SANTA FE, N.M.--(BUSINESS WIRE)--March 16, 2004--Representatives from The Pueblo of Pojoaque and Hilton Hotels Corporation this afternoon participated in a groundbreaking ceremony to celebrate the beginning of construction on a $250 million destination resort that will feature a 387-room Hilton (NYSE:HLT) full-service resort, a 79-suite Homewood Suites by Hilton(R), an upscale extended stay hotel, a spa, convention facilities, entertainment venues and a new casino.

The site of the new Buffalo Thunder Resort(TM) is on 92 acres of Pojoaque tribal land, located 12 miles north of Santa Fe, N.M., on Highway 84/285. It will be built adjacent to the Towa Golf Resort, a 36-hole golf course (27 holes currently open) that opened to avid golfers in September 2002.

Construction is currently underway on the Homewood Suites by Hilton hotel, an upscale, extended stay property that is part of the Hilton Family of Hotels. The hotel is expected to open in December 2004. Target date for the opening of the Hilton Santa Fe North and the remaining resort facilities is projected for 2006.

Both hotels will be owned by The Pueblo of Pojoaque and operated by Hilton Hotels Corporation under a 20-year management agreement.

Architects for the Hilton, Casino and Conference Complex is Thalden-Boyd, a Native American firm that specializes in the design and architecture of hotels, casinos and related hospitality projects.

"This is a great day for the entire state of New Mexico," Pojoaque tribal governor Jacob Viarrial said. "The new Buffalo Thunder Resort will enhance New Mexico's reputation as a tourist destination area and will provide jobs and other positive economic benefits for the area and the state as a whole."

Viarrial said the Pueblo of Pojoaque is delighted to form a business relationship with the most recognizable lodging name in the world.

"The Hilton name adds prestige and an incredible marketing network that will attract visitors from all over the world to the Buffalo Thunder Resort," he added.

"Hilton Hotels Corporation is truly proud to enter into this unique relationship with The Pueblo of Pojoaque, an organization of fine individuals who have made a commitment to their tribe, as well as the citizens of New Mexico, to develop a dynamic resort destination that will truly showcase everything this great state has to offer," said Dieter Huckestein, president - hotel operations, owned and managed for Hilton Hotels Corporation. "The addition of the Hilton and Homewood Suites by Hilton hotels that comprise the Buffalo Thunder Resort will only reinforce and complement our existing hotel portfolios, and provide our worldwide sales and marketing team with greater potential to bring additional tourism and convention business to show travelers from near and far the incredible sites and wonders that are New Mexico."

The Pueblo of Pojoaque currently employs approximately 900 individuals; that is expected to double when the resort is completed, and will have a positive economic impact on the area as a result of the tourists' dollars that will be left behind.

"The Buffalo Thunder Resort will be the gateway to northern New Mexico," Governor Viarrial continued. "From here our guests will have access to the art of Santa Fe, the historic Bandalier National Monument in the Los Alamos area, the beautiful Nambe Falls located in our neighboring pueblo, the Santuario de Chimayo and Taos Pueblo."

Fred Peralta, Secretary of the New Mexico Tourism Department, agreed with Governor Viarrial. "Pojoaque Pueblo's Buffalo Thunder Resort will contribute significantly to New Mexico's growing reputation for first-class resorts," he said. "It will be an important gateway to the north, as well as a welcome new attraction in the area between the popular destinations of Taos and Santa Fe."

The substantial planned infrastructure of the project includes construction of an enviromentally responsible, state-of-the-art wastewater treatment facility that will have 100 percent water recycling capability. In addition, plans call for the "harvesting" and purification of rainwater through the use of settlement basins.

Access to the new resort will be via a new interchange that is part of the Highway 84/285 reconstruction project. The new access road is expected to open in July 15, 2004.

"Buffalo Thunder," the name of the new resort, was chosen because it is a symbol on strength for Native Americans, according to George Rivera, the Lt. Governor of the Pueblo of Pojoaque. "The white buffalo is seen by Native Americans as a symbol of hope and renewal for humanity and for harmony between all peoples, all races, in our world today," Rivera said.

Rivera, an artist, helped designed the official logo for Buffalo Thunder and also the artwork that will grace the overpass at Pojoaque and nearby Cuyamunge.

About Hilton Hotels Corporation

Hilton Hotels Corporation is recognized internationally as a preeminent hospitality company. The company develops, owns, manages or franchises more than 2,000 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(TM), Doubletree(R), Embassy Suites Hotels(R), Hampton Inn(R), Hampton Inn & Suites(R), Harrison Conference Centers(R), Hilton Garden Inn(R), Hilton Grand Vacations Club(R) and Homewood Suites by Hilton(R). For more information about the Hilton Family of hotels, please visit our website at www.hiltonfamily.com.

About Pueblo of Pojoaque

The Pueblo of Pojoaque, which archeological studies have dated inhabitation to as early as 500 A.D., is one of the 19 Indian Pueblos located in northern New Mexico. The name of the pueblo in the native Tewa language is "Po-suwae-geh," the water drinking or gathering place. Over the centuries the Pueblo of Pojoaque has endured droughts, grasshopper plagues, raids and the Spanish colonization of the 16th and 17th centuries. The Pueblo was abandoned in the 1800s, resettled, and deserted again in the early 1900s. In the mid-1930s several families moved back, including Jose Antonio Tapia, the grandfather of current Governor Jacob Viarrial. With 348 tribal members, the Pueblo of Pojoaque has one of the smallest pueblo populations in the state. The official symbol of the Pueblo of Pojoaque is the butterfly, which symbolizes the emergence of the pueblo coming to life in its present location.

EDITOR'S NOTE: Fact Sheets and hi-res color conceptual design renderings of the Buffalo Thunder Resort are available to media via e-mail by contacting any of the public relations professionals listed as contacts for this press release.

CONTACT:
Hilton Hotels & Resorts
310-205-4545
Jeanne Datz, jeanne_datz@hilton.com
Thomas Wingham, thomas_wingham@hilton.com
http://www.hiltonworldwide.com
or
Homewood Suites by Hilton
Dawn Ray, 901-374-5954
dawn_ray@hilton.com
or
Pueblo of Pojoaque
David Oakeley, 505-455-4271
david_oakeley@citiesofgold.com

SOURCE: Hilton Hotels Corporation