Fair Value Measurements

9 Months Ended

Sep. 30, 2019

Fair Value Measurements

Fair Value Measurements

15. FAIR VALUE MEASUREMENTS:

The Company uses a three-tier fair value hierarchy, which prioritizes the inputs used in measuring fair value. These tiers include: Level 1, defined as observable inputs such as quoted prices in active markets; Level 2, defined as inputs other

than quoted prices in active markets that are either directly or indirectly observable; and Level 3, defined as unobservable inputs in which little or no market data exists, therefore requiring an entity to develop its own assumptions.

At September 30, 2019 and December 31, 2018, the Company held certain assets and liabilities that are required to be measured at fair value on a recurring basis. These included the Company’s investments held in conjunction with the Company’s non-qualified contributory deferred compensation plan and the Gaylord Rockies joint venture’s derivative instruments related to interest rates discussed in Note 7, “Debt.”

The investments held by the Company in connection with its deferred compensation plan consist of mutual funds traded in an active market. The Company determined the fair value of these mutual funds based on the net asset value per unit of the funds or the portfolio, which is based upon quoted market prices in an active market. Therefore, the Company has categorized these investments as Level 1.

The Gaylord Rockies joint venture’s interest rate derivative instrument consists of over-the-counter swap contracts, which are not traded on a public exchange. The Gaylord Rockies joint venture determines the fair value of these swap contracts based on a widely accepted valuation methodology of netting the discounted future fixed cash flows and the discounted expected variable cash flows, using interest rates derived from observable market interest rate curves and volatilities, with appropriate adjustments for any significant impact of non-performance risk of the parties to the swap contracts. Therefore, the Gaylord Rockies joint venture has categorized these swap contracts as Level 2.

The Company has consistently applied the above valuation techniques in all periods presented and believes it has obtained the most accurate information available for each type of instrument.

The Company’s assets and liabilities measured at fair value on a recurring basis at September 30, 2019 and December 31, 2018, were as follows (in thousands):

			Markets for		Observable		Unobservable
	September 30,		Identical Assets		Inputs		Inputs
	2019		(Level 1)		(Level 2)		(Level 3)
Deferred compensation plan investments	$	27,827	$	27,827	$	—	$	—
Total assets measured at fair value	$	27,827	$	27,827	$	—	$	—
Variable to fixed interest rate swaps	$	4,986	$	—	$	4,986	$	—
Total liabilities measured at fair value	$	4,986	$	—	$	4,986	$	—

			Markets for		Observable		Unobservable
	December 31,		Identical Assets		Inputs		Inputs
	2018		(Level 1)		(Level 2)		(Level 3)
Deferred compensation plan investments	$	24,687	$	24,687	$	—	$	—
Total assets measured at fair value	$	24,687	$	24,687	$	—	$	—
Total liabilities measured at fair value	$	—	$	—	$	—	$	—

The remainder of the assets and liabilities held by the Company at September 30, 2019 are not required to be recorded at fair value, and the carrying value of these assets and liabilities approximate fair value.