MasterCard(R) Teams with Southwest Airlines and Starwood Hotels to Offer Travelers All-Star Promotions with the NBA

Promotions Offer Cardholders the Chance to Win Trips to NBA All-Star 2009 and Other NBA Prizes

PURCHASE, N.Y., Dec. 9 /PRNewswire/ — MasterCard Worldwide today announced two promotions that give cardholders the chance to experience the 2009 NBA All-Star Game in Phoenix when they book travel on Southwest Airlines* or book a Better Tomorrows(TM) Offer and pay for their stay at Starwood Hotels & Resorts with their MasterCard(R) card**.

“MasterCard is delighted to give our cardholders the chance to receive very special rewards when they are making travel arrangements during this holiday season,” said Rob Sheets, Senior Vice President, U.S. Merchant Relations, MasterCard Worldwide. “Southwest Airlines passengers and Starwood Hotels & Resorts guests now have the opportunity to win VIP experiences and tickets to one of the sporting world’s most exciting events, the 2009 NBA All-Star Game, simply by paying with their MasterCard cards.”

“NBA All-Star is a marquee event and for one week, the basketball world will converge in Phoenix for a celebration of the game and its greatest players,” said Mark Tatum, Senior Vice President of Marketing Partnerships for the NBA. “We are delighted to partner with MasterCard, Starwood Hotels & Resorts, and Southwest Airlines to provide a one-of-a-kind experience for our fans to attend and experience the excitement of NBA All-Star 2009 in Phoenix.”

How Southwest Airlines Passengers can Fly for a Chance to Win

MasterCard cardholders who book air travel with a valid MasterCard debit or credit card on www.southwest.com/nba between Dec. 5 and Dec. 31, 2008 will be automatically entered for the chance to win one of 30 grand prize packages, which include a trip to NBA All-Star 2009, and other NBA-themed prizes.**

“Low fares and the chance to win a trip to the NBA All-Star 2009 game are great reasons to book travel with Southwest Airlines this winter,” said Kevin Krone, Southwest Airlines Vice President of Marketing, Sales, and Distribution. “You never know when that flight away for the holidays or a quick getaway could also take you to NBA All-Star 2009 or enable you to win other great prizes.”

Thirty grand prize winners will be selected to win a trip for two to Phoenix, Arizona, for the 2009 NBA All-Star Game on Feb. 15, 2009, which includes round-trip air transportation on Southwest Airlines, standard double-occupancy hotel accommodations for three nights, two tickets to NBA All-Star Saturday Night, the 2009 NBA All-Star Game, and the 2009 NBA All-Star Game Reception, as well as a $200 MasterCard prepaid gift card and NBA merchandise.**

How to Stay for a Chance to Win with Starwood Hotels & Resorts

Between Nov. 17 and Dec. 31, 2008, MasterCard cardholders who use a valid MasterCard debit or credit card to book and pay for a U.S. hotel stay through Starwood’s Better Tomorrows(TM) Offer will be automatically entered for a chance to win a trip to NBA All-Star 2009 or other great NBA prizes.** In addition, with Better Tomorrows(TM), for every night guests stay with Starwood, the next night can be 50 percent off when booked at www.starwoodhotels.com/MasterCard between now and March 31, 2009.

One Grand Prize winner will be selected to enjoy a four day, three night trip for four to Phoenix, Arizona for the 2009 NBA All-Star Game on Feb. 15, 2009, including round-trip coach air transportation, two standard double-occupancy hotel accommodations at a Starwood Hotels & Resorts property, four tickets to NBA All-Star Saturday Night and the 2009 NBA All-Star Game, along with the opportunity to meet a NBA player or Legend.**

“This promotion with MasterCard is a great enhancement to our Better Tomorrows offer – giving our customers not only the opportunity to save on their hotel stays, but a chance to attend one of next year’s biggest NBA events, the 2009 NBA All-Star Game,” said Mark Vondrasek, senior vice president of Distribution and Loyalty Marketing for Starwood.

