Food Network And Gaylord Opryland Resort Present: The Southern Food & Wine Festival At Gaylord Opryland

This premiere event will be held at the South's iconic resort July 31-August 2, 2009. It will include a variety of exhibitors, food and wine samplings and food competitions, plus live cooking seminars and exclusive opportunities to meet celebrity chefs including Alton Brown, Bobby & Jamie Deen, and The Neelys.

"We are thrilled to partner with Gaylord Opryland Resort and bring this fantastic wine and food experience to Food Network fans.

http://www.foodnetwork.com/
http://www.gaylordhotels.com/gaylord-opryland/?source=www.gaylordopryland.com

Electronic cigarette that is geared to travelers comes to Nashville

Ruyan America, Inc., Minneapolis, announced that it will introduce its newest E-cigarette smoking substitute/cigarette alternative, the Ruyan Jazz, at the 2009 National Association for Truck Stop Operators (NATSO) to be held January 24th to 28th in Nashville, TN, at the Gaylord Opryland Resort and Convention Center. The Company and its distributor, Nashville-based Nathan & James Group, will be at Booth 822 during the exhibit hours.

The Jazz is Ruyan's latest addition to its line and was developed specifically for the convenience store/travel center market. Like the Company's award-winning Vegas E-cigar, the Jazz is a completely disposable product that does not require that its battery be charged or that its cartridges be changed. The Jazz resembles a slightly larger traditional cigarette, 134 mm in length and 11mm in diameter and has the equivalent mouthfuls of vapor found in four to five packs of conventional cigarettes. It carries a MSRP of $24.99. Like other Ruyan cigarette alternatives, the Jazz does not contain tobacco and is not subject to smoking restrictions or tobacco taxes.

William P. Bartkowski, President of Ruyan America, Inc., stated, "The Jazz certainly raises the bar with respect to the product category in terms of convenience, aesthetics and value. It was designed and manufactured specifically to be sold in those venues where smokers most often purchase traditional tobacco products -- retail environments such as tobacco outlets, convenience stores, truck stops and travel centers and hospitality venues like casinos and hotels."

The Jazz is available in four styles -- the Classic, which contains 16 mg of nicotine; the Classic menthol, also with 16 mg of nicotine and menthol flavoring; the Freestyle, with 0 mg of nicotine, but all the flavor of the Classic; and the Freestyle Menthol, another nicotine free product.

How the Grinch Stole Christmas on ICE!

Now thru January 4, 2009

Admission*:

Adults
Monday-Wednesday
$20.00
Thursday–Sunday
$22.00

Children (ages 4 – 11)
Monday-Wednesday
$12.00
Thursday-Sunday
$14.00
*Prices are tax inclusive, handling fees not included.

For more information or to order tickets visit Grinch on ICE.

Gaylord Hotels pulls out of Chula Vista resort project

Chula Vista and the Port of San Diego were reeling yesterday after Gaylord Entertainment dropped plans for a 32-acre resort, another disappointment in 35 years of failed attempts to develop the city's waterfront.



In separate afternoon meetings with the Port District and the city, Gaylord Senior Vice President Bennett Westbrook said the regulatory and financial hurdles were deal-breakers.

The project had been held out as the bayfront savior that would bring jobs, tourism and cash to Chula Vista, the port and Gaylord, based in Nashville, Tenn.

“I'm really disappointed,” said Mayor Cheryl Cox, who added that she had no idea Gaylord planned to pull out. “There is no doubt in my mind that Gaylord's decision is final.”

Read the complete story in the San Diego Union Tribune.

Timeline
February 2005: A group from Gaylord Entertainment, based in Nashville, Tenn., visits Chula Vista City Hall unannounced to ask about building a massive complex on the city's bayfront.

Aug. 9: The Port Commission opens up the project for other developers to bid.

Nov. 1: The Port Commission chooses Gaylord over local developers.

July 2006: Gaylord, Chula Vista and the Port Commission sign an agreement, and the company begins negotiating with labor.

March 15, 2007: Gaylord unveils a detailed concept design for a 32-acre complex, including 1,500 to 2,000 hotel rooms, meeting space, shops, a spa and fitness center, six restaurants and a rooftop bar.

