MasterCard Cardholders to Receive More Rewards at Over 150 Starwood Hotels and Resorts in Asia Pacific Cardholders Are Rewarded with One Free Weekend Night for Two Hotel Stays
MasterCard Worldwide and Starwood Hotels & Resorts Asia Pacific are once again rewarding travelers with a free weekend night award at over 150 Starwood hotels and resorts in Asia Pacific. MasterCard credit and debit cardholders who are members of Starwood Preferred Guest (SPG) and stay on two separate occasions at any of the participating Starwood hotels in Asia Pacific between
1 October and 31 December, 2009 can earn one free weekend night’s stay (Friday, Saturday or Sunday). Those MasterCard cardholders who are not a member of SPG can simply join online for free.
The free weekend night’s stay promotion, which was well-received last year, is now in its third year and has been expanded to include additional redemption locations with participating resorts being included for the first time. To qualify this year, MasterCard cardholders now need to stay only two times to earn one free weekend night stay.
This generous offer will be available in many popular travel destinations in Asia Pacific including Australia, India, Thailand, China, Malaysia, Japan, Indonesia, Fiji and Maldives, to name a few. A comprehensive listing of the hotels and resorts participating in the free weekend night’s stay promotion can be located on www.SPG.com/mastercardfreeweekend.
According to findings from a recent MasterCard survey*, 24% of the region’s consumers will be spending on international personal air travel in the next four months. In particular, consumers from Kuwait (71%), UAE (51%), New Zealand (44%) and Hong Kong (42%) are looking forward to holidays abroad. China (as indicated by 20% of consumers), Thailand and Australia (18% respectively) rank as favorite destinations among consumers in Asia/Pacific.
Consistent with the MasterCard survey, Starwood’s data shows that China and Thailand were the most popular destinations for redemption of free weekends in 2008. The promotion was well-received last year, and saw a strong increase in enrollment for SPG, Starwood’s award winning Loyalty Guest Program.
“We are excited to continue our relationship with MasterCard and to reward our guests with such a rich offer. In busy times like this, it is important to have a short break to recharge and rejuvenate and this promotion is a great opportunity to do so.” said Nelli Yong, Vice President, Brand Marketing, Asia Pacific, Starwood.
"Travel continues to be an important part of the lives of consumers in the region, with our research revealing that close to a quarter of respondents in the region are looking to spend on international travel. MasterCard seeks to provide our cardholders with privileges in the areas that matter to them and we are glad to be bringing back the Starwood free weekend night promotion. The promotion was strongly received by our cardholders last year and we are pleased to be once again helping them stretch their travel dollar with this collaboration with Starwood Hotels & Resorts," said Nagesh Devata, Vice President, Commerce Development, Asia/Pacific, Middle East & Africa, MasterCard Worldwide.
Brands under Starwood Hotels & Resorts Asia Pacific include Sheraton, Westin, Le M?ridien, St. Regis, The Luxury Collection, Aloft, Four Points by Sheraton and W hotels. To automatically stand a chance to receive a free weekend night award at participating Starwood hotels and resorts in Asia Pacific, MasterCard and SPG cardholders must register and make their room reservations through www.SPG.com/mastercardfreeweekend or via a Starwood Customer Contact Center and mention the promotion code 'MFD'. Travelers who are not SPG members can join at no cost when they register for the promotion. The free weekend night award can be redeemed between 1 November 2009 and 31 January 2010. For further information and terms and conditions, please visit www.SPG.com/mastercardfreeweekend
About Starwood Hotels & Resorts
Starwood Hotels & Resorts Worldwide, Inc. is one of the leading hotel and leisure companies in the world with 966 properties in more than 100 countries and 145,000 employees at its owned and managed properties. Starwood Hotels is a fully integrated owner, operator and franchisor of hotels, resorts and residences with the following internationally renowned brands: St. Regis, The Luxury Collection, W, Westin, Le Meridien, Sheraton, Four Points by Sheraton, and the recently launched Aloft, and Element SM. Starwood Hotels also owns Starwood Vacation Ownership, Inc., one of the premier developers and operators of high quality vacation interval ownership resorts. For more information, please visit www.starwoodhotels.com.
About MasterCard Worldwide
MasterCard Worldwide advances global commerce by providing a critical economic link among financial institutions, businesses, cardholders and merchants worldwide. As a franchisor, processor and advisor, MasterCard develops and markets payment solutions, processes approximately 21 billion transactions each year, and provides industry-leading analysis and consulting services to financial-institution customers and merchants. Powered by the MasterCard Worldwide Network and through its family of brands, including MasterCard, Maestro and Cirrus, MasterCard serves consumers and businesses in more than 210 countries and territories. For more information go to www.mastercard.com
For further information, please contact;
Arlisara Kitirattanajirayos
PR / Marketing Executive
Tel. 662 6498640
Fax. 662 6498811
Email:
[email protected]
Sheraton Grande Sukhumvit, a “Luxury Collection” hotel from Starwood Hotels and Resorts, is a place of elegance and calm from which to experience the excitement of Bangkok. For more information, please visit us at www.luxurycollection.com/bangkok
Starwood Hotels & Resorts Worldwide, Inc. is one of the leading hotel and leisure companies in the world with approximately 966 properties in more than 100 countries and 145,000 employees at its owned and managed properties. Starwood Hotels is a fully integrated owner, operator and franchisor of hotels and resorts with the following internationally renowned brands: St. Regis, The Luxury Collection, Sheraton, Westin, Four Points by Sheraton, W, Le Meridien and the recently announced aloftSM and ELEMENTSM Hotels. Starwood Hotels also owns Starwood Vacation Ownership, Inc., one of the premier developers and operators of high quality vacation interval ownership resorts. For more information, please visit www.starwoodhotels.com
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