryland Hotel Florida celebrated
its topping out by installing a 16-foot high, 1,000-pound gold sun sculpture over the hotel.
The 1,400-room hotel and convention center, located on 65 acres and on schedule to open February 2002, was the
site for the celebration. Invited dignitaries and guests applauded as the sun sculpture was lifted 180 feet for
installation atop the main atrium.
``We are delighted to be in Florida for the topping out of the first Opryland Hotel property outside of Nashville,''
said Dave Jones, CEO and president, Opryland Hospitality Group. ``Our clients have already expressed their approval:
We have almost 600,000 room nights under contract, and we have reserved another 700,000 room nights for contracts
and proposals in negotiation.''
At the topping out, Jones introduced the newly named senior vice president and general manager for the hotel, John
P. Caparella Jr. Caparella, who comes to Opryland Hotel Florida from Planet Hollywood International, Inc., has
nearly 20 years of hospitality and entertainment experience, including five years as manager at the WALT DISNEY
WORLD Dolphin Hotel.
The $385 million Opryland Hotel Florida project, which features 400,000 square feet of meeting and exhibition space,
is being built by Perini Building Company/Suitt Construction Company, a joint venture. Perini Building Company,
the largest builder of hotels and casinos in the country, is a subsidiary of Perini Corporation (AMEX:PCR).
The Opryland Hospitality Group was formed in 1998 to take the successful convention hotel concept of Opryland Hotel
Nashville to other markets. Opryland Hotels concentrate on the meetings and conventions industry by providing expansive
facilities and attention-getting public spaces, focusing on service details and creating entertainment experiences.
The Opryland Hospitality Group also has a property under construction, Opryland Hotel Texas in Grapevine, opening
in spring 2003.
The Opryland Hospitality Group is a property of Gaylord Entertainment, a diversified entertainment company whose
businesses operate in three groups: hospitality and attractions, creative content and interactive media. It is
headquarted in Nashville, Tenn., and its stock is traded on the New York Stock Exchange (symbol:GET).
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Contact:
Yesawich, Pepperdine & Brown
Monte Martin, 407/875-1111 ext. 1801
monte_martin@ypb.com