Forget the invites or not.....I came across the registration page as a result of a Google search - so very much in the public domain. Being a member of SPG (and wondering why I hadn't been notified), I attempted registration and got told I was ineligible. Strange I thought? I checked the page for eligibility requirements - nothing. Ahhh, it'll be in the 'promotion terms and conditions' - again nothing to preclude me.

Out of a mix of resentment and curiosity, I did some searches and came across this forum - which is the first mention of 'targeting' for this promotion. I've just spent way too long reading it from scratch (only because it was riveting!!), and can see the points from both sides with one exception: Even though 'the customer is not always right', the reality is that 'the customer IS always right'. I'm pleased to say that from my experience Starwoods front of office staff are generally acutely aware of this.

Our promotions department have a plan in place to address issues (like these), and are empowered to resolve them before they blow out of proportion with little 'sweeteners' - a much smaller scale of course. The one thing worse than the fact this will hurt because one unhappy customer tells ten, is that Google shows no mercy over time and this thing will continue to be regurgitated in peoples search results ad infinitum.

Anyway, all that stuff aside - I'm wondering if it's even legal? Since they haven't put it behind a password, blocked it from Googles reach or stipulated eligibility, surely it counts as false advertising. If they were Australian, one letter to Fair Trading and they would be either honouring it or having to cancel the whole thing.