Marriott Bonvoy Business Amex review: Valuable perks for the Bonvoy loyalist
Editor's Note
Marriott Bonvoy Business American Express Card overview
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 worth up to 35,000 points — resort fees may apply. This card also offers the ability to boost 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 TPG recommends a good to excellent credit score, this card also offers plenty of extra benefits that make it a solid hotel business card option.
Here's everything you need to know about the only Marriott business credit card still open to new applicants.
Bonvoy Business Amex pros and cons
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Bonvoy Business Amex welcome offer
Right now, with the Bonvoy Business Amex, new cardmembers can earn three free night awards (valued at up to 50,000 points each) after spending $6,000 on purchases in the first six months of card membership. Certain hotels have resort fees.
THE POINTS GUY
TPG's March 2025 valuations peg Marriott points at 0.7 cents apiece, making the bonus worth up to $1,050. That's a good value value considering this card's annual fee, but we have seen higher offers in the past.
Bonvoy Business Amex benefits
One primary reason to consider this card is the extra perks. Enrollment is required for select benefits.
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).
Cardholders also receive 15 elite night 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. Resort fees may apply.
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 (up to 35,000 points per night) after spending $60,000 in a calendar year. Resort fees may apply.
Other benefits include access to Amex Offers and no foreign transaction fees (see rates and fees).
Plus, you can enjoy an automatic 7% discount on standard room rates when you book an eligible room directly through Marriott at participating properties under the Amex Business Card Rate.
Earning points on the Bonvoy Business Amex
This card offers 6 points per dollar spent on eligible purchases at hotels participating in the Marriott Bonvoy program.
You also receive 4 points per dollar spent on the following:
- Restaurants worldwide
- At U.S. gas stations
- On wireless telephone services purchased directly from U.S. service providers
- On purchases made from merchants in the U.S. for shipping
You'll earn 2 Bonvoy points per dollar spent on all other eligible purchases.
Marriott Gold Elite members and above can earn even more Marriott points on every purchase made at eligible Marriott Bonvoy properties; these points can be stacked with what you earn on the Bonvoy Business Amex.
Redeeming points on the Bonvoy Business Amex
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 are 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.
TPG credit cards writer Chris Nelson's sweet spot for redeeming free night certificates is at luxury properties in Eastern Europe, such as The Ritz-Carlton in Budapest and Vienna, as these properties can routinely be redeemed for 45,000 points a night.
Transferring points on the Bonvoy Business Amex
You can convert your Marriott Bonvoy points into airline miles, typically at a 3:1 ratio (which isn't a great transfer ratio) — though you can get a 5,000-mile bonus for every 60,000 points you transfer. Plus, when you transfer points to United Airlines, you'll receive a 10,000-mile bonus for every 60,000 points transferred.
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 and Asiana. 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. With all that said, redeeming your points for stays with Marriott is still going to give you the most value for your points.
Which cards compete with the Bonvoy Business Amex?
While this is Marriott's only small-business card available to new applicants, there are personal Marriott Bonvoy cards that offer similar (or better) perks.
- If you want automatic Platinum Elite status: The Marriott Bonvoy Brilliant® American Express® Card comes with it, plus an annual free night at Marriott hotels up to 85,000 points per night (certain hotels have resort fees) and up to $300 in statement credits every calendar year (up to $25 per month) when you use your card at eligible restaurants worldwide. These benefits can help offset the card's hefty $650 annual fee (see rates and fees). To learn more, read our full review of the Bonvoy Brilliant.
- If you want a different hotel brand: Try the Hilton Honors American Express Business Card. This card offers Hilton Gold status and 12 points per dollar spent at eligible Hilton portfolio properties; terms apply. To learn more, read our full review of the Hilton Honors Amex Business.
- If you want more general rewards: Go for The Business Platinum Card® from American Express. It offers 5 points per dollar spent on flights and prepaid hotels booked on Amex Travel. Among its numerous other benefits and fee credits, you also receive Gold status with both Marriott and Hilton. Enrollment is required for select benefits; terms apply. To learn more, read our full review of the Amex Business Platinum.
For additional options, check out our full list of the best hotel cards.
Read more: Is the Hilton Business Amex worth it?
Bottom line
The Marriott Bonvoy Business Amex is a solid small-business card offering valuable benefits at thousands of properties worldwide. With a free night award 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 you stay with Marriott frequently enough to take advantage of its benefits.
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 here: Marriott Bonvoy Business American Express Card
For rates and fees of the Marriott Bonvoy Business Card, click here.
For rates and fees of the Marriott Bonvoy Brilliant Amex, click here.
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| 3X | Earn 3X Miles on Delta purchases. |
| 1X | Earn 1X Miles on all other eligible purchases. |
Pros
- Delta SkyClub access when flying Delta
- Annual companion ticket for travel on Delta (upon renewal)
- Ability to earn MQDs through spending
- Various statement credits for eligible purchases
Cons
- Steep annual fee of $650
- Other Delta cobranded cards offer superior earning categories
- Earn 100,000 Bonus Miles after you spend $6,000 or more in purchases with your new Card within the first 6 months of Card Membership and an additional 25,000 bonus miles after you make an additional $3,000 in purchases on the Card within your first 6 months, starting from the date that your account is opened. Offer Ends 04/01/2026.
- Delta SkyMiles® Reserve American Express Card Members receive 15 Visits per Medallion® Year to the Delta Sky Club® when flying Delta and can unlock an unlimited number of Visits after spending $75,000 in purchases on your Card in a calendar year. Plus, you’ll receive four One-Time Guest Passes each Medallion Year so you can share the experience with family and friends when traveling Delta together.
- Enjoy complimentary access to The Centurion® Lounge in the U.S. and select international locations (as set forth on the Centurion Lounge Website), Sidecar by The Centurion® Lounge in the U.S. (see the Centurion Lounge Website for more information on Sidecar by The Centurion® Lounge availability), and Escape Lounges when flying on a Delta flight booked with the Delta SkyMiles® Reserve American Express Card. § To access Sidecar by The Centurion® Lounge, Card Members must arrive within 90 minutes of their departing flight (including layovers). To access The Centurion® Lounge, Card Members must arrive within 3 hours of their departing flight. Effective July 8, 2026, during a layover, Card Members must arrive within 5 hours of the connecting flight.
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- Delta SkyMiles® Reserve American Express Card Members get 15% off when using miles to book Award Travel on Delta flights through delta.com and the Fly Delta app. Discount not applicable to partner-operated flights or to taxes and fees.
- With your Delta SkyMiles® Reserve American Express Card, receive upgrade priority over others with the same Medallion tier, product and fare experience purchased, and Million Miler milestone when you fly with Delta.
- Earn 3X Miles on Delta purchases and earn 1X Miles on all other eligible purchases.
- No Foreign Transaction Fees. Enjoy international travel without additional fees on purchases made abroad.
- $650 Annual Fee.
- Apply with confidence. Know if you're approved for a Card with no impact to your credit score. If you're approved and you choose to accept this Card, your credit score may be impacted.
- Terms Apply.
- See Rates & Fees