Marriott Bonvoy Business American Express credit card review

The Marriott Bonvoy Business® American Express® Card is a solid small-business card for Marriott Bonvoy fans. It comes with useful perks such as an annual free night at hotels (up to 35,000 points) and the ability to expedite your Marriott elite status by offering 15 elite night credits every year. Card Rating*: ⭐⭐⭐½

*Card Rating is based on the opinion of TPG’s editors and is not influenced by the card issuer.

This Marriott Bonvoy Business Card comes with most of the same features and benefits as the Marriott Bonvoy consumer cards, but it happens to include generous bonus reward categories that are well suited to small-business owners.

With a reasonable annual fee of $125 (see rates and fees) and a recommended credit score of at least 670, this card also comes with plenty of extra benefits that make this a solid hotel business card option. And last year, it was refreshed with even more perks, without changing the annual fee.

Here’s everything you need to know about the only Marriott business credit card still open to new applicants.

Right now with the Bonvoy Business Amex, you can earn 125,000 Marriott Bonvoy points after you use your new card to make $8,000 in eligible purchases within the first six months of card membership. This offer ends November 1.

TPG values Marriott points at 0.84 cents apiece, making 125,000 points worth $1,050.

First, it offers automatic Marriott Gold Elite status, which includes 25% bonus points on paid stays, late checkout, premium internet, a welcome gift of points on each stay and room upgrades (based on availability at check-in).

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You also receive 15 nights credits toward the next level of elite status (which can be stacked with a Marriott Bonvoy consumer card) and a free-night award each card anniversary year.

The free night can be spent at properties at or under 35,000 points per night. You can top off your 35,000-point certificates with up to 15,000 points from your Bonvoy account. You can also earn a second free-night award (at or under 35,000 points per night) after you spend $60,000 in a calendar year.

Just note that Marriott removed published award charts in 2022, so pricing for free nights can vary. However, there are still some ways to get solid value — and some higher-end properties that were previously out of reach with these certificates may now be available.

Other benefits include access to Amex Offers and no foreign transaction fees (see rates and fees).

Plus, you can enjoy an automatic discount of 7% on standard room rates when you search for the “Amex Biz Card Member Rate” on Marriott’s website and then book using your card. However, the 7% discount may appear to be more rewarding on the surface than in reality.

This card offers 6 points per dollar on eligible purchases at hotels participating in the Marriott Bonvoy program. You also receive 4 points per dollar spent at restaurants worldwide and U.S. gas stations, on wireless telephone services purchased directly from U.S. service providers and on purchases made from merchants in the U.S. for shipping. You earn 2 points per dollar on all other eligible purchases.

Gold members will also earn a total of 18.5 points per dollar spent with Marriott, and if you qualify for Platinum status, you will earn 21 points. Finally, top-tier Titanium and Ambassador elite members will earn a total of 23.5 points per dollar spent, equating to a phenomenal 18.8% return.

Of course, the most obvious way to redeem Marriott Bonvoy points is for hotel stays. Bonvoy uses dynamic pricing, meaning the required points for a stay will be lower outside peak travel periods.

Take advantage of the fifth night free on award stays whenever possible. The fifth-night benefit is an easy way to get up to a 20% discount on your redemption and stretch your points further.

You can convert your Marriott Bonvoy points into airline miles at a 3:1 ratio — plus a 5,000-mile bonus for every 60,000 points you transfer. Bonvoy points can be especially useful for certain award flights because they transfer to airlines that don’t partner with other transferable points programs, such as Alaska Airlines, Japan Airlines, Asiana and Korean Air. This opens up all sorts of options for booking sweet spots with difficult-to-earn miles.

Marriott also has some of the most liberal policies for points transfers between accounts, while also being free and easy to do online.

For additional options, check out our full list of the best hotel cards.

Read more: Earn a 120,000-point bonus with the Amex Business Platinum

The Marriott Bonvoy Business Amex is a solid small-business card offering the most possible benefits at more than 8,000 properties worldwide. With a healthy welcome offer and decent earning categories and perks, it’s one of the better hotel credit cards suited for small-business owners and could be well worth it, if that’s you.

The card is also a great option for anyone interested in opening valuable Chase credit cards because, as an Amex business card, it won’t add to your Chase 5/24 count.

Apply for the Marriott Bonvoy Business® American Express® Card with 125,000 Marriott Bonvoy points after you use your new card to make $8,000 in eligible purchases within the first six months of card membership. This offer ends November 1.

For rates and fees of the Marriott Bonvoy Business Card, click here.
For rates and fees of the Marriott Bonvoy Brilliant Amex, click here.
For rates and fees of the Hilton Honors Business Card, click here.
For rates and fees of the Amex Business Platinum Card, click here.