American Express announced earlier today (read more here) that it is renaming the Annual Hotel Credit to Lodging Credit and extending it to stays at Airbnb properties, but it conveniently forgot to mention a significant negative change.
The annual $600 credit that you must have used semiannually has required a minimum two-night stay at Hotel Collection and no minimum stay at Fine Hotels + Resorts properties, but this is changing in 2027. The minimum stay is unified across all Lodging Credit and is TWO NIGHTS.
Lodging Credit Update:
Lodging Credit Small Print:
The Hotel Collection and Airbnb Luxe bookings require a minimum two-night stay. Effective January 1, 2027, Fine Hotel + Resort® bookings will require a minimum two-night stay to be eligible for the $600 Lodging Credit.
Certain Experience bookings direct you from Airbnb to a third-party partner platform to make the purchase (for example, live event tickets) and are not eligible.
Amex tries to hide in the small print that a minimum stay requirement now applies even to stays at these Fine Hotels + Resorts properties.
My Experiences Using The Credit In 2026:
Benefit Maxing! How I Turned $300 Amex Hotel Credit For 8 Nights At Hilton’s Canopy Hotel
Fabulous Fridays: Amex FHR $300 Credit Use At Park Hyatt Dubai For 2 Nights + $80
Conclusion
This is an unfortunate change, as it makes the credit extremely difficult to use effectively for those who only travel in North America.
You have to keep in mind that the Fine Hotels + Resorts prices are usually based on the Best Available Rate but come with specific benefits such as breakfast for 2 and a confirmed 4 PM check-out.
You can, however, usually book these same hotels for significantly less elsewhere, unless there are 3 nights for 2 or 4 nights for the price of 3 offers going around.
The key here, the same with Chase’s EDIT, is to use them in markets with significant pricing swings and variability, like I did this year, to get great value, but I understand this won’t work for most Amex Platinum cardholders.