Best travel credit cards for Hong Kong businesses

What is a travel credit card?

A travel credit card is a payment card that earns points or miles on your purchases, typically with bonus earn rates on categories like travel, dining, and overseas spending. A travel card is designed to offer travel-specific benefits such as airport lounge access, travel insurance, and no foreign transaction fees, making it especially valuable for frequent travellers.

Rewards can be redeemed for flights, upgrades, hotel stays, and more, and many cards also offer no foreign transaction fees (or promotional waivers), airport lounge access, and various forms of travel insurance. Travel rewards cards and travel rewards credit cards provide flexible redemption options and are popular among frequent travellers seeking to maximise value and benefits.

Programmes in Hong Kong commonly link to Asia Miles or convert bank reward points into frequent-flyer miles (for example, converting HSBC RewardCash to Asia Miles). Travel rewards credit products, such as those from Bank of America and American Express cards, often come with unique perks, including exclusive rewards, bonus points, and travel-related protections¹.

Some cards are corporate or business cards designed for companies (with company-level controls and reporting), while others are personal cards that sole proprietors and small business owners often use for business expenses because they earn miles efficiently. Banks and issuers differ in how they position these products and in eligibility requirements.

Benefits of travel credit cards

As mentioned earlier, travel credit cards come with travel-specific benefits that can help you cut costs on travelling expenses.

Air Miles

For Hong Kong users, the most familiar mileage ecosystem is Asia Miles (the Cathay Pacific program). Several business-focused or business-friendly cards make it easy to earn or convert into Asia Miles ¹ ² :

• HSBC Business Mastercard lets you earn RewardCash and convert via the Mileage Programme at $1 RewardCash = 10 Asia Miles. The World Business Mastercard also offers double rewards on overseas and online spending—handy if your team travels frequently. Some cards also provide bonus points when you meet specific spending thresholds within a set period, which can be redeemed for travel or other rewards.
• American Express Cathay Pacific corporate cards (Corporate and Elite Corporate) earn miles directly—for example, the Elite Corporate Card lists an earn rate of HK$7 = 1 mile, plus corporate Asia Miles features and travel insurance. The standard Cathay Pacific Corporate Card materials reference HK$10 = 1 mile. Cardholders may also enjoy travel perks such as a free checked bag, enhancing the overall travel experience.

Cashback / Cash rebates

If you’d rather reduce costs than manage points, cashback or cash rebates can be a simpler option. In Hong Kong, various credit card providers offer an average of 0.5–1% cash rebates on local and international spending, including food, travel, and online purchases. While the percentage may seem small, these rebates can add up over time and help you reduce your overall travel expenses.

Welcome offers

Many credit cards provide a welcome offer for new cardholders, giving you a fast start on earning rewards.

For instance, Standard Chartered Cathay Mastercard consumer cards (commonly used by SME owners) have recently advertised up to 40,000–60,000 Asia Miles as a welcome offer for new cardholders, often paired with a no annual fee promotion for the first year.

Some cards require you to make a minimum amount of purchases within the first 3 months (or in the first 3 months) to qualify for bonus points. The bonus is typically awarded after you spend a certain amount on purchases in specific categories within the first few months.

In addition, always check current promotions and required spending, as some cards have an annual fee after the first year, while others offer no annual fee, so compare the benefits and costs carefully³.

Travel benefits

Business-oriented cards often bundle airport lounge access, expense controls, and company reporting.

For example, HSBC Corporate Mastercard includes Plaza Premium Lounge services and travel insurance, while Amex corporate solutions emphasise business travel perks and centralised management. Premium cards such as the World Elite Mastercard offer exclusive travel benefits and perks for frequent travellers, including bonus points, travel credits, and elite-level lounge access² ⁴.

Travel insurance

Many corporate or travel cards include trip delay/cancellation, luggage, or accident coverage. Coverage levels and triggers vary widely; review the issuer’s Key Facts Statements and insurance terms before you rely on them.

Best travel credit cards in Hong Kong for businesses

Below are business-focused choices (plus one widely used consumer co-brand) that suit Hong Kong companies, from corporates to startups and sole proprietors. Pick according to how your team spends and travels.

Note: Some benefits may not be available to all users or may not be applicable in every situation. Eligibility for the card and approval may depend on your credit score. Each card comes with an APR or variable APR; check the issuer’s terms for the current range.

