First wave of SLH properties launch on Hilton booking channels

Hundreds of Small Luxury Hotels of the World (SLH) properties are now available via Hilton’s direct booking channels, including hilton.com and the Hilton Honors app.

The strategic partnership, first announced in February, sees Hilton expand its luxury portfolio by nearly 400 SLH hotels.

Speaking at a press briefing on July 8, Richard Hyde, chief operating officer at SLH, said “about 300” hotels would be launching via Hilton platforms today (July 9), followed by “about 80 or 90” over the following week.

“By August we should have the full 390-400 hotels as part of the programme,” he added.

John Rogers, senior vice-president of brand management and central operations at Hilton, said it was “beyond [the group’s] wildest dreams” to have almost 400 SLH properties opt in to be part of the partnership.

He said: “We've admired SLH as an organisation and its stunning portfolio of hotels from afar for a long time. It's very different from our core business, but when we put the partnership together, we got a really positive reaction from all of our customers and, in particular, our Hilton Honors members.

“Since February when we first launched the partnership, we've been out talking to SLH hotels to try and persuade them to join the partnership. Every individual hotel has to opt into the partnership, and I'm delighted to say we have almost 400 hotels of the total portfolio signed up to the partnership, which is beyond our wildest dreams.”

Through the partnership, members of Hilton’s guest loyalty programme, Hilton Honors, will be able to earn and redeem points for SLH stays, and also enjoy exclusive benefits at SLH properties.

Rogers said: “This just turbo-charges our luxury portfolio and adds a tremendous amount of value for Hilton Honors members around the world, so we’re incredibly excited about the partnership and we’re delighted to get it out and off and running.”

Hyde added: “We're very proud, honoured and pleased to be partnering with Hilton. It allows our hotels to keep their independence and to keep their independent spirit but to also plug into the amazing distribution and marketing [power] that Hilton offers, so we're very, very happy about this partnership.”