Christmas Comes Early as Gaylord Hotels' Holiday Packages Go on Sale

NASHVILLE, Tenn., July 22, 2014 /PRNewswire/ -- Gaylord Hotels today announced details for elaborate holiday experiences coming to its four giant resorts from mid-November through early January.

Ranging from 1,300 to 2,882 guest rooms, the hotels will collectively display 6 million Christmas lights, nearly 30,000 poinsettias and 8 million pounds of colorful ice sculptures at its signature ICE! attraction.

Christmas packages are now on sale at www.ChristmasAtGaylordHotels.com for stays at Gaylord Opryland in the lively Music City of Nashville, Tennessee.; Gaylord Texan deep in the heart of Grapevine, Texas; Gaylord Palms in the family vacation oasis of Kissimmee, Florida; and Gaylord National on the banks of the Potomac near Washington, D.C.  

"Though it's only July, teams have been planning for many months to create magical settings for families to create holiday memories," said Warren Lyng, director of special events for Gaylord Hotels. "Our resorts have become synonymous with Christmas over the years, and we are honored that millions have chosen to include us as part of their holiday traditions."

All four resorts feature soaring, multi-acre atriums with breathtaking indoor gardens and waterfalls accented with towering Christmas trees, oversized wreaths and ornaments and dazzling details around every bend. Each is a destination unto itself with diverse restaurants, spas, pools, recreation, shopping, exciting entertainment and more—all under one roof.

"Our most popular holiday attraction is ICE!, an interactive frozen fantasy world that is kept at nine degrees," said Lyng. "We partner with master ice artisans from Harbin, China, to produce brilliantly colored panoramas of hand-carved ice sculptures. There are multi-story ice slides for visitors to enjoy."

More than 2 million pounds of ice are used at each resort. ICE! themes will include Frosty the Snowman™ at Gaylord National and Gaylord Texan; The Nutcracker at Gaylord Palms; and 'Twas the Night Before Christmas at Gaylord Opryland. All new for 2014 is bonus area where visitors can watch a master ice carver in action creating intricate ice sculptures.

In addition to visits with Santa and dozens of other family-friendly events, Gaylord Hotels offers interactive adventures with beloved characters from DreamWorks Animation franchises including Shrek and Madagascar. Guests can dig into a character-themed feast and even have some sticky fun at Gingy's Gingerbread Decorating.

Detailed information on the array of holiday activities at each property may be found at:

• Gaylord National Resort (National Harbor, Maryland) – www.ChristmasOnThePotomac.com
• Gaylord Opryland Resort (Nashville, Tennessee) – www.ChristmasAtGaylordOpryland.com
• Gaylord Palms Resort (Kissimmee, Florida) – www.ChristmasAtGaylordPalms.com
• Gaylord Texan Resort (Grapevine, Texas) – www.ChristmasAtGaylordTexan.com

Gaylord Hotels®, part of the Marriott portfolio of brands, offers extraordinary environments with "everything in one place"— diverse dining options, a full-service spa, top-notch entertainment, on-site shopping and more. Gaylord Hotels include Gaylord Opryland® in Nashville, Tennessee.; Gaylord Palms® in Kissimmee, Florida near Orlando; Gaylord Texan® on Lake Grapevine, Texas; Gaylord National® on the Potomac in National Harbor, Md.; and The Inn at Opryland® in Nashville, Tenn. For more information, visit www.GaylordHotels.com.

Marriott International, Inc. (NASDAQ: MAR) is a global leading lodging company based in Bethesda, Maryland, USA, with more than 4,000 properties, and more than 690,000 rooms in 78 countries and territories.  Marriott International reported revenues of nearly $13 billion in fiscal year 2013. The company operates and franchises hotels and licenses vacation ownership resorts under 18 brands. For more information or reservations, please visit our website at www.marriott.com, and for the latest company news, visit www.marriottnewscenter.com.

Shrek, Madagascar and all related characters and properties © 2014 DreamWorks Animation LLC

Frosty the Snowman™ & © Warner Bros. Entertainment Inc. & Classic Media, LLC.  Based upon the musical composition FROSTY THE SNOWMAN © Warner/Chappell.

Photo - http://photos.prnewswire.com/prnh/20140722/129171
Logo - http://photos.prnewswire.com/prnh/20120531/NE16442LOGO-c

SOURCE Gaylord Hotels