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Physician on FIRE has partnered with CardRatings and other partners for our coverage of credit card products. Physician on FIRE and CardRatings may receive a commission from card issuers. Some or all of the card offers that appear on the website are from advertisers. Compensation may impact on how and where card products appear on the site. POF does not include all card companies or all available card offers. Credit Card Providers determine the underwriting criteria necessary for approval, you should review each Provider’s terms and conditions to determine which card works for you and your personal financial situation.
Editorial Disclosure: Opinions, reviews, analyses & recommendations are the author’s alone, and have not been reviewed, endorsed, or approved by any of these entities.

Hilton Honors American Express Business Card Review 2024

Editor Deepti Nickam

Business travel means wrestling with flight delays, enduring long car rental queues, and braving questionable roadside coffee. But there’s a silver lining: the prospect of sinking into plush pillows and crisp white sheets at the end of the day (even if a 5 a.m. wake-up call awaits you).

And if those cozy beds belong to the Hilton franchise, you’re missing out on earning rewards and some serious perks—unless you leverage The Amex Hilton Honors Business card.

Read on to find out if this is the right credit card for your business travel needs.

 

This article will include:

  • How the Hilton Honors Business card works.
  • All the Amex Hilton rewards and benefits.
  • How to maximize Amex Hilton points.

Read more:

 

Our Verdict

The Amex Hilton Honors Business Card is for business travelers and Hilton fans. You get Hilton Honors Gold Status, free night rewards, and ten complimentary visits to US Priority Pass lounges. You can earn 12x Hilton Honors Bonus Points at Hilton properties, You also Earn 12X Hilton Honors bonus points on eligible Hilton purchases; 5X on other purchases on the first $100,000 in purchases each calendar year; 3X points thereafter. However, this card is best for avid Hilton visitors, as many features are tied to Hilton properties.

4.8
Welcome Bonus
N/A (can't find this in QMP)
Annual Fee
annual_fees
Regular APR
reg_apr,reg_apr_type
Credit Score
credit_score_needed

 

Hilton Honors Business Card: On FIRE Score

 

Annual Fee annual_fees 5/5
APR  reg_apr,reg_apr_type 4/5
Intro Offer  bonus_miles_full 5/5
Maximum Rewards 12x Hilton Honors Bonus Points at Hilton. 5/5
Everyday Rewards 3x Hilton Honors Bonus Points on other purchases. 5/5
On FIRE Score 4.8/5

 

What Is the Amex Hilton Honors Business Credit Card?

 

The Hilton Honors Business Card is a business and travel card issued by American Express. The credit card is perfect for business travelers who aren’t strangers to staying in the Hilton franchise. 

A big selling point is the Hilton Honors Gold Status that comes with the card. This elite membership will get you sweet room upgrades and an 80% points-earning bonus on your hotel stays. Other Hilton benefits include free night rewards and ten complimentary visits to US airport lounges (after enrolling in Priority Pass Select Membership). 

And it doesn’t stop there—you earn an impressive 12x Hilton Honors Bonus Points for every dollar you spend on Hilton hotels and resorts. You also get 6x points on business and travel purchases, and 3x points on all other eligible purchases. 

 

How Does the Amex Hilton Honors Credit Card Work?

 

If you’re familiar with business credit cards, you’ll know that a maximum of 12x points is a rare find. Of course, these points are limited to Hilton-related purchases, but if you’re a frequent visitor to the hotel franchise—this is a gold mine. 

 

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Here’s a closer look at the Amex Hilton credit card points—

  • 12x Hilton Honors Bonus Points: You’ll get the maximum points for every dollar spent on a Hilton property, including bookings and incidental charges. These charges include purchases at restaurants and spas (as long as they’re charged to your room and paid for with your Hilton Business Card). To bag these points, you’ll need to book everything directly through a Hilton platform. 
  • 6x Hilton Honors Bonus Points: You’ll earn 6x points on business purchases at US gas stations, shipping providers, and wireless phone services purchased directly from service providers.
  • 6x Hilton Honors Bonus Points: You can get 6x points at US restaurants, select car rental services, and flights booked with passenger airlines or American Express Travel. 
  • 3x Hilton Honors Bonus Points: You’ll get a generous 3x points on all other eligible purchases.

