Leland Wykoff Posted June 1, 2012 Share Posted June 1, 2012 Interesting news out concerning Gaylord Entertainment, operator of large convention and meeting destination resort hotels, and Marriott: http://www.washingtonpost.com/business/economy/marriott-gaylord-deal-to-boost-dominance-in-washington-convention-hotel-market/2012/05/31/gJQA8gBP5U_story.html?wpisrc=nl_headlines_Fri In a nutshell Gaylord Entertainment is transitioning to become a REIT and Marriott will contract to administer specific Gaylord Hotels. Much of this change has been driven by activist shareholders demanding better returns from Gaylord Entertainment. Gaylord Entertainment will retain the joint venture with Dollywood Productions to develop an indoor snow and water park adjacent to the Gaylord Opryland Hotel. That ventures scope was widened by statements Dolly Parton made this year at Dollywood upon the occasion of the grand opening of Wild Eagle. Entrepreneur Parton described the water and snow components as only the first phase in a much larger amusement park development. This morning the CEO of Gaylord Entertainment, Colin Reed, confirmed for me Gaylord will retain the JV with Dollywood to develop the new park and will continue, with its committed investment of 50% of the costs, and those funds will come from the REIT. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
westcoaster Posted June 1, 2012 Share Posted June 1, 2012 This is an interesting announcement? Gaylord was such a great company. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
The Interpreter Posted June 1, 2012 Share Posted June 1, 2012 Please don't get me started (Opryland, Fiesta Texas). Sigh. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
CoastersRZ Posted June 1, 2012 Share Posted June 1, 2012 Precisely. Gaylord doesn`t have the best track record for running parks in the long term. I don`t know if I ever found out when the jv with Dollywood was announced. But Dollywood is a partnership with Herschend Entertainment. So is Herschend entertainment in any way involved in this joint venture? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
The Interpreter Posted June 1, 2012 Share Posted June 1, 2012 Here be your answer: http://www.tennessean.com/article/20120205/BUSINESS01/302050032/Meet-Herschend-Dolly-Parton-s-silent-partner-family-fun-parks http://www.bizjournals.com/mobile/atlanta/morning_call/2012/01/norcross-company-to-partner-on.html Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
bkroz Posted June 1, 2012 Share Posted June 1, 2012 And whaddaya know, Paul Ruben has nothing but praise for Herschend! Perhaps he most appreciates their deep pockets (which, based on his quote in the first article you linked to, may not be quite as deep as Disney's)... Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
The Interpreter Posted June 1, 2012 Share Posted June 1, 2012 He of the every ride is his favorite ride ever fame! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
bkroz Posted June 1, 2012 Share Posted June 1, 2012 Hey, if a sound-bite / pull quote can pay the bills, more power to him! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
westcoaster Posted August 11, 2012 Share Posted August 11, 2012 http://www.thrillnetwork.com/content.php?r=3224-Dolly-Parton-s-water-and-snow-park-in-Nashville-on-hold Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
The Interpreter Posted August 11, 2012 Share Posted August 11, 2012 Dolly should have been dancing with Herschend, her theme park partner, who knows the business well. The Gaylord thing was worrisome from the beginning,,,Opryland, Fiesta Texas... 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
The Interpreter Posted August 13, 2012 Share Posted August 13, 2012 Gaylord says project still on: http://www.tennessean.com/article/20120810/BUSINESS/308100112/Gaylord-says-snow-water-park-remains-100-percent-?nclick_check=1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
CoastersRZ Posted August 13, 2012 Share Posted August 13, 2012 It will be interesting to see if this comes to fruition, and what result the Gaylord reorganization will have on the time frame. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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