Review: Marriott Bonvoy Business Card

The Marriott Bonvoy Business Card is American Express and Marriott’s business credit card. It’s also a surprisingly great option given the lack of value in most of the personal Marriott Bonvoy credit cards. Nonetheless, the Bonvoy Business Card has an annual fee of $125 (NOT waived the first year). But it comes with some nice perks and an excellent earning structure that make it a less expensive alternative to the Marriott Bonvoy Brilliant Card.

Earning

Just like its Marriott Bonvoy Brilliant and Boundless Cards, the Bonvoy Business Card earns 6x points per dollar spent on Marriott purchases and 2x points per dollar on non-bonus spend. But the highlight of the Business Card’s earning structure is the plethora of 4x categories intended for businesses. This card earns 4x Marriott points in the following categories:

• US Restaurants
• US Gas Stations
• Shipping
• Cell Phone Services (purchased directly from US service providers)

This is the best earning structure offered on any Marriott credit card. It’s a shame that none of the personal credit cards offer any 4x categories, especially the premium Brilliant Card.

Furthermore, American Express and Marriott are offering a sign-up bonus worth 75,000 points for the Bonvoy Business Card. This bonus can be earned after spending $3,000 within the first three months. It’s also the same bonus offered on the Brilliant and Boundless personal credit cards.

Burning

Hotel Redemptions

This is the most obvious and basic way to redeem Marriott points. To determine how much a night is worth in points, you can use the table below:

Transfer Partners

Transfer partners are a lesser known redemption option for this card. More than 40 airlines are partners with Marriott, including United, Emirates, Delta, China Eastern, and Lufthansa. The transfer ratio is three Marriott points per one airline mile.

Marriott Bonvoy Air + Car Program

This redemption option is exclusive to the Bonvoy Business Card. It’s basically air travel and a rental card in a premade package. Your mileage may vary with this option. But don’t expect more than 1 cent per point (CPP) in value for the package.

All airline tickets are subject to a $20 (or 5,000-point) booking fee for each traveler. Each car reservation is also subject to a $20 (or 5,000-point) booking fee. These fees ruin this redemption option as each airline ticket and car reservation is valued at a terrible 0.4 CPP.

Perks

As a mid-tier travel card, the Bonvoy Business Card includes some benefits that can make life easier when away from home. Some of them can even pay for the annual fee with enough use.

Free Nights

This benefit is where the Bonvoy Business Card’s value lies. Because most rooms at Marriott hotels cost more than $125 per night, you will likely receive positive expected value from this benefit alone. The annual free night can be redeemed for rooms costing up to 35,000 points (Categories 1-5). Most properties are between Categories 1 and 5, so the free night is quite accessible. The free night can only be earned and redeemed after holding the card for 12 months.

You can receive another free night each time you spend $60,000 on your card. Like the annual fee night, it can only be redeemed for rooms costing up to 35,000 points. I don’t recommend trying to get this free night because $60,000 in spend can go much further.

Complimentary Silver Elite Status

Marriott Silver Elite Status is not worth much. All you’re getting is a 10% points bonus for Marriott purchases. Room rates and gift shop purchases are included.

Marriott Gold Elite Status can be obtained by spending $35,000 per year on the card. Gold Elite Status can also be obtained automatically through the American Express Platinum Card and its business counterpart.

QuickBooks

This perk is standard among American Express business cards. You can easily link your Marriott Business Card to your company’s QuickBooks account for organization and accounting. This is a handy feature for many business owners and entrepreneurs.

Secondary Car Rental Insurance

This benefit covers the entire loss, damage, or theft of your car rental after your regular insurance’s policy kicks in. American Express cards only provide secondary coverage. Secondary coverage means that you must go through your own car insurance company first before calling Amex to activate this benefit.

No Foreign Exchange Fees

You will save 3% on all purchases made outside the United States with the card.

Return Protection

If you’re unhappy with a purchase, this benefit enables you to get your money back with the backing of Amex. American Express is the best in the credit card industry in helping cardholders with returns. This card comes standard with all American Express cards.

Rules & Regulations

Like all American Express cards, this card is subject to Amex’s Once Per Lifetime Rule. This rule states that you can only receive a sign-up bonus on any card once. The key is to apply for this card when a balance is struck between maximum points and minimum spend. If you cannot afford the spend to hit the bonus, apply when the threshold is lower.

This card is NOT considered a new product, despite and because of the re-branding. Therefore, you will not receive a sign-up bonus if you have already done so for the former SPG Business Card.

Similar Cards

Marriott Bonvoy Brilliant American Express Card

The Marriott Bonvoy Brilliant Card is a personal credit card, but it can be a better option if you prefer perks to earning opportunities. This card offers complimentary Gold Elite Status and a more accessible free night over its “cousin”. Marriott Gold Elite Status lets you upgrade your room for no extra cost if there are nicer rooms available. Other perks that come with this card include:

• $300 annual statement credit
• A free night after (spending $60,000 per year on the card)
• Priority Pass airport lounge access
• Global Entry or Pre-TSA membership fee waiver

Furthermore, Amex and Marriott are offering a sign-up bonus worth 75,000 points. This bonus can be earned by spending $3,000 within the first three months. But that’s not all! The Brilliant Card earns 6x points per dollar on Marriott purchases; 3x points per dollar on dining, gas, and grocery store purchases; and 2x points per dollar on non-bonus spend.

This card will offer you way more for your money than any of the other Marriott Bonvoy Cards despite having a $450 annual fee (NOT waived the first year),

Hilton Honors Business Card

The Hilton Honors Business Card is the most direct competitor and alternative to the Marriott Bonvoy Business Card. It offers an annual free night and complimentary Hilton Gold Elite Status. It has a $95 annual fee (NOT waived the first year) that can easily by justified with enough use of perks.

Plus, Amex and Hilton are offering a sign-up bonus worth 125,000 Hilton Honors (HH) points. The points can be earned by spending $3,000 within the first three months.

The Hilton Business Card also earns 12x HH points per dollar on Hilton hotel purchases and 3x points per dollar on non-bonus spend. The card also offers six 6x bonus categories:

• Gas Stations
• Shipping
• Cell Phone Services (purchased directly from a provider)
• Restaurants
• Airfare (booked directly from airlines)
• Car Rentals (booked directly with agencies)

The amount of earning opportunities offered with the Amex Hilton Business Card is impressive! Such a broad earning structure makes the Hilton Business Card more versatile than the Marriott Business Card. Be sure to consider which hotel chain you are more loyal to before selecting a card.

Final Draw

The Marriott Bonvoy Business Card is a surprisingly great option despite the lack of value from Marriott’s personal credit cards. Even at $125 per year, the Bonvoy Business Card’s earning structure and extra benefits make this card a nice alternative to the personal Marriott Bonvoy cards. The free night could also make this card a long-term keeper card for some.

Apply Today: American Express Marriott Bonvoy Business Card