Save the Date for the 16th Annual New Jersey Sandcastle Contest, July 10 at Belmar’s 18th Avenue Beach

Record Turnout Expected at Yearly Gathering for Families,

Day Camps, and Sandcastle Enthusiasts of All Ages

The Belmar Board of Tourism, D’Jais Beachcomber Grill, and Springboard Public Relations today announced that the 16th Annual New Jersey Sandcastle Contest will be held this year at Belmar’s 18th Avenue Beach on Wednesday, July 10 (rain date: Thursday, July 11).

Participants of all ages are invited to build their own unique creation from New Jersey’s finest sand, known to be ideal for sculpting.

The New Jersey Sandcastle Contest is a full-day celebration of the area beaches, featuring food, entertainment, and prizes, and giveaways. Each year, this popular event draws a large crowd of amateur and expert enthusiasts from around New Jersey and neighboring states. Last year, more than 5,000 participants, adults and children alike, filled the beach to compete for trophies and prizes.

The New Jersey Sandcastle Contest is free, and open to all ages. Registration and sand castle building begins at 8:00 AM. Contestants will have until noon to build their sand castles and sculptures. Judging will take place from noon till 1:00 PM, followed by an awards ceremony. Trophies and prizes will be awarded to 1st, 2nd, and 3rd Place winners in five categories: Ages 7 and under, Ages 8 to 11, Ages 12 to 15, Ages 16 and older, and — new this year — Day Camp Groups.

“We are thrilled to carry the tradition of the Sandcastle Contest into its 16th year,” commented Frank Sementa, chairman of the event. “Just as last year surpassed the one before, we anticipate a record turnout this year, as participants and spectators of all ages come together for a fun-filled day on the beach.”

Chuck Feld, one of 40 master sandcastle sculptors in the United States, will kick off this year’s contest with a professional demonstration of sand sculpting techniques. Feld travels around the country, sculpting sand for local events, sand castle contests, and team-building seminars for major corporations. He will also serve as one of the judges of the event.

Interested parties can visit http://www.NJSandcastle.com for more information. Participants can pre-register for the event by calling 732/863-1900 x.101, or can register in person on the day of the event at Belmar’s 18th Avenue Beach.

The New Jersey Sandcastle Contest offers a number of sponsorship opportunities to support the event. Businesses that wish to be a sponsor and/or make a prize donation should contact Domenick Cilea at 732/863-1900 x.102.

Game Launch Advisory: New Jersey Lottery Jacks or Better

The New Jersey Lottery today launched its third Jacks or Better licensed instant lottery game featuring logos and other imagery associated with MDI’s patented poker game-style instant scratch game, according to an announcement by MDI Entertainment, Inc. (OTC BB: LTRY), which is the property owner for Jacks or Better lottery games and promotions.

The New Jersey game features seven million five hundred thousand (7,500,000) tickets. Each ticket costs $5 and gives lottery players the opportunity to win cash prizes of up to $150,000. The game features more than $12 million in cash prizes.

The New Jersey ticket brings to 10, the number Jacks or Better games introduced through MDI. Similar games have been offered by the Connecticut, Iowa, Louisiana, Minnesota, Virginia, and Wisconsin (two versions) lotteries.

The ticket may be seen at http://www.mdientertainment.com/cmp/job_tkt_nj_01.html

MDI’s services include game and ticket design, merchandise prize fulfillment, management of second-and third-chance draws, fully-staffed customer service, coordination of winner travel & accommodations, advertising and marketing support, consumer research and Internet marketing and advertising. Currently, the company’s portfolio of licensed lottery properties includes but is not limited to the NBA/National Basketball Association, Betty Boop(TM), Elvis Presley(R), I Love Lucy(R), Magic 8 Ball(R), FIFA World Cup(TM) Soccer, Universal Studios Monsters(TM), SPAM(R), Louisville Slugger(R), The Honeymooners(TM), Popeye(TM), Wheel of Fortune(R), Jeopardy! (R), Harley-Davidson(R), The Hollywood Sign(TM) and Hollywood Walk of Fame(TM), Pink Panther(TM), Emmett Kelly, Jr., Ray Charles, Hollywood Squares(TM), TABASCO(R), Lionel(R), and various NASCAR(R) race drivers.

The Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995 provides a “safe harbor” for forward-looking statements. Certain information included in this press release (as well as information included in oral statements or other written statements made or to be made by MDI) contains statements that are forward-looking, such as statements relating to the future anticipated direction of the lottery industry, plans for future expansion, various business development activities, planned capital expenditures, future funding sources, anticipated sales and potential contracts. Such forward-looking information involves important risks and uncertainties that could significantly affect anticipated results in the future and, accordingly, such results may differ from those expressed in any forward-looking statements made by or on behalf of MDI. These risks and uncertainties include, but are not limited to, those relating to development and expansion activities, dependence on existing management, financing activities, domestic and global economic conditions, changes in federal or state tax laws and market competition factors.

REMINDER/Ringling Bros. and Barnum & Bailey Circus Returns to the Garden State!

Entertainment & Photo Editors

REMINDER…for Tuesday – Wednesday (March 13 – 14)

–(BUSINESS WIRE)

  First Lady Diane DiFrancesco Welcomes the World's Most Magnificent
  Menagerie for the Annual Animal Walk to Continental Airlines Arena

      Donation of 500 Tickets to be Made to Benefit NJ Children

WHO:      First Lady of New Jersey Diane DiFrancesco;
          Elephant Stars of The Greatest Show On Earth;
          Ringmaster Johnathan Lee Iverson;
          animal trainer extraordinaire Mark Oliver Gebel;
          and "America's Newest Comedy Team," Bo and Bello.

WHAT:     The Greatest Show On Earth returns to New Jersey with its
          annual procession of pachyderms to announce the show's
          arrival in New Jersey.

          Upon arrival at the Continental Airlines Arena, First Lady
          Diane DiFrancesco will be invited to sit atop one of the
          precocious pachyderms. A presentation of 500 tickets will be
          made to the First Lady to be distributed among New Jersey
          children so that they may enjoy the spectacle and excitement
          of "America's Living National Treasure."

WHEN:
   ANIMAL WALK                    OPENING NIGHT PERFORMANCE
   Tuesday, March 13              Wednesday, March 14
   Unload Stock Cars: 12:00 p.m.  Three Ring Adventure: 6:30 p.m.
   Walk Begins: 12:30 p.m.        Opening Night Performance: 7:30 p.m.

WHERE:    ANIMAL WALK             OPENING NIGHT PERFORMANCE
          See attached map        Continental Airlines Arena

                   PHOTO/BROADCAST COVERAGE INVITED!

            Ringling Bros. and Barnum & Bailey Circus plays
               Continental Airlines Arena: March 14 - 18
                    Nassau Coliseum: March 20 - 26
              Madison Square Garden: March 30 - April 15

SPAM the Instant Lottery Game To Pop Out of the Can in New Jersey – With a Loaded Plate of Promotions

Business Editors/Gaming & Entertainment Writers

HARTFORD, Conn.–(BUSINESS WIRE)–April 25, 2001

MDI Entertainment, Inc. (NASDAQ SC: LTRY) announced today that the New Jersey Lottery this week launches SPAM(R), the whimsical Instant Lottery game slicing its way across North America.

MDI holds an exclusive license for lottery promotions featuring the world’s best-known luncheon meat product from Hormel(R). New Jersey’s version of instant lottery SPAM is one of at least three SPAM lottery promotions scheduled to launch in North America this year.

New Jersey will offer a delectable top cash prize of $30,000 and five Second Chance Grand Prize seven-night trips for two to Hawaii, the state with the highest per capita SPAM consumption in the nation.