One point is worth roughly 0.6 cents. And there are plenty of opportunities to pile up the points, but how can you use them? 

Here are the top redemption options: 

  • Book hotel stays: The most valuable way to redeem points is by booking a stay at over 6,800+ hotels and resorts in the Hilton portfolio. Required points for a one-night stay can range from as little as 5,000 points per night to 95,000 points for a standard room. Luxurious options can range from 95,000 to 150,000 points per night. 
  • Amazon purchases: While this offers more flexibility, you’ll drastically lose point value as the redemption rate is around 500 Hilton points per dollar. 
  • Book a rental car: Coming in at around 0.21 cents per point value, this isn’t the best bang for your buck—but you can choose from a range of services, such as Enterprise, Alamo, and National. 
  • Redeem for flights: Hilton doesn’t have great value for flight redemption either, with some airlines offering as little as 1,000 miles for 10,000 Hilton points. On the plus side, you have over 20 major airlines to choose from. 
  • Hilton experiences: You can use your points to book sporting events, live music, wine, food, and cultural tours. You can also bid with your Hilton Amex points on the more exclusive events. 
  • Ticketmaster: While those Taylor Swift tickets might look tempting, you’ll only get a measly 0.2 cents per point for tickets purchased through Ticketmaster.

The best value for your points comes from booking rooms at Hilton properties. Since this is the ultimate way to earn and redeem points, it makes sense to be a frequent Hilton visitor to make the most of this card. 

 

The Amex Hilton Honors Credit Card also comes with an automatic Gold tier Hilton membership with the chance to earn a Diamond membership after spending $40,000 on eligible purchases in a year. 

It’s worth pointing out that the Hilton card has an annual fee of annual_fees. But with an average overnight stay at Hilton costing $151, the 130,000 Hilton Honors Bonus Points (valued at $780) can easily offset this. 

 

Hilton Honors Business Credit Card: Fees

 

Details Metric
Annual fee annual_fees
Regular APR reg_apr,reg_apr_type
Cash advance APR  cash_advance_apr
Cash advance fee  cash_advance_fee
Penalty APR 29.99%
Foreign transaction fee foreign_transaction_fee
Returned payment fee $39
Late fee late_payment_fee

 

Hilton Honors Business Card: Pros and Cons

 

Here are the top Amex Hilton benefits and drawbacks—

 

Pros

  • Generous welcome bonus.
  • Hilton Honors Gold Status perks.
  • 3x points on everyday expenses.
  • Range of Hilton travel benefits. 
  • Travel and purchase protections.
  • Business and expense management tools.

 

Cons

  • annual_fees annual fee.
  • Higher interest rates.
  • Hilton-focused rewards.

 

Why I like it

 

Generous welcome bonus

Starting with a bang, the Hilton credit card offers a sign-up bonus of 130,000 Hilton Honors Bonus Points after you spend $3,000 in the first six months. With the maximum to book a standard room being roughly 95,000 points per night, the welcome bonus alone is enough to whisk you away for a few nights. 

 

Hilton Honors Gold Status perks

The Hilton Honors Business card automatically gives you Gold status in their membership program. 

Some of the Gold tier benefits include: 

  • All-inclusive spa discount. 
  • Fifth night free on reward stays.
  • 80% Bonus on Base Points you earn on every stay.
  • Milestone bonuses (Earn 10,000 Bonus Points every 10 nights after you’ve stayed 40 nights in a calendar year). 

Once you spend $40,000 on eligible purchases in a year, you can upgrade to Hilton Honors Diamond status until the end of the next calendar year. This boost will give you first-class benefits, like executive lounge access, special gifts, and a 100% points-earning bonus on stays. 

 

3x points on everyday expenses

While most business cards offer you a standard 1x points (2x if they’re feeling generous) on everyday eligible purchases—Amex steps it up with 3x Hilton Honors Bonus Points

And no, there’s no catch. Eligible purchases cover standard goods and services—so your everyday coffee runs and impulsive shopping sprees are a surefire way to build those points. 

