Conventions and Meeting Space: What event planners should know
Gaylord Opryland Resort & Convention Center is one of Nashville’s largest meeting venues with hundreds of meeting rooms and over 750,000 sq ft of total event space; planners can book huge exhibit halls or divisible ballrooms like Delta Ballroom and Ryman Exhibit Hall for shows and large conferences. Expect on-site catering and nearly 20 food-and-beverage outlets, a large inventory of guest rooms for room blocks, mandatory resort fees that cover Wi‑Fi and scheduled shuttles, and separate paid attractions such as SoundWaves and Relâche Spa.
In this guide
Event inventory and headline capacities
Gaylord Opryland lists hundreds of meeting rooms and roughly three-quarters of a million square feet of total event space across ballrooms, exhibit halls and breakout rooms. The property publishes a largest-space capacity of about 10,000 and totals in the neighborhood of 758,000–766,700 sq ft depending on the venue profile used.
Key large venues named for planning include Delta Ballroom, Ryman Exhibit Hall B, Davidson Ballroom, Tennessee Ballroom and Ryman Ballroom. You can stage general sessions in the Delta Ballroom (the resort’s signature ballroom) or use the Ryman Exhibit Halls for large trade-show footprints.
- Delta Ballroom: signature ballroom; published overall Delta Ballroom measure ~55,314 sq ft with theater capacity reported at 6,860
- Ryman Exhibit Hall B: cited as the largest-capacity event room on property; exhibit space listings show very large single-hall floorplates
- Davidson Ballroom and Tennessee Ballroom: roughly 18,000+ sq ft each for mid-size conferences
| Venue | Notable figure |
|---|---|
| Delta Ballroom | ≈55,314 sq ft; theater capacity 6,860 |
| Ryman Exhibit Hall B | Largest exhibit-capacity hall (part of 260k+ sq ft exhibit complex) |
| Davidson / Tennessee Ballrooms | Each ~18,000+ sq ft; suited for mid-size events |
Breakouts, pre-function and AV support
The resort publishes more than 90 event rooms and over 100 breakout rooms across its convention complex, so planners can schedule many concurrent sessions. Large ballrooms and exhibit halls are supported by multiple registration offices and pre-function spaces that connect to staging and loading areas.
Gaylord Opryland’s meeting inventory is commonly used for conferences that require divisible ballrooms and adjacent registration zones; confirm on-site AV partners and hard-wired infrastructure early, since technical specs vary by room and setup.
- Request current room sets and on-site AV equipment lists from the catering/events team before signing contracts
- Confirm load-in/load-out access and vehicle staging for exhibit halls and for large stage pieces
- Ask about existing pipe-and-drape, house staging, rig points and ceiling heights for trade-show or production needs
| Tip | Why it matters |
|---|---|
| Get detailed floorplans and rigging specs | Ceiling height and rigging points determine staging and AV rig requirements |
| Reserve registration offices and pre-function space early | Adjacent pre-function areas handle badge pickup and sponsor displays |
| Clarify in-room internet / bandwidth options | Large events often need dedicated bandwidth beyond the included Wi‑Fi |
Catering, F&B outlets and banquet options
Gaylord Opryland operates nearly 20 on-site restaurants and bars plus grab-and-go and coffee outlets. For plated dinners or large banquets you can work with the hotel’s banquet and catering teams; signature outlets such as Old Hickory Steakhouse, Ravello and Cascades American Cafe are also available for small-group dining subject to reservations and availability.
Banquet capacities will depend on the ballroom or meeting room you select; wedding and ceremony policies require the reception to be held on-site when the property hosts the ceremony. Discuss dietary needs, vegetarian options and timing well before the event.