Players can also satisfy their appetite for prizes by winning official SPAM(R) merchandise in five Second Chance Drawings, including Team SPAM(R) bowling shirts, backpacks, wristwatches, beach sandals, Tee shirts, and even SPAM(R) sunglasses with a case.

The SPAM promotion will, for the first time, afford New Jersey Lottery players with access to computers the opportunity to enter Second Chance drawings over the Internet. Through the MDI/eLottery (NASDAQ: ELOT) on-line promotions platform powered by IMARCS technology, players will be able to register their non-winning tickets on-line by surfing to http://njlottery.lotteryfreeway.com/. Players will also be able to mail in non-winning tickets for the drawings as they have in the past. Lottery sales agents have been stocked with entry brochures that include a pre-addressed envelope for the SPAM drawings.

“This game is as unique as the product it’s named for,” said Virginia Haines, Executive Director of the New Jersey State Lottery. “I think the seven-night vacations to beautiful Hawaii are among the nicest grand prizes anyone could wish for, and the merchandise is just simply fun. And that’s what lottery games should be,” she added.

“New Jersey’s marketing team has taken this long-standing brand and fashioned a rich promotion around it with exciting trips, unique merchandise, cash and a really fun Internet component ” said Steve Saferin, President and CEO of MDI. “This multi-faceted approach is leading the new wave of retail instant promotion.”

SPAM(R) tickets are priced at $2 each. With approximately 5.4 million tickets printed for the game by Pollard Banknote, the New Jersey Lottery will generate about $10.8 million in gross revenue.

MDI creates and markets Lottery scratch games and “turn-key” promotions designed around Wheel of Fortune(R), Jeopardy!(R) Harley-Davidson(R) and more than 30 licensed properties. These popular brands and icons are offered to government-sponsored lotteries through MDI’s exclusive licensing programs. Motorcycles, dream trips, game show auditions, merchandise packages and other exotic prize giveaways can be customized for a state, region or time of year, adding value to the games. MDI revolutionized the Lottery industry with its introduction of second-chance merchandise prizes.

MDI’s wide array of services include game and ticket design, merchandise prize fulfillment, management of second- and third-chance draws, a fully-staffed customer service line, coordination of winner travel and accommodations, advertising and marketing support, consumer research and Internet marketing and advertising.

MDI has entered into a strategic business agreement with Scientific Games International, a wholly owned subsidiary of Autotote Corporation (AMEX: TTE). Scientific Games is one of the world’s largest suppliers of lottery games, And MDI also has joined forces with eLOT, Inc. (NASDAQ: ELOT) that provides Internet-based services to Lotteries. Both partners have acquired interests in MDI.

MDI’s current lottery promotions include scratch games featuring properties such as Harley-Davidson(R), Wheel of Fortune(R), Jeopardy!(R), Elvis Presley(R), Betty Boop(TM), Twilight Zone(TM), Louisville Slugger(R), TNN(R), CMT(R), Hummer(R), Ray Charles(R), Pink Panther(TM), The Outer Limits(TM), Heroes of Space(TM), Michael Buffer’s Let’s Get Ready To Rumble(R), Dick Clark’s American Bandstand(R), Times Square 2000(TM), SPAM(R), Greatest Sports Legends, Emmett Kelly Jr., The Hollywood Sign and Walk of Fame, and auto race drivers Dale Earnhardt(R), Dale Earnhardt, Jr.(R), Mark Martin, Matt Kenseth, Jeff Burton and Bill Elliott.

The Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995 provides a “safe harbor for forward-looking statements. Certain information included in this press release (as well as information included in oral statements or other written statements made or to be made by MDI) contains statements that are forward-looking, such as statements relating to the future anticipated direction of the lottery industry, plans for future expansion, various business development activities, planned capital expenditures, future funding sources, anticipated sales and potential contracts. Such forward-looking information involves important risks and uncertainties that could significantly affect anticipated results in the future and, accordingly, such results may differ from those expressed in any forward-looking statements made by or on behalf of MDI. These risks and uncertainties include, but are not limited to, those relating to development and expansion activities, dependence on existing management, financing activities, domestic and global economic conditions, changes in federal or state tax laws and market competition factors.