Get more rewards with the best cash back credit cards

 

Range of Hilton travel benefits

Let’s cut to the chase—Hilton’s airline redemption options aren’t great and don’t let you fully maximize the value of your points. 

But that doesn’t mean you can’t reap other travel benefits. Here are some of the perks you can enjoy while on the move: 

  • Free night reward: Earn a free night after spending $15,000 a year. 
  • Second free night reward: Get a second free night after spending $60,000 a year.
  • Hilton Priority Pass™ Select: Enjoy ten complimentary visits to over 1,200 airport lounges each year after enrolling in Priority Pass Select Membership.
  • Upgrade to Diamond Status: Reach Diamond tier status after spending $40,000 in a calendar year.

Looking for more travel perks? Check out the top travel cards with cash back. 

 

Purchase protection and extended warranties

I hate to admit it, but my laptop and phone have become an extension of myself, so I’ll go to lengths to keep them protected. With Amex’s extended warranty, you can stretch the terms of the original manufacturer’s warranty by an extra year (with warranties of five years or less). 

Plus, the card’s purchase protection can help protect your purchases for up to 90 days in case of theft, accidental damage, or water spillages all over your keyboard (been there, done that). The coverage is limited to $1,000 per occurrence and up to $50,000 per account every calendar year. 

 

Business and expense management tools

It’s not all play and no work with this card. You can also use the Hilton Honors Business Card to manage your business’s finances and keep a beady eye on employees. 

Here’s a breakdown of the business perks—

  • Employee cards: You can add up to 99 Employee Cards to your account and earn points on their purchases at no extra annual cost.
  • Account management: Your trusted chosen ones can be granted access to and manage your account when you’re unavailable. 
  • Access to QuickBooks: Enjoy the convenience of time-saving auto-expense categorization, as your card transactions are automatically tagged with your QuickBooks categories.
  • Year-end summary: Access a detailed year-end summary of charges, with an organized overview of your annual spending that can be downloaded or printed.
  • Account alerts: Set up account alerts to steer clear of late payments, identify irregular spending patterns, and keep an eye on the activity of Employee Cards.
  • Online statements: View your purchase history, generate reports, and manage your expenses with the convenience of online statements.
  • Vendor Pay by Bill.com: Simplify bill payments using your card through Vendor Pay by Bill.com. The basic plan offers a fee waiver for the first user for six months, with a subsequent fee of $15 per month for the second user after this initial period.

Take a look at the best business credit cards for more work-related rewards.

 

Why you may want a different card

 

Our Verdict

The Amex Hilton Honors Business Card is for business travelers and Hilton fans. You get Hilton Honors Gold Status, free night rewards, and ten complimentary visits to US Priority Pass lounges. You can earn 12x Hilton Honors Bonus Points at Hilton properties, You also Earn 12X Hilton Honors bonus points on eligible Hilton purchases; 5X on other purchases on the first $100,000 in purchases each calendar year; 3X points thereafter. However, this card is best for avid Hilton visitors, as many features are tied to Hilton properties.

4.8
Welcome Bonus
N/A (can't find this in QMP)
Annual Fee
annual_fees
Regular APR
reg_apr,reg_apr_type
Credit Score
credit_score_needed

 

Annual fee

Now, the elephant in the room—annual_fees annual fee. Sure, it’s not going to blow the bank, but it’s an extra charge that’s absent from many solid business cards. That said, if you take full advantage of the benefits and points, you can easily offset this charge. 

But if you’d rather not pay extra just for owning a card, check out the card_name or the card_name. Both come free of annual fees and have some decent rewards and perks. 

 

Higher interest rates

The Hilton Honors Business Card isn’t shy about its interest rates and has a slightly higher APR than its business card counterparts. The card’s APR rate ranges from reg_apr,reg_apr_type, depending on your creditworthiness. 

Here are some solid business cards that at the time of writing this article offer lower APR rates: 

The differences aren’t mindblowing, but you might feel the effects if you fall behind in paying off your balance. 

 

Hilton-focused rewards

The clue is in the name—this card is all about Hilton. From earning those 12x points on Hilton stays, to the best redemption options for, you guessed it—more Hilton stays. 

