SMALL BIZ BENEFITS

MEET COURTNEY KELSO, EVP AND GM OF GLOBAL COMMERCIAL CARDS AT AMERICAN

EXPRESS The Hamptons is home to some of the most successful small business owners and entrepreneurs, and the American Express Business Platinum Card® is the perfect solution to help keep your business going. Here’s what you need to know about the Card’s greatest benefits and why it’s calling your name! BY SYDNEY SADICK

FUN FACT!

Business Platinum Card Members have complimentary access to 1,400-plus airport lounges across 140 countries—the broadest level of airport lounge access compared to other U.S. credit card programs! The Card also offers an exclusive suite of benefits at more than 1,800 hand-picked hotels around the world with Fine Hotels + Resorts® program and The Hotel Collection. Also, with Global Dining Access by Resy, Card Members can unlock access to exclusive reservations and special dining experiences. Terms apply.

Courtney Kelso

What differentiates American Express in the marketplace?

American Express has a 170-year heritage that is synonymous with trust, security, and service excellence. Our brand resonates deeply with small businesses, and we’re a leader in small business Cards. We offer a wide range of Cards, from fee-based, high-value products, like the Business Platinum Card; to simple cashback products; to our co-brand Cards with Amazon, Delta, Marriott, and more.

What was American Express’ vision for the Business Platinum Card when you enhanced benefits last fall?

Our Business Platinum Card has long been the go-to premium Card for small and mid-size businesses. These customers rely on the Card every day to help run their businesses. It offers incredible travel benefits, and even before the pandemic, we saw businesses putting more goodsand-services spending on the Card. When the pandemic hit and all travel came to a halt, the rich travel benefits the Business Platinum Card offers couldn’t be used. We quickly made key investments to support these Card Members during a challenging time. Through the pandemic, we saw continued strong demand for the Card. Yet, we still wanted to introduce an enhanced Business Platinum Card last fall that combines the best of both business and travel benefits. We added elevated rewards for B2B purchases across core categories needed to run business, like technology, shipping, wireless, recruiting, software, and more. Plus, the Card kept all the travel benefits Members know and love.

What are some top travel perks Card Members can use?

The American Express Global Lounge Collection® provides Card Members with complimentary airport lounge access, including access to the Centurion Network, 5x Membership Rewards® points on flights and prepaid hotels booked on AmexTravel.com, 35 percent points back after you use points for all or part of an eligible flight booked through Amex Travel, up to 1,000,000 points back per calendar year, and up to $200 in statement credits a year for baggage fees and more at one selected airline. Terms apply.

What business rewards are currently the most helpful to small businesses?

Card Members can get 1.5x Membership Rewards points on eligible purchases in key business categories—U.S. purchases at providers of construction materials, electronic goods and software, and shipping. Terms and points cap apply.

Do American Express Business Cards make sense for a millennial business owner?

Definitely. We’ve been excited by the fact that we’re seeing more and more millennials starting and growing small businesses. We continue to innovate our products and services based on customer needs, and meeting the evolving needs of younger generations is key as we look at our road map. T

COURTNEY’S TOP TIPS FOR SMALL BUSINESS OWNERS

1Make sure you have the right tools for your business. As payment methods continue to move away from manual checks to other digital payment types, be sure you have the right integrated offerings in place to effectively run your business into the future. 2Consider educational resources for your business. American Express’ Business Class offers resources that touch on key topics like marketing, leadership, managing cash flow, accessing capital, and more—all at no cost. This content answers some of the most pressing questions around topics crucial to a businesses’ growth and success, and it comes to life through compelling stories, timely tips, and inspiring insights from business experts, industry leaders, and street-savvy entrepreneurs. 3Shop at and support other local small businesses. We care deeply about thriving communities and believe small businesses are at the core of every thriving neighborhood.