Record Turnout Anticipated for 18th Annual New Jersey Sandcastle Contest in Belmar; Save the Date for July 7th; Great Event for Families, Day Camps, and Sandcastle Enthusiasts of All Ages

The Belmar Board of Tourism and Springboard Public Relations today announced that the 18th Annual New Jersey Sandcastle Contest will be held this year at Belmar’s 18th Avenue Beach on Wednesday, July 7 (rain date: Thursday, July 8). Participants of all ages are invited to build their own unique creation from New Jersey’s finest sand, known to be ideal for sculpting.

The New Jersey Sandcastle Contest is an all-day celebration that will include food, entertainment, prizes, and giveaways. Each year, this event draws thousands of amateur and expert enthusiasts from New Jersey, New York and Pennsylvania. Last year, more than 8,500 participants of all ages filled the beach to compete for trophies and prizes.

The New Jersey Sandcastle Contest is free and open to all age groups. Registration and sand castle building begins at 8:00 a.m. Contestants will then have until noon to build their sand castles and sculptures. Judging will take place from noon till 1:00 p.m., and will be followed by an awards ceremony. Trophies and prizes will be awarded to 1st, 2nd, and 3rd place winners in five categories: ages 7 and under, ages 8 to 11, ages 12 to 15, ages 16 and older, as well as a category for Day Camp groups.

“The Sandcastle contest has been a mainstay in Belmar and we are thrilled to carry this tradition into its 18th year,” commented Frank Sementa, chairman of the event. “This event has grown each year and has evolved into a fun competition that draws participants from the entire tri-state area. Events like these are a testament to the popularity of the Jersey Shore as an ideal vacation destination for families.”

Expert Sand Sculptor to Showcase Designs

Chuck Feld, one of 40 master sandcastle sculptors in the United States, will kick off this year’s contest with a professional demonstration of sand sculpting techniques. Feld travels around the country, sculpting sand for local events, sand castle contests, and team-building seminars for major corporations. He will also serve as one of the judges of the event.

Sponsorships Available

The New Jersey Sandcastle Contest offers a number of sponsorship opportunities to support the event. Last year Coca Cola, Dasani Water, and Rita’s Ices were some of the event sponsors. Businesses that wish to be a sponsor and/or make a prize donation should contact Ivan Goldenberg at 732-863-1900 x.100.

Interested parties can visit http://www.NJSandcastle.com for more information. Participants can pre-register for the event by calling 732-863-1900 x.102, or can register in person on the day of the event at Belmar’s 18th Avenue Beach.

Meadowlands Xanadu selected by N.J. Sports & Exposition Authority

The Mills Corporation announced that its Meadowlands Xanadu proposal was selected by the New Jersey Sports & Exposition Authority, providing them with the exclusive right to negotiate a developer’s agreement, for the development of a $1.3 billion family entertainment and recreation complex with an office and hotel component at the Continental Arena site in East Rutherford, N.J. The Xanadu team is comprised of The Mills Corporation, Mack-Cali Realty Corporation and the New York Giants.

The arena’s main tenants, the New Jersey Nets and New Jersey Devils, hope to relocate to an arena that would be built in downtown Newark.

The New Jersey Sports and Exposition Authority board voted 9-2, with

one abstention, in favor of the plan. It beat two other contenders for the site. Assembly Speaker Albjo Sires, DWest New York, and Senate co-Majority Leader Bernard Kenny, D-Hoboken, announced their preference for the $1.3 billion proposal, one of three finalists, along with Hartz Mountain Industries/Forest City Ratner’s Expo Park and the Westfield Group’s Arena Place. While a majority of Mills’ projects nationally are malls, its officials insisted that the 4.8 million-square-foot Meadowlands project is predominantly an entertainment center and office complex.