This is great for Hilton enthusiasts, as you can get a bunch of perks, potential upgrades, and free nights. But if you’re travel plans are drying up, or you’re more of a Starwood enthusiast than a Hilton devotee, this card isn’t for you. 

Plus, plenty of other business cards have more flexible travel rewards and redemption options. The card_name offers 3x points on business purchases and 25% more value in travel redemption

And if you’re willing to pay the hefty $695 annual fee, the card_name lets you earn 5x points on flights and prepaid hotels, as well as a $200 airline fee credit, airport lounge access, and Marriott Bonvoy Gold Elite status. 

 

Amex Hilton Honors Card: Additional Things to Know

 

How hard is it to get the Hilton Honors American Express card?

The Hilton Honors Business card can be difficult to get if your credit and business aren’t in good standing. The key to getting your hands on the Hilton Honors Business card is your credit score. The magic number is a FICO score of 670 or higher—but if you really want to boost your chances, you should aim for a score of at least 700. 

But approval isn’t just about the score. Your income, existing debts, and credit history can all play a part. Before diving in, I recommend doing a credit health check to ensure your financial ship is sailing smoothly. 

 

What are the Hilton membership levels?

Hilton’s got a membership ladder, and climbing it has some serious perks. First up, there’s the Member —your entry-level badge. Move a little higher, and you hit Silver, where bonus points start flowing in. 

Gold is the sweet spot, granted by the Amex Hilton Honors Business card. With Gold, you’re looking at room upgrades, late checkouts, and breakfast credits. And for the high rollers, there’s Diamond. It’s the cream of the crop, with all the Gold perks, executive lounge access, and more bonus points.

 

Here are all the benefits of the Hilton Honors membership tiers—

 

Benefit Member  Silver  Gold Diamond 
Guaranteed Hilton Honors discount rate (0-10 nights) Yes Yes Yes Yes
Points toward free nights and travel partners  Yes Yes Yes Yes
No resort fees on reward stays Yes Yes Yes Yes
Digital check-in, check-out, and key  Yes Yes Yes Yes
Choose your room with free WiFi Yes Yes Yes Yes
20% Points earning Bonus on stays (10+ nights) No Yes Yes Yes
Free bottled water No Yes Yes Yes
Fifth night free on reward stays No Yes Yes Yes
Elite Rollover Nights No Yes Yes Yes
All-Inclusive Spa Discount No Yes Yes Yes
80% points earning bonus on stays No No Yes Yes
Daily food and beverage credit or continental breakfast  No No Yes Yes
Milestone Bonuses No No Yes Yes
Potential room upgrades  No No Yes Yes
100% Points earning Bonus on stays (60+ nights) No No No Yes
Executive lounge access No No No Yes
48-hour room guarantee with premium WiFi No No No Yes
Diamond status extension No No No Yes
Elite status gifting  No No No Yes

 

The Hilton Honors Business card comes with Gold status, but if you spend $40,000 or more in a year, you can upgrade to the coveted Diamond tier. 

But don’t rush straight to the nearest Hilton hotel—it’ll take around 10 to 12 weeks after you’ve spent the required amount for the Diamond status to take effect. Once the year is up, your status will expire, and you’ll drop back down to Gold.

Hilton Honors Business or the Hilton Honors Surpass card: What’s the difference? 

The Hilton Honors Business Card is tailor-made for those often on the road with a penchant for Hilton hotels. You’ll also get the typical Amex business benefits, such as employee cards and expense management tools. 

On the other hand, the Hilton Honors American Express Surpass card works more like a catch-all card—minus the business perks. The annual fee is higher at $150, but you’ll have more flexibility to earn points with categories such as dining, gas, and groceries. 

The Hilton Surpass card also has some handy benefits missing from the business card, like $200 annual Hilton hotel credits, National Car Rental Emerald Club Executive status, and a baggage insurance plan. 

While redemption offers for both cards are mostly limited to Hilton, I recommend the Surpass card if you’re looking for more flexibility. Plus, the welcome bonus offers more points than the business card within a less limiting time frame. 

