<PAGE>

                                                                   Exhibit 10.38

                              EMPLOYMENT AGREEMENT

         THIS EMPLOYMENT AGREEMENT (this "Agreement"), dated as of July 15,
2003, by and between GAYLORD ENTERTAINMENT COMPANY, a Delaware corporation
having its corporate headquarters at One Gaylord Drive, Nashville, Tennessee
37214 (the "Company") and Jay D. Sevigny, a resident of Franklin, Tennessee
("Executive").

                                  WITNESSETH:

         WHEREAS, the Company desires to employ Executive as its President of
the Gaylord Opryland Resort and Convention Center, and Executive desires to
serve in such capacity pursuant to the terms of this Agreement;

         NOW, THEREFORE, in consideration of the covenants and agreements
hereinafter set forth, the parties hereto agree as follows:

                                    AGREEMENT

         1.       EMPLOYMENT; TERM. The Company hereby agrees to employ
Executive, and Executive hereby agrees to employment with the Company upon the
terms and conditions contained in this Agreement. The term of Executive's
employment hereunder shall commence as of the date hereof (the "Effective Date")
and shall continue for a period of four (4) years from and after the Effective
Date (the "Initial Period"). For purposes of this Agreement, a "Contract Year"
shall mean a one year period commencing on the Effective Date or any anniversary
thereof. This Agreement shall automatically renew for one (1) year terms (each
referred to as an "Extension Period") (the Initial Period and each Extension
Period collectively referred to as the "Employment Period") unless either party
notifies the other party at least ninety (90) days prior to the expiration of
the Initial Period or any Extension Period.

         2.       DUTIES; TITLE.

         (a)      Description of Duties.

                  (i)      During the Employment Period, Executive shall serve
         the Company as its President of the Gaylord Opryland Resort and
         Convention Center and report directly to the President and Chief
         Executive Officer ("CEO") of the Company. Executive shall also perform
         such other duties as the President and Chief Executive Officer of the
         Company shall reasonably determine.

                  (ii)     Executive shall faithfully perform the duties
         required of his office. Executive shall devote all of his business time
         and effort to the performance of his duties to the Company. Executive
         shall not, during the Employment Period, be engaged in any other
         business activity pursued for gain, profit or other pecuniary advantage
         if such activity interferes with Executive's duties and
         responsibilities hereunder.

<PAGE>

         (b)      Company Policies. Executive shall be subject to and shall
comply with all codes of conduct, personnel policies and procedures applicable
to senior executives of the Company, including, without limitation, policies
regarding sexual harassment, conflicts of interest and insider trading.

         3.       CASH COMPENSATION.

         (a)      Base Salary. During the Employment Period, the Company shall
pay to Executive an annual salary of $325,000 (the "Base Salary"). The Company
shall evaluate Executive for base salary increases annually based on
performance.

         (b)      Annual Cash Bonus. During the Employment Period, Executive
shall be eligible for an annual cash bonus of up to a target of 55% of
Executive's Base Salary (the "Year-End Bonus") to be paid to him in each
calendar year with the determination of the Year-End Bonus, if any, to be based
on the achievement of certain goals and Company performance criteria as
established by the CEO and approved by the Board's Human Resources Committee.
The Year-End Bonus for each calendar year shall be paid to Executive on or
before February 28th of the immediately succeeding year.

         (c)      Withholding. The Base Salary and each Year-End Bonus shall be
subject to applicable withholding and shall be payable in accordance with the
Company's payroll practices.

         4.       BENEFITS; EXPENSES; ETC.

         (a)      Expenses. During the Employment Period, the Company shall
reimburse Executive, in accordance with the Company's policies and procedures,
for all reasonable expenses incurred by Executive in connection with the
performance of his duties for the Company.

         (b)      Vehicle Allowance. During the Employment Period, Executive
shall be entitled to receive from the Company a vehicle allowance of $800 per
month.

         (c)      Vacation. During the Employment Period, Executive shall be
entitled to three (3) weeks vacation during each Contract Year.

