Gaylord Entertainment Co. (NYSE: GET) today announced that it has agreed to sell the Gaylord Hotels brand and the rights to manage its four hotels to Marriott International, Inc. (NYSE: MAR) for $210 million in cash. Following consummation of the sale, Gaylord will continue to own its hotel properties and other businesses and will reorganize and elect to be treated as a real estate investment trust (REIT) effective January 1, 2013. The Company will be the only lodging REIT focused primarily on group-oriented destination hotels in urban and resort markets.

", whom we will welcome to the Marriott family. Working with the Gaylord brand, the existing four hotels and a Gaylord team that provides outstanding customer service, we are convinced there is tremendous upside potential for growing hotel revenues and profits and developing careers."

The transaction announced today is the result of a comprehensive review of strategic options to maximize long-term value for shareholders. In concluding to pursue this option, the Board of Directors and management team focused on three elements: the cash received in connection with the sale of the brand and management rights, the opportunity to realize substantial cost savings and revenue enhancements due to Marriott"s scale and reach in the hospitality market, and the Company"s positioning as a well capitalized REIT focused on group-oriented destination hotels in urban and resort markets.

Colin V. Reed, Chairman and Chief Executive Officer stated, "We are pleased to be announcing today a transaction that we believe allows shareholders the potential to realize maximum long-term value for their shares in Gaylord Entertainment. Our months-long review of various options led us to the conclusion that the REIT structure represents the best pathway to realize the long-term value of our business and to position the Gaylord brand for continued growth.

"The REIT structure allows us to benefit from a more efficient tax structure, and establish a platform to grow our distinct asset base through organic growth of our existing portfolio and, in time, through strategic acquisitions. Moreover, we believe that by working with Marriott International, our shareholders will benefit from significant property efficiencies and corporate overhead reductions, as well as revenue synergies which include Marriott"s ability to attract and market to large group customers. Based on our analysis to date, we anticipate annualized cost synergies, net of management fees, will total approximately $33 to $40 million. In addition, we believe we will have a unique competitive position in the hospitality REIT marketplace with a well capitalized balance sheet and a relatively predictable FFO (funds from operations) stream."

Upon consummation of the transaction, Gaylord Hotels will join the Marriott portfolio of brands. Terms of the management agreement call for Marriott to manage the four one-of-a-kind properties under the Gaylord Hotels flag. Marriott will receive a management contract with an initial 35 year term, 2% base management fee, and an incentive fee linked to improvement in hotel profitability.

Reed continued, "We are thrilled to be aligning with Marriott, an organization that consistently receives the industry"s highest praise among group customers and meeting planners. With their expansive sales force and unique benefits such as the Marriott Rewards program, we also expect that they will be able to drive additional transient demand at our properties. This relationship ensures that the commitment to a distinctive guest experience that is the hallmark of the Gaylord brand will continue in force. Importantly, Marriott shares our belief that employees are our greatest asset, a trademark of our business and a driving force behind our accomplishments to date."

Gaylord recently commissioned a survey of over 400 meeting planners to evaluate hotel company managers in the meetings business. Marriott International ranked as the undisputed top brand in terms of loyalty programs, pricing structure, meeting space, sales process, accommodations, and destinations.

Arne Sorenson, Marriott International president and chief executive officer, said, "We"re delighted to be able to make this announcement today, and look forward to adding the Gaylord brand to our portfolio. We have long admired Gaylord, both for the hotels they have created and for their superb job in hosting major meetings and events. We also have great respect for Gaylord's commitment to their people. We will continue to focus on building careers for Gaylord's "STARS", whom we will welcome to the Marriott family. Working with the Gaylord brand, the existing four hotels and a Gaylord team that provides outstanding customer service, we are convinced there is tremendous upside potential for growing hotel revenues and profits and developing careers."

Gaylord will continue to own and operate the Grand Ole Opry, Ryman Auditorium and other attractions as taxable REIT subsidiaries. Nothing will change at these iconic assets of the Nashville community, and Gaylord is fully committed to maintaining the legacy of these historic attractions. As a REIT, the Company will adjust its investment approach on the Aurora, Colorado hotel and convention center project. The Company will no longer view large scale development as a means for growth and will not proceed with the Colorado project in the form previously anticipated. The Company will re-examine how the project could be completed with minimal financial commitment by Gaylord during the development phase. This examination will be undertaken with investor expectations at the forefront and the Company will keep investors informed as the process evolves. By year-end, the Company plans to issue its shareholders a special, one-time taxable dividend of its undistributed earnings and profits, after receiving a private letter ruling from the Internal Revenue Service (IRS). Based on its preliminary analysis, the Company estimates the amount of the earnings and profits distribution to total approximately $415 to $450 million. Gaylord intends to pay 80 percent of the dividend in shares of Gaylord common stock and 20 percent in cash. The Company expects to incur approximately $55 million in one-time conversion, transaction and severance expense. The sale of the management company and the brand to Marriott International is subject to closing conditions, including the approval by Gaylord"s shareholders of proposals that will facilitate becoming a REIT, lender consent to amendments to Gaylord"s credit facility, and other customary conditions and regulatory approvals. Gaylord expects to hold a special meeting of stockholders in the third quarter of 2012 for the purpose of voting on shareholder proposals that will facilitate becoming a REIT, amendments to its Certificate of Incorporation or other restructuring. Gaylord will file a proxy statement or other filings with the Securities and Exchange Commission, which will describe the proposals and the REIT conversion.

Gaylord"s four properties include Gaylord Opryland Resort and Convention Center in Nashville, Tennessee; Gaylord Texan Resort and Convention Center in Grapevine, Texas (Dallas-Ft. Worth); Gaylord Palms Resort and Convention Center in Kissimmee, Florida (Orlando); and Gaylord National Resort and Convention Center in Prince George"s County, Maryland (Washington, D.C.).

Outlook

Reed concluded, "We continue to see positive outside-the-room spending and advance bookings trends in our business from both our group and leisure transient guests. We believe that the cost management initiatives we have put in place to date will continue to drive solid margin performance, and that the strengthening we have seen in group behavior will create additional revenue and profitability opportunities for us in the remainder of 2012. While we are not updating full year 2012 guidance to reflect the transition which we anticipate will occur early in the fourth quarter, our expectations for the performance of the business have not changed. Therefore, we will update our guidance to reflect the impact of the transaction as we draw closer to the anticipated date of transition."

About Ryman Hospitality Properties, Inc.

Ryman Hospitality Properties, Inc. (NYSE: RHP), is a real estate investment trust for federal income tax purposes, specializing in group-oriented, destination hotel assets in urban and resort markets. The Company’s owned assets include a network of four upscale, meetings-focused resorts totaling 7,795 rooms that are managed by world-class lodging operator Marriott International, Inc. under the Gaylord Hotels brand. Other owned assets managed by Marriott International, Inc. include Gaylord Springs Golf Links, the Wildhorse Saloon, the General Jackson Showboat and the Inn at Opryland, a 303-room overflow hotel adjacent to Gaylord Opryland. The Company also owns and operates a number of media and entertainment assets, including the Grand Ole Opry (opry.com), the legendary weekly showcase of country music’s finest performers for nearly 90 years; the Ryman Auditorium, the storied former home of the Grand Ole Opry located in downtown Nashville; and WSM-AM, the Opry’s radio home. For additional information about Ryman Hospitality Properties, visit www.rymanhp.com.