Our executive compensation programs are designed to attract, retain and motivate qualified, knowledgeable executives who are capable of performing their responsibilities. In designing our executive compensation programs, our goals are to ensure that:

Our corporate objectives are to continue to increase funds available for distribution to stockholders and to create long-term stockholder value. Consistent with these goals and objectives, and as discussed in the Compensation Discussion and Analysis beginning on page 25 of this proxy statement, the Human Resources Committee, which acts as our compensation committee, has developed and approved an executive compensation program providing for a range of compensation levels for our NEOs with the intent of rewarding strong performance and reducing compensation when our

performance objectives are not achieved. Key features of our executive compensation program, and an overview of 2013 executive compensation, are as follows:

For 2013, long-term equity compensation represented approximately 54% of our CEO’s total compensation package and (on average) approximately 32% of our other NEOs’ total compensation package (calculated in the manner described on page 28).

Proposal 3 asks that our stockholders vote to ratify the Audit Committee’s appointment of Ernst & Young LLP as the independent registered public accounting firm to audit our financial statements for the 2014 fiscal year. In the event the stockholders fail to ratify the appointment, the Audit Committee will reconsider this appointment. The Audit Committee, in its discretion, may direct the appointment of a different independent registered public accounting firm at any time during the year if the Audit Committee

determines that such a change would be in our and our stockholders’ best interests.

Ernst & Young LLP has served as our independent registered public accounting firm since 2002. Representatives of Ernst & Young LLP will be present at the meeting. They will be available to respond to your questions and may make a statement if they desire.

Corporate Governance

Our business is managed under the direction of our Board of Directors. The Board delegates the conduct of the business to our senior management team. The Board held five meetings during 2013. All directors attended at least 75% of the total number of meetings of the Board and those committees of which the director was a member during the period in which he or she served as a director in the aggregate.

We have adopted Corporate Governance Guidelines governing the conduct of our Board. The charters of our Audit Committee, Human Resources Committee and Nominating and Corporate Governance Committee, as well as our Corporate Governance Guidelines, are all posted on our website at www.rymanhp.com (under “Corporate Governance” on the Investor Relations page).

We have also adopted a Code of Business Conduct and Ethics which is applicable to all employees, officers and directors, including the principal executive officer, the principal financial officer and the principal accounting officer. The Code of Business Conduct and Ethics is available on our web site at www.rymanhp.com (under “Corporate Governance” on the Investor Relations page). We intend to post amendments to or waivers from our Code of Business Conduct and Ethics (to the extent applicable to our directors, principal executive officer, principal financial officer or principal accounting officer) at this location on our website.

We will provide a copy of our Corporate Governance Guidelines, our committee charters or our Code of Business Conduct and Ethics (and any amendments or waivers) to any stockholder or other person upon receipt of a written request addressed to:

Ryman Hospitality Properties, Inc.

Attn: Corporate Secretary

One Gaylord Drive

Nashville, Tennessee 37214

Board Leadership Structure

The Board believes that Mr. Reed’s service as both Chairman of the Board and CEO is in the best

interests of the company and its stockholders. Mr. Reed possesses a detailed knowledge of our industry as well as an understanding of both the opportunities and challenges we face. The Board thus believes that Mr. Reed is best positioned to develop agendas that ensure that the Board’s time and attention are focused on the most important matters facing the company. The Board also believes that Mr. Reed’s combined role ensures clear accountability, enhances our ability to articulate our strategy and message to our employees, stockholders and business partners and enables decisive overall leadership.

The Board has determined that it is also important to have an independent Lead Director who will play an active role and oversee many of the functions that an independent chair would otherwise perform. The Board has adopted a description of the duties of the Lead Director, which is posted on our website at www.rymanhp.com (under “Corporate Governance” on the Investor Relations page). Pursuant to this job description, the Chairman of the Nominating and Corporate Governance Committee serves as the company’s Lead Director, and that individual is currently D. Ralph Horn. Some of the primary functions of our Lead Director are:

Each of the directors other than Mr. Reed is independent, and the Board believes that the independent directors coupled with the Lead Director provide effective oversight of management. Our non-management directors meet regularly in scheduled executive sessions, and the Lead Director presides at these executive sessions. Following an executive session of our non-management directors, the Lead Director acts as a liaison between the non-management directors and the Chairman regarding any specific feedback or issues, provides the Chairman with input regarding agenda items for Board and committee meetings and coordinates with the Chairman regarding information to be provided to the our non-management directors in performing their duties. The Board believes that this approach appropriately and effectively complements the combined CEO/Chairman structure.

Although we believe that the combination of the Chairman and CEO roles is appropriate in the current circumstances, the Board retains the authority to modify our current combined CEO/Chairman structure to best address our circumstances, if and when appropriate.

Board Attendance at Annual Meeting

We strongly encourage each member of the Board to attend the Annual Meeting of Stockholders. All of our directors attended the 2013 Annual Meeting of Stockholders.

