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The information for the following product(s) has been collected independently by Business Insider: Marriott Bonvoy Boundless® Credit Card, Marriott Bonvoy Bold® Credit Card, Marriott Bonvoy Bountiful™ Card. The details for these products have not been reviewed or provided by the issuer.
Marriott Bonvoy Business Credit Card Review
Small-business owners with a credit card strategy of free hotel stays will get a lot of value from the Marriott Bonvoy Business™ American Express® Card. Even if you own a part-time business or have a side hustle, the Marriott Bonvoy Business™ American Express® Card is a great pick.
This card is currently offering a bonus of Marriott Bonvoy Business™ American Express® Card. Aside from the intro offer, the Marriott Bonvoy Business™ American Express® Card can help you earn lots of Marriott points from your small-business expenses.
While the card does have a Marriott Bonvoy Business™ American Express® Card annual fee, you can easily offset the cost (and then some) with a single card perk. Each year after your card renewal month, you'll receive a free night certificate, valid at Marriott Bonvoy hotels that cost up to 35,000 points per night.
Cardholders also receive automatic Marriott Gold elite status and a 7% discount off standard rates for reservations of standard guest rooms at hotels that participate in the Marriott Bonvoy® program when you book directly.
We're focused here on the rewards and perks that come with each card. These cards won't be worth it if you're paying interest or late fees. When using a credit card, it's important to pay your balance in full each month, make payments on time, and only spend what you can afford to pay.
Marriott Bonvoy Business Card Rewards
Marriott Bonvoy Business Welcome Bonus
Currently, you can earn a bonus of Marriott Bonvoy Business™ American Express® Card. This is a limited-time offer that's only available until November 1, 2023.
How to Earn Points With the Marriott Business Card
The Marriott Bonvoy Business™ American Express® Card is a solid choice for small-business owners because it earns bonus points on a wide variety of common business expenses. Cardholders earn:
6 Marriott Bonvoy 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)
4 points per dollar on eligible purchases at restaurants worldwide, 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
How to Use Points From the Marriott Business Card
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 nearly 40 airline partners, including most major US airlines and dozens of international carriers.
Marriott has 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 Marriott Bonvoy Business™ American Express® Card for several years and usually redeem points at budget-friendly hotels. For example, I used 5,000 Marriott points on a family road trip at a brand-new Fairfield Inn in Cleveland. If I'd paid cash, the room would have cost around $120, so I got a value of 2.4 cents per point — well above average. You can also get outsized value by using points for stays at pricey properties like the Al Maha Desert Resort and Spa, where nightly rates can approach $2,000.
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 with most partners (so 60,000 Marriott points become 25,000 airline miles). The exceptions to this rule are American Airlines, Avianca, Delta, and Korean Air.
Some Marriott airline partners — like Alaska Airlines — don't partner with any other major bank transferable points program. 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
Marriott Bonvoy Business American Express Card Benefits and Features
The Marriott Bonvoy Business™ American Express® Card comes with an array of benefits and perks geared to travelers and small-business owners that can save you money and protect you when things don't go as planned.
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.
Last year, Marriott Bonvoy added 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 Marriott Bonvoy Business™ American Express® Card at hotels where the paid rate is much more than the card's Marriott Bonvoy Business™ American Express® Card annual fee, and that's one of the reasons I renew the card every year.
Automatic Marriott Bonvoy Gold Elite Status
You'll receive complimentary Marriott Bonvoy Gold elite status for as long as you have the Marriott Bonvoy Business™ American Express® Card, which gets you room upgrades upon availability at check-in, a 25% bonus on eligible purchases at participating hotels, 2 p.m. late checkout (when available), and enhanced Wi-Fi.
15 Elite Night Credits Per Year
Each calendar year, Marriott Bonvoy Business™ American Express® Card cardholders automatically receive 15 elite night credits that can help toward qualifying for the next level of elite status.
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 Marriott Bonvoy Boundless™ Credit Card or Marriott Bonvoy Brilliant™ American Express® Card) you'll earn at least 30 elite night credits a year.
7% Discount on Standard Room Rates
The Marriott Bonvoy Business™ American Express® Card now offers a 7% discount on standard room rates at Marriott Bonvoy properties when you book directly through Marriott. This could help you save a bit of money if you're already planning on booking a paid reservation that qualifies for this benefit.
Car Rental Loss and Damage Insurance
When you use your Marriott Bonvoy Business™ American Express® Card to pay for your entire car rental and decline the rental company's collision damage waiver, you'll get secondary coverage for damage due to theft and collision. Some vehicle types and countries are excluded, so be sure to read the terms and conditions carefully.
