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You may be familiar with Small Luxury Hotels of the World — better known as just “SLH” — through its partnerships with other loyalty programs. Those include a now-defunct relationship with World of Hyatt and its current partnership with Hilton Honors. But many people don't know that Small Luxury Hotels has its own SLH Club loyalty program that offers perks during stays, reward night vouchers, and more.
Here's everything you might want to know about SLH Club.
Page Contents
What is SLH — Small Luxury Hotels of the World?
Small Luxury Hotels of the World, or SLH, is a group of over 600 “independently minded” hotels in more than 90 countries around the world. What sets them apart is, in their words, being anti-chain and anti-same. Most properties do offer a very unique guest experience, generally on the more luxurious side of the spectrum.
The properties are grouped into three collections.
The Considerate Collection pools hotels that are actively sustainable luxury properties. Under the “Stay Small Stay Considerate” motto, most properties cap their size at around 50 guest rooms. The three pillars in this collection are Community Minded, Cultural Custodians, and Environmentally Conscious.
The Private Collection is a conglomerate of properties offering some sort of seclusion. Whether that be a hotel away from the bustling crowds or one promising the utmost privacy. Only around 240 hotels are part of this collection, and they offer spacious accommodations for families, road-warriors, and flexible travelers.
Lastly, the Finest Collection gathers a small number of highly hand-picked hotels in the most sought-after destinations. They provide the highest standards for guest service and are generally bar-raising, aspirational hotels. There are only 20 properties around the globe that made it into this subset.
We recently stayed at the Glenlo Abbey in Ireland – part of Small Luxury Hotels of the World. Not only is it a gorgeous building in the middle of the Irish countryside, but they even have two restored carriages from the original Orient Express, where they operate The Pullman, one of the hotel's fine dining restaurants.
How does SLH Club Work?
SLH Club is a very uncomplicated loyalty program. Unlike other hotel programs, it would probably only take about 30 minutes to read through all of the program's terms and conditions (and I would know, because I did just that!). There are really only two key points to the program: The more you stay, the higher the status you earn, and the higher your chances of earning towards free stays. But the devil's in the details.
How to Earn Elite Status with SLH Club
Earning elite status within the SLH Club program is truly a breeze. The more you stay, the higher up the loyalty ladder you go, like so:
Club 01
This is the first tier of SLH status. All you have to do to reach this tier is join the loyalty program, which is free.
Benefits include:
- SLH Club Rate
- Early check-in at noon (if requested at booking, and if available at check-in).
- Late check-out at 2 pm (if available).
- Free Wi-Fi.
- Free in-room water.
Club 02
It requires just three qualifying nights per period (which starts every time you hit a new status tier) to reach Club 02. Notice that if you qualify for Club 02 halfway through a stay, you won't receive any of the benefits for that stay until your status has been upgraded in the system. Once you earn this status, your qualifying nights reset to zero.
Benefits include:
- All Club 01 benefits plus:
- Free continental breakfast daily for up to two guests.
- Complimentary room upgrade one category above when available at check-in.
- SLH bonus rate.
Club 03
To reach this level, one must stay an onerous 13 additional qualifying nights (for a total cumulative of 16 qualifying nights, since they reset to zero once you earn Club 02) at SLH properties or spend at least $6,000 a year within the SLH brand. Once again, if you graduated from Club 02 to Club 03 through a stay, you wouldn't start enjoying the next tier benefits until after the SLH system shows that level up has taken place.
Benefits include:
- All Club 01 and Club 02 plus:
- Invite-only SLH Club events.
- An up to $300 Reward Night Voucher on qualification (issued within 14 days of qualification).
- An additional up to $300 Reward Night Voucher every 13 qualifying nights or $6,000 in spend.
- Free night draw entry.
- Access to SLH's own travel magazine ‘Swoon'.
If a member does not achieve the minimum qualifying nights or required spend to maintain their current elite status during a tier period, they will be ‘soft landed' to the immediate lower tier. Tier periods kick off once you enter an SLH Club tier (aka enrollment) and last for 12 months, unless you enter the next tier, which resets the time.
