How to Book Small Luxury Hotels Through Hilton

Hilton's partnership with Small Luxury Hotels of the World, which is a collection of independent, upscale hotels. The tie with Hilton? You can earn and redeem Hilton Honors points for stays at one of these properties.

The SLH portfolio now offers 450+ boutique properties across 90 countries where you can Hilton Honors members have already redeemed over 10 billion points at SLH properties, making this one of the most valuable luxury hotel redemption opportunities available if you prefer local, boutique-style hotels.

Unlike cookie-cutter hotel chains, SLH's properties maintain their local character while offering access to Hilton's massive loyalty program. This gives you the best of both worlds: authentic, boutique experiences with the earning and redemption power of one of the world's largest hotel programs.

The sweet spot: SLH properties offer unique experiences you can't get at traditional Hilton brands—think rainforest eco-lodges, coastal villas, and converted historic buildings—while still earning valuable Hilton Honors points and elite benefits.

Curious to see more of what these properties actually look like? Check out our guide to some of our favorite SLH properties worldwide.

And by the way, if SLH makes you think of Hyatt, you're not totally off. SLH swapped its former affiliation with World of Hyatt to instead partner with Hilton as of 2024.

For Hilton fans who love luxury brands, that means you now have more options beyond the usual bougie Hilton names like Waldorf Astoria Hotels & Resorts, Conrad Hotels & Resorts and LXR Hotels & Resorts.

Since teaming up with SLH, Hilton has reported:

• Weekly property additions: Hilton and SLH have added more than one new property per week on average, growing from nearly 400 to over 450 participating hotels.

• Massive point redemptions: Hilton Honors members have redeemed over 10 billion points at SLH properties in just one year.

• Booking surge: Traffic to SLH properties through Hilton's channels increased 78% year-over-year in July 2025.

• Geographic expansion: SLH has expanded Hilton's luxury footprint from 35 to 90 countries, with new destinations including Andorra, Cambodia, Saint Vincent/Grenadines, São Tomé and Principe and Slovenia.

Best booking method: Always book through Hilton's reservation channels (website, app, or phone) to ensure you earn points and receive elite benefits. Booking directly through SLH's website won't trigger Hilton Honors benefits.

Hilton earning and redemption strategy

• Points earning: Earn base points plus elite bonus points on the room rate (same as other Hilton properties).

• Free night certificates: Your Hilton co-branded credit card free night awards work at SLH properties.

• Fifth night free: Elite members get the standard fifth night free when redeeming points.

• Resort fee waiver: When redeeming Hilton points, resort and destination fees are waived.

Hilton Gold and Hilton Diamond elite status members receive:

• Complimentary breakfast (a significant value at luxury properties).

• Space-available room upgrades.

• Late checkout and other standard elite perks.

SLH also runs its own loyalty program called SLH Club. You can't double dip and collect benefits from both. So which should you choose?

SLH's own loyalty program offers:

• Free Wi-Fi and late checkout (all members).

• Free breakfast and upgrades (after 4 nights).

• $300 voucher plus exclusive events (after 13 nights).

Our recommendation: For casual travelers (fewer than 4 SLH stays annually), stick with Hilton Honors for points earning and redemption flexibility. Frequent SLH guests should consider the SLH-run program for better perks.

Staying at a small boutique hotel is not for everyone. Here are the pros and cons:

Pros

• Hilton Honors perks, but only if you book through Hilton. Members earn base points and bonus points for elite status members in the same way they do at other Hilton Honors properties, but only on the room rate.

• Hilton Honors elite perks. Elite status members receive similar perks when staying with SLH hotels booked via Hilton, including food and beverage credits for Gold and Diamond elite status members as well as space-available upgrades. When reserving an SLH hotel using Hilton Honors points, resort or destination fees are waived.

• 5th night free benefit. When redeeming Hilton points, elite status members can pay for four nights and receive the fifth night free.

• Free night certificates are eligible at SLH. If you have a free night certificate earned via Hilton Honors co-branded credit cards, you can use them at SLH properties.

Cons or potential issues

• Inconsistent service standards: Independent properties may not match Hilton's service consistency.

• Limited room inventory: Smaller properties mean fewer upgrade opportunities.

• Regional concentration: Heavy Europe focus limits options in other markets.

The Hilton-SLH partnership has exceeded expectations, offering genuine value for both points earning and redemption. With over 450 properties across 90 countries and demonstrated member satisfaction (evidenced by 10+ billion points redeemed), this partnership fills a real gap in Hilton's luxury portfolio.

• SLH properties are best for: Travelers who want boutique luxury experiences without giving up major hotel chain benefits.

• Skip an SLH property if: You prefer consistent, standardized hotel experiences or primarily travel to destinations with limited SLH presence.

The partnership's rapid growth — adding a property weekly and seeing 78% traffic increases — suggests both Hilton and travelers see real value here. For Hilton Honors members seeking unique luxury experiences, SLH properties now represent some of the most interesting redemption opportunities in the program.