PURCHASE, N.Y. – MasterCard International has initiated a sweepstakes that will allow one of its cardholders to win 500 round-trip tickets, anywhere in the world, up to a maximum total value of $500,000. The sweepstakes will run from July 1 until Aug. 31 and will include transactions on both MasterCard credit cards and MasterCard debit cards. International transactions and transactions which cardholders validate with a personal identification number will not be included, the No. 2 card brand said. The prize package seems to suggest as well that prize winners will be able to transfer some of the free round-trip tickets to friends and family members, but MasterCard was not explicit on this point. "We've learned that today's consumers want a grand prize that is not only distinctive, but also offers a lifetime of rich experiences and adventures," said Amy Fuller, Group Executive with MasterCard Worldwide. "This promotion in particular captures consumers' passion for travel, while allowing the grand prize winner the ability to share, with those who matter most to them, all of the potential experiences and opportunities that go along with winning 500 round-trip airline tickets to anywhere in the world." MasterCard said it is supporting the promotion with a fully-integrated media plan, including print, online, and a new television execution entitled, "Best Coffee," currently in the brand's general rotation. Other components include over 30 million issuer-driven impressions delivered via cardholder statements, inserts, in-branch signage, and ATM messaging. To further engage consumers, MasterCard is creating "pop-up visitor centers" in five cities across the U.S., complete with a 52-foot "MasterCard Win 500 Flights Limo Plane" as the visitor center backdrop. The Limo Plane, which was constructed using the body of a 727 airplane, serves as a symbol of the sweepstakes, illustrating how a consumer could travel anywhere, for any reason, if they win the grand prize.