November 4, 1997






Securities and Exchange Commission
450 Fifth Street, N.W.
Judiciary Plaza
Washington, D.C.  20549

                  Re:      Hospitality Worldwide Services, Inc. -
                           Registration Statement On Form S-3
                           ---------------------------------------

Gentlemen:

                  Reference  is made to the  Registration  Statement on Form S-3
dated the date hereof (the "Registration Statement"),  filed with the Securities
and Exchange  Commission by  Hospitality  Worldwide  Services,  Inc., a New York
corporation (the "Company").  The Registration Statement relates to an aggregate
of 1,252,500  Common Shares,  $.01 par value, of the Company (the "Shares") that
were issued by the Company (i) in connection  with an acquisition by the Company
and (ii) as consideration for consultant services rendered.

                  We  advise  you  that we have  examined  originals  or  copies
certified  or  otherwise  identified  to our  satisfaction  of the  Articles  of
Incorporation  and By-laws of the  Company,  minutes of meetings of the Board of
Directors and shareholders of the Company and such other documents,  instruments
and  certificates  of  officers  and  representatives  of the Company and public
officials,  and we have  made such  examination  of the law,  as we have  deemed
appropriate as the basis for the opinion hereinafter  expressed.  In making such
examination, we have assumed the genuineness of all signatures, the authenticity
of all documents  submitted to us as originals,  and the  conformity to original
documents of documents submitted to us as certified or photostatic copies.

                  Based  upon  the  foregoing,  we are of the  opinion  that the
Shares have been,  or when issued will be, duly and validly  issued,  fully paid
and non-assessable.


Securities and Exchange Commission
November 4, 1997
Page -2-



                  We are members of the Bar of the State of New York and, except
as stated below, we express no opinion as to the laws of any jurisdiction  other
than the State of New York and the federal laws of the United States of America.

                  We consent  to the  reference  to this firm under the  caption
"Legal Matters" in the Prospectus.



                              Very truly yours,


                              /s/ OLSHAN GRUNDMAN FROME & ROSENZWEIG LLP
                              ------------------------------------------
                              OLSHAN GRUNDMAN FROME & ROSENZWEIG LLP