A view of the Bund from Pudong Shangri-La, East Shanghai. [Photo provided to chinadaily.com.cn]

Two of Asia's most iconic luxury hotel groups, Hong Kong-based Shangri-La Hotels and Resorts and Mumbai-based Taj Hotels Resorts and Palaces, announced they have formed a groundbreaking strategic alliance.

The move is expected to broaden their reach and offer an expansion of unique experiences to guests across Asia and the world.

Members of either program will be able to earn award points in their preferred program while staying with Taj or Shangri-La whether in Mumbai, New Delhi, Dubai, Hong Kong, Singapore, Paris, London, New York and any other key destination in the world.

The alliance will officially launch in March 2017 with the introduction of the "Warmer Welcomes" program, which is expected to benefit 6 million members from both of the hotel groups.