The sports authority operates the Meadowlands complex that includes the arena and Giants Stachum. It conducted no public hearings on the plans for the 104-acre arena site in East Rutherford.

This plan was endorsed last year by the New York Giants, the authority’s most important tenant The team said the proposal best addresses its concerns about parking, access and use of the site on game days, and would enhance its efforts to host the 2008 Super Bowl.

Talks are continuing on a financing plan to erect a $355 million arena in Newark, which contemplates a $200 million contribution from the city.

The Xanadu proposal features the Snow Dome, America’s first year round indoor Alpine ski resort with real snow and chair lifts. Other entertainment and recreation features mdude The House of Blues, Cheesecake Factory, UnderWater World aquarium and a PBS Kids Pavilion. The project will also include office and hotel space totaling 2.2 million SF, consisting of four 14-story, 440,000-SF office buildings and a 520-room hotel with conference and exhibition facilities.

“Mack-Cali, which has a long history in developing premier office properties, is well positioned to take advantage of Xanadu’s broad base of entertainment and recreation uses to attract an excellent tenant base. As a New Jersey-based company, we are very proud of Xanadu, and are confident that it will benefit both the Sports Complex and the Northern New Jersey region,” said MackCali chief executive officer Mitchell Hersh.

In addition to the Snow Dome indoor ski resort, Xanadu will feature a baseball park to house the Bergen Cliff Hawks minor-league baseball team and the Bergen River Dogs professional lacrosse team. Additional active and spectator activities include ESPN Skate Park (extreme wheel sports), an indoor surfing wave, a grand movie palace, a small format live entertainment venue and a Wildlife Museum. Xanadu will also include the Meadowlands Area YMCA, with multi-purpose areas, spaces dedicated to basketball and gymnastics, an aquatic center, locker rooms and a child care facility.

Xanadu will also include Wannado, a 150,000-SF entertainment concept where children can role-play adult professions. The fashion area will provide a luxury spa, cooking school and exclusive European retail, such as Zara, Mango, Mexx, and Carolina Herrera, to support the recreation and leisure activities.

The project will also include office and hotel space totaling 2.2 million SF, consisting of four 14-story, 140,000-SF office buildings and a 520-room hotel with conference and exhibition facilities. “Mack-Cali, which has a long history in developing premier office properties, is well positioned to take advantage of Xanadu’s broad base of entertainment and recreation uses to attract an excellent tenant base. As a New Jersey-based company, we are very proud of Xanadu, and are confident that it will benefit both the Sports Complex and the Northern New Jersey region,” said Mack-Cali chief executive officer Mitchell Hersh.

Xanadu will create more than 19,000 construction jobs, resulting in $1.17 billion in estimated personal income. At final build-out, Xanadu will result in more than 20,000 jobs translating to $1.24 billion in income annually. The redevelopment of the arena site will generate more than $133 million per year in state and local tax revenue. Assuming the completion of a successful development agreement, The Mills Corporation will donate the 587 acre Empire Tract to the State of New Jersey, a significant acquisition of open space and wetlands for the state. Mills has joint-ventured a portion of its share of the project to its long-time private equity source, Kan Am. The terms of the joint venture call for Kan Am to fund two-thirds of the Mills total equity requirement consistent with terms previously disclosed in the company’s public filings.

MDI’s First-Ever Lionel Game Steaming Toward New Jersey With Railroad Lovers’ Dream Prizes

MDI Entertainment, Inc. (OTC BB: LTRY) announced today that it has reached an agreement for the first-ever lottery game featuring railroad dream trips, nostalgic and collectable Lionel(R) electric trains and merchandise.

The New Jersey Lottery will feature the Lionel(R) game in early fall, offering “North American Rail Dream Trips,” Lionel(R) Train sets, merchandise prize packages, cash prizes and even a series of second chance bonus drawings.

“We are delighted to bring the lottery players of New Jersey this exciting Lionel Game, the first of its kind in the world,” said New Jersey State Lottery Acting Executive Director Carole Hedinger.

