I wrote about the Small Luxury Hotels loyalty scheme a while ago as well as the extra benefits that Amex cardholders can get. The scheme has now changed but there are still plenty of reasons to join if you are going to be staying at an SLH hotel.
SLH is a collection of one of a kind hotels with 520 small, independent hotels in 80 countries. These are not all what you would call boutique hotels but they are all independent and very individual. The hotels vary from beach resorts to city centre hotels. SLH are very fussy about which hotels they accept to be members. In fact, they receive over 1,000 hotel applications each year but accept just 5%
I personally have stayed in several of these including the wonderful Sanchaya in Bintan which you can read about here. I have also stayed at the Excelsior in Dubrovnik which has spectacular views of the old town.
The new scheme, INVITED, is not overly different from the previous one apart from the ridiculous names for tiers, which seems to be the current trend. Why companies bother to waste money to come up with different names for the tiers when all most people want is something simple, I have no idea. If you were a member of the previous scheme you will just be moved across to the relevant tier. You can still earn 500 AVIOS per stay for qualifying bookings made under the SLH Advance Purchase Rate, the Best Available Rate or the SLH INVITED Rate.
INVITED is a three tier loyalty programme. You can register for free and automatically receive INVITED status. This is still one of the best hotel loyalty schemes bottom tiers around as it includes:
- Member Exclusive Rate
- Early Check-In (Noon, based upon availability at booking and check-in)
- Late Check Out (3pm, based on availability at check-in)
- Free Wi-Fi
- Daily complimentary breakfast for two
- Member Exclusive Promotions
Previously you got a room upgrade subject to availability but not breakfast.
For Amex cardholders you can get the next tier up, INSPIRED for free by signing up on this page (it won’t work if you join the using the normal link). You can also get INSPIRED after your first stay with SLH.
Your INSPIRED benefits are as per INVITED plus:
- Birthday Gift
- Room Upgrade (one category at check in if available)
The final level is INDULGED which you get after 6 stays. In addition to the INSPIRED benefits you also get:
- Invite Only Events
- Reward Night Voucher valid for 12 months
The benefits are only valid on stays booked directly through SLH and certain travel agents that book through SLH. Not included are bookings made directly with the hotel; wholesale/tour operator packages; reward night vouchers and bookings made via an online travel agent.
You can find out more and join here.
2 comments
Hello Michele! Thanks so much for this article. I am a member of ‘Invited’ – and just two days ago updated my preferences since they changed the name of their programme. However, I was only at their entry tier – until I read this blog from you – and now I’m at the ‘Inspired’ level – thanks so much for letting us all know!
That’s what I am here for Patrick!
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