In February 2024, Hilton introduced plans to launch an unique new partnership with Small Luxurious Motels of the World (SLH). This partnership went stay in early June, in a really restricted capability, whereby only a handful of properties joined the gathering.
There’s now a serious replace, as this partnership has been expanded, and practically 400 SLH properties at the moment are a part of Hilton Honors. That is all occurring a lot sooner than we had been promised, in order that’s excellent news.
Hilton companions with SLH for boutique luxurious lodges
Hilton and Small Luxurious Motels of the World have launched an unique strategic partnership, permitting Hilton Honors members to earn and redeem factors at tons of of boutique luxurious properties across the globe. This enormously expands the posh properties that Hilton Honors members have entry to. With a purpose to earn and redeem factors with this partnership, you have to ebook by Hilton reserving channels.
For these not conversant in SLH, this can be a group of roughly 560 boutique lodges. What makes SLH totally different than the opposite main resort teams is that SLH as such doesn’t handle these properties. Slightly, SLH is basically a group of unbiased lodges that don’t have any want to immediately be a part of the main resort teams.
In different phrases, SLH has a advertising and marketing settlement with these lodges, and Hilton has rolled out a advertising and marketing partnership with SLH. These properties aren’t totally built-in into the Hilton portfolio, however slightly Hilton is ready to get a fee when individuals ebook these properties by Hilton, and in flip, the corporate passes on a few of that fee to shoppers within the type of factors.
How the Hilton & SLH partnership works in apply
Hilton and Small Luxurious Motels of the World have lastly supercharged their partnership, as practically 400 SLH properties at the moment are bookable by Hilton Honors channels. You could find all of the eligible properties on this web page.
The properties vary from Nobu Resort in Marbella, to Wentworth Mansion in Charleston, to Calala Island in Nicaragua, to Nimb Resort in Copenhagen.
I’m delighted to see how rapidly this partnership is now being rolled out. Lately we had been advised that round 100 SLH properties would be a part of the Hilton Honors portfolio earlier than the tip of 2024, so it’s nice to see practically 400 properties by the center of 2024. I suppose Hilton made it a giant focus to get this rolled out ASAP.
Hilton Honors members can make the most of the next perks when making an eligible SLH reserving:
- Hilton Honors non-elite members obtain a assured member low cost, complimentary Wi-Fi, late check-out topic to availability, bottled water, and no resort charges on award stays
- Hilton Honors Silver members obtain a 20% factors bonus and a fifth evening free on award redemptions, along with the perks of non-elite members
- Hilton Honors Gold members obtain an 80% factors bonus, complimentary breakfast for 2 friends, and area obtainable upgrades, along with the perks of non-elite members
- Hilton Honors Diamond members a 100% factors bonus, complimentary breakfast for 2 friends, and area obtainable upgrades, along with the perks of non-elite members
Hilton Honors members may also earn and redeem factors for eligible SLH stays:
- Relating to incomes factors, Hilton Honors members earn factors on the similar fee as they’d at full service Hilton properties; this implies you earn 10x Honors factors per greenback spent, earlier than factoring in any extra bonuses, plus you earn one elite evening for every evening stayed
- Relating to redeeming factors, the thrilling factor is that SLH properties comply with the usual system for Hilton Honors award redemptions; SLH properties ought to high out at 150,000 Honors factors per evening, and you may also redeem Hilton Honors free evening awards at these properties
You could find the Hilton Honors & SLH partnership phrases right here.
Whereas I’m comfortable to see this partnership expanded, what continues to puzzle the heck out of me is that the properties taking part within the partnership nonetheless principally present as “offered out.” I perceive that in principle restricted availability is bookable by Hilton Honors, although a overwhelming majority of properties simply present as offered out on all dates.
With Hilton having simply enormously elevated the variety of taking part properties, hopefully we additionally see extra lodges really bookable, or else that is all sort of foolish.
On the plus aspect, for these properties which can be bookable, I’m certainly discovering that the Hilton Honors member low cost is often decrease than what lodges cost immediately, in order that’s spectacular, at the very least.
The Hyatt & SLH partnership has ended
If the idea of a serious international resort group partnering with Small Luxurious Motels of the World sounds acquainted, it’s for good cause. In 2018, Hyatt and SLH launched a partnership, providing factors incomes and redemption alternatives, in addition to choose elite perks. Nonetheless, Hyatt and SLH ended their partnership as of Could 2024, which is what makes this new unique partnership potential.
Hyatt not too long ago acquired Mr & Mrs Smith, a luxurious journey company that markets choose lodges. With this acquisition, we’re seeing Mr & Mrs Smith properties slowly being built-in into Hyatt reserving channels. It’s not stunning that the Mr & Mrs Smith acquisition has induced the SLH partnership to finish, given the overlap between the ideas, as many lodges belong to each portfolios, and Hyatt has extra upside with an organization it wholly owns.
We positive are seeing a number of resort partnership musical chairs these days. MGM used to associate with Hyatt, however now companions with Marriott. IHG used to associate with Mr & Mrs Smith, and is now owned by Hyatt. And now SLH has switched from Hyatt to Hilton.
Backside line
Hilton and Small Luxurious Motels of the World have launched an unique collaboration, which comes as Hyatt’s partnership with SLH has ended. Whereas we began to see some SLH properties be a part of Hilton Honors in June, we’re now seeing practically 400 properties take part on this partnership, which is thrilling.
On the plus aspect, I’m fairly proud of what we’re seeing up to now, particularly on the redemption entrance. I simply want that extra properties really confirmed as being obtainable. I perceive the idea of restricted stock, however proper now I’m principally seeing no stock in any respect.
What do you make of Hilton and SLH partnering?