Here’s a summary of the two Hilton heavyweights—

 

Details  card_name card_name
On FIRE score  4.8/5 4.8/5
Annual fee  annual_fees annual_fees
APR  reg_apr,reg_apr_type reg_apr,reg_apr_type
Welcome bonus Earn 80,000 Hilton Honors Bonus Points

after spending $2,000 in purchases on the Hilton Card within your first six months of Card Membership.  

Earn 130,000 Hilton Honors Bonus Points

after spending $3,000 in purchases on the Hilton Surpass Card within your first six months of Card Membership.  

Rewards
  • 12x Hilton Honors Bonus Points at Hilton.
  • 6x Hilton Honors Bonus Points on business purchases. 
  • 6x Hilton Honors Bonus Points on select travel purchases.
  • 3x Hilton Honors Bonus Points on other purchases.
  • 12x Hilton Honors Bonus Points at Hilton.
  • 6x Hilton Honors Bonus Points on dining.
  • 6x Hilton Honors Bonus Points on groceries.
  • 6x Hilton Honors Bonus Points on gas.
  • 4x points Hilton Honors Bonus Points on US online retail purchases. 
  • 3x Hilton Honors Bonus Points on other purchases.
See Rates and Fees See Rates and Fees

 

How to Maximize Points With the Hilton Honors Card

 

Hilton doesn’t follow fixed redemption values, unlike some other loyalty programs. The number of points required for a room varies based on factors like demand and availability—so it can be tricky to find the best deals. 

To make things easier, use Hilton’s Point Explorer Tool, which lets you filter results based on your available points. 

You can also do some simple maths to ensure you’re getting the best deal. The average Hilton point value is 0.6 cents. So, divide the total cash cost by the number of points. If the resulting value goes over 0.6 cents, you’re getting a maximized redemption value. 

To take it further, I suggest redeeming rooms months in advance and during non-peak travel seasons. Nothing is guaranteed but using your points for mid-tier luxury properties and booking close to a year ahead can boost your chances of getting over the baseline of 0.6 cents per point.

 

Best Cards to Pair With the Hilton Honors Business Credit Card

 

First up is the Hilton Surpass Card. Yes, redemption options are pretty limited, but combining the card with your Hilton Honors Business Card can create a strong duo. 

As both cards offer ten complimentary Priority Pass entrances to airport lounges every year, you can double that to 20. And then there’s the welcome bonuses, with both combined giving you a total of 300,000 Hilton Honors Bonus Points

Some point-earning categories overlap, but the Surpass card offers more diversity with gas, groceries, and dining—while the business card lets you rack up points on work-related purchases. 

And if one Hilton card is enough, the card_name is worth throwing into the mix for its 4x points on dining and groceries. You can transfer your Amex Membership Rewards points to Hilton Honors Bonus Points at a 1:2 ratio, but you’ll get better value (and more flexibility) by redeeming your points for travel, gift cards, and online purchases. 

 

Alternatives to the American Express Hilton Honors Card

 

Here are some more business card alternatives with some handy travel perks—

 

card_name
Score: 4.8
card_name
Score: 4.8
card_name
Score: 4.4
card_name
Score: 4.4
Annual fee
annual_fees
Annual fee
annual_fees
Annual fee
annual_fees
Annual fee
annual_fees
Intro APR
intro_apr_rate,intro_apr_duration
Intro APR
intro_apr_rate,intro_apr_duration
Intro APR
intro_apr_rate,intro_apr_duration
Intro APR
intro_apr_rate,intro_apr_duration
Regular APR
reg_apr,reg_apr_type
Regular APR
reg_apr,reg_apr_type
Regular APR
reg_apr,reg_apr_type
Regular APR
reg_apr,reg_apr_type
Bonus Intro Rewards
bonus_miles_full
Bonus Intro Rewards
bonus_miles_full
Bonus Intro Rewards
bonus_miles_full
Bonus Intro Rewards
bonus_miles_full

 

If Chase has caught your eye, find out more about the best Chase credit card for you. 

 

Amex Hilton Honors Business Credit Card: Useful Links

 

  • Sign up for the Hilton Honors Business card here.
  • Find out more on the Amex Hilton Honors Business card website
  • Hilton Honors American Express login.
  • Get in touch with Amex customer service
  • Learn more on the American Express FAQ page.
  • Consumer Financial Protection Bureau’s website.

