Key facts
Whether you travel frequently for business or own your own enterprise, racking up a large sum of Marriott Bonvoy points can be substantially easier with the Marriott Bonvoy Business™ American Express® Card. In fact, it’s one of the most compelling offerings among Marriott’s co-branded card portfolio thanks to automatic Gold elite status and a unique 7% discount off Marriott Bonvoy room rates.
Min. Credit Score for Approval:
Good *Ongoing APR:
20.49%-29.49% VariableForeign Transaction Fee:
0%Cardholders can earn bonus points on Marriott Bonvoy hotels and four useful business categories, which can then be redeemed for award nights at the hotel chain’s 8,500+ properties worldwide. On top of all of that, the annual free night award given after card renewal is worth up to 35,000 Marriott Bonvoy points — virtually worth the cost of the annual fee alone. That free night award can even be “topped up” with up to 15,000 more points if you want an award priced between 35,000 and 50,000 points.
Reward multipliers
Cardholders earn 6x bonus points at hotels participating in Marriott Bonvoy, 4x bonus points at restaurants worldwide, at U.S. gas stations, on wireless telephone services purchased directly from U.S. service providers and on U.S. purchases for shipping. Finally, the card offers 2x Marriott Bonvoy Business® American Express® Card points on all other eligible purchases.
It’s also worth noting that the complimentary Gold elite status on the card offers 25% bonus points on Marriott Bonvoy hotel stays. As such, you’ll actually earn upwards of 17x bonus points per dollar on Marriott stays!
Earns bonus points for spend in the following bonus categories:
Key features
Unique Card Benefits
15 Elite Night Credits Annually
Want to keep climbing the ranks of Marriott Bonvoy elite status to Platinum or Titanium? Just by holding the card, you’ll receive 15 elite night credits every year. Add a personal Bonvoy credit card, which comes with 15 elite nights as well, and you’ll start each year with 30 nights towards a higher elite status.
7% Room Rate Discount at Marriott Hotels
This card offers a unique benefit not seen on other Marriott credit cards: you’ll receive a 7% discount off standard rates for reservations of standard guest rooms at Marriott properties when booking directly.
Redeem Points for Marriott Bonvoy Air+Car Redemption
Air+Car is a program that allows Marriott Bonvoy members to redeem points for eligible flights and car rentals worldwide.
Grants Hotel Status
This business card offers automatic Gold elite status and 15 elite night credits per year towards a higher level of status. At the Gold elite status level, you’ll enjoy perks like 25% bonus points on Marriott properties, 2 p.m. late checkout and even enhanced room upgrades (subject to availability).
Free Annual Hotel Night
One of the most tangible money-saving benefits on the card is a free night award given every year after your card renewal month, and you can earn another free night award by spending $60,000+ on the card in a calendar year. These Marriott Bonvoy free night certificates are valid for a property with a redemption level of up to 35,000 Marriott Bonvoy points (or up to 50,000 points if you “top up” with up to 15,000 of your points combined with the certificate). We estimate that each Marriott Bonvoy point is worth 0.6 cents apiece, so a free night award has a value of roughly $210. In essence, this free night award can effectively wipe out the cost of the annual fee and then some, but note that you’ll need to pay resort fees at certain hotels.
Earns Transferable Points
If you don’t plan on using your Marriott Bonvoy points for hotel nights, it’s nice to have other options. One of the best perks of the Marriott Bonvoy loyalty program is the ability to transfer your points to 35+ airline loyalty programs, albeit at a 3:1 ratio with a few exceptions.
Trip Protections
Baggage Insurance
The card offers a baggage insurance plan, providing up to $500 in reimbursement for checked bags and up to $1,250 for carry-on bags. Additionally, high-risk items in carry-on or checked bags are subject to a $250 maximum.