         (d)      Company Plans. During the Employment Period, Executive shall
be entitled to participate in and enjoy the benefits of (i) the Company Health
Insurance Plan, (ii) the Company 401(k) Savings Plan, (iii) the Company
Supplemental Deferred Compensation ("SUDCOMP") Plan, and (iv) any health, life,
disability, retirement, pension, group insurance, or other similar plan or plans
which may be in effect or instituted by the Company for the benefit of
executives generally, upon such terms as may be therein provided. A summary of
such benefits as in effect on the date hereof has been provided to Executive,
the receipt of which is hereby acknowledged.

         5.       TERMINATION. Executive's employment hereunder may be
terminated prior to the expiration of the Employment Period as follows:

         (a)      Termination by Death. Upon the death of Executive, Executive's
employment shall automatically terminate as of the date of death.

                                       2

<PAGE>

         (b)      Termination by Company for Permanent Disability. At the option
of the Company, Executive's employment may be terminated by written notice to
Executive or his personal representative in the event of the Permanent
Disability of Executive. As used herein, the term "Permanent Disability" shall
mean a physical or mental incapacity or disability which renders Executive
unable substantially to render the services required hereunder for a period of
ninety (90) consecutive days or one hundred eighty (180) days during any twelve
(12) month period as determined in good faith by the Company.

         (c)      Termination by Company for Cause. At the option of the
Company, Executive's employment may be terminated by written notice to Executive
upon the occurrence of any one or more of the following events (each, a
"Cause"):

                  (i)      any action by Executive constituting fraud,
         self-dealing, embezzlement, or dishonesty in the course of his
         employment hereunder;

                  (ii)     any conviction of Executive of a crime involving
         moral turpitude;

                  (iii)    failure of Executive after written reasonable notice
         promptly to comply with any material, valid and legal directive of the
         CEO;

                  (iv)     a material breach by Executive of any of his
         obligations under this Agreement and failure to cure such breach within
         ten (10) days of his receipt of written notice thereof from the
         Company(or, if such material breach is not capable of being cured
         within ten (10) days, Executive shall fail to commence such cure within
         ten (10) days and diligently prosecute such cure); or

                  (v)      a failure by Executive to perform adequately his
         responsibilities under this Agreement as demonstrated by objective and
         verifiable evidence showing that the business operations under
         Executive's control have been materially harmed as a result of
         Executive's gross negligence or willful misconduct.

         (d)      Termination by Executive for Good Reason. At the option of
Executive, Executive may terminate his employment by written notice to Company
given within a reasonable time after the occurrence of the following
circumstances ("Good Reason"), unless the Company cures the same within thirty
(30) days of such notice:

                  (i)      Any reduction by Company of his Base Salary
         (excluding a reduction of up to 5% of his Base Salary provided such
         reduction is made on a Company-wide basis);

                  (ii)     Company's requiring Executive to be based anywhere
         other than Nashville, Tennessee, except for required travel on the
         Company's business; or

                  (iii)    A material breach by the Company of any of its
         obligations under this Agreement.

         (e)      Termination by Company Without Cause or by Executive Without
Good Reason. The Executive's employment may be terminated by the Company other
than for Permanent

                                       3

<PAGE>

Disability or Cause upon written notice to Executive at any time ("Without
Cause") or by Executive other than for Good Reason upon written notice to the
Company at any time ("Without Good Reason").

         6.       EFFECT OF TERMINATION.

         (a)      Effect Generally. If Executive's employment is terminated
prior to the fourth anniversary of the Effective Date, the Company shall not
have any liability or obligation to Executive other than as specifically set
forth in Section 5, Section 6 and Section 7 hereof. Upon the termination of
Executive's employment for any reason, he shall, upon the request of the
Company, resign from all corporate offices held by Executive.

