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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.

Comments (70)

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

  • whitenoise says:

    Wonder if I could pick the advice of you Londoners or anyone whose been in the Shard? I’m thinking about going to the TING restaurant on level 35. The bar GONG is level 52, and the viewing platform is at level 69-72. Bearing in mind that the cost to go up to the viewing platform is something like £25 each (there will be 4 of us), is it worth just enjoying the view from TING or GONG, or is the platform worth the cost?

    Cheers 🙂

    • Rob says:

      Even level 35 is high, I was there recently. Doubt there is much difference between 52 and 69 to justify the cost.

      • whitenoise says:

        Cheers, although it seems that availability between 4pm and 9pm is non-existent for many weeks, so might have to change that idea 🙁

  • Rob says:

    My gut feeling is that you won’t so you need to decide.

    • CC says:

      Will go for the hotel website then to make sure the bonus 1000 GC points go on, thanks

  • pazza2000 says:

    For those that have done so, is it a smooth process to pick these up at Reception? I plan on using a voucher this week at Gong (Drinks only), though can still remember the 15 minute ‘process’ of collecting one at the AUH property a couple of months ago.

    • Rob says:

      Yes. There is no business centre so you just pick up the voucher (£55) at reception.

      They are willing to issue them for a different day if necessary, but once a date is written on the voucher then you MUST use it on that day.

      • pazza2000 says:

        Reception on the 35th floor? That sounds easy, hopefully! My experience in AUH was that the Business Lounge staff were unsure of the procedure where as Reception had the voucher printed out in seconds. Not sure about the £55 exchange rate, in AUH I actually thought the $ > Dirhams conversion was very much in my favour. No complaints though of course, a great promotion.

  • Lee says:

    There’s three in our party all with $100 of vouchers – wasn’t there a restriction that only $200 could be redeemed per booking, I can’t seem to find that anywhere now?

    • Rob says:

      That restriction has been removed, it seems.

      • Trevor says:

        I also thought I read previously that only one voucher could be used per booking, ie you couldn’t combine multiple vouchers from multiple members. Judging by the comments here, that also seems to be removed.

        • Rob says:

          No, the rule was always two vouchers per booking, ie $200. At some point in the last month or so that restriction has been removed.

  • Smillie says:

    I used four $100 vouchers today for lunch with my wife and son. I had emailed golden circle to check prior to going . Two vouchers were nominated to us from my in laws.. We managed £210 of food and drink before my two year old decided that enough was enough! The staff didn’t seem to know much about the vouchers , I’m sure they will soon. My wife said as she was leaving the toluet a group of staff were just standing looking at them. The supervisor was a bit concerned about telling us that we wouldn’t get a refund of the remaining £10. With a cheap Uber lux trip from the IC Park Lane( points) this is turning out to be a cheap trip to London.

  • Rda says:

    Got my voucher by email. Thanks very much for the tip will be using after the NFL in October in Gong.

  • Andy says:

    Possibly a silly question, but can I book the table (Ting restaurant) using their website or do I need to call if I’m going to be using a voucher?

    • Rob says:

      Website is fine. Only reason they want you to reserve is that voucher must be used on date of issue, so if you couldn’t get in it would be an issue!

      • Andy says:

        Excellent, thank you very much. A nice lunch up in the clouds for my 30th birthday is on the cards.

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

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