Baggage Insurance Plan
If you pay for a covered trip with the Marriott Bonvoy Business™ American Express® Card, you can be covered for baggage loss or damage, up to $500 per person for checked bags and $1,250 per person for carry-on luggage.
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 Marriott Bonvoy Business™ American Express® Card, purchase protection can cover theft or damage that occurs within 90 days of purchase, up to a maximum of $1,000 per occurrence and $50,000 per account per calendar year.
Extended Warranty
The Marriott Bonvoy Business™ American Express® Card comes with up to one additional year of extended warranty coverage for eligible new purchases in the US or its territories, on manufacturer's warranties of five years or less.
Global Assist Hotline
Marriott Bonvoy Business™ American Express® Card cardholders can access Amex's Global Assist Hotline, which can help arrange things like passport replacement, medical referrals, and translation services when you're traveling. The service itself is complimentary, but you'll be responsible for any third-party costs incurred.
Amex Offers
American Express cards, including the Marriott Bonvoy Business™ American Express® Card, come with targeted discounts and bonus rewards at participating merchants through Amex Offers**. Enrollment in the offer is required through your online account, then you'll receive your bonus or discount when you make a qualifying purchase.
The savings can really add up. Since opening this card, I've saved over $540 with Amex Offers — and that's not counting offers on my other Amex cards.
American Express
Small-Business Benefits
The Marriott Bonvoy Business™ American Express® Card also offers benefits specifically geared toward small-business owners, including:
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
Marriott Bonvoy Business Annual Fee and Other Costs
This card has a Marriott Bonvoy Business™ American Express® Card annual fee. The Marriott Bonvoy Business annual fee is worth it because it's easy to make up that cost with perks like an annual award night certificate, travel benefits, and Amex Offers. In addition, you won't pay foreign transaction fees with the Marriott Bonvoy Business™ American Express® Card, so it's a good choice if your business makes a lot of international purchases or if you travel overseas.
It's best to pay your card balance in full each month, but if you don't a Marriott Bonvoy Business® American Express® Card - Regular APR APR applies.
There are other fees that apply in certain situations, including:
Cash advance fee
Late payment fee
Returned payment fee
How the Amex Marriott Bonvoy Business Card Compares
If you're looking for a Marriott card but aren't sure you can justify the Marriott Bonvoy Business™ American Express® Card annual fee, there are other options.
Marriott Bonvoy Business Card vs. Marriot Bonvoy Boundless Card
The Marriott Bonvoy Boundless™ Credit Card charges a lower annual fee of Marriott Bonvoy Boundless™ Credit Card and offers the same type of anniversary free night certificate as the Marriott Bonvoy Business™ American Express® Card. It's currently offering Marriott Bonvoy Boundless™ Credit Card.
Marriott Bonvoy Business Card vs. Marriott Bold Card
If you'd rather not pay an annual fee at all, the Marriott Bonvoy Bold™ Credit Card has a welcome bonus of Marriott Bonvoy Bold™ Credit Card — but doesn't come with a free anniversary night. It also offers 15 elite night credits per calendar, enough to qualify for Silver elite status, compared to complimentary Gold elite status on the Marriott Bonvoy Business™ American Express® Card.
Marriott Bonvoy Business Card Frequently Asked Questions
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 Marriott Bonvoy Business™ American Express® Card. It's got great bonus categories for business owners, and the perks you'll receive can far outweigh the annual fee.
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?
Who is eligible for the Marriott Bonvoy Business credit card?
Because the Marriott Bonvoy Business™ American Express® Card is a small-business card, you'll need to have some business activity to qualify. That doesn't mean you need to own a formal corporation or have millions in revenue — sole proprietorships and part-time side gigs like driving for Uber or freelancing can make you eligible.
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 Marriott Bonvoy Business™ American Express® Card. Firstly, you aren't eligible for the welcome offer if you already have, or had, the same card (or the Starwood Preferred Guest® Business Credit Card from American Express).
In addition, you won't be eligible for the welcome bonus on this card if any of the following apply to you:
Within the last 30 days, you've held 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.
Within the last 24 months, you've received a new cardmember bonus from the Marriott Bonvoy Bountiful™ Card, Marriott Bonvoy Boundless™ Credit Card, or Marriott Bonvoy Bold® Credit Card.
Is the Marriott Bonvoy Business card metal?
The Marriott Bonvoy Business™ American Express® Card isn't a metal card — it's made of plastic.
Why You Should Trust Us: How We Reviewed the Amex Marriott Bonvoy Business Card
Insider rates the Marriott Bonvoy Business™ American Express® Card a solid 4.25 out of 5 stars. This is the card's score when matched against competing hotel credit cards — and it's above average. The card's welcome bonus is excellent, its ongoing benefits can net you hundreds of dollars per year, and its earning rates are higher than any other Marriott Bonvoy credit card.