Independence of Directors

Pursuant to our Corporate Governance Guidelines, the Board undertook its annual review of director independence in February 2014. Our Board determines the independence of its members through a broad consideration of all relevant facts and circumstances, including an assessment of the materiality of any relationship between the company and a director. In making this assessment, the Board looks not only at relationships from the director’s standpoint, but also from the standpoint of persons or organizations with which the director has an affiliation. In making its determination, the Board adheres to the requirements of, and applies both the objective and subjective standards set forth by, the NYSE (as set forth in Section 303A.02 of the listed company manual), as well as the requirements and standards of the SEC and other applicable laws and regulations.

During this review, the Board considered whether there are or have been any transactions and relationships between each director, or any member of his or her immediate family, and the company and its subsidiaries and affiliates. The Board also examined whether there are or have been any transactions and relationships between directors, or their affiliates, and members of the company’s senior management or their affiliates. The purpose of this review was to determine whether any of these relationships or transactions were inconsistent with a determination that the director is independent. The Board concluded that no such transactions existed during the relevant period. As a result of this review, the Board affirmatively determined that, with the exception of Colin Reed, all of our directors are independent of the company and its management.

Committees of the Board

The Board maintains three standing committees, an Audit Committee, Human Resources Committee and Nominating and Corporate Governance Committee, to facilitate and assist the Board in the execution of its responsibilities.

Audit Committee

The members of the Audit Committee are Michael J. Bender (Chair), E. K. Gaylord II, Robert S. Prather, Jr. and Michael D. Rose (Financial Expert).

The committee is a separately designated standing audit committee established in accordance with Section 3(a)(58)(A) of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934. The committee is responsible for, among other things:

The Board has determined that all the members of the committee are financially literate pursuant to the NYSE rules. The Board also has determined that Mr. Rose is an “audit committee financial expert” within the meaning stipulated by the SEC.

In 2013, the committee met nine times.

Human Resources Committee

The members of the Human Resources Committee are Michael I. Roth (Chair), D. Ralph Horn and Ellen Levine.

The committee is responsible for, among other items:

The committee has also delegated to the CEO the authority to make limited equity grants to new members of our management team to allow such grants to be made in a timely manner, as the committee generally only meets on a quarterly basis. Equity grants under this delegation of authority may only be made as initial equity grants to newly hired executives (other than officers subject to Section 16 of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934) and on the same terms and conditions as were applied by the committee in its most recent prior equity grants. In addition, equity grants under this

delegation of authority to any one executive are limited to 6,250 RSUs.

Effective as of January 1, 2013, the committee engaged AonHewitt as its compensation consultant. The committee has determined that no conflict of interest exists between AonHewitt and the company (including the company’s Board members and company management) pursuant to Item 407(e)(3)(iv) of SEC Regulation S-K. Neither AonHewitt nor any affiliate provided additional services to the company or its affiliates in excess of $120,000 during fiscal 2013.

AonHewitt assisted the committee in determining if its strategies and plans were advisable based on our current financial position and strategic goals, as well as developments in corporate governance and compensation design. At the committee’s request, AonHewitt also performed several analyses, including updates to the executive salary structure and modeling of executive compensation levels at different levels of company performance, to assist the committee in its review.

For additional information regarding the committee’s processes and procedures for considering and determining executive compensation, including the role of executive officers in determining the amount or form of executive compensation, see Compensation Discussion and Analysis below.

In 2013, the committee met five times.

Compensation Committee Interlocks and Insider Participation

The Human Resources Committee (which functions as our compensation committee) is comprised entirely of independent directors. In addition, there are no relationships among our executive officers, members of the committee or entities whose executives serve on the Board or the committee that require disclosure under applicable regulations of the SEC.

Nominating and Corporate Governance Committee

The members of the Nominating and Corporate Governance Committee are D. Ralph Horn (Chair), Michael Roth and Ellen Levine.

The committee is responsible for, among other things:

In 2013, the committee met five times.

A formal Board evaluation covering Board operations and performance, with a written evaluation from each Board member, is conducted annually by the committee to enhance Board effectiveness. Recommended changes are considered by the full Board. In addition, each Board committee conducts an annual self-evaluation.

The committee annually reviews with the Board the company’s “Statement of Expectations of Directors.” This review includes an assessment of independence, diversity, age, skills, experience and industry backgrounds in the context of the needs of the Board and the company, as well as the ability of current and prospective directors to devote sufficient time to performing their duties in an effective manner. Directors are expected to actively participate in Board discussions and exemplify the highest standards of personal and professional integrity. In particular, the committee seeks directors with established strong professional reputations and expertise in areas relevant to the strategy and operations of our businesses.

While our Corporate Governance Guidelines do not prescribe specific diversity criteria for selection of directors, as a matter of practice, the committee considers diversity in the context of the Board as a whole and takes into account diversity, including the personal characteristics (such as gender, ethnicity or age) and experience (such as industry, professional

or public service) of current and prospective directors, when selecting new directors to facilitate Board deliberations that reflect a broad range of viewpoints. The committee’s charter gives it responsibility to develop and recommend criteria for the selection of new directors to the Board, including but not limited to diversity, age, skills, experience, time availability and such other criteria as the committee shall determine to be relevant at the time.