“The New Jersey Lottery is building a highly creative promotion with this unique, century-old brand,” said MDI President and CEO Steve Saferin. “Railroads and Lionel(R) are tightly woven into the tapestry of our country’s history. And this game celebrates the fun and adventure of the steel rails.”

The New Jersey Lionel Instant Lottery game will include a minimum of 5.4 million tickets printed by Pollard Banknote. Tickets will cost $2 each and the top cash prize is $30,000. Exclusive Lionel merchandise prizes and trips in the game are valued at more than $650,000. A special Internet platform will add fun for the players and provide a convenient way to enter the Lottery Bonus Zone second chance drawings.

MDI holds exclusive rights for the classic scale model trains and train sets and other merchandise through its license with Lionel L.L.C. of Chesterfield, Michigan. The famous maker of scale model trains and train sets is a widely recognized brand with a 100-year history of successful merchandising.

“We are excited about the opportunities that legendary Lionel trains can generate for Lottery games,” said Saferin of MDI. “Trains are such a wonderful part of Americana and the Lionel artwork is striking. This theme has great appeal as nostalgia, and for the train hobbyist or would-be collector. It also will make a wonderful holiday theme promotion,” he said.

Joshua Lionel Cowen created the first Lionel train in a cramped New York City loft in 1900. Since its modest beginning more than a century ago, Lionel has sold more than 50,000,000 trains – more than all of their competitors combined. Model trains today are no longer just the children’s toys they once were. A large part of the Lionel business is produced as collectibles and for hobbyists. Saferin said, “The Lionel slogan: ‘Dreams that endure for generations and fun that lasts a lifetime really says it all about the lottery opportunity, providing entertainment and making dreams come true.”

“The mere mention of Lionel trains brings back the fondest of memories for generations of Americans. We look forward to getting reacquainted with many of our old friends through these special lottery promotions,” said Julie Laird, Licensing & Communications Manager at Lionel.

Lionel celebrated its centennial on September 5, 2000. “Throughout our 100 years, Lionel has replicated trains from every region of the United States. Ticket designs can even be customized with train images relevant to a particular state or region of the country,” Laird stated.

MDI lottery brand licenses and turnkey promotion services provide lotteries with most of the labor intensive tasks that accompany large-scale merchandise prize management and fulfillment, and secure random drawings.

MDI’s services also include game and ticket design, merchandise prize fulfillment, management of second-and third-chance draws, fully-staffed customer service, coordination of winner travel & accommodations, advertising and marketing support, consumer research and Internet marketing and advertising.

Currently, the company’s portfolio of licensed lottery properties includes but is not limited to NBA/National Basketball Association, Betty Boop(TM), Elvis Presley(R), I Love Lucy(R), Magic 8 Ball(R), FIFA World Cup(R) Soccer, Universal Studios Monsters(TM), SPAM(TM), Heroes of Space(TM), Louisville Slugger(R), CMT(R), Wheel of Fortune(R), Jeopardy! (R), Harley-Davidson(R), The Hollywood Sign(R) and Hollywood Walk of Fame(R) Ray Charles(R), Hollywood Squares(R), TABASCO(R), Lionel, and NASCAR(R) race drivers including Jeff Burton(R), Mark Martin(R), Matt Kenseth(R), and Bill Elliott(R).

MDI has entered into a strategic business agreement with Scientific Games Corporation (AMEX: SGM). Scientific Games is one of the world’s largest suppliers of lottery games.

The Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995 provides a “safe harbor” for forward-looking statements. Certain information included in this press release (as well as information included in oral statements or other written statements made or to be made by MDI) contains statements that are forward-looking, such as statements relating to the future anticipated direction of the lottery industry, plans for future expansion, various business development activities, planned capital expenditures, future funding sources, anticipated sales and potential contracts. Such forward-looking information involves important risks and uncertainties that could significantly affect anticipated results in the future and, accordingly, such results may differ from those expressed in any forward-looking statements made by or on behalf of MDI. These risks and uncertainties include, but are not limited to, those relating to development and expansion activities, dependence on existing management, financing activities, domestic and global economic conditions, changes in federal or state tax laws and market competition factors.

