On November 16, Marriott announced that it would acquire Starwood for $11.9 billion in stock and $340 million in cash. The transaction combines Starwood's leading lifestyle brands and international footprint with Marriott's strong presence in the luxury and select-service tiers, as well as the convention and resort segment, creating a more comprehensive portfolio. The merged company will offer broader choices for guests, greater opportunities for associates and should unlock additional value for Marriott and Starwood shareholders. The deal creates the world's largest hotel company, with more than 5,500 owned or franchised hotels with 1.1 million rooms around the world spanning the globe in over 100 countries. The transaction is expected to close mid 2016. 

Last call! Beginning January 1, 2016 American will no longer accept Dividend Miles numbers. Customer profiles should only include an AAdvantage number. Travelers will still earn miles automatically for reservations booked by December 31, 2015 with a Dividend Miles number. 

On November 19th, 2015, the U.S. State Department announced that it will no longer add pages to passports beginning January 1, 2016. Requests for additional 24-page visa inserts will only be accepted until December 31, 2015. Travelers with passports they expect to fill with visas or entry stamps should request additional pages as soon as possible. With the additional pages deadline approaching and the busy holiday travel season here, start your request today. For more information on how or where to apply, please visit Travel.State.Gov/ApplyEarly or call the National Passport Information Center toll-free at
1-877-487-2778/1-888-874-7793 (TTY/TTD).
Save hassle and money by adding pages now. The government fees for additional pages are less than a renewal and all your visas will remain in one passport book.

The Department of Homeland Security and US-CERT reminds users to remain vigilant when browsing or shopping online this holiday season. To avoid seasonal campaigns that could result in security breaches, identity theft, or financial loss, users are encouraged to avoid following unsolicited links or downloading attachments from unknown sources. Refer to US-CERT's security tips for shopping safely online and visit the Federal Trade Commission's Consumer Information page for scam alerts. If you believe you are a victim of a holiday phishing scam or malware campaign, report the attack to the police and file a report with the Federal Trade Commission. Immediately contact your financial institution and close any accounts that may have been compromised. Watch for any unexplainable charges to your account. Immediately change any passwords you might have revealed and do not use that password in the future, avoid reusing passwords on multiple sites. Lastly, file a complaint with the FBI's Internet Crime Complaint Center (IC3).

Still hoping to reach Diamond, Platinum, Gold or Silver Medallion® status for 2016? Good news - through December 31, 2015, you can buy up to 10,000 Medallion Qualification Miles (MQMs) that will apply toward your 2016 status. Dollars spent purchasing MQMs will be credited as Medallion Qualification Dollars (MQDs - U.S.-based members only), to be posted to your 2015 MQD balance and apply toward your 2016 status. See Terms and Conditions for complete details. If you have further questions, please visit Frequently Asked Questions.