The committee also considers the impact of any changes in the employment of existing directors. In this regard, if a director changes employment, the director is required to submit a letter of resignation to the committee. The committee then reviews the director’s change of employment and determines whether the director’s continued service on the Board would be advisable as a result of such change. After completing this evaluation and interview, the committee makes a recommendation to the full Board as to whether to accept the director’s resignation, and the Board makes a final determination of whether to accept the director’s resignation.

The committee considers candidates for Board membership recommended by its members and other Board members, as well as by management and stockholders. To date, the committee has not engaged a third party to identify prospective nominees. The committee will only consider stockholder nominees for Board membership submitted in accordance with the procedures set forth below in Submitting Stockholder Proposals and Nominations for 2015 Annual Meeting.

Once the committee has identified a prospective nominee, the committee makes an initial determination as to whether to conduct a full evaluation of the candidate. This initial determination is based on whatever information is provided to the committee with the recommendation of the prospective candidate, as well as the committee’s own knowledge of the prospective candidate, which may be supplemented by inquiries to the person making the recommendation or others. The preliminary determination is based primarily on the need for additional Board members to fill vacancies or expand the size of the Board and the likelihood that the prospective nominee can satisfy the evaluation factors described below. If the committee determines, in consultation with the Chairman of the Board and other Board members as appropriate, that additional consideration is warranted, it may request

additional information about the prospective nominee’s background and experience. The committee then evaluates the prospective nominee against the following standards and qualifications:

The committee also considers such other relevant factors as it deems appropriate, including the current composition of the Board and the evaluations of other prospective nominees. In connection with this evaluation, the committee determines whether to interview the prospective nominee, and if warranted, one or more members of the committee, and others as appropriate, will interview the prospective nominee in person or by telephone. After completing this evaluation and interview, the committee makes a recommendation to the full Board as to whether this prospective nominee and any other prospective nominees should be nominated by the Board, and the Board determines the nominees after considering the recommendation and report of the committee.

New directors participate in an orientation program that includes discussions with senior management, their review of background materials on our strategic plan, organization and financial statements and visits to our facilities. We encourage each director to participate in continuing educational programs that are important to maintaining a director’s level of expertise to perform his or her responsibilities as a Board member.

Majority Voting Standard for Director Elections

Our Corporate Governance Guidelines and Bylaws provide for a majority voting standard in uncontested director elections. Under these provisions, any director nominee in an uncontested election will be

elected to the Board if the votes cast for such nominee’s election exceed the votes cast against such nominee’s election at any meeting for the election of directors at which a quorum is present (with abstentions and broker non-votes not counted as votes cast either for or against such election). In addition, under our Corporate Governance Guidelines, each director agrees, by serving as a director or by accepting nomination for election as a director, that if while serving as a director he or she fails to receive the required majority vote in a director election, he or she will tender his or her resignation as a director for consideration by the Nominating and Corporate Governance Committee and, ultimately, the Board, as described below. Any director nominee who is not an incumbent director who does not receive a majority vote will not be elected to the Board.

In the event any incumbent director nominee does not receive the requisite majority vote, our Corporate Governance Guidelines provide that our Nominating and Corporate Governance Committee will evaluate the circumstances of the failed election, and will make a recommendation regarding the director’s resignation to the full Board and will evaluate the resignation in light of the best interests of the company and its stockholders in determining whether to recommend accepting or rejecting the tendered resignation, or whether other action should be taken. Thereafter, the Board will act upon the resignation, taking into account the recommendation of the Nominating and Corporate Governance Committee, and will publicly disclose (by a press release, a filing with the SEC or other broadly disseminated means of communication) its decision regarding the tendered resignation and the rationale behind the decision within 90 days of the certification of the election results. In such event, if the Board accepts the resignation, the nominee will no longer serve on the Board, and if the Board rejects the resignation, the nominee will continue to serve until his or her successor has been duly elected and qualified or until his or her earlier disqualification, death, resignation or removal.

Compensation Clawback

We expect that the SEC, in accordance with the requirements of Section 954 of the Dodd-Frank Wall Street Reform and Consumer Protection Act (the “Dodd-Frank Act”), will issue regulations regarding clawback policies in the near future. Following the

adoption of such regulations in accordance with the Dodd-Frank Act, every public company will be required to adopt a “clawback” policy for the recovery of certain incentive-based compensation from its executive officers in the event the company is required to restate its financials as a result of material noncompliance with reporting requirements. In order to ensure full compliance with the SEC’s regulations, we intend to adopt our own formal clawback policy that will apply to our executive officers once such regulations have been implemented by the SEC. In the interim, Section 304 of the Sarbanes-Oxley Act of 2002 requires the recovery of incentive awards in certain circumstances. If we are required to restate our financials due to material noncompliance with any financial reporting requirements as a result of misconduct, our CEO and CFO will be required under Section 304 of the Sarbanes-Oxley Act to reimburse us for (1) any bonus or other incentive- or equity-based compensation received during the 12 months following the first public issuance of the non-complying document, and (2) any profits realized from the sale of our securities during such 12 month period.

