The Hilton Honors American Express Business Card
- Annual Fee
- $195
- points · Welcome Bonus
- 150,000
- Highest rate (conditional)
- Up to 12X (Hilton)
Terms checked against the issuer on October 10, 2026
At a Glance
- Annual Fee
- $195
- Authorized User Fee
- $0
- Foreign Transaction Fee
- $0
- Network
- —
- Rewards Currency
- Hilton Honors
- Point Valuation
- 0.4–0.4 cpp (mid: 0.4)
- Credit Required
- Good to Excellent
Welcome Offer
150,000
points
Spend $8,000 in the first 6 months
Earning Rates
- 12X
Hilton
12X points at hotels and resorts in the Hilton portfolio
- 5X
All Other
5 Hilton Honors points per dollar on the first $100,000 of eligible non-Hilton purchases each calendar year, then 3 points per dollar. Qualifying Hilton purchases earn 12 points separately and do not consume this cap. Eligible purchases exclude fees, interest, cash equivalents, gift cards, prepaid reloads and person-to-person payments.
Cap: $100,000/annual
Benefits & Perks
Travel Benefits
7 perksElite Status
General Travel
Car Rental
Concierge
Annual Credits & Statement Credits
1 creditsUp to
$240
in recurring credits (annual)
$240 Hilton credit
Up to $240 annually ($60 per quarter) in statement credits for purchases made directly with Hilton portfolio properties
$240
Annual
Elite Status & Memberships
Fast track to top-tier perks
Automatic Hilton Honors Gold Elite Status
Enjoy Gold Elite status with 80% bonus points, room upgrades, late checkout, and complimentary breakfast at select brands
Hilton Honors™ Upgrade to Diamond Status
Spend $40,000 on eligible purchases on your Card in a calendar year and you can earn an upgrade to Hilton Honors™ Diamond status through the end of
Insurance & Protections
10 protectionsZero liability protection on fraudulent charges
You're not responsible for unauthorized charges. Amex covers 100% of fraudulent transactions when reported promptly.
Up to $1,000 per item against damage or theft
$1,000
Reimbursement for purchases damaged, stolen, or lost within 90 days. Up to $1,000/item, $50K annual max.
Car rental insurance (secondary coverage)
secondary
Coverage for damage or theft of rental vehicles when you decline the rental agency's insurance
National Car Rental® Emerald Club Executive® Status
Hilton Honors American Express Business Card Members can enjoy complimentary National Car Rental® Emerald Club Executive® status, including perks
Extended warranty adds up to 1 year
Get an additional year of warranty protection on eligible electronics and appliances with original warranties of 5 years or less.
Show all 10 protectionsShow fewer protections
Trip Cancellation and Interruption Insurance
$10,000
Despite our best efforts, sometimes things happen that are out of our control. If you purchase a round trip entirely with your Eligible Card and a
Trip Delay Insurance
$500
Booking the trip is easy. Avoiding delays is next to impossible. If a round-trip is paid for entirely with your Eligible Card and a covered reason
Up to $1,250 carry-on / $500 checked baggage insurance
$1,250
secondary
Reimbursement for lost or damaged luggage in excess of carrier coverage — up to $1,250 carry-on, $500 checked
Purchase protection up to $1,000 per item
$1,000
primary
Coverage for accidental damage or theft within 90 days of purchase, up to $1,000/item, $50,000/year
Extended warranty protection for eligible purchases
$1
Adds one year of warranty coverage to eligible items purchased with the card
Program & Transfers
Hilton Honors
More ways to earn. More ways to stay.
Hilton Honors is one of the world's largest hotel loyalty programs, with over 9,000 properties across 25 brands in 138 countries. The program offers a straightforward earning structure of 10 points per dollar at most brands, with elite members earning up to 120% bonus points on top of base earnings. Members earn points on eligible stays and can redeem for free night awards starting at 5,000 points, with dynamic pricing based on room rates. The fifth night free benefit on standard award stays of 5+ nights offers exceptional value, effectively a 20% discount on longer redemptions. The program features five elite tiers (Member, Silver, Gold, Diamond, and Diamond Reserve) with benefits including room upgrades, executive lounge access, free breakfast (Gold and above), and milestone bonuses. Elite status can be earned through paid nights, stays, or qualifying spend, with credit card holders receiving automatic Gold or Diamond status.
