| Want to receive extra benefits for Shangri-La hotel stays, including free breakfast, a space available room upgrade, a hotel credit, and more? Contact [email protected] for more details. He may even be able to help if you already have a stay booked. |
Several hotel groups have preferred partner programs for travel agents, like Accor STEP, Belmond Bellini Club, Four Seasons Preferred Partner, Hilton Impresario, Hyatt Privé, Mandarin Oriental Fan Club, Marriott STARS, and Rosewood Elite.
One of the lesser known programs is Shangri-La’s Luxury Circle program, which was first launched back in 2016. In many cases this offers better benefits for Shangri-La stays than what’s offered through other programs. In order to take advantage of this you’ll have to book through an eligible travel agent.
In this post:
What amenities does Shangri-La Luxury Circle offer?
Luxury Circle offers the following amenities at all Shangri-La and Kerry properties:
- Upgrade to the next room type category at the time of booking, subject to availability
- Hotel credit of $100 USD (or 10% of average daily room rate, whichever is higher), per stay
- Complimentary full breakfast for two, including in-room dining
- Early check-in and late check-out, subject to availability
- Welcome amenity
As you can see, Luxury Circle perks are generous — an upgrade of one category at the time of booking is a perk that only a handful of properties offer through programs like Virtuoso, as a point of comparison. Rooms are upgraded to the next room category within 24-48 hours of booking, if the room is eligible and the next category up is available at the time of booking.
Many Shangri-La properties have nightly rates in the low $200s, which makes a $100 hotel credit for a one night or short stay a fantastic value. For guests whose average daily rate exceeds $1,000, which isn’t hard to do at a property like the Shangri-La Paris, the one-time hotel credit will actually increase with the average rate.
As far as breakfast goes, Luxury Circle offers full breakfast for two guests daily, including via in-room dining — that’s tough to beat!
What rates qualify for Shangri-La Luxury Circle bookings?
The Shangri-La Luxury Circle rate is the same as the best available rate, which is a flexible/refundable rate and carries a standardized cancellation policy that is unique to each hotel.
While Luxury Circle rates aren’t published publicly and cannot be booked directly by guests (more on that below), you can determine the rate by checking the best available rate online.
As far as upgrades go, not all room categories are eligible for upgrades, but many of the base room types generally are, and a travel advisor affiliated with Luxury Circle should be able to advise which room types are eligible.
What hotels can you book with The Luxury Circle?
Luxury Circle rates are available only at Shangri-La and Kerry properties, and are not available at Traders and Hotel Jen properties. You can find a full directory of Shangri-La properties here.
How can you book Shangri-La Luxury Circle rates?
In order to have access to the above amenities, guests must book Luxury Circle rates through an affiliated travel advisor. If you want to check the rate yourself, Luxury Circle rates should be the same as the best available rate published online by the hotel.
If you’re already working with a Virtuoso advisor, they likely have access to or are already affiliated with Luxury Circle. If you need a travel advisor or would like to check rates, feel free to email me at [email protected]. I’d love to hear from you!
Bottom line
Shangri-La’s Luxury Circle program offers extra perks for stays at Shangri-La properties, including complimentary breakfast, a room upgrade, and a property credit. While the exact details will vary by property, this is a phenomenal opportunity for any Shangri-La booking. Shangri-La has some world-class hotels, especially in Asia.
| Want to receive extra benefits for Shangri-La hotel stays, including free breakfast, a space available room upgrade, a hotel credit, and more? Contact [email protected] for more details. He may even be able to help if you already have a stay booked. |
Is the jade upgrade still in force ? I read that shangrila has removed it
I did Shangri-La DUBAI last October and got my Jade upgrade - actually emailed to me as I left the hotel for the airport. Simply love Shangr'la Singapore's "Valley Wing", and just keep going back there year after year. Back gain this year to Singapore, and adding the Shangri-La in New Delhi too.
This is great to know. We often book via FHR-Centurion program. Any further insight about "additional" special treatment for Shangri-La Golden Circle Diamond (Top Tier) members? Both the SO and I are Diamond members. Always better to use a Luxury Circle advisor instead of AMEX FHR?
The Shangri-La in Toronto is one of my favorite hotels.
And i've used Luxury Circle points to book an award night.
And the staff go the extra mile when I make a request (even stocking my preferred brand of vodka after I made a request).
Hi Ford,
And jade Status at Shangri-La brings you Silver Kris Status @ Singapore Airlines (*Silver) when connecting/linking the accounts. It even brings a fast track to Star Gold with only 3 flights on Singapore Airlines.
Might be interesting for a few people.
My Jade membership came through today , 30 days after my stay from a Luxury Circle booking .
Effective today Shangri-La has removed the Jade status upgrade benefit for Luxury Circle bookings and also halved the US$100 hotel credit to US$50 per stay at some properties in Asia (see https://www.flyertalk.com/forum/luxury-hotels-travel/1748691-new-preferred-partner-program-shangri-la-s-luxury-circle.html)
Hi Ford,
Im based out of Malaysia and wanted to know if you knew any travel advisors who can helps us get these rates and offers on this side of the world?
Great article Ford!
Im also a Shangri-la Luxury Circle agent and would be happy to help anyone book this rate.
Feel free to email me at [email protected]
Anyone has experience, is the upgrade on arrival usually only one-category or there is high likelihood of 2-category, or suite upgrade in Shangri-La properties, in Asia?
@THL - Thanks for the info :) I actually have several stays coming up, so I'll also try out some properties at KL Sentral, like Le Meridien and the new Aloft, plus the St. Regis as you mentioned.
@deo - As much as I love a Shanri-la hotel, I stayed at the KL property last year and it wasn't a great experience. There are much better luxury properties in KL and I think Lucky recently reviewed the St. Regis, which would be my pick. Also avoid the Mandarin as it's in dire need of a revamp.
Is there any agent in hong kong? Thanks.
Hi Ford,
At risk of appearing to be a bit of a dummy, would you explain what the "Cash advance of USD 250 per stay" is / how it works exactly?
Many thanks.
Interesting. Wish I could have done this a year ago when I spent four weeks at the Shangri-La in Manila. They wouldn't status match, so at the end of my four weeks I had 3500 points in their program. The lowest point redemption option in Canada? 7000 points. I was a little unimpressed by the program. At least I could transfer the points to UA so they counted for something.
@ Ford - Thanks, dropped you a mail.
Could I book through Citi Prestige concierge and get 4th night free?
Learnt something new! Thanks Ford!
When this program will end?
@Ong - Great question. The Luxury Circle isn't a temporary promotion. It's ongoing.
Hi Ford, thanks for bringing this to attention.
I have an upcoming stay at Kuala Lumpur and am considering the Shangri-la based on your article.
If it isn't too much trouble, could you confirm that the amenities mentioned in the article are valid for Shangri-la Kuala Lumpur or are there any property-specific deviations?
@Deo - Sure thing. The amenities apply to all Shangri-La hotels. The only property-specific deviations are the room categories that can be booked under The Luxury Circle rate and are eligible for upgrade at time of booking. If you'd like to check rates or have more questions feel free to email me at [email protected].