The Melrose Hotel, New York to Distribute Limited-Edition Melrose Model T-Bird Cars

    NEW YORK--June 19, 2002--On June 1, the Barbizon Hotel officially transitioned to The Melrose Hotel, New York.
    As part of a summer celebration, The Melrose Hotel, New York is holding a sweepstakes with the Grand Prize being a one-year lease to a 2002 Ford Thunderbird.
    To drive home the fact that The Melrose Hotel Company has made a classic hotel even better, hotel representatives will be handing out a model of a classic American icon: the vintage 1956 Ford Thunderbird convertible, white with black interior and the blue Melrose Hotel Company logo on the trunk.
    For one day, Friday, June 21, 5,000 Acela weekend travelers and commuters will receive their very own limited-edition Melrose Hotel Thunderbird.
    "We believe that the Thunderbird sweepstakes and giveaway are a great way to inform people as to what we have done at The Melrose Hotel, New York," said John J. DePaul, president and chief executive officer of the Melrose Hotel Company. "Although only one lucky winner will drive away with the real thing, hundreds will get their very own commemorative piece of the fun."
    The Grand Prize winner will drive away in the 2002 Ford Thunderbird. One hundred second place winners will receive free room upgrades for a year, based on availability at check-in, to be used at any of the three Melrose Hotel properties.
    Fifty third place winners will receive free weekend stays, based on availability, which will include breakfast, at any of the Melrose Hotel properties. The official sweepstakes runs through 1:59 p.m. on Friday, August 30. The winner of the one-year lease will be announced at 2:00 p.m. that same day. Contestants can enter by visiting www.melrosehotel.com.

 WHERE:  New York          Penn Station
         Philadelphia      30th Street Station
         Washington, DC    Union Station
         Boston            South Station

 WHEN:   Friday, June 21, 2002
         8:00 am - 4:00 pm

    About The Melrose Hotel, New York

    Located on 63rd Street at Lexington Avenue two blocks from Bloomingdale's on Manhattan's Upper East Side, the Barbizon originally opened in 1921 and was long known as a women-only lodging. It officially became The Melrose Hotel, New York on June 1 following the completion of $40 million in renovations.
    The 22-story hotel features 306 guest rooms and 12 luxury tower suites with balconies. The hotel also has an on-premises Equinox Health Club, the largest on-site hotel gym in New York City.

    About The Melrose Hotel Company

    A subsidiary of Berwind Property Group, Ltd., Philadelphia, The Melrose Hotel Company was established in 1999 with the purchase of the historic Melrose Hotel in Dallas, Texas. The company continues steady growth with several subsequent acquisitions, including The Melrose Hotel, Washington D.C., The Westin Great Southern Hotel in Columbus, OH and most recently, the Barbizon Hotel in New York City.
    For more, visit www.melrosehotel.com.