The Hilton Honors American Express Business Card Review

CardName Essentials

CardName really takes care of its members. With rewards such as 12 times the bonus points when you stay at a participating Hilton property; six times the bonus points on certain travel and business purchases (more on that below); and three times the bonus points on your other purchases, plus an annual fee of just AnnualFees, businesses with traveling employees who favor Hilton properties would be hard-pressed to find a more beneficial business credit card than CardName. On top of these ongoing rewards earning opportunities, the card features a welcome offer through which new cardholders can earn 130,000 bonus points after spending $3,000 on purchases in the first three months. With all that traveling employees are doing, it's important to note there are no foreign transaction fees and you can also relax with 10 complimentary airport lounge visits each year after a one-time enrollment in Priority Pass Select™, which offers access to lounges in more than 140 countries (Terms apply. See Rates and Fees; terms apply).

FEATURED CARD

 

Mastercard® Titanium Card™

• Patented brushed stainless steel front and carbon back--weighing 22 grams.
• 2% value for airfare redemptions with no blackout dates or seat restrictions. 1% value for cash back redemptions. Earn one point for every one dollar spent.
• 24/7 Luxury Card Concierge®--available by phone, email and live mobile chat. Around-the-clock service to help you save time and manage tasks big and small.
• Exclusive Luxury Card Travel® benefits--average value of $500 per stay (e.g., resort credits, room upgrades, free wifi, breakfast for two and more) at over 3,000 properties.
• Members-only LUXURY MAGAZINE®.
• Cell phone protection for eligible claims of up to $1,000 each year. Plus additional World Elite Mastercard® benefits.
• Annual fee: $195 ($95 for each Authorized User). Terms and conditions apply.

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What Our Editors Like Best About CardName

As a cardholder of CardName, you'll be swimming in financial and other rewards. From mountains of points available through the welcome offer to mountains of points available to earn, to weekend reward nights and airport lounge availability, the traveling business person is catered to 24/7. We love this because you're so busy with work that it's nice to reap the benefits in both your business and personal lives. Travel for work, earn up to two weekend reward nights a year for your family (earn the first night after spending $15,000 in a year and earn another night after spending another $45,000 in the same year). It doesn't get much better than that.

As far as everyday rewards earning goes:

• Earn 12 points per $1 spent at participating Hilton properties
• Earn six points per $1 spent at U.S. restaurants, U.S. gas stations; on airfare booked directly with an airline or through amextravel.com; on purchases directly with select car rental companies (list of companies available at americanexpress.com/rewards-info); on courier, postal and freight shipping purchased in the U.S.; and on your monthly wireless telephone services purchased directly from U.S. providers
• Earn three points per $1 on all your other purchases
• Enjoy complimentary Gold elite status which earns you an 80% bonus on base points earned (learn more about elite status and the numerous benefits of the Hilton Honors rewards program in our Hilton Honors program guide)

The other aspect of this card that we love is the expense management tools provided to card members free of charge. You can track employees card spending habits, connect your account to QuickBooks, receive a year-end account summary, and even choose a designated account manager, such as your assistant, to handle the business decisions associated with CardName. The other nice feature is the account alerts function, which can notify you when you're near your spending limit, of employee purchases, or even just when your bill is due.

Potential Downsides of CardName

As is the case with any branded credit card, your loyalty to the brand really is the key as to whether CardName is the right choice for you. Sure you can earn bonus points in a number of business and travel-related categories, but those points aren't going to be quite as useful to you if you and your employees aren't staying at Hilton properties regularly. If you're just looking to earn bonus points on travel and business purchases, there are more general small business credit cards out there that will reward you handsomely for those purchases without the Hilton brand hanging over your head.

Additionally, the bar to earn those weekend night rewards is fairly high at $15,000 in a year to earn the first night and another $45,000 in the same year to earn the second night. This probably isn't the card for the part-time freelancer or contract worker who doesn't really have that many expenses overall.

How CardName Compares to Other Small Business Credit Cards

CardName vs. CardName discontinued

For those who find the CardName too travel-oriented and would rather receive cash rewards, there is the CardName.

This card offers new members an introductory 12 months with 0 percent APR on purchases (then, RegAPR). It also offers a welcome bonus offer of $750 cash back after you spend $7,500 in your first three months, and it doesn't charge an annual fee.

Cash-back rewards are tracked by a point system, which is easy to use. You'll earn 5% back on the first $25,000 spent each account anniversary year at office supply stores and on cellular phone, landline, internet and cable TV services. Earn 2 percent back on the first $25,000 spent each year at gas stations and restaurants and 1 percent back on everything else.

The Chase Ultimate Rewards® points are transferable among different Chase products, so if you already have a Chase card in your wallet, it could pay to stick within the Chase family. However, if you travel internationally for business, be aware that the CardName might not be for you – it charges foreign transaction fees, compared to no foreign transaction fees with CardName.

CardName vs. CardNamediscontinued

CardName and the CardName both charge an annual fee, but Citi waives it for the first 12 months (Citi is a CardRatings advertiser). Both cards offer the opportunity to earn a significant chunk of rewards as a welcome offer and, of course, reward you at the highest rate when you spend within the respective brands. The real difference comes down to your loyalty and your needs.

If you have airline loyalty, but not so much hotel loyalty, the CardName is likely a better bet. The benefits include receiving a free checked bag on domestic travel itineraries, preferred boarding and a 25 percent discount on eligible in-flight purchases. Plus, you'll earn two AAdvantage® miles for every eligible $1 spent with American Airlines as well as with telecommunications merchants, cable and satellite providers, car rental merchants and at gas stations and one mile for every $1 spent elsewhere. Depending on where your travel takes you, round-trip reward flights are available for as few as 11,000 miles. Plus, new cardholders can earn 65,000 bonus miles after spending $4,000 on purchases in the first four months.

CardName vs. CardName

The CardName gives CardName a run for its money in that it is a travel card, but there aren't any specific brands to think about. It offers 1.5 miles for every $1 spent, plus 5 miles on hotel and rental car bookings through Capital One Travel™, has no annual fee and offers an introductory 0 percent APR on purchases for 9 months (then, RegAPR). Although it doesn't come close to CardName in terms of bonus rewards, it does offer 20,000 miles once you spend $3,000 in your first three months as an account holder. In the long run, CardName will earn you more rewards, but those rewards are only as good as your loyalty to the Hilton brand. If you're looking for flexibility, the Capital One card is likely the better choice.

Who Should Get This Card?

CardName is a solid choice for anyone who likes to lay their head on a Hilton pillow when they travel for business and appreciate being rewarded for buying things as simple as gas for your business driving. Plus, those opportunities for weekend reward nights will have you dreaming of weekends away with family and friends or at least keeping some money in your business bottom line.

(See Rates and Fees; terms apply for CardName)