BEVERLY HILLS, Calif.--(BUSINESS WIRE)--Jan. 2, 2007--Groundbreaking for the Pueblo of Pojoaque's spectacular Buffalo Thunder Resort is scheduled for January 2007, announced Tribal Governor George Rivera and Hilton Hotels Corporation (NYSE:HLT).

Buffalo Thunder Resort is located on Highway 84/285, 12 miles north of Santa Fe, NM. The new construction will be on the 587-acre site that currently is home to the championship Towa Golf(SM) Course, designed by Hale Irwin and Bill Phillips, and adjacent to the award-winning 81-unit Homewood Suites by Hilton(R).

Buffalo Thunder is designed to be a Four-Star destination resort and will include the 390-room Hilton Santa Fe North, a luxury spa and fitness facility, several restaurants, entertainment venues, meeting space and a new upscale casino. Construction is expected to be completed in the fall of 2008.

"The beginning of construction is the result of years of planning and investment by the Pueblo of Pojoaque," Governor Rivera said. "Buffalo Thunder, the name of the new resort, was chosen because it is a symbol of spiritual strength for Native Americans."

The resort also will create new jobs for the area, Rivera said.

"This international destination resort will mean the addition of approximately 600 new and good paying jobs to New Mexico," Governor Rivera said. "The people of the Pojoaque Valley and northern New Mexico will have the opportunity to hold quality jobs in the entertainment, hospitality and service areas. Not only will this new enterprise create jobs, it will establish careers."

The hiring process is still months away, but once it begins Hilton will be conducting employee training. The Pueblo of Pojoaque also will utilize the training services of the Northern New Mexico College in Espanola, Governor Rivera added.

The Pueblo of Pojoaque, through the Buffalo Thunder Development Authority and certain other of its tribal corporations, is the owner of the entire destination resort. The hotel and resort will be managed by Hilton Hotels Corporation.

"Hilton is one of the most recognizable brands in the hospitality industry and the largest hotel company in the world, and having that name attached to our project reflects our commitment to quality,"
Governor Rivera said.

"Hilton Hotels Corporation is extremely pleased to be working with the Pueblo of Pojoaque on this unique project that, when completed, promises to result in a prominent and novel addition to our company's growing portfolio of worldwide resorts," stated Hilton Area Vice President Ben Fusco.

The new facility will feature 66,000 sq. ft. of meeting space and includes a 1,200 seat ballroom. There also will be a 16,000 sq. ft. Native American themed spa/salon and exercise facility, a 12,700 sq. ft. retail promenade, an 8,000 sq. ft. children's recreation area and a 100 seat outdoor performance space.

The new state-of-the-art, upscale Las Vegas style casino, to be operated by the Pueblo of Pojoaque's new corporation, Buffalo Thunder Inc., will be 151,000 square feet with 1,200 slot machines 25 table games, a horse and dog simulcast wagering area and a 10-table poker room.

Architects for the project are Thalden-Boyd of Tulsa, OK, a firm specializing in Native American casino design. The destination resort will be built in the traditional Pueblo style.

The Centex Corporation with headquarters in Dallas, TX is the contractor for the project and under a directive from the Pueblo of Pojoaque, will be utilizing local contractors and local labor as much as possible.

The substantial planned infrastructure of the project includes construction of an environmentally responsible, state-of-the-art wastewater treatment facility that will have 100 percent water recycling capability. In addition, the project will "harvest" and purify rainwater through the use of settlement basins. When completed, all irrigation for the Towa Golf Course will come from recycled water.

Access to the new resort is via the Buffalo Thunder interchange on Highway 84/285 that was completed in 2004. The interchange is at the southern border of the Pueblo. On the overpass leading to the Resort is the word Posuwageh. This is the original name of the Pueblo in the indigenous Tewa language.

The Pueblo of Pojoaque currently owns and operates two casinos, two hotels, an apartment complex, a supermarket and various other businesses all located on tribal land.

The current Cities of Gold(SM) Casino, which opened it doors in 1995, was the first Class III casino in New Mexico. The Sports Bar Race Book and Casino is located near the Cities of Gold. The 124 room Cities of Gold(SM) Hotel opened in 1999 and the 81 unit Homewood Suites by Hilton opened in 2005. Homewood Suites, which opened in 2005, is the #1 ranked property system-wide in satisfaction and loyalty tracking and has received numerous awards for cleanliness, maintenance and front desk service.

BUFFALO THUNDER(R) RESORT FACT SHEET

Project Description Overview

The project consists of construction of a 390 room hotel (The Hilton Santa Fe North); a luxury spa and fitness facility; world class dining areas; entertainment venues; 66,000 square feet in meeting space; and a new casino with 1,200 slot machines, 25 table games and a 10-table poker room.

