Marriott Bonvoy Business Amex card review: A great choice for small-business owners who prefer Marriott, with a 75,000-point bonus
The Marriott Bonvoy Business card comes with an anniversary award night worth up to 35,000 points, elite status, and travel and purchase protections.
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Review: Is the American Express Marriott Bonvoy Business the best credit card for you?
If you're a small-business owner — even if you own a part-time business or have a side hustle — and like staying with Marriott, the
Aside from the intro offer, the
While the card does have a
Cardholders also receive automatic Marriott Silver elite status (which gets you a 10% bonus on paid stays and priority late checkout), 15 elite night credits per year, and benefits like baggage insurance, car rental insurance, purchase protection, and extended warranty.
Read more: The best Marriott credit cards
If you're looking for a Marriott card but aren't sure you can justify the
Or if you'd rather not pay an annual fee at all, the
Comparison: Marriott Bonvoy Business Amex vs other Marriott credit cards
Annual fee | |||
Rewards rate | 6x points* on eligible purchases at hotels participating in the Marriott Bonvoy program 4x points on eligible purchases at U.S. restaurants, U.S. gas stations, wireless telephone services purchased directly from U.S. service providers, and on U.S. shipping purchases 2x points on all other eligible purchases | 6x points* on eligible purchases at participating Marriott Bonvoy hotels 2x points on all other purchases | 6x points* on eligible purchases at hotels participating in the Marriott Bonvoy program 3x points at U.S. restaurants and on flights booked directly with airlines 2x points on all other purchases |
Welcome bonus | |||
Card benefits | Automatic Marriott Bonvoy Silver elite status Annual free night award*** A second free night award if you spend $60,000 or more in a calendar year*** 15 elite night credits each calendar year Secondary car rental insurance Baggage insurance plan Global Assist Hotline Purchase protection Extended warranty Access to discounts and bonus points through Amex Offers** No foreign transaction fees | Automatic Marriott Bonvoy Silver elite status Annual free night award*** 15 elite night credits each calendar year Car rental insurance (secondary in the US, primary otherwise) Lost luggage reimbursement Trip delay reimbursement Baggage delay insurance Purchase protection Extended warranty Travel and emergency assistance services Visa Signature concierge No foreign transaction fees | Up to $300 annual Marriott Bonvoy statement credit (offer ends 9/22/22 and will be replaced with a benefit of up to $25 in statement credits per month for eligible purchases at restaurants worldwide) $100 Marriott Bonvoy property credit on eligible Ritz-Carlton and St. Regis stays Automatic Marriott Bonvoy Gold elite status Annual free night award**** 15 elite night credits each calendar year Priority Pass Select airport lounge membership** Global Entry or TSA PreCheck application fee credit Secondary car rental insurance Trip cancellation and interruption insurance Baggage insurance plan Trip delay insurance Travel accident insurance Purchase protection Extended warranty Return protection Premium Global Assist Hotline No foreign transaction fees |
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**Bonus points at Marriott hotels are in addition to the points members would normally earn from a stay
***The
****The
Marriott Bonvoy Business American Express vs other hotel credit cards
Annual fee | |||
Rewards rate | 6x points* on eligible purchases at hotels participating in the Marriott Bonvoy program 4x points on eligible purchases at U.S. restaurants, U.S. gas stations, wireless telephone services purchased directly from U.S. service providers, and on U.S. shipping purchases 2x points on all other eligible purchases | 12x points* on purchases made directly with hotels and resorts in the Hilton portfolio 6x points on eligible purchases at U.S. gas stations, U.S. shipping purchases, wireless telephone services purchases directly from U.S. service providers, U.S. restaurants, airfare purchased directly from airlines or Amex Travel, and on car rentals booked directly with select car rental companies 3x points on all other eligible purchases | 10x points at IHG Hotels and Resorts (up to 26x points)* 5x points on travel and at gas stations, dining, social media and search engine advertising, and at office supply stores 3x points for all other eligible purchases |
Welcome bonus | |||
Card benefits | Automatic Marriott Bonvoy Silver elite status Annual free night award*** A second free night award if you spend $60,000 or more in a calendar year*** 15 elite night credits each calendar year Secondary car rental insurance Baggage insurance plan Global Assist Hotline Purchase protection Extended warranty Access to discounts and bonus points through Amex Offers** No foreign transaction fees | Automatic Hilton Honors Gold elite status Free weekend night award when you spend $15,000 or more in a calendar year A second free weekend night award if you spend a total of $60,000 or more in a calendar year Secondary car rental insurance Baggage insurance plan Global Assist Hotline Purchase protection Extended warranty Access to discounts and bonus points through Amex Offers No foreign transaction fees
| Automatic IHG Platinum Elite status Diamond elite status after spending $40,000 on purchases and making one additional purchase each calendar year with the card Annual free night award worth up to 40,000 points An additional free night each year you spend $60,000 on purchases and make one additional purchase each calendar year 10,000 bonus points and a $100 statement credit after spending $20,000 on purchases and making one additional purchase each calendar year Fourth reward night free when you redeem points for a stay of three or more nights Global Entry, TSA PreCheck, or NEXUS application fee credit Up to $50 in United TravelBank Cash each calendar year Primary car rental insurance when renting for business purposes Trip cancellation/interruption insurance Travel and emergency assistance services Purchase protection Extended warranty No foreign transaction fees
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**Bonus points at Marriott, Hilton, and IHG hotels are in addition to the points members would normally earn from a stay
***The
How to earn points from the Amex Marriott Bonvoy Business card
The
- 6 points per dollar on eligible purchases at hotels participating in the Marriott Bonvoy program (this is in addition to up to 10x points for being a Marriott Bonvoy member and up to 1x point for having Silver elite status from the card)
- 4 points per dollar on eligible purchases at U.S. restaurants, U.S. gas stations, wireless telephone services purchased directly from U.S. service providers, and on U.S. shipping purchases
- 2 points per dollar on all other eligible purchases
Read more: The best hotel credit cards
How to use Marriott points
Marriott Bonvoy points are among the most versatile around, and they're useful even if you don't stay with Marriott. Not only can you redeem them for stays at over 7,000 hotels worldwide, but you can also transfer them to over 40 airline partners, including most major US airlines and dozens of international carriers.
