Marriott Bonvoy Business® American Express® Card Review for 2023
Tricia has nearly two decades of experience in commercial and federal government lending. Her expertise is highlighted throughout small business loan content on Fit Small Business.
Nancy Fernandez is a Credit Card and Insurance Expert at Fit Small Business, specializing in business credit cards and business insurance.
This article is part of a larger series on Best Small Business Credit Cards.
Marriott Bonvoy Business® American Express® Card is designed for business owners who stay primarily at Marriott Bonvoy hotels, including all of the previous Starwood Preferred Guest and Ritz-Carlton properties. This small business credit card offers premium rewards on eligible purchases at Marriott Bonvoy hotels and travel perks like free hotel night stays.
If you wish to compare one card over another, select a maximum of three cards on this page and click Add to compare to view the details in a side-by-side comparison.
Marriott Bonvoy Business® American Express® Card
Fit Small Business's ratings are calculated by industry experts of our editorial team. Our grading rubric considers the type of credit card (such as cash back or travel), and the card's rates, fees, rewards, and additional features like insurance.
BEST FOR:
Owners who choose to stay at Marriott Bonvoy hotels
Intro APR
N/A
Regular APR
20.74% - 29.74% Variable
Annual Fee
$125
Credit Needed
Good, Excellent
- Welcome Offer: Earn 75,000 Bonus Marriott Bonvoy Points after you use your new Card to make $3,000 in purchases within the first 3 months of Card Membership.
- Receive 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. Terms and Conditions Apply.
- 6x Marriott Bonvoy Points on each dollar of eligible purchases at hotels participating in the Marriott Bonvoy® program.
- 4x points for purchases made 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.
- 2x points on all other eligible purchases.
- Receive 1 Free Night Award every year after your Card renewal month. Plus, earn an additional Free Night Award after you spend $60K in purchases on your Card in a calendar year. Awards can be used for one night (redemption level at or under 35,000 Marriott Bonvoy® points) at hotels participating in Marriott Bonvoy®. Certain hotels have resort fees.
- Enjoy Complimentary Marriott Bonvoy Gold Elite Status with your Card.
- Terms apply.
Pros
- Complimentary Marriott Bonvoy Gold Elite status
- No foreign transaction fees
- Premium rewards points
Cons
- Charges an annual fee
- No introductory 0% APR
- Balance transfers aren't allowed
- Baggage insurance: Covers the loss of any checked or carry-on baggage in direct transit from a common carrier or terminal; coverage is limited to $1,250
- Purchase protection: Covers purchased items from theft or damage for the first 120 days from purchase; coverage is limited to $10,000 per claim and $50,000 per year
- Extended warranty protection: Offers up to an additional two years of warranty coverage on US manufacturers’ warranties of five years or less
- Gold Elite status: Enjoy complimentary Marriott Bonvoy Gold Elite status with your Card
Intro APR
N/A
Regular APR
20.74% - 29.74% Variable
Annual Fee
$125
Credit Needed
Good, Excellent
- Welcome Offer: Earn 75,000 Bonus Marriott Bonvoy Points after you use your new Card to make $3,000 in purchases within the first 3 months of Card Membership.
- Receive 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. Terms and Conditions Apply.
- 6x Marriott Bonvoy Points on each dollar of eligible purchases at hotels participating in the Marriott Bonvoy® program.
- 4x points for purchases made 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.
- 2x points on all other eligible purchases.
- Receive 1 Free Night Award every year after your Card renewal month. Plus, earn an additional Free Night Award after you spend $60K in purchases on your Card in a calendar year. Awards can be used for one night (redemption level at or under 35,000 Marriott Bonvoy® points) at hotels participating in Marriott Bonvoy®. Certain hotels have resort fees.
- Enjoy Complimentary Marriott Bonvoy Gold Elite Status with your Card.
- Terms apply.