Board’s Role in Risk Oversight

The Board as a whole has responsibility for oversight of the company’s enterprise risk management function, with reviews of certain areas being conducted by the relevant Board committees that report on their deliberations to the Board. The oversight responsibility of the Board and its committees is made possible by a management report process that is designed to provide both visibility and transparency to the Board about the identification, assessment and management of critical risks and management’s risk mitigation strategies. In this regard, each committee meets in executive session with key management personnel and representatives of outside advisors (for example, our director of internal audit meets in executive session with the Audit Committee).

The areas of focus of the Board and its committees include competitive, economic, operational, financial (accounting, credit, liquidity and tax), legal, compliance, political and reputational risks. The Board and its committees oversee risks associated with their respective principal areas of focus, as outlined below:

We believe that the Board’s role in risk oversight is facilitated by the leadership structure of the Board. In this regard, we believe that, by combining the positions of Chairman of the Board and CEO, the Board gains a valuable perspective that combines the operational experience of a member of management with the oversight focus of a member of the Board. We also believe that the division of risk management-related roles among the company’s full Board, Audit Committee, Nominating and Corporate Governance Committee and Human Resource Committee as noted above fosters an atmosphere of significant involvement in the oversight of risk at the Board level and complements our risk management policies.

The Board, in executive sessions of non-management directors (which are presided over by the company’s independent Lead Director), also considers and discusses risk-related matters. This provides a forum for risk-related matters to be discussed without management or the Chairman of the Board and CEO present. The company’s Lead Director acts as a liaison between the company’s Chairman of the Board and CEO and the company’s independent directors to the extent that any risk-related matters discussed at these executive sessions require additional feedback or action.

In setting compensation, the Human Resources Committee also considers the risks to our stockholders that may be inherent in our compensation programs. We believe that our compensation programs are appropriately structured and provide for a suitable balance between long-term and short-term compensation and have an appropriate performance-based and “at risk” component. We also believe that our compensation policies and practices do not create risks that are reasonably likely to have a material adverse effect on the company.

Recent Changes in Company Policies

In 2014 the Board amended our executive and non-employee director stock ownership guidelines to provide that any executive or non-employee director who has not achieved the applicable guideline level of share ownership (regardless of the grace period for compliance applicable to the executive) is required to maintain 50% of the net shares (after taking into account shares sold or surrendered to pay any applicable exercise price and to satisfy any tax obligations) received in connection with the exercise, vesting or payment of any equity incentive award. At that time, the Board also amended our insider trading policy to prohibit executive officers and directors from engaging in any transactions designed to hedge or otherwise offset any decrease in the fair

market value of our equity securities. At that time the Board also amended our insider trading policy to prohibit executive officers and directors from pledging or otherwise encumbering a significant amount of equity securities (generally defined as the lesser of 0.50% of our outstanding equity securities or 10% of the equity securities owned by the individual) without prior approval of the Human Resources Committee.

Communications with the Board of Directors

Stockholders, employees and others interested in communicating with the Board (including non-management directors) may write to:

Corporate Secretary

Ryman Hospitality Properties, Inc.

One Gaylord Drive

Nashville, Tennessee 37214

The Corporate Secretary reviews all such correspondence and regularly forwards to the Board a summary of all such correspondence and copies of all correspondence that, in the opinion of our corporate secretary, deals with the functions of the Board or committees thereof or that he otherwise determines requires their attention. Directors may at any time review a log of all correspondence received by us that is addressed to members of the Board and request copies of any such correspondence. Concerns relating to accounting, internal controls or auditing matters are immediately brought to the attention of our internal audit department and handled in accordance with procedures established by the Audit Committee with respect to such matters. In addition, stockholders, employees and other interested parties may communicate directly with our independent Lead Director (D. Ralph Horn), individual independent directors or the independent directors as a group by e-mail at boardofdirectors@rymanhp.com.

Overview

Our executive compensation programs are designed to attract, retain and motivate qualified, knowledgeable executives who are capable of performing their responsibilities. In designing our executive compensation programs, our goals are to ensure that:

Our corporate objectives are to continue to increase funds available for distribution to our stockholders and to create long-term stockholder value. Consistent with these goals and objectives, the Human Resources Committee, which acts as our compensation

committee, has developed and approved an executive compensation program providing for a range of compensation levels for our NEOs with the intent of rewarding strong performance and reducing compensation when our performance objectives are not achieved. Key components of our executive compensation program are:

2013 Compensation Decisions

Our Human Resources Committee (which functions as our compensation committee) annually reviews our executive compensation program to determine how well actual compensation targets and levels meet our overall compensation philosophy and to compare our compensation programs to our peers. The committee also oversees our compensation programs.

Compensation Peer Group

For 2013, the committee used a compensation peer group of the following 11 companies:

These companies were selected based on their industry focus and their status as a REIT, enterprise value, revenue size and debt to capital ratio. The companies included in the peer group used by the committee as set forth above are different from the companies included in our peer group in 2012 as disclosed in last year’s proxy statement as a result of our conversion to a REIT effective January 1, 2013.

