THE PLAZA UNVEILS SIGNATURE COCKTAIL!

The Plaza Unveils 100-Mile Signature Cocktail
Drink debuts at NBC's "TODAY Throws a Wedding” reception

NEW YORK (July 15, 2009) – The Plaza will unveil its new signature drink, the
POMONA, during the 10th annual TODAY Throws a Wedding contest reception today.
The drink will be served to Leigh Daniel and Nick Cordes and their guests in
support of The Plaza's 100-Mile Menu. It will also be used to celebrate the
wedding of the former Olympic hopefuls who captured the hearts of viewers during
this year's contest.

The POMONA is made from ingredients that hail from the 100-mile area around New
York City, including American Fruits' Black Currant Cordial, Lieb Family Cellars
Blanc de Blancs, New York sparkling wine and local honey. The beverage was
commissioned by CPS Events, the partnership entrusted with the hotel's famed
Grand Ballroom, and designed by mixologist Brittany Chardin of Atlanta's iMi
Agency.

"Creating a signature drink for The Plaza was both an honor and a challenge,”
said Chardin. "At the onset of the project, CPS Events required the drink be
developed utilizing ingredients produced within a 100-mile radius of the city.
I was thrilled and surprised by the interesting array of amazing products
produced in New York City and the 100 miles that surround it. The enthusiasm of
the local distilleries and producers to work on this project was infectious. I
know guests will truly celebrate in a memorable way with this drink.”

The signature drink was fittingly named the POMONA for the Roman goddess of
abundance and orchards. A statue of POMONA adorns the fountain outside The
Plaza's main entrance.

American Fruits (www.wvwinery.com)
Set on 60 acres of pristine orchards and farmland just 50 miles from Manhattan,
Warwick Valley Wine Co. is the operator of New York's first fruit
micro-distillery: American Fruits. American Fruits' Black Currant Cordial is an
infusion of locally grown organic black currants and their own distilled grape
spirit. The resulting liqueur has fresh, supple currant, honey and jam notes.
According to Chardin, "Black currants are very much associated with the state of
New York. Until recently, it was illegal to plant the black currant bush
anywhere in the country. A New York man named Greg Quinn spearheaded a campaign
to have the law repealed and now makes a line of terrific currant juices in the
Hudson River Valley area that have great color, flavor and health benefits. This
beautiful fruit has made its way into locally produced liqueurs that are the
perfect match for the Plaza's POMONA.”

Lieb Family Cellars (www.liebcellars.com)
The Lieb Vineyard is widely recognized for producing a stellar line of still
wines. This multiple award-winning bottling was named one of America's Best
Sparkling wines by Wine Spectator and will be the main ingredient for the
POMONA. This hand-crafted Blanc de Blancs made (not from Chardonnay as in
France) from locally grown old-vine Pinot Blanc, planted in 1983, spends three
years on its lees and is disgorged in small lots to assure a fresh crisp and
vibrant finish with apple, honey and citrus flavors. "Leib Vineyard and CPS
Events are a natural fit for one another because of our strong commitment to
local, sustainable products. Bringing sustainability to the catering industry is
important and I'm thrilled to be working with CPS Events at The Plaza to help
redefine the catering experience at the legendary Plaza hotel,” said Gary
Madden, general manager, Lieb Family Cellars.

Local Honey by the Bees of Ray Tousey (RTousey@ClermontCommons.org)
Hand-gathered Local Honey Syrup will complete the drink with the sweet and
complex flavors of the Hudson Valley. For more than 20 years, Ray Tousey of
Clermont, N.Y. has been producing unique honey and beeswax products on his
family's 50-acre Hudson Valley Farm, formally an apple orchard. Tousey now
dedicates his time to honey production, growing black currants and blending
these two ingredients to distill an estate-bottled Cassis.

The 100-Mile Menu is a culinary movement that marries seasonal fare with elegant
style. "The bridal market's shift toward an interest in sustainable, green
weddings inspires catering that is seasonal, local and always delicious. With
fresh, organic ingredients, the 100-Mile Menu is the synthesis of robust flavor
and modern dining and we're thrilled to complement our menu with this new
cocktail. Pomona, the Goddess of Orchards and Abundance, is surely pleased,”
said Liz Neumark, CEO, Great Performances and partner, CPS Events at The Plaza.

About Central Park South Events at The Plaza
Central Park South Events at The Plaza is a stand-alone joint venture between
two New York state companies, Great Performances and Delaware North Companies,
created to manage and operate The Plaza Grand Ballroom and meeting space. Great
Performances, New York's prestigious event and catering company, and Delaware
North Companies, one of the world's leading hospitality and food service
providers, opened the landmark Grand Ballroom in January 2008 and have signed a
25-year lease with Elad Properties, owner of The Plaza. For more information,
visit www.plaza.com.

About Delaware North Companies
Delaware North Companies is one of the world's leading hospitality and food
service providers. Its family of companies includes Delaware North Companies
Parks & Resorts, Delaware North Companies Gaming & Entertainment, Delaware North
Companies Travel Hospitality Services, Delaware North Companies Sportservice,
Delaware North Companies International and Delaware North Companies Boston,
owner of TD Banknorth Garden. Delaware North Companies is one of the largest
privately held companies in the United States with revenues exceeding $2 billion
annually and 50,000 associates serving half a billion customers in the United
States, Canada, the United Kingdom, Australia and New Zealand. For more
information, visit www.DelawareNorth.com.

About Great Performances
Great Performances brings consummate culinary skill and originality to the
table, complemented by personalized attention to detail and exquisite service.
The company, founded in 1979 by Liz Neumark as a staffing service for women in
the arts, is now an acknowledged leader in the high-profile events arena and has
carved out a niche as the foodservice partner of some of the city's most
prestigious cultural institutions, including Jazz at Lincoln Center, the
Brooklyn Academy of Music and Sotheby's. Great Performances is the only
catering company nationally to own and operate its own organic farm, Katchkie
Farm (www.katchkiefarm.com) in Columbia County, New York. The Company pioneered
the 100-Mile Menu (www.100milemenu.com) bringing sustainable food to the
forefront of the special events industry. For more information on Great
Performances, visit www.greatperformances.com