Pros
- Complimentary Marriott Bonvoy Gold Elite status
- No foreign transaction fees
- Premium rewards points
Cons
- Charges an annual fee
- No introductory 0% APR
- Balance transfers aren't allowed
- Baggage insurance: Covers the loss of any checked or carry-on baggage in direct transit from a common carrier or terminal; coverage is limited to $1,250
- Purchase protection: Covers purchased items from theft or damage for the first 120 days from purchase; coverage is limited to $10,000 per claim and $50,000 per year
- Extended warranty protection: Offers up to an additional two years of warranty coverage on US manufacturers’ warranties of five years or less
- Gold Elite status: Enjoy complimentary Marriott Bonvoy Gold Elite status with your Card
When evaluating travel rewards business credit cards like the Marriott Bonvoy Business® American Express® Card, we first consider ongoing rewards, introductory rewards, and additional features. We also take into account the annual fee, introductory no-interest period, and ongoing annual percentage rates (APRs).
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Who the Marriott Bonvoy Business® American Express® Card Is Best For
- You stay at Marriott hotels frequently: It offers 6x points at participating hotels in the Marriott Bonvoy® program.
If this isn’t the card for you, then check out our recommended alternatives below.
Marriott Bonvoy Business® American Express® Card Fees
- Introductory: None
- Ongoing purchases: 20.74% to 29.74% variable—adjusts with the prime rate
- Cash advance: 29.99% variable—adjusts with the prime rate
- Penalty: 29.99% variable—adjusts with the prime rate; will be applied to your account if you:
- Make two or more late payments in the last 12 months
- Don’t pay the minimum payment due by the due date
- Make a returned payment
Fees
- Annual: $125
- Balance transfer: Transfers aren’t allowed
- Foreign transaction: None
- Cash advance: Either $5 or 3% of the amount of each cash advance, whichever is greater
- Late payment: Up to $39
- Overlimit: None
- Returned payment: $39
Your due date is at least 25 days after the close of each billing period.
Marriott Bonvoy Business® American Express® Card Rewards
- Welcome Offer: Earn 75,000 Bonus Marriott Bonvoy Points after you use your new Card to make $3,000 in purchases within the first 3 months of Card Membership.
- 6x points for every dollar of eligible purchases at participating hotels in the Marriott Bonvoy® Program.
- 4x points for purchases made at restaurants worldwide, at United States gas stations, on wireless telephone services purchased directly from US service providers, and on US purchases for shipping.
- 2x points on all other purchases
- Earn an additional Free Night Award after you spend $60,000 in purchases in a calendar year. Awards can be used for one night (redemption level at or under 35,000 Marriott Bonvoy® points) at hotels participating in Marriott Bonvoy; certain hotels have resort fees.
Your earned points can be transferred to airline programs (for every 60,000 points you transfer, Marriott will add 5,000 bonus miles) and redeemed for free nights (standard rooms cost anywhere from 7,500 to 85,000 points).
How To Make Payments on the Marriott Bonvoy Business® American Express® Card
- Amex Mobile App: Simply download the Amex Mobile App, available for both iOS and Android users, and enjoy the convenience of paying your bills on the go, anytime.
- AutoPay: This can be made through your American Express online account. Your first AutoPay payment may not be applied to your current billing cycle, so you need to make your usual payments until AutoPay begins.
- Direct bank payment: This payment scheme lets you pay bills automatically, so you don’t have to worry about missing due dates. Provide your bank account details to American Express and indicate the amount you’d like to pay every month.
- Online: You can make a payment through your American Express online account anytime by choosing your payment account and selecting your bank account and payment date. Note that credit and debit cards aren’t accepted as a form of payment.
- Mail: You have the option to mail your payment either by check or money order made payable to American Express. Include your account number at the front of your payment.