         (b)      Effect of Termination by Death. Upon the termination of
Executive's employment as a result of death, Executive's estate shall be
entitled to receive an amount equal to: (i) accrued but unpaid Base Salary
through the date of termination; (ii) a pro rata portion of Executive's Year-End
Bonus, if any, for the year in which termination occurs; (iii) any unpaid
portion of the Year-End Bonus for prior calendar years, accrued and unpaid
vacation pay, unreimbursed expenses incurred pursuant to Section 4(a) or (b) and
any other benefits owed to Executive pursuant to any written employee benefit
plan or policy of the Company, excluding benefits payable to any plan
beneficiary pursuant to a contractual beneficiary designation by Executive; (iv)
the portion of any restricted stock grant that is free from restrictions as of
the date of death; (v) Executive's vested stock options as of the date of death,
the vesting and exercise of which is governed by the Omnibus Plan; and (vi) all
of Executive's stock options, which pursuant to the Omnibus Plan are accelerated
as of the termination date and are exercisable until the expiration of the
applicable stock option term.

         (c)      Effect of Termination for Permanent Disability. Upon the
termination of Executive's employment hereunder as a result of Permanent
Disability, Executive shall be entitled to receive an amount equal to: (i)
accrued but unpaid Base Salary through the date of termination; (ii) a pro rata
portion of Executive's Year-End Bonus, if any, for the year in which termination
occurs; (iii) any unpaid portion of the Year-End Bonus for prior calendar years,
long-term disability benefits available to executives of the Company, accrued
and unpaid vacation pay, unreimbursed expenses incurred pursuant to Section 4(a)
or (b) and any other benefits owed to Executive pursuant to any written employee
benefit plan or policy of the Company; (iv) the portion of any restricted stock
grant that is free from restrictions as of the termination date; (v) Executive's
vested stock options as of the date of termination, the vesting of which is
governed by the Omnibus Plan; and (vi) all of Executive's stock options, which
pursuant to the Omnibus Plan are accelerated as of the termination date and are
exercisable until the expiration of the applicable stock option term. Payments
to Executive hereunder shall be reduced by any payments received by Executive
under any worker's compensation or similar law.

         (d)      Effect of Termination by the Company for Cause or by Executive
Without Good Reason. Upon the termination of Executive's employment by the
Company for Cause or by Executive Without Good Reason, Executive shall be
entitled to receive an amount equal to: (i) accrued but unpaid Base Salary
through the date of termination; (ii) any unpaid Year-End Bonus for prior
calendar years, accrued but unpaid vacation pay, unreimbursed expenses incurred

                                       4

<PAGE>

pursuant to Section 4(a) or (b) and any other benefits owed to Executive
pursuant to any written employee benefit plan or policy of the Company; and
(iii) the portion of any restricted stock grant that is free from restrictions
as of the termination date. All stock options, to the extent not theretofore
exercised, shall terminate on the date of termination of employment under this
Section 6(d). Executive shall also forfeit any right to a Year-End Bonus for the
calendar year in which Executive's termination occurs.

         (e)      Effect of Termination by the Company Without Cause or by
Executive for Good Reason. Upon the termination of Executive's employment
hereunder by the Company Without Cause or by Executive for Good Reason,
Executive shall be entitled to: (i) an amount equal to Executive's Base Salary
over a 12 month period, payable in installments as normal payroll over the 12
months following the date of termination; (ii) any unpaid portion of the
Year-End Bonus for prior calendar years and a prorated portion of any bonus the
Executive may earn as a Year-End Bonus for the current year, provided the
Executive has been employed for more than six months in the current year; (iii)
accrued and unpaid vacation pay, unreimbursed expenses incurred pursuant to
Section 4(a) or (b) and any other benefits owed to Executive pursuant to any
written employee benefit plan or policy of the Company; (iv) the portion of any
restricted stock or restricted stock unit grant that is free from restrictions
as of the date of termination and the acceleration and immediate release of all
restrictions from all shares of any restricted stock or restricted stock unit
grant that are subject to restrictions as of the date of termination and
scheduled to vest during the 12 month period following the date of termination;
(v) the vested portion of Executive's stock options, and the acceleration and
immediate vesting of Executive's unvested stock options that are scheduled to
vest during the 12 month period following the date of termination; and (vi)
continued coverage during the 12 month period following the date of termination
under the Company's employee medical and life insurance plans. Executive shall
have one (1) year from the date of such termination Without Cause or by
Executive for Good Reason to exercise all vested stock options.

