Hilton Honors Business Card review: Earn free nights on everyday business expenses

Our take: The The Hilton Honors American Express Business Card offers great rewards rates on select business expenses, making it easy to rack up free nights and perks at Hilton properties. That said, it takes some spending to earn a free night reward, something that comes automatically with most hotel cards.

The Hilton Honors American Express Business Card Overview

Card type: Business

The Hilton Honors Business Card offers a solid amount of value for a modest annual fee, though a lot of it requires some spending to unlock the best perks. The card offers a decent welcome bonus and a great rewards rate on a variety of common business expenses, making it easy to earn free hotel stays.

Cardholders can enjoy Gold elite status benefits right off the bat and even upgrade to Hilton Honors Diamond status if the total eligible purchases on your card account during a calendar year reach $40,000 or more. The card also gives you 10 complimentary lounge visits to more than 1,200 airport lounges around the world in the Priority Pass network each year, which most cards with a similar annual fee don’t offer. 

The Hilton Honors Business Card also offers an annual Free Night Reward from Hilton Honors after you spend $15,000 in purchases on your card in a calendar year. You can also get another Free Night Reward from Hilton Honors after you spend an additional $45,000 in purchases on your card in the same calendar year. The silver lining is that Hilton’s free night reward can be used at just about any Hilton property, while other hotel brands typically limit you to less expensive properties.

Who is the The Hilton Honors American Express Business Card good for? 

The Hilton Honors Business Card can be a good option for small business owners who want to leverage their everyday business expenses to earn free hotel nights, either for business or for pleasure. It’s particularly worth considering if you prefer Hilton hotels, and you can spend enough in a year to earn at least one of the card’s two annual free reward nights.  

Who shouldn’t get the The Hilton Honors American Express Business Card? 

If you’re not jazzed about Hilton hotels or you’re looking for something with a bit more flexibility, the Hilton Honors Business Card may not be the right fit. Even if you are a Hilton loyalist, the card may not offer enough value to make it worthwhile unless your business spends at least $15,000 each year.

The Hilton Honors American Express Business Card: How to earn rewards

The Hilton Honors Business Card offers 12X directly with hotels & resorts in the Hilton portfolio. As a Hilton Gold elite member, you’ll also earn up to an additional 18 points per dollar on those purchases, for a total of up to 30 points per dollar. 

On everyday business spending, you’ll get 6X at U.S. gas stations, on U.S. purchases for shipping, on wireless telephone services purchased directly from U.S. service providers, on flights booked directly with airlines or with Amex Travel, on car rentals booked directly from select car rental companies, and at U.S. restaurants, and 3X on all other eligible purchases. Terms & Limitations Apply.

As a new cardholder, you’ll also get 130,000 Hilton Honors bonus points after you spend $3,000 in purchases within the first three months of card membership.

One thing to keep in mind is that while Hilton makes it really easy to rack up rewards, it also requires a lot of points for free stays. The hotel chain says that you can book a night for as little as 5,000 points, but expect to see a lot of hotels that charge 40,000 points or more.

How to redeem The Hilton Honors American Express Business Card rewards 

As with other hotel credit cards, you’ll generally get the most value if you redeem your Hilton points for hotel stays. However, there are some other options to explore. Also, note that you can pool your points with up to nine family members and friends. Here are your redemption options.

Stays at Hilton hotels and resorts

You can redeem Hilton points for a stay at more than 7,000 properties around the world. A night in a standard room costs anywhere from 5,000 to 95,000 bonus points, but if you want a better room or special accommodations, it’ll cost more.

If you book a stay of five or more nights with points, Hilton will give you the fifth night free.

Other redemption options

While hotel stays are generally best, you do have some other options if you don’t have any upcoming travel plans. Here are some options, along with what you can expect in terms of redemption value:

Redemption option	Value per point
Shop on Amazon	0.2 cents
Ride with Lyft	0.22 cents
Book a rental car with Alamo, Enterprise and National	0.21 cents
Pay for event tickets with Ticketmaster	0.2 cents
Donate your points	0.28 cents

You can also transfer your Hilton Honors points to frequent flyer programs from various domestic and international airlines, but don’t expect a great return. For example, it takes 10,000 Hilton points to get 1,000 Delta SkyMiles. 

For more aspirational redemptions, you have the option to bid against other Hilton Honors members for certain experiences, such as tickets to the Grammys (including the after-party) and other VIP opportunities.

The Hilton Honors American Express Business Card rates and fees

• Annual fee: $95
• Foreign transaction fee: None
• Purchase APR: 20.99%–29.99% variable

To view rates and fees of the The Hilton Honors American Express Business Card, see this page 

Additional benefits

• Gold elite status: With your complimentary Gold elite status, you’ll get certain perks when you stay at Hilton hotels and resorts. Examples include 80% more points when you pay for stays out of pocket, space-available room upgrades, and continental breakfast or a food and beverage credit.
• Baggage insurance: If your baggage is lost, damaged or stolen on a fare you purchased with your card, you’re covered for up to $1,250 for a carry-on bag and up to $500 for a checked bag.
• Purchase protection: If you purchase an eligible item with the card, it’s protected against accidental damage and theft for up to 90 days from the purchase date to the tune of up to $1,000 per claim.