The committee annually determines whether our overall executive compensation program is consistent with our business strategy and promotes our compensation philosophy. In determining target total annual compensation for each NEO, the committee relies on its general experience and subjective considerations of various factors, including our strategic business goals, information with respect to the peer group set forth above, proprietary and publicly available compensation surveys and data with respect to REITs and other public companies provided by AonHewitt, and each executive officer’s position, experience, level of responsibility, individual job performance, contributions to our corporate performance, job tenure and future potential.

The committee does not set specific targets or benchmarks for overall compensation or for allocations between fixed and performance-based compensation, cash and non-cash compensation or short-term and long-term compensation. In addition, the committee uses the factors set forth above to obtain a general understanding

of current compensation practices, including to confirm that the target total compensation opportunity for our executive officers provides for a reasonable range of compensation within which each executive’s total compensation would be considered competitive. The committee does not specifically target or benchmark any element of compensation or the total compensation payable to NEOs based on these factors.

Base Salary

Base salary is designed to compensate our NEOs for their roles and responsibilities and to provide a secure level of guaranteed cash compensation. We have agreements with Mr. Reed, Mr. Fioravanti and Mr. Westbrook that provide for a minimum base salary. We also have severance agreements with Mr. Chaffin and Mr. Lynn that do not provide for any minimum base salary.

Each NEO’s base salary was set based on:

In 2013, base salary represented approximately 18% of our CEO’s total compensation package and (on average) approximately 40% of our other NEO’s total compensation package (calculated in the manner described on page 28). The committee annually reviews the base salaries of each NEO. Adjustments are made based on individual performance and changes in roles and responsibilities.

At its February 14, 2013 meeting, the committee reviewed the existing base salaries and perquisites for our NEOs. Specifically, the committee considered the meaningful reductions in base salary (a 26.4% reduction for Mr. Reed, a 1.2% reduction for Mr. Fioravanti and a 1% reduction for Mr. Westbrook) and cash perquisites (a reduction of $29,400 per year for Mr. Reed and a reduction of $15,000 per year for Mr. Fioravanti and for Mr. Westbrook) that these NEO’s voluntarily initiated, which became effective as of January 1, 2013, in connection with our REIT conversion.

The committee also considered the fact that Mr. Chaffin and Mr. Lynn were newly appointed to their positions effective as of January 1, 2013 in connection with our REIT restructuring and that they received new base salaries, effective as of such date, of $250,000 and $240,000, respectively, in connection with such appointments.

Based on its review of the factors described above, the committee determined that the base salary amounts for all NEOs, implemented effective as of January 1, 2013, should continue unchanged for the remainder of 2013 at the following levels:

Short-Term Cash Incentive Compensation

We provide annual cash incentive compensation designed to reward achievement of specific previously established short-term financial and strategic goals.

2013 Performance Goals

For 2013, the committee determined that the NEOs would have the opportunity to earn the following percentage of their base salary based on the achievement of the financial performance goals (and, in the case of Mr. Reed, designated strategic objectives) described below:

The percentage of salary award for performance falling between the threshold and target achievement levels and the target and stretch achievement levels was to be based on AFFO using straight-line interpolation. In 2013, assuming performance at the target level of achievement, short-term cash incentive compensation represented approximately 27% of our CEO’s total compensation package and (on average) approximately 26% of our other NEO’s total compensation package (calculated in the manner described on page 28).

In 2013, the performance targets, measured using AFFO, were:

The committee selected AFFO as the performance metric because it is a measure of our operations without regard to specified non-cash items such as real estate depreciation and amortization, gain or loss on sale of assets and certain other items which we believe are not indicative of the performance of our underlying hotel properties, and as such AFFO is one of the principal tools used by our management and the investment community in evaluating our financial performance as a REIT. These performance levels were set by the committee at the beginning of 2013 after thorough discussion with management regarding our anticipated financial performance. In choosing this goal, the committee considered the general economic climate expected in 2013, the expected conditions in the hospitality industry and our expected financial performance. The committee intended the target performance goal to be a challenging level of achievement. The committee attempted to set the threshold, target and stretch performance goals to ensure that the relative level of difficulty of achieving these performance levels would be generally consistent with prior years.

The awards to the NEOs (other than Mr. Reed) were based solely on our level of achievement of AFFO. The award to Mr. Reed was based 75% on our achievement of AFFO and 25% on our achievement of the strategic objective, approved in advance by the committee, of achieving effective capital allocation and balance sheet management, specifically including refinancing our existing indebtedness with near-term maturities.

At the time the committee established these targets, it made a determination to adjust the actual AFFO for the year to exclude losses or expense related to certain extraordinary, non-recurring events or occurrences as set forth in our stockholder approved omnibus incentive plan before exercising any negative discretion in determining the final amounts of the cash incentive awards to ensure that such

awards accurately reflect our actual performance. The committee also had the option of lowering the amount of, or not awarding, annual cash incentive compensation otherwise payable to an executive under the plan for 2013 if the executive did not attain a minimum-level annual performance rating under the company’s employee evaluation program, which is a prerequisite to receiving cash incentive compensation under the plan.

