Shangri-La Hotels and Resorts Collaborates with India’s Leading Hotel Company

‘Warmer Welcomes’ — The pioneering integration of Shangri-La Hotels and Resorts’ loyalty program with that of India’s celebrated Taj Hotels Resorts and Palaces has created a seamless way for guests from either group to earn and redeem points at 200 of the world’s premium hotels.

Both Shangri-La and Taj are world-class luxury hotel owner-operator companies, equally known for sharing similarly high values when it comes to guest expectations. Each has also gained a renowned position in their respective market, yet there is minimal geographic overlap and virtually no competition for market share.

By combining their exclusive loyalty programmes, both Shangri-La and Taj will enhance their brand appeal in the world’s fastest growing region.

Shangri-La’s unique appeal

Arguably Asia’s most celebrated luxury hotel group, Shangri-La has built a reputation of unrivaled style and grace that combines the most elegantly modern white-marbled facilities with a traditional Asian-style warmth and hospitality that is uniquely “Shangri-La.”

These traits have resulted in Shangri-La having some of the industry’s most ardently loyal guests — not only among Asian travelers, but among travelers worldwide. Over the years, Shangri-La has steadily expanded its gold-star standards to 97 hotels and resorts in 22 countries. Nearly half of these are in China, including every major city, as well as properties spread across South East Asia, Europe, and the Middle East.

The Taj Group, India’s pride

India’s single most revered hotel company, Taj enjoys more than a century of prestigious history and currently operates over 100 luxury hotels all across India, the UK, the United States, Africa and the Middle East.

Booming Travel in Asia – both Inbound and Outbound

Travel to Asia, both for leisure and business, is booming like never before. The World Travel & Tourism Council’s 2016 report notes that the surge in international travel is actually Asian-driven, with huge potential, in particular for China and India, which are projected to become major sources of high-end tourism. India is expected to become a key player in the pleasure travel sector, with Amadeus’ recent report, “Shaping the Future of Luxury Travel,” predicting that the subcontinent’s luxury travelers will lead global outbound travel charts until 2025.

The timing for this strategic alliance between Asia’s hospitality stars, Shangri-La and Taj, could hardly be better. ‘Warmer Welcomes’ means more exceptional travel experiences in Asia, and beyond. Beginning this March, the combined six million loyalty members of Shangri-La’s Golden Circle and the Taj’s InnerCircle will find their elite privileges vastly expanded – to properties all across Asia and globally.

With Warmer Welcomes, guests at any of Shangri-La’s or India’s Taj hotels will be able to easily amass or redeem loyalty points from any of their 200 hotels worldwide – from Mumbai to Manila to Mid-town Manhattan, or from Singapore to Shanghai to Sri Lanka — 131 different international destinations.

Shangri-La’s acting President, Madhu Rao, said, “This alliance goes beyond a marketing partnership or multi-hotel distribution platform. It bridges two iconic Asian brands and opens up a world of new experiences for our loyal guests—providing Golden Circle and Taj InnerCircle members with still more reasons to stay with us.”

To learn more about what guests can expect visit warmerwelcomes.com.