         7.       CHANGE OF CONTROL.

         (a)      Definition. A "Change of Control" shall be deemed to have
taken place if:

                  (i)      any person or entity, including a "group" as defined
         in Section 13(d)(3) of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, other than
         the Company, a wholly-owned subsidiary thereof, or any employee benefit
         plan of the Company or any of its subsidiaries becomes the beneficial
         owner of Company securities having 50% or more of the combined voting
         power of the then outstanding securities of the Company that may be
         cast for the election of directors of the Company (other than as a
         result of the issuance of securities initiated by the Company in the
         ordinary course of business);

                  (ii)     as the result of, or in connection with, any cash
         tender or exchange offer, merger or other business combination, sale of
         assets or contested election, or any combination of the foregoing
         transactions, the holders of all the Company's securities entitled to
         vote generally in the election of directors of the Company immediately
         prior to such transaction constitute, following such transaction, less
         than a majority of the combined voting power of the then-outstanding
         securities of the Company or any

                                       5

<PAGE>

         successor corporation or entity entitled to vote generally in the
         election of the directors of the Company or such other corporation or
         entity after such transactions; or

                  (iii)    the Company sells all or substantially all of the
         assets of the Company.

         (b)      Effect of Change of Control. In the event that within one (1)
year following a Change of Control, the Company terminates Executive Without
Cause or Executive terminates employment for Good Reason (and for purposes of
the definition of "Good Reason" as used in this paragraph 7(b), the following
two circumstances shall also constitute Good Reason in addition to the three
circumstances described in Section 5(d): (i) any adverse change by Company in
the Executive's position or title described in Section 2 hereof, whether or not
any such change has been approved by a majority of the members of the Board; and
(ii) the assignment to Executive, over his reasonable objection, of any duties
materially inconsistent with his status as President of the Gaylord Opryland
Resort and Convention Center or a substantial adverse alteration in the nature
of his responsibilities), Executive shall be entitled to (in lieu of the
benefits provided pursuant to Section 6(e)): (i) an amount equal to Executive's
Base Salary over a 24 month period, payable in installments as normal payroll
over the 24 months following the date of termination; (ii) the payment of two
(2) times the Executive's average bonus for the prior three (3) calendar years;
(iii) any unpaid portion of the Year-End Bonus for prior calendar years, accrued
and unpaid vacation pay, unreimbursed expenses incurred pursuant to Section 4(a)
or (b) and any other benefits owed to Executive pursuant to any written employee
benefit plan or policy of the Company; (iv) the portion of any restricted stock
or restricted stock unit grant that is free from restrictions as of the date of
termination and the acceleration and immediate release of all restrictions from
all restricted stock or restricted stock unit grants that are subject to
restrictions as of the date of termination; (v) the vested portion of
Executive's stock options and the acceleration and immediate vesting of any
unvested portion of Executive's stock options; and (vi) continued coverage
during the 24 month period following the date of termination under the Company's
employee medical and life insurance plans. Executive shall have two (2) years
from the date of such termination to exercise all vested stock options.

         (c)      Going Private Transaction. Notwithstanding the foregoing, if
any entity initiates any Rule 13e-3 transaction, as that term is defined in Rule
13e-3 promulgated under the Securities Exchange Act of 1934 (the "Rule 13e-3
Transaction"), and all conditions precedent to the Company's obligation to
consummate the Rule 13e-3 Transaction shall have been satisfied, all unvested
stock options shall vest and all restrictions shall be removed from any
restricted stock grant shares; provided, however, that if the Rule 13e-3
Transaction is not thereafter consummated, the acceleration of stock option
vesting and removal of restricted stock grant restrictions shall be deemed to be
null and void.

