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Shangri-La in The Shard now accepting your Golden Circle redemption vouchers

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Possibly the longest on-going saga at Head for Points is drawing to a close.

Last October, Shangri-La Golden Circle, the loyalty scheme for the luxury hotel group, had a promotion where you could earn 1,200 points by playing an online game.

This was very generous, as 1,000 points earns you a $100 food and drink voucher.

Shangri-La was, of course, about to open the eagerly anticipated hotel in the 90-storey The Shard tower in London so I encouraged HFP readers to jump in.

The hotel opening was then delayed. When it finally opened, not all of the restaurants and bars were open. Shangri-La then put a temporary block on redeeming points in the hotel.

That block is now over. As of yesterday, you can order $100 food and drink vouchers via the Golden Circle website to use in The Shard.  That is currently worth £59, but a savvy couple would have opened a Golden Circle account each to have £118.

Some readers have already ordered vouchers so the system is working OK. You need to redeem within six months of ordering the voucher.

I know someone who is going on Tuesday and I will hopefully get some feedback on how it works in practice. Here are the terms and conditions of the vouchers:

  • A Non-Room Award confirmation is valid for six months from the date of redemption is made.
  • Advance reservation with the participating food and beverage outlets is required.
  • A Member or Nominee must validate the redeemed Non-Room Award in exchange for a Golden Circle redemption voucher in person by presenting proof of identity document at the Business Centre prior to the service being used.
  • Redemption vouchers can only be used at participating food and beverage outlets on the date of validation.
  • Redemption vouchers cannot be exchanged for cash. All unused value will not be refunded whether in terms of cash, GC Award Points or otherwise. Any excess amount will be charged to the Member or Nominee.
  • Redemption vouchers cannot be used to purchase merchandise or services that are contracted out by the Hotel to a third party.
  • Redemption vouchers cannot be used to settle charges on banqueting, outside catering and event spends, or expenses charged to a room account.
  • Redemption vouchers cannot be used in conjunction with any other discounts or promotional offers.
  • Redemption vouchers must be presented at the time of payment.
  • Once the redemption is made, no amendment or cancellation is allowed.

Hotel offers update – April 2024:

Want to earn more hotel points?  Click here to see our complete list of promotions from the major hotel chains or use the ‘Hotel Offers’ link in the menu bar at the top of the page.

Want to buy hotel points?

  • Hilton Honors is offering a 100% bonus when you buy points by 14th May 2024. Click here.
Category

Shangri-La Circle

Comments (70)

This article is closed to new comments. Feel free to ask your question in the HfP forums.

  • Waribai says:
    21 Aug21 August 12:23

    From the email I’ve just received it looks like you can pay by just showing your membership card so no need to faff around with vouchers!

    “Introducing Golden Circle’s new Instant Dining Rewards – a new way to redeem your points at any of our hotel’s restaurants.

    From now on, your GC Award Points can be redeemed instantly with 10 GC Award Points covering every USD 1* of your bill. There’s no minimum point use and point redemption is as quick as paying the bill would have been. Just show us your GC membership card and we’ll take care of the rest.

    • pazza2000 says:
      21 Aug21 August 12:26

      I don’t have a physical card, would a print out or just the GC# suffice do you think? It looks as if the original voucher redemption method is still available although this method is much more useful for those with a balance under or above the 500/1000 point voucher requirement.

      • Rob says:
        21 Aug21 August 12:49

        Since you need to show photo ID, I presume they want the real card with your name on it

  • Roger says:
    21 Aug21 August 12:31

    Ping! Yup, just received the same e-mail. 🙂 It makes redeeming much simpler, though I haven’t checked exchange rates yet – presumably still the same mouldy $/£ rate as mentioned upthread.

    Checking the locations, I see that we can use this at the Gong (52nd floor), Ting (35th floor) and Lang (ground floor) at the Shard in London. Presumably we can combine two cards.

    • Rob says:
      21 Aug21 August 12:49

      No, I don’t think you can. The rules imply – but don’t say specifically – one card per transaction.

      • Roger says:
        21 Aug21 August 12:54

        Thanks.

        Hmm. Creative ordering? Part on one card, part on another? I had assumed that we could use two old-style vouchers on the same bill, but perhaps that was also wrong.

        (No current plans for a Shangri-La stay.)

        • Rob says:
          21 Aug21 August 13:29

          You can definitely use two paper vouchers to pay the same bill. But the wording on the instant awards implies that may not be possible – although admittedly it is not stated clearly.

          Of course, you could use one card for a pre-dinner drink (£30 min spend per head in the bar remember!) and the other persons card for the meal.

  • Waribai says:
    21 Aug21 August 12:33

    Yes, it seems to be the same exchange rate still but you could I guess have drinks instead of food or snacks since you don’t have to spend the whole amount on your balance. I don’t have a card either but I logged into my account and requested one. Alternatively download the app?

  • olireaction says:
    21 Aug21 August 12:43

    I also received this email today, definitely makes redeeming much easier at Shard.
    Out of interest – it says that points aren’t valid against the tax/service charge part of the bill – is this also the case if converting to vouchers the traditional way, so you need to settle that part in cash anyway?

  • BlueThroughCrimp says:
    21 Aug21 August 13:34

    Yes, good news indeed. I had points from a stay in the fantastic Kowloon Shangri-La, so with the points from the offer, I’m sitting with $300 to spend.
    Usually only pass through London on the way to somewhere else, so might have to make a stop off next trip.

  • Simon says:
    21 Aug21 August 14:01

    So can you still opt for the paper vouchers?

This article is closed to new comments. Feel free to ask your question in the HfP forums.

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