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There are only a handful of hotel credit cards on the market that are geared toward small-business owners, but if you're looking to earn Hilton points, you're in luck.
Hilton Business Credit Card Review: Is It the Best Credit Card for You?
Right now you can earn
The
But if you can qualify for a small-business credit card, the
In fact, it's got the broadest range of bonus spending categories of any Hilton card, and comes with up to two free night certificates each year if you meet spending thresholds. Cardholders also receive automatic Hilton Gold elite status, and compelling benefits like airport lounge access.
Keep in mind you don't necessarily need a Hilton-branded credit card to earn Hilton points. Hilton Honors is an Amex Membership Rewards partner, which means you can transfer Amex points to Hilton at a 1:2 ratio from cards like
We're focused here on the rewards and perks that come with each card. These cards won't be worth it if you're paying interest or late fees. When using a credit card, it's important to pay your balance in full each month, make payments on time, and only spend what you can afford to pay.
Hilton Business Credit Card Rewards
Hilton Business Card Bonus
When you apply for the card, you can earn
How to Earn Points With the Hilton Honors Business Card
The
Cardholders earn points at the following rates:
- 12x points on purchases made directly with hotels and resorts in the Hilton portfolio
- 6x points on select business purchases: U.S. gas stations, wireless telephone services purchases directly from U.S. service providers, and on U.S purchases for shipping
- 6x points on select travel purchases: U.S. restaurants, flights booked directly with airlines or American Express Travel, and car rentals booked with select car rental companies
Keep in mind the 12x points at eligible Hilton hotels are in addition to the points you'd normally earn from staying with Hilton (10x points at most Hilton brands except Home2Suites and Tru by Hilton, which earn 5x). And because the card comes with automatic Hilton Gold elite status, you'll earn 80% bonus points on paid stays (18 points per dollar at most Hilton properties).
All told, between the points you'll earn from the card, regular points earning at Hilton hotels, and the Hilton Gold elite bonus, you'll earn 30 points per dollar when you use the card to pay for most Hilton hotel stays.
How to Use Points From the Hilton Business Card
You've got a number of options for redeeming Hilton Honors points, but you'll usually get the most value by using points for award nights at Hilton hotels.
Hilton doesn't have an official award chart, and the number of points required varies at individual hotels based on demand and season. The cheapest Hilton hotels start at 5,000 points per night and (with a few exceptions that go up to 150,000 points) top out at 95,000 points per night.
You can stretch your points for more nights by combining points and money for award stays, or by taking advantage of Hilton's fifth-night free benefit for elite members. This perk allows you to book five consecutive standard award nights and effectively get a 20% discount on the points required.
Because the
Other ways to use Hilton points include cashing them in for Amazon purchases, redeeming them for experiences, or trading them in for airline miles, Lyft rides, merchandise, and charity donations. You'll typically receive a lower value for your points when you redeem this way.
Hilton Business Credit Card Benefits and Features
The
Free night award certificates
When you spend $15,000 or more on eligible purchases in a calendar year with the card, you can receive a free night certificate, and another if you spend a total of $60,000 with your card in a calendar year.
Hilton free nights awarded for meeting spending thresholds used to only be valid Friday, Saturday, or Sunday nights, but Hilton has now made them more flexible by allowing members to redeem them any day of the week.
Automatic Hilton Gold elite status
Cardholders receive Hilton Gold status as long as their card is open and in good standing. Hilton's mid-level elite tier comes with surprisingly good benefits, including:
- Free continental breakfast (currently awarded as a food and beverage credit at US hotels)
- Room upgrades when available
- Fifth night free on award stays of five nights or more
- 80% points bonus on paid stays
- Free bottled water
- Elite rollover nights
If you spend $40,000 or more on eligible purchases in a calendar year with the
Priority Pass airport lounge access
When you have the
Car rental insurance
When you pay for your car rental with your card and decline the collision damage waiver at the rental counter, you can get secondary coverage for damage to or theft of the vehicle. Some countries and vehicle types are excluded, so be sure to read the terms and conditions before you rent and note that liability insurance isn't included.