Marriott recently eliminated its award charts and moved to dynamic pricing, which means the price of an award night varies based on demand, the paid price of the room, season, and other factors. Award nights at hotels participating in the Marriott Bonvoy program start at 5,000 points for off-peak redemptions at brands like Fairfield Inn and TownePlace Suites, and go all the way up to 120,000 points for a peak season night at luxurious hotels like St. Regis and Ritz-Carlton.
I've had the
If you decide to transfer your Marriott points to airlines, in most cases the ratio is 3 Marriott points to 1 airline mile. However, when you transfer increments of 60,000 points, you'll get a 5,000-mile bonus (so 60,000 Marriott points become 25,000 airline miles). Some Marriott airline partners — like Alaska Airlines — don't partner with any other major transferable points program, so if you need a few more miles for an award, transferring points from Marriott may be one of the only ways to help reach your goal.
You can also redeem Marriott points in other ways (including non-travel redemptions), but typically you'll get a lower value:
- Airfare, car rentals, or air and car packages
- Exclusive events, experiences, concerts, tours, and more through Marriott Bonvoy Moments
- Gift cards or merchandise through Marriott Shop With Points
- Charity donations for disaster relief, including the American Red Cross and Unicef
Read more: I haven't paid for a hotel room in 10 years — here's how I stay for free
Benefits and features
The
Annual free night award
Each year after your card renewal month, you'll receive a free night certificate valid at hotels participating in the Marriott Bonvoy program that cost up to 35,000 points — many of which can cost $200 or $300 per night. And if you spend $60,000 or more on eligible purchases in a calendar year, you can earn a second free night award with the same maximum points limit.
In April 2022, Marriott Bonvoy will add the option of topping up these certificates with up to 15,000 points from your account. That means you can potentially use your certificate at hotels that cost as much as 50,000 points.
I've consistently redeemed the free night certificate from my
Automatic Marriott Bonvoy Silver elite status
You'll receive complimentary Marriott Bonvoy Silver elite status for as long as you have the
However, if you spend $35,000 or more on eligible purchases in a card membership year, you'll get upgraded to Gold elite status. This level comes with additional benefits, including a 25% points bonus on stays, room upgrades, 2 p.m. late checkout (when available), and enhanced Wi-Fi.
15 elite night credits per year
Each calendar year,
Read more: How I used two Marriott Bonvoy benefits to save over $3,000 on a European vacation
You can earn one set of credits from a personal card and one from a small-business card each year, so if you also have a personal Marriott card (like the
Car rental loss and damage insurance
When you use your
Baggage insurance plan
If you pay for a covered trip with the
There are exclusions for high-risk items and some states have different limits, so check the terms and conditions for specific details.
Purchase protection
When you pay for an eligible item with your
Extended warranty
The
Global Assist Hotline
Amex Offers
American Express cards, including the
The savings can really add up. Since opening the
American Express
Small-business benefits
The
- Access to the American Express business app, which helps you manage receipts and expenses
- Employee cards with spending limits that you can set up online or by calling American Express
Fees and costs
The
You won't pay foreign transaction fees with the
Read more: The best credit cards with no foreign transaction fees
Like most other cards, you'll pay fees for late payments, returned payments, and cash advances
Marriott Bonvoy Business credit card — Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ)
Is the Marriott Bonvoy Business worth it?
If you're a small-business owner and stay with Marriott, even a couple of times a year, it could be well worth opening the
A lot of folks specifically keep this card for the free night award on each anniversary. It's possible to get a value two or three times the annual fee from this benefit alone.
What credit score do you need for the Marriott Bonvoy Business card?
To be approved for the
Read more: What is a good credit score? It depends whether you're asking VantageScore or FICO
Still working on your credit score? Be sure to read Insider's guides to improving your credit score and learn about how using credit cards can help boost your score.
Who is eligible for the Marriott Bonvoy Business credit card?
Because the
Marriott cards are issued by both Amex and Chase, so there are a few additional rules to keep in mind if you're hoping to get approved for the
In addition, you won't be eligible for the welcome bonus on this card if any of the following apply to you:
- You're a current cardmember, or were a previous cardmember in the past 30 days, of the Marriott Bonvoy™ Premier Plus Business Credit Card from Chase, the Marriott Rewards® Premier Plus Business Credit Card from Chase, the Marriott Bonvoy Business™ Credit Card from Chase, or the Marriott Rewards® Business Credit Card from Chase
- You've opened the
Marriott Bonvoy Boundless™ Credit Card orMarriott Bonvoy Bold® Credit Card in the past 90 days - You've received a welcome bonus in the last 24 months from the
Marriott Bonvoy Boundless™ Credit Card ,Marriott Bonvoy Bold® Credit Card , Marriott Rewards® Premier Plus Credit Card from Chase, Marriott Bonvoy™ Premier Plus Credit Card from Chase, or Marriott Rewards® Premier Credit Card from Chase
Is the Marriott Bonvoy Business card metal?
The