First Class Mail
American Express
PO Box 650448
Dallas, TX 75265-0448
Express Mail
American Express
Attn: Express Mail Remittance Processing
20500 Belshaw Ave.
Carson, CA 90746
Marriott Bonvoy Business® American Express® Card Features
Travel
- Room rate discount: Get a 7% discount on standard rates for reservations of standard guest rooms at hotels that participate in the Marriott Bonvoy® program when booking with this card.
- Elite Night Credits: You can receive 15 Elite Night Credits per calendar year toward the next level of Marriott Bonvoy Elite status.
- Marriott Bonvoy Air+Car Transfer Program: This allows members to redeem Marriott Bonvoy points for both flights and car rentals.
- Complementary Gold Elite status: Get complimentary Marriott Bonvoy Gold Elite status with your card, which includes priority late checkout and 25% bonus points on stays
Travel & Purchase Insurance
- Baggage insurance plan: This card provides up to $1,250 insurance coverage for carry-on Baggage and up to $500 for checked Baggage, in excess of coverage provided by the Common Carrier. For New York state residents, there’s a $10,000 aggregate maximum limit for all Covered Persons per Covered Trip.
- Car rental loss and damage insurance: You can be covered for damage to or theft of a rented vehicle in a covered territory when using this card to pay for the entire rental. You have to decline the collision damage waiver offered by the rental company.
- Extended warranty: Terms of the original manufacturer’s warranty can be extended up to one additional year.
- Purchase protection: Protect eligible purchases for up to 90 days from the covered purchase date if they’re stolen or accidentally damaged. The coverage is limited to up to $1,000 per occurrence, up to $50,000 per card member, per calendar year.
Expense Management
- Employee cards: You can create employee cards, letting them buy what they need within set limits, and earn Marriot Bonvoy points on their purchases.
- Year-end summary: At the start of each year, cardholders get access to a year-end summary of charges to review your business’s annual spending.
Marriott Bonvoy Business® American Express® Card Alternatives
Capital One® Spark® Miles Select for Business
Capital One® Spark® Miles Select for Business
Fit Small Business's ratings are calculated by industry experts of our editorial team. Our grading rubric considers the type of credit card (such as cash back or travel), and the card's rates, fees, rewards, and additional features like insurance.
BEST FOR:
Travel rewards and annual spending less than $19,000
Intro APR
0% on purchases
Regular APR
18.74% to 28.74% (Variable)
Annual Fee
$0
Credit Needed
Excellent, Good
- Introductory reward worth $200 in travel after you spend $3,000 within the first three months
- 1.5x miles per $1 spent
- 5x miles on hotel and rental car bookings through the issuer
- Issue employee cards for free
Pros
- No foreign transaction fees
- Interest-free financing on purchases
Cons
- No 0% APR balance transfer offer
- Limited list of airline partners
- Purchase assurance: Most purchases made entirely with your card are covered if damaged or stolen within 90 days from the date of purchase. Coverage is limited to $10,000 per claim and $50,000 per cardholder account per 12-month period.
- Extended warranty coverage: Doubles the original warranty time period and duplicates the coverage of the original manufacturer’s warranty up to a maximum of 12 months on most items you purchase.
- Travel medical emergency assistance: Provide referrals to medical services if you have a medical emergency while traveling. You’re covered if you’re 100 or more miles away from home and from the day you leave until midnight of the 60th day of your trip, or the day you return to your city of residence, whichever is sooner.
Intro APR
0% on purchases
Regular APR
18.74% to 28.74% (Variable)
Annual Fee
$0
Credit Needed
Excellent, Good
- Introductory reward worth $200 in travel after you spend $3,000 within the first three months
- 1.5x miles per $1 spent
- 5x miles on hotel and rental car bookings through the issuer
- Issue employee cards for free
Pros
- No foreign transaction fees
- Interest-free financing on purchases
Cons
- No 0% APR balance transfer offer
- Limited list of airline partners
- Purchase assurance: Most purchases made entirely with your card are covered if damaged or stolen within 90 days from the date of purchase. Coverage is limited to $10,000 per claim and $50,000 per cardholder account per 12-month period.
