My US Air MC says "Premier World" in the top right and "WORLD" just above the MasterCard logo, so I think it qualifies. I signed up successfully. Does Starwood have a branded MC? I've only had the AmEx.

Don't count on it.

From the T&C:

An eligible stay is defined as one (1) or more consecutive nights stay paying a qualifying rate at any Starwood Participating Property regardless of the number of check-ins or check-outs that occur, and posted to the Qualified SPG Member's Starwood Preferred Guest® account.

A qualifying rate is any rate that is eligible to earn Starpoints® in the Starwood Preferred Guest® Program. Definition of Eligible Rates can be found at www.spg.com/t&c under section 4B.4

Thanks

Just checked and see that the Chase Ink Bold biz card I recently got (with 50K bonus :D) is a World MC.

Might be time for those without an Ink Bold to make the move. @:-)

Can I book and pay for a family member's stay to qualify?

I'm going to Hong Kong in two weeks. So I could sign up for the US Air 40k card (people have reported they get the card fairly quickly after being approved), and then book at night at the Westin Resort in Macau for HKD 1030, pay with the US Airways card and become instant gold? Tempting...

I got my Gold status with this promotion, although I only have a MasterCard, and not a World MC.

Too bad Hawaii is not included, even though it is in the Pacific.

Great news, thanks.
Living in Asia means it is hard to miss getting Gold here, plus we have a Sheraton for $94 just down the road. Might be time for a mattress run!

Who issued the MC? Which airline card?

I'm wondering how SPG knows which MC is a World version? First few digits of the CC?

[QUOTE=TorontoSingh;18194352]http://www.starwoodhotels.com/prefer...ml?promoID=WMQ


Earn instant Gold Preferred membership plus bonus Starpoints®.

Skip Preferred Guest® member status and head straight to Gold Preferred when you use your World MasterCard for your next stay at Starwood Hotels & Resorts anywhere in Asia Pacific between April 1, 2011 and March 31, 2013.
Gold Preferred members enjoy 50% more bonus Starpoints®, automatic room upgrades at check-in, 4pm late checkout and other exclusive privileges.

I'm actually booked for a reward stay in the region during the timeframe in question, but reading the SPG Forum, people are saying Gold status isn't really that valuable to them. My question is: Should I cancel the reward and pay for the night instead, in order to get Gold status? How valuable is it really? I am not a heavy user of SPG properties - perhaps 3-5 nights a year.

The card is issued by CornerCard Switzerland.

[QUOTE=srdshelly;18204368]For light users, I would agree with the FT consensus. Traditionally, an extra point and possible, not guaranteed upgrades are not worth the hassle in trying to get GOLD. But, in this case, if SPG is giving it out with just one night stay, it may be worth it depending on how much you'll use SPG properties. Obviously, spending the least amount on a single night is ideal.

You mean during a previous run of the same promotion?

The qualifying stays start in April.

[QUOTE=srdshelly;18204368]The irony here is that SPG offers Amex, and that also provides extra Starpoints. So using the Mastercard for one stay, then reverting back to the SPG Amex is the way to go it seems. Of course if you Mastercard is FX fee-free, that is yet another consideration to weigh against the 2.7% Amex charge.