HMSHost and National Concessions Management, LLC Awarded Retail Contract at Atlanta Hartsfield International Airport

Business Wire, March 24, 2003

Business Editors/Travel Writers

BETHESDA, Md.--(BUSINESS WIRE)--March 24, 2003

Host/NCM Atlanta E Joint Venture, a partnership of HMSHost Corporation, one of the world's largest providers of retail, food and beverage concessions in the travel industry, and Atlanta-based National Concessions Management, LLC, have been awarded a five-year contract at Hartsfield Atlanta International Airport through a public tender process.

The contract covers Hartsfield's International Concourse and is expected to generate revenues of over $100 million at the world's busiest airport.

Host/NCM will introduce several new and exciting concepts to Atlanta Hartsfield's retail program.

-- CNN Newsstand. The information age meets the corner newsstand in this innovative blend of print, broadcast and Internet media. Live feeds from CNN networks and Web sites complement a vast array of magazines, newspapers and books to form the ultimate information resource. HMSHost and CNN are proud to launch this exciting concept in Atlanta, CNN's hometown.

-- Destination Atlanta. A spirited concept from HMSHost that celebrates Atlanta's world-class shopping venues, this contemporary offering will feature internationally prominent brands in a number of merchandise categories including: Tommy Hilfiger, Kenneth Cole, and Occhiali Da Sole.

-- Atlanta Emporium--Featuring the Coca-Cola Store. Offering the finest regional specialties of Atlanta and the state of Georgia, this one-of-a-kind shopping experience will suit everyone's taste. HMSHost's exclusive Coca-Cola "store within a store" will be filled with gifts and memorabilia celebrating one of Atlanta's signature institutions.

-- Tumi. Delighting customers worldwide with their impressive selection of modern, attractive products, Tumi is the leading brand of prestige luggage, business cases and personal accessories. HMSHost is proud to be developing Tumi's first freestanding airport store.

-- Brookstone. The first name in functional gifts and gadgets, Brookstone offers more than 2,500 products designed to make our lives easier. National Concessions Management will operate the Brookstone store.

-- Atlanta Elements. This educationally themed store will showcase products emphasizing Atlanta and the Southeastern United States' unique elements of science and nature. HMSHost has teamed up with Atlanta's Fernbank Museum of Natural History to create a shop-in-store with merchandise tied directly to the Museum's current exhibits.

-- Simply Books. HMSHost's very own bookstore concept will have more than 5,000 titles on display. Selected best sellers will be discounted 15 percent and Simply Books' "Passport to Savings" program will reward frequent purchasers. This location will also feature a Starbucks Coffee Cafe and an Altitunes shop-in store.

"We thank Atlanta Hartsfield International Airport for this opportunity to deliver some of the world's finest retail concepts to their travelers," said John J. McCarthy, HMSHost CEO. "Our retail lineup in Atlanta truly captures the spirit and energy of this preeminent city. We are extremely proud to serve one of the world's leading aviation facilities."

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.