Shangri-La Circle rolls out new welcome amenities

Members joining the Shangri-La Circle loyalty program are now greeted by a trio of new welcome amenities. These provide an added incentive to sign-up for the free-to-join program. They also – rather savvily – give new members a taste of the perks they could later enjoy with every stay, if they remain loyal to Shangri-La and unlock elite status.

Speaking of elite status, there’s now a fresh fast-track offer to the program’s Jade tier. Under this promotion, Jade status is achievable in just half the usual time.

These moves also come amid recent changes to the ongoing welcome amenities provided to both Jade and Diamond cardholders. Here’s what you need to know.

New Shangri-La Circle members get new welcome amenities

Just for signing up to Shangri-La Circle, new members have even more to enjoy, with these new welcome amenities ready and waiting:

• A voucher for 25% off buffet dining at participating properties. This voucher is valid once, for up to 10 diners.
• Complimentary breakfast for two during the member’s first stay at participating hotels.
• A complimentary room upgrade during the member’s second stay at participating hotels. This upgrade is available on stays of up to seven nights.

Those ‘participating hotels’ include most properties across the global Shangri-La, Kerry Hotels, Jen and Traders portfolio. The group’s two Australian locations – Shangri-La Sydney and Shangri-La The Marina, Cairns – are participating on all three counts.

Some exceptions apply with each benefit. These are outlined on the Shangri-La website.

After joining Shangri-La Circle, new members will first receive a voucher for 25% off buffet dining. This can be used whether staying or not staying at a hotel. Once that voucher is used or expires, the next voucher will be issued. That’s for the complimentary breakfast.

Then, once the breakfast voucher is used, the final voucher arrives. This is for the complimentary upgrade, which the member can enjoy on their next stay. More details are available here.

Fast-track to Shangri-La Jade status

Here’s a deal open to members both new and continuing. Those at Shangri-La Circle’s entry-level Gold tier can ascend to Jade much easier over the coming months.

Normally, Jade is earned after staying 20 nights in a calendar year. Or by accruing 6,000 Tier Points in a calendar year – reached via US$6,000 (currently AU$8,896) in spend.

But under this fast-track promotion, these requirements are halved. After registering for the offer, those who enrol have until 31 May 2023 to earn:

• 10 qualifying nights, or
• 3,000 Tier Points.

Meet either of those requirements and you’ll enjoy all the privileges of Shangri-La Circle Jade membership until 31 December 2024. That’s almost two years of elite recognition – and Jade is a great status to have. Here are just some of the benefits Jade members can enjoy with every stay:

• Complimentary daily breakfast for two.
• Early check-in of 11 am, where available.
• Late check-out up to 4 pm, where available.
• Earn 25% more Shangri-La Circle points with every stay.
• Instant Singapore Airlines KrisFlyer Silver status, with a fast-track to KrisFlyer Gold (Star Alliance Gold).
• Upgrade to the next room type within the same category, where available.
• Choice of welcome amenity as a Shangri-La Circle Jade member.

Tweaks to welcome amenities for Shangri-La Circle Jade and Diamond guests

Shangri-La’s Jade and Diamond members have a lot to look forward to with every stay. And there’s one perk that has long given Shangri-La an edge over its competitors: a specific choice of welcome amenity.

For many years, Jade and Diamond guests could choose three of their favourite things from a long list of options. For instance, my choices as a Jade member were always sparkling water, Diet Coke and a local beer. Those among the Diamond ranks could also select a bottle of red or white wine as one of their three gifts.

But now, those welcome gifts are no more. In their place, Shangri-La Jade and Diamond guests must choose a single welcome amenity. And on a personal level, the choices are rather underwhelming compared to before.

• A laundry credit of US$10 for Jade or US$12 for Diamond.
• A dining credit of US$10 for Jade or US$12 for Diamond.
• Bonus Shangri-La Circle points – 100 for Jade or 150 for Diamond.
• For Diamond members only, a ‘special delight‘.

For me, entering a room with an elaborate welcome gift was always memorable. Now, the F&B credit (US$10 for me as Jade – about AU$14.80) doesn’t even cover the price of one cocktail when staying at Shangri-La Sydney.

So how about those bonus points? Unfortunately, they’d provide an even worse return. That’s because Shangri-La Circle now pegs redemptions at a fixed rate of 15 points per US$1. With 100 extra points, that’s effectively giving me US$6.66 to spend in future.

Without a doubt, the previous welcome amenity gave much better value for me as Jade. I suspect, Diamond members will now find that ‘special delight’ the best choice, as this still provides an in-room welcome gift.

Summing up

Shangri-La Circle members of all tiers are now receiving new welcome amenities. For those who’ve just enrolled, the new perks will be a welcome addition to the program’s broader offering. Getting discounts on dining, then free breakfast and a room upgrade provide even more reason to sign up.

Those at the entry-level Gold tier can also make use of the great Jade fast-track offer to enjoy privileges until the end of 2024.

But for those who’ve long been loyal to Shangri-La, the changes to the Jade and Diamond welcome amenities won’t be as well-received. A small F&B voucher just doesn’t feel as exciting – or, in dollar terms, as valuable – as a standout welcome gift.

Particularly when Shangri-La only has two hotels in Australia, small perks like in-room welcome drinks helped give the brand an edge over the competition. But then again, its biggest Sydney-based competitor is Four Seasons, which doesn’t have a loyalty program at all. In that sense, Shangri-La Circle still gives frequent travellers a reason to favour Shangri-La.

Also read: Shangri-La Circle’s 2022 revamp – new ways to earn and spend points

Feature image courtesy of Shangri-La. Other photography by Chris Chamberlin.

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