If you are thinking about defecting to SPG from Marriott but do not relish the thought of starting out with no status, I still have a few Gold membership referral cards that are yours for the asking (first-come/first-served). The card is yours to enjoy until February 2004. Plus, if you complete 5 stays by October 31, 2002, you also get 5,000 bonus starpoints. Also, if you book those stays on a SPG website by August 25, 2002, you get an additional 1,000 bonus starpoints per booking (regular 500 starpoints per Internet booking applies after 8/25). So, you end up with SPG Gold status with all its attended benefits including immediate room upgrades and late checkouts and potentially 10,000 bonus starpoints in your account. E-mail me with your name and snail mail address. However, if you think you might try to take advantage of the current 1,000 starpoints Internet booking bonus promotion, please so indicate and I will be only too glad to expedite your sign-up by e-mailing you the instructions for activation of your new card. Sorry, my fax machine is broken.