Ryman Hospitality Properties, Inc. Selects Vanderbilt University Medical Center as Official Wellness Advisor for its Phased R...
May 21 2020 - 9:30AM
Ryman Hospitality Properties, Inc. (NYSE: RHP) (the “Company”)
announced today that it has selected Vanderbilt University Medical
Center (“VUMC”), a leader in medical research and one of the
top-ranked academic medical centers in the United States, as its
official wellness advisor during the phased reopening of its
businesses.
Under the terms of the agreement, VUMC will provide support to
the Company as it implements operating procedures, plans and
training materials developed as part of a multi-phase health safety
operations strategy for its Entertainment assets and its Gaylord
Hotels network.
The Company will consult with VUMC and local health officials as
it moves between phases. A panel of VUMC clinical subject matter
experts specializing in infectious disease control will provide
counsel for on-site preparations, advise on the development of
training and educational materials for employees, and oversee
re-opening activities similar to the model VUMC is implementing in
its own hospitals and clinics today.
Colin Reed, Chairman and Chief Executive Officer of Ryman
Hospitality Properties, said, “In the early stages of this crisis,
we sought the advice of local health experts as we made proactive
decisions to temporarily suspend operations at most of our
businesses. Safety continues to be our top priority as we prepare
to reopen our assets, and that is why we have elected to formalize
our partnership with Vanderbilt University Medical Center. We want
to make certain our teams have direct access to the nation’s
foremost experts on infectious disease control so our stakeholders
can feel confident that our approach to health and safety is
best-in-class during this rapidly-evolving situation.”
In addition to the subject matter expert panel, VUMC and the
Company will establish a joint steering committee comprised of
VUMC’s senior administrative and clinical leaders and the Company’s
key executives and leaders. The committee will oversee the
collaboration and recommend modifications to policies, procedures
and protocols affecting employee and guest safety based on the
latest available research.
Jeff Balser, MD, PhD, President and Chief Executive Officer of
Vanderbilt University Medical Center and Dean of Vanderbilt
University School of Medicine, said, “Ryman Hospitality Properties
is one of the most well-regarded and innovative brands in the
hospitality and entertainment industry. This agreement, which
allows our experts to work alongside their teams to incorporate
best practices in infection prevention from the healthcare industry
into Ryman’s daily operations, demonstrates their commitment to the
safety and well-being of their employees and clientele. We believe
this relationship will set the standard for wellness initiatives
among our industries as we adopt new ways to support business in
the COVID-19 era.”
The Company began a phased reopening of its Entertainment assets
in mid-May and expects to reopen its Gaylord Hotels assets in
stages beginning in mid-to-late June.
Reed continued, “As we begin our phased approach to reopening,
we believe this relationship with VUMC will provide an added layer
to our already stringent standards that will allow us the
flexibility to tailor our plans to meet the unique needs of each of
our businesses during this time. We are examining every step of our
guest and employee experience to ensure we have the proper
protocols in place as guests return to our businesses.”
About Ryman Hospitality Properties, Inc.
Ryman Hospitality Properties, Inc. (NYSE: RHP) is a leading
lodging and hospitality real estate investment trust that
specializes in upscale convention center resorts and country music
entertainment experiences. The Company’s core holdings* include a
network of five of the top 10 largest non-gaming convention center
hotels in the United States based on total indoor meeting space.
These convention center resorts operate under the Gaylord Hotels
brand and are managed by Marriott International. The Company also
owns two adjacent ancillary hotels and a small number of
attractions managed by Marriott International for a combined total
of 10,110 rooms and more than 2.7 million square feet of total
indoor and outdoor meeting space in top convention and leisure
destinations across the country. The Company’s Entertainment
segment includes a growing collection of iconic and emerging
country music brands, including the Grand Ole Opry; Ryman
Auditorium, WSM 650 AM; Ole Red and Circle, a country lifestyle
media network the Company owns in a joint-venture partnership with
Gray Television. For more details about Circle and how to watch
Saturday’s Grand Ole Opry, please visit circleplus.com. The Company
operates its Entertainment segment as part of a taxable REIT
subsidiary.
*The Company is the sole owner of Gaylord Opryland Resort &
Convention Center; Gaylord Palms Resort & Convention Center;
Gaylord Texan Resort & Convention Center; and Gaylord National
Resort & Convention Center. It is the majority owner and
managing member of the joint venture that owns Gaylord Rockies
Resort & Convention Center.
About Vanderbilt University
Vanderbilt University Medical Center (VUMC) is one of the
nation’s leading academic medical centers and is one of the largest
comprehensive research, teaching and patient care health systems in
the Southeast. The most heavily utilized quaternary, referral
healthcare facility in the Mid-South, VUMC’s sees over 2.3 million
patient visits per year in over 150 locations, discharging 66,000
inpatients and performing 67,000 surgical operations. The medical
center is the largest non-governmental employer of Middle Tennessee
citizens, with more than 25,000 staff, including nearly 3,000
physicians, advanced practice nurses and scientists appointed to
the Vanderbilt University faculty. For more information and the
latest news follow VUMC on Facebook, LinkedIn, Twitter, and in the
VUMC Reporter.
Cautionary Note Regarding Forward-Looking
Statements
This press release contains statements as to the Company’s
beliefs and expectations of the outcome of future events that are
forward-looking statements as defined in the Private Securities
Litigation Reform Act of 1995. You can identify these statements by
the fact that they do not relate strictly to historical or current
facts. Examples of these statements include, but are not limited
to, statements regarding the anticipated impact of COVID-19 on
travel, transient and group demand, the anticipated impact of
COVID-19 on our results of operations, the amount of cancellation
and attrition fees, cost containment efforts, and our plans to
assess the reopening of our Gaylord Hotels properties. These
forward-looking statements are subject to risks and uncertainties
that could cause actual results to differ materially from the
statements made. These risks and uncertainties include, but are not
limited to, the effects of COVID-19, including on the demand for
travel, transient and group business (including government-imposed
restrictions), and levels of consumer confidence in the safety of
travel and group gatherings as a result of COVID-19; the length and
severity of the COVID-19 pandemic in the United States; the pace of
recovery following the COVID-19 pandemic; our ability to implement
cost containment strategies; and the adverse effects of COVID-19 on
our business or the market price of our common stock. Other factors
that could cause results to differ are described in the filings
made from time to time by the Company with the U.S. Securities and
Exchange Commission and include the risk factors and other risks
and uncertainties described in the Company’s Annual Report on Form
10-K for the fiscal year ended December 31, 2019 and its Quarterly
Reports on Form 10-Q and subsequent filings. Except as required by
law, the Company does not undertake any obligation to release
publicly any revisions to forward-looking statements made by it to
reflect events or circumstances occurring after the date hereof or
the occurrence of unanticipated events.
Investor Relations Contacts: |
Media Contacts: |
Mark Fioravanti, President & Chief Financial Officer |
Shannon Sullivan, Vice President Corporate and Brand
Communications |
Ryman Hospitality Properties, Inc. |
Ryman Hospitality Properties, Inc. |
(615) 316-6588 |
(615) 316-6725 |
mfioravanti@rymanhp.com |
ssullivan@rymanhp.com |
~or~ |
~or~ |
Todd Siefert, Senior Vice President Corporate Finance &
Treasurer |
Robert Winters |
Ryman Hospitality Properties, Inc. |
Alpha IR Group |
(615) 316-6344 |
(929) 266-6315 |
tsiefert@rymanhp.com |
robert.winters@alpha-ir.com |
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