Here's the press release:
<b>Netcentives and Starwood Hotels Form Exclusive Alliance to Award Hotel Stays</b>
ClickRewards Members Eligible for Stays at Starwood's Unique Collection of Hotels and Resorts Including Sheraton, Westin and Other Luxury Properties
SAN FRANCISCO, Dec. 13 /PRNewswire/ -- Netcentives(TM) Inc. (Nasdaq: NCNT), a leading developer of Internet loyalty infrastructure software and services designed to drive e-commerce, today announced an exclusive agreement with Starwood Hotels & Resorts Worldwide, Inc. (NYSE: HOT), one of the world's largest hotel and leisure companies. It is anticipated that beginning in February 2000, ClickRewards(TM) members who join Starwood Preferred Guest, Starwood's frequency program, will be able to redeem ClickMiles(TM) for StarPoints. Netcentives' ClickRewards Shopping Network will become the only online shopping network where members can redeem for StarPoints. ClickRewards' membership base of more than 2.8 million members can earn StarPoints by shopping at some of the Web's top shopping destinations such as CDNOW, barnesandnoble.com, Compaq, FTD.COM, PlanetRx and KBkids.com.
ClickRewards members can use their StarPoints for free stays at Starwood's unique collection of hotels and resorts around the world, including Westin Hotels and Resorts, Sheraton Hotels and Resorts, Four Points(R) Hotels by Sheraton, St. Regis, The Luxury Collection(R) and W Hotels. And, with no blackout dates, a weekend in New York at the new W Hotel or a week in Paris at the extraordinary Prince de Galles is never a problem.
"Premier brands are continually coming to Netcentives to find the best customers online," said West Shell III, chairman and CEO of Netcentives. "Our demonstrated leadership in providing companies with both a scalable loyalty infrastructure and active online consumers has enabled us to consistently attract premier redemption partners like Starwood Hotels and Resorts."
"Starwood Preferred Guest is dedicated to providing its members the best possible rewards and benefits," said Hoyt Harper, senior vice president business development and marketing programs, Starwood Hotels & Resorts. "The breadth of the ClickRewards Shopping Network provides our members with countless opportunities to earn additional StarPoints, making a weekend getaway or a dream vacation that much closer."