Hilton Honors American Express Business Card

Quick Snapshot

• Annual Fee: $195
• APR: 22.49%-30.49% variable
• Rewards: 12X Hilton, 6X gas/restaurants/shipping/advertising, 3X everything else
• Bonus: 175,000 Hilton Honors bonus points after $6,000 in purchases in 3 months
• Best For: Business owners who travel to Hilton properties and want strong earning rates on common business expenses
• Credit Needed: Good to Excellent (670+)

Overview

The Hilton Honors American Express Business Card is designed for business owners who stay at Hilton properties and want to earn hotel rewards on typical business expenses. For $195 per year, the card delivers 12X Hilton Honors points on eligible Hilton purchases, 6X at U.S. gas stations, U.S. restaurants, on U.S. shipping purchases, and on U.S. advertising purchases in select media, and 3X on all other eligible purchases. The 6X bonus categories align remarkably well with common business spending patterns.

The 175,000-point welcome bonus after $6,000 in spending within three months is one of the largest in the Hilton co-branded portfolio, worth approximately $875 to $1,050 in hotel stays. Cardholders also receive complimentary Hilton Honors Gold status, which provides complimentary breakfast at select brands, room upgrades when available, and an 80% bonus on base points earned during stays. Spend $15,000 on the card in a calendar year and earn a free weekend night certificate.

What makes this card distinctive among hotel business cards is the breadth of its 6X bonus categories. Gas, restaurants, shipping, and advertising are four of the most significant expense categories for small and mid-size businesses. A business that spends $5,000 per month across those categories would earn 360,000 bonus points per year, enough for several free hotel nights. Combined with Gold status and the weekend night certificate, the Hilton Business card is a powerful tool for business owners in the Hilton ecosystem.

APR Breakdown

• Purchase APR: 22.49%-30.49% variable
• Balance Transfer APR: N/A
• Cash Advance APR: 29.99% variable
• Penalty APR: None

Note: Your APR will vary with the market based on the Prime Rate. American Express does not charge a penalty APR on this product.

Benefits Overview

Business-Focused Earning

• 12X points on eligible Hilton hotel purchases
• 6X points at U.S. gas stations
• 6X points at U.S. restaurants
• 6X points on U.S. shipping purchases
• 6X points on U.S. advertising in select media
• 3X points on all other eligible purchases

Hilton Honors Gold Status

• Complimentary Gold status with room upgrades when available
• Complimentary breakfast at select Hilton brands
• 80% bonus on base points earned during stays
• Fifth-night-free on standard reward stays
• Late checkout when available

Certificates and Credits

• Free weekend night certificate after $15,000 in annual spending
• Pathway to Diamond status after $40,000 in annual spending
• Priority Pass Select lounge access after $75,000 in annual spending

Business Tools

• Employee cards at no additional cost
• Spending controls and limits for team members
• Year-end spending summaries for tax preparation
• No foreign transaction fees
• Connect to QuickBooks and accounting software

Rewards & Points

• 12X points on eligible Hilton hotel purchases
• 6X points at U.S. gas stations, restaurants, shipping, and advertising
• 3X points on all other eligible purchases

The 6X bonus on shipping and advertising is unique among Hilton cards and specifically targets business spending patterns. An e-commerce business spending $20,000 per year on shipping and $15,000 on advertising would earn 210,000 bonus Hilton points from those categories alone, worth approximately $1,260 in hotel stays.

Welcome Bonus

Earn 175,000 Hilton Honors bonus points after you spend $6,000 in eligible purchases on your new card within the first 3 months of card membership. At average Hilton redemption values, this bonus is worth approximately $875 to $1,050 toward free hotel nights, potentially covering three or more nights at mid-range Hilton properties or two nights at premium locations.

Fees Summary

• Annual Fee: $195
• Employee Card Fee: $0
• Balance Transfer Fee: N/A
• Cash Advance Fee: Either $5 or 3% of the amount, whichever is greater
• Foreign Transaction Fee: $0
• Late Payment Fee: Up to $40
• Returned Payment Fee: Up to $40

Who This Card Is Best For

Ideal For

• Business travelers at Hilton who stay at Hilton properties for work trips regularly
• E-commerce businesses with heavy shipping costs that benefit from 6X on shipping
• Marketing-heavy businesses that spend significantly on advertising and want 6X on media buys
• Restaurant and dining businesses that spend on client meals and team dining

Not Good For

• Non-Hilton travelers who prefer other hotel chains and cannot use Gold status
• Light-spending businesses that cannot earn enough points to justify the $195 fee
• Businesses preferring cash back who want dollar-value rewards over hotel points

Key Pros & Cons

Pros

• 12X at Hilton properties is one of the highest hotel earning rates available
• 6X on gas, restaurants, shipping, and advertising perfectly targets business spending
• 175,000-point welcome bonus is one of the strongest hotel business card offers
• Gold status provides complimentary breakfast and room upgrades
• 3X base rate on all other purchases is above average
• Free weekend night certificate after $15,000 in annual spending
• Employee cards at no additional cost
• No foreign transaction fees
• Pathway to Diamond status through $40,000 in annual spending
• Points never expire with active account

Cons

• $195 annual fee requires regular Hilton stays to maximize value
• Hilton points valued at 0.5 to 0.6 cents each are less than some competing programs
• Gold status breakfast not available at every Hilton brand
• Weekend night certificate requires $15,000 in spending and is limited to weekends
• Points locked into Hilton ecosystem unless transferred to airlines at unfavorable rates
• 6X categories limited to U.S. merchants only
• Priority Pass requires $75,000 in spending, unrealistic for most businesses
• $6,000 spending requirement for the welcome bonus is higher than some alternatives

Alternatives to Consider

How the Rewards Add Up

Example Annual Value

Total estimated first-year value: $2,085 including welcome bonus at $875, free weekend night at $150 (if $15K threshold met), and points earned, minus the $195 annual fee. Based on Hilton points at 0.6 cents each. Businesses with heavy shipping and advertising spend can earn significantly more.

Should You Get This Card?

You Should Get It If...

• You stay at Hilton hotels for business several times per year
• Your business spends heavily on shipping and wants 6X rewards on those costs
• You invest in advertising and want 6X on media buys
• You value Gold status perks like breakfast and room upgrades during work trips
• You can hit $15,000 in annual spending for the free weekend night certificate
• You want separate business and personal Hilton earning with both feeding into one account
• You need employee cards for team members who also travel to Hilton properties

You Should Skip It If...

• You do not stay at Hilton hotels and cannot use Gold status benefits
• Your business spending does not concentrate in the 6X bonus categories
• You prefer cash back or flexible points over Hilton-specific rewards
• You already have the Hilton Surpass or Aspire and Gold or Diamond status
• Your business spends less than $15,000 per year and you cannot earn the weekend night certificate
• You want travel insurance and premium protections from your business card

Apply Now

Apply for Hilton Honors American Express Business Card

Information accurate as of May 2026. Terms and conditions apply. Please visit the issuer's website for the most current information.