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Express Travel has been in business since 1989. Our service standards are one of the highest in the industry earning us numerous awards and recognitions including: national Travel Agency of the Year, top ten woman owned company in the State of Florida, one of the top Hispanic companies in the nation, State of Florida’s Business Ambassador, among others.

The secret to our success lies in our people. Our team of dedicated and knowledgeable travel professionals have extensive industry experience and know how. More importantly, they are always ready to go the extra mile for our customers providing outstanding customer service. A vast majority of the Express Travel family, has been with the company since our very beginnings. What does that mean to our customers? They are assured of dealing with experienced, qualified professionals, every time services are rendered.

Our comprehensive menu of worldwide services include corporate, vacation, cruise, groups, meetings and incentives and study abroad departments, assure our customers that any and all of their travel needs can be taken care of.

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American Express Travel: Your Guide to Booking Flights, Hotels, Car Rentals, & Cruises

Jarrod West

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What Is AmexTravel.com?

Fees for using the portal, searching for flights, insider fares, the hotel collection, american express fine hotels and resorts, standard hotel booking, searching for packages, compare flights+hotel to booking separately, searching for cruises, special offers, cruise privileges program, amextravel.com insiders, final thoughts.

We may be compensated when you click on product links, such as credit cards, from one or more of our advertising partners. Terms apply to the offers below. See our Advertising Policy for more about our partners, how we make money, and our rating methodology. Opinions and recommendations are ours alone.

American Express is best known as a credit card issuer, but the company also offers other products and services, including travel booking and planning using AmexTravel.com.

While AmexTravel.com is available for anyone (not just cardmembers), holding an Amex card can definitely help you get extra value when using the program.

Here’s a look at what AmexTravel.com is, what services it provides, what the cost to use, the best ways to use it, and when it’s worth using!

At its most basic, AmexTravel.com is an online travel booking portal (or “online travel agency”) just like Expedia , Kayak , and Orbitz .

You can use it to book a whole trip or just a flight, hotel (or flight + hotel packages), rental cars, or even cruises. If you’d like extra assistance from a customer service agent, you can book by phone as well.

Flights booked through the portal can be subject to small fees. However, sometimes the benefits can make these fees worth it, and they’re waived for holders of the Platinum Card ® from American Express .

There are also a few “sub-categories” that fall under the AmexTravel.com umbrella, including the Hotel Collection and Fine Hotels and Resorts .

Why Should You Use AmexTravel.com?

The main reason to book with AmexTravel.com is the incredible customer service . If you run into any problems during your trip (like delays, cancellations, over-bookings, etc.), you can connect with a live travel agent by phone 24/7 who will work with you to find a solution.

Additionally, if you hold an Amex credit card that earns Membership Rewards points, you can often earn 2x points or more by using it to pay for travel services booked through AmexTravel.com.

Hot Tip:  If you use your Amex Platinum card , you can earn 5x Membership Rewards points on flights booked directly with airlines or with AmexTravel.com. 

Anytime you book a flight through AmexTravel.com (either on its own or as part of a package), you’ll pay a fee of $6.99 for domestic flights and $10.99 for international flights .

These fees are waived if you have the Amex Platinum card and are logged into your account.

If you choose to book a flight by phone rather than online, there’s an added $39 phone service fee .

If you make changes to your flight, there’s a $39 reissue fee in addition to whatever fee the airline charges. This only applies to advance changes, not changes due to problems like canceled flights .

Below, we’ll take a look at how to use AmexTravel.com to book flights, hotels, vacation packages, rental cars, and cruises.

Booking Flights With AmexTravel.com

Searching for flights with AmexTravel.com is similar to other online travel agencies. You can search by city or by specific airport, select your departure and return dates, and click whether you want to search for lower fares within 3 days of your chosen dates.

On the results page, American Express lists the most relevant Delta result at the top highlighted as a “featured airline.” The featured airline is followed by the lowest available fares.

When you scroll down, you can use the controls on the left sidebar to filter the results by the number of stops, departure/arrival times, airline, or even specific flight number.

By default, flights are displayed in price order starting with the lowest, except for a featured Delta flight at the top (when available). At the top of the search window above the results, all available airlines are shown, as well as the lowest available price with each airline.

Depending on your search, you may see a blue tab labeled “Insider Fares Available” above some of the airlines listed at the top of the search window.

These are discounted fares, and they only apply if you pay for the entire flight with Membership Rewards rather than cash. Note that cash prices are rounded to the nearest dollar.

If you’re logged in and have enough Membership Rewards points to cover the entire flight, you will be able to see these discounted fares.

For example, in the below search, you’ll see an example of an Insider Fare available for purchase. The Insider Fare offered a slight discount rather than just matching the cash price in points with each point worth 1 cent (more on that below).

The difference can be fairly minimal. In the JFK-ATL example above, the discount was from 25,259 Membership Rewards points to 24,120 — changing the value from 1 cent per point to about 1.05 cents per point .

Amextravel.com charges a fee to book, but they bundle this into the displayed price. The fee is $6.99 per domestic ticket or $10.99 per international ticket. These fees are waived as a benefit of the Amex Platinum card , just make sure you’re logged into your Amex account when booking.

Hot Tip: AmexTravel.com now offers Trip Cancel Guard coverage that you can add when purchasing flights via AmexTravel.com whether paying with an American Express card, with Membership Rewards points using the Pay With Points option, or a combination of both. It provides for reimbursement of up to 75% of the cost of the non-refundable prepaid flight expense, penalty and change fees caused by the cancellation, or the amount of any expired vouchers/flight credits received for the canceled flight. Coverage is applicable when your flight is canceled for any reason and is valid until 2 full calendar days prior to your trip’s originally scheduled departure date.

When searching several different flights across different online travel agents, we found similar results to the below example each time.

To compare prices, we searched multiple online travel agents and portals using the same search parameters: departing John F. Kennedy-New York (JFK), arriving at London-Heathrow International (LHR), round-trip, 1 traveler, economy, and nonstop on specific dates.

We selected the lowest-priced nonstop flight available through AmexTravel.com: a Finnair flight operated by Oneworld partner , American Airlines.

When searching on AmexTravel.com, the flight was $595.86. This breaks down to $133 in base fare and $462.86 of government, airline, and American Express-imposed fees.

We received the same search results when we replicated this search on Finnair’s U.S. website, Kayak, and Orbitz.

