Hilton Honors American Express Business Card overview
The Hilton Honors American Express Business Card[1] is a useful hotel business card. With mid-tier Hilton Gold elite status, car rental status and great earnings on Hilton purchases, it provides premium benefits (enrollment required for select benefits). If Hilton is your company’s hotel chain of choice, this card could be a worthwhile addition to your wallet. Card rating*: ⭐⭐⭐
*Card rating[2] is based on the opinion of TPG’s editors and is not influenced by the card issuer.
The Hilton Amex Business card[3] is made for small-business owners, but you don’t need a bustling office or dozens of employees to apply. A side hustle or consulting gig that requires travel is more than enough to qualify for a small-business card[4].
One of the best perks of the Hilton Business card is its automatic Hilton Gold elite status[5]. From daily food and beverage credits to room upgrades (based on availability), this card can provide meaningful benefits right from the start.
With a $195 annual fee (see rates and fees[6]), the card isn’t going to break the bank for most. Applicants approved for the Hilton Amex Business typically have a good to excellent credit score[7].
Let’s examine the Hilton Amex Business card in more detail to help you decide whether it’s the right hotel card for your wallet.
Hilton Amex Business Card pros and cons
| Pros | Cons |
|---|---|
†Enrollment required |
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Hilton Amex Business Card welcome offer
New Hilton Amex Business[8] cardmembers can earn 175,000 bonus points after spending $8,000 on purchases in the first six months of card membership.
According to TPG’s October 2025 valuations[9], the 175,000 bonus points are worth $875.
This isn’t the highest offer we’ve seen in the card’s history[10], but it is elevated and meets our criteria for when to apply.
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Keep in mind that Amex has a “once per lifetime” policy[13] on card offers and states the following:
You may not be eligible to receive a welcome offer if you have or have had this Card or previous versions of this Card. You also may not be eligible to receive a welcome offer based on various factors, such as your history with credit card balance transfers, your history as an American Express Card Member, the number of credit cards that you have opened and closed and other factors. If you are not eligible for a welcome offer, we will notify you prior to processing your application so you have the option to withdraw your application.
Related: The best credit card welcome bonuses available[14]
Hilton Amex Business Card benefits
The Hilton Amex Business[15] offers a variety of benefits and perks for $195 each year. Enrollment is required for select benefits.
- Complimentary Hilton Honors Gold elite status[16]: With Gold status, you’ll earn an 80% points bonus on Hilton stays, the fifth night free on award redemptions, elite tier rollover nights, complimentary breakfast or food and beverage credits, room upgrades (when available) and more.
- Complimentary National Car Rental elite status: Cardmembers receive National Car Rental Emerald Club Executive status[17]. Benefits include guaranteed upgrades, access to Executive Area cars and no second driver fees.
- Expense management tools: As a business cardmember, you’ll have access to tools like QuickBooks integration, Vendor Pay by Bill.com and more.
- Hilton statement credits[18]: Earn up to $240 in statement credits each calendar year (up to $60 each calendar quarter) for eligible Hilton purchases. Eligible purchases include room reservations at Hilton properties and incidental charges such as dinner or spa treatments.
- Travel protections: Receive valuable purchase and travel protections when you pay with your card.
- Upgrade to Diamond status: You can reach Diamond elite status through the end of the next calendar year after spending $40,000 with your card in a calendar year. Diamond status[19] comes with even more benefits, such as better upgrades (when available), executive lounge access, a 48-hour room guarantee and more — though if you want this tier of status, you’re likely better off applying for the Hilton Honors American Express Aspire Card[20], which offers Diamond status as a built-in perk.
While this isn’t a stellar set of benefits, they’re acceptable for the annual fee. That said, this card will be hard to justify paying for each year if you don’t stay with Hilton at least a couple of times annually.
If you don’t anticipate being able to take advantage of the full up to $240 Hilton statement credit each calendar year (up to $60 each quarter), you may want to consider another hotel-cobranded business card.
Related: Your complete guide to shopping protections on American Express cards[21]
Earning points on the Hilton Amex Business Card
With the Hilton Amex Business card[22], you’ll earn 12 points per dollar spent at Hilton Hotels and Resorts — a 6% return on spending according to TPG’s valuations.
You’ll also earn 5 points per dollar spent on all other eligible purchases[23] (up to $100,000 each calendar year, then 3 points per dollar spent after that).
As with Hilton’s other credit cards[24], you’ll get the best return on Hilton purchases. You’ll get a 1.5%-2.5% return on spending for your other business-related spending, based on our valuations.
Other cards offer better value, such as the American Express® Business Gold Card[25] or the Ink Business Preferred® Credit Card[26].
The information for the Ink Business Preferred has been collected independently by The Points Guy. The card details on this page have not been reviewed or provided by the card issuer.
Since Amex Membership Rewards[27] allows you to transfer points to Hilton, the Amex Business Gold can be a great complement or alternative to the Hilton Amex Business card.
Related: How to pick a strategy for your small-business credit cards[28]
Redeeming points on the Hilton Amex Business Card
As with most hotel loyalty programs, the best value comes from using your points earned with the Hilton Amex Business card[29] on hotel bookings.
You can redeem your Hilton Honors points[30] in several ways. Hotel redemptions offer the best value, while Hilton event discounts, Hilton Honors Experiences[31] and Amazon purchases offer poor value.