June 29: A Gaylord official meets with union leaders in San Diego after negotiations stall, but no deal is reached.

July 6: Gaylord pulls out of the project for the first time.

Aug. 7: Gaylord resumes talks with the city and the Port District.

September 2008: Gaylord announces plans to build in Mesa, Ariz.

Yesterday: Gaylord withdraws from the Chula Vista project, citing infrastructure costs and a complicated regulatory and legal structure.

Online: Read Gaylord Entertainment's letter to city and port officials at uniontrib.com/more/documents

Josh Rouse- Former Valet at the Opryland Hotel

I worked at the Opryland Hotel in the 1990's as a Bell Captain and one of the guys who parked cars for us was Josh Rouse. He worked there for only a few months but I remember him talking about trying to make it in music and not country music either.



I hoped he would but never gave it much thought until a few years ago when I saw the name and his picture and realized they I used to work with him and it is hard to imagine it is the same guy. Gotta love it!


Here is a story from NPR about Josh:
Josh Rouse was close to giving up his professional music dreams when his first album came out eight years ago. A Nebraska native, Rouse had settled in Nashville after travelling extensively.

A couple of years later, he had a record label deal and an acclaimed debut album, Dressed Up Like Nebraska. Two years after that, he was able to give up his day job as a hotel valet parking attendant.

Visit NPR for the entire story.

Myriad appoints Jack Vaughn to board

Way to go Mr. Vaughn! You are one of the greatest ever in the hospitality world.

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Myriad Entertainment & Resorts, Inc., a Delaware corporation, today announced that Jack Vaughn has been appointed to the Company's Board of Directors on June 22, 2007.

Mr. Vaughn, who is respected as one of the premier leaders in the hospitality and attractions industry, currently operates Tunica Hotels & Resorts, LLC, which holds hotel management contracts and has offices in Nashville, Tennessee and Las Vegas, Nevada. Mr. Vaughn began his career with Westin Hotels; his last two responsibilities being general manager of the Continental Plaza in Chicago and the Century Plaza Hotel in Los Angeles. He joined Opryland in 1975 with responsibility for the concept, design, construction and staffing of the Opryland Hotel and Convention Center. Having developed and operated what is now Gaylord Opryland, one of the most successful meeting and conventions hotels in the world, Mr. Vaughn retired as Chairman Emeritus of Opryland Hospitality Group in 2000.

"We are extremely excited to bring someone of Jack's caliber into this organization," said John Meeske, Myriad's CEO. "Jack's experience in developing and operating several of the most successful meeting and convention hotels in the world and his commitment to Myriad's vision will be invaluable to helping us create Myriad Botanical Resort in Tunica, Mississippi."

During his 40 year career, Mr. Vaughn has been recognized as an Independent Hotelier of the World and a Convention Liaison Council Hall of Leaders Inductee. He also received the Distinguished Service Award from the International Exhibitors Association. He holds honorary doctorate degrees from Johnson and Wales and Cumberland Universities and is a past board member of the Oklahoma State University and Tennessee State University School of Hotel Administration. He has chaired AH&LA's Educational Institute and Resort Committee, served as Chief Delegate and Treasurer to the Convention Liaison Council, and chaired the nation's Trade Show Bureau. Mr. Vaughn also is a Trustee for life of the American Hotel Foundation.

Read more at the Casino City Times.

Opryland is hosting the National Pastry Teams Championship

When the final bell sounded at 2 p.m., 13 frenetic hours of sugar-fueled activity came to a screeching halt.

The nine teams at the National Team Pastry Championships were instructed to stop work, but their most precarious maneuver remained at the end of the two-day competition hosted by Gaylord Opryland Resort and Convention Center.

They had to move their final sugar-and-chocolate showpieces a mere 2 feet from their kitchen workspace to the display table. That narrow gap presented a harrowing challenge because many showpieces towered more than 6 feet in height, held together only by sugar and chocolate.

Indeed, one team's showpiece collapsed amid the groans of the crowd intently watching every move.
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Read more about this event in the Tennessean