Refresh of the Hilton Honors American Express Business Card [New Benefits and Welcome Offer]

American Express has made some significant changes to The Hilton Honors American Express Business Card, adding new ways to earn Hilton points, perks, and statement credits.

However, all of these new updates come with an increased $195 annual fee (rates & fees) — and some popular perks are getting nixed.

Here is a complete look at what the refreshed Hilton Business Amex card will offer to help you determine if the card is a good fit for you.

New Hilton Business Amex Card Welcome Offer

For starters, The Hilton Honors American Express Business Card is getting an increased bonus offer of 175,000 Hilton Honors bonus points after spending $8,000 in eligible purchases in the first 6 months of Card Membership.

We value Hilton Honors points at 0.5 cents per point, making this welcome offer worth $875 for hotel stays.

Revamped Bonus Categories

With your Hilton Business Amex card, you’ll earn points at the following rates:

• 12x points per $1 on Hilton purchases
• (NEW) Earn 5x points per $1 on other purchases made using the card on the first $100,000 in purchases each calendar year and 3x points thereafter

This new addition will make the Hilton Business Amex card the best Hilton credit card for non-bonus purchases out of every card in the Hilton lineup, representing a 66.67% increase on what you earned before (on your first $100,000 in purchases each year).

Sadly, the previous 6x bonus categories are all being removed. Previously, you could earn 6x points at U.S. gas stations, wireless telephone services purchases directly from U.S. service providers, U.S. purchases for shipping, U.S. restaurants, flights booked directly with airlines or with AmexTravel.com, and car rentals booked directly from select car rental companies.

Frankly, the new earning rate is a toss-up depending on how much you spend annually on a card. The ability to earn 5x points — regardless of where you spend — up to the $100,000 limit is terrific. However, some business owners may feel like they’re missing out on the uncapped earning potential that was previously available.

New Statement Credits and Benefits

While the card didn’t offer any statement credits previously, you can now earn up to $240 back each year on eligible Hilton purchases made on your card, with up to $60 in statement credits per quarter. This benefit alone is enough to offset the card’s annual fee for Hilton stays, but it’s important to know that the statement credits don’t roll over.

Additionally, American Express is adding complimentary National Car Rental Emerald Club Executive status upon enrollment, which comes with perks like car upgrades, fewer fees, the ability to select any car you want from the Executive aisle, and more.

Plus, you’ll still receive perks like automatic Hilton Honors Gold status, the ability to spend $40,000 in a calendar year to earn Diamond status, and card protections like purchase protection, rental car insurance, baggage insurance, and more.

Benefits Removed and Increased Annual Fee

Some important benefits are also being removed as part of the refresh, such as the 10 complimentary Priority Pass visits each year. This was undoubtedly a popular perk that’s no longer be available to cardholders, as it was rare to find lounge visits on a travel card with a lower annual fee.

Furthermore, the ability to earn an uncapped free night reward — after $15,000 spent in a calendar year and a second after you spend $60,000 in a calendar year — is sadly being removed altogether.

Lastly, in addition to all of these changes, the annual fee of the Hilton Business Amex card is increasing from $95 to $195. Current cardholders will want to take inventory to ensure that these changes are worth a $100 increase.

Final Thoughts

Time will tell what cardholders make of these new card changes. While some might be sad to see the various 6x bonus categories removed, others might prefer to earn 5x points on all purchases (up to $100,000 in spend), especially if they already hold cards that overlap with the categories being removed.

Further, if you’ve been in the world of points and miles for a while, you likely already have 1 or multiple credit cards with Priority Pass access.

That said, the ability to earn free night certificates redeemable for nearly any Hilton property was a great value proposition. On the other hand, some might prefer the addition of Hilton credits, which will be easier to use and don’t require an initial spending requirement to earn.

What do you make of the new perks and benefits of the Hilton Amex Business card? If you’ve been eyeing the card for a while, now is a great time to start taking advantage of its new perks and its increased welcome bonus offer.