While Hilton Honors doesn’t have a published award chart, the Points Explorer tool[32] can show you the award redemption price range over the next 30 days. This can help you know what to expect when considering locations for using your points.
TPG contributing editor Matt Moffitt[33] likes to redeem his Hilton Honors points to book three- and four-star hotels abroad. These properties tend to offer a higher redemption value than those in the U.S.
He aims to book five-night stays[34], as he only needs to pay for four, thanks to the elite status that comes with his Hilton cobranded cards.
Related: Ultimate guide to the Hilton Honors loyalty program[35]
Transferring points with the Hilton Amex Business Card
Hilton offers several airline transfer partners to transfer the points you earn on the Hilton Amex Business card[36]. These include notable options like Air France-KLM[37], British Airways[38], Delta Air Lines[39] and United[40].
Hilton points typically transfer at a poor rate; for example, when transferring to United, you’ll only receive 1,000 MileagePlus miles in exchange for 10,000 Hilton Honors points.
Given the poor value of this redemption option, it’s rarely recommended to use your Hilton points for airline transfers. Even if you need to top off your airline rewards balance, there’s likely a better and more value-conscious way to do it.
Related: From the Florida Keys to the Maldives: 7 great ways to use 130,000 Hilton Honors points and a free night reward[41]
Which cards compete with the Hilton Amex Business Card?
The Hilton Amex Business card[42] is Hilton’s only business card. However, it faces solid competition from other cobranded hotel cards[43] and standard business cards.
For additional options, see our list of the best business credit cards[44] and the best American Express cards[45].
Related: How to apply for an Amex business card[46]
Bottom line
You may be hesitant to pay an annual fee on a credit card or wonder if the $195 annual fee on the Hilton Amex Business[47] card is worth it. Consider how much value you’ll get out of the card’s automatic Hilton Gold status, as that can be a deciding factor in whether this card is for you.
The Hilton Amex Business card has advantages for business travelers who frequently stay at Hilton properties. However, others should opt for another hotel card or business card.
Apply here: Hilton Honors Amex Business card[48]
For rates and fees of the Amex Hilton Business card, click here[49].
For rates and fees of the Amex Marriott Bonvoy Business card, click here[50].
For rates and fees of the Amex Business Gold card, click here[51].
References
- ^ Hilton Honors American Express Business Card (thepointsguy.com)
- ^ Card rating (thepointsguy.com)
- ^ Hilton Amex Business card (thepointsguy.com)
- ^ qualify for a small-business card (thepointsguy.com)
- ^ automatic Hilton Gold elite status (thepointsguy.com)
- ^ rates and fees (thepointsguy.com)
- ^ credit score (thepointsguy.com)
- ^ Hilton Amex Business (thepointsguy.com)
- ^ valuations (thepointsguy.com)
- ^ in the card’s history (thepointsguy.com)
- ^ Terms of Use (thepointsguy.com)
- ^ Privacy Policy (thepointsguy.com)
- ^ Amex has a “once per lifetime” policy (thepointsguy.com)
- ^ The best credit card welcome bonuses available (thepointsguy.com)
- ^ Hilton Amex Business (thepointsguy.com)
- ^ Hilton Honors Gold elite status (thepointsguy.com)
- ^ National Car Rental Emerald Club Executive status (thepointsguy.com)
- ^ Hilton statement credits (thepointsguy.com)
- ^ Diamond status (thepointsguy.com)
- ^ Hilton Honors American Express Aspire Card (thepointsguy.com)
- ^ Your complete guide to shopping protections on American Express cards (thepointsguy.com)
- ^ Hilton Amex Business card (thepointsguy.com)
- ^ all other eligible purchases (thepointsguy.com)
- ^ Hilton’s other credit cards (thepointsguy.com)
- ^ American Express® Business Gold Card (thepointsguy.com)
- ^ Ink Business Preferred® Credit Card (thepointsguy.com)
- ^ Amex Membership Rewards (thepointsguy.com)
- ^ How to pick a strategy for your small-business credit cards (thepointsguy.com)
- ^ Hilton Amex Business card (thepointsguy.com)
- ^ redeem your Hilton Honors points (thepointsguy.com)
- ^ Hilton Honors Experiences (thepointsguy.com)
- ^ Points Explorer tool (stories.hilton.com)
- ^ Matt Moffitt (thepointsguy.com)
- ^ book five-night stays (thepointsguy.com)
- ^ Ultimate guide to the Hilton Honors loyalty program (thepointsguy.com)
- ^ Hilton Amex Business card (thepointsguy.com)
- ^ Air France-KLM (thepointsguy.com)
- ^ British Airways (thepointsguy.com)
- ^ Delta Air Lines (thepointsguy.com)
- ^ United (thepointsguy.com)
- ^ From the Florida Keys to the Maldives: 7 great ways to use 130,000 Hilton Honors points and a free night reward (thepointsguy.com)
- ^ Hilton Amex Business card (thepointsguy.com)
- ^ cobranded hotel cards (thepointsguy.com)
- ^ best business credit cards (thepointsguy.com)
- ^ best American Express cards (thepointsguy.com)
- ^ How to apply for an Amex business card (thepointsguy.com)
- ^ Hilton Amex Business (thepointsguy.com)
- ^ Hilton Honors Amex Business card (thepointsguy.com)
- ^ here (thepointsguy.com)
- ^ here (thepointsguy.com)
- ^ here (thepointsguy.com)