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Hyatt’s Small Luxury Hotels of the World partnership officially ends next month — but it's not too late to book
Tanner Saunders
Senior hotels reporter
Tanner Saunders is a Webby Award-winning senior hotels reporter for TPG based in Brooklyn. He covers everything from breaking hotel news to in-depth features on the world’s best hotels.
March 13, 2024
•
3 min read
Hyatt’s Small Luxury Hotels of the World partnership officially ends next month — but it's not too late to book
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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.)
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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.
Featured image by SMALL LUXURY HOTELS OF THE WORLD
Editorial disclaimer: Opinions expressed here are the author’s alone, not those of any bank, credit card issuer, airline or hotel chain, and have not been reviewed, approved or otherwise endorsed by any of these entities.
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Best for dining at restaurants
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Go to reviewCard Rating is based on the opinion of TPG‘s editors and is not influenced by the card issuer.
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| 4X | Earn 4X Membership Rewards® points per dollar spent on purchases at restaurants worldwide, on up to $50,000 in purchases per calendar year, then 1X points for the rest of the year. |
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Why We Chose It
There’s a lot to love about the Amex Gold. It’s a fan favorite thanks to its fantastic bonus-earning rates at restaurants worldwide and at U.S. supermarkets. If you’re hitting the skies soon, you’ll also earn bonus Membership Rewards points on travel. Paired with up to $120 in Uber Cash annually (for U.S. Uber rides or Uber Eats orders, card must be added to Uber app and you can redeem with any Amex card), up to $120 in annual dining statement credits to be used with eligible partners, an up to $84 Dunkin’ credit each year at U.S. Dunkin Donuts and an up to $100 Resy credit annually, there’s no reason that foodies shouldn’t add the Amex Gold to their wallet. These benefits alone are worth more than $400, which offsets the $325 annual fee on the Amex Gold card. Enrollment is required for select benefits.Pros
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- 3 points per dollar spent on flights booked directly with the airline or with amextravel.com
- Packed with credits foodies will enjoy
- Solid welcome bonus
Cons
- Not as useful for those living outside the U.S.
- Some may have trouble using Uber and other dining credits
- You may be eligible for as high as 100,000 Membership Rewards® Points after you spend $6,000 in eligible purchases on your new Card in your first 6 months of Card Membership. Welcome offers vary and you may not be eligible for an offer. Apply to know if you’re approved and find out your exact welcome offer amount – all with no credit score impact. If you’re approved and choose to accept the Card, your score may be impacted.
- Earn 4X Membership Rewards® points per dollar spent on purchases at restaurants worldwide, on up to $50,000 in purchases per calendar year, then 1X points for the rest of the year.
- Earn 4X Membership Rewards® points per dollar spent at US supermarkets, on up to $25,000 in purchases per calendar year, then 1X points for the rest of the year.
- Earn 3X Membership Rewards® points per dollar spent on flights booked directly with airlines or on AmexTravel.com.
- Earn 2X Membership Rewards® points per dollar spent on prepaid hotels and other eligible purchases booked on AmexTravel.com.
- Earn 1X Membership Rewards® point per dollar spent on all other eligible purchases.
- $120 Uber Cash on Gold: Add your Gold Card to your Uber account and get $10 in Uber Cash each month to use on orders and rides in the U.S. when you select an American Express Card for your transaction. That’s up to $120 Uber Cash annually. Plus, after using your Uber Cash, use your Card to earn 4X Membership Rewards® points for Uber Eats purchases made with restaurants or U.S. supermarkets. Point caps and terms apply.
- $84 Dunkin' Credit: With the $84 Dunkin' Credit, you can earn up to $7 in monthly statement credits after you enroll and pay with the American Express® Gold Card at U.S. Dunkin' locations. Enrollment is required to receive this benefit.
- $100 Resy Credit: Get up to $100 in statement credits each calendar year after you pay with the American Express® Gold Card to dine at U.S. Resy restaurants or make other eligible Resy purchases. That's up to $50 in statement credits semi-annually. Enrollment required.
- $120 Dining Credit: Satisfy your cravings, sweet or savory, with the $120 Dining Credit. Earn up to $10 in statement credits monthly when you pay with the American Express® Gold Card at Grubhub, The Cheesecake Factory, Goldbelly, Wine.com, and Five Guys. Enrollment required.
- Explore over 1,000 upscale hotels worldwide with The Hotel Collection and receive a $100 credit towards eligible charges* with every booking of two nights or more through AmexTravel.com. *Eligible charges vary by property.
- No Foreign Transaction Fees.
- Annual Fee is $325.
- Terms Apply.