         8.       EXECUTIVE COVENANTS.

         (a)      General. Executive and the Company understand and agree that
the purpose of the provisions of this Section 8 is to protect legitimate
business interests of the Company, as more fully described below, and is not
intended to impair or infringe upon Executive's right to work, earn a living, or
acquire and possess property from the fruits of his labor. Executive hereby
acknowledges that the post-employment restrictions set forth in this Section 8
are reasonable and that they do not, and will not, unduly impair his ability to
earn a living after the termination of

                                       6

<PAGE>

employment with the Company. Therefore, subject to the limitations of
reasonableness imposed by law upon restrictions set forth herein, Executive
shall be subject to the restrictions set forth in this Section 8.

         (b)      Definitions. The following capitalized terms used in this
Section 8 shall have the meanings assigned to them below, which definitions
shall apply to both the singular and the plural forms of such terms:

         "Confidential Information" means any confidential or proprietary
information possessed by the Company, including, without limitation, any
confidential "know-how," customer lists, details of client and consultant
contracts, current and anticipated customer requirements, pricing policies,
price lists, market studies, business plans, operational methods, marketing
plans or strategies, product development techniques or plans, computer software
programs (including object code and source code), data and documentation, data
base technologies, systems, structures and architectures, inventions and ideas,
past, current and planned research and development, compilations, devices,
methods, techniques, processes, financial information and data, business
acquisition plans, new personnel acquisition plans and any other information
that would constitute a trade secret under the common law or statutory law of
the State of Tennessee.

         "Person" means any individual or any corporation, partnership, joint
venture, association or other entity or enterprise.

         "Protected Employees" means employees of the Company or its affiliated
companies who are employed by the Company or its affiliated companies at any
time within six (6) months prior to the date of termination of Executive for any
reason whatsoever or any earlier date (during the Restricted Period) of an
alleged breach of the Restrictive Covenants by Executive.

         "Restricted Period" means the period of Executive's employment by the
Company plus a period extending one (1) year from the date of termination of
employment; provided, however, the Restricted Period shall be extended for a
period equal to the time during which Executive is in breach of his obligations
to the Company under this Section 8. Notwithstanding any other provision of this
Agreement to the contrary, the Restricted Period for purposes of the
Non-Competition covenant set forth below in Section 8(c)(ii) will extend for one
(1) year from the date of termination of employment only in the event of a
termination of Executive's employment either (i) by the Company pursuant to
Sections 5 (c), or (ii) by the Executive pursuant to Section 5(e).

         "Restrictive Covenants" means the restrictive covenants contained in
Section 8(c) hereof:

         (c)      Restrictive Covenants.

                  (i)      Restriction on Disclosure and Use of Confidential
         Information. Executive understands and agrees that the Confidential
         Information constitutes a valuable asset of the Company and its
         affiliated entities, and may not be converted to Executive's own use or
         converted by Executive for the use of any other Person. Accordingly,
         Executive hereby agrees that Executive shall not, directly or
         indirectly, at any time during the Restricted Period or thereafter,
         reveal, divulge or disclose to any Person not expressly authorized by
         the Company any Confidential Information, and Executive shall not, at

                                       7

<PAGE>

         any time during the Restricted Period or thereafter, directly or
         indirectly, use or make use of any Confidential Information in
         connection with any business activity other than that of the Company.
         The parties acknowledge and agree that this Agreement is not intended
         to, and does not, alter either the Company's rights or Executive's
         obligations under any state or federal statutory or common law
         including, without limitation, any state or federal statutory or common
         law regarding trade secrets and unfair trade practices.