 

Hilton Honors Business Credit Card Customer Reviews

 

I always recommend asking around before committing to a new credit card. But if your friendship group is short on Hilton fanatics, here’s some firsthand reviews—

Great card that covers my main spending categories—and the priority pass is a nice addition, especially for a mid-level card. Hopefully, I can spend $15,000 next year to get a free weekend night. It’s definitely worth more than the $95 annual fee.”

 

“The 130,000 points welcome bonus and a free night is a great offer. You can use a Hilton free night anywhere and could be worth $1,000 plus depending on how you use it and if you’d ever spend that much on travel.”

I’ve had this card for a year. I never received correspondence from Amex, except for the emails letting me know my bill was due. Today, I received a letter stating they canceled my card because I never gave them my Social Security Number. Who even issues credit cards without getting an SSN? I know I gave it to them when I applied for the card. Stay away.”

 

Is the Amex Hilton Honors Business Credit Card Good for Me?

 

While this credit card offers high rewards rates and some solid perks, it’s rather limiting in its points-earning abilities and redemption options. To make the most of this card, you have to be a frequent business traveler who spends significantly on a hotel room—preferably Hilton.

For those fitting that description, this card can get you free nights rewards, room upgrades, and helps you save money on booking hotel rooms. But if you want more flexibility in how you earn points, it’s worth exploring other Hilton Amex cards, such as the Surpass and Aspire, which both come with much more diverse categories. 

If you’re tempted by the business benefits and Hilton rewards,

 

Apply for the Hilton Honors Business card here.  

 

FAQ

 

Does the Hilton credit card offer pre-approval?

Hilton doesn’t explicitly advertise pre-approval options. However, you can sign in to your American Express account and select “Check for Pre-qualified Credit Card Offers”. From there, just enter your details to see which pre-approved cards are available. 

It’s also wise to check your credit standing and aim for a good to excellent score to have the best chances of approval. 

 

How much is 130k Hilton points worth?

One Hilton Honors point is worth around 0.6 cents. So, 130,000 points translate to roughly $780—worth around four nights at a Hilton hotel based on the average daily rates. 

Eager for more rewards? Check out the best cash back credit cards

 

How long does it take to get to the Amex Hilton Honors Credit Card?

After completing the application, your Hilton card should arrive in 7 to 10 business days. Your new card will arrive at your residence in a white envelope with an American Express logo and return address. 

After confirming you’ve received your card online, you can set up your account, pay your bills, and enroll in features. If your card is taking longer than expected, you can request a replacement online or call 1-800-297-8500. 

 

Our Methodology

 

Our credit card reviews aim to provide a comprehensive assessment of both quantitative and qualitative factors. The quantitative analysis focuses on the financial costs and benefits associated with each card, including interest rates, fees, rewards programs, cash back offers, and other monetary perks. However, we also consider qualitative aspects that impact the everyday use and value of the card.

These include the simplicity of the application process, the structure of the rewards program, the likelihood of utilizing certain card features, and the suitability of the card for frequent or infrequent use. Our On FIRE rating system allows for quick comparisons between cards within a particular category. When choosing a new credit card, consumers should weigh the quantitative dollar amounts along with qualitative ease-of-use factors to select the best overall option for their needs.

 

 

Terms and Restrictions Apply
Physician on FIRE has partnered with CardRatings and other partners for our coverage of credit card products. Physician on FIRE and other partners may receive a commission from card issuers.
Some or all of the card offers that appear on the website are from advertisers. Compensation may impact on how and where card products appear on the site. POF does not include all card companies or all available card offers. Credit Card Providers determine the underwriting criteria necessary for approval, you should review each Provider's terms and conditions to determine which card works for you and your personal financial situation.
Editorial Disclosure: Opinions, reviews, analyses & recommendations are the author’s alone, and have not been reviewed, endorsed or approved by any of these entities.

User-Generated Content Disclosure: Responses are not provided or commissioned by the bank advertiser. Responses have not been reviewed, approved or otherwise endorsed by the bank advertiser. It is not the bank advertiser’s responsibility to ensure all posts and/or questions are answered.

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