Once it a while, we get a great promotion that really adds value to it’s card holders. American Express (Canada) has just announced that it’s American Express Business Platinum Card Holders will now have complimentary access to Hilton Honors Gold Level status. Like many things with the American Express Platinum Card, enrolment is required, but it’s a simple process. Let’s review the announcement to see what the changes are for current cardholders.

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Canadian American Express Business Platinum Cardholders get a Break: Hilton Honors Gold Status now Included

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American Express recently sent out an email message to it’s Canadian Card Holders announcing “Important changes to your Business Platinum Card from American Express“.

I opened this message with a bit of dread. Given how loyalty programs tend to abuse their customers with cut after cut, I was expecting another devaluation of some sorts or an annual fee increase. Instead, the news was incredibly positive.

American Express Business Platinum Card Holders now have Hilton Honors Gold Status Included

As a Business Platinum Cardmember you are eligible to enroll in complimentary Hilton Honors Gold status

Per direct communications with their card members, American Express Canada is now offering Canadian American Express Business Platinum Charge Card Holders the ability to enroll and obtain complimentary Hilton Honors gold elite status.

It’s worth mentioning that American Express Platinum Card Holders (personal version) already have complimentary Hilton Honors Gold level access included with their annual fee. This change adds the same benefits for it’s American Express Business Platinum Card Holders.

American Express Business Platinum Card Members are given a generic web address in order to sign up for their benefits.

What Does Hilton Honors Gold Status Get You?

As a long time Marriott Bonvoy and Starwood Preferred Guest loyalist, it’s been a while since I’ve stayed at a Hilton property. Nevertheless, they are a transfer partner with the American Express Membership Rewards program and there is potentially some use there in markets when Marriott doesn’t work or isn’t available.

Hilton Honors Gold Level Status is available for those that regularly spend forty or more nights with Hilton. It is the next level tier above Hilton Honors Silver (ten nights), and underneath their top level Hilton Honors Diamond level (sixty nights).

The Hilton Honors Gold Level isn’t all to shabby. It offers:

• 80% Points Earning Bonus on Stays
• “Space – Available” Room Upgrades
• Daily Food and Beverage Credit or Continental Breakfast (varies by brand and region)

The largest benefit here is the daily food and beverage credit or Continental Breakfast. If you’re staying at a Hilton property for leisure purposes, having access to a food and beverage credit between $15 to $25 USD within North America (or a full breakfast internationally) is a tremendous help.

While you’ll have to earn the high level Hilton Honors Diamond Level status (with sixty nights) in order to get that coveted complimentary Hilton Executive Lounge access, having a free breakfast is a pretty decent addition if you’re travelling on a self funded personal stay.

How to Register for Complimentary Hilton Honors Gold Status:

It was really easy to sign up for complimentary Hilton Honors Gold Status through the American Express portal.

I clicked through to www.americanexpress.ca/benefitstatus and landed on the American Express Benefit Enrollment Summary Page.

Admittedly, I haven’t signed up for many American Express Platinum Card benefits. I am already a Hertz President’s Circle member through actual rentals. I earned Marriott Bonvoy Titanium Status the hard way, and I don’t usually rent from Avis.

My dashboard looks a lot less impressive than it could be.

After clicking on the Hilton Honors tab, it was easy to enter your name, address and Hilton Honors number.

After submission, a pop up window opens that confirms the submission of your request. It promises a result within one to three business days, and cautions that it may take as long as fifteeen business days.

The process is pretty efficient, as when I next signed into my Hilton Honors account the very next day, the status was already reflected in the home page dashboard. Within twenty four hours, I was now the holder of a proud gold band across my account page!

I didn’t get an email as promised, but perhaps Hilton Honors will batch send these out after a few days or weeks.

Further exploring the site, there is also a convenient MyWay benefits grid. The MyWay benefits grid explains the MyWay Benefits across each brand. The grid sets out when you can expect a cash credit, a full breakfast internationally or something less at the more discount hotel brands.

Hilton has done a much clearer job than Marriott Bonvoy here by clearly explaining what to expect at each hotel brand. You are also allowed to set up your account to ensure your preferences are recorded.

While we don’t typically see a whole lot of credit card improvements as an existing customer, this one is actually pretty worthwhile. While it won’t be an earth shattering change, it will likely prompt me to stay a little more at Hilton hotels, since I’m nearing Marriott Bonvoy Lifetime Platinum status.

My Thoughts on the Changes:

It’s great news that American Express Business Platinum Card holders are now getting Hilton Honors Gold level status included, as part of their regular card membership.

Since it doesn’t take more than five minutes in order to take advantage of these benefits, if you’re an American Express Business Platinum Card Holder, I recommend that current card holders sign up by following through the link to the enrolment page.

While we don’t often see credit card companies enhance benefits for the better, I am happy to see American Express adding benefits to it’s Canadian cardholders, as the benefit offerings in Canada are generally much weaker than it’s American Express Card Holder members.

In Summary:

American Express Business Platinum Card Holders now have access to Free Hilton Gold Status.

American Express Canada have added the ability to add complimentary Hilton Honors Gold level status for its’ American Express Business Platinum Card Holders.

While it isn’t earth shattering, it’s always better to get increased value out of any credit card. Having a free breakfast isn’t anything to sneeze at.

If you’re looking to Sign Up for the American Express Platinum Card, please feel free to use the attached referral link for the highest possible sign up bonus.

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Have you Signed up for Hilton Honors Gold Status through American Express Platinum Card Membership ?

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