Paramount Parks and the Las Vegas Hilton break ground on "STAR TREK: The Experience at the Las Vegas Hilton".

LAS VEGAS--(BUSINESS WIRE)--Jan. 24, 1996--Combining the excitement of technology, imagination and adventure, "STAR TREK: The Experience at the Las Vegas Hilton" prepares to "boldly go where no entertainment experience has gone before."

At 6:15 p.m. Wednesday, Jan. 24, the earth at 3000 Paradise Road in Las Vegas moved and vaporized into a cloud of dust as a series of phasers simultaneously triggered the world's first "Wormhole Implosion," breaking ground on the attraction.

This implosion marked the official ground-breaking for construction of the first-ever "Star Trek"-themed interactive entertainment venue -- "STAR TREK: The Experience at the Las Vegas Hilton."

In attendance were Paramount Parks President and Chief Executive Officer Jane Cooper; Hilton Hotels Corp. Chairman and Chief Executive Officer Barron Hilton; Las Vegas Hilton President Gary Gregg; Hilton Hotels Corp. President and Chief Operating Officer Raymond "Skip" Avansino; Hilton Hotels Gaming Operations President F.M. "Bud" Celey; "Star Trek" Executive Producer and Creator Rick Berman; "STAR TREK: The Next Generation" stars Jonathan Frakes and Gates McFadden; "STAR TREK: Deep Space Nine" star Armin Shimerman; and a host of Klingons, Vulcans, Ferengi and Romulans.

To break ground, the impending site of "The Experience" was transformed into a 24th-century setting. Hosts Gregg, Cooper and Berman welcomed guests from a futuristic stage, complete with phaser ignition modules. Dramatic imagery using high-tech lighting, laser and sound effects combined with alien beings set the scene for the Wormhole Implosion as an Enterprise "transporter" beamed in celebrities Frakes, McFadden and Shimerman.

A $50 million joint venture between Paramount Parks and the Las Vegas Hilton, "STAR TREK: The Experience" incorporates an unmatched variety of entertainment elements including a simulator ride, state-of-the-art computer games, interactive video and virtual- reality stations, retail shops and a themed restaurant and lounge.

For the first time ever, visitors will see, feel, touch and live what it is like to be a Starfleet crew member as "The Experience" takes them on an intergalactic journey. The attraction is scheduled to open in Spring 1997.

Conceptualized by Paramount Parks, and under the guidance of the Paramount Television Group and the creators of "Star Trek," the attraction represents a whole new era of interactive entertainment. Both Paramount Parks and the Paramount Television Group are units of Viacom Inc.

"With this attraction, Paramount Parks is bringing to life the one `virtual' adventure millions of Americans have shared for 30 years -- `Star Trek,'" said Cooper. "At `STAR TREK: The Experience,' visitors will be `beamed up' to the world of `Star Trek' where -- for the first time ever -- they can dine, shop and play in the 24th century. It's a 20th century dream come true 350 years ahead of its time."

"Las Vegas is the perfect location for this attraction and the Las Vegas Hilton is the ideal site. It is our goal at the hotel to offer our guests the best, the newest and the most thrilling in events and accommodations. `STAR TREK: The Experience' will beam the Las Vegas Hilton -- and all of Las Vegas -- into the 24th century," said Gregg. -0-

                    HIGHLIGHTS OF THE ATTRACTION

History of the Future

The voyage begins with a museum-like exhibit featuring displays of
authentic "Star Trek" costumes, weaponry, makeup, special effects and
props used in the four "Star Trek" television series and seven
motion pictures.

Starfleet Gallery/Transporter Room

From the exhibit, visitors will enter the Starfleet Gallery Room
where they will unwittingly become "passengers" as the room
transforms into a Transporter, beaming them aboard the Bridge of the
Starship Enterprise.

