Leading Hotels of the World (LHW) is a collection of independent luxury hotels, not a chain, and its loyalty program is called Leaders Club. If you're planning a family trip around LHW hotels, the first question is how you'll pay. You can earn Leaders Club points on stays, redeem them for free nights, or move in points from Citi ThankYou. What you can't do is transfer Bilt points to LHW. Bilt's partner list has seven hotel programs, and LHW isn't one of them. This guide covers what Leaders Club does, where your Bilt points fit instead, and what to check before you book a hotel for the whole family.
How Leaders Club Works
Members earn 1 point per $1 on qualifying room rates, for up to three rooms per reservation. Add your Leaders Club number when you book, and confirm on LHW which booking channels earn points.
Redemptions have no fixed award chart. Pricing varies by hotel and date, and free nights start at 4,000 points. Citi ThankYou points can be transferred to Leaders Club, so check the ratio for your card on LHW before you move any points.
Members get a daily continental breakfast for two and early check-in and late check-out, subject to availability. Spending $5,000 on qualifying stays in a calendar year earns Sterling status, which adds five pre-arrival upgrades per year. Confirm the current membership cost and benefits on LHW before you book.
Why Bilt Doesn't Work Here
Bilt lists seven hotel programs as transfer partners, and Leading Hotels of the World isn't one of them. There is no Bilt-to-LHW transfer, whatever the hotel.
If you hold Bilt points and want independent luxury hotels, the closest match is I Prefer Hotel Rewards, the program of Preferred Hotels & Resorts, which is a different collection of independent hotels. Bilt points transfer to it at 1:2. Our Bilt transfer partners guide has the full list.
Checking a Hotel for Families
Every LHW hotel sets its own policies, so the same booking site can show an adults-focused retreat next to a resort with a kids' program. Before you book, check the hotel's own page for:
- The minimum age for guests, and whether there is a kids' club or children's program.
- Whether connecting rooms or family suites exist, and how many children a room sleeps.
- Whether cribs and extra beds are free or charged.
- Whether children stay free or are charged per night.
After you book, email the hotel to request connecting rooms or a crib in writing, since the booking flow may not offer them.
Where to Start
Pick the hotel first. Then compare its cash rate with its Leaders Club points price on LHW's site, and note what each point is worth to you. If you hold Citi ThankYou points, check the transfer ratio for your card before you move anything. If you hold Bilt points, put them toward one of Bilt's hotel partners instead.
Updated October 19, 2026: Bilt transfers and Leaders Club details.
