American Express has launched the Hilton Honors American Express Card in Canada, giving Canadians another hotel rewards credit card to consider alongside the Marriott Bonvoy Amex.
- 6x points on participating Hilton brands
- 4x points on gas, groceries & restaurants in Canada
- 2x points on everything else
The new card comes with a welcome offer of up to 70,000 Hilton Honors points and a Free Night Reward after meeting the spending requirements. It also offers complimentary Hilton Honors Gold status, accelerated points earning and an opportunity to earn an additional 50,000 points through annual spending.
So can this new card justify the fee, especially when you can already earn Hilton points through American Express Membership Rewards? Let’s take a look.
Learn More: Read the full Hilton Honors Amex Card review.
Apply Now for the Hilton Honors Amex Card in Canada.
Hilton Honors Amex Welcome Bonus: Up to 70,000 Points and a Free Night Reward
How to Earn the Welcome Bonus
New cardmembers can earn 60,000 Hilton Honors points and a Free Night Reward after spending $3,000 on the card in their first three months. An additional 10,000 points are available after spending $500 in month 13. The launch offer ends January 11, 2027.
That’s potentially 70,000 points in total, but the last 10,000 points aren’t part of the initial three-month bonus. To qualify, you’ll need to keep the card into its second year and meet the separate month-13 requirement, around the time another annual fee would be charged.
Wondering how the Hilton Honors welcome bonus compares to other Amex offers? Check out our Amex Welcome Bonus Tracker to compare current welcome bonuses across Canadian American Express cards.
How Valuable Is the Free Night Reward?
The Free Night Reward could be the most interesting part of the introductory offer, depending on where you redeem it. A hotel night that would otherwise be expensive in cash may offer considerably more value than a lower-priced stay.
Hilton’s general American Express Free Night Reward terms refer to standard-room availability and exclude certain properties. However, the information supplied for this Canadian launch doesn’t specify the reward’s expiry date or confirm every applicable restriction. Those details matter before assigning the reward a dollar value.
For a complete list of eligible properties, redemption restrictions and other conditions, see the Hilton Honors Free Night Reward Terms and Conditions.
- 6x points on participating Hilton brands
- 4x points on gas, groceries & restaurants in Canada
- 2x points on everything else
What Makes the New Hilton Honors Amex Interesting?
Complimentary Hilton Honors Gold Status
Cardmembers receive complimentary Hilton Honors Gold status without having to qualify through stays. Benefits include an 80% points bonus on eligible hotel stays, room upgrades when available, and complimentary continental breakfast for two at participating hotels outside the U.S. At eligible U.S. properties, cardmembers receive a daily food and beverage credit instead, which can be used towards hotel dining, snacks and even room service where available.
Canadian Platinum Cardmembers can already enrol in Hilton Gold, so this isn’t an extra benefit for them.
Learn More: Read the Amex Platinum review and learn what additional travel benefits you’ll receive.
Cardmembers can also qualify for Hilton Honors Diamond status after charging $40,000 in annual net purchases to their Card, subject to applicable terms and conditions.
Earn 50,000 Bonus Points Annually After $12,000 in Spending
Spend $12,000 on your Card in a calendar year and you’ll receive a 50,000-point bonus, on top of the points earned from purchases. Based on our estimated valuation of 0.6¢ CAD per point, the annual bonus alone is worth approximately $300 CAD.
For example, $12,000 spent entirely in eligible 4x categories would earn 48,000 points, plus the 50,000-point bonus, for 98,000 Hilton Honors points worth approximately $588 CAD.
One important consideration is that the spending requirement is based on the calendar year rather than your cardmembership anniversary. If you apply later in the year, you’ll have less time to reach the $12,000 threshold.
Everyday Points Earning
The card earns:
- 6 Hilton Honors points per dollar on eligible purchases at participating Hilton brands
- 4 points per dollar at eligible Canadian gas stations, grocery stores and restaurants
- 2 points per dollar on other purchases
Points earned directly from Hilton as a loyalty member are separate from the card’s Hilton purchase earn rate.
Those earning rates sound generous, but Hilton Honors points aren’t directly comparable to Membership Rewards points. With an American Express Membership Rewards card, you have greater flexibility to transfer points to Hilton Honors, Aeroplan, Marriott Bonvoy and other travel partners, rather than being limited to one loyalty program.
Learn More: How Amex Membership Rewards Work in Canada
What Are Hilton Honors Points Actually Worth?
We estimate Hilton Honors points to be worth approximately 0.6¢ CAD per point, putting the full 70,000-point welcome bonus at roughly $420 CAD in hotel stays, before factoring in the Free Night Reward or card fees. Of that, 60,000 points are earned after spending $3,000 in the first three months, with the remaining 10,000 points earned after spending $500 in month 13.
However, Hilton hotel redemptions vary by property, room availability and travel dates. There isn’t one fixed cash value for a Hilton Honors point.
Before redeeming your points, compare the cash price and the points required for the same hotel and dates. Some properties offer considerably better redemption value than others.
Hilton Gold members can also receive a fifth night free on qualifying standard-room reward stays booked entirely with points. That’s a useful benefit for longer trips, but it doesn’t apply to every booking.
The Free Night Reward included in the welcome bonus could provide additional value, particularly at more expensive Hilton properties, provided a qualifying room is available.
You can explore potential redemptions using the Hilton Honors Points Explorer.
Hilton Honors Amex vs. Marriott Bonvoy Amex: Which Is Better?