1. American Express® Cathay Pacific corporate card (and Elite corporate card)

• Why the card stands out: Direct Asia Miles accrual on corporate spending, with company-level tools and travel insurance.
• Notable earn rates: Earn 1 Asia Mile per 1 spent on all eligible purchases with the Elite Corporate Card (HK$7 = 1 mile); the standard card earns 1 mile for every 1 spent on HK$10. Earn rates apply to every 1 spent on all other purchases, not just travel².
• Redemption: Points can be redeemed for travel booked through the Cathay Pacific portal or for gift cards, offering flexibility.
• Good for: Established companies that want tight expense control with a Cathay-centric miles strategy and built-in travel cover.
• Considerations: Charge-card style settlement (pay-in-full) and annual fees apply; evaluate whether the earn rate + benefits offset the cost. The card’s variable APR may apply if you do not pay in full.

2. HSBC Business Mastercard (and mileage programme)

• Why the card stands out: Flexible RewardCash that you can redeem for travel booked through the HSBC portal, for gift cards, or convert to Asia Miles at $1 RewardCash = 10 miles. Earn points per 1 spent on all other purchases, with double rewards at a higher rate for overseas and online spend with the World Business Mastercard¹.
• Good for: SMEs that want a wide merchant acceptance footprint, simple redemptions, and the option to top up Asia Miles when needed.
• Considerations: Check your foreign transaction fees and any handling fees tied to rewards conversions. The card’s variable APR applies; approval may depend on your credit score.

3. HSBC Corporate Mastercard

• Why the card stands out: Corporate controls and reporting, plus Plaza Premium lounge access and travel insurance—useful for frequent traveller teams. Earn points per 1 spent on all eligible purchases, including every 1 spent on all other purchases 4.
• Good for: Larger firms needing centralised travel benefits without switching to a co-branded airline program.
• Considerations: Corporate onboarding and internal policy fit—coordinate with finance/treasury before rollout. Variable APR applies; eligibility may depend on your credit score.

4. Standard Chartered Cathay Mastercard (consumer; SME-friendly)

• Why the card stands out: Strong Asia Miles earn rates and sizable welcome offers; popular with SME owners and sole proprietors who want miles fast.
• Earn structure examples: Earn up to 1 mile per 1 spent at a rate of HK$2 = 1 mile on Cathay/HK Express, HK$4 = 1 mile on overseas/dining/hotels, and HK$6 = 1 mile spent on all other purchases. Offers have advertised up to 40,000–60,000 miles for new sign-ups and a first-year fee waiver 3.
• Redemption: Points can be redeemed for travel booked through the Standard Chartered portal or for gift cards.
• Good for: Business owners who are primarily Cathay flyers and don’t need corporate-level controls.
• Considerations: It’s a personal card—set ground rules if employees use it, and track business expenses carefully. Variable APR applies; approval may depend on your credit score. Some benefits may not be available to all users.

Eligibility and pros/cons

Eligibility varies by issuer and product type:

• Corporate/Business Cards (e.g., Amex corporate, HSBC corporate): Typically require a registered business entity and corporate onboarding; issuers may assess company financials and set limits per employee card. A good credit score may also be required to qualify for the best options.
• Consumer Cards often used by SME owners (e.g., Standard Chartered Cathay Mastercard): Usual baseline is age 18+ and minimum annual income (recently referenced at HK$96,000 for the SC Cathay Mastercard), plus Cathay membership. In some cases, being a member of certain loyalty programs is necessary to access specific card benefits.

Pros of the miles cards:

• Potentially outsized value when redeeming long-haul premium-cabin flights.
• Airline ecosystem perks (priority services, lounge access via program/card).

Cons of the miles cards:

• Foreign transaction fees can erode value; most traditional HK cards charge around 1.95% on foreign currency transactions (plus scheme charges where applicable).
• Dynamic Currency Conversion (DCC) at the point of sale can cost you more; issuers explicitly warn about settling foreign currency transactions in HKD. Always choose to pay in the local currency.

Pros of the cashback cards:

• Simple, cash back into your account; great for predictable SaaS/ads spend.
• Multi-currency support minimises FX on same-currency transactions.

Cons of the cashback cards:

• Cashback is often category-restricted and typically ~1%—so check you’re spending in the right categories.

How to choose the best travel credit cards

1. Compare fees and rewards

Map your team’s real spend (airfare, hotels, dining, overseas suppliers, online ads, SaaS) to a card’s earn structure. For instance, HSBC’s World Business Mastercard explicitly offers double rewards on overseas and online spending; that may beat a miles card with weaker overseas earn rates for a non-Cathay flyer, especially when considering the variable APR and the annual fee associated with each card. Compare the annual fee of the HSBC card to cards with no annual fee to determine if the extra rewards justify the cost¹.

