Small Luxury Hotels are moving to Hilton - here are some of my favorite properties you can soon book with points!

Acro Suites, Crete, Greece (Source)

"Small Luxury Hotels of the World" (SLH) is a collection of boutique luxury hotels around the world. These hotels are known for their unique character, personalized service, and exceptional experiences. SLH curates a selection of independently owned and operated hotels, each offering a distinct atmosphere and style, ranging from historic properties to contemporary retreats. Membership in SLH signifies a commitment to high standards of hospitality and luxury, making it a trusted brand for travelers seeking exclusive and memorable accommodations.

What makes the loose SLH group of hotels more interesting is their move to join the Hilton loyalty program. You will soon be able to book most of the SLH properties with your Hilton points, earn points and stays, as well as benefit from your status benefits. It is not yet clear which benefits will exactly be offered when you stay at SLH properties, so we will have to wait and see.

Still within 2024, SLH and Hilton are planning on having around 100 of their roughly 560 properties listed and bookable on the Hilton website.

To get you excited, below are a few SLH properties that I am the most excited about booking with my Hilton points in the future:

Acro Suites
Crete, Greece

Perched on a headland with spectacular sea views, Acro Suites is a luxury resort that champions wellbeing and exudes contemporary cool. Bask in the glorious Cretan sun. Reconnect with nature among the cliffs and waves. And slip into the cooling embrace of a private infinity pool while you gaze across the endless glittering Med. 

Stone-built walls and bold concrete lines reveal a layered palace worthy of the island’s Minoan past. Working in harmony with the lay of the land, the chic architecture retains elements of the clifftops – an ancient olive tree here, a rock outcropping there. Whether a sea view suite or deluxe villa, rooms are calming yet subtly stately. All feature natural tones, wooden finishes and a raw, boho aesthetic.

The Cremnos restaurant offers more understated elegance, serving up a modern take on traditional Greek fare. While Eleonas brings Cretan recipes to life in a fairy-tale setting, tucked away in an olive grove at the centre of the resort. To truly embrace the Acro experience, try your hand at tennis or padel, burn energy in the Asana Fitness Club, or head to the Asana Yoga Shala or Bath House Spa – both sanctuaries where you’ll find balance and pure relaxation. 

Rates start from around 520 USD/night per night at the SLH website

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Stein Eriksen Residences
Park City, Utah, USA

Wrap-around windows framing mountain views. Soaring ceilings and crackling fires. Fire pits, grills and hot tubs for al fresco evenings spent in the peaks. Stein Eriksen Residences are striking ski retreats that make the absolute best of their breathtaking setting. Being able to ski straight in and out from your hotel to some of the world’s best powder is the icing on the cake.

Contemporary architecture encases a thoroughly modern escape. Imagine custom-made furnishings and floating staircases. There’s plenty of chic entertainment space, plus family, games or exercise rooms. Or, if you need a little R&R, the quartz and limestone bathrooms with tubs, twin vanity units and vast walk-in showers are sublime.

Rates start from around 600 USD/night per night at the SLH website

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Amilla Maldives
Baa Atoll, Maldives

Set among swaying frangipanis and cashmere-soft sand, Amilla Maldives is a celebration of Maldivian life, culture and its pristine natural environment. Follow leafy jungle paths to find secret beaches, collect fruit and herbs in the island’s own kitchen garden, move to the beat of a traditional Bodu Beru show, or simply meditate on the endless horizon. 

Soothing, airy villas finished with sleek wood and marble each come with their own private pool and blur the boundaries between land, ocean, jungle and sky. Cool off in a wave-skimming hammock alongside your over-water sunset villa, wake to the chirrup of the jungle canopy in a magical treetop suite, or bury your feet in the satin sands of a breezy beach villa.

Replenish your energy with the Javvu Spa’s varied menu of natural therapies, or spend the day in the dappled shade of the beach club. Explore the underwater kaleidoscope beyond the shallows or see the once-in-a-lifetime spectacle of manta rays gathering beneath a full moon.

Rates start from around 3,300 USD/night per night at the SLH website

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Altstadt Vienna
Vienna, Austria

An alluring boutique hotel jam-packed with modern art, Altstadt Vienna is housed in a 19th-century town house in a quiet part of Vienna, just a fifteen minute walk from the city centre. Expect wonderfully stylish rooms, inviting lounges with open fireplaces and a truly welcoming atmosphere.

Spread across five floors, modern works of art by Gilbert & George and Andy Warhol decorate the walls throughout Altstadt Vienna. Rooms, suites and apartments range from classic modernity to stylish decadence and each room is different.

Rates start from around 300 USD/night per night at the SLH website

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Arctic Bath
Lapland, Sweden

There’s no dipping your toe into Arctic Bath. This one-of-a-kind hotel immerses guests in the epic scenery of Swedish Lapland: its frost-crowned forests, where moose and reindeer leave tracks in the snow. And where ice fishing is just one of the adventures to embark on. From the spa with its open-air bath, to the restaurant showcasing local ingredients, Arctic Bath taps into its wonderland setting.    

Striking Land, Water and Suite cabins are modern architectural marvels that seem to hover above the ground – or water. Glass walls, floating walkways and sky-gazing decks connect the inside with the great outdoors – and take loft living to a whole new level. This is Scandinavian design at its most chic, where the elements intertwine with interiors crafted from wood, stone and ‘touch me’ textiles. 

Rates start from around 490 USD/night per night at the SLH website

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Crans Ambassador
Crans-Montana, Switzerland

Escape to the great outdoors in style at Crans Ambassador, a luxury hotel in the Swiss Alps. With sublime mountain views at every turn, this contemporary chalet offers the chance to immerse yourself in your surroundings. Whether that means getting out and enjoying the fresh air – or staying in and soaking up the peaceful atmosphere.

Once you’ve torn your gaze away from the scenery, you’ll find there’s just as much to delight indoors. From comfortable, understated rooms with private terraces, to a heated pool and luxury spa treatments. With a focus on fitness, there’s also a gym and Performance Lab, where you can pick up tips on improving your form. With a gourmet restaurant, and traditional wine cellar serving up rustic Alpine dishes, there’s plenty of opportunity to indulge, too.

Rates start from around 400 USD/night per night at the SLH website

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This was just a small selection of some fantastic properties that the SLH group offers. While the exact numbers of points you’ll need to book these hotels has not been decided yet, don’t expect it to be cheap. In line with their cash prices, a lot of these hotels should be in the higher categories of 80,000 - 150,000 points.

One thing we do know is that the maximum number of points per night for a standard room will stay at the 150,000 points mark, which Hilton currently is using only for its Waldorf Astoria property in the Maldives. For some of the ultra-luxury SLH properties, such as the Amilla in the Maldives, this might still be a great value.

The strength of the SLH portfolio to me is the sheer variance in interesting hotels, from city hotels, mountain lodges, private islands and more. I can’t wait to try out these properties and of course, you’ll be the first one to see my review!

What is the SLH property you are most excited about?