Credit cards similar to The Hilton Honors American Express Business Card

The Hilton Honors Business Card offers some solid value, especially for small businesses with a lot of expenses. However, if you’re not particularly loyal to Hilton or you’re looking for a card with more redemption flexibility, here are some other cards to consider.

The Hilton Honors American Express Business Card	World of Hyatt Business Credit Card	Ink Business Preferred® Credit Card
Annual fee	Annual fee	Annual fee
$95	$199	$95
Welcome bonus	Welcome bonus	Welcome bonus
130,000 Hilton Honors bonus points after you spend $3,000 in purchases within the first three months of card membership	60,000 Bonus Points after you spend $5,000 on purchases in your first 3 months from account opening	100,000 points after spending $8,000 in the first three months of card opening. That’s worth $1,000 in cash back or $1,250 in travel booked through Chase Travel℠.
Rewards	Rewards	Rewards
6X at U.S. gas stations, on U.S. purchases for shipping, on wireless telephone services purchased directly from U.S. service providers, on flights booked directly with airlines or with Amex Travel, on car rentals booked directly from select car rental companies, and at U.S. restaurants, and 3X on all other eligible purchases. Terms & Limitations Apply	9 points total per $1 spent at Hyatt – 4 Bonus Points per $1 when you use your card at Hyatt hotels & 5 Base Points per $1 from Hyatt as a World of Hyatt member, 2 Bonus Points per $1 spent in your top three spend categories each quarter through 12/31/24, then your top two categories each quarter and on fitness club and gym memberships. 1 Bonus Point per $1 spent on all other purchases	3x points per $1 (up to $150,000 combined) spent on shipping purchases, internet, cable, phone, and advertising with social media sites and search engines, and 1x point per $1 spent on all other purchases.
View Offer	Read full review	Read full review

To view rates and fees of the The Hilton Honors American Express Business Card, see this page 

World of Hyatt Business Credit Card vs. The Hilton Honors American Express Business Card

The World of Hyatt Business Credit Card has a higher annual fee of $199, but that can be worth it for business owners who prefer upscale and luxury hotels and resorts. The card offers 60,000 Bonus Points after you spend $5,000 on purchases in your first 3 months from account opening. You’ll also earn 9 points total per $1 spent at Hyatt – 4 Bonus Points per $1 when you use your card at Hyatt hotels & 5 Base Points per $1 from Hyatt as a World of Hyatt member, plus 2 Bonus Points per $1 spent in your top three spend categories each quarter through 12/31/24, then your top two categories each quarter—and on fitness club and gym memberships. 1 Bonus Point per $1 spent on all other purchases.

While the card doesn’t offer a free anniversary night, it does give you $100 in statement credits toward purchases at Hyatt properties (that’s $50 every six months), 10% of your redeemed points back when you spend $50,000 in a year, and 15% off standard rates at Hyatt properties. You’ll also get a complimentary one-year membership to DoorDash DashPass.  

Ink Business Preferred® Credit Card vs. The Hilton Honors American Express Business Card

With the Ink Business Preferred® Credit Card, you’ll earn a staggering 100,000 points after spending $8,000 in the first three months of card opening. That’s worth $1,000 in cash back or $1,250 in travel booked through Chase Travel℠. 

The card also offers 3x points per $1 (up to $150,000 combined) spent on shipping purchases, internet, cable, phone, and advertising with social media sites and search engines, and 1x point per $1 spent on all other purchases. If you’re looking for more flexibility with your rewards, the Ink Business Preferred® Card is tough to beat. Ultimate Rewards can be used to book travel through Chase at a 25% greater value, taken as a cash-back statement credit at a value of a penny per point or transferred to one of Chase’s multiple travel loyalty transfer partners.  

Is the The Hilton Honors American Express Business Card right for you?

The Hilton Honors Business Card is the right choice  if you prefer Hilton to other hotel brands and want to rack up rewards to use for free stays at Hilton hotels. That said, business owners who want a more versatile rewards program or who aren’t married to a single hotel chain may want to shop around and consider other options.

Frequently asked questions

How much is the The Hilton Honors American Express Business Card?

The card charges a $95 annual fee beginning your first year. But depending on how you use the card, you could get that value back in the form of perks and rewards.

Does Hilton have a business rewards program?

For small and medium-sized businesses, Hilton is launching a business rewards program in early 2024, which comes with discounted rates on stays, travel management tools for employees, loyalty perks, and more.

Is it hard to get a Hilton card?

The Hilton credit cards typically require good or excellent personal credit to get approved, which means having a FICO Score in the upper 600s or higher. That said, American Express will also consider other factors, such as your personal income, credit history, and other debt, to determine your eligibility.

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Please note that card details are accurate as of the publish date, but are subject to change at any time at the discretion of the issuer. Please contact the card issuer to verify rates, fees, and benefits before applying. 

Eligibility and Benefit level varies by Card. Terms, Conditions, and Limitations Apply. Please visit americanexpress.com/benefits guide for more details. Underwritten by Amex Assurance Company.