In a second search, we looked for a domestic round-trip from Phoenix Sky Harbor (PHX) to Los Angeles International (LAX) on the same dates. This flight was priced at $199.40. Keep in mind, you would usually see this rate plus the $6.99 Amex booking fee, but again, this is waived for Amex Platinum cardholders.

When cross-referencing this itinerary on Delta’s website, we found the same price listed for a regular economy fare of $199.40. However, there was a basic economy option that was a bit cheaper, which was not available through AmexTravel.com.

Other online travel portals, including Orbitz and Kayak , listed the same price.

This means, if you’re already set on the specific itinerary you want to fly, booking through AmexTravel.com can often cost the same as booking directly with the airline, or through a third party . This assumes you receive waived booking fees for being an Amex Platinum cardholder.

However, what if you’re just looking for the cheapest flight on a particular day? If you do a general search for a route on set dates, will AmexTravel.com find the same rates as other portals? In our experience, the answer is no.

In our example search, here are the lowest available regular economy non-stop flights we could find between New York (any airport) and London (any airport) when searching the same set of dates on a few different websites (sorted by price ascending):

*Including a $10.99 AmexTravel.com booking fee.

The reason for these results is likely due to the fact that the Amex portal doesn’t include some low-cost carriers like Norwegian, so travel portals that do will often win on price.

Even excluding the low-cost carriers, though, other portals like Expedia and Orbitz were able to offer lower fares by about $15.

That said, AmexTravel.com was able to find about the same fares you would find when booking directly with an airline.

Hot Tip: If you hold The Business Platinum Card ® from American Express you can get a 35% rebate on select flights when you pay with points through AmexTravel.com.

AmexTravel.com Hotel Programs

There are actually 3 programs offered for booking hotels:

• Fine Hotels and Resorts
• AmexTravel.com booking (standard)

What Is The Hotel Collection?

The Hotel Collection is a program through AmexTravel.com only available to holders of certain cards:

• The American Express ® Gold Card and the American Express ® Business Gold Card

The Amex Platinum card and the Business Platinum Card ® from American Express

The Centurion card

Perks of The Hotel Collection

When you book a hotel through The Hotel Collection, you get certain perks including:

• Room upgrade at check-in (if available)
• Up to a $100 hotel credit for on-site amenities like the restaurant, bar, room service, or spa
• Ability to use Pay With Points on prepaid reservations
• 3x Membership Rewards points for Amex Gold cardholders on prepaid bookings
• 5x Membership Rewards points for Amex Platinum cardholders on prepaid reservations
• Up to $200 credit each year towards prepaid hotel reservations with either The Hotel Collection (2-night stay) or Fine Hotels and Resorts with select credit cards

Usually, American Express guarantees that any hotel booked through AmexTravel.com will have the lowest publicly-available rates (prepaid rates only), but this rule does not apply to bookings through The Hotel Collection per the terms & conditions . Be certain to check multiple booking options to ensure you’re getting the best deal.

Rooms have to be booked through AmexTravel.com. That means that if you book directly through the hotel or another service, you won’t get the perks, even if the hotel is a part of The Hotel Collection and you pay for the stay with your American Express card.

Further, you must stay a minimum of 2 nights , and you cannot book consecutive stays within 24 hours of each other.

The good news is that these benefits are available for up to 3 rooms per stay . So if you book 3 rooms for family members, you’ll get a total hotel service credit of up to $300.

Hotel Points and Elite Benefits

Typically, you won’t earn points through a hotel loyalty program if you book through a third party, and this includes the AmexTravel.com portal.

Further, you won’t get any elite benefits that you might otherwise be entitled to if you have status with that hotel chain.

Bottom Line:  The Hotel Collection is potentially useful if you’re planning to pay with your eligible Membership Rewards-earning card. This comes at the expense of hotel-specific elite benefits, including points and elite credits in any hotel loyalty program.

What Is the Fine Hotels and Resorts Program?

AmexTravel.com runs a second hotel program called Fine Hotels and Resorts (FHR). It can be a little bit confusing since it sounds like it would overlap with the Hotel Collection, but that’s not the case.

The Fine Hotels and Resorts program is exclusive to Amex Platinum cardholders (personal or business) , as well as those with the invitation-only Centurion Card .

FHR includes different hotels and resorts than The Hotel Collection, with minimal overlap. The FHR collection tends to be more geared toward leisure travelers who wish to book stays at higher-end properties.

Perks of Fine Hotels and Resorts

Booking hotels through the Fine Hotels and Resorts collection entitles you to a handful of potentially valuable perks, including:

• Early noon check-in (when available)
• Room upgrade on arrival (when available)
• Daily breakfast for 2 people
• Guaranteed 4 p.m. late checkout
• Complimentary Wi-Fi
• A unique amenity valued at $100 or more; examples include a property credit, dining credit, spa credit, or similar amenity

Unlike The Hotel Collection, rooms booked through Fine Hotels and Resorts are not all prepaid. In fact, most are standard rates that you’ll pay for at the end of your stay when you check out. In comparing several properties, including the Park Hyatt in Chicago, we found rates identical to the non-prepaid rates when booking directly through the hotel.

However, keep in mind that the hotel may directly offer prepaid and early-purchase options which may be much cheaper, though you won’t benefit from the Fine Hotels and Resorts perks.

There are fewer terms with Fine Hotels and Resorts than with The Hotel Collection. You must book through AmexTravel.com/FHR to receive the benefits .

As with The Hotel Collection, if you book directly with the hotel or through a different travel agency or portal, you won’t be able to claim FHR benefits even if it’s a participating hotel. Other terms vary by property.

Good news here! Unlike stays booked through The Hotel Collection, stays through American Express Fine Hotels and Resorts count as “qualifying rates” for hotel loyalty programs. That means if you’re staying at a hotel that’s part of a loyalty program, you’ll be able to earn points and receive the relevant benefits if you hold elite status.

Hot Tip: Want to know about the differences between these programs? Dig into our dedicated guide on the differences between the Hotel Collection and Fine Hotels & Resorts .

Searching Hotels

Searching for hotels at AmexTravel.com works more or less the same as with flights. You enter your city, dates, number of rooms, and guests. You can check a box to have properties from The Hotel Collection and Fine Hotels and Resorts displayed at the top.

Of course, if you’re interested in booking through either of those programs, you could also just book on their dedicated pages.

