Meredith Mande of Green Bay, Wis., is the 5,000,000th member of Choice Hotels Choice Privileges program. As celebration of this milestone, Meredith was the lucky recipient of 70,000 Choice Privileges points. “I was pleasantly shocked when he [David Peiken of Choice Hotels] told me,” Meredith said. “It sounds cliche, but stuff like this NEVER happens to me. I was quite excited.” She says she hasn’t spent any of the points yet, but plans to take some time in February or March to take a break from the cold winter in Green Bay — and is thrilled that this point windfall has broadened her options considerably.

She admitted that she doesn’t usually join frequent flyer or guest programs, but the woman at the front desk was so friendly and helpful and had mentioned the program, so she decided to join. “My goodness, am I ever glad I did! Choice Hotels has been so great and this experience has just gotten better and better.”

Launched in 1998, members of the Choice Privileges program can earn points or airline miles at over 3,000 Comfort Inn, Comfort Suites, Sleep Inn, Clarion and Mainstay Suites hotels throughout the U.S., Canada, the Caribbean and Mexico. Congratulations, Meredith!