- Extended warranty coverage: Doubles the original warranty time period and duplicates the coverage of the original manufacturer’s warranty up to a maximum of 12 months on most items you purchase.
- Travel medical emergency assistance: Provide referrals to medical services if you have a medical emergency while traveling. You’re covered if you’re 100 or more miles away from home and from the day you leave until midnight of the 60th day of your trip, or the day you return to your city of residence, whichever is sooner.
- Capital One Spark Miles Select for Business is a viable option if you want an introductory APR on purchases for nine billing cycles and don’t want to pay annual fees
- Lets you earn 5x on hotels and rental cars booked through Capital One Travel, and unlimited 1.5x miles on all other purchases
- Is our top-recommended business credit card for travel and one of our best business credit cards for miles
Chase Ink Business Preferred®
Ink Business Preferred® Credit Card
Fit Small Business's ratings are calculated by industry experts of our editorial team. Our grading rubric considers the type of credit card (such as cash back or travel), and the card's rates, fees, rewards, and additional features like insurance.
BEST FOR:
Maximizing travel rewards at a lower annual fee
Intro APR
N/A
Regular APR
20.74% - 25.74% Variable
Annual Fee
$95
Credit Needed
- Earn 100k bonus points after you spend $15,000 on purchases in the first 3 months from account opening. That's $1,000 cash back or $1,250 toward travel when redeemed through Chase Ultimate Rewards®
- Earn 3 points per $1 on the first $150,000 spent on travel and select business categories each account anniversary year. Earn 1 point per $1 on all other purchases
- Round-the-clock monitoring for unusual credit card purchases
- With Zero Liability you won't be held responsible for unauthorized charges made with your card or account information.
- Redeem points for cash back, gift cards, travel and more - your points don't expire as long as your account is open
- Points are worth 25% more when you redeem for travel through Chase Ultimate Rewards®
- Purchase Protection covers your new purchases for 120 days against damage or theft up to $10,000 per claim and $50,000 per account.
- Member FDIC
Pros
- Reward points are worth 25% more when you redeem for travel through the Chase Ultimate Rewards® card
- Comprehensive travel and purchase protection
- No foreign transaction fees
Cons
- No interest-free financing option on both purchases and balance transfers
- With annual fee
- Need to make extremely large purchases to qualify for the sign-up bonus
- Cellphone protection: Get up to $1,000 per claim in cellphone protection against covered theft or damage for you and your employees listed on your monthly cellphone bill
- Purchase protection: Can cover your new purchases for 120 days against damage or theft of up to $10,000 per claim and $50,000 per account
- Extended warranty protection: You can extend the period of the United States manufacturer’s warranty by an additional year, on eligible warranties of three years or less.
- Fraud monitoring: Chase will help keep your accounts safe with account alerts―and you can choose how you’d like to receive them
- Free employee cards: You can create employee cards at no additional cost, and lets you set individual spending limits―helping you earn rewards even faster
Intro APR
N/A
Regular APR
20.74% - 25.74% Variable
Annual Fee
$95
Credit Needed
Good, Excellent
- Earn 100k bonus points after you spend $15,000 on purchases in the first 3 months from account opening. That's $1,000 cash back or $1,250 toward travel when redeemed through Chase Ultimate Rewards®
- Earn 3 points per $1 on the first $150,000 spent on travel and select business categories each account anniversary year. Earn 1 point per $1 on all other purchases
- Round-the-clock monitoring for unusual credit card purchases
- With Zero Liability you won't be held responsible for unauthorized charges made with your card or account information.
- Redeem points for cash back, gift cards, travel and more - your points don't expire as long as your account is open
- Points are worth 25% more when you redeem for travel through Chase Ultimate Rewards®
- Purchase Protection covers your new purchases for 120 days against damage or theft up to $10,000 per claim and $50,000 per account.
- Member FDIC
Pros
- Reward points are worth 25% more when you redeem for travel through the Chase Ultimate Rewards® card
- Comprehensive travel and purchase protection
- No foreign transaction fees
Cons
- No interest-free financing option on both purchases and balance transfers
- With annual fee
- Need to make extremely large purchases to qualify for the sign-up bonus
- Cellphone protection: Get up to $1,000 per claim in cellphone protection against covered theft or damage for you and your employees listed on your monthly cellphone bill
- Purchase protection: Can cover your new purchases for 120 days against damage or theft of up to $10,000 per claim and $50,000 per account
- Extended warranty protection: You can extend the period of the United States manufacturer’s warranty by an additional year, on eligible warranties of three years or less.
- Fraud monitoring: Chase will help keep your accounts safe with account alerts―and you can choose how you’d like to receive them
- Free employee cards: You can create employee cards at no additional cost, and lets you set individual spending limits―helping you earn rewards even faster
- Chase Ink Business Preferred® is an excellent alternative travel rewards card if you want to maximize earned rewards
- Lets you earn 3 points per $1 on the first $150,000 spent in combined purchases in four categories for each account anniversary year (categories include travel, shipping purchases, advertising on search engines and social media sites, and expenses on internet, cable, and phone services) and unlimited 1 point per $1 on all other purchases
- Offers a sign-up bonus of 100,000 points when you spend $15,000 on purchases in the first three months after opening an account
- Lacks an interest-free financing option on both purchases and balance transfers
- Charges an annual fee of $95
- Is one of our best credit cards for new businesses with no credit history and leading business credit cards for travel
Bank of America Business Advantage Travel Rewards World Mastercard®
Bank of America® Business Advantage Travel Rewards World Mastercard® credit card
Fit Small Business's ratings are calculated by industry experts of our editorial team. Our grading rubric considers the type of credit card (such as cash back or travel), and the card's rates, fees, rewards, and additional features like insurance.
BEST FOR:
Earning top rewards on travel purchases booked through Bank of America Travel Center
Intro APR
0%
9 billing cycles
9 billing cycles
Regular APR
18.24% - 28.24% Variable APR on purchases
Annual Fee
$0.00
Credit Needed
Excellent
- Earn 30,000 online bonus points after you make at least $3,000 in purchases in the first 90 days of your account opening which can be redeemed for a $300 statement credit towards travel or dining purchases.
- Earn unlimited 1.5 points for every $1 spent on all purchases everywhere, every time-no matter how much you spend.
- No limit to the amount of points you can earn and points don't expire.
- You can earn up to 75% more points on every purchase, if you have a business checking account with Bank of America and qualify for our highest Preferred Rewards for Business tier. That means you could earn up to an unlimited 2.62 points per $1 spent on all purchases.
- No annual fee and no international transaction fees.
- Choose how to redeem points for a statement credit to offset travel and dining purchases, travel with no blackout dates at the Bank of America® Travel Center, for cash back or gift cards.
- 0% Introductory APR on purchases for your first 9 billing cycles. After the intro APR offer ends, a Variable APR that's currently 18.24% to 28.24% will apply.
- Contactless Cards - The security of a chip card, with the convenience of a tap.
- This offer may not be available if you leave this page or visit our website. You can take advantage of this offer when you apply now.
Pros
- No annual fee: By not having to pay an annual fee, you can reduce your overall credit card cost while earning unlimited rewards on your expenses.
- No blackout dates on travel: You can redeem your points for travel or travel credits through the Bank of America® Travel Center anytime, with no blackout dates.
- 3x points on travel: You can earn 3x points for every dollar spent when you book your travel (car, hotel, or airline) through the Bank of America® Travel Center.
- Welcome bonus points: If you can spend $3,000 in net purchases within 90 days of opening an account, you will earn 30,000 bonus points.
