If you go to email SPG customer service at the below link, it asks you for your "membership level" and allows you to choose from a variety of options such as gold, platinum and VIP. What is the "VIP" level?
Previous postings had suggested the VIP level was hotel-specific. However, the inclusion of this level on the main spg web site suggests that this is something recognized across the SPG system.
http://www.starwood.com/preferredgue.../email_us.html