The Hilton Honors American Express Business Card offers complimentary Gold elite status and up to $240 in annual Hilton credits (up to $60 per quarter), making it a solid option for small business owners who frequently stay at Hilton properties. While it lacks free night awards, the card provides good value for Hilton loyalists through its earning rates and elite status benefits.
This credit card review will cover everything you need to know about this card to determine if you should add this card or a different card to your wallet. Let’s dive right in.
- bonus_miles_full
- Complimentary Hilton Honors Gold Status
- 12X Points at Hilton Properties.
- 5x Points on all other purchases on the first $100,000 spent each calendar year (3x thereafter).
- $195 Annual Fee (rates & fees)
Welcome Bonus of Hilton Business Amex
The Hilton Business Card currently offers the following welcome bonus: bonus_miles_full
It’s important to note that this welcome bonus is subject to American Express’s “once per lifetime” policy. This means if you’ve previously had this specific card, you may not be eligible for the bonus again.
Earning Points with Hilton Business Amex
The Hilton Business Card earns Hilton Honors points at the following rate:
This card offers an excellent return on Hilton stays but provides limited bonus categories for other business spending. The flat 5x earning rate on general purchases up to $100,000 annually is decent, though other business cards may offer higher rewards in specific categories like travel, dining, or office supplies.
For heavy Hilton spenders, the 12x rate is hard to beat. However, those seeking more flexibility in redeeming rewards may prefer a card earning transferable points instead.
Annual Fee of Hilton Business Amex
The Hilton Business Card has a $195 annual fee (rates & fees). This fee can be offset by the card’s benefits, including up to $240 in annual Hilton statement credits and complimentary Hilton Gold elite status. For frequent Hilton guests, the card’s perks and earning potential may justify the annual cost.
Hilton Business Card Benefits
The Hilton Business Amex offers the following benefits: $240 Hilton Credit: Earn up to $240 in statement credits each year on eligible Hilton purchases in the form of a $60 credit each quarter. Eligible purchases include room reservations at Hilton properties, dining, spa treatments, and other cover incidental charges. Hilton Gold Status: Earn Hilton Honors Gold status by holding this card each year, which offers the benefits of a 80% points bonus on eligible rates, food and beverage credit or breakfast, room upgrades (if available), two complimentary bottles of water, and fifth night free on reward stays. Earn Diamond Status: You can unlock top-tier Hilton Honors Diamond elite status by spending $40,000 or more in a calendar year, which offers benefits of a 100% points bonus on eligible hotel stays, room upgrades (if available), executive lounge access, premium Wi-Fi, breakfast or daily food and beverage credit, and fifth night free on award stays. National Elite Status: Receive complimentary National Car Rental Emerald Club Executive status, which offers benefits such as the ability to choose your car in the Executive Area, Guaranteed Upgrades, and faster free car rental days (6 credits). (Enrollment is required.) Amex Offers: As an American Express cardholder, you can access Amex Offers. These targeted, limited-time promotions provide discounts or bonus points on purchases with select merchants. Offers are added to your card, and you’ll receive either a percentage or dollar amount back as a statement credit when you meet the offer terms. While offers vary and may not always align with your spending habits, this perk can be valuable when an offer matches your preferences. Secondary Rental Car Insurance: This card provides backup protection for rental car damage or theft when you charge the full rental to your card.* 90-Day Purchase Protection: Your new purchases are covered against damage and theft for 90 days when you use your card. This protection helps safeguard your eligible items right from the moment you buy them.* Extended Warranty Protection: Your purchases gain an extra year of warranty protection when bought with this card, extending manufacturer warranties of three years or less without the inflated prices of store warranty plans. Baggage Insurance Plan covers your baggage if it is lost, damaged, or stolen and you purchase your ticket with this card.* * Eligibility and benefit level varies by card. Terms, conditions, and limitations apply. Please visit americanexpress.com/benefitsguide for more details.
Travel and Purchase Benefits
Redeeming Hilton Honors Points
Hilton Honors points offer flexibility and value for travelers, with over 7,500 properties worldwide available for redemption. While the program uses dynamic pricing instead of a fixed award chart, members can still find excellent deals, especially during peak travel periods. The best way to use Hilton points is typically for hotel stays, where we found during our data study that you should get, on average, about 0.51 cents per point in value. To maximize your redemptions, search for properties within your point budget during your desired travel dates. Elite members benefit from a fifth night free on award stays, stretching points even further. For those short on points, the Points & Money option allows for customizable combinations of cash and points. Hilton also offers premium room awards, letting you book suites or rooms with better amenities using points. This can be particularly useful for families or those desiring extra space. Beyond hotel stays, Hilton points can be redeemed for unique experiences through Hilton Honors Experiences, including exclusive events and activities. While other redemption options exist, such as transferring to airlines, using points for Amazon purchases, or booking car rentals, these typically offer lower value. Focus on hotel stays and experiences to get the most from your Hilton Honors points. With strategic planning, you can turn your points into memorable stays at properties ranging from budget-friendly options to luxury resorts worldwide.
Pros and Cons
Here’s a quick overview of this card’s advantages and disadvantages:
Pros:
Automatic Elite Status: Complimentary Hilton Honors Gold status provides valuable perks like room upgrades, bonus points, and food and beverage credits.
Statement Credits: Up to $240 in annual statement credits on Hilton purchases helps offset the annual fee.
