OLSHAN GRUNDMAN FROME & ROSENZWEIG LLP
                                505 PARK AVENUE
                            NEW YORK, NEW YORK 10022
                                 (212) 753-7200

                                                     April 13, 1998



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 514,117  Common  Shares,  $.01 par value,  of the Company (the "Shares") that
were issued by the Company in connection  with the acquisition by the Company of
Bekins Distribution Services Co., Inc.

                  We  advise  you  that we have  examined  originals  or  copies
certified or otherwise  identified to our  satisfaction  of the  Certificate  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 duly and validly issued, fully paid and non-assessable.




Securities and Exchange Commission
April 13, 1998
Page -2-


                  We are  members  of the Bar of the  State  of New  York and we
express no opinion as to the laws of any jurisdiction other than the laws of 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
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                                          OLSHAN GRUNDMAN FROME & ROSENZWEIG LLP