How to Earn Rewards with SLH Club
If you've been paying attention, there are only two ways to earn “rewards” within the SLH Club loyalty program. You'll either earn them by accruing qualifying nights (effectively, all applicable rates except reward nights you redeem using your earned vouchers) or by accruing increments of $6,000 spent at SLH properties.
There are several caveats to what SLH counts as a qualifying night:
- Only reservations booked through SLH channels are considered qualifying nights. That excludes those through Hilton Honors, Mr & Mrs Smith, and any OTA bookings.
- Your SLH Club membership number must be included in the reservation at the time of booking, or you must contact SLH Club no later than five working days before the check-out date in order to have it added.
- The reservation is made at least 72 hours in advance of check-in, so no close-in bookings.
- Must book a publicly available rate code or SLH Club rate.
- The night that is being covered by the Rewards Night Voucher does not constitute a qualifying night.
How to Use the Rewards Night Voucher
Once you hit the top-tier of SLH Club status, Club 03, you'll receive a Reward Night Voucher worth $300 towards your next stay. You'll accrue additional vouchers for each 13 qualifying nights you stay at SLH properties or $16,000 you spend. There is no cap to the number of vouchers a member can earn in a period.
You will receive your $300 Rewards Night Voucher within 14 days of your qualification event (nights or spend), and it will contain a unique code and date on which it was issued. The voucher is valid for 12 months from the date of issuance. It must be used on reservations with a check-out date before expiration.
You can use the Rewards Night Voucher against the cost of one night of your stay on an SLH Club Rate or SLH Bonus Rate, and it will only offset the full or partial amount of that one night. If the nightly rate is over $300, you'll be on the hook for the remainder. If the rate is under $300, you'll forfeit the difference.
To make a reservation using your Rewards Night Voucher, you must send an emailed booking request to slhclub@slh.com with all booking details at least 14 days ahead of your check-in date. Include the hotel name, arrival date, number of nights, number of guests, both adults and children (including their ages), and the best way for SLH Club to contact you.
SLH vows to turn around a response within 72 hours of receipt of your reservation request. Once SLH confirms the Rewards Night, there are no changes or cancellations.
Alternatives to SLH Club
Hilton Honors
You may already be familiar with SLH properties via its partnership with Hilton Honors. And if you've ever stayed at one of these hotels and hold Hilton Honors status, your spidey senses might already be telling you that going this route might be a better choice. Here's why.
Most, though not all, SLH properties are bookable through Hilton. You can book them through Hilton's website and earn points when paying cash, or you can book using your Hilton Honors points — and even your free night rewards. If you hold Hilton Honors Gold status or higher, you'll get all of the following benefits at SLH properties:
- Free Wi-Fi
- Late Checkout when available
- Free continental breakfast for up to two guests
- Room upgrades at the time of check-in, when available
- Bottled water
- Fifth Night Free when booking with points
- Waived resort fees on reward stays
You can get Hilton status just by holding certain credit cards like the Hilton Honors American Express Surpass® Card, which comes with Hilton Gold status, or the Hilton Honors American Express Aspire Card, which gets you top-tier Hilton Diamond status.
- Earn 130,000 Hilton Honors Bonus Points after you spend $3,000 in purchases on the Card in the first 6 months of Card Membership.
- Get up to $50 in statement credits each quarter for purchases made directly with a property in the Hilton portfolio on your Hilton Honors American Express Surpass® Card. That's up to $200 in statement credits annually.
- Earn 12X Hilton Honors Bonus Points for each dollar of eligible purchases charged on your Card directly with a hotel or resort within the Hilton portfolio.
- Earn 6X Points for each dollar of purchases on your Card at U.S. restaurants, at U.S. supermarkets, and at U.S. gas stations.
- Earn 4X Points for each dollar on U.S. Online Retail Purchases.
- Earn 3X Points for all other eligible purchases on your Card.
- Earn a Free Night Reward from Hilton Honors after you spend $15,000 on eligible purchases on your Card in a calendar year.
