Marriott Bonvoy Business American Express Card Review
Pros
- Generous signup bonus
- 5 Marriott Bonvoy points per CAD spent at Marriott properties
- 3 points per CAD spent on eligible gas, dining, and travel purchases
- 2 points per CAD spent on all other purchases
- Complimentary Marriott Bonvoy Gold Elite status
- Free annual night award (valued up to 35,000 points)
- 15 Elite Night Credits per calendar year
- Comprehensive travel and purchase protection
Cons
- Annual fee of CAD 150
- Limited usefulness for non-Marriott loyalists
- Not all merchants accept American Express
- Foreign transaction fee of 2.5%
- No specific ongoing promotions or rotating bonus categories
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Performance test results
At DollarWise, for each credit card we test 7 different factors including the rewards, value for money, perks, insurance, strengths and weaknesses of the card.
You can see our full testing methodology here to learn why we’re the most trusted source for credit card reviews.
The Marriott Bonvoy Business American Express Card has earned a 4.57 DollarWise Rating out of 5. This score is based on a weighted average of the two highest scoring factors (excluding acceptance and approval).
4.6
Rewards
0.8
Fees
2.8
Perks
2.7
Interest rates
4.5
Insurance
4.0
Acceptance
3.0
Approval
The highest scoring categories for the Marriott Bonvoy Business American Express Card are rewards and insurance.
These factors are weighted 70% to the highest scoring factor and 30% to the second highest score to get an overall review score.
This weighting allows us to judge cards on their merits and the customers they are designed for.
For the Marriott Bonvoy Business American Express Card the most important factors for scoring this card are its rewards and insurance.
Rewards
With the Marriott Bonvoy Business American Express Card, here’s the rates at which you earn rewards for different spending categories per dollar you spend:
| Bills | 2 points |
| Pharmacy | 2 points |
| Gas | 2 points |
| Groceries | 3 points |
| Restaurants | 3 points |
| Specific Stores | 5 points |
| Travel | 3 points |
| All Other Spend | 2 points |
Calculating your annual rewards
We estimate that spending $2,000 per month with the Marriott Bonvoy Business American Express Card would earn $673 in rewards over the year.
Our performance testing research uses an accurate estimation of the average Canadian households spending patterns to predict the rewards a card will earn.
We found that you’d earn this per category:
| Groceries | $198 |
| Restaurants | $79 |
| Specific Stores | $66 |
| Travel | $40 |
| All Other Spend | $290 |
Our study investigating the value found that each dollar spent on the Marriott Bonvoy Business American Express Card is worth up to $0.01, depending on how you redeem.
This $673 in rewards value puts the Marriott Bonvoy Business American Express Card in the top 10% of credit cards in Canada based on rewards earned.
The average credit card in our database earns $337 in rewards for the same spend that the Marriott Bonvoy Business American Express Card earns $673 in rewards value.
We can compare this card to other options by looking at the earn rate by category.
This earn rate is the percentage return that you would get when you spend on this card, assuming you redeem at the predicted maximum value.
For example, if a card earned 5 points per dollar on gas and each point is worth up to $0.02, then the earn rate is 5 points multiplied by $0.02 each, divided by the dollar you spent.
In this example, that’s a 10% earn rate on gas.
| Spend | This Card | Average |
|---|---|---|
| Bills | 2.20% | 1.25% |
| Pharmacy | 2.20% | 1.17% |
| Gas | 2.20% | 1.48% |
| Groceries | 3.30% | 1.71% |
| Restaurant | 3.30% | 1.53% |
| Store | 5.50% | 1.94% |
| Travel | 3.30% | 1.19% |
| Other | 2.20% | 1.08% |
| Redemption method | Annual rewards |
|---|---|
| Transfer to partner airlines | $508 |
| Transfer to partner hotels | $594 |
| Redeem for travel | $673 |
| Gift cards | $208 |
| Merchandise | $226 |
| Car rentals | $80 |
| Flight rewards | $288 |
For an annual spend of $24,000, we estimated annual rewards value at up to $673.
That’s equivalent to a 2.81% return on spending.
The Marriott Bonvoy Business American Express Card has an annual fee of $150. After deducting this, we predicted net annual rewards of $523.
This puts it in the top 10% of credit cards for net rewards after fees.
In comparison, the average card earns net annual rewards of $254.
Fees
The Marriott Bonvoy Business American Express Card has a $150 annual fee.
The average card charges $85. So, the Marriott Bonvoy Business American Express Card is in the top 20% of cards based on the cost of the annual fee.
Perks
We manually review the perks of each credit card to determine how they compare to other cards.
The Marriott Bonvoy Business American Express Card scored a 2.8 out of 5 for perks, putting it in the top 20% of cards.
The average card scores 1.6 out of 5 for perks.
Interest Rates
| Purchase | 20.99% |
| Cash Advance | 21.99% |
| Balance Transfer | N/A% |
The average (median) credit card has a purchase interest rate of 19.99% and so the Marriott Bonvoy Business American Express Card charges 1% more than the average.
For cash advances it costs 21.99% compared to the average of 19.96%.
Testing the Marriott Bonvoy Business American Express Card with a $2,000 starting balance, you can see in the graph how the 1% more in interest rates impacts the interest over a year, compared to the average card.