                  (ii)     Non-Competition. Executive shall not, during the
         Restricted Period, directly or indirectly, for himself or on behalf of
         or in conjunction with any other Person: (x) engage, as an officer,
         director, shareholder, owner, partner, joint venturer or in a
         managerial capacity whether as an employee, independent contractor,
         consultant or advisor, or as sales representative, in any hotel
         business and/or meeting and convention center business in direct
         competition with the Company or any subsidiary of the Company, within
         seventy-five (75) miles of the locations in which the Company or any of
         the Company's subsidiaries owns or operates any hotel and/or meeting
         and convention center (the "Territory"), or (y) call upon any Person
         which is at that time, or which has been, within one (1) year prior to
         that time, a customer of the Company (including the subsidiaries
         thereof) within the Territory for the purpose of providing
         noncommercial property management, rental or sales services to property
         owners and/or renters in direct competition with the Company or any
         subsidiary of the Company within the Territory. The foregoing shall not
         be deemed to prohibit Executive from acquiring as an investment not
         more than two percent (2%) of the capital stock of a competing business
         whose stock is traded on a national securities exchange or
         over-the-counter.

                  (iii)    Non-solicitation of Protected Employees. Executive
         understands and agrees that the relationship between the Company and
         each of its Protected Employees constitutes a valuable asset of the
         Company and may not be converted to Executive's own use or converted by
         Executive for the use of any other Person. Accordingly, Executive
         hereby agrees that during the Employment Period plus a period extending
         an additional twenty-four (24) months from the date of termination of
         employment, Executive shall not directly or indirectly on Executive's
         own behalf or on behalf of any Person solicit any Protected Employee to
         terminate his or her employment with the Company. For purposes of this
         Agreement, the term "solicit" shall expressly exclude Persons
         responding to generic trade journal and periodical advertisements.

                  (iv)     Non-interference with Company Opportunities.
         Executive understands and agrees that all business opportunities with
         which he is involved during his employment with the Company constitute
         valuable assets of the Company and its affiliated entities, and may not
         be converted to Executive's own use or converted by Executive for the
         use of any other Person. Accordingly, Executive hereby agrees that
         during the Restricted Period or thereafter, Executive shall not
         directly or indirectly on Executive's own behalf or on behalf of any
         Person, interfere with, solicit, pursue, or in any way make use of any
         such business opportunities.

                                       8
<PAGE>

                  (v)      Company Property. All records, designs, patents,
         business plans, financial statements, manuals, memoranda, lists and
         other property delivered to or compiled by Executive by or on behalf of
         the Company or its representatives, vendors or customers which pertain
         to the business of the Company shall be and remain in the property of
         the Company and be subject at all times to its discretion and control.
         Likewise, all correspondence, reports, records, charts, advertising
         materials and other similar data pertaining to the business, activities
         or future plans of the Company which is collected by Executive shall be
         delivered promptly to the Company without request by it upon
         termination of Executive's employment.

         (d)      Exceptions from Disclosure Restrictions. Anything herein to
the contrary notwithstanding, Executive shall not be restricted from disclosing
or using Confidential Information that:

                  (i)      is or becomes generally available to the public other
         than as a result of an unauthorized disclosure by Executive or his
         agent;

                  (ii)     becomes available to Executive in a manner that is
         not in contravention of applicable law from a source (other than the
         Company or its affiliated entities or one of its or their officers,
         employees, agents or representatives) that is not known by Executive,
         after reasonable investigation, to be bound by a confidential
         relationship with the Company or its affiliated entities or by a
         confidentiality or other similar agreement; or

                  (iii)    is required to be disclosed by law, court order or
         other legal process; provided, however, that in the event disclosure is
         required by law, court order or legal process, Executive shall provide
         the Company with prompt notice of such requirement so that the Company
         may seek an appropriate protective order prior to any such required
         disclosure by Executive.

         (e)      Enforcement of the Restrictive Covenants.

                  (i)      Rights and Remedies upon Breach. In the event
         Executive breaches, or threatens to commit a breach of, any of the
         provisions of the Restrictive Covenants, the Company shall have the
         right and remedy to enjoin, preliminarily and permanently, Executive
         from violating or threatening to violate the Restrictive Covenants and
         to have the Restrictive Covenants specifically enforced by any court of
         competent jurisdiction, it being agreed that any breach or threatened
         breach of the Restrictive Covenants would cause irreparable injury to
         the Company and that money damages would not provide an adequate remedy
         to the Company. The rights referred to herein shall be independent of
         any others and severally enforceable, and shall be in addition to, and
         not in lieu of, any other rights and remedies available to the Company
         at law or in equity.