- Enjoy complimentary Hilton Honors™ Gold status with your Card. Plus, spend $40,000 on eligible purchases on your Card in a calendar year and you can earn an upgrade to Hilton Honors Diamond status through the end of the next calendar year. Terms and Limitations apply.
- As a Hilton Honors American Express Surpass® Card Member, you can enroll to receive complimentary National Car Rental® Emerald Club Executive® status through the link on your American Express online account. After you're enrolled, you can reserve a rental car by calling National Car Rental directly, using your travel service, or by booking online or through the National Car Rental mobile app. Terms apply.
- No Foreign Transaction Fees. Enjoy international travel without additional fees on purchases made abroad.
- Apply with confidence. Know if you're approved for a Card with no impact to your credit score. If you're approved and you choose to accept this Card, your credit score may be impacted.
- Terms Apply.
- Rates & Fees
- 12X bonus points for each dollar of eligible purchases charged on your card directly with a hotel or resort within the Hilton portfolio
- 6X bonus points for each dollar of eligible purchases on your card at U.S. restaurants, U.S. supermarkets, and U.S. gas stations
- 4X bonus points on U.S online retail purchases
- 3X bonus points for all other eligible purchases on your card
Related: 14 Exciting Small Luxury Hotels of the World (SLH) Properties Bookable with Hilton Honors Points
American Express Fine Hotels + Resorts
An even smaller subset of SLH hotels is also part of the collection of hotels curated by Amex, Fine Hotels + Resorts. When booking these properties through the Amex Travel portal, you'll enjoy benefits conferred to you just by having the The Platinum Card® from American Express that you wouldn't get as part of the SLH Club Loyalty program. These benefits include:
- Early check-in at noon if available.
- Guaranteed late check-out at 4 p.m.
- $100 property credit towards eligible charges (varies by property)
- Room upgrades at check-in when available
- Free Wi-Fi
- Breakfast for two daily
- You may be eligible for as high as 175,000 Membership Rewards® points after you spend $8,000 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.
- Get more for your travels with 5X Membership Rewards® points on all flights and prepaid hotel bookings through American Express Travel®, including Fine Hotels + Resorts® and The Hotel Collection bookings. You earn 5X points on flights purchased directly from airlines or through American Express Travel® on up to $500,000 on these purchases per calendar year.
- More Value! With over 1,550 airport lounges - more than any other credit card company on the market* - enjoy the benefits of the Global Lounge Collection®, over $850 of annual value, with access to Centurion Lounges, 10 complimentary Delta Sky Club® visits when flying on an eligible Delta flight (subject to visit limitations), Priority Pass Select membership (enrollment required), and other select partner lounges. * As of 07/2025.
- More Value! $200 Uber Cash + $120 Uber One Credit: With the Platinum Card® you can receive $15 in Uber Cash each month plus a bonus $20 in December when you add your Platinum Card® to your Uber account to use on rides and orders in the U.S when you select an Amex Card for your transaction. Plus, when you use the Platinum Card® to pay for an auto-renewing Uber One membership, you can get up to $120 in statement credits each calendar year. Terms apply.
- More Value! $300 Digital Entertainment Credit: Get up to $25 in statement credits each month after you pay for eligible purchases with the Platinum Card® at participating partners. Enrollment required.
- More Value! $600 Hotel Credit: Get up to $300 in statement credits semi-annually on prepaid Fine Hotels + Resorts® or The Hotel Collection* bookings through American Express Travel® using the Platinum Card®. *The Hotel Collection requires a minimum two-night stay.
- New! $400 Resy Credit + Platinum Nights by Resy: When you use the Platinum Card® to pay at U.S. Resy restaurants and to make other eligible purchases through Resy, you can get up to $100 in statement credits each quarter with the $400 Resy Credit benefit. Plus, with Platinum Nights by Resy, you can get special access to reservations on select nights at participating in demand Resy restaurants with the Platinum Card®. Simply add your eligible Card to your Resy profile to book and discover Platinum Nights reservations near you, enrollment required.
- More Value! $209 CLEAR® Plus Credit: CLEAR® Plus helps get you to your gate faster by using unique facial attributes to verify you are you at 50+ airports nationwide. You can cover the cost of a CLEAR Plus Membership* with up to $209 in statement credits per calendar year after you pay for CLEAR Plus with the Platinum Card®. *Excluding any applicable taxes and fees. Subject to auto-renewal.