Terms:
Baggage Insurance Plan coverage can be in effect for Eligible Persons for eligible lost, damaged, or stolen Baggage during their travel on a Common Carrier (e.g. plane, train, ship, or bus) when the entire fare for a Common Carrier Vehicle ticket for the trip (one-way or round-trip) is charged to an eligible Account. Coverage can be provided for up to $1,250 for carry-on Baggage and up to $500 for checked Baggage, in excess of coverage provided by the Common Carrier (e.g. plane, train, ship, or bus). For New York State residents, there is a $10,000 aggregate maximum limit for all Covered Persons per Covered Trip.
Eligibility and Benefit level varies by Card. Terms, Conditions and Limitations Apply.
Please visit americanexpress.com/benefitsguide for more details.
Underwritten by AMEX Assurance Company.
Secondary Car Rental CDW Waiver
When renting a car for business purposes, this Marriott Bonvoy credit card offers complimentary secondary car rental loss and damage insurance. This means any coverage will kick in after filing a claim with primary insurance.
Terms:
Car Rental Loss and Damage Insurance can provide coverage up to $50,000 for theft of or damage to most rental vehicles when you use your eligible Card to reserve and pay for the entire eligible vehicle rental and decline the collision damage waiver or similar option offered by the Commercial Car Rental Company. This product provides secondary coverage and does not include liability coverage. Not all vehicle types or rentals are covered. Geographic restrictions apply.
Eligibility and Benefit level varies by Card. Terms, Conditions and Limitations Apply.
Please visit americanexpress.com/benefitsguide for more details.
Underwritten by AMEX Assurance Company. Car Rental Loss or Damage Coverage is offered through American Express Travel Related Services Company, Inc.
No Foreign Transaction Fees
All foreign transaction fees are waived (see rates and fees) when using your card to pay in a different currency.
No Fees for Authorized Users
You can add employee cards for no additional fee to the card, and earn points on any spend made by authorized users.
Extended Warranty
Most items that you purchase on the Marriott Bonvoy Business card that come with an original manufacturer’s warranty (maximum of five years) are eligible for up to an additional year of coverage by American Express.
Terms:
When an American Express® Card Member charges a Covered Purchase to an Eligible Card, Extended Warranty§ can provide up to one extra year added to the Original Manufacturer’s Warranty. Applies to warranties of five (5) years or less. Coverage is up to the actual amount charged to your Card for the item up to a maximum of $10,000; not to exceed $50,000 per Card Member account per calendar year.
Eligibility and Benefit level varies by Card. Terms, Conditions and Limitations Apply.
Please visit americanexpress.com/benefitsguide for more details.
Underwritten by AMEX Assurance Company.
Purchase Protection
Certain items qualify for purchase protection, which provides reimbursement for stolen or damaged items during the first 90 days after purchase.
Terms:
When an American Express® Card Member charges a Covered Purchase with their Eligible Card, Purchase Protection can help protect their Covered Purchases for up to 90 days from the Covered Purchase date if it is stolen or accidentally damaged. The coverage is limited up to $1,000 per occurrence, up to $50,000 per Card Member account per calendar year.
Eligibility and Benefit level varies by Card. Terms, Conditions and Limitations Apply.
Please visit americanexpress.com/benefitsguide for more details.
Underwritten by AMEX Assurance Company.
Travel and Emergency Assistance Services
If you’re traveling more than 100 miles away from home, you can tap into Amex’s Global Assist Hotline, a travel and emergency referral service that operates 24/7. Do note that any services rendered will be the primary cardholder’s financial responsibility.
Terms:
You can rely on Global Assist Hotline 24 hours a day / 7 days a week for medical, legal, financial or other select emergency coordination and assistance services while traveling more than 100 miles away from your home. Third-party service costs may be your responsibility.
Eligibility and Benefit level varies by Card. Terms, Conditions and Limitations Apply.
Please visit americanexpress.com/benefitsguide for more details.
Card Members are responsible for the costs charged by third-party service providers.
Does Not Report Credit Line to Personal Credit Profile
The major benefit of a business credit card over a personal card is that the card account and utilization ratio won’t affect your personal credit, as long as you keep this account in good standing. They may still perform a “hard inquiry” to determine credit worthiness when you apply. And always keep in mind that as with all small business credit cards, the application will state that you and your business are jointly liable for the charges.
