In early February, it was announced that Small Luxury Hotels of the World was ending its partnership with World of Hyatt. This dealt a heavy blow to World of Hyatt loyalists, considering the partnership allowed members to earn or use points and take advantage of elite Hyatt benefits at boutique hotels around the world.
It was also announced that SLH would instead join forces with Hilton and the Hilton Honors program.
Now, Hyatt has confirmed that the SLH partnership will officially end May 15, 2024 — but that doesn’t mean it’s over quite yet.
Existing and new reservations with a check-in date on or before May 15 will be treated as they were before. Those stays will still earn base and bonus points, tier qualifying nights and credit toward earning Milestone Rewards, a Hyatt spokesperson told TPG.
Stays that start on or after May 16, 2024, will still be honored but without World of Hyatt elite status benefits, including free breakfast and the ability to earn points and tier-qualifying nights.
Not all is lost, though. Similar to how you still have a few days to book Hyatt properties that are moving up in category because of Hyatt’s annual category shifts, World of Hyatt members can still book SLH properties (and take advantage of elite benefits) for stays between now and May 15. (To help you decide what’s smart to book now, we’ve pulled together a list of some of our favorite Hyatt properties participating in SLH to book ASAP.)
People who hold World of Hyatt credit cards will earn 4 bonus points for every eligible dollar spent at participating SLH properties through Aug. 31, 2024.
A full explanation of the changes can be found on the World of Hyatt and Small Luxury Hotels of the World partnership page.
The loss of SLH is just another blow to Hyatt. It already saw the end of its partnership with MGM Resorts, which traded in Hyatt for a new partnership with Marriott Bonvoy that’s now officially live.
Hyatt is quick to point out that there’s still hope for Hyatt loyalists who love a great boutique hotel: Hyatt is currently in the process of integrating Mr & Mrs Smith hotels — another collection of independent, boutique hotels — into the World of Hyatt ecosystem. But by when? That’s the million-dollar question.
Hyatt’s loss is Hilton’s treasure
Details about the SLH and Hilton partnership are still sparse. However, we can expect it to work similarly to the setup with World of Hyatt, where not all SLH hotels participate but members can earn and use points at the ones that do.
“We’re thrilled to begin this win-win relationship with Hilton as it brings exciting possibilities for both brands,” Shaun Leleu, chairman of Small Luxury Hotels of the World, previously said in a statement. “Hilton customers, including Hilton Honors members, gain access to our unrivaled collection of exceptional boutique hotels, while our properties enjoy amplified reach to a loyal and discerning audience. It’s a game changer for independently owned hotels on a global scale.”
We’ll keep you updated as we learn more key details on the new partnership.
