Hilton Honors American Express Business Card overview
The Hilton Honors American Express Business Card 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; terms apply). If Hilton is your company’s hotel chain of choice, this card could be a worthwhile addition to your wallet. Card rating*: ⭐⭐⭐
*Card rating is based on the opinion of TPG’s editors and is not influenced by the card issuer.
The Hilton Amex Business card 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.
One of the best perks of the Hilton Business card is its automatic Hilton Gold elite status. From daily food and beverage credits to room upgrades (based on availability), this card can provide meaningful benefits right from the start. Terms apply.
With a $195 annual fee (see rates and fees), the card isn’t going to break the bank for most. Applicants approved for the Hilton Amex Business typically have a credit score of at least 670.
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
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†Enrollment required, terms apply |
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Hilton Amex Business Card welcome offer
New Hilton Amex Business cardmembers can earn 150,000 bonus points after spending $8,000 within the first six months from account opening, plus an additional 25,000 bonus points after spending another $2,000 during the first six months of card membership. Offer ends Aug 13.
According to TPG’s June 2025 valuations, the 175,000 bonus points are worth $875.
This offer comes very close to the best offer we’ve seen on the card and is worth applying for. After all, it’s only 5,000 bonus points less than the best offer and $2,000 less for the minimum spend requirement.
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Keep in mind that Amex has a “once per lifetime” policy 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
Hilton Amex Business Card benefits
The Hilton Amex Business offers a variety of benefits and perks for $195 each year. Enrollment is required for select benefits; terms apply.
- Up to $240 in statement credits every calendar year: Earn up to $60 each quarter in statement credits for eligible Hilton purchases. Eligible purchases include room reservations at Hilton properties and incidental charges such as dinner or spa treatments.
- Complimentary National Car Rental elite status: Cardmembers receive National Car Rental Emerald Club Executive status. Benefits include guaranteed upgrades, access to Executive Area cars and no second driver fees.
- Complimentary Hilton Honors Gold elite status: 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.
- 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 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, which offers Diamond status as a built-in perk.
- Travel protections: Baggage insurance*, secondary car rental loss and damage insurance**, access to the Global Assist Hotline# and extended warranty* and purchase protection* benefits are available to cardmembers.
- Expense management tools: As a business cardmember, you’ll have access to tools like QuickBooks integration, Vendor Pay by Bill.com and more.
The information for the Hilton Amex Aspire card has been collected independently by The Points Guy. The card details on this page have not been reviewed or provided by the card issuer.
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), then I advise considering another hotel-cobranded business card.
*Eligibility and benefit level varies by card. Terms, conditions and limitations apply. Visit americanexpress.com/benefitsguide for details. Policies are underwritten by AMEX Assurance Company.
**Eligibility and benefit level varies by card. Not all vehicle types or rentals are covered, and geographic restrictions apply. Terms, conditions and limitations apply. Visit americanexpress.com/benefitsguide for details. Policies are underwritten by AMEX Assurance Company. Coverage is offered through American Express Travel Related Services Company, Inc.
#Eligibility and benefit level varies by card. Terms, conditions and limitations apply. Visit americanexpress.com/benefitsguide for details. Cardmembers are responsible for the costs charged by third-party service providers.
Related: Your complete guide to shopping protections on American Express cards
Earning points on the Hilton Amex Business Card
With the Hilton Amex Business card, you’ll earn 12 points per dollar spent at Hilton Hotels and Resorts — a 6% return on spending according to TPG’s June 2025 valuations.
You’ll also earn 5 points per dollar spent on all other eligible purchases (up to $100,000 each calendar year, then 3 points per dollar spent after that).
As with Hilton’s other credit cards, 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 or the Ink Business Preferred® Credit Card (see rates and fees).
Since Amex Membership Rewards 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
Redeeming points on the Hilton Amex Business Card
As with most hotel loyalty programs, the best value comes from using your points on hotel bookings.
You can redeem your Hilton Honors points in several ways. Hotel redemptions offer the best value, while Hilton event discounts, Hilton Honors Experiences and Amazon purchases offer poor value.
While Hilton Honors doesn’t have a published award chart, the Points Explorer tool 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 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, 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
Transferring points with the Hilton Amex Business Card
Hilton offers several airline transfer partners, including notable options like Air France-KLM, British Airways, Delta Air Lines and United.
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, I don’t recommend using 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.
Which cards compete with the Hilton Amex Business Card?
The Hilton Amex Business card is Hilton’s only business card. However, it faces solid competition from other cobranded hotel cards and standard business cards.
For additional options, see our list of the best business credit cards and the best American Express cards.
Related: How to apply for an Amex business card
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 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
For rates and fees of the Amex Hilton Business card, click here.
For rates and fees of the Amex Marriott Bonvoy Business card, click here.
For rates and fees of the Amex Business Gold card, click here.