Program Ratings
Sweet Spots — Best Redemptions
| Route / Property | Points | Cabin/Type | Value / Region |
|---|---|---|---|
| Waldorf Astoria Maldives Ithaafushi | 150,000 | — | — |
| Conrad Maldives Rangali Island | 120,000 | — | — |
| Waldorf Astoria Los Cabos Pedregal | 120,000 | — | — |
| Grand Wailea, A Waldorf Astoria Resort | 110,000 | — | — |
| Waldorf Astoria Beverly Hills | 120,000 | — | — |
| Conrad Algarve | 59,000 | — | — |
| Roku Kyoto, LXR | 70,000 | — | — |
| Waldorf Astoria Seychelles Platte Island | 100,000 | — | — |
| Hampton Inn & Suites by Hilton Paraiso, Mexico | 20,000 | — | — |
| Hilton Honors Experiences (Luxury Spa/Dining) | 10,000 | — | — |
| Canopy by Hilton (Select European Properties) | 50,000 | — | — |
Reviews & Analysis
Editorial Review
The Hilton Honors American Express Business Card is a good option for Hilton loyalists, especially if you are near the 5/24 limit. Although points may hold lower value, frequent visits can justify this card’s extras.
Key Takeaways
This card can be a good choice for Hilton loyalists, those nearing their 5/24 limit, and anyone hoping to redeem a free night (or more) at a Hilton property using the welcome offer points. However, it can be deceptive — though that’s true of many Hilton co-branded cards. Hilton point redemptions tend to require more points than other hotel chains. The current welcome offer is 150,000 points plus a Free Night Reward (through 1/13/27), which might sound high, but we value Hilton points at about 0.6 cents each, making the points worth approximately $900. That still seems decent, but in cities or during peak travel season, those 150,000 points may only cover one or two nights. If you’re traveling to a smaller city or during off-peak times, you’ll get more out of these points. However, they’re generally not as valuable as points from a hotel chain like Hyatt.
Why This Card Could Be Right For You
The Hilton Honors American Express Business Card offers up to $240 in statement credits each year on purchases made directly with Hilton properties. At first glance, this benefit alone may justify the $195 annual fee. However, these credits are split into $60 increments each quarter, so if you don’t stay at Hilton at least once every quarter, you will need to get creative to use them.
Here are some highlights of this card’s features:
- Complimentary Hilton Honors Gold status (Hilton’s second-highest tier)
- National Car Rental Emerald Club Executive status
- Fifth night free benefit when you book an award stay of five or more nights
Another noteworthy perk is the 5x points multiplier on all purchases, up to $100,000 annually. This can help you build your points balance faster as you work toward the welcome offer, which requires spending $8,000 in the first six months.
Read full review (3 more sections)
When The Usual Advice Doesn't Apply
Here are some reasons this card may not be right for you:
- It doesn’t offer a free night certificate each year.
- The benefits are less valuable if you don’t stay at Hilton properties regularly.
- If you only want the welcome offer, the 5x points benefit isn’t particularly valuable beyond meeting the spending requirement.
- You won’t benefit from Hilton or National Car Rental statuses.
What to Know About Hilton Honors
Quality hotels but points go fast with high per night point cost.
- Amex’s one-card-per-lifetime rule makes it difficult to accrue Hilton points using Hilton cards exclusively.
- Hilton is part of the Amex partner reward system and at 1:2 is a decent transfer value.
- Hilton has high quality hotels and excellent coverage both in the US and internationally.
- We recommend this system as more of a filler. Either as a specific destination or an upscale IHG when no Hyatt stays are available.
How The Hilton Honors Business Credit Card Fits In The Hilton Honors Ecosystem
The Hilton Honors Amex Business Card is the only Hilton business option that won’t count against your 5/24 status. Three personal Hilton Honors cards are also available:
- Hilton Honors (No Annual Fee): Few perks and a lower 80,000-point sign-up bonus (requires $1,000 in spending).
- Hilton Honors Surpass: $150 annual fee, a 130,000-point sign-up bonus (requires $2,000 in spending over six months), complimentary Hilton Honors Gold status, and $200 in statement credits ($50 each quarter).
- Hilton Honors Aspire: $550 annual fee, a 150,000-point sign-up bonus (requires $4,000 in purchases), complimentary Diamond status, $400 in Hilton credits ($200 twice per year), $200 in flight credits ($50 each quarter), and a $199 Clear Plus credit.
Choose based on how often you stay at Hilton properties and which benefits matter most to you.