2013 Short-Term Cash Incentive Compensation Awards

In analyzing our results for purposes of determining the level of achievement under the short-term cash incentive compensation plan, the committee reviewed our operating and financial results.

In making its determination, the committee noted:

Based on its review, the committee determined that it would be appropriate to (as required by the terms of the plan) adjust the calculation of AFFO to take into account certain extraordinary, non-recurring transactions, including but not limited to: our REIT conversion costs; the costs associated with the refinancing of our indebtedness, the repurchase of our common stock and the redemption of our convertible senior notes; and certain other unforeseen expenses incurred during the year, including the acceleration of our Gaylord Texan rooms refurbishment program and additional sales commissions relating to group bookings in the fourth quarter of 2013 (as these commissions exceeded our projections).

After taking into account the items described above, the committee concluded that our AFFO was, for purposes of the plan, $211.9 million, which exceeded our “threshold” performance goal but was less than our “target” performance goal. The resulting payout, using interpolation, was at a payout level equal to 90% of the “target” payout level (which was the payout level for all NEOs other than Mr. Reed). The committee also determined that Mr. Reed had satisfied the individual strategic performance objectives described above, which combined with the AFFO achievement level described above resulted in a payout level equal to 92.5% of the “target” payout level.

The committee also determined that certain of the NEOs should receive additional discretionary cash incentive compensation, in an amount listed below, due to their substantial contributions to the company’s debt refinancings and equity and debt repurchase transactions in 2013, as well as their efforts to improve the operating performance of our hotel properties in 2013. The committee also reviewed the annual performance rating of each NEO and determined that each NEO met the minimum level performance rating.

As a result, the committee approved the following short-term cash incentive compensation awards:

Long-Term Equity Incentive Compensation

Our long-term equity incentive compensation plan is designed to align the interests of our NEOs and stockholders and focus our NEOs on long-term objectives over a multi-year period. Long-term equity incentive awards are also intended to attract and retain our NEOs through long-term vesting. In 2013, long-term equity incentive compensation represented approximately 54% of our CEO’s total compensation package and (on average) approximately 32% of our other NEO’s total compensation package (calculated in the manner described on page 28).

Long-Term Equity Incentive Compensation Plan Components

Our long-term equity incentive plan components are:

Performance-Based RSUs:

Time-Based RSUs:

2013 Long-Term Equity Incentive Compensation Awards

For 2013, the committee discussed with AonHewitt the most appropriate way to motivate and retain our executives. The committee felt it was important to provide for continuity of management during the period immediately following our REIT conversion, especially in light of the difficult operating environment in the group hospitality sector during 2013. The committee also believed it was important to use RSU awards instead of stock options to better align the interests of our executives with our stockholders and to conform to compensation practices in the REIT industry.

As a result of these discussions, the committee decided to structure long-term equity incentive awards in 2013 as a combination of performance-based RSUs and time-based RSUs.

On February 14, 2013, the committee made the following long-term incentive compensation awards to the NEOs:

2013 Performance-Based RSU Awards

The amount of the performance-based RSUs which will ultimately vest on February 14, 2016 will be determined by comparing our TSR performance during the performance period (January 1, 2013 – December 31, 2015) relative to the median of the TSR performance of the following two peer groups, weighted equally: (1) companies within the FTSE NAREIT Lodging Resorts Index selected by the committee⁽¹⁾; and (2) our 2013 compensation peer group listed above (collectively, the “Performance Peer Groups”). Specifically, the awards will vest as follows:

If the performance achieved falls in between the established goal levels, the percentage of the award earned by the NEO will be determined using straight-line interpolation and rounding to the nearest full share. The awards also provide that if our TSR is negative, on an absolute basis, the committee may, in its discretion, reduce by 25% the number of awards ultimately vesting. In no event will the final value of the award exceed 500% of the fair market value of our common stock on the grant date of February 14, 2013. The committee believes that limiting the maximum value of the award ensures the NEOs are not disproportionally awarded for performance. The committee also retains the discretion to re-evaluate the Performance Peer Groups for each fiscal year to take into account changes to the composition of the Performance Peer Groups (i.e., mergers or delistings), or to otherwise modify the terms of the award to take into account such other factors which the committee in its sole discretion may determine.

The committee believed the amount of these awards was appropriate given our compensation philosophy and objectives, specifically noting that achievement of greater than “target” level performance would have also resulted in higher than average TSR to our stockholders, as compared to our peers. In 2013, performance-based RSUs represented approximately 27% of our CEO’s total compensation package and (on average) approximately 16% of our other NEO’s total compensation package (calculated in the manner described on page 28).

2013 Time-Based RSU Awards

The time-based RSUs vest ratably over four years, beginning on February 14, 2014. The committee believed the amount of these awards was appropriate given our compensation philosophy and objectives, including the need to retain our executives. In 2013, time-based RSUs represented approximately 27% of our CEO’s total compensation package and (on average) approximately 16% of our other NEO’s total compensation package (calculated in the manner described on page 28).