Simulator Ride

After receiving their mission instructions on the Bridge, visitors
will take the TurboLift to the shuttlecraft launch bay.  Here, they
will board a 32-seat shuttlecraft for the ultimate simulated
journey through the "Star Trek" universe.  The capsule has been
designed using a new "immersive" viewer tilt perspective, so that
riders are completely without view of the "real world."  Film images
will be seen overhead and on each side of the shuttlecraft, in
addition to appearing in front of the rider.

The Promenade -- Themed Restaurant, Retail Shop, State-of-the-Art
Computer Games

Assuming successful completion of the mission, visitors will
disembark at "Deep Space Nine" onto an exact replica of the space
station's Promenade, where restaurants, games and shops await.

A Cardassian-style dining establishment will feature fully themed
menus with futuristic foods such as Romulan Ale and Glop-on-a-Stick;
and holographic images will appear at random throughout the facility.
The themed lounge includes a bar where food is ordered from machines
with voice-recognition capabilities.

In the computer-game area, a morphing station will allow visitors to
assume the identity of a "Star Trek"  alien character and have their
pictures taken as this character.  Additional virtual reality
stations and interactive video games will allow visitors to test
their navigational and combat skills.

Finally, visitors may purchase "Star Trek" collectibles and
venue unique items at the Starfleet surplus shop where a large
assortment of Federation overstock is available.

All sets used throughout the attraction and in the production of the simulator film are exact 1:1 replicas of the sets used in the "Star Trek" television series and feature films.

In addition, Paramount Parks is tapping into the resources of the Paramount Television Group, including the talents and expertise of Berman, creator of "Star Trek: Deep Space Nine" and "Star Trek: Voyager," to ensure that all elements of the attraction are consistent with the rich history, traditions and values inherent in the "Star Trek" property.

Widely recognized as the pre-eminent gaming and hotel company in the world, Hilton, through its Hilton and Conrad brands, owns, operates, manages and franchises some 240 hotels, resorts and casino facilities in the United States and internationally.

The company currently has 14 casinos in operation or development in Las Vegas, Reno and Laughlin, Nev.; New Orleans; Windsor, Ontario, Canada; Gold Coast, Australia; Istanbul, Turkey; Brisbane, Australia; Punta del Este, Uruguay; Cairo, Egypt; and Kansas City, Mo. With 3,174 rooms and suites, the Las Vegas Hilton ranks among the world's most famous and popular resort destinations.

Its history of blazing new entertainment trails is equally renowned, beginning with the eight-year run of Elvis Presley in the Hilton Theatre to bringing the genius of Andrew Lloyd Webber to Las Vegas with the 1993 debut of "Starlight Express." "STAR TREK: The Experience" takes the tradition one step further.

Paramount Parks, a unit of the Blockbuster Entertainment Group, welcomes more than 13 million visitors annually to its five premier North American theme parks and stand-alone waterpark: Paramount's Kings Island (Cincinnati); Paramount's Kings Dominion (Richmond, Va.); Paramount's Great America (Santa Clara, Calif.); Paramount's Carowinds (Charlotte, N.C.); Paramount Canada's Wonderland (Toronto); and Raging Waters (San Jose, Calif.).

The Blockbuster Entertainment Group (which also includes Blockbuster Video, Blockbuster Music, Blockbuster International and Showtime Networks) is a unit of Viacom Inc. The Paramount Television Group currently produces "Star Trek: Deep Space Nine" and "Star Trek: Voyager," and syndicates "Star Trek: The Next Generation" and "Star Trek," the original 1960s series.

Viacom is one of the world's largest entertainment and publishing companies and a leading force in nearly every segment of the international media marketplace. The operations of Viacom also include MTV Networks, Paramount Pictures, Paramount Television, Simon & Schuster and Viacom Interactive Media; as well as cable systems; radio and television stations; and movie screens in 11 countries.

CONTACT: Paramount Parks

Susan Lomax, 704/525-5250

or

Las Vegas Hilton

JoAnne Eshow, 702/732-5537

or

The Blaze Co.

Karen Gee-McAuley or Jennifer Barry, 310/450-6060

e-mail: [e-mail]