Pros and Cons
Pros
- +Automatic Hilton Gold status with room upgrades and breakfast benefits
- +Earn Diamond status through $40,000 annual spend (extends through next year)
- +$240 annual Hilton credit ($60 per quarter) exceeds the annual fee
- +5X on all eligible purchases up to $100K per calendar year (then 3X)
- +12X earning at Hilton properties
- +No foreign transaction fees
- +Free employee cards with no additional fee
Cons
- -$195 annual fee (increased from $95 in 2024)
- -Quarterly credits require spending at Hilton properties (use-it-or-lose-it)
- -Points locked to Hilton program with no transfer flexibility
- -Amex network less accepted internationally
- -Cannot product change to personal Hilton cards
- -No free night awards included
- -No airport lounge access
Who It's Best For
Best For
- Business owners who frequently stay at Hilton properties
- Those with high business travel expenses who can earn Diamond via $40,000 spend
- Business travelers who want to earn 5X on all business purchases (first $100K/year)
- Small business owners seeking to separate personal and business Hilton earning
Not Ideal For
- Businesses with minimal travel or Hilton spend
- Those who already have Diamond status through personal cards or stays
- Businesses seeking flexible points with transfer partners
- Companies that need Visa/Mastercard for wider international acceptance
The Math: Is $195 Worth It?
First-year value includes $600 welcome bonus
Credit Utilization (60%)
Excludes earning value, lounge access, insurance, and elite status
Total Value Captured
$144
Annual Fee
-$195
Net Annual Value
-$51
Details & Terms
Payment Terms
| Purchase APR | 19.74%–28.74% (Variable) |
| Cash Advance APR | 28.49% (Variable) |
| Foreign Transaction Fee | $0 |
| Authorized User Fee | $0 |
FAQs
How much are Hilton Honors points worth?
Hilton Honors points are valued at approximately 0.4-0.7 cents each, depending on redemption. Standard rooms average 0.5 cpp, while luxury properties and experiences can exceed 2 cpp. Dynamic pricing means value varies significantly by property and date.
Do Hilton Honors points expire?
Yes, Hilton Honors points expire after 24 months of account inactivity. Any qualifying activity (stays, points earning, or card usage) resets the 24-month clock. Holding an active Hilton Honors credit card keeps your account active.
Does the fifth night free apply to all stays?
The fifth night free benefit applies only to Silver elite members and above on standard room reward stays of 5+ consecutive nights booked entirely with points. Premium room awards, paid stays, and paid+points bookings do not qualify.
Can I earn elite status from a credit card?
Yes. The Hilton Honors Surpass and Business cards grant automatic Gold status (25 elite nights, 80% bonus points). The Hilton Honors Aspire card grants automatic Diamond status (50 elite nights, 100% bonus points). These cards also provide elite night credits toward higher tiers.
Can I transfer Hilton Honors points?
Hilton Honors points can be transferred to other member accounts through pooling (max 11 members) or to most American Express Membership Rewards cards at a 2:1 ratio (2 Hilton points = 1 Membership Rewards point). New members must wait 30 days before using pooling.
What are Hilton Honors brands?
Hilton operates 24 brands including luxury (Waldorf Astoria, Conrad, LXR), upper-midscale (Canopy, Signia, DoubleTree), midscale (Hilton, Curio), and economy (Hampton, Tru, Spark). All brands participate in Hilton Honors earning and elite benefits.
How does dynamic pricing work?
Hilton uses dynamic award pricing where nightly point costs adjust based on market demand and cash rates. Standard room awards currently cap at 150,000 points/night. Premium room awards on unavailable dates can exceed 1 million points and should generally be avoided.
Is booking direct required for points earning?
Yes. Booking through third-party travel agencies (Expedia, Booking.com, etc.) does not earn Hilton Honors points or elite night credits. You must book through Hilton.com, the Hilton Honors app, or call the direct reservations line.
Media & Resources
Card Design
Evidence Sources
| Source | Verified | Citation |
|---|---|---|
| American Express | American Express: Multiple card facts | |
| American Express | — | American Express |
| American Express | American Express: Annual fee | |
| Issuer Page | Issuer Page: Multiple card facts | |
| Issuer Page | Issuer Page: Multiple card facts | |
| Issuer Page | Issuer Page | |
| RewardsCC API | — | RewardsCC API |
| NerdWallet | — | NerdWallet |
| The Points Guy | — | The Points Guy |
| American Express | American Express: Card name | |
| American Express | American Express: Multiple card facts |
Top brands for this card
Brands where this card's earn-rate structure makes it a strong choice. Open a brand for the full ranked list.