- $200 Airline Fee Credit: Select one qualifying airline and then receive up to $200 in statement credits per calendar year when incidental fees, such as checked bags and in-flight refreshments, are charged by the airline to the Platinum Card® Account*. American Express relies on airlines to submit the correct information on airline transactions to identify incidental fee purchases. If you do not see a credit for a qualifying incidental purchase on your eligible Card after 8 weeks, simply call the number on the back of your Card. Qualifying airlines are subject to change. See terms & conditions for more details.
- Start your vacation sooner, and keep it going longer. When you book Fine Hotels + Resorts® through American Express Travel®, enjoy noon check-in upon arrival, when available, and guaranteed 4PM check-out.
- New! $300 lululemon Credit: Enjoy up to $75 in statement credits each quarter when you use the Platinum Card® for eligible purchases at U.S. lululemon retail stores (excluding outlets) and lululemon.com. That's up to $300 in statement credits each calendar year. Enrollment required.
- $155 Walmart+ Credit: Receive a statement credit* for one monthly Walmart+ membership (subject to auto-renewal) after you pay for Walmart+ each month with the Platinum Card®. *Up to $12.95 plus applicable local sales tax. Plus Ups not eligible.
- $100 Saks Credit: Get up to $100 in statement credits annually for purchases at Saks Fifth Avenue or saks.com on the Platinum Card®. That's up to $50 in statement credits from January through June and up to $50 in statement credits from July through December. No minimum purchase required. Enrollment required.
- Whenever you need us, we're here. Our Member Services team will ensure you are taken care of. From lost Card replacement to statement questions, we are available to help 24/7.
- $895 annual fee.
- Terms Apply.
- Rates & Fees
- Earn 5X points for flights booked directly with airlines or with American Express Travel® (up to $500,000 in purchases per calendar year).
- Earn 5X points on prepaid hotels booked with American Express Travel®. Earn 5X points on Fine Hotels + Resorts® and The Hotel Collection bookings.
You'll also enjoy up to $200 in statement credits for FHR bookings each year.
World of Hyatt Mr & Mrs Smith
Yes, you read that right. Even though World of Hyatt and SLH decided to consciously uncouple in 2024, there's still hope. A few, though not many, SLH properties are part of Mr & Mrs Smith, which now partners with Hyatt and is bookable through this program. While not generally a great use of points, and most definitely not the most rewarding experience in terms of benefits offered to elite Hyatt guests, it remains an option.
The only “benefits” offered to World of Hyatt members when staying at Mr & Mrs Smith properties (including SLH properties) is the ability to earn or redeem points for their stays, and perhaps, maybe, a room upgrade upon check-in — though I wouldn't count on it.
Travel advisors
Booking through a travel advisor can be an incredibly rewarding way to elevate your stay. Many advisors have access to exclusive programs like Virtuoso, Hyatt Prive, and SLH withIN — all of which unlock elite-style perks you wouldn’t normally get, at no extra cost, simply because you booked through them.
Those benefits generally include:
- Free breakfast for two daily
- Room upgrades at check-in when available
- Early check-in and late check-out, if available
- A property credit for use towards dining, spa services, and other on-site experiences
Bottom Line
Now that you know that SLH has its own loyalty program, it's really up to you to figure out if it's worth it to you to become a member. If you're already a member of the several other programs that you can leverage for SLH bookings, and especially if you have status, it might make more sense to route your SLH hotel bookings through those programs instead.
You may find that your stays are enhanced and more rewarding by virtue of all the benefits these other programs throw your way as well as the ease of use of most of these programs. But if you're not already a member of any of those loyalty programs and expect to spend quite some time at SLH properties and those hotels alone, the SLH Club loyalty program sure is better than nothing.
For rates and fees of the cards mentioned in this post, please visit the following links: Hilton Honors American Express Surpass® Card (Rates & Fees), and The Platinum Card® from American Express (Rates & Fees)
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