Earning at Hilton: 12x points on Hilton stays provides excellent returns on spending at Hilton Hotels.
Car Rental Status: Complimentary National Car Rental Emerald Club Executive status offers perks like guaranteed upgrades.
Cons:
Limited Free Night Benefit: Unlike some competing hotel cards, the card does not offer free night certificates.
High Annual Fee: The $195 annual fee is high for a mid-tier hotel credit card.
Restricted Redemption Value: Hilton points generally have a lower value than other hotel loyalty programs.
Spending Threshold for Top Status: Reaching Diamond status requires $40,000 in annual spending, which may be challenging for some cardholders.
Alternatives to the Hilton Business Card
Now that you know about this credit card’s various benefits and pros and cons, it’s time to see its alternatives.
Marriott Bonvoy Business® American Express® Card
The Marriott Bonvoy Business® American Express® Card (review) provides solid value through its annual free night award and automatic Gold Elite status benefits like room upgrades and late checkout. Though its bonus categories could be more rewarding, this card serves as an excellent complement to a personal Marriott card for stacking elite night credits. Welcome Bonus: bonus_miles_full Earning Points: 6x points on eligible purchases at hotels participating in Marriott Bonvoy®; 4x points at restaurants, US gas stations, wireless telephone services purchased directly from US service providers, and US shipping; 2 Marriott Bonvoy Business® American Express® Card points per dollar on all other eligible purchases. Benefits: Anniversary free night (up to 35,000 points), additional free night (up to 35,000 points) after spending $60,000 in purchases in a calendar year, 7% discount off standard rates, Marriott Gold elite status, 15 elite night credits, baggage insurance plan, secondary rental car insurance, extended warranty, and purchase protection.
Ink Business Preferred® Credit Card
The Ink Business Preferred® Credit Card (review) offers great rewards for small business owners. With bonus points on travel, shipping, advertising, and communication services, plus valuable travel protections, it’s a solid choice for companies looking to maximize their everyday spending. Welcome Bonus: bonus_miles_full Earning Rewards: 3x points on travel, shipping, advertising made with social media sites and search engines, and internet, cable and phone services on the first $150,000 spent in combined purchases in the following categories each account anniversary year; 1x points on all other eligible purchases. Card Benefits: Points are worth 25% more when you redeem for travel through Chase Travel, no foreign transaction fees, primary rental car insurance, trip cancellation insurance, cell phone protection, purchase protection, and extended warranty. Transfer Partners: Aer Lingus, Air Canada Aeroplan, British Airways, Emirates, Air France KLM Flying Blue, Hyatt, IHG, Iberia, JetBlue, Marriott, Singapore KrisFlyer, Southwest, United, and Virgin Atlantic.
The Business Platinum Card® from American Express
The Business Platinum Card® from American Express (review) delivers premium travel benefits including extensive lounge access (access is limited to eligible card members) and valuable hotel elite status. This premium business card excels at making travel more luxurious, though you’ll need to use multiple statement credits and travel perks to maximize its value. Welcome Bonus: bonus_miles_full Earn Rewards: 5x points for flights, prepaid hotels booked at AmexTravel.com; 2x points per dollar for purchases up to $2 million in spending per calendar year in these categories: purchases of $5,000 or more regardless of category, U.S. cloud service and software providers, U.S. construction materials and hardware suppliers, U.S. electronics retailers, and U.S. shipping providers; and 1x points on all other eligible purchases. Card Benefits: Transfer Partners: Aer Lingus, AeroMexico, Air Canada Aeroplan, ANA, Avianca LifeMiles, British Airways, Cathay Pacific, Choice Privileges, Delta, Emirates, Etihad, Air France – KLM Flying Blue, Hawaiian Airlines, Hilton, Iberia, JetBlue, Marriott, Qantas, Qatar Airways, Singapore KrisFlyer, and Virgin Atlantic.
Is the Hilton Business Amex Worth It?
The Hilton Business Card can be a valuable addition for small business owners who frequently stay at Hilton properties. With its generous welcome bonus and automatic Gold elite status, the card provides immediate value for Hilton loyalists.
The quarterly statement credits on Hilton purchases effectively offset much of the annual fee for regular Hilton guests. While the card lacks free night certificates offered by some competitor hotel cards, its strong earning rate on Hilton stays and everyday business purchases up to $100,000 annually can quickly accumulate a sizable points balance.
For those who can maximize the Hilton-specific perks and spending bonuses, this card could be well worth the annual fee, though general business travelers may find more flexible options elsewhere.
Learn How to Apply: The Hilton Honors American Express Business Card.
- bonus_miles_full
- Complimentary Hilton Honors Gold Status
- 12X Points at Hilton Properties.
- 5x Points on all other purchases on the first $100,000 spent each calendar year (3x thereafter).
- $195 Annual Fee (rates & fees)
For rates and fees of the Marriott Bonvoy Business™ American Express® Card, please click here. Eligibility and Benefit level varies by Card. Terms, Conditions, and Limitations Apply. Please visit americanexpress.com/benefitsguide for more details. Underwritten by Amex Assurance Company.
For rates and fees of The Business Platinum Card® from American Express, please click here. Eligibility and Benefit level varies by Card. Terms, Conditions, and Limitations Apply. Please visit americanexpress.com/benefitsguide for more details. Underwritten by Amex Assurance Company.
