they have 2 programs. One for the USA one for Europe, Africa..
Its weird how to earn points. I had my USA one work just fine out in Europe. Its a lot easier to earn gold status on the USA one. 1 night in Prage SAS for 2 rooms and the gold bonus was enough for me to renew my gold. Euro version isn't that easy, and the benefits from what are listed and what I got are nowhere worth the hotewl stay requirement to make gold. Id rather go for starwood plat or some other chain.
I gotten hotel upgrades in Europe on my USA gold, but never on my Europe gold.