Benefits

Our benefit programs are established based upon an assessment of competitive market factors and a determination of what is needed to attract and retain qualified executives. Our primary benefits for executives include participation in our broad-based plans at the same costs as other employees. These plans include a tax qualified 401(k) savings plan (with matching contributions equal to 4% of a participant’s pay), health and dental plans and various disability and life insurance plans.

We also provide the following additional executive-level perquisites to our NEOs and other designated senior executives:

We also continue to hold for sale a corporate airplane which was purchased by our predecessor company to support the extensive amount of travel required for hotel operation, including for the large number of hotel site visits and other sales trips necessary to serve our convention and large group customer base. While the plane is held for sale, we continue to utilize the plane for business travel and allow limited personal use of our plane by certain of our senior executives to provide for more efficient use of their time while traveling on company business. This benefit is taxable in accordance with IRS regulations.

These executive-level perquisites are established based upon an assessment of competitive market factors and a determination of what is needed to attract and retain qualified executives. These executive-level perquisites represented approximately 1% of our CEO’s total compensation package and (on average) approximately 2% of our other NEO’s total compensation package (calculated in the manner described on page 28).

As part of our REIT restructuring transactions, Mr. Reed, Mr. Fioravanti and Mr. Westbrook voluntarily agreed to amend their employment agreements to remove the car allowance and annual financial planning cash perquisites previously paid to them. The severance agreements for Mr. Chaffin and Mr. Lynn do not provide for any perquisites.

When we recruited Mr. Reed to join our company in 2001, we agreed to pay Mr. Reed a retirement benefit pursuant to a Custom Mid-Career Supplemental Employee Retirement Plan, or SERP. This benefit, which is described in Nonqualified Deferred Compensation below, was in the committee’s view essential to attracting Mr. Reed to employment with us and has also proved valuable in securing his extended employment. The company has fully satisfied its funding obligations under the SERP by previously paying, in total, $3.5 million to Mr. Reed’s SERP account (as described below), and the current balance in Mr. Reed’s SERP account in excess of such amount is attributable to investment gains and losses associated with the assets in the SERP account (currently shares of our common stock).

Other Compensation Information

Stock Ownership and Retention Guidelines

The committee has adopted stock ownership guidelines for our senior executives. These guidelines are designed to encourage our executives to have a meaningful equity ownership in our company, thereby linking their interests with those of our stockholders. These guidelines provide that within five years of becoming a senior executive, each executive must own (by way of shares owned directly or indirectly (including through our 401(k) plan) and shares represented by unvested time-based RSUs, but not including unexercised stock options or performance-based RSUs) common stock with a value of either five times (5x) base salary for Mr. Reed, three times (3x) base salary for Mr. Fioravanti, and two times (2x) base salary for the other NEOs and other executives subject to these guidelines. In 2014 we amended these guidelines to provide that if an executive is not currently in compliance with this guideline (regardless of the compliance grace period), the executive must retain 50% of the net shares (after satisfying any tax obligations and any required payments upon exercise) received upon vesting of RSUs or the exercise of stock options. As of January 31, 2014 (the annual compliance date) all of the NEOs were in compliance with the guidelines, after taking into account the applicable grace period for Mr. Chaffin and Mr. Lynn, as follows:

Post-Termination Benefits

The committee believes that severance and change of control benefits assist in attracting and retaining qualified executives. The committee believes these benefits were particularly important to provide for continuity of management during the period immediately following our REIT conversion. The levels of payments and benefits upon termination were set to be at a market-competitive level based upon each executive’s experience and level in the organization.

Mr. Reed, Mr. Fioravanti and Mr. Westbrook have employment agreements that provide for cash severance payments and certain other benefits if termination occurs without “cause” or if the executive leaves for “good reason” (as defined in their employment agreement). These agreements also provide for cash compensation and certain other benefits in the event of termination following a “change of control” of the company (i.e., a “double trigger”). Mr. Chaffin and Mr. Lynn have severance agreements that only provide for compensation in the event of termination following a “change of control” of the company (i.e., a “double trigger”). In addition, no tax gross-ups are provided in connection with any severance payments to our NEOs. Information regarding these payments, including a definition of key terms and the amount of benefits that would have been received by our NEOs had termination occurred on December 31, 2013, is found under Potential Payments on Termination or Change of Control on page 48.

Tax Deductibility Policy

The committee’s policy is to consider the tax treatment of compensation paid to our executive officers with appropriate rewards for their performance. Section 162(m) of the Internal Revenue Code generally disallows public companies a tax deduction for their compensation in excess of $1.0 million paid to their chief executive officers and certain of their other executive officers unless designated performance and other requirements are met. We generally intend to design and administer executive compensation programs in a manner that will preserve the deductibility of compensation paid to our executive officers. We believe that a substantial portion of our current executive compensation (including the short-term cash incentive compensation and performance-based RSUs granted to our NEOs as described above) satisfies the

requirements for exemption from the $1.0 million

deduction limitation. However, we reserve the right to design programs that recognize a full range of performance criteria important to our success, even where the compensation paid under such programs may not be fully deductible.

