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The Hilton Honors American Express Business Card Review: Worth It in 2025?
February 6, 2025
What Is The Hilton Honors American Express Business Card?
The Hilton Honors American Express Business Card is a co-branded business credit card designed specifically for small and medium-sized businesses that want to earn Hilton Honors points on their everyday business expenses.
Launched as a partnership between American Express and Hilton, this card serves as a powerful tool for business owners who frequent Hilton properties. With an annual fee of $95, the card offers a generous welcome bonus, automatic Hilton Gold status, and the ability to earn free award nights through spending.
The card features contactless technology and integrates seamlessly with the Hilton Honors app, allowing cardholders to use their digital key feature for touchless hotel entry. Additionally, the card provides business-specific perks that extend beyond just hotel stays, making it appealing for entrepreneurs who want to maximize both travel and everyday business spending.
The Hilton Honors American Express Business Card Pros & Cons
Before diving deeper into the card's features, let's examine the key advantages and disadvantages of the Hilton Honors American Express Business Card.
Pros:
- Automatic Hilton Gold Status provides valuable in-hotel benefits including room upgrades, free breakfast, and late checkout.
- Earn up to 12X Hilton Honors points on Hilton purchases, making it one of the most rewarding hotel business credit cards.
- No foreign transaction fees makes this card ideal for international business travel.
- Complimentary National Car Rental Emerald Club Executive Status for convenient car rentals.
- Earn a free weekend night reward after spending $15,000 in a calendar year, with potential for a second night after reaching $60,000.
- Additional employee cards at no extra cost help businesses track and manage expenses.
- Path to Hilton Honors Diamond status when you spend $40,000 in a calendar year.
Cons:
- The $95 annual fee may be a deterrent for businesses with minimal Hilton stays.
- Hilton points generally have lower value compared to some other hotel loyalty programs, averaging around 0.5 cents per point.
- Limited airline transfer partners compared to more flexible business travel cards.
- No premium travel protections like trip cancellation or delay insurance.
- No metal card design for those who prefer premium card materials.
Who Is The Hilton Honors American Express Business Card For?
The Hilton Honors American Express Business Card is ideally suited for business owners who regularly stay at properties within the Hilton portfolio and want to maximize their rewards earning potential.
If your business requires frequent travel to locations where Hilton hotels are available, this card can provide exceptional value. With over 7,000 properties across 18 brands in the Hilton portfolio, from Hampton Inn to Waldorf Astoria, cardholders have extensive options worldwide.
This card particularly shines for:
- Small business owners who travel frequently for work and prefer Hilton properties
- Entrepreneurs who want to earn rewards on business expenses while enjoying hotel elite status
- Companies with moderate travel budgets seeking to maximize employee travel benefits
- Business travelers who value perks like free breakfast, free internet access, and potential room upgrades
- Businesses that spend heavily in bonus categories like gas stations, restaurants, and office supply stores
If your annual business spending is substantial, the ability to earn multiple free night rewards can easily offset the card's annual fee, making it an excellent value proposition.
Comparing The Hilton Honors American Express Business Card With Other Credit Cards
When considering the Hilton Honors American Express Business Card, it's helpful to compare it with other popular options in the business credit card category:
Capital One Venture X Business (rates & fees):
- Annual fee: $395
- Sign-up bonus: Substantial miles bonus after meeting spending requirements
- Key rewards: 10X miles on hotels and rental cars, and 5X on flights and vacation rentals booked through Capital One Travel
- Standout feature: 10,000 bonus miles each account anniversary
Ink Business Preferred® Credit Card:
- Annual fee: $95
- Sign-up bonus: Large points bonus after meeting spending requirements
- Key rewards: 3X points on travel, shipping, internet, cable, phone services, and advertising purchases made with social media sites and search engines on the first $150,000 spent
- Standout feature: Cell phone protection when you pay your monthly cell phone bill with your card
The Business Platinum Card® from American Express (rates & fees):
- Annual fee: $695
- Welcome offer: Substantial points bonus after meeting spending requirements
- Key rewards: 5X points on flights and prepaid hotels booked through Amex Travel, 1.5X points on eligible purchases of $5,000 or more, up to $2 million per calendar year
- Standout feature: Access to over 1,400 airport lounges worldwide, access is limited to eligible Card Members
Terms apply to American Express benefits and offers. Enrollment may be required for select American Express benefits and offers. Visit americanexpress.com to learn more. 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.
