SPG had a similar arrangement with Desgn Hotels, as Marriott does now since the Marriott SPG acquisition.

There were and still are many instances where Design Hotels booked Independently or through the Design channel we’re and are less expensive than those booked via SPG and now Marrriott. That’s the small price one pays by earning elite nights and points, I suppose. Everyone has to decide for themselves whether or not the additional cost is worth it.

Even today, Marriott Design Hotels do not provide more than basic elite benefits for Marriott elites even when booked through Marriott. Platinum suite upgrades and breakfast benefit are not on offer.

For Marriott elites, Design hotels are another option available to us that allow us to earn points and nights if the value proposition works for us. In some locations, the Design hotel can be the only hotel option available for us and so may be worth it to spend a bit more for some. In other locations, the Design hotel is one of many other Marriott options, and onky those who particularly appreciate the Design property for various reasons may be so inclined to choose that over a regular Marriott options.

But in all cases, most of us think it’s better to have the Design option—even if we don’t use it because it’s too expensive or doesn’t offer benefits—than to not have the option at all. No one is forced to stay at a Design hotel, after all.

The SPG arrangement also began with just a handful of properties that signed onto the SPG platform. Most didn’t. But in time, most of the Design hotels have moved to being available on the now Marriott platform. So be patient. They are independent hotels that require more time to be added to broad hotel chain systems!

I think Hyatt elites should be looking at the SLH arrangement in similar fashion. It’s better to at least have an option where no other Hyatt option exists (which is unfortunately true in far too many locations) than to not have the option at all. Everyone can decide for themselves whether the value-add and possible additional cost is worth it for their own stays. If the SLH options don’t appeal, then Hyatt elites are no worse off than they were otherise.

Thus far, despite many years of 100+ nights, I’ve now only stayed twice at a Design hotel: the La Bandita Townhouse in Pienza, Italy, where there was no other Marriott option at all, and Atlantis by Giardino in Zurich, because it seemed more luxurious and more appealing than the Marriott Autograph property also available. We would stay again at La Bandita in a heart beat. And Atlantis, despite some air con and Swiss service issues and fails, truly is a magnificent property that we could consider again. (Though I might prefer the Park Hyatt for our next stay!)

SLH is an added option for Hyatt members. Sometimes it will work for you. Sometimes it won’t.