The Star Alliance partners are United Airlines, Air Canada, Lufthansa, SAS and Varig.

Titled "global rewards", the scheme entitles resident guests staying in the hotels to receive one coupon for each booked night of stay and also one additional coupon per stay at the time of check-in. From all the completed coupons every month, six winners will be chosen -- the first two will get two air tickets to destinations in the US, South America, Canada, Europe or the Far East.

The scheme, which started from May 15, will be open till November 14.The next four winners will get Rs 10,000 worth of Welcomgroup gift vouchers, which could be used immediately to settle the hotel bill or for subsequent stays in any of the 13 properties within three months of its issue.

The scheme is in line with various other promotional schemesfloated by the company and other hotel chains to increase usage of their properties, specially when hotels country-wide are facing falling occupancy levels.

Industry sources say a similar exercise has not been taken up by any hotel chain in the country.

Company officials said the scheme was unique in the sense that even if a guest decided to check out before the number of days booked, he got to keep the coupons he had collected during check-in. This way he has more chances of winning prizes, said officials.

Airline crews, airline lay-overs and group bookings will not be entitled to participate in the scheme, sources added. At the end of six months, two grand prizes will be chosen-- the first being a around-the-world trip for two and second, two tickets for a luxury cruise to the Bahamas. The scheme will be available at Welcomgroup hotels in Agra, Aurangabad, Andaman & Nicobar Islands, Bangalore, Baroda, Gwalior, Jaipur, Chennai, Delhi, Hyderabad, Vizag and Ooty.