Each card offers unique benefits tailored to different spending habits and preferences. Consider your personal financial goals when choosing the best card for you.
Key Takeaways:
- Hilton Honors American Express Business Card excels in providing business-specific perks that extend beyond just hotel stays
- Capital One Venture X Business offers high travel rewards
- Ink Business Preferred® provides strong points on business-related categories
- The Business Platinum Card® from American Express features premium travel perks
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Consider Using Kudos
While the Hilton Honors American Express Business Card offers excellent rewards for Hilton stays, savvy business owners should consider maximizing their credit card rewards across all online purchases with Kudos.
Kudos is a free AI-powered browser extension that helps you get the most out of your credit cards whenever you shop online. For business owners juggling multiple credit cards, Kudos automatically suggests which card will earn you the most rewards for each specific purchase.
With integration across over 15,000 stores, Kudos ensures you're always using the optimal card for your business expenses. During exclusive "Flash Boost" events, you can multiply your rewards up to 5X, potentially stacking with the already generous earning rates of your Hilton Business Amex.
For business owners who want to discover new cards that align with their spending patterns, Kudos provides personalized credit card recommendations based on your actual purchasing behavior.
If you're looking to get more out of your credit cards, Kudos is the best free shopping app to use when you shop online. And, they're currently offering $20 back after your first eligible purchase — just sign-up for free with code "GET20" and make a purchase at a Boost merchant.
Our Expert Takeaway
The Hilton Honors American Express Business Card delivers exceptional value for business owners who regularly stay at Hilton properties and can take advantage of the card's bonus categories.
With automatic Gold status, the ability to earn free night rewards, and strong points earning in common business spending categories, this card easily justifies its $95 annual fee for the right user. The absence of foreign transaction fees and addition of car rental elite status further enhances its appeal for frequent business travelers.
However, businesses that don't regularly stay with Hilton or that prefer more flexible rewards might be better served by a general travel business card. The value proposition diminishes significantly if you can't utilize the Gold status benefits or earn the free night certificates.
Overall, for Hilton-loyal business travelers, this card represents one of the best values in the hotel business credit card space, particularly for those who can reach the spending thresholds to maximize its benefits.
The Hilton Honors American Express Business Card FAQ
What is the annual fee for The Hilton Honors American Express Business Card?
The annual fee is $95, which is relatively modest compared to other business travel rewards cards with similar benefits.
How many Hilton Honors points can I earn with this card?
You can earn 12X points on Hilton purchases, 6X points in bonus categories including U.S. gas stations, U.S. restaurants, and flights booked directly with airlines, and 3X points on all other eligible purchases.
Does the card offer automatic elite status?
Yes, cardholders receive automatic Hilton Honors Gold status, which includes benefits like room upgrades, free breakfast or food and beverage credits, and late checkout when available.
Can I earn free night rewards with this card?
Yes, you can earn one weekend night reward after spending $15,000 in a calendar year and a second weekend night reward after spending $60,000 in the same calendar year.
Are there foreign transaction fees?
No, the card does not charge foreign transaction fees, making it suitable for international business travel.
Can I add employee cards to my account?
Yes, you can add employee cards at no additional cost and set spending limits for better expense management.
What car rental benefits does the card offer?
Cardholders receive complimentary National Car Rental Emerald Club Executive status, which provides benefits like guaranteed car availability and the ability to skip the counter at many locations.
How do I use the digital key feature?
The digital key feature is available through the Hilton Honors app and allows you to use your smartphone as a room key at participating Hilton properties after checking in online.
Is there a way to achieve Diamond status with this card?
Yes, you can earn Hilton Honors Diamond status by spending $40,000 on the card in a calendar year.
What built-in protections does the card offer for purchases?
The card includes purchase protection, extended warranty coverage, car rental loss and damage insurance, and baggage insurance for eligible purchases.
Supercharge Your Credit Cards
Experience smarter spending with Kudos and unlock more from your credit cards. Earn $20.00 when you sign up for Kudos with "GET20" and make an eligible Kudos Boost purchase.
Editorial Disclosure: Opinions expressed here are those of Kudos alone, not those of any bank, credit card issuer, hotel, airline, or other entity. This content has not been reviewed, approved or otherwise endorsed by any of the entities included within the post.