For Canadians looking for a dedicated hotel rewards credit card, the Marriott Bonvoy American Express Card is the closest comparison:
| Feature | Hilton Honors Amex | Marriott Bonvoy Amex |
| Annual Fee | $150 | $120 |
| Hotel Purchases | 6 Hilton points per $1 | 5 Marriott points per $1 |
| Gas, Groceries & Restaurants | 4 points per $1 at eligible Canadian merchants | 2 points per $1 |
| All Other Purchases | 2 points per $1 | 2 points per $1 |
| Complimentary Elite Status | Hilton Honors Gold | Marriott Bonvoy Silver |
| Annual Free Night | Not advertised | Annual Free Night Award worth up to 35,000 Marriott points |
| Annual Spending Bonus | 50,000 points after $12,000 in calendar-year spending | Not advertised |
| Additional Elite Status Benefits | Diamond status after $40,000 in annual net purchases | 15 Elite Night Credits annually towards higher status |
The biggest difference is how the cards reward you for keeping them. Marriott provides an Annual Free Night Award after each card anniversary without a spending requirement, while Hilton offers an estimated $300 CAD in bonus points after $12,000 in annual spending.
Keep in mind that Hilton and Marriott points have different redemption values, so higher earning rates don’t necessarily mean better rewards.
If you prefer Marriott properties and want a predictable anniversary free night, the Marriott Bonvoy Amex could be easier to justify. However, frequent Hilton guests who can reach the annual spending threshold may find more value in the Hilton Honors Amex.
Learn More: Explore the Marriott Bonvoy Amex Card Review
Is the Hilton Honors Amex Better Than the Amex Cobalt?
The American Express Cobalt Card presents an interesting alternative for Canadians looking to earn Hilton Honors points. Membership Rewards points transfer to Hilton Honors at a 1:1 ratio, but unlike the dedicated Hilton card, Cobalt offers the flexibility to transfer points to programs such as Aeroplan, Marriott Bonvoy, Hilton Honors, British Airways Avios and Air France-KLM Flying Blue, rather than being tied to a single hotel loyalty program.
| Feature | Hilton Honors Amex | Amex Cobalt |
| Annual Fee | $150 | $191.88 |
| Eligible Groceries & Restaurants | 4 Hilton points per $1 | 5 Membership Rewards points per $1 |
| Annual Spending Bonus | 50,000 points after $12,000 in spending | None |
| Points Earned on $12,000 in Eligible Spending | 98,000 Hilton points | 60,000 Membership Rewards points |
| Estimated Rewards Value | $588 CAD in Hilton stays | $600 CAD in statement credits |
| Rewards Flexibility | Hilton Honors only | Hilton Honors, Aeroplan, Marriott Bonvoy and other partners |
| Complimentary Hilton Status | Gold | None |
Example assumes $12,000 in eligible grocery and restaurant spending throughout the year, within Cobalt’s monthly 5x spending cap. Hilton points are valued at 0.6¢ CAD each, while Membership Rewards points can be redeemed for statement credits at 1¢ CAD per point.
Although the Hilton card earns significantly more points after factoring in its annual spending bonus, the estimated rewards values are surprisingly close. Keep in mind that these figures represent different redemption methods and don’t account for either card’s annual fee.
For Canadians who regularly stay at Hilton properties and can reach the annual spending threshold, the Hilton Honors Amex could be worthwhile. However, those who prefer flexible rewards may find the Cobalt a better everyday spending card.
Learn More: Explore the American Express Cobalt Card Review
- 6x points on participating Hilton brands
- 4x points on gas, groceries & restaurants in Canada
- 2x points on everything else
How Does the Canadian Card Compare to the U.S. Hilton Amex?
American Express has offered Hilton credit cards in the United States for years, but the Canadian launch isn’t a direct copy of the similarly named U.S. entry-level card. That American card currently has no annual fee, complimentary Silver status and no foreign transaction fees.
In several respects, the new Canadian card resembles the U.S. Hilton Honors Surpass Card more closely. Both offer complimentary Gold status and an opportunity to reach Diamond through substantial annual spending. However, their earn rates, spending rewards, currencies and fees are different, so U.S. promotional figures shouldn’t be used to estimate Canadian value.
Unlike the U.S. Card, the Canadian Hilton Honors Amex charges a 2.5% foreign transaction fee. That’s a disappointing drawback for a travel-focused credit card.
Travellers looking to avoid foreign transaction fees may want to consider alternatives like the Scotiabank Gold American Express Card.
Is the Hilton Honors Amex Worth It? Pros, Cons and Our Verdict
The Hilton Honors American Express Card offers some attractive benefits, but its value depends heavily on your spending habits and hotel preferences.
Pros
- Welcome offer of up to 70,000 Hilton Honors points and a Free Night Reward, with 10,000 of those points earned after meeting the month-13 spending requirement
- Complimentary Hilton Honors Gold status, including breakfast benefits and potential room upgrades
- Annual 50,000-point spending bonus worth approximately $300 CAD
- Up to 6x points at Hilton properties and 4x on eligible everyday purchases
Cons
- $150 annual fee without an advertised anniversary Free Night Reward
- 2.5% foreign transaction fee on international purchases
- Must spend $12,000 annually to unlock the 50,000-point bonus
- Hilton-specific rewards offer less flexibility than Membership Rewards
- Gold status offers little additional value to existing Amex Platinum cardholders
Our Verdict
The Hilton Honors Amex is worth considering if you regularly stay at Hilton properties, can take advantage of Gold status and expect to meet the $12,000 annual spending threshold.
However, the Marriott Bonvoy Amex offers a more predictable annual Free Night Award, while the Amex Cobalt provides greater flexibility when earning and redeeming rewards.
Ultimately, the welcome bonus is attractive, but the card’s long-term value depends on whether you’ll use the Hilton benefits enough to justify the $150 annual fee.
Apply Now for the Hilton Honors Amex Card