                  (ii)     Severability of Covenant. Executive acknowledges and
         agrees that the Restrictive Covenants are reasonable and valid in all
         respects. If any court determines that any Restrictive Covenant, or any
         part thereof, is invalid or unenforceable, the

                                       9

<PAGE>

         remainder of the Restrictive Covenants shall not thereby be affected
         and shall be given full effect, without regard to the invalid portions.

         9.       COOPERATION IN FUTURE MATTERS. Executive hereby agrees that,
for a period of three (3) years following the date of his termination, he shall
cooperate with the Company's reasonable requests relating to matters that
pertain to Executive's employment by the Company, including, without limitation,
providing information or limited consultation as to such matters, participating
in legal proceedings, investigations or audits on behalf of the Company, or
otherwise making himself reasonably available to the Company for other related
purposes. Any such cooperation shall be performed at times scheduled taking into
consideration Executive's other commitments, and Executive shall be compensated
(except for cooperation in connection with legal proceedings) at a reasonable
hourly or per diem rate to be agreed by the parties to the extent such
cooperation is required on more than an occasional and limited basis. Executive
shall also be reimbursed for all reasonable out of pocket expenses. Executive
shall not be required to perform such cooperation to the extent it conflicts
with any requirements of exclusivity of service for another employer or
otherwise, nor in any manner that in the good faith belief of Executive would
conflict with his rights under or ability to enforce this Agreement or in the
event of a termination by the Company pursuant to Section 5(e) above.

         10.      INDEMNIFICATION. The Company shall indemnify Executive and
hold him harmless from and against any and all costs, expenses, losses, claims,
damages, obligations or liabilities (including actual attorneys' fees and
expenses) arising out of any acts or failures to act by the Company, its
directors, employees or agents, that occurred prior to the Effective Date, or
arising out of or relating to any acts, or omissions to act, made by Executive
on behalf of or in the course of performing services for the Company to the
fullest extent permitted by the Bylaws of the Company, or, if greater, as
permitted by applicable law, as the same shall be in effect from time to time.
If any claim, action, suit or proceeding is brought, or any claim relating
thereto is made, against Executive with respect to which indemnity may be sought
against the Company pursuant to this Section, Executive shall notify the Company
in writing thereof, and the Company shall have the right to participate in, and
to the extent that it shall wish, in its discretion, assume and control the
defense thereof, with counsel satisfactory to Executive.

         11.      EXECUTIVE'S REPRESENTATIONS AND WARRANTIES. Executive
represents and warrants that he is free to enter into this Agreement and, as of
the Effective Date, that he is not subject to any conflicting obligation or any
disability which shall prevent or hinder Executive's execution of this Agreement
or the performance of his obligations hereunder; that no lawsuits or claims are
pending or, to Executive's knowledge, threatened against Executive; and that he
has never been subject to bankruptcy, insolvency, or similar proceedings, has
never been convicted of a felony or a crime involving moral turpitude, and has
never been subject to an investigation or proceeding by or before the Securities
and Exchange Commission or any state securities commission. The Company shall
have the authority to conduct an independent investigation into the background
of Executive and Executive agrees to fully cooperate in any such investigation.
The Company shall notify Executive if it intends to conduct such an
investigation.

         12.      NOTICES. Any and all notices or other communications required
or permitted to be given under any of the provisions of this Agreement shall be
in writing and shall be deemed

                                       10

<PAGE>


to have been duly given when personally delivered or mailed by first class
registered mail, return receipt requested, or by commercial courier or delivery
service, or by facsimile or electronic mail, addressed to the parties at the
addresses set forth below (or at such other address as any party may specify by
notice to all other parties given as aforesaid):

         (a)      if to the Company, to:             Gaylord Entertainment
                                                     Company One Gaylord Drive
                                                     Nashville, Tennessee 37214
                                                     Attn:  President
                                                     Facsimile: (615) 316-6000

         (b)      if to Executive, to:               3100 Del Rio Pike
                                                     Franklin, TN  37064

and/or to such other persons and addresses as any party shall have specified in
writing to the other by notice as aforesaid.