Architects

Thalden-Boyd Architects (St. Louis, Tulsa, Las Vegas), Native American casino design specialists. Images for the Buffalo Thunder Resort project available at http://www.thaldenboyd.com/Pojoaque.htm.

Contractor

Centex Corporation, Dallas, Texas (http://www.centexconstruction.com). Centex has built more than 70 hotel and resort projects.

Construction Calendar

Construction starts January 2007 and will be completed September 2008.

Project Location

The new construction will take place at the Buffalo Thunder(R) Resort located on Highway 84/285 (exit 177) on 587 acres of Pueblo of Pojoaque tribal land. It is approximately 12 miles north of the Santa Fe Plaza and approximately two miles south of the Cities of Gold Casino, also owned by the Pueblo of Pojoaque. The project is located in an area between the existing Towa Golf Course clubhouse and the Homewood Suites.

Buffalo Thunder(R) Resort

Buffalo Thunder Resort is the umbrella name of the entire resort area. Currently Buffalo Thunder Resort is home to the 27-hole Towa Golf Course (opened September 2002), the 81-room Homewood Suites(R) by Hilton (opened February 2005) and the Wedding Chapel at Pojoaque (October 2006).

Hilton Santa Fe North at Buffalo Thunder Resort

The Pueblo of Pojoaque will own the property through the Buffalo Thunder Development Authority and it will be operated under a management contract with the Hilton Hotels Corporation. The 5-story hotel will consist of 390 upscale rooms with Pueblo-themed decor and a two-level Presidential Suite with a private outdoor "observatory".

Resort Amenities

Located in the new facility will be several restaurants including a 350-seat buffet; a sports bar, a dance club and a flair bar located near the casino floor with 100 seats and entertainment stage; a 16,000 sq. ft. spa, salon and exercise facility, indoor and outdoor pools, tennis courts and sand volleyball courts; an 8,000 sq. ft. children's recreation area featuring computer labs, kiddy pools, library, and theater; a 12,700 sq. ft. retail promenade and a 100-seat outdoor performance space.

Conference Center

There will be 66,000 sq. ft. of meeting space and ballrooms including a 1,200 seat main ballroom, a 650 seat junior ballroom and eight breakout rooms.

The Casino at Buffalo Thunder Resort

The new 151,000 sq. ft. casino will be operated by the Pueblo of Pojoaque similar to the existing Cities of Gold Casino and the Sports Bar Race Book and Casino. The Casino at Buffalo Thunder Resort will feature 1,200 slot machines, 25 table games (black jack, roulette, etc.); simulcast wagering, and a 10-table poker room.

Parking

There will be 1,400 parking spaces including RV and bus parking.

The Pueblo of Pojoaque

The Pueblo of Pojoaque is a federally recognized tribe with 373 members located on 13,500 acres approximately 12 miles north of Santa Fe. The leaders, elected every two years, are George Rivera, Governor; Linda Diaz, Lt. Governor; Stephanie Crosby, Secretary; and, Mary Ann Katherine Fierro, Treasurer. The Pueblo of Pojoaque is one of eight pueblos in northern New Mexico. The official language is Tewa. Pojoaque comes from the Tewa word "Po Suwae Geh" which means "Water Drinking Place".

Other Pueblo Businesses

The Pueblo of Pojoaque also owns and operates several other businesses including the Cities of Gold(SM) Casino (40,000 sq. ft., 575 slot machines, 12 table games), the Sports Bar Race Book Casino (150 slot machines, horse racing simulcasting), the 124 room Cities of Gold Hotel & Conference Center, the 127-unit Butterfly Springs Apartments, the Butterfly Mobile Home Park, the Pojoaque Supermarket, the Pojoaque True Value Hardware Store, the Pojoaque Visitor Center and Gallery, the Pojoaque Convenience Store, the Pojoaque Travel Center, the O Eating House restaurant and a laundry mat. A bowling alley currently is under construction at the Cities of Gold Casino and a 63-unit RV park will be completed in the summer 2007. The Homewood Suites by Hilton and the new Wedding Chapel are part of the Buffalo Thunder Resort.

Employment

The Pueblo of Pojoaque currently employs 900 persons. The new project, when completed, will employ an additional 600 persons.

Wastewater Treatment Facility

The substantial planned infrastructure of the project includes construction of an environmentally 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.

Copyright Business Wire 2007

Hilton Hotels Corporation

Hilton Hotels Corporation

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