Hilton brings 390 Small Luxury Hotels of the World into the Hilton Honors program

Just last month, the initial three Small Luxury Hotels of the World properties were successfully integrated into the Hilton Honors system, and now nearly 400 additional hotels are available for direct bookings with Hilton, enabling members to earn or redeem Hilton Honors points at these fantastic locations.

Hilton enthusiasts have been eagerly awaiting this moment after reports emerged that Hilton had acquired this collection of independent hotels from Hyatt, a move many viewed as a significant blow to the World of Hyatt loyalty program.

Currently, 390 SLH hotels and resorts have joined Hilton Honors, as confirmed by a Hilton statement, with more additions anticipated as the partnership evolves. This figure far exceeds the approximately 100 hotels that were initially rumored to join, marking a substantial achievement for Hilton Honors in enhancing its luxury and lifestyle offerings.

At present, Hilton Honors members, particularly those with elevated elite status, can look forward to a range of benefits when booking SLH stays through Hilton. These benefits include:

• Member: Enjoy guaranteed discounts, complimentary standard Wi-Fi, late checkout, bottled water, and no resort fees for award stays.
• Silver: Receive a 20% bonus on elite tiers, a free fifth night on standard rewards, plus all basic member perks.
• Gold: Benefit from an 80% elite tier bonus, complimentary breakfast for two, upgrades based on availability, a free fifth night on standard rewards, and all entry-level member perks.
• Diamond: Enjoy a 100% elite tier bonus, complimentary breakfast for two, upgrades based on availability, a free fifth night on standard rewards, and all entry-level member perks.

Notable resorts now under the umbrella include the stunning Rusty Parrott Lodge & Spa in Jackson, Wyoming, a 40-room gem near Yellowstone and fantastic skiing; the Nimb Hotel in Copenhagen's famous Tivoli Gardens; and Hermitage Bay in Antigua, an exquisite all-inclusive resort that allows the use of Hilton Honors points for a vacation encompassing all meals and drinks.

To book SLH properties using Hilton Honors points, Hilton sets standard award rates, meaning 'standard' rooms have a maximum points limit. For instance, a beachfront suite at Hermitage Bay, a luxury all-inclusive in Antigua, costs 130,000 points per night. If booked with cash, this suite would cost $2,845. This translates to approximately 2 cents per Hilton Honors point, providing excellent value.

Booking a non-standard room at this hotel, like the Hillside pool suite, will cost you 1,353,000 points per night. With a cash price of $2,975 for this room, you're only getting a value of 0.2 cents per point, significantly lower than TPG's July 2024 Hilton Honors valuation of 0.6 cents.

For a standard room at the Nimb Hotel in Denmark, a deluxe room can go up to 120,000 Hilton points. If you're traveling in the off-peak season, like mid-February, this redemption is reasonable since cash prices for that room are under $700, translating to a value of 0.58 cents per point. However, for optimal value, booking a deluxe room in mid-June 2025 will cost $1,244 or 120,000 points, yielding about 1 cent per point.

It's encouraging to see Hilton adopting standard award pricing, meaning that 'standard' rooms have a set award rate instead of fluctuating prices for each room.

Bottom line

Hilton's collaboration with SLH is part of a broader strategy of partnerships and acquisitions aimed at expanding its footprint. This year, the company also teamed up with AutoCamp, an outdoor lodging brand, introducing Airstream trailers and luxury glamping options to Hilton Honors. Furthermore, it acquired Graduate Hotels, a chain of college-themed accommodations for $210 million, and took a majority stake in NoMad Hotels as well.