Point Me To The Plane Contributors Bill Shuman, Sarah Johnson, and Enoch collaborated on this report.
There are many people who have chosen to be loyal to larger hotel chains like Marriott, IHG, or Hilton due to the fact that Hyatt has a very narrow footprint. The benefits offered by Hyatt hotels and the benefits that come with their elite status are unmatched, so much that it is still worth considering a flight next year to Atlantic City to gain elite status.
In order to remain competitive, Hyatt with 750 hotels in 55 countries and 6 continents, has recently increased the number of hotels by more than 20% with the acquisition of Two Roads Hospitality on October 8 and just recently announced a strategic alliance with Small Luxury Hotels of the World (SLH) that kicked off yesterday. Some of the more aspirational hotels of this alliance were covered a previous post. This partnership is just another step by Hyatt to show they are taking steps to increase their footprint, particularly in the UK and Greece.
The DUKES London Hotel that is home of “The hotel bar which some say concocts one of the world’s best Martinis”
New York Times. Source: Hyatt
Elite Benefits for World of Hyatt Members at SLH Properties
Small Luxury Hotels of the World currently has 520 properties, but World of Hyatt members can only earn or redeem points and use their elite benefits at 54 of the those properties listed on the Hyatt site. Hyatt has already indicated they are planning on adding even more participating properties to the SLH collection in the coming months.
On the earning end, World of Hyatt members will be able to earn 5 points per $1 spent on room revenue. Of course, elite members will also receive their respective bonuses (10% for Discoverists, 20% for Explorists, and 30% for Globalists). Qualifying nights will also count toward earning World of Hyatt elite statuses. One thing to note though is that World of Hyatt members will not be able to earn points towards other loyalty programs while staying at a SLH property.
Interestingly, participating Small Luxury Hotels of the World properties will also provide some on-property benefits to all World of Hyatt members, regardless of status.
- Complimentary Wi-Fi
- Daily complimentary continental breakfast
- Room upgrade (one category at check-in, subject to availability)
- Early check-in at noon (subject to availability at check-in)
- Late check-out at 2 pm (subject to availability at check-in)
Hotel List Highlights and The New Category 8
A few weeks ago, Hyatt confirmed with Summer Hull that they would be adding a brand new Category 8, that could cost up to 40,000 points a night, to redemptions through their Small Luxury Hotel Collection. As of now, only 8 SLH properties, or under 15%, fall under this category, and they are all located in Europe.
Santorini Secret Suites & Spa. Source: Hyatt
There are also surprisingly quite a few Category 3 hotels (the lowest for any SLH property), located in Asia and Europe. For example, a night at the Edison George Town in Penang, Malaysia would cost 12,000 World of Hyatt points.
In addition, the six Category 3 and five Category 4 properties would be bookable using the free anniversary night benefit provided by The World of Hyatt Credit Card offered by Chase.
The Edison George Town, Penang. Source: Hyatt
The Full Small Luxury Hotel Collection
Here is the full list of the 54 launch properties in the Small Luxury Hotels of the World collection, in a searchable table:
Destination Highlights
We are excited about the addition of the hotels in the UK and in Greece, where formerly there were just five hotels between the two countries. The expansion into London, for example, adds a number of boutique properties like Flemings Mayfair, The Capital Hotel and Apartments, St. James Hotel and Club, and Dukes London. Tucked away into some of London’s most prestigious neighbourhoods, the portfolio opens up a world of historic London to Hyatt members.
London highlights include the British Museum, likely the most extensive museum in the world, the Tower of London, Tate Modern, Buckingham Palace, Hyde Park, and Westminster. Iconic, exclusive experiences include private tours of the Churchill War Rooms or behind the scenes at the Changing of the Guards.
Western Europe’s portfolio includes properties like the Ca’Sagredo in Venice, Italy and the Sant Francesc in Palma de Mallorca, Spain. Both of these Small Luxury Hotels are at the heart of their historic cities and boast exquisite interiors alongside exceptional five-star service.
In Greece, the expansion includes a variety of properties on both Mykonos and Santorini. Widely considered one of the best sunsets in the world, Santorini’s portfolio allows Hyatt members to book luxury suites at On The Rocks, a boutique cliffside hotel with sensational views of the Aegean sunsets. Additions in Crete and Cyprus, like the Elounda Gulf Villas and Suites in Crete, open up boutique properties on two of Europe’s largest islands, all with easy access from across the continent. Go for ancient archaeological ruins, rugged hiking, and fresh seafood.
The Asian additions to the Hyatt portfolio are mainly in Malaysia, which range from Kuala Lumpur to Penang to Kinabalu. Hyatt’s portfolio already includes plenty of hotels in Asia, so the Malaysia addition is a nice touch. Penang’s Georgetown is known for street art and street food, while the more remote regions, like Kinabalu, are great for hiking and wildlife spotting. Kinabalu is a UNESCO World Heritage Site and the highest peak in Malaysia and on the Borneo archipelago. It is a sacred site revered in the KadazanDusan culture as the resting place of their dead. Kinabalu is also one of the safest treks in the world, provided you are relatively fit!
Lookout for our detailed guides for each of the above mentioned SLH destinations soon!
Final Thoughts
Overall, Hyatt loyalists should be thrilled to see Hyatt expanding its European and Asian footprint with the addition of the Small Luxury Hotels of the World properties. Surprisingly, Hyatt used their Category 7 and 8 tags for less than one-third of the total properties. This makes them more affordable for travelers looking to explore aspirational properties without hurting their pocketbook, or point balance, too heavily.
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2 comments
Those pools look incredible.
[…] 2018, Hyatt announced they were partnering with Small Luxury Hotels — adding up to 500 SLH properties into the portfolio. This expanded the Hyatt portfolio into a destination where they just didn’t have a lot: […]