Marriott launches two new co-branded cards with Chase and Amex, adds benefits to Bonvoy Brilliant

Today, Marriott has announced two new co-branded credit cards with Chase and Amex: the Marriott Bonvoy Bountiful™ Card from Chase and the Marriott Bonvoy Bevy™ American Express Card.

In a post-pandemic world, more and more people are dusting off their suitcases to finally enjoy that vacation they dreamed of all throughout quarantine.

“We are experiencing a travel renaissance among our Marriott Bonvoy members,” said David Flueck, senior vice president, Global Loyalty, Marriott International, in the press release. “The new cards from American Express and Chase will meet the growing desire to earn points as fast as possible.”

Further, the Marriott Bonvoy Brilliant® American Express® Card is also receiving an update, with added complimentary Platinum Elite status, 25 Elite Night Credits each calendar year and more for a heightened $650 annual fee.

Details of the Marriott Bonvoy Bountiful and Bevy

Charging an annual fee of $250, both of these travel rewards cards offer up to 6X Marriott Bonvoy points per dollar on Marriott Bonvoy hotels, complimentary Gold Elite status, one Free Night Award (worth up to 50,000 Marriott Bonvoy points) after you spend $15,000 per year and more. New cardholders are sure to appreciate how rapidly these cards earn rewards while enjoying the luxury of their automatic elite statuses.

The Bonvoy Bevy and Bountiful join three other Marriott Bonvoy co-branded consumer cards: Marriott Bonvoy Bold® Credit Card, Marriott Bonvoy Boundless® Credit Card and Marriott Bonvoy Brilliant American Express Card. Here’s a closer look at the details of these two new cards:

Marriott Bonvoy Bountiful Card highlights

• Rewards rate: 6X points on purchases at participating Marriott Bonvoy hotels, 4X points on restaurants worldwide and at U.S. supermarkets (up to $15,000 in combined purchases per year) and 2X points on all other eligible purchases; 1,000 bonus points with each qualifying stay
• Welcome offer: 125,000 points after you spend $4,000 in eligible purchases in three months
• Annual fee: $250
• Annual bonus: One Free Night Award (worth up to 50,000 points) after you spend $15,000 per year; 15 Elite Night Credits each calendar year

Like most travel cards, the Marriott Bonvoy Bountiful Card offers its highest rewards rate (6X points) on purchases made directly with its rewards program — in this case, Marriott Bonvoy hotels. Even better, you can also earn significant rewards at home with its everyday categories on dining and U.S. supermarkets.

Like some other co-branded Marriott Bonvoy cards, you’ll also receive complimentary Gold Elite status, which comes with a 25 percent points bonus on your Marriott Bonvoy stays, late checkout at 2 p.m. and free room upgrades, if available. On each qualifying stay, the card also gives you an additional 1,000 points, and each year you’ll receive 15 Elite Night Credits to count toward your required stays to qualify for the next highest elite status.

Considering you only need to stay at a Marriott Bonvoy property 25 more times to qualify for Platinum Elite status (starting from your free Gold Elite status), staying at a Marriott location only benefits you — in both earning bonus points and getting you closer to a higher elite status.

Marriott Bonvoy Bevy American Express Card highlights

• Rewards rate: 6X points on purchases at participating Marriott Bonvoy hotels, 4X points on restaurants worldwide and at U.S. supermarkets (up to $15,000 in combined purchases per year) and 2X points on all other eligible purchases; 1,000 bonus points with each qualifying stay
• Welcome offer: 155,000 points after you spend $5,000 in eligible purchases in first six months of Card Membership
• Annual fee: $250
• Annual bonus: One Free Night Award (worth up to 50,000 points) after you spend $15,000 per year; 15 Elite Night Credits each calendar year

Offering a similar rewards structure to the Marriott Bonvoy Bountiful Card, but issued by American Express instead, the Bevy Card also gives consumers ample bonus points on everyday and travel categories, allowing them to earn steady rewards when abroad or at home. The same complimentary Gold Elite status is given to holders of this card as well.

“With new ways to earn points on everyday purchases, elevated Marriott Bonvoy Elite status and new ways to get to free nights faster, our Marriott Bonvoy American Express Cards can help people get the most out of the Marriott Bonvoy program,” said Jon Gantman, senior vice president and general manager, Cobrand Product Management at American Express, in the press release.

For both the Bountiful and Bevy, each year you’ll receive one Free Night Award (worth 50,000 points). Further, once you spend $5,000 in the first six months in your first year, you’ll also receive 155,000 points. With each Marriott Bonvoy point worth an average of 0.7 cents (based on Bankrate’s points valuations), the welcome offer can be worth up to $595 in rewards.

You aren’t limited to redeeming points for hotel stays, though. Other redemption options include travel, shopping and Marriott Moments.

What’s the difference?

As you may have noticed, the Marriott Bonvoy Bevy and Bountiful Cards are nearly identical, except the former is issued by American Express and the latter is issued by Chase. When you weigh which one to apply for, it comes down to preference.

If you bank with Chase but would like to stash all your rewards with Amex, go with the Bevy Card. Or, those who already have several Chase credit cards and would like to manage all their cards in one place should apply for the Bountiful.

Changes to the Marriott Bonvoy Brilliant

The refreshed Marriott Bonvoy Brilliant now grants cardholders the following benefits:

• Complimentary Platinum Elite status
• One Free Night Award each year after your card renewal month — redemption level at or under 85,000 Marriott Bonvoy points — at participating hotels (up from 50,000 points)
• Up to $300 in statement credits per calendar year (up to $25 back per month) for dining purchases at restaurants worldwide (replacing the $300 credit toward Marriott Bonvoy hotel purchases)
• 25 Elite Night Credits each calendar year (updated from 15 Elite Night credits)
• Annual Earned Choice Award — starting January 2023, each year after making $60,000 in purchases, cardholders can select an Earned Choice Award benefit

Further, the card has also updated its welcome bonus for new cardholders: 185,000 bonus Marriott Bonvoy points if you spend $5,000 on eligible purchases in three months.

The Marriott Bonvoy Brilliant also now charges a premium annual fee of $650. This is up from $450, placing it right next to another luxury travel card — The Platinum Card® from American Express, which charges one of the highest annual fees on the market ($695). In fact, this could be Marriott Bonvoy’s attempt at offering a card that inspires the same level of exclusivity and status that the Platinum Card does.

Nevertheless, the Brilliant gