Hilton has ventured outside of the US, where the two have issued co-branded cards for years and launched two for the Japanese market.
Both cards come with Gold status, and premium cardholders can get the Diamond status by swiping the card more. Cardholders can earn free weekend night vouchers and either discounted or first-year free membership to the Hilton Club (discounted accommodation program for Japan & South Korea).
You can access the website for the Japanese Hilton cards here.
READ MORE: Hilton Honors Rate & Bonus Points And Miles Promotions
Here are the two cards products:
And English Google translation:
Here’s the release from Hilton:
TOKYO – American Express (NYSE: AXP) and Hilton (NYSE: HLT) today announced the launch of two new cobrand cards: the Hilton Honors American Express Card and the Hilton Honors American Express Premium Card. Now available exclusively to residents of Japan, these new Hilton Honors American Express Cards offer customers the opportunity to earn Hilton Honors Bonus Points on everyday spending, like supermarkets, restaurants and department stores, as well as on eligible purchases at more than 6,400 Hilton properties in 119 countries and territories worldwide. This is the first time Hilton Honors American Express cobrand cards have been made available to customers outside the United States since Hilton and American Express launched the cobrand cards in the U.S. 25 years ago.
Hilton Honors American Express Card and Hilton Honors American Express Premium Card Members will have access to a unique range of benefits and rewards, including complimentary Hilton Honors Gold status and Weekend Night Rewards upon annual Card renewals. Card Members will also be backed by the benefits, services and protections of American Express.
“American Express and Hilton share a deep commitment to delivering an exceptional customer experience and are honored to bring this experience to Card Members in Japan for the first time,” said Shigeyuki Tomomatsu, vice president of product line development and digital acquisition for Japan. “Even in such an uncertain period, we believe passion for travel remains undimmed and how we are spending time at a destination will become more important. At a time when we aspire for the future travel, we will work together to back customers in Japan and offer a host of unique experiences at Hilton properties nationwide and, once the pandemic has eased, around the world.”
“We are excited to build on our longstanding partnership with American Express to provide residents of Japan differentiated Card offerings to elevate their Hilton experience,” added Alan Watts, president, Asia Pacific, Hilton. “These Cards are designed with both frequent and occasional travelers in mind, whether they are looking for a short stay near home or are saving up for an overseas trip, once they feel it is safe to do so.”
For more information on Hilton Honors American Express Card and Hilton Honors American Express Premium Card, please visit the official website (Japanese): http://hiltoncards.jp/
Conclusion
Marriott still pushes their SPG branded cards in the Japanese market (unsure why). Hilton has an Honors Visa card available in Germany through DKB (I have one – but rarely swipe it).
It is quite interesting that Hilton and Amex have felt that Japan is the right country to introduce Honors branded card products. Perhaps there is untapped demand that I am not aware of?
