Canadian Hilton fans have long had to watch American travellers rack up points on cobranded cards they couldn't get. That gap just closed: American Express Canada and Hilton have launched the Hilton Honors American Express Card, the first Hilton cobranded credit card issued in Canada, with a CA$150 annual fee.

The card earns 6 Hilton Honors points per dollar at Hilton properties, 4 points per dollar on gas, groceries and dining in Canada, and 2 points on everything else. As a benchmark, putting CA$500 a month of grocery spending on the card would build about 24,000 points over a year. One caveat: Hilton points tend to be worth less per point than flexible rewards currencies, so a general travel card can sometimes beat these earning rates in real value.

The headline perk is complimentary Hilton Honors Gold status for as long as you hold the card. That normally requires 20 stays or 40 nights a year, and it comes with an 80% points bonus on stays, breakfast or food-and-beverage credits, space-available upgrades and free Wi-Fi. Heavy spenders can go further: CA$12,000 of spending in a calendar year earns a 50,000-point bonus, and CA$40,000 unlocks Diamond status, adding executive lounge access and a 100% points bonus. Since the bonus is tied to the calendar year, it's possible to earn the 50,000 points twice within the first 12 months of cardmembership — once in 2026 and again in 2027. Hilton told The Points Guy it deliberately chose the points bonus over a free night certificate for flexibility, though 50,000 points can cover a night at select Canadian properties.

Launch timing sweetens the deal. Until 11 January 2027, new cardmembers can earn up to 70,000 points: 60,000 points plus a free night reward after spending CA$3,000 in the first three months, then 10,000 more points after CA$500 of spending in month 13. The Points Guy values the bonus at up to roughly CA$393, and the free night is notable because the card doesn't include one as a recurring benefit.

On the practical side, the card bundles flight and baggage delay insurance (up to a combined CA$500 per occurrence), lost baggage coverage, hotel burglary insurance and car rental theft and damage coverage, plus Amex Front Of The Line presale access and free supplementary cards. The main drawback: it charges foreign transaction fees, so it's a poor pick for spending abroad.

The move fits Hilton's Canadian growth spurt — about 200 hotels open, with roughly 100 more in the pipeline across 13 brands, and Honors membership in Canada up more than 40% in three years. Amex points to frequent business travellers and road-tripping sports families as the target audience. It makes the most sense for travellers who already stay at Hilton regularly and will actually use Gold perks like breakfast and upgrades; anyone splitting loyalty across chains may get more from a flexible points card.

This piece is based on reporting by The Points Guy.