By default, search results are ranked by “recommended,” which seems to be decided by an algorithm factoring in price, location, and reviews.

Terms vary by the specific hotel and rate you book, so make sure to read the fine print.

The site can be a bit confusing when trying to compare prices since American Express doesn’t include all taxes and fees in the price displayed (while some hotel websites do).

For example, we searched for a 4-night stay at the Hyatt Regency London – The Churchill. American Express quoted an average of $337/night, which should make the total stay around $1,348. When you go to book, though, the total with fees is $1,625.

While it initially looks more expensive to book directly with Hyatt (where the cost is quoted at $404/night), that price includes all taxes and fees , so you’ll actually pay $1,611, or $14 less.

Our search for the Marriott Regent Park yielded similar results. It’s listed at $233/night in the search function, which implies the total to be $932.

In reality, once you click through, the total is $1,120. Booking directly with Marriott, rates are listed at $261/night, but that includes taxes and fees — for a total prepaid rate of $1,080.

For the 2 hotels in question, here’s how total prices compared through different portals (sorted by price ascending):

In both tickets, AmexTravel.com was within a few dollars of the other online travel agencies, which were all more expensive than booking directly through the hotel’s website.

Similar to The Hotel Collection, rates booked through AmexTravel.com aren’t eligible for elite benefits or hotel loyalty points.

Bottom Line:  Like most other online travel portals and agencies, prices can vary between AmexTravel.com and the hotel’s direct booking channel. You won’t get elite benefits or hotel points, so it might be worth booking directly if those are valuable to you. 

Flights+Hotel Packages

Like with many online travel portals and even airline websites, you can book packages that include flights and hotels through AmexTravel.com. Usually, the point of booking these packages is to get a discount, special perks, or promotions.

The search window for Flights+Hotels is simple: input airports (or cities), dates, number of travelers, and rooms. Results are listed in a recommended order by default just like when searching for a standard hotel.

Terms vary by the specific package you book, so make sure to read the fine print !

As with standalone flight reservations, AmexTravel.com charges a fee to book Flights+Hotel packages: $6.99 per domestic ticket or $10.99 per international ticket .

Again, these fees are waived for holders of the Amex Platinum card  or the Centurion card.

In the results field, a total starting price  per person is listed, including all taxes and fees with the cheapest flight option. American Express also lists how much you’re saving with the package, although this is missing for some hotels.

Once you select the hotel, you can customize your flight. The total price changes based on which flight you select.

In a sample search, we chose the Hyatt Regency London – The Churchill, and picked the cheapest nonstop flight: British Airways flight, which was Newark Liberty International (EWR) to LHR and London-Gatwick (LGW) to JFK. The package came to $1,446 per person, or $2,892 total.

Annoyingly, AmexTravel.com doesn’t show a breakdown of hotel and airfare costs and fees; instead, it just displays a total per person.

For comparison, you can search the flight and hotels separately. We tried searching for the flight first on the same day.

We found Finnair flights operated by American Airlines for $660 per person — an option that wasn’t offered as part of the package (although with the booking fee, the flights should have been $671). When we filtered the search to British Airways only, it showed a ton of options for $671.

Searching hotels next, we again chose the Hyatt Regency London – The Churchill’s lowest prepaid rate. It was listed as $337 per night for 1 room (plus taxes and fees), for a total of $2,031. For the 2 flights and the hotel, that comes to a total of $3,351, or $1,675.50 per person.

In this case, booking the trip as a package saves almost $460, even though the search results page didn’t highlight any savings specifically.

The main downside to booking a package is that you have less flexibility. Say you want to change hotels for part of the trip or maybe stay with a friend for the last few days. This isn’t an option because you must book a single hotel for the entire time between your flights. It can also make solutions harder to find if there are any problems — although the AmexTravel.com customer support should make up for that.

Bottom Line:  If you’re using AmexTravel.com and your plans allow for the lack of flexibility, you might be able to save a lot of money with a package. Just make sure to compare the listed price to booking everything separately. Note that you can’t book a package retroactively: you have to book the flights and hotel at the same time. 

Rental Cars

AmexTravel.com also offers a rental car booking service. You can make reservations from rental stations at airports and elsewhere.

To search for rental cars, simply enter an airport or city . You can also click a button to search near a specific address.

Results are shown in a handy grid format, with each column showing a different rental company, and each row displaying the pricing for a different category of car (economy, compact, midsize, and so on).

Bookings of up to 4 days are charged a daily rate, while bookings 5-7 days are charged on a weekly basis. There are specific rates for weekends and weekdays, as well as monthly options, with specific details varying by the rental agency.

In several sample searches, prices were generally consistent with other online travel agencies — though sometimes lower by $1-$2/day. Prices were identical to booking with the rental company directly.

Bottom Line:  Renting a car through AmexTravel.com doesn’t get you any benefits above what you’d receive for paying with your credit card, such as the collision damage waiver for paying with your Amex Platinum card. However, the convenient search page makes it a great option for comparing multiple prices at once. 

AmexTravel.com also offers tools to book cruises . In addition to letting you search for cruises all over the world, AmexTravel.com periodically highlights special offers on cruises, usually in the form of credits to use onboard.

To search for cruises, you need to enter the region you want to travel in, the cruise line(s) you want to travel with (or search all available lines), the month you’re planning the trip for, and the approximate length of the cruise you want.

Results are shown in order, from the lowest-priced option to the highest . Note that this is based on the lowest available rate; hovering over any result will show all available cabin types and the corresponding prices.

Under each result, the information shown includes the port of departure/return, date of departure, and ports visited.

Hot Tip:  Wondering what to pack for your time at sea? Check out our ultimate cruise-based packing list  — it’s printable and complete with tons of tips and advice!

Cruise rates booked through AmexTravel.com were within $1-2 of rates found on other online travel agents and websites . We found identical prices on the various cruise company websites — though each online travel portal and cruise line offers different promotions, so it might be worth comparing them.

For example, during a sample search for a weeklong Caribbean cruise in December, we found that Royal Caribbean was offering a $50 onboard credit if you booked directly.

On the search results page, you might notice a tab labeled “Special Offers.” Those offers are generally onboard credits, but can also include discounts or other special features. If you aren’t committed to a specific cruise line, these are often worth exploring.

Those with the Amex Platinum card have special access to the Cruise Privileges Program . Like the Fine Hotels and Resorts program, this is only available on specific cruises, although it’s more limited than FHR.

It includes onboard credit (often higher than otherwise offered) and a special onboard amenity, like complimentary dinner for 2 or a bottle of premium champagne.

Bottom Line: It can be worth booking a cruise through AmexTravel.com, especially if there are special offers. Make sure to compare different booking sites , though, as some may have better or exclusive promotions.

AmexTravel.com offers a feature called Travel Insiders. When you use the program, American Express connects you with a travel expert who can help you plan an itinerary based around your desired destination. Fees vary based on location, length of the trip, and details of the itinerary.

AmexTravel.com can be a very useful tool when booking flights, hotels, vacation packages, cruises, or rental cars. In many cases, it may not offer the best rate options , but it’s worth comparing to other booking sites and airlines or hotels directly.

If you have an American Express card that offers access to the Hotel Collection or Fine Hotels and Resorts, the perks can be very worthwhile.

Additionally, the extra Membership Rewards points you earn by booking through AmexTravel.com can be valuable, as long as the price is right.

Aside from the Hotel Collection and Fine Hotels and Resorts, the real value of AmexTravel.com is in the customer service provided. Booking a trip on your own is easy — dealing with problems when they arise can be less so!

If you book through AmexTravel.com, you’ll have easy access to someone who can help you get on a new flight, find a new hotel, or manage whatever other issues come up day or night. So if you’re looking to have that extra support, then AmexTravel.com might be a great choice for you!

The information regarding the Centurion ® Card from American Express was independently collected by Upgraded Points and was not provided nor reviewed by the issuer. 

For rates and fees of The Platinum Card ® from American Express, click here . For rates and fees of The Business Platinum Card ® from American Express, click here . For rates and fees of the American Express ® Gold Card, click  here . For rates and fees of the American Express ® Business Gold Card, click here .

Frequently Asked Questions

What is american express travel.

AmexTravel.com is an O nline  T ravel  A gency (OTA), just like Orbitz , Kayak , or Expedia . You can book flights, hotels, rental cars, or cruises through AmexTravel.com.

Do I need an American Express card to use Amex Travel services?

Whether or not you have an American Express card, you can book flights, hotels, rental cars, or cruises through AmexTravel.com. If you do have an Amex card, you might be eligible for certain perks or rewards.

Does American Express Travel cost anything?

If you book a flight through AmexTravel.com, there’s a small fee ($6.99 for domestic flights, $10.99 for international) that fee is waived for Amex Platinum, Amex Business Platinum, and Centurion cardmembers. Other services, like hotels and cruises, do not have fees.

Why should I book with American Express Travel?

AmexTravel.com has very helpful customer service resources. If you have any problems with your trip (like a canceled flight), you can call an agent who can help solve the issue.

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About Jarrod West

Boasting a portfolio of over 20 cards, Jarrod has been an expert in the points and miles space for over 6 years. He earns and redeems over 1 million points per year and his work has been featured in outlets like The New York Times.

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Dependable, high quality ground transportation throughout indiana and chicagoland., bloomington shuttle, shared ride airport shuttle from bloomington to indianapolis (ind) and back., lafayette express, shared ride airport shuttle between lafayette and indianapolis airport, charter bus rentals, get a quote for charter bus rentals and corporate shuttles and accounts., chicagoland express, scheduled shuttle service between indiana university and the chicago area.

Experience the highest quality and most affordable ground transportation in Indiana and the Midwest with GO Express Travel. Our fleet is meticulously maintained and updated to impress even the most discerning customers.

Choose from our scheduled shared ride Bloomington Shuttle service from Bloomington, IN to Indianapolis International Airport (IND), our Lafayette Express shuttle service between Lafayette, IN and IND Airport, or opt for a private car service to travel to Chicago, Indiana, or any location in the Midwest. We also offer Indianapolis airport car service with door-to-door pickup and drop off.

For students traveling between Indiana University and Chicago, we’ve resumed our Chicagoland Express shuttle service with fall break, Thanksgiving break, and winter break schedules now available. 

Need a minibus or coach bus rental for a special occasion or corporate event? Our Charter Bus Rental services are customizable for any group size, anywhere in the continental United States. Trust us to provide the perfect group transportation services for your needs.

What services do you provide?

GO Express Travel offers shared ride Bloomington shuttle service between Bloomington and Indianapolis Airport (IND) and Lafayette Express shuttle between Lafayette, IN and Indianapolis Airport.  Private car service can be reserved for point-to-point airport transfers or booked hourly for special occasions. Groups and businesses can book charter bus rentals for events, corporate shuttles, conventions, and more.  We also offer a scheduled Chicagoland Express shuttle between Indiana University and the Chicago area.

How much does it cost?

Rates vary based upon service selected, vehicle selected, the number of passengers, and/or the distance.

Please note: Our best rates are available online. Reservations booked over the phone will incur a separate administrative fee.

What is the shuttle schedule?

Where do i find your shuttle at the airport.

The airport shuttle picks up at the Ground Transportation Center located directly across from baggage claim area on the lower level of the main terminal in Zone 1 at Indianapolis Airport.

What are your hours of operation?

Our office hours of operation are Monday – Friday from 8:30 am – 5:00 pm.

Visit the Bloomington airport shuttle page to view the current schedules, check rates, and confirm availability.

 Choose GO Express Travel for Indianapolis Airport Transportation

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Introducing Lafayette Express , our new scheduled service between Lafayette, IN and Indianapolis Airport (IND).

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How can a travel agent help you? When planning your vacation, there are several considerations in determining whether to use a travel agent...

Travel with firearms can be stressful and time consuming... if you don't have the right information. Worry less and let Travel Express guide you through the process.

Why purchase travel insurance? Even when you plan well, things can go wrong. Whether it’s a lost bag, cancelled flights, or a medical emergency, travel insurance has your back 24/7.

These are just a few of our favorite tips to help make international travel easy. Have a travel hack you'd

"Thanks a ton! We had a wonderful trip and everything went smoothly, we really appreciate you setting it all up.

Do you really need a passport to book international airfare? Find out more about how TSA and airline regulations affect

Partnering with several US based international tour companies allows us to offer a huge selection of properties and excursions from

Travel Express is a full service travel agency that specializes in airfare to many international hunting and vacation destinations. We can assist with all aspects of your travel plans from airfare, lodging, tours and car rentals to entry visas, firearm permits, trip insurance policies and medical evacuation services. With our personal travel and hunting experiences, we are able to offer a unique perspective. You can rely on our knowledge and personal commitment when planning your next adventure. For a quote, or any advice during the planning stages, please feel free to contact us.

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Client testimonials.

Eric S, Wyoming

“It was the trip of a life time! Thank you so much for the role you played. You helped keep our life simple and sweet. Please add us to your list of very happy customers!”

Dan S, Texas

“…I just wanted to say thank you for the excellent service you provided. The air travel and connections were without a doubt the best arrangements we’ve ever had. Again, flawless service.”

Jim H, Arizona

“Thank you so much for being part of our “very best family vacation”. You made it so clear and easy. You can bet we will be in touch with you the next time we travel.”

Nick R, Texas

“I just wanted to let you know I arrived back in the U.S. safe and sound from South Africa. I really appreciate all your help and careful attention to detail that you put into my itinerary. All of my travel went very smoothly and I was totally comfortable throughout…

Tom K, Washington

“Thank you for everything, your help and my stress reduction….priceless : )” 

Tom E, North Carolina

“I wanted to thank you for arranging our travel to Namibia. The trip was great and the flights went smoothly. Again, thanks for the quick and smooth service. I look forward to doing more travel with your assistance in the future.” 

Robert S, Minnesota

“I’m speechless and on the verge of tears, I can’t begin to thank you for going the extra mile in getting my firearm permit pushed through just in time. Thanks for everything you have done!”

Kenneth W, Virginia

“A quick shout out to say THANK YOU for all your help and to let you know that all went well on the travel end of the trip. Will look forward to using your service on our next trip overseas.”

Jimmy S, Texas

“Thank you for all for your help and service over the last two years. I will recommend Travel Express to everyone needing overseas travel assistance.”

Brad W, Ohio

“I just wanted to let you know that all of our flight and travel plans went off perfectly without any delays or problems. I would like to thank all of you again for your assistance with our travel plans and to share my sincere appreciation for all of the…

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Darren specializes in international airfare for hunters, and has traveled throughout southern Africa, Argentina, and New Zealand.

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Jennifer specializes in international travel for hunters as well as complete touring and vacation packages, and has traveled Europe and Southern Africa.

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What an Amex GBT-CWT Merger Means For Expedia and Booking.com

Dennis Schaal , Skift

March 27th, 2024 at 8:05 PM EDT

As in the planned American Express Global Business Travel Group merger with CWT, many marriages have in-law issues.

Dennis Schaal

Corporate travel could get complicated: Expedia Group has a big stake in Amex Global Business Travel. Booking.com is partners with CWT. What happens to those relationships if the merger between Amex GBT and CWT goes through? Amex GBT CEO Paul Abbott specifically noted CWT’s ties to Booking.com for Business as an upside to the deal as it tries to reach more small businesses customers.

“As you know, SME (Small and Medium Enterprise) is an important strategic focus area for us,” Abbott said in a conference call Monday to explain the proposed merger. “And it also represents an important strategic focus for CWT, who have been focused on expanding further in this area including a relationship with Booking.com for Business….”

Expedia Group, one of Booking.com’s largest rivals, had a 16% stake in Amex GBT at the end of 2023. Expedia also has a 10-year lodging supply agreement with Amex GBT that gives its clients access to Expedia hotel inventory.

What to Make of the Expedia-Booking.com Mashup

Skift reached out to several analysts about the potential rivalry in hotel supply between Expedia and Booking.com.

“There’s room for only one winner at the top of the podium,” said Atmosphere Research Group’s Henry Harteveldt. “Unless there is something in the contracts with either Booking or Expedia that guarantees one of them the place as the surviving provider, I would expect that Amex GBT will have Expedia and Booking participate in a type of bake off where the two make their case for being retained. It would, of course, be easier for Amex GBT to retain Expedia, since they are the incumbent, but Amex GBT may view this as an opportunity for a fresh look — and, perhaps, the opportunity to negotiate more favorable economic terms.”

On the other hand, Richard Clarke, managing director at AB Bernstein, didn’t see the mashup as an issue.

“Why not have both?” Clarke said. “My understanding is there is no cost of connection (for businesses) and this way you can pick the cheapest price of a hotel from each. I believe Trip.com has a similar relationship with both.”

Asked whether China’s Trip.com Group indeed has a supply relationship with both Expedia and Booking.com, a Trip.com executive wouldn’t get into specifics but said, “We are a platform so we do multi-sourcing.”

Indeed, Amex GBT already has a supply relationship with Booking.com, as it does with the three major global distribution systems, but they seem small when compared with the strategic relationship between Amex GBT and Expedia Group.

For its part, Expedia Group expects its supply partnership with Amex GBT to continue.

Asked about the implications of the Booking-CWT relationship and its own with Amex GBT, an Expedia Group statement said: “At Expedia Group, we power thousands of partners around the world with our best-in-class API technology and vast inventory. Our long-term agreement to provide lodging supply to Amex GBT was an important step forward in our ambition to power the entire travel ecosystem and help all of our partners achieve their goals. We look forward to continuing our partnership with them.”

Expedia’s Relationship with Amex GBT

Expedia Group’s equity stake and lodging supply agreement grew out of the sale of its Egencia corporate travel business to Amex GBT in late 2021. Expedia got a stake in Amex GBT and it secured a decade-long hotel-supply marketing agreement.

Amex GBT uses Egencia to handle small and medium-size enterprises — which is what Booking.com for Business does for CWT.

More than two years after Expedia’s sale of Egencia to Amex GBT, Expedia still provides transition services to Amex GBT related to the deal.

In its fourth quarter and full-year 2023 financial results, Amex GBT reported that it notched a record of $2.2 billion in SME client wins last year.

It defines these small- and medium-size enterprises as those doing less than $30 million in total transaction value per year — and Amex GBT is looking for a lot more of these deals if it brings CWT into the fold.

With the potential addition of CWT, Amex GBT expects to increase its SME business by 35%, Abbott said during the merger call.

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Tags: amex , amex gbt , booking holdings , booking.com , booking.com for business , business travel , corporate travel , cwt , egencia , expedia , expedia group , m&a , mergers , mergers and acquisitions , small businesses

Photo credit: A business traveler in London. Source: Nicholas F/peopleimag/Adobe Nicholas F/peopleimages.com / Adobe

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American Express travel portal guide

M ost popular travel credit cards let you redeem your points in more than one way, including the option to use points to book travel through a portal.

This is true of Chase Ultimate Rewards credit cards like the Chase Sapphire Reserve® and Chase Freedom Flex℠ *, both of which let you book travel directly through the Chase travel portal. But it’s also true for Citi credit cards like the Citi Prestige® Card *, which lets you book airfare, hotels and more through the Citi ThankYou travel portal.

American Express is yet another program that makes it possible for cardholders to book travel through its own portal, known as AmexTravel.com. To book travel with points through AmexTravel.com, you just need a credit card that earns points in the American Express Membership Rewards program. Anyone can book travel through this portal, however, and pay with another form of payment, such as a credit card.

What are the benefits of booking through AmexTravel.com?

AmexTravel.com is a third-party booking site that works similarly to competitors like Expedia.com or Orbitz.com. You can use it to compare prices for airfare, hotels and more across the web, just like you would with another booking site.

But there are more benefits to using this portal if you’re an American Express cardholder. If you have The Business Platinum Card® from American Express , for example, you can get 35 percent of your points back (up to 500,000 points per calendar year) when you use rewards to book first or business class tickets or any flight with your selected airline.

Also, note that both the business version and The Platinum Card® from American Express for consumers let you earn 5X points when you purchase prepaid flights or prepaid hotels through American Express Travel (on up to $500,000 spent per calendar year). Meanwhile, the popular American Express® Gold Card lets you earn 3X points on flights booked through AmexTravel.com.

Beyond specific cardholder benefits, AmexTravel.com makes it easy to compare flight and hotel options. You may also find offers that include additional benefits when you book a cruise through the portal, such as onboard credits or free specialty meals.

How to use the Amex travel portal to book flights and hotels

Using the Amex travel portal to book flights, hotels, cruises and other travel is a lot like using any other travel booking site. AmexTravel.com is set up to make searching for travel easy, as well as comparing multiple flight and hotel options in one place.

Besides flights, hotels and cruises, you can also use AmexTravel.com to book rental cars and vacation packages. All you have to do is head to AmexTravel.com and enter some basic details on the travel you want to book. From there, you’ll be shown a selection you can choose from.

Cash vs. points

When using the Amex travel portal to pay for hotels, flights and other bookings, you have the option to pay with points, cash or a combination of the two.

To fully or partially pay with points, all you have to do is head to the American Express website and log in to your account. Once you find the travel you want and prepare to book, you can select the option to “use only points” or to “use points + card.” Once you book and choose how you want to pay, your credit card will be charged the full dollar amount of your booking. A credit for any points you used, however, will be applied to your account within 48 hours, per American Express.

Note that you’ll need at least 5,000 Membership Rewards points to pay with points. This rule makes it a little more difficult to use up any leftover points you might have from other bookings. However, it shouldn’t be too hard to reach the 5,000 point threshold for travel if you have an American Express card that earns Membership Rewards points.

When it comes to booking flights, there are a few interesting details to note. If you have an Amex card that offers access to Centurion Lounges or Delta Sky Clubs, for example, you’ll see a note showing qualification for lounge access on flights that apply. You can use Amex points to book a business or first class flight or to upgrade your flight.

You also have the option to transfer your American Express Membership Rewards points to Amex airline and hotel partners. Using the American Express travel portal may or may not be a better deal, but you do get the benefit of booking any travel you want without having to worry about award availability.

Pay It Plan It

You can now pay for airline tickets with Pay It Plan It. Amex’s Pay It Plan It is a flexible payment option that allows cardholders to make payments on large purchases over time. With this option, cardholders can avoid interest charges and pay down balances with predictable, monthly payments.

The payment option is only for airline tickets booked through the American Express travel website. At checkout, cardholders are presented with up to three different plans to pay for any flight purchase of $100 or more. Note that the installment payment plan doesn’t have any interest associated with it, but there is a fixed monthly fee based on the card’s APR.

International Airline Program

The business and personal Platinum cards let you access a newer Amex program for frequent flyers known as the International Airline Program. This program was created to increase access to lower fares on 14 participating airlines, but it’s only good for international premium class tickets.

To search for fares that qualify, log in to your personal or business Platinum account. From there, use AmexTravel.com to search for premium economy, business class or first class flights to any international destination.

Use the booking tool to search for First Class, Business Class or Premium Economy to an international destination. At that point, you may see some flight options that show an International Airline Program banner.

Booking hotels and resorts

Using AmexTravel.com to book a hotel or resort stay works similarly, requiring you to enter some information to find properties in destinations you want to visit. Once again, you can pay for your booking with points, cash or a combination of the two. You’ll need to have at least 5,000 Membership Rewards points in your account in order to pay with points.

While you get 1 cent per point in value when you use American Express Membership Rewards points to book flights, you only get around .07 cents per point when you book hotels through the portal. Also be aware that, just like with any other travel booking site, booking a hotel through AmexTravel.com usually means forgoing hotel loyalty points or elite night credits.

Note that select premium American Express credit cards, like the Business Platinum Card from American Express and the Platinum Card from American Express, let you access an additional hotel program known as American Express Fine Hotels and Resorts.

This program lets cardholders book stays at over 1,000 luxury hotels in the world with added benefits worth up to $550 per stay. Amex Fine Hotels and Resorts perks can include:

• Daily breakfast for two people
• 4 p.m. late checkout
• Complimentary internet access
• Noon check-in, based on availability
• Room upgrades based on availability
• Unique resort amenity worth up to $100

The Amex Fine Hotels and Resorts program is available only for eligible premium cardholders. Using this program also typically means going without elite hotel benefits or points for paid stays.

Does American Express cover trip cancellations?

Individual airlines and hotels have their own policies that cover cancellations. AmexTravel.com, however, does offer the option to view all your booked travel and cancel or rebook a flight with ease using your My Trips page. You will still be subject to any change or cancellation fees imposed by the carrier if you’re not covered by a flexible policy or existing waiver.

Some American Express credit cards offer trip cancellation and interruption insurance, which could apply in some situations where you have to cancel or rebook your plans.

Cards that offer this benefit include the Business Platinum Card and the Platinum Card, as well as co-branded airline and hotel credit cards like the Marriott Bonvoy Brilliant® American Express® Card and the Delta SkyMiles® Reserve American Express Card .

Is booking through AmexTravel.com worth it?

Only you can decide which travel booking option works best for your needs. Regardless of the value of rewards earned, some travelers like being able to book directly through a portal that offers multiple options.

AmexTravel.com gives customers the benefit of booking any travel available on the portal without having to find award space on a flight or having to search for available award nights in high-demand hotels. American Express Membership Rewards points, however, are usually worth more if you transfer them to Amex transfer partners , and particularly airlines.

Either way, it makes sense to compare all your options before you book travel through AmexTravel.com. See if a transfer partner might let you book the flights you want for fewer miles, but don’t be afraid to use AmexTravel.com if you don’t want to deal with award availability or you find a better deal.

Learn more : Check out Bankrate’s travel toolkit for tips and tricks on how to maximize travel with a credit card.

*The information about the Chase Freedom Flex℠ and Citi Prestige® Credit Card has been collected independently by Bankrate.com. The card details have not been reviewed or approved by the card issuer.

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Express could file for bankruptcy soon

Plans of the private negotiation have not been finalized and could change.

Retail company Express could be on the cusp of bankruptcy.

Bloomberg, citing unnamed sources, reports that the company is requesting cash from its lenders to help it pay for a potential Chapter 11 bankruptcy proceeding. Express could file for bankruptcy as early as next week, people with knowledge of the private negotiations told Bloomberg, noting that plans have not been finalized and could change.

Express did not respond to a request for comment from Quartz.

The American fashion retailer, which sells clothing and apparel, has been blowing through money while trying to pay down its debt.

Express, whose portfolio includes Bonobos and UpWest, has also been struggling to reach consumers as it toes the line between being too low-priced for luxury and too high-priced for its low-cost competitors.

In early March, Express was de-listed from the New York Stock Exchange.

Shares of Express were down 10% during after hours , trading at $1.30 per share. The Ohio-based company has a market capitalization of about $4.88 million. It operates approximately 530 Express retail and Express Factory Outlet stores across the U.S. and Puerto Rico.

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Hilton Honors American Express Business Card refresh: Overwhelmingly negative changes

American Express is at it again with credit card changes for its cobranded Hilton cards , but this time, the changes target the business version.

In October 2023, Amex introduced changes to the Hilton Honors American Express Surpass® Card and the Hilton Honors American Express Aspire Card , which were a bag of mixed results.

The refreshes to the Hilton Honors American Express Business Card include changes to the earning structure, the removal of free night rewards, a new statement credit and an increase to the annual fee. Overall, the changes seem fairly negative.

Here's a walkthrough of the Hilton Honors Business Card changes and what they mean for existing cardmembers and prospective applicants.

The information for the Hilton Aspire card has been collected independently by The Points Guy. The card details on this page have not been reviewed or provided by the card issuer.

Annual fee increase

The annual fee on the Hilton Honors Business Card has increased significantly from $95 to $195 (see rates and fees ), more than doubling for existing cardmembers. The annual fee is effective immediately for anyone applying from March 28, while existing cardmembers will see the higher annual fee take effect at their next renewal date.

The mid-tier Surpass and premium Aspire saw a 58% and 22% increase, respectively, so the more than 105% jump on the business card is disappointing.

Related: The complete guide to credit card annual fees

New Hilton statement credit

One positive development for the Hilton Honors Business Card includes the addition of a new statement credit. Cardmembers can now earn up to $240 in statement credits on eligible Hilton purchases.

The statement credit is split up quarterly, providing up to $60 each quarter. Eligible purchases include room reservations at Hilton properties and also cover incidental charges such as dinner or spa treatments. Additionally, the credit can be used in a business setting, such as having a meeting over coffee with business partners or a meal at Hilton properties.

For frequent travelers, a statement credit is a great way to offset hotel charges; however, if you don't travel frequently or at least every quarter, this benefit may not be as useful.

To maximize the statement credit, you must use your credit every quarter; at the very least, if you don't plan on spending it on hotel stays, then use it to dine at restaurants or cafes within Hilton properties for work dinners or team meetings.

Related: How to maximize the new statement credits on the Hilton Surpass and Aspire cards

New car rental elite status

Cardmembers will now also receive complimentary National Car Rental® Emerald Club Executive® status. Useful benefits include guaranteed upgrades, access to Executive Area cars (in the USA and Canada) and no second driver fees.

While elite status with a car rental company is a nice perk, it isn't a benefit that is a make-it-or-break-it factor for most businesses, and it's certainly not one that fully offsets an increase in a card's annual fee. This benefit is useful as long as you rent cars often for business travel; if your preferred car rental company isn't National Car Rental®, many companies offer status match programs to entice you into their loyalty programs.

Enrollment in the complimentary Emerald Club program is required. Terms apply.

Related: Hitting the road this summer? Here's everything you need to know about rental car elite status

Changed earning rates

The earning structure on the card is changing somewhat.

Apart from still earning 12 points per dollar when making purchases directly with hotels and resorts in the Hilton portfolio, cardmembers now earn 5 points per dollar spent on all purchases up to $100,000 and then 3 points per dollar after that.

Despite the $100,000 spending limit, earning 5 points per dollar is solid and could be positive for businesses that spend a lot on everyday purchases. However, Amex has removed the 6 points per dollar categories, which were broadly defined and had no spending cap, so this could also be a negative development depending on your spending patterns.

Related: 12 ways you can earn more Hilton Honors points

Removal of Priority Pass lounge passes

Previously, the Hilton Honors Business Card offered cardmembers 10 complimentary visits to Priority Pass lounges annually. However, this is disappearing.

Existing cardmembers should aim to use their passes soon. This negative change edges the card toward less utilization for business-related travel.

For context, the Surpass and Aspire both lost their Priority Pass benefits back in October, so this is not a surprise. If your business relies on lounge use during travel, consider a card like the Capital One Venture X Business or The Business Platinum Card® from American Express .

Related: Is a Priority Pass lounge membership actually worth it?

No more free nights

Cardmembers will also see the removal of a free night reward for those who spend $15,000 in a calendar year and another for those who spend $60,000 in a calendar year.

As a cobranded hotel credit card, earning free nights is a great benefit for those who meet spending requirements, even more so because Hilton uses a dynamic award chart.

This is a disappointing change and disincentivizes cardmembers to spend significantly on the card.

Our take on the Hilton Business card changes

TPG managing editor for credit cards Matt Moffitt has this card and is disappointed with the changes overall.

An annual fee increase to $150 instead of $195 (see rates and fees ) would have been more palatable and in line with the new annual fee structure that Amex seems to be implementing . Removing Priority Pass visits doesn't affect him much, as he already has unlimited access to participating lounges through his Capital One Venture X Rewards Credit Card .

Furthermore, the inability to earn free night rewards after spending $15,000 and $60,000 yearly is a major blow to this card's value proposition.

And while the up to $60 quarterly Hilton statement credit more than offsets the annual fee , it's frustrating having to pull out this card four times a year to get value from this benefit.

Matt will definitely be asking for a retention offer when the (higher) annual fee posts at his next renewal in July. If that isn't successful, he'll try to downgrade this card to one with a lower or no annual fee or cancel the card as he doesn't see the long-term value of having it in his wallet when he already gets Hilton Honors Diamond status and more than enough value from the annual fee on his personal Aspire card.

Bottom line

American Express continues to refresh its lineup of cards; however, unlike its mid-tier and premium consumer cards, the Surpass and the Aspire, the changes to the Hilton Honors Business Card are overwhelmingly negative.

Removing several useful benefits and increasing the annual fee by more than double is detrimental to the card, even when you take into account the introduction of a quarterly statement credit.

However, this card may still make sense for business owners who stay at Hilton properties at least once per quarter and can get value out of the complimentary Gold status.

Like we've seen in the past, this card refresh is accompanied by a limited-time welcome offer to entice new cardmembers. They can earn 175,000 Hilton Honors bonus points after they spend $8,000 in purchases within the first six months of card membership. The best-ever offer we've seen on this card is 180,000 bonus points, so the current offer is highly worth considering — if you decide this card is worth it.

For rates and fees of the Hilton Honors Business Card, click here .

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These Are the Top Travel Trends of 2024, According to American Express Travel

What are people really traveling for in 2024?

Grant Faint/Getty Images

Demand for premium travel continues at a torrid pace in 2024. Not only is that being reflected in the first few months of the year, but also in the newly released trend report by  American Express (Amex) Travel . The study explored travel behaviors and trip planning from participants living in seven countries: Australia, Canada, Mexico, Japan, India, the United Kingdom, and the United States.

The majority of respondents are planning major milestone-like trips, even if there isn’t necessarily an occasion to celebrate. And 84 percent of people surveyed plan to spend more or the same amount of money on travel in 2024 compared to last year. That includes destinations like  Antarctica  and the  Galapagos Islands . (Travel agents and advisors are making a resurgence as well, with over 50 percent of people looking to leverage a travel agent or trusted advisor to book, like  T+L’s A-List .)

“The report shows that demand for travel is continuing, and that people are building itineraries to create memories—being intentional about the places they are going, and the things they are doing when they get there,” Audrey Hendley, president of American Express Travel, told Travel + Leisure .

Meanwhile, if 2023 was the year of “gig-tripping” (and the Taylor Swift effect), then 2024 is the year of long-distance travel for sporting events. Amex’s survey showed that 67 percent of millennial and Gen Z respondents are interested in traveling for sports in 2024. Paris, Miami, and New York City are the top three cities for sports travel, according to Amex. (Paris is hosting the  Olympic Games this year, Miami is hosting Formula 1, and New York City has the U.S. Open Tennis.)

In addition, solo travel will be a prominent theme in 2024, with 76 percent of millennials and Gen Z (compared to 69 percent of all respondents) saying they plan to take a solo trip this year, with a majority centered around self-love and treating themselves. “It is really interesting to see how many people are embracing solo travel,” said Hendley. “We’re seeing changes with younger travelers in particular."

Finally, Amex says that 2024 will be a notable year for spontaneous trips or what they’re calling “on-a-whim travel.” Nearly 80 percent of travelers say they plan to take a spur-of-the-moment trip, while 44 percent of respondents even expressed a preference for a spontaneous trip instead of having all the details planned. In fact, there are entire companies (like  Pack Up & Go  and  Competitours ) that offer complete itineraries where none of the details are provided in advance.

For something a bit less extreme, Henley recommended leaving unplanned time on existing trips to experience local culture and activities. “I just took an incredible trip to Thailand and relied on local experts and tour guides to show me the ‘real’ sites. I would have missed out on these local experiences – and so much incredible food – if I hadn’t left room in my itinerary to be impulsive and truly explore,” she said.

To learn more visit go.amex .

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Business Travel, Meetings, and Spend Management

American Express Global Business Travel (Amex GBT) is a leading B2B travel platform, providing software and services to manage travel, expenses, and meetings & events for companies of all sizes.

Business and Corporate Travel

The right solution is as distinct as your business. Explore Amex GBT's suite of solutions to see which can best help cover your needs. From simple to tailored to high-touch care - whichever way you go, they'll be behind you, helping to make every trip count.

Meetings & Events  

Amex GBT Meetings & Events provides unforgettable experiences created with our comprehensive management and suite of services for a single event or your entire meetings portfolio.

Amex GBT Neo1 (Neo1 TM )  

Neo1 is a single spend management platform enabling you to issue American Express virtual Cards to employees using your American Express ® Business or Corporate Card to help your business purchase, expense, and report on employee spending. 1 Enrollment required. Fees may apply.

1 Card enrollment required for eligible American Express Business and Corporate Cards. Separate enrollment with each of Neo1 and American Express is required to utilize combined product offering. There is no fee to generate American Express virtual Cards. Other fees on the Neo1 platform may apply. For you to make a Card payment through the service, the supplier must be an American Express accepting merchant. Please contact your Neo1 representative or email  [email protected]  to learn more.

GBT Travel Services UK Limited (GBT UK) and its authorized sublicensees (including Ovation Travel Group and Egencia) use certain trademarks and service marks of American Express Company or its subsidiaries (American Express) in the “American Express Global Business Travel” and “American Express GBT Meetings & Events” brands and in connection with its business for permitted uses only under a limited license from American Express (Licensed Marks). The Licensed Marks are trademarks or service marks of, and the property of, American Express. GBT UK is a subsidiary of Global Business Travel Group, Inc. (NYSE: GBTG). American Express holds a minority interest in GBTG, which operates as a separate company from American Express.