Gaylord Hotels is emerging as one of the most focused hotel companies in the hospitality industry.  However, much of what its leadership has done can be adapted to the association community.  Hear some of the strategies Gaylord implemented in order to stand out in a crowded marketplace and be noticed.  A variety of topics will be covered including the steps they took to re-brand Opryland to Gaylord; the depths to which they go to understand the needs of the meeting planners and their customers; how to build a customer centric culture through the actions of employees; ensuring consistency in execution; building and launching a product that fits the needs of the customer, and the importance of providing a fun environment.