Amex Offers
All American Express cards, including this Marriott Bonvoy credit card, provide access to hundreds of Amex Offers for discounts and additional bonus points.
Earn more rewards by combining credit cards
Pros & cons
- Earn 4x Marriott Bonvoy points at a wide variety of everyday business categories, including restaurants worldwide, U.S. gas stations, wireless telephone services purchased directly from U.S. service providers and U.S. purchases for shipping.
- Free night awards galore! You'll earn one upon card renewal with the opportunity to earn an additional free night award after spending $60,000+ in a calendar year
- Complimentary Gold elite status for 25% bonus points on Marriott purchases, 2 p.m. (based on availability) late checkout and space-available enhanced room upgrades
- $125 annual fee
- Free night award is capped at 35,000 points, although you can use up to 15,000 points of your own to increase that to a 50,000 point room
- Marriott Bonvoy Gold elite status does not offer a ton of perks compared to other hotel loyalty programs or the higher Marriott Bonvoy tiers
Our review
If you’re a business owner with a Marriott Bonvoy member account, there’s only one Marriott credit card that can deliver all the benefits you’re looking for. For Marriott perks galore, the Marriott Bonvoy Business Card is a stellar option. Better yet, its annual fee that pays itself for many small business owners who can take full advantage of the benefits offered by the card – especially that annual free night.
Let’s talk about how cardholders can earn and redeem Marriott Bonvoy points with the card. You’ll earn 6x points on eligible purchases at hotels participating in Marriott Bonvoy, and fortunately, there are more than 8,500 (and growing!) properties worldwide. The Bonvoy Business is one of our favorite business credit cards for small business owners that lean into Marriott for hotel stays.
You’ll also earn 4x bonus points per dollar of eligible purchases at restaurants worldwide, at U.S. gas stations, on wireless telephone services purchased directly from U.S. service providers and on U.S. purchases for shipping, and 2x points on all non-bonus purchases. To tie it all together, there are no caps to the number of points you can earn from the card.
Marriott Bonvoy points are still incredibly versatile, as no other hotel chain can boast the sheer number of properties that participate in this loyalty program. Besides redeeming your Marriott Bonvoy points at hotels, you also have the flexibility to transfer them to participating airline loyalty programs and directly for eligible airfare and car rentals through Marriott’s unique Air+Car Transfer program.
Even if you decide to pay for your stay on your own accord, this business credit card unlocks a 7% room discount at participating properties. This can amount to significant savings depending on how often you’re staying at Marriott hotels.
What really makes this Marriott credit card stand out from the rest is the free nights you can earn with the card (though certain hotels have resort fees). With your card membership, you’ll pay the annual fee on every account anniversary, and in the following month you’ll receive a Marriott free night award. This has a redemption value of 35,000 points, or roughly $210 in value at hotels participating in this loyalty program. Plus, you can add on up to 15,000 of your own points if you’d like to use the certificate at a hotel costing between 25,000 and 50,000 points for the night.
You’ll get the chance to earn an additional free night award if you’re a high-roller and can meet the $60,000+ spend threshold per calendar year, and this is certainly doable for businesses with many expenses.
On site at Marriott hotels and resorts, you’ll be rewarded even further with automatic Gold elite status. You’ll earn 25% more Marriott points as a Gold member (on top of the card’s 6X earning rate!), as well as access to 2 p.m. late checkout (based on availability) and room upgrades. Finally, you’ll get premium room internet access, making sure you stay connected no matter where you’re traveling.
In sum, this long-list of perks makes it one of our favorite hotel business credit cards, as earning Marriott Bonvoy points can be easier than ever from your routine business expenses.
Marriott Bonvoy Business® American Express® Card Eligibility Rules
Note: There are some confusing eligibility rules around this card. If you have the Bonvoy American Express card, Ritz Carlton Card, Marriott Bonvoy Bevy® American Express® Card, or the Marriott Bonvoy Brilliant® American Express® Card, you are free to apply for this card.