Barbara Bell Coleman and Christine Garvey Join Hilton Board of Directors

BEVERLY HILLS, Calif. — Hilton Hotels Corporation (NYSE:HLT) announced today that Barbara Bell Coleman and senior financial services executive Christine Garvey have joined the company’s Board of Directors.

Ms. Coleman, 54, is president of BBC Associates, LLC, which provides consulting services to corporate and philanthropic organizations and manages a portfolio of projects for Van Beuren Management, a private financial entity. She recently served as a minority recruitment and retention consultant for PricewaterhouseCoopers and serves on the boards of City National Bank of New Jersey, Horizon Blue Cross Blue Shield of New Jersey and Caesars Entertainment.

Active in public service in her home state of New Jersey, Ms. Coleman is also vice chair of the New Jersey Schools Construction Corporation, a subsidiary of the Economic Development Authority, which oversees the $8 billion effort to build new schools in that state’s districts with the greatest needs. Previously she served as chief of prevention services for the New Jersey Division of Narcotic and Drug Abuse Control and as president of the Boys & Girls Clubs of Newark.

Ms. Coleman earned her Masters in Public Health at Columbia University and is a graduate of Rutgers University, Newark College of Arts and Sciences, where she was inducted into the Hall of Distinguished Alumni in 2004. She also holds two honorary doctorate degrees in Humane Letters from Bloomfield College and Drew University. Her long history of service to the community includes involvement with several not-for-profit organizations including The MCJ Foundation, The New Jersey Performing Arts Center and the Boys & Girls Clubs of Newark. She is co-architect of the READY program (Rigorous Educational Assistance for Deserving Youth) and is volunteer chair for the Amelior Foundation in Newark.

Ms. Garvey, 59, is a senior financial services executive with recognition throughout the industry as a commercial real estate expert. She most recently served as the Global Head of corporate real estate and services for Deutsche Bank AG, where while headquartered in London, England, she managed a real estate portfolio of 32 million feet in 50 countries.

Previously, Ms. Garvey served in several senior level banking positions including Global Head of worldwide real estate and workplace resources for Cisco Systems; Group Executive Vice President and Head of commercial real estate services for Bank of America; Senior Vice President and Manager, OREO division for Security Pacific Bank; Senior Vice President and Manager, corporate real estate for Wells Fargo Bank, and real estate portfolio manager at First Interstate Bank.

Prior to her career in banking, Ms. Garvey worked for several years as an attorney specializing in corporate and probate real estate.

Ms. Garvey earned her bachelor of arts degree from Immaculate Heart College in Los Angeles, California and received her juris doctor from Suffolk University Law School in Boston, Massachusetts. She is a member of the Massachusetts, Vermont and Federal Bar Associations, Massachusetts Broker’s License, Urban Land Institute and Corenet. She also serves on the board of directors of San Francisco-based Catellus REIT. She resides in Santa Barbara, California.

“We are pleased to have Barbara Bell Coleman and Christine Garvey join our Board of Directors. Their insights and experience will be valuable additions to our Board and our company, and we look forward to their active participation in the future of Hilton Hotels Corporation,” said co-chairman and CEO Stephen F. Bollenbach. “With the addition of these two experienced directors, we have increased the number of independent directors consistent with the board’s goal to do so.”

With the addition of Ms. Coleman and Ms. Garvey, the Hilton Board now comprises 14 members. An inside director who did not stand for re-election has gone off Hilton’s Board.

At Hilton’s annual meeting of shareholders held May 26, Hilton shareholders voted overwhelmingly to:

–Elect four current Directors whose terms are expiring – Stephen F. Bollenbach, Benjamin V. Lambert, John L. Notter and Peter V. Ueberroth – to three-year terms expiring in 2008, as well as the aforementioned election of Ms. Coleman. Each director received more than 91 percent of the votes.