Cons
- Low ongoing rewards on nontravel: While you can earn high rewards points on travel, you can only earn 1.5x points on all other purchases.
- Short 0% APR introductory period: This is a disadvantage if you need a longer 0% APR period.
- No 0% APR on balance transfers: The introductory APR only applies to purchases
- Bank of America doesn’t disclose details of its additional card features. To find out more about these additional features, review your guide to benefits when you receive your card in the mail.
Intro APR
0%
9 billing cycles
9 billing cycles
Regular APR
18.24% - 28.24% Variable APR on purchases
Annual Fee
$0.00
Credit Needed
Excellent
- Earn 30,000 online bonus points after you make at least $3,000 in purchases in the first 90 days of your account opening which can be redeemed for a $300 statement credit towards travel or dining purchases.
- Earn unlimited 1.5 points for every $1 spent on all purchases everywhere, every time-no matter how much you spend.
- No limit to the amount of points you can earn and points don't expire.
- You can earn up to 75% more points on every purchase, if you have a business checking account with Bank of America and qualify for our highest Preferred Rewards for Business tier. That means you could earn up to an unlimited 2.62 points per $1 spent on all purchases.
- No annual fee and no international transaction fees.
- Choose how to redeem points for a statement credit to offset travel and dining purchases, travel with no blackout dates at the Bank of America® Travel Center, for cash back or gift cards.
- 0% Introductory APR on purchases for your first 9 billing cycles. After the intro APR offer ends, a Variable APR that's currently 18.24% to 28.24% will apply.
- Contactless Cards - The security of a chip card, with the convenience of a tap.
- This offer may not be available if you leave this page or visit our website. You can take advantage of this offer when you apply now.
Pros
- No annual fee: By not having to pay an annual fee, you can reduce your overall credit card cost while earning unlimited rewards on your expenses.
- No blackout dates on travel: You can redeem your points for travel or travel credits through the Bank of America® Travel Center anytime, with no blackout dates.
- 3x points on travel: You can earn 3x points for every dollar spent when you book your travel (car, hotel, or airline) through the Bank of America® Travel Center.
- Welcome bonus points: If you can spend $3,000 in net purchases within 90 days of opening an account, you will earn 30,000 bonus points.
Cons
- Low ongoing rewards on nontravel: While you can earn high rewards points on travel, you can only earn 1.5x points on all other purchases.
- Short 0% APR introductory period: This is a disadvantage if you need a longer 0% APR period.
- No 0% APR on balance transfers: The introductory APR only applies to purchases
- Bank of America doesn’t disclose details of its additional card features. To find out more about these additional features, review your guide to benefits when you receive your card in the mail.
- Bank of America Business Advantage Travel Rewards World Mastercard® is great if you want a travel business card that doesn’t have a penalty APR
- Offers a 0% introductory APR on purchases for the first nine billing cycles
- Doesn’t charge annual and foreign transaction fees
- Has a sign-up bonus of 30,000 points after spending at least $3,000 in purchases within the first 90 days after account opening, which can be redeemed via a $300 statement credit toward either travel- or dining-related purchases
- Lets you earn 3 points for every dollar spent when you book a rental car, hotel stay, or airfare through the Bank of America® Travel Center, and unlimited 1.5 points for every $1 you spend on all purchases, anytime, anywhere
- Is one of our top-recommended business credit cards for travel
For additional options, see our guides on the best American Express business credit cards and leading small business credit cards.
Bottom Line
Marriott Bonvoy Business® American Express® Card is best for business owners who travel frequently and stay primarily at Marriott Bonvoy hotels. It lets you earn 6x points for every dollar of eligible purchases at participating in the Marriott Bonvoy® Program, 4x points for purchases made at restaurants worldwide, at US gas stations, on wireless telephone services purchased directly from US service providers, and on US purchases for shipping, and 2x points on all other purchases. Aside from not charging any foreign transaction fees, it protects you through its insurance coverages.