If you have a Chase Marriott Boundless, Chase Bonvoy Bold, or Chase Bonvoy Bountiful, you will only be eligible to apply for this card if it’s been more than 24 months since you received the bonus on that card.
Rates and Fees for the Marriott Bonvoy Business® American Express® Card
Frequently asked questions
Does Marriott Bonvoy Business™ American Express® Card have an annual fee?
There’s a $125 annual fee on the card. After your card renewal month every year, you’ll also receive your annual free night award (but you’re responsible for any resort fees).
Does Marriott Bonvoy Business™ American Express® Card get you into airport lounges?
No, the Marriott Bonvoy Business Amex card does not offer airport lounge access.
Is it hard to get the Marriott Bonvoy Business™ American Express® Card?
Even as a business credit card, American Express will take a look at your personal credit portfolio to determine your eligibility for this business card. As such, you’ll want to hold a good to excellent credit score to qualify for this card.
Is it worth getting Marriott Bonvoy Business™ American Express® Card?
As the only Marriott Bonvoy business card option and with a reasonable annual fee, the Marriott Bonvoy Business card packs a punch for travelers who want to earn a free night award every year and access a slew of useful 4x bonus points earning business categories.
How do I earn points with the Marriott Bonvoy Business™ American Express® Card?
You’ll earn 6x bonus points at hotels participating in Marriott Bonvoy, 4x bonus points at restaurants worldwide, at U.S. gas stations, on wireless telephone services purchased directly from U.S. service providers and on U.S. purchases for shipping, and 2x points per dollar on all other eligible purchases.
Is there a better credit card than the Marriott Bonvoy Business™ American Express® Card?
This is the only business credit card in Marriott Bonvoy’s card portfolio. However, you may want to weigh your options with a personal credit card from Chase, such as the Marriott Bonvoy Boundless® Credit Card with a lower $95 annual fee. For even more Marriott perks, consider the Marriott Bonvoy Bevy American Express® Card or the Marriott Bonvoy Brilliant American Express® Card.
Does the Marriott Bonvoy Business™ American Express® Card charge foreign transaction fees?
There are no foreign transaction fees with the Bonvoy Business card.
Does the Marriott Bonvoy Business™ American Express® Card have car rental coverage?
This card offers secondary car rental coverage when renting a car for business purposes. Terms apply.
Does the Marriott Bonvoy Business™ American Express® Card come with any Elite Status?
The Bonvoy Business credit card offers complimentary Gold elite status through the Marriott Bonvoy program. At this elite membership tier, you’ll enjoy enhanced room upgrades upon availability and 2 p.m. late checkout based on availability.
Does the Marriott Bonvoy Business™ American Express® Card offer extended warranty?
Yes, qualifying items purchased on the card qualifies for extended warranty coverage per teh benefit terms shown above.
Does the Marriott Bonvoy Business™ American Express® Card offer purchase protection?
Yes, purchase protection is one of the many great benefits offered by the Bonvoy Business card. See above for benefit terms.
Does the Marriott Bonvoy Business™ American Express® Card offer trip protections?
The Bonvoy Business credit card offers baggage insurance plan, underwritten by AMEX Assurance Company. See above for benefit terms.
What credit score do I need to get a Marriott Bonvoy Business™ American Express® Card?
It’s recommended to have a FICO score of 670+ to get approved for the Bonvoy Business card.
What can I do with the points earned for spending on the Marriott Bonvoy Business™ American Express® Card?
You can visit Marriott’s website or app and browse hotels participating in Marriott Bonvoy and their point rates for your desired travel dates. Otherwise, you can transfer your points to 35+ airline loyalty programs or redeem them for Marriott’s Air+Transfer program.
Does Marriott Bonvoy Business™ American Express® Card have Cell Phone Protection?
No, the Marriott Bonvoy Business Amex Card does not provide cell phone protection. However, Marriott’s top card, the Marriott Bonvoy Brilliant American Express Card offers this important perk.