–Ratify the appointment of Ernst & Young LLP as the company’s independent registered public accounting firm for 2005.

In addition, two shareholder proposals were voted on:

–A proposal that Director nominees be elected by the affirmative vote of the majority of votes cast at an annual meeting of shareholders (as opposed to a plurality vote) was rejected with only 43 percent of the votes cast being cast in favor of that proposal.

–A proposal urging the Board to seek shareholder approval for future severance agreements with senior executives that provide benefits in an amount exceeding 2.99 times the sum of the executive’s base salary plus bonus was approved with 55 percent of the votes cast being cast in favor of the proposal. The proposal did not require the Board to take such action, but simply urged the Board to do so. In response to the approval of this proposal, Hilton Hotels Corporation said: “Our Board of Directors will consider the proposal and discuss appropriate courses of action.”

Hilton Hotels Corporation is recognized internationally as a preeminent hospitality company. The company develops, owns, manages or franchises approximately 2,300 hotels, resorts and vacation ownership properties. Its portfolio includes many of the world’s best known and most highly regarded hotel brands, including Hilton(R), Conrad(R), Doubletree(R), Embassy Suites Hotels(R), Hampton Inn(R), Hampton Inn & Suites(R), Hilton Garden Inn(R), Hilton Grand Vacations Company(R) and Homewood Suites by Hilton(R).

The Port Authority of New York and New Jersey has adopted a $US 1.8 million capital programme that includes $US 150 million for a rail link to the New Jersey Meadowlands sports and entertainment complex

The Port Authority of New York and New Jersey has adopted a $US 1.8 million capital programme that includes $US 150 million for a rail link to the New Jersey Meadowlands sports and entertainment complex. The link would be an NJ Transit commuter rail extension, though there is support among some planners for a light rail connection from NJ Transit’s Hudson-Bergen light rail system.

Big Entertainment Announces New Retail Stores; Plans Call For 100 Stores By The Millennium

BIG Entertainment, Inc. (Nasdaq:BIGE) today announced that its new retail entertainment prototype studio stores are set to open. The first of these studio stores is scheduled to open on October 31, 1997, in Willowbrook Mall located in Wayne, New Jersey. This will be followed during November by additional studio stores in Woodbridge Mall in Woodbridge, New Jersey, and in Garden State Plaza Mall in Paramus, New Jersey.

The new studio store prototype represents an expanded version of the Company’s existing chain of 33 Entertainment Super-Kiosks currently located in super-regional shopping malls throughout the U.S. The new units, which will average approximately 3,000 square feet in size, will feature a wide variety of entertainment merchandise, apparel and collectibles linked to blockbuster movies and TV shows, representing the hottest entertainment properties from major Hollywood studios and licensees.

BIG’s Chairman and Chief Executive Officer Mitchell Rubenstein said, “Based upon our experience with our Entertainment Super- Kiosks, we believe there is a real growth opportunity in the expanded prototype in-line store. Assuming these retail stores are as successful as we anticipate, we plan to open 20 units in 1998 and up to 40 units in 1999. Our goal is to have 100 entertainment retail outlets by the millennium. We believe these units can produce total revenues in excess of $100 million on an annualized basis.”

BIG Entertainment is a rapidly growing entertainment company. Revenues are generated from two primary sources: ownership and licensing of celebrity-branded intellectual properties and operation of entertainment retail outlets. The Company’s strategy is to own and/or control entertainment properties by best-selling authors such as Tom Clancy, Arthur C. Clarke and Mickey Spillane, media celebrities such as Leonard Nimoy, and sports greats such as Magic Johnson.

The matters discussed herein that are forward-looking statements are based on current management expectations that involve risks and uncertainties that may result in such expectations not being realized. Potential risks and uncertainties include, but are not limited to, the risks described in the Company’s filings with the Securities and Exchange Commission.