Tips for utilizing Amex’s The Hotel Collection to secure added benefits during your hotel stays

A lesser-known benefit of select American Express cards is the access to The Hotel Collection. This program provides room upgrades and credits for dining, spa, and resort activities when you book two or more nights at participating hotels.

To take advantage of this perk, you need an eligible card and must book a participating hotel through American Express Travel. Leveraging the Amex Hotel Collection for your next hotel reservation can help you save money and enhance your stay.

In this article, I will delve into The Hotel Collection in detail and compare it to the more widely recognized Amex Fine Hotels + Resorts (FHR) program to clarify what you can expect and how to maximize its benefits.

Understanding how The Hotel Collection functions

Only holders of the following American Express cards are eligible to book hotel stays through The Hotel Collection:

• American Express® Gold Card
• American Express® Business Gold Card
• The Platinum Card® from American Express
• The Business Platinum Card® from American Express
• The Centurion Card (by invitation only, applicable for both business and personal versions)

The details for the Centurion and Business Centurion Card have been gathered independently by Dinogo. The information on this page has not been verified or supplied by the card issuer.

If you possess one of the aforementioned cards, you’ll enjoy the following benefits when booking through The Hotel Collection (terms apply):

• A complimentary room upgrade at check-in, subject to availability
• Up to $100 hotel credit for eligible dining, spa, and resort activities
• 12 p.m. early check-in and 4 p.m. late check-out, when available
• 2 Membership Rewards points for every dollar spent with your Gold card on prepaid bookings
• 3 Membership Rewards points per dollar with your Business Gold card on prepaid bookings
• 5 Membership Rewards points per dollar with your Platinum card on prepaid bookings
• The option to use Pay with Points on prepaid reservations

These perks are only available when you reserve a minimum two-night stay at a qualifying property through American Express Travel. Additionally, consecutive stays within 24 hours at the same hotel count as one stay and will not receive multiple $100 hotel credits.

Key insights about The Hotel Collection

Before making a reservation through Amex's Hotel Collection, consider several important factors.

Pay with Points

When booking a stay through Amex's Hotel Collection, you’ll encounter the option to Pay with Points. However, you'll receive only 0.7 cents in value for each point redeemed, which is significantly lower than TPG's September 2024 valuation of Membership Rewards points at 2 cents each.

Given that Platinum and Business Platinum cardholders earn 5 points per dollar on prepaid bookings made via American Express Travel, it’s generally more advantageous to pay for your stay and reserve your points for higher-value redemptions.

Pricing

When searching, be cautious as Amex shows the base rate and mandatory fees as the nightly cost (excluding taxes). For instance, I found a nightly rate of $59 for a hypothetical one-night stay in November at MGM Grand Las Vegas, but the actual total came to $117.92 per night after including all taxes and mandatory hotel fees.

According to the fine print for the Hotel Collection Amex, hotels may apply additional government taxes and fees, as well as hotel-specific taxes, fees, and deposits when charging your card. Therefore, it’s wise to contact the hotel to clarify its policies and ensure you understand the total cost of your stay.

Elite earning and perks

Moreover, most hotel loyalty programs won’t award elite earnings and benefits unless you book directly. However, if you hold hotel elite status with any brands, you will earn points with your hotel loyalty program when reserving through The Hotel Collection Amex.

Properties within The Hotel Collection

The Amex Hotel Collection features a variety of both well-known brands and charming boutique hotels. Here’s what I discovered while searching for Hotel Collection properties in three popular tourist locations. Keep in mind that pricing and availability are accurate as of publication and may vary when you conduct your search.

New York

I selected a date this winter and looked for properties in New York City. My search revealed 29 Hotel Collection Amex properties available.

The most affordable Hotel Collection Amex property for my selected dates was the Moxy New York City Lower East Side, priced at $384 per night, including mandatory fees but excluding taxes.

Phoenix

Conversely, Phoenix during the summer offers some of the lowest hotel prices among these types of programs. When I searched in June 2025, I found 16 results for Hotel Collection Amex properties.

The cheapest Hotel Collection property I found in Phoenix was the Canopy by Hilton Tempe Downtown, costing $173.44 per night, inclusive of mandatory fees but before taxes.

Rome, Italy

If you’re considering international travel, there are numerous Amex Hotel Collection properties available overseas. For instance, a search for accommodations in Rome, Italy yielded 13 Hotel Collection properties.

In Rome, Italy, the most affordable Amex Hotel Collection option was The Hoxton Rome, priced at $279.18 per night, inclusive of mandatory fees but excluding taxes. In contrast, the priciest property was the Maalot Roma, at $855.17 per night, also inclusive of mandatory fees and before taxes.

The Hotel Collection versus Amex Fine Hotels + Resorts

The Amex Fine Hotels + Resorts (FHR) program provides more advantageous benefits. However, it is exclusively available to Amex Platinum and Centurion cardholders.

When you book through the Amex Fine Hotels + Resorts program, you can enjoy the following elite-like perks:

• Noon check-in when available
• Room upgrade at check-in when available
• Daily breakfast for two
• Complimentary in-room Wi-Fi
• Guaranteed 4:00 p.m. late checkout
• $100 experience credit

I anticipated a considerable overlap between the properties available through The Hotel Collection and the Amex Fine Hotels + Resorts program, but I discovered there was none. A comparison of the two programs highlights their distinct strengths and weaknesses.

Generally speaking, properties in the Amex Fine Hotels + Resorts program are typically pricier than those in the Amex Hotel Collection. Additionally, the benefits associated with FHR stays, such as complimentary breakfast, early check-in, and guaranteed late checkout, are more generous. Therefore, The Hotel Collection primarily offers added perks at upscale (rather than ultra-luxury) hotels.

Maximizing Your Benefits with The Hotel Collection

Dining, beverages, and other hotel services can be pricey, making it easy for most travelers to utilize the $100 credit. However, the real advantage of this program is for business travelers whose companies already cover their room and meal expenses. These guests can apply the $100 credit toward drinks, pay-per-view movies, and spa treatments, which many corporate expense policies typically exclude.

The perks offered by the Amex Fine Hotels + Resorts program, including early check-in, late checkout, and complimentary breakfast, are tailored for leisure travelers who can afford to stay at higher-end properties. This program can be especially beneficial if you lack elite status with a specific hotel brand.

How often can you expect an upgrade with The Hotel Collection?

Your chances of receiving a room upgrade can vary based on several factors. While Amex cardholders enjoy priority booking through the Hotel Collection, they may still face stiff competition from elite members of programs like Hilton, Hyatt, or Marriott. Availability of upgrades also hinges on occupancy rates and whether you're traveling during peak or off-peak seasons.

TPG managing editor Matt Moffitt successfully linked his IHG One Rewards member number to his reservation at the Intercontinental Madrid by contacting the hotel directly. Additionally, he received an upgrade to a premium room, potentially due to his IHG elite status or his reservation through the Amex Hotel Collection.

Conclusion

The Amex Hotel Collection offers valuable perks for eligible Amex cardholders, including room upgrades and hotel credits applicable to dining, spa, or resort activities. However, it's important to note that bookings must be for two nights or more, and not every hotel is included in the program. While the benefits may not match those of Amex FHR, it remains a solid option for earning stay credits and room upgrades for individuals without elite hotel status.