5 reasons you’ll want the Hilton Business Amex: Gold status and free lounge passes

In the midst of our favorite travel rewards credit cards and business credit cards, a cobranded hotel business card can sometimes fall through the cracks. But if your travels include Hilton properties, even occasionally, you should consider the Hilton Honors American Express Business Card for your next credit card.

Within the Hilton portfolio, the Hilton Honors Business Amex is most similar to the personal Hilton Honors American Express Surpass® Card. Both have similar benefits and earnings structures, but the Hilton Honors Business Amex has some business-specific bonus categories and benefits that small-business owners will find attractive.

With its current elevated welcome bonus of 150,000 Hilton Honors bonus points and a free night reward after spending $4,000 in purchases in the first three months of card membership, you might find that this card is too good to pass up. You’ll need to act quickly if you want that free night, though, since this offer ends on July 19.

Broad bonus categories

As expected, the Hilton Honors Business Amex earns bonus points on Hilton purchases: 12 points per dollar spent on purchases made directly with hotels and resorts in the Hilton portfolio. Since TPG values Hilton Honors points at 0.6 cents each, this is an impressive 7.2% return on your Hilton purchases.

Beyond Hilton properties, though, the Hilton Honors Business Amex earns bonus points in a wide range of bonus categories. It earns 6 points per dollar, a 3.6% return based on TPG valuations, on the following business and travel purchases:

Car rentals booked directly with select car rental companies
Flights booked directly with airlines or through American Express Travel
Shipping providers
U.S. gas stations
U.S. restaurants
Wireless phone services purchased directly from service providers

You’ll earn 3 points per dollar for all other purchases made with this card. With these extensive bonus-earning opportunities, you’ll quickly rack up enough points to cover your next Hilton stay.

Complimentary Priority Pass visits

If you don’t have a more premium card that includes airport lounge access, the 10 Priority Pass visits you’ll get with this card are a valuable benefit. When you need to get some work done or want to sit and eat in peace on a long layover, these visits will have you covered.

seating and a bar at an airport lounge — This is hands down the best Priority Pass lounge in the U.S. JT GENTER/THE POINTS GUY

At just $95, the Hilton Honors Business Amex‘s annual fee (see rates and fees) is considerably lower than the fee on most cards that include lounge access and the $329 you would pay if you purchased a 10-visit package directly from Priority Pass.

Gold status

With the Hilton Honors Business Amex, you’ll get automatic Hilton Honors Gold elite status. With this level of status, you’ll receive an 80% points bonus on paid Hilton stays, two complimentary bottles of water per stay, a fifth night free on award stays, space-available room upgrades, a food and beverage credit for you and a guest and a milestone bonus once you stay 40 eligible nights.

TPG values Hilton Honors Gold status at $1,220 annually, so this benefit alone more than justifies the card’s annual fee.

Extended warranty and purchase protection

You’ll feel great knowing your valuable business purchases are protected when you use your Hilton Honors Business Amex. When you use your card, you can extend your purchase’s warranty by one year.*

Additionally, if your item is stolen or accidentally damaged within the first 90 days of your purchase date, you can rest easy knowing you’re covered for up to $1,000 per occurrence (up to $50,000 per cardmember, per calendar year).*

*Eligibility and benefit levels vary by card. Terms, conditions and limitations apply. Visit americanexpress.com/benefitsguide for details. Policies are underwritten by AMEX Assurance Company.

No impact on Chase 5/24 status

Whenever you get a new credit card, you’re probably thinking about how it will affect your Chase 5/24 standing. In addition to business-related bonus-earning categories and business expense management tools, a great perk is that it won’t count in your Chase 5/24 calculations.

Young attractive caucasian business woman sitting in a cafe working on a laptop. — ILONA TITOVA/GETTY IMAGES

So, if you’re currently at 4/24, you can get the Hilton Honors Business Amex and still be eligible for a Chase card.

Bottom line

If you don’t already have a more premium card like The Business Platinum Card® from American Express or the Hilton Honors American Express Aspire Card, the Hilton Honors Business Amex is a great option to get serious Hilton perks for a modest annual fee.

In addition to its current elevated welcome offer, the Hilton Honors Business Amex comes with Hilton Honors Gold elite status, 10 complimentary Priority Pass visits and purchase protection. Best of all, getting the card doesn’t affect your Chase 5/24 standing.

With these perks on the table, adding the Hilton Honors Business Amex to your business card strategy is an excellent move.

For more details, check out our full review of the Hilton Honors Business Amex.

Application link: Hilton Honors Business Amex

For rates and fees of the Hilton Honors Business Amex, click here.

The information for the Hilton Aspire card has been collected independently by The Points Guy. The card details on this page have not been reviewed or provided by the card issuer.