HILTON ANNOUNCES FIRST SPA RESORT IN INDIA

On Monday, 5 February, 2001 Hilton International signed an agreement to manage the new Hilton Golden Palms Resort and Spa Bangalore, on behalf of the property's owning company World Resorts Limited ("WRL").

WRL is owned by well-known Indian film and television actor Sanjay Khan, who has developed the resort with a strong emphasis on health and lifestyle facilities.

The 150 room resort is located 25km from Bangalore, which enjoys a pleasant climate and is one of India's fastest growing cities due to its status as the country's IT capital.

Scheduled to open in May, the Hilton Golden Palms Resort and Spa Bangalore will feature a five-level spa facility, a sports complex, five restaurants (including all-day dining, a signature restaurant, a spa restaurant and two bars), and extensive meeting and banquet facilities. Built on 14 acres of landscaped land, the property also features India's largest lagoon swimming pool.

"We are delighted to enter the resort and spa market in India with such a first-class product," said Koos Klein, President, Hilton International Asia Pacific. "Bangalore is an important commercial and economic centre of South India and is therefore an ideal location for a Hilton property.

Mr Klein added: "We expect Hilton Golden Palms Resort and Spa Bangalore to benefit substantially from meetings and conference business drawn to the excellent facilities we will be offering, as well as leisure travel from guests seeking a distinctive spa experience."

Commented Mr Sanjay Khan: "We are particularly happy and proud to be associated with Hilton International. As a guest at various Hilton hotels worldwide over the last three decades, I have seen their services and standards evolving to meet the changing demands of the 21st century traveller. Hilton's management expertise will add great value to our world-class property."

Hilton Hotels Corporation and Hilton International, a subsidiary of Hilton Group plc, have a worldwide alliance to market Hilton, the world's best-known hotel brand. Collectively offering over 2,000 hotels in more than 50 countries worldwide, both companies are recognised as leaders in the hospitality industry. Hilton International currently operates more than 220 hotels in over 50 countries worldwide.