MINNEAPOLIS, April 14 /PRNewswir/AsiaNet/ -- George Charles Pappas, newly elected Chairman and CEO of Worldwide Leisure Corporation (OTC: WWLC), announced today the Company's first major acquisition. WWLC will acquire American Western Companies, the pioneer in Wellness Health plan programs which provide benefits for their insured in non-traditional medical treatment programs. American Western's companies include The Western Health Network of California and the Wellness Health Plan Provider Group. Leland A. Wolf, Chairman of American Western Companies said, "Worldwide has the vision and resources to capitalize on the wave of the future growth in the Wellness market that we have pioneered." "This is the first step in our planned program of expansion, acquisition and development of multi-national, multi-level, multi industry properties in the U.S. and abroad. Additional acquisitions and ventures will be in the area of wellness marketing, wellness publishing, wellness facilities and wellness destination resorts," Pappas said and added, "central to our plan is an exclusive Wellness Credit Card presently in final development." Pappas also revealed that Worldwide is negotiating a contract with Odyssey Cablevision and a joint venture with Doubleday Direct, a subsidiary of Bertelsman of Germany. Odyssey Cablevision reaches 28 million homes daily with personal lifestyle programming. Garry Hill, Odyssey President and CEO said, "Worldwide's Wellness programs and products will find a welcome market in our audience." "Together with Doubleday Direct, we will be creating a six million member Wellness Book Club. Worldwide will become the leader in the Wellness publishing field," said Pappas. Worldwide Leisure Corporation, headquartered in the Twin Cities, has international offices in New York City and is currently traded on the OTC under the symbol WWLC. SOURCE Worldwide Leisure Corporation -0- 04/14/97 CONTACT: Ed Neuger, Tel: +1 612-344-1000, +1 612-344-1013 (direct), +1 612-929-0945 (home); Roger Dahlin, Minneapolis, +1 612-896-3828; or George Charles Pappas, New York City, +1 212-744-0091, all for Worldwide Leisure Corporation/ (WWLC)