Gaylord Palms Treasure Hunt Challenge Wins National Award Event also selected as finalist in State of Florida's Flagler Award competition.

KISSIMMEE, FL (July 30, 2008) – Gaylord Palms Resort has received a national industry award from The American Hotel & Lodging Association (AH&LA) for its Pirates Treasure Hunt Challenge, a special event held over Memorial Day Weekend 2007. The event, which inspired this year’s successful Summer Treasure Hunt Challenge, is also a finalist for the prestigious State of Florida Flagler Award.

The Treasure Hunt Challenge, a contest of skill for package guests, features an opportunity to compete for a treasure of $10,000 in cash.

The AH&LA Achievement Award, for innovative special events, was part of the Stars of the Industry Awards program. The national awards, created in 1966, recognize individual hotel properties that have developed outstanding programs, events, and campaigns.

The Flagler Award is Florida’s statewide hospitality awards program. Presented annually by VISIT FLORIDA, the state’s official tourism marketing corporation, the program is designed to acknowledge the outstanding tourism marketing achievements of Florida’s numerous travel businesses, destinations and attractions. All finalists will be recognized during the 2008 Florida Governor’s Conference on Tourism, Aug. 17-19 in Orlando.

“We were honored that the industry stood up and noticed our Treasure Hunt Challenge,” said Suzanne Stephan, director of marketing. “All along, we knew we were breaking new ground, so to speak, with this hotel experience.”

Similar to the 2007 version, this year’s successful Summer Treasure Hunt Challenge gives package guests an opportunity to earn points while traversing the resort and deciphering clues, solving intricate puzzles, and performing other “piratey” tasks. At the end of the summer, the team that accumulated the greatest number of points during their stay is awarded the $10,000 prize. The second-place team will win a $3,500 cash prize and the third-place team will be awarded a three-night stay at a Gaylord hotel.

Summer Treasure Hunt Challenge, which runs through Aug. 28, 2008, unfolds over two days, and can easily be combined with visits to Orlando’s world-famous theme parks and attractions. The competition, complete with clever clues and challenging puzzles, was designed to appeal to fans of reality television who have sat back thinking “I bet I could do a better job… and actually win the prize!”

To make a reservation, or to receive more information about Summer Treasure Hunt Challenge, call 407-586-HUNT, or visit www.SummerTreasureHuntChallenge.com. For official rules, guests can visit www.SummerTreasureHuntChallenge.com/rules.

ABOUT GAYLORD PALMS RESORT
Gaylord Palms Resort & Convention Center has gained the attention of the meeting and convention industry by providing world-class convention and leisure-focused amenities – all in one place. The award-winning Gaylord Palms is a Gaylord Hotels-branded property owned by Gaylord Entertainment (NYSE: GET), a leading hospitality and entertainment company based in Nashville, Tenn. For more information, visit www.gaylordpalms.com or www.gaylordentertainment.com.

###

Media Contact:
Keith Salwoski, (407) 586-0315, ksalwoski@gaylordhotels.com