HMSHost's Expedia.com Cafe Wins Grand Prize in 2002 Retail Design Awards

Business Wire,  May 10, 2002  

Tags: Expedia Inc.

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Business Editors

BETHESDA, Md.--(BUSINESS WIRE)--May 10, 2002

HMSHost Corporation, the world's largest provider of food, beverage and retail concessions to the travel industry, is proud to announce that its Expedia.com Cafe in San Jose International airport been awarded the 2002 Grand Prize for Design in the Restaurant/Foodservice category from the National Association of Store Fixture Manufacturers (NASFM).

A new restaurant concept designed especially for airports, the Expedia.com Cafe is geared to serve the traveler's needs. "Road Warrior" tables with phone jacks, electrical outlets, and Internet connectivity are available at no charge, providing customers with the tools they need to be productive.

Custom bar-top maps of local points of interest and snippets of travel trivia provide an interesting diversion as well as a sense of place.

A distinguished panel of judges determined that the Expedia.com Cafe best integrated strong brand identity into its store and fixture designs. The judges also praised the cafe's use of traditional materials in unique ways to support the store's brand.

"We are deeply honored to accept such a prestigious award," said John J. McCarthy, HMSHost CEO. "The Expedia.com Cafe' was truly a collaborative effort. The entire HMSHost development team joins me in thanking Expedia.com, for bringing their outstanding brand as well as their superior insight and creativity; the San Jose Airport leadership, for their tremendous vision as they put together an exceptional concessions program; AAD, for their forward-thinking designs; National Mallfront & Design and Stone Circle, for their outstanding fixtures; and Westeren Construction, our general contractor."

About HMSHost

HMSHost, formerly known as Host Marriott Services, is world-renowned for creating innovative concession plans in travel venues. HMSHost has revenues of $1.6 billion and is a wholly owned subsidiary of Autogrill S.p.A. Together, HMSHost and the rest of the Autogrill Group are recognized leaders in retail, food and beverage concessions serving people on the move.

With operations in nineteen countries around the globe, the combined Company has annual revenues of over $2.6 billion.

About the NASFM

NASFM is an international, not-for-profit association representing the store fixture manufacturing industry. Founded in 1956, the association encompasses 450 regular member companies operating over 750 plants and employing more than 75,000 people worldwide. NASFM members manufacture approximately 85% of all store fixtures produced in North America.

The typical NASFM member employs 85 people, and generates revenues in excess of $10 million per year.

About Expedia, Inc.

Expedia, Inc. (NASDAQ:EXPE) is the world's leading online travelservice and the 7th largest travel agency in the United States. To meet the needs of travelers around the globe, it operates Expedia.com in the United States and localized versions throughout Europe and Canada.

Expedia.com helps travelers travel right with a wide variety of travel products and services, such as Expedia(R) Special Rate hotels and vacation rentals with the guaranteed lowest prices.

Expedia's quality and leadership have been recognized in awards such as PC Magazine's "Readers' Choice" and "Editors' Choice" Awards, Forbes' "Favorite General Travel Site," and Yahoo! Internet Life's Best overall travel site. Expedia is a majority-owned subsidiary of USA Networks, Inc.'s (NASDAQ:USAI) Interactive Group.

Expedia.com customers are supported by a credit card guarantee (U.S. site only), an industry-leading privacy policy, and live agents via e-mail and an 800-number available 24 hours a day/seven days a week.

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