Beginning in January, American Express and Hilton will offer
four co-branded cards to consumers and small businesses. The offering follows
the companies' June announcement
that Amex would become the exclusive card issuer for the hotel chain's U.S. co-branded
credit cards.
Hilton has offered Amex co-branded cards since 1995 and Citi
co-branded cards since 2000. Hilton will replace the Citi Hilton Honors card
with the existing Hilton Honors American Express card, one of four cards on
offer. All four will offer the benefit of no foreign transaction fees.
Hilton Honors Amex card benefits remain roughly the same. The
existing Hilton Honors Surpass Card, which has a $75 annual fee, will be called
the Hilton Honors American Express Ascend card and will increase to $95 a year.
Additional card benefits for the Ascend card include 10 Amex lounge passes a
year and one weekend stay at a Hilton property after spending $15,000 within
one calendar year. It is unclear whether the basic Honors card or the Ascend
card will continue to offer the considerable bonus-point package that kicks in
after cardholders reach pre-defined spending thresholds in the first three
months of joining the card program. Amex said it will provide more details on
sign-up bonuses in January.
In addition to the revised card products, Hilton will offer
two new cards: the Hilton Honors American Express Aspire Card for $450 a year
and the Hilton Honors American Express Business Card for an annual fee of $95.
Issued to the small business segment based on credit qualifications
and intended for business travel and related expenses, the Hilton Honors
American Express Business Card offers 12 times the points for purchases made
within Hilton's property portfolio and six times the points for U.S.-based
spend on restaurants, gas, wireless phone services and shipping. Car rentals
booked directly from select providers and flights booked directly from airlines
or amextravel.com also qualify for six times the points. Cardholders receive
complimentary Hilton Honors Gold Status and are upgraded to Diamond status
through the next calendar year once they spend $40,000 on eligible purchases
within one calendar year. Cardholders also receive a weekend stay at Hilton
after spending $15,000 in a calendar year and another after spending an
additional $45,000 in the same calendar year. The card comes with 10 Amex
lounge passes.
The
Aspire card, which is a consumer card, offers increased benefits, like 14 times
the points for Hilton portfolio purchases and seven times the points for U.S.
spend on restaurants, gas, mobile phone services, car rentals and airline tickets.
Cardholders have unlimited Amex lounge access and several opportunities for
free stays at Hilton properties, with and without spend thresholds, and
enhanced on-property credits. Aspire cardholders also can access 24/7 Amex
concierge services.