Secondary car rental insurance will only cover amounts left over after your primary (personal) car insurance pays out. Some credit cards, like the
Baggage insurance plan
If you pay for a covered trip with the card, you can be covered for baggage loss or damage, up to $500 per person for checked bags, and $1,250 per person for carry-on luggage.
There are exclusions for high-risk items and some states have different limits, so check the terms and conditions for specific details.
Purchase protection
When you pay for an eligible item with your card, purchase protection can cover theft or damage that occurs within 90 days of purchase, up to a maximum of $1,000 per occurrence and $50,000 per account per calendar year.
Extended warranty
The
Global Assist Hotline
The card also offers access Amex's Global Assist Hotline to cardholders when they're traveling 100 or more miles from home.
This service can provide help with issues like translation services, missing luggage, emergency legal and medical referrals, and lost passports, but you'll be responsible for any third-party costs.
Hilton Business Credit Card Annual Fee and Other Costs
The
However, like most cards, there are other fees to keep an eye out for:
- Cash advance fee
- Late payment fee
- Returned payment fee
How the Hilton Honors Business Card Compares
American Express Hilton Business Card vs Other Hilton Credit Cards
Annual fee | |||
Rewards rate | 12 points per dollar spent on eligible purchases at Hilton hotels 6 points per dollar spent on select business purchases: U.S. gas stations, wireless telephone services purchases directly from U.S. service providers, and U.S purchases for shipping 6 points per dollar spent on select travel purchases: U.S. restaurants, flights booked directly with airlines or Amex Travel, and car rentals booked with select car rental companies 3 points per dollar on all other eligible purchases | 7 points per dollar spent on eligible purchases at Hilton hotels 5 points per dollar spent at eligible U.S. restaurants, U.S. supermarkets, and U.S. gas stations 3 points per dollar on all other eligible purchases | 12 points per dollar spent on eligible purchases at Hilton hotels 6 points per dollar spent at eligible U.S. restaurants, U.S. supermarkets, and U.S. gas stations 3 points per dollar on all other eligible purchases |
Welcome bonus offer | |||
Travel benefits | Hilton Gold elite status Upgrade to Diamond status after you spend $40,000 on eligible purchases in a calendar year Free night certificate after you spend $15,000 on eligible purchases in a calendar year A second free night award if you spend a total of $60,000 or more in a calendar year Priority Pass Select airport lounge membership** with 10 free visits per year
| Hilton Silver elite status Upgrade to Gold status after you spend $20,000 on eligible purchases in a calendar year
| Hilton Gold elite status Upgrade to Diamond status after you spend $40,000 on eligible purchases in a calendar year Free night certificate after you spend $15,000 on eligible purchases in a calendar year Priority Pass Select airport lounge membership** with 10 free visits per year |
Other card benefits | Secondary car rental insurance Baggage insurance plan Global Assist Hotline Purchase protection Extended warranty Access to discounts and bonus points through Amex Offers** No foreign transaction fees | Secondary car rental insurance Global Assist Hotline Purchase protection Extended warranty Access to discounts and bonus points through Amex Offers No foreign transaction fees | Secondary car rental insurance Baggage insurance plan Global Assist Hotline Purchase protection Extended warranty Access to discounts and bonus points through Amex Offers No foreign transaction fees |
Learn more |
Amex Hilton Business vs Other Small-business Hotel Credit Cards
Annual fee | |||
Rewards rate | 12 points per dollar spent on eligible purchases at Hilton hotels 6 points per dollar spent at U.S. gas stations, wireless telephone services purchases directly from U.S. service providers, and on U.S purchases for shipping 6 points per dollar spent at U.S. restaurants, flights booked directly with airlines or Amex Travel, and car rentals booked with select car rental companies 3 points per dollar on all other eligible purchases | 6x Marriott Bonvoy points on each dollar of eligible purchases at hotels participating in the Marriott Bonvoy® program 4 points per dollar on eligible purchases at restaurants worldwide, U.S. gas stations, wireless telephone services purchased directly from U.S. service providers, and on U.S. shipping purchases 2 points per dollar on all other eligible purchases | 4x points at Hyatt hotels 2x points on your top three spend categories each quarter (from a list) through December 31, 2023, then your top two categories each quarter 2x points on fitness club and gym memberships 1 point per dollar on all other purchases |
