Editor’s note: This is a periodic article, regularly updated with new information.
There are many ways to fast-track a hotel’s elite status and elite benefits. For example, many hotel credit card handed out automatic elite status. You can also get elite-like benefits by booking through Amex Fine . Hotel + Resort Program or Chase’s Luxury Hotels & Resorts Collection.
But here’s another option: book a Select Small Luxury Hotel of the World (SLH) to stay Hyatt World.
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In 2018, Hyatt and SLH launched a partnership that allows World of Hyatt members to earn and redeem points at participating SLH properties and receive a number of value-added benefits. These benefits include many additional perks – including free breakfast for both, early check-in, late check-out and room upgrade – for all Hyatt World membership, subject to availability.
The partnership extends to more than 350 hotels worldwide; you can see Current list of participating SLH attributes on the Hyatt website. Most are in Europe, but there are also a decent number in Asia and North America, including one on a private island (Calala Island in Nicaragua).
Today, we’ll take a close look at all the benefits World of Hyatt members receive when joining SLH properties. We’ll also discuss how you’ll need to book your stay in advance to receive these perks, as not all bookings are eligible.
World of Hyatt benefits at SLH . hotels
You can earn World of Hyatt points and preferential night credits for all SLH stays booked through Hyatt as you normally would (though not for incidentals). That means at least 5 points for every dollar spent before factoring in any World of Hyatt Elite Bonus or promotion.
You can also redeem Hyatt points and Hyatt Free Night Award at the SLH properties join as you normally would. Note, however, that some SLH properties are priced as top Tier 8 hotels and cannot be booked with Hyatt’s free night bonus.
Instead of standard World of Hyatt benefits, all members enjoy the following property perks regardless of World of Hyatt membership:
- Complimentary continental breakfast daily for two.
- Free Wifi.
- Early check-in at noon (based on availability at check-in).
- Late check-out at 2pm (based on availability at check-in).
- Upgrade to a room class (based on availability at check-in).
Note, while elite members will receive their standard bonus points (10% for Explorers, 20% for Explorers and 30% for Globalists), there are no elite benefits. Any other fees apply. Globalists can’t buy back kit upgrade certificate There is also no free resort here.
Interestingly, the benefits when you book your SLH property through Hyatt are even more generous than you get when you book with SLH and use the Invited Loyalty program. The invite program offers free breakfast and upgrades only to Inspired members and above, which you can earn after spending three nights in a 12-month period with SLH.
Related: I’m About To Lose My Globalist: Here’s Why My Future Travel Plans Include Small Luxury Hotels
Book a SLH stay through Hyatt
By the end of 2021, Hyatt introduced a dynamic pricing system. World of Hyatt Awards Ranking now use peak, low and standard categories. Therefore, the cost of award nights at SLH hotels varies depending on whether the date you want to book is peak, off-peak or standard.
Whether you’re paying cash or redeeming points, you must book your SLH through Hyatt to receive the partner benefits discussed in this guide. Unfortunately, you don’t always get the lowest price when you book through World of Hyatt. And sadly, SLH attributes don’t follow Hyatt’s Best Rate Guarantee.
You can see this in action by searching for a stay at the Brick Hotel in Mexico City. For a one-night stay on November 15, 2022, Hyatt is quoting a nightly rate of $598 ($699.08 including taxes and fees) with free cancellation up to two days prior to arrival. .
If we book directly with SLH, we can book the same room type with the same cancellation policy for $455 including taxes and fees.
Ultimately, your best bet is to compare rates when booking SLH properties and then decide if the premium – if any – is worth the additional benefits and Hyatt points.
Related: Try this if you can’t find the Hyatt award you want
Maximize your SLH bookings
The best way to maximize your SLH reservation is with World of Hyatt credit card or World of Hyatt corporate credit card. Like other Hyatt bookings, cardholders earn 4 points for every dollar spent at participating SLH locations, which is more than their typical World of Hyatt earnings.
If you are considering more World of Hyatt credit card to your wallet, it is currently offering a signup bonus of up to 60,000 bonus points: 30,000 bonus points after you spend $3,000 on purchases within the first three months of account opening, plus add up to 30,000 points by earning 2 bonus points for every dollar total on purchases that typically earn 1 bonus point per dollar, up to $15,000 in the first six months of account opening.
Meanwhile, World of Hyatt corporate credit card currently offering a signup bonus of 60,000 bonus points after you spend $5,000 on purchases in the first three months of account opening. Additionally, you can earn two upper-tier qualifying nights per qualifying night from August 23, 2022 to December 31, 2022, if you sign up before October 6, 2022.
Another way to increase your Hyatt balance fast is by switching points from Chase the ultimate reward. Rewards eventually go to World of Hyatt at a 1:1 ratio. If you need to add some Chase Ultimate Rewards to your current balance, here are some current sign-up bonuses that can help:
Of course, you will also earn rewards with all the cards mentioned in this article when you make purchases with your card. These cards are a great way to earn Hyatt points once you’ve earned your sign-up bonus.
Related: What is World of Hyatt’s elite status worth?
Key point
While not always the cheapest option, joining the World’s Small Luxury Hotels through World of Hyatt can be incredibly tempting. You will receive the same benefits as the elite and earn valuable World of Hyatt points, usually with little or no additional cost. Plus, Explorers and Explorers elites will enjoy better benefits of staying in SLH than they would typically at other Hyatt properties.
Additional reporting by Ehsan Haque.
