Gaylord National Resort Announces New Upscale Waterfront Ballroom

The East Coast's largest resort will also add new outdoor event space
First phase of the expansion set to debut in fall 2015

(National Harbor, Md. - April 23, 2015) -Gaylord National Resort and Convention Center today announced a $20 million meeting's facility expansion that includes a new, dramatic, freestanding 24,000-square-foot ballroom building offering 16,000 square feet of meeting space. The new building, scheduled to open fall 2016, will be situated directly on the banks of the Potomac River and will feature glass windows on three sides, offering spectacular views of the river, the Woodrow Wilson Bridge and Old Town Alexandria.

"As National Harbor has grown, so too has the demand from our customers and the community for additional upscale event space for meetings and social functions," said Colin Reed, chairman and CEO of hotel owner Ryman Hospitality Properties. "With its close proximity to the water and impressive year-round views, we believe this ballroom and its surrounding areas will be the premier location for small and medium-sized events in National Harbor."

The investment will also include an expansion of the current Orchard Terrace, enlarging this open-air events space to 39,000 square feet. The expanded Orchard Terrace, opening in September 2015, will be the new location for Gaylord National's popular holiday programming. The company has engaged architectural and interior design firm BLUR Workshop to design the new facilities.

For additional information about Gaylord National Resort, visit www.GaylordNational.com or call 301-965-4000.

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Words in boldface are used under license.

Gaylord National Resort and Convention Center is the largest, non-gaming hotel and convention center on the East Coast, located along the banks of the Potomac River in National Harbor, Maryland. Opened in April 2008 and only eight miles from downtown Washington, D.C., the AAA-Four Diamond resort offers nearly 2,000 rooms including 110 suites; a 19-story atrium; 480,000-square-feet of convention space; acclaimed restaurants including Old Hickory Steakhouse; a full-service resort spa, Relache Spa; and Pose Rooftop Lounge.

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 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, The Inn at Opryland, a 303-room overflow hotel adjacent to Gaylord Opryland and AC Hotel Washington, D.C. at National Harbor, a 192-room hotel near Gaylord National. The Company also owns and operates 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 650 AM WSM, the Opry's radio home.

BLUR Workshop, led by Scott Sickeler and Liz Neiswander, is an Atlanta based full service architectural and Interior Design firm specializing in custom hospitality designs and environments. BLUR's broad ranging practice currently includes a 5000+ key hotel in Saudi Arabia, the first ground up Virgin branded hotel in Nashville, and a luxury guest residential community on St. Kitts.

MEDIA CONTACT
Rachel Dinbokowitz
rdinbokowitz@gaylordhotels.com
301-965-2111

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