- Signature restaurants include Old Hickory Steakhouse, Ravello, Cascades American Cafe and Jack Daniel's
- Quick-service and grab-and-go options include Delta Marketplace, Bravo Gelato, Cocoa Bean and Paisano's Pizzaria & Vino
- Confirm service hours for each outlet — many list varying hours and some are reservation-only for dinner
| Dining option | Use for |
|---|---|
| Old Hickory Steakhouse | Small-group dinners; reservations required |
| Cascades American Cafe | Breakfast, lunch, dinner; good for larger buffet/event-friendly meals |
| Delta Marketplace / grab-and-go | Quick breaks, coffee service and on-site convenience |
Guest rooms, room blocks and on-site amenities
The resort lists 2,888 guest rooms across multiple room types and six floors, making it practical to secure large room blocks for conventions. Room type names include Room, 2 Queen Beds; Room, 1 Queen Bed; Room, 1 King Bed; Room, Garden View; and the tub-designated variants as shown in the property inventory.
When contracting a block, confirm how the mandatory daily resort fee is handled, what’s included, and whether SoundWaves admission or breakfast will be bundled or offered as an add-on. Also check the deadline for releasing unsold rooms in your block.
- Room inventory includes the following exact names: Room, 2 Queen Beds; Room, 1 Queen Bed; Room, 1 King Bed; Room, Garden View; Room (, Tub); Room, Garden View (, Tub)
- Resort fee commonly covers Wi‑Fi, fitness access, two bottled waters daily and scheduled shuttles — verify the current inclusions and rates when negotiating
- SoundWaves and Relâche Spa access are separate paid experiences and are not automatically included with standard room bookings
| What to confirm | Why |
|---|---|
| Resort-fee inclusions and amount | Impacts final per-room cost for attendees |
| SoundWaves access options | Access often requires a specific overnight package or ticket |
| Cut-off and release dates for the room block | Affects how long rooms are held at the group rate |
SoundWaves, spa and leisure for attendees
SoundWaves is a separate 4-acre indoor/outdoor water experience for overnight guests; guaranteed access requires booking a SoundWaves Water Experience package and all persons age 4 and over must have a ticket or wristband. For group events, ask whether party-room rental or package options exist for private or semi-private access.
Relâche Spa and the fitness center are available for registered guests; Relâche Spa requires guests to be 18 or older for body treatments and lists separate hours for weekdays and weekends. Planners should allocate budget for spa add-ons and note that SoundWaves admission and spa treatments are additional paid items.
- SoundWaves: 4-acre water experience with family and adult-only zones; access usually tied to a paid package
- Relâche Spa: full-service spa with treatment suites and relaxation amenities; body treatments require guests 18+
- Fitness center access is included with the resort fee and is available 24 hours for registered guests
| Facility | Booking note |
|---|---|
| SoundWaves | Requires paid package for guaranteed admission; all persons 4+ need a ticket |
| Relâche Spa | Book treatments in advance; age rules apply for body treatments |
| Fitness center | Open 24 hours for registered guests; access included with resort fee |
Logistics: transport, parking, resort fee and accessibility
The hotel address is 2800 Opryland Drive, Nashville, TN 37214. The resort is about 6–9 miles from Nashville International Airport (BNA) with drive times commonly 12–20 minutes depending on traffic. The property runs scheduled shuttles to nearby attractions (Grand Ole Opry, Opry Mills, Gaylord Springs) and offers airport shuttle service for a fee — confirm current pricing and schedules with the hotel.
Parking and mandatory daily resort fees affect event budgeting: published self-parking and valet rates appear on Marriott’s property page and the daily resort fee typically covers Wi‑Fi, fitness access, bottled water and scheduled shuttle rides. The resort has accessible parking and wheelchair-accessible rooms.
- Self parking and valet have published per-day rates; check the property page for current amounts
- A mandatory daily resort fee applies; confirm what it covers for your room block and attendees
- Accessible guest rooms and public washrooms are available — request specific accessible room types when contracting
| Logistic item | Planner action |
|---|---|
| Airport transfers | Confirm shuttle times/pricing or advise rideshare/taxi options |
| Parking | Confirm current self/valet pricing and EV charging availability |
| Resort fee | Ask how it’s charged to group rooms and what it includes |