         13.      MISCELLANEOUS.

         (a)      Entire Agreement. This Agreement and the Exhibits hereto
constitute the entire agreement of the parties with respect to the subject
matter hereof and may not be modified, amended, or terminated except by a
written agreement signed by all of the parties hereto. Nothing contained in this
Agreement shall be construed to impose any obligation on the Company to renew
this Agreement and neither the continuation of employment nor any other conduct
shall be deemed to imply a continuing obligation upon the expiration of this
Agreement.

         (b)      Assignment; Binding Effect. This Agreement shall not be
assignable by Executive, but it shall be binding upon, and shall inure to the
benefit of, his heirs, executors, administrators, and legal representatives.
This Agreement shall be binding upon the Company and inure to the benefit of the
Company and its respective successors and permitted assigns. This Agreement may
only be assigned by the Company to an entity controlling, controlled by, or
under common control with the Company; provided, however, that no such
assignment shall relieve the Company of any of its obligations hereunder.

         (c)      Waiver. No waiver of any breach or default hereunder shall be
considered valid unless in writing, and no such waiver shall be deemed a waiver
of any subsequent breach or default of the same or similar nature.

         (d)      Enforceability. Subject to the terms of Section 8(e) hereof,
if any provision of this Agreement shall be held invalid or unenforceable, such
invalidity or unenforceability shall attach only to such provision and shall not
in any manner affect or render invalid or unenforceable any other severable
provision of this Agreement, and this Agreement shall be carried out as if any
such invalid or unenforceable provision were not contained herein, unless the
invalidity or unenforceability of such provision substantially impairs the
benefits of the remaining portions of this Agreement.

                                       11

<PAGE>

         (e)      Headings. The section headings contained herein are for the
purposes of convenience only and are not intended to define or limit the
contents of the sections.

         (f)      Counterparts. This Agreement may be executed in two or more
counterparts, all of which taken together shall be deemed one original.

         (g)      Confidentiality of Agreement. The parties agree that the terms
of this Agreement as they relate to compensation, benefits, and termination
shall, unless otherwise required by law (including, in the Company's reasonable
judgment, as required by federal and state securities laws), be kept
confidential; provided, however, that any party hereto shall be permitted to
disclose this Agreement or the terms hereof with any of its legal, accounting,
or financial advisors provided that such party ensures that the recipient shall
comply with the provisions of this Section 13(g).

         (h)      Governing Law. This Agreement shall be deemed to be a contract
under the laws of the State of Tennessee and for all purposes shall be construed
and enforced in accordance with the internal laws of said state.

         (i)      No Third Party Beneficiary. This Agreement shall not confer
any rights or remedies upon any person or entity other than the parties hereto
and their respective successors, heirs, executors, administrators, legal
representatives, and permitted assigns.

         (j)      Dispute Resolution. Any controversy or claim between or among
the parties hereto, including but not limited to those arising out of or
relating to this Agreement or any related agreements or instruments, including
any claim based on or arising from an alleged tort, shall be determined by
appropriate state or federal courts located in Davidson County, Tennessee.

         IN WITNESS WHEREOF, the parties hereto have caused this Employment
Agreement to be duly executed as of the date first above written.

                                         GAYLORD ENTERTAINMENT COMPANY

                                         By:/s/ Carter R. Todd
                                            ------------------------------------
                                         Name:  Carter R. Todd
                                         Title:  Senior Vice-President and
                                                 General Counsel

                                         EXECUTIVE:

                                         /s/ Jay D. Sevigny
                                         ---------------------------------------
                                         Jay D. Sevigny

                                       12