Five First Prize winners will receive a NBA-themed prize package, including a basketball autographed by an NBA All-Star 2009 player and a pair of tickets to a 2009 NBA regular season game. In addition, 100 cardholders will win a 2009 NBA All-Star T-Shirt.**

Southwest Airlines Sweepstakes disclaimer:

** NO PURCHASE NECESSARY. Sweepstakes open to all legal residents of the 48 contiguous United States, 21 years and older as of December 31, 2008. Sweepstakes starts on 12/5/08 and runs through 12/31/08. Complete rules and alternate form of entry at www.southwest.com/nba. Void where prohibited.

Starwood Hotels & Resorts Sweepstakes disclaimer:

** NO PURCHASE NECESSARY. Void outside of the (50) U.S. & DC & where prohibited. International transactions & purchases at non-participating properties ineligible. Starts 11/17/08. Ends 12/31/08. Restrictions apply. Visit www.starwoodhotels.com/MasterCard for Official Rules, how to enter without purchase, participating Starwood Hotels & Resorts Brands, & complete details.

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 over 18 billion transactions each year, and provides industry-leading analysis and consulting services to financial institution customers and merchants. Through its family of brands, including MasterCard(R), Maestro(R) and Cirrus(R), MasterCard serves consumers and businesses in more than 210 countries and territories. For more information visit www.mastercard.com.

About Southwest Airlines

Southwest is the only U.S. airline to remain consistently profitable this decade, and enjoys an unprecedented string of 35 consecutive years of profitability. Southwest has among the lowest cost structure, a strong balance sheet, and the most productive Employees of any major U.S. airline. At Southwest Airlines, there are no hidden fees. You can check your first two bags for free (size and weight limits apply), there are no change fees, no fees for a window or aisle seat, and, as always, snacks, sodas, and smiles are all complimentary!

After 37 years of service, Southwest Airlines, the nation’s leading low-fare carrier, continues to differentiate itself from other airlines–offering a reliable product with exemplary Customer Service. Southwest Airlines (NYSE: LUV), the nation’s largest carrier in terms of domestic passengers enplaned, currently serves 64 cities in 32 states. Based in Dallas, Southwest currently operates more than 3,400 flights a day and has more than 35,000 employees systemwide.

About Starwood Hotels

Starwood Hotels & Resorts Worldwide, Inc. is one of the leading hotel and leisure companies in the world with approximately 900 properties in more than 100 countries and 155,000 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(R), The Luxury Collection(R), W(R), Westin(R), Le Meridien(R), Sheraton(R), Four Points(R) by Sheraton, and the recently launched Aloft(SM), 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 the NBA

The NBA, founded in 1946, is a global sports and entertainment brand that features 30 teams in the United States and Canada. During the 2008-09 season, NBA games will reach 215 countries and territories in 41 languages. The league’s worldwide reach will be reflected in the 75 international players from 32 countries and territories on NBA rosters. NBA merchandise is sold in more than 100,000 stores in 100 countries on six continents. NBA.com averages more than five million daily visits, with more than 50 percent of the site’s visitors come from outside of North America.

Domestically, the NBA will broadcast 143 regular-season games on national television during the 2008-09 season on ABC, TNT, ESPN and ESPN2. NBA TV, launched in 1999 as the first 24-hour television channel created and operated by a professional sports league, will broadcast an additional 96 games. NBA Cares is the league’s social responsibility initiative that builds on the NBA’s long tradition of addressing important social issues in the United States and around the world. Through this umbrella program, the NBA, its teams and players have donated more than $90 million to charity, provided more than 750,000 hours of hands-on service to communities around the world, and created more than 345 places where kids and families can live, learn or play.

Contacts:

Brian Greehan, MasterCard Worldwide, +1 914-249-5895, brian_greehan@mastercard.com

SOURCE MasterCard Worldwide