Published: January 06, 2011
Viad Corp Acquires Grouse Mountain Lodge
PHOENIX - (BUSINESS WIRE) - Viad Corp (NYSE:VVI) today announced that it completed the acquisition
of Grouse Mountain Lodge on January 5, 2011. This acquisition is
expected to be slightly accretive to Viad's 2011 earnings.
Paul B. Dykstra, Viad's chairman, president and chief executive officer,
said, "We are committed to expanding our hospitality and recreational
attractions portfolio in and around national parks in North America and
this transaction represents a successful execution against those plans.
Grouse Mountain Lodge is a great addition to our high margin, high
return on invested capital Travel & Recreation Group."
Grouse Mountain Lodge is a 145 room, four-season resort hotel located in
Whitefish, Montana. The hotel is situated adjacent to the Whitefish Lake
Golf Club and in close proximity to Glacier National Park and Whitefish
Mountain Resort, a year-round mountain resort destination offering
downhill skiing, snowboarding and an alpine slide during the winter
season and mountain biking, a zip line course and canopy tour in the
summer and shoulder seasons. The property is rated Superior First Class
by Hotel & Travel Index (HTI) and features an indoor pool, outdoor spa,
fitness center and conference facilities, as well as on-site dining
complete with a fireside lounge, grill, and wine room.
Michael Hannan, president of Viad's Travel & Recreation Group, said,
"Grouse Mountain Lodge is a terrific property and strong strategic fit
with our Glacier Park operation. It expands our leading share of rooms
in the market, leverages existing economies of scale and enables us to
offer our guests a wider range of accommodation options in and around
Glacier National Park."
In addition to Grouse Mountain Lodge, Glacier Park, Inc. operates four
historic lodges, three motor inns, and the fleet of thirty-three
historic Red Buses in and around Glacier National Park in Montana and
Waterton Lakes National Park in Alberta, Canada. These two parks are
together known as the Waterton-Glacier International Peace Park and
welcome over 2 million visitors each year.
About Viad
Viad is an S&P SmallCap 600 company. Viad operates through its Marketing
& Events Group, comprised of Global Experience Specialists (formerly GES
Exposition Services, Exhibitgroup/Giltspur and Becker Group) and
affiliates, and its Travel & Recreation Group, comprised of Brewster and
Glacier Park, Inc. For more information, visit the company's Web site at www.viad.com.
Forward-Looking Statements
As provided by the safe harbor provision under the "Private
Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995," Viad cautions readers that,
in addition to historical information contained herein, this press
release includes certain information, assumptions and discussions that
may constitute forward-looking statements. These forward-looking
statements are not historical facts, but reflect current estimates,
projections, expectations, or trends concerning future growth, operating
cash flows, availability of short-term borrowings, consumer demand, new
business, investment policies, productivity improvements, ongoing cost
reduction efforts, efficiency, competitiveness, legal expenses, tax
rates and other tax matters, foreign exchange rates, and the realization
of restructuring cost savings. Actual results could differ materially
from those discussed in the forward-looking statements. Viad's
businesses can be affected by a host of risks and uncertainties. Among
other things, natural disasters, gains and losses of customers, consumer
demand patterns, labor relations, purchasing decisions related to
customer demand for exhibition and event services, existing and new
competition, industry alliances, consolidation and growth patterns
within the industries in which Viad competes, acquisitions, adverse
developments in liabilities associated with discontinued operations and
any deterioration in the economy, may individually or in combination
impact future results. In addition to factors mentioned elsewhere,
economic, competitive, governmental, technological, capital marketplace
and other factors, including further terrorist activities or war, a
pandemic health crisis and international conditions, could affect the
forward-looking statements in this press release. Additional information
concerning business and other risk factors that could cause actual
results to materially differ from those in the forward-looking
statements can be found in Viad's annual and quarterly reports filed
with the Securities and Exchange Commission.
Information about Viad Corp obtained from sources other than the
company may be out-of-date or incorrect. Please rely only on company
press releases, SEC filings and other information provided by the
company, keeping in mind that forward-looking statements speak
only as of the date made. Viad undertakes no obligation to update any
forward-looking statements, including prior forward-looking statements,
to reflect events or circumstances arising after the date as of which
the forward-looking statements were made.

Viad Corp
Investor Relations
Carrie Long, 602-207-2681
clong@viad.com
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