Small Luxury Hotels (SLH) Revamped Its Award Program, but Should You Care?

As the name implies, Small Luxury Hotels of the World is a portfolio of luxury hotels in some of the world’s best destinations. Now, Small Luxury Hotels (SLH) has completely overhauled its rewards program, including changing its name.

While this may be worth knowing about, it’s also worth pointing out other options for booking these properties and enjoying rewards at them, even if you aren’t a member of SLH’s proprietary program.

Here’s what travelers should know about the end of SLH Invited and the start of SLH Club.

SLH Club From Small Luxury Hotels of the World

Small Luxury Hotels of the World used to call its loyalty program “Invited.” Now, welcome to the era of SLH Club. Like a typical hotel rewards program, the more nights you stay with the program each year, the more perks you can earn.

The loyalty tiers are named simply:

• Club 01: Achieved at sign-up, which is free and available here
• Club 02: Earned after staying 4 nights annually
• Club 03: Earned after staying 13 nights annually

It’s worth pointing out right away that achieving the middle tier with just 4 nights and the highest tier after 13 nights is incredibly uncommon for rewards programs. Consider that Marriott Bonvoy requires 25 nights per year for its middle tier, Gold Elite; 50 nights for the next, Platinum Elite; and 75 nights for the Titanium Elite tier. Similarly, Hilton Honors requires 40 nights for Gold and 60 nights for top-tier Diamond status.

Similar to other hotel programs, the benefits earned at each status tier increase. Here’s a look at the benefits available at each tier:

Note that upgrades, early check-in, and late checkout are subject to availability.

Additionally, not all of these benefits will feel meaningful to every traveler. The invitation-only events might not hold interest for you, the partner and car rental offers may not match your travel needs, and you may not need or want the travel experiences or planning tips. Other perks provide more tangible value, such as the $300 voucher, winning a free night through a drawing, and getting discounts or bonuses on your bookings.

It’s worth noting that you need to book directly with SLH to enjoy these perks. Bookings through sites like Hotels.com won’t qualify.

What About SLH Invited?

If you were a member of Invited, the name of the previous rewards program, you don’t need to do anything. You’ll be automatically enrolled in SLH Club. All of your current reservations and rewards will roll over into the new program as well.

Should You Care About SLH Club?

We need to mention that there are other ways to book Small Luxury Hotels of the World properties. We’ll highlight 3 of these and the perks offered by each: AmexTravel.com, Hilton, and Hyatt (select properties only).

Amex Fine Hotels + Resorts

Let’s start with the simplest. Numerous SLH properties appear in the Fine Hotels + Resorts program from AmexTravel.com. On these bookings, you’ll get daily breakfast for 2, guaranteed 4 p.m. late checkout, complimentary Wi-Fi, room upgrades based on availability at check-in, and a unique on-property amenity valued at $100.

Additionally, if you have The Platinum Card^® from American Express, you can enjoy up to $200 in annual credits toward prepaid hotel bookings with Fine Hotels + Resorts (FHR) or The Hotel Collection (THC) reservations (enrollment required). You can stay as little as 1 night on FHR bookings, but THC reservations require at least 2 nights, and this benefit of your Amex Platinum card doesn’t require enrollment or a special promo code.

Hilton Honors

Through a partnership between Hilton Honors and SLH, you can book nearly 500 of the 570 SLH properties using Hilton points and Free Night Rewards.

Depending on your Hilton elite status tier, you’ll enjoy perks like complimentary Wi-Fi, late checkout, waived resort fees (if applicable), bonus points earned on paid stays, a fifth night free on points stays, complimentary breakfast for 2, and upgrades based on availability at check-in. Moreover, Hilton status is pretty easy to obtain, given that it comes automatically with all of Hilton’s credit cards.

World of Hyatt

World of Hyatt previously had a partnership with SLH, but that ended earlier in 2024. However, you may not know that roughly 80 properties that participate in SLH also are available through the Mr & Mrs Smith luxury hotels program. Hyatt’s partnership with Mr & Mrs Smith opens the ability to book these properties using World of Hyatt points.

Hyatt’s elite members enjoy benefits on these stays, depending on their status tier. Perks include the “Smith Extra” (unique to each property), waived resort fees on points bookings, complimentary parking, and bonus points-earning rates, though complimentary breakfast as a Globalist benefit isn’t promised at these locations.

Analysis

What does all of this mean? It means there’s more than 1 way to book the hotel you’re interested in. You should compare the prices provided by each option. Booking directly with the hotel (or through SLH Club) may not have the same price as these other options.

Should you pick the cheapest price? Maybe. What would you get in exchange for a higher price, though? If you’ll earn points in a rewards program you care about more, stay credits in your preferred program, or get to use benefits on your stay, how much are those worth? Are they worth more than the cost difference? And what about the add-ons, such as breakfast and free parking? Are those benefits outweighing the cost difference?

The ideal booking method will vary according to your preferences, and you should consider these questions when making your decision.

Final Thoughts

Small Luxury Hotels of the World has overhauled and rebranded its loyalty program. The new SLH Club has some positives, and elite tiers are comparatively easy to earn.

That said, there are other ways to book these properties, and points in those other programs may be easier to earn. Moreover, SLH stays may be a complement to your other travel goals, meaning focusing on a broader rewards strategy with Hilton or Hyatt may make more sense, allowing you to choose SLH properties when you want but also stay at other, more traditional hotels when you want those.