American Express adds 350 luxury hotels to Platinum Card travel program as it doubles down on premium travel
Business Economic Syndicated News 
American Express is expanding one of the Platinum Card’s most valuable perks, adding more than 350 curated premium hotels to its Fine Hotels + Resorts and The Hotel Collection programs as premium credit card issuers continue to compete for high-spending travelers.
The additions expand the combined portfolio to more than 3,400 properties across 116 countries, giving Platinum Card members hundreds of new places to book curated stays while taking advantage of benefits like complimentary breakfast, guaranteed late checkout, and on-property credits.
The expansion also marks the 35th anniversary of Fine Hotels + Resorts, American Express’s luxury hotel program.
Building a bigger travel ecosystem
The move is the latest example of American Express (Amex) investing in a broader premium travel ecosystem rather than relying solely on traditional credit card rewards to keep cardholders happy. Over the past year, the company has introduced its new Sidecar by The Centurion Lounge concept for travelers with limited time before flights, expanded its airport lounge footprint, and rolled out new travel-focused benefits, even as issuers like Chase and Capital One aggressively court affluent cardholders.
Earlier this year, Audrey Hendley, president of American Express Travel, told Fast Company that the company is increasingly designing travel benefits around how cardmembers actually travel instead of simply adding more perks. That thinking helped inspire Sidecar, the company’s new 33-seat airport lounge concept in Las Vegas, after research found many Centurion Lounge visitors spend less than an hour before boarding.
“We’re seeing a significant segment of travelers who only spend 30 to 45 minutes in the lounge,” Hendley previously told Fast Company. “Sidecar is our way of honoring that time with the same level of care and service.”
She said Amex is “always looking for ways to understand better how customers travel and what they’re looking for in the experience,” an approach that’s evident in the company’s latest hotel expansion.
“For 35 years, Fine Hotels + Resorts has helped Platinum Card members turn hotel stays into more rewarding travel experiences,” Hendley said in Wednesday’s announcement. “This expansion gives card members more choice across the places they want to go now—from beach escapes and culinary capitals to culture-rich cities and adventure destinations—while continuing to deliver the elevated benefits they expect from American Express Travel.”
The strategy also reflects how American Express sees luxury travel evolving. Rather than simply booking a five-star hotel, travelers increasingly want properties that serve as a gateway to local food, culture, wellness, and outdoor experiences.
American Express says its 2026 Global Travel Trends report found travelers continue prioritizing meaningful, authentic experiences when planning trips, and the newest additions were selected to reflect those evolving preferences.
Among the new properties is Selman Marrakech in Morocco, a luxury equestrian retreat that’s become a destination for milestone celebrations and once-in-a-lifetime getaways. In Japan, Espacio Nagoya Castle blends Japanese art, regional history, wellness, and access to one of the country’s most distinctive culinary cities. Travelers looking for outdoor adventure can book Roki Collection Queenstown in New Zealand, with access to helicopter tours, heli-skiing, hiking, boating, golf, and wineries. Meanwhile, Casa Lucia, Meliá Collection, in Buenos Aires joins The Hotel Collection, putting guests within easy reach of the city’s parrillas (grill restaurants), cafés, bakeries, and contemporary Argentine cuisine.
More ways to justify a premium annual fee
For Platinum Card members, the biggest impact is simple: more opportunities to use benefits that can help offset the card’s annual fee.
Bookings of two nights or more through The Hotel Collection include a $100 credit toward eligible on-property charges, which vary by hotel, along with noon check-in, late checkout, and room upgrades when available. Fine Hotels + Resorts reservations include daily breakfast for two, guaranteed 4 p.m. checkout, and access to select complimentary night offers at eligible properties.
Those benefits have become increasingly valuable as luxury hotel prices climb and premium credit cards compete on experiences rather than points alone.
Celebrating 35 years
The expansion also serves as a milestone for Fine Hotels + Resorts.
To mark the program’s 35th anniversary, American Express is highlighting several longtime favorites that have helped define the collection, including Mont Cervin Palace in Zermatt, Switzerland; Mandarin Oriental, Bangkok; Amandari in Bali; and The Carlyle, A Rosewood Hotel, in New York City.
When Fine Hotels + Resorts debuted in 1991, the program included just 120 hotels that fit inside a printed directory sent out to cardholders. Today, together with The Hotel Collection, the program spans more than 3,400 properties around the world. That evolution mirrors American Express’s broader strategy: expanding beyond rewards points to build an interconnected ecosystem of airport lounges, curated hotels, dining benefits, and premium travel experiences designed to keep cardmembers engaged long after they’ve booked a flight.
With Chase continuing to expand Sapphire Lounges and Capital One rapidly growing both its airport lounge network and premium travel offerings, American Express is betting that a broader ecosystem of exclusive experiences, not just rewards points, will keep the Platinum Card at the center of luxury travel.