Insurance coverage
| Insurance | This Card | Average |
|---|---|---|
| Extended Warranty | 1 year | 1 year |
| Purchase Protection | 90 days | 90 days |
| Travel Accident | $500,000 | $500,000 |
| Flight Delay | $500 | $500 |
| Baggage Delay | $500 | $500 |
| Lost or Stolen Baggage | $500 | $1,000 |
| Rental Car Theft & Damage | Yes | No |
| Hotel Burglary | $500 | $1,000 |
| Mobile Phone Insurance | $1,000 | $1,000 |
We scored it 4.5 out of 5 for insurance.
It offers 9 types of insurance, whereas the average card has 5 types of coverage.
Approval and qualifying
| Do I qualify? | |
|---|---|
| Estimated Credit Score | 660 – 724 |
| Personal Income | $0 |
| Household Income | $0 |
| Fees | |
|---|---|
| Annual Fee | $150 |
| Extra Card Fee | $0 |
| Card type | AMEX |
We scored it 3.0 out of 5 for approval.
We predict that you will require a credit score of at least 660 to qualify for the Marriott Bonvoy Business American Express Card, while the average card requires 652 to qualify.
This puts it in the top bottom 50% of cards by approval difficulty.
The personal income requirements are $0, while the average card requires $23,896.
This puts it in the top 50% of cards by the income required to qualify.
The Marriott Bonvoy Business American Express Card is designed for business owners who frequently travel and prefer staying at Marriott Bonvoy properties.
This credit card review will discuss its earning potential, four significant benefits, and two drawbacks, as well as provide additional information to help you determine if this card is the right fit for your needs.
Earning potential:
Cardholders earn 5 points for every $1 spent at Marriott Bonvoy properties, 3 points per $1 spent on eligible gas, dining, and travel purchases, and 2 points per $1 on all other purchases.
This flexible reward structure makes it easy for business owners to accumulate points on various spending categories, ultimately leading to more valuable rewards with Marriott Bonvoy.
Benefits
- Welcome Bonus: One of the major advantages of the Marriott Bonvoy Business American Express Card is the lucrative welcome bonus.
New cardholders can earn a sizable number of Marriott Bonvoy points upon meeting specified spending requirements within the initial months of card membership. This bonus can significantly boost your rewards-earning potential, making it a valuable starting point. - Complimentary Marriott Bonvoy Gold Elite Status: Another significant advantage is the complimentary Gold Elite status provided to cardholders.
This status offers several perks such as late check-out, room upgrades, bonus points on stays, and enhanced in-room internet access. These benefits can significantly enhance your overall hotel experience during your business travels. - Annual Free Night Award: Cardholders also receive an Annual Free Night Award which can be redeemed at participating Marriott Bonvoy properties with a redemption level of up to 35,000 points. This valuable benefit can offset the annual fee and provide an enjoyable travel experience each year.
- Business Travel Benefits: The Marriott Bonvoy Business American Express Card offers multiple travel-related benefits designed specifically for business owners.
These include comprehensive travel insurance coverage, car rental theft and damage insurance, employee card misuse protection, and customizable spending limits for employee supplementary cards. This makes managing business travel and expenses easier and more efficient.
Drawbacks
- Annual Fee: One major drawback to the card is the annual fee. Although many premium credit cards come with annual fees, this might deter some business owners from selecting the Marriott Bonvoy Business American Express Card as their primary card, especially if they do not fully utilize the travel benefits provided by the card.
- Limited Hotel Availability for the Free Night Award: Another drawback is the limitations surrounding the Annual Free Night Award.
Although it is a valuable benefit, some cardholders might struggle to redeem the award at desirable properties due to availability restrictions, particularly in high-demand locations or peak seasons.
Additional information:
In conclusion, the Marriott Bonvoy Business American Express Card is an excellent choice for business owners who travel frequently and value the Marriott Bonvoy rewards program.
The card offers a high earning potential, Gold Elite status, an Annual Free Night Award, and numerous business-focused travel benefits. However, business owners should carefully consider the annual fee and potential limitations on redeeming the Free Night Award before applying for the card.
Not the right fit? You could consider the National Bank Mastercard Business Card. Or, if you’re looking for other options check out the Scotia Momentum for Business Visa Credit Card, and the American Express Aeroplan Business Reserve Card.
FAQ
Key benefits
- Credit Card Brand: American Express
- Issuer: Amex Bank of Canada
- Card Type: Business, Travel Rewards
- Annual Fee: CAD 150
- Foreign Transaction Fee: 2.5%
- Interest Rates: 19.99% Purchases, 21.99% Cash Advances
- Grace Period: Minimum 25 Days
- Points Program: Marriott Bonvoy
- Signup Bonus: Varies Based on Promotions
- Earning Structure: 5/3/2 Point Tiers
- Elite Status: Gold Elite (Marriott Bonvoy)
- Reward Redemption: Hotel Stays, Upgrades, and More
- Travel Protection: Insurance Coverage, Lost Baggage, Trip Cancellation
- Purchase Protection: Extended Warranty, Fraud Protection, Return Protection
- Additional Perks: Annual Night Award, Elite Night Credits
- Online Account Management: Yes
- Customer Support: 24/7 Telephone, Online Chat
