INJUNCTION TO BLOCK OPENING OF W HOTEL IN SEATTLE RESCHEDULED

Press Release

September 1, 1999
SEATTLE, WA --The hearing date of Seattle Seventh Avenue's motion for partial summary judgement to block the opening of the "W'' Hotel in Seattle has been postponed from September 3, 1999, to October 29, 1999, by order of U.S. District Court Judge Thomas S. Zilly.

The order calls for Starwood Hotels & Resorts Worldwide Inc., owners of the ``W'' Hotel and Seattle Sheraton Hotel joint venture partner, to file materials in opposition to the motion by October 15, 1999. Seventh Avenue Associates must file its reply in support of the motion by October 22, 1999.

In issuing the order, Judge Zilly encouraged both parties to try and resolve their differences through mediation. A mediation hearing in front of Judge Terrance Carroll is scheduled for September 16, 1999.

"This postponement in no way will effect our resolve for a fair solution to this problem,'' said Seventh Avenue Associates spokesman Stuart Rolfe. "We have tried numerous times and ways to get this behind us, but Starwood refuses to honor their commitment to this business agreement."

"Although this action by Judge Zilly will allow the 'W' Hotel to open on schedule,'' Rolfe said, "we intend to enforce our contractual rights until we reach a satisfactory resolution."

Editors' Note: Copies of the stipulation and order are available on request from Erika Schmidt at 206/352-6402.

Contact:

Seventh Avenue Associates
Stuart Rolfe, 206/292-4960
or
The Frause Group
Erika Schmidt, 206/352-6402
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