Also, check miles conversion paths—if you want Asia Miles but earn bank points, confirm conversion rates and any handling fees. HSBC’s $1 RewardCash = 10 Asia Miles is straightforward; DBS and Standard Chartered publish their conversion ratios, so review the details of the conversion process of the different cards.

2. Check foreign transaction fees

Foreign transaction (FX) fees matter. Many Hong Kong cards charge around 1.95% on foreign currency transactions. There are exceptions: for example, Standard Chartered’s Smart Card has advertised waivers on the 1.95% fee for foreign currency transactions during travel (check the latest T&Cs for eligibility windows). Alternatively, multi-currency corporate cards can avoid FX when you spend in the same currency⁵.

3. Evaluate benefits

Beyond earn rates, weigh the secondary perks:

• Airport lounge access (e.g., Plaza Premium with certain corporate programs), often available to a member of the loyalty or rewards program.
• Travel insurance levels and triggers (delays, baggage, medical) which are features of the card benefits that can provide peace of mind for a member.
• Expense management tools (controls, reporting, integrations), which can save finance teams hours every month and are part of the comprehensive features of the card.

4. Check eligibility criteria

• Income or company requirements: e.g., SC Cathay Mastercard’s HK$96,000 annual income guideline; corporate cards require a registered entity and onboarding. Your credit score is also an important factor in meeting the eligibility requirements of the card, as many issuers assess your creditworthiness before approval. Of the various cards available, some may have stricter credit score or income criteria than others.
• Geography/issuance: Check whether your chosen travel credit card can be used outside Hong Kong or is limited to use within Hong Kong only.

How to maximise travel credit card rewards

1. Point the right card to the right spend

• Airfare and hotels: Use a miles-earning card (e.g., Amex Cathay corporate, SC Cathay Mastercard) to build Asia Miles quickly. For example, you may earn 2 miles for every 1 spent on flights and hotels, and 1 mile per 1 spent on all other purchases.
• Overseas suppliers & online expenses: Choose cards that bonus for overseas/online spend (HSBC World Business Mastercard), such as earning 3 points per 1 spent on foreign transactions, or avoid FX via same-currency cards, which may offer 1 point for every 1 spent on all other purchases.

2. Avoid DCC (dynamic currency conversion)

If a terminal offers to charge you in HKD overseas, decline it and pay in the local currency to avoid dynamic currency conversion fees—issuers explicitly caution about this. 

3. Leverage program “double-dip” opportunities

If you’re in the Cathay ecosystem, link your card to Cathay’s Card-Linked Earn to earn miles from both your card and partner merchants simultaneously as a member, unlocking additional benefits and rewards exclusive to loyalty program members ⁶.

4. Stack welcome offers and promos

Time applications/purchases to meet introductory spend thresholds for bonus miles (e.g., SC Cathay promos) or fee waivers. To qualify for a welcome offer and bonus points, you typically need to make purchases within the first 3 months after account opening.

The bonus is awarded after you spend a certain amount on purchases in specific categories within the first few months. Be sure to track your purchases in the first 3 months to ensure you meet the required spend threshold and maximise your rewards.

5. Convert bank points smartly

If you’re using HSBC’s RewardCash, convert to Asia Miles when you have enough to redeem at a good value; the $1 RewardCash = 10 miles ratio makes the math easy. Alternatively, points can also be redeemed for gift cards, offering flexibility for cardholders who prefer non-travel rewards 1.

6. Use corporate controls to cut leakage

Corporate suites (Amex/HSBC corporate) offer card-level limits, category controls, and real-time tracking—reducing out-of-policy spend and making reconciliation faster.

Save more on your business spending with the Aspire Corporate Card

Having a travel credit card can help you reduce travel expenses. However, when you run a modern business in Hong Kong, travel costs may not be your main expense category. In the early stages, you often need to subscribe to several digital productivity tools to scale your business, but using multiple tools at the same time can quickly add to your operational costs.

This is where Aspire's Corporate Cards can be a great alternative. These multi-currency virtual debit cards let you earn unlimited 1% cashback on digital marketing and SaaS tools such as Instagram Ads, Google Ads, Zoom, and AWS. They also offer competitive FX rates for international payments and allow you to spend directly in HKD and USD, helping you make global purchases without incurring conversion fees.

What’s more, you can issue unlimited virtual cards with customisable spending limits and assign each card to a specific merchant, project, or client. You can then track and monitor your card expenses in real time through a centralised dashboard.

Designed for both local and global use, Aspire’s card gives your business the agility it needs to operate efficiently across borders.