Welcome bonus offer | |||
Travel benefits | Hilton Gold elite status Upgrade to Diamond status after you spend $40,000 on eligible purchases in a calendar year Free night certificate after you spend $15,000 on eligible purchases in a calendar year A second free night award if you spend a total of $60,000 or more in a calendar year Priority Pass Select airport lounge membership** with 10 free visits per year | Marriott Bonvoy Gold elite status Annual free night award* A second free night award if you spend $60,000 or more in a calendar year* 15 elite night credits each calendar year | Automatic Hyatt Discoverist elite status Gift Discoverist status to up to five company employees 5 Tier-Qualifying night credits toward status and Milestone rewards for every $10,000 you spend in a calendar year Up to $100 in Hyatt statement credits per year 10% redemption rebate after you spend $50,000 in a calendar year Hyatt Leverage program membership
|
Other card benefits | Secondary car rental insurance Baggage insurance plan Global Assist Hotline Purchase protection Extended warranty Access to discounts and bonus points through Amex Offers No foreign transaction fees | Secondary car rental insurance Baggage insurance plan Global Assist Hotline Purchase protection Extended warranty Access to discounts and bonus points through Amex Offers No foreign transaction fees | Secondary car rental insurance Trip cancellation/interruption insurance Extended warranty Purchase protection Travel and emergency assistance services Roadside dispatch No foreign transaction fees |
Review |
*The
Hilton Business Credit Card Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ)
Is the Hilton Honors Business card worth it?
Even if you don't stay with Hilton often, the
However, if you absolutely don't want to pay an annual fee, there's another option. The no-annual-fee
What credit score do you need for the Amex Hilton Business card?
Usually, folks who are approved for the
If your credit isn't quite there yet, read our guides on increasing your credit score and how to build credit with a credit card..
Can you add authorized users to the Hilton Honors Business card?
You can add up to 99 authorized user cards to your account, and you can even set spending limits for your employees if you wish. Any points earned from their spending will be credited to the primary cardholder's Hilton account and count toward meeting spending thresholds for higher elite status and free night certificates.
Keep in mind you'll be responsible for any purchases made by your authorized users. Authorized users/employee cards do not receive additional benefits like Hilton Gold status or Priority Pass Select membership.
Who is eligible for the Amex Hilton Honors Business card?
The
If you already have the
It is possible to have more than one type of Hilton card open at a time. So, for example, if you already have the
Methodology: How we reviewed the Hilton Business Credit Card
Our credit card editorial team at Personal Finance Insider reviewed the
We considered these factors and more in our review:
- Ease of use — Does the card have a simple, straightforward rewards structure? Are rewards easy to redeem, or do you have to navigate things like blackout dates or complex award schemes?
- Rewards earning — Is the welcome bonus offer valuable, especially compared to similar cards? Are the bonus categories relevant to travelers and/or small-business owners, and are any capped at a maximum spending amount?
- Fees — Is the annual fee worth it compared to the benefits you get, such as elite status or travel protections? Can you get hit with other charges, like foreign transaction fees or a high interest rate?
- Benefits — Will the card's benefits make your life easier, improve your travel experience, or save you money? For small-business cards, are they relevant to the needs of business owners?
For a close look at our methodology, read about how we rate credit cards at Insider.