Because we qualify as a REIT for Federal income tax purposes, we generally expect to distribute at least 100% of our net taxable income each year and therefore will not pay Federal income tax on our REIT taxable income. As a result, based on the level of compensation paid to our executive officers, we do not expect that the possible loss of a Federal income tax deduction would materially impact our income tax liability. The committee will continue to monitor the tax and other consequences of our executive compensation program as part of its primary objective of ensuring that compensation paid to our executives is reasonable, performance-based and consistent with our goals.

Equity Grant Practices

Our omnibus incentive plan allows the committee to grant various types of equity awards to any eligible employee, including the NEOs. This plan also permits delegation of the committee’s authority to the CEO to make a small number of awards to non-executive officers to newly-hired or promoted employees (which are then ratified by the committee). Annual equity awards to executives are approved by the committee and occur on the date of our first quarterly committee meeting of each year. These awards are granted pursuant to a formula based on a specified dollar amount, with the number of shares for each RSU award determined by dividing the dollar amount by the closing market price of our stock on the date immediately prior to the grant date. Annual RSU awards for directors are approved by the committee and are granted on the date the director is elected or appointed to the Board. These awards are granted pursuant to a formula based on a specified dollar amount, with the number of shares for each RSU grant determined by dividing the dollar amount by the closing market price of our stock on the date immediately prior to the grant date.

Role of the Human Resources Committee and Management

The committee awards compensation to our NEOs and other executives consistent with our philosophy that compensation paid to our executives be fair, reasonable and competitive. The committee establishes and monitors compliance with our compensation philosophy, and the committee also

oversees the development and administration of our compensation programs. Our management is responsible for the administration of our compensation programs once approved by the committee.

The committee makes all compensation decisions with respect to our NEOs, which are ratified by our Board. Our CEO annually reviews the performance of, and provides compensation recommendations for, each NEO (other than the CEO). In the case of the CEO, the CEO provides the committee with a self-assessment of his performance. The committee then reviews these items and discusses and approves compensation for each NEO based on considerations previously discussed. For a complete description of the committee’s members and its responsibilities, as well as information regarding the authority of our CEO to make limited equity grants to new members of our management team, see Committees of the Board on page 17. You may also view the committee’s charter on our website at www.rymanhp.com (under “Corporate Governance” on the Investor Relations page).

Role of the Compensation Consultant

The committee retained AonHewitt as its outside compensation consultant effective as of January 1, 2013. During 2013, AonHewitt regularly attended committee meetings and reported directly to the committee on matters relating to compensation for our executives. During 2013 the committee requested that AonHewitt:

Advisory Vote on Executive Compensation

At our annual meeting in May 2013, we held a stockholder advisory vote on the compensation of our NEOs, commonly referred to as a “say-on-pay” vote. In our say-on-pay vote, 90.3% of the stockholder votes, excluding broker non-votes, were cast in favor of the say-on-pay resolution. As the committee reviewed our compensation practices, it was mindful of the level of support our stockholders had previously expressed for our compensation programs, including our “pay for performance” philosophy and emphasis on variable compensation, and the committee determined no specific actions in response to the vote were indicated. The committee intends to continue to consider the outcome of future advisory say-on-pay votes when making executive compensation decisions.

2014 NEO Compensation

At its February 26, 2014 meeting, the committee reviewed and approved the compensation to be paid to the NEOs for 2014, in light of our compensation philosophy and the other matters described above.

Base Salary

The committee determined that base salaries for 2014 should be slightly increased to meet the objectives previously discussed, as follows:

Short-Term Cash Incentive Compensation

The committee also established criteria for short-term cash incentive compensation pursuant to our omnibus incentive plan. Each NEO will have the opportunity to earn the following percentage of their base salary based on the achievement of the AFFO goals (and, in the case of Mr. Reed, designated strategic objectives) established by the committee:

The committee set the AFFO “target” performance goal at our projected AFFO level for 2014, as the committee believes achieving this goal will represent a significant step in meeting our financial and strategic objectives. In making determinations of the desired “threshold,” “target” and “stretch” performance goals, the committee also considered the general economic and operating climate we are likely to face in 2014. In setting these goals, the committee attempted to set performance goals to ensure that the relative level of difficulty of achieving these levels was consistent with prior years.

In determining whether an NEO meets his designated AFFO goals in 2014, the committee will adjust the actual AFFO for the year to exclude losses or expense related to certain extraordinary non-recurring events or occurrences as set forth in our omnibus incentive plan (and may exclude any items

of income or gain) before exercising any negative discretion in determining the final amounts of the short-term cash incentive compensation awards to ensure that such awards accurately reflect our actual performance. The Committee can also lower the amount of, or not award, annual cash incentive compensation otherwise payable to an officer under the plan for 2014 if the officer does not attain a minimum-level annual performance rating, which will continue to be a prerequisite to receiving cash incentive compensation under the plan.

Long-Term Equity Incentive Compensation

The committee also made the following long-term equity incentive compensation awards to the NEOs: