Hilton’s partnership with Small Luxurious Lodges of the World has kicked into gear. Roughly 400 properties worldwide have been added to the hotelier’s reserving portal, together with eight properties in Australia that add some much-needed spice to Hilton’s native portfolio.
From Beverly Hills’ Waldorf Astoria to Sydney’s very personal W Resort, there have been large actions within the hospitality area in current months, and lodge big Hilton isn’t any exception.
Hilton introduced its partnership with SLH earlier this 12 months, teasing that the chain greatest recognized for comfy however bland lodging would add treehouses, rainforest retreats, and coastal villas to its predictable Conrad Hong Kong or Sydney Hilton-style providing. Nonetheless, it took one other six months earlier than the expanded vary grew to become bookable and earn-and-burn alternatives opened up for Honors members.
There aren’t any treehouses, however new additions to the Australian portfolio embody Smiths Seaside Resort within the Margaret River, Le Mas Barossa, Chalets at Blackheath, and Ovolo properties in Melbourne (Laneways and South Yarra), Canberra (the Nishi), Sydney (Woolloomooloo), and Brisbane (The Valley).
Australian Additions to Hilton’s Portfolio
There’s a bit to unpack right here. Firstly, none of those properties are dangerous, and a few, just like the Chalets at Blackheath, are significantly good. There may be lastly a Hilton-affiliated property in Canberra, though the scrumptious yabby jaffles are sadly now not on the menu at this specific property. And who wouldn’t somewhat keep in South Yarra than downtown Melbourne?
SLH was previously affiliated with Hyatt, which is now hooking up with Mr & Mrs Smith, one other alliance of upscale impartial resorts. Nobody has ever stated precisely why the SLH/Hyatt partnership ended. Nonetheless, Hyatt didn’t provoke the breakup. Hilton, whose infiltration of the high-end boutique market phase had lacked so far, moved in quicker than a man on his first post-break-up date.
And high-end these properties are. A pattern two-night reserving on the eight Australian SLH properties within the final weekend of October flushes out a single potential discount, AUD244 per night time to ebook a Go Go Comfortable room on the Ovolo South Yarra. On the plus facet, Hilton Honors Gold and Diamond members get comped breakfast and space-available upgrades.
From there, the money costs head north, beginning at AUD420 for an evening on the Ovolo Nishi, which is a stiff ask for a sleepover within the nationwide capital, by to AUD1,275 for an evening within the Blue Mountains. That stated, the Chalet at Blackheath is among the most underrated however greatest small resorts within the nation. The Chalet additionally comps breakfast for everybody, no matter standing.
Advantages for Hilton Honors Members
If Honors members are inclined to redeem factors for an SLH keep, charges over the identical October weekend begin at 30,000 factors for the Ovolo South Yarra and run by to 100,000 factors per night time for the Chalet and Le Mas Barossa.
The partnership additionally opens up some fascinating new resorts in New Zealand for Hilton loyalists, together with Eichardt’s Non-public Resort in Queenstown for NZD2,100 or 130,000 factors per night time and the George in Christchurch, which, as compared, looks like a discount at NZD394 or 50,000 factors per night time. For Australian Honors members, the SLH partnership additionally opens up some good options to mainstream Hilton resorts in Europe and North America.
SLH’s 570 portfolio of resorts is roughly break up 60% to European properties, 20% to US properties, and 20% to Asia Pacific properties. Not all are signing as much as the Hilton partnership. Frankly, not all, particularly the smaller properties, need the Hilton elites descending en masse on Friday afternoon and squawking about upgrades and free stuff.
However Hilton Honors members checking in at SLH properties which have signed up can anticipate the same old advantages like free WiFi and relying on standing and availability, upgrades. Gold and diamond members get complimentary continental breakfast, however in Australia at the least, just like the mainstream Hilton properties, the total breakfast is usually added.
As these are small properties, there aren’t any govt lounges. Nonetheless, you may swing a complimentary drink or two in case you are nice when checking in. Honors members additionally earn factors on stays, and every night time in an SLH property counts in the direction of standing.
The partnership with SLH provides some aptitude to Hilton’s providing, which, in Australia and New Zealand at the least, was taking over a selected tone of beige. Hilton’s native product is completely serviceable and comfy. However there have been no new five-star builds in over a decade, and the following, the Sydney Waldorf Astoria, isn’t because of open till 2026.
In Australia, Hilton’s current openings have targeted on mid-tier Doubletrees and fewer than mid-tier Backyard Inns in Western Australia. In the meantime, the flagship Hilton properties within the capitals have aged and been overtaken by rivals.
The SLH additions will choose up some weekend site visitors from Hilton regulars, and the Ovolo properties within the capitals could pull in some weekday company site visitors who might need in any other case stayed at say, the Brisbane Hilton. However inclusion within the Hilton ebook portal additionally offers native SLH properties, which could not be well-known internationally, publicity to a far wider worldwide market. That’s the large profit to native SLH properties.
