Alcalde Evaristo Madero Marcos of Parras De La Fuente, Participates in the Opening of a New $530 Million Texas-Sized Resort & Convention Center in Grapevine, Texas.

Business Editors

GRAPEVINE, Texas--(BUSINESS WIRE)--April 2, 2004

Alcalde Evaristo Madero Marcos of Parras de la Fuente, Coahuila, Mexico, participated today in the opening of the newest resort and convention center in the United States. At noon on April 2, Marcos joined Grapevine, Texas, Mayor William D. Tate, and the Burgermeister of Krems, Austria, Franz Hoelzl in a ceremonial check in to officially open the new Gaylord Texan Resort & Convention Center on Lake Grapevine. The half-billion dollar resort has been under construction for four years.

"We are thrilled that the leaders of our Sister Cities could be present with us on this grand day," says Grapevine Mayor William D. Tate. "The new Gaylord Texan will provide the backdrop for many international business and cultural relationships for the next 100 years," Tate said.

Grapevine initiated its Sister City relationship with Parras de la Fuente in 1996. Cultural and civic exchanges have been very successful with Parras, the home of the oldest winery in the Americas. Grapevine and Krems, Austria, initiated a Sister City relationship In 1999, which has also proven to be very beneficial to both cities. Cultural and educational exchanges have taken place with Krems, including three college student internships. On April 4, members of all three Sister City delegations will travel to Mexico to solidify a three-way Sister City relationship which will benefit Parras, Krems and Grapevine.

The new $530 million Gaylord Texan Resort & Convention Center on Lake Grapevine, features 1,511 guest rooms, 400,000 square feet of meeting and convention space, and four acres of lush indoor gardens where the weather is perfect year round. The Gaylord Texan will host groups of up to 15,000 people with over 600,000 visitors expected to pass through the facility each year. The new Gaylord Texan has conventions booked through the year 2015.

For more information about the Gaylord Texan Resort & Convention Center on Lake Grapevine, and historic Grapevine, Texas, and its many attractions and events, please visit www.grapevinetexasusa.com or call the Grapevine Convention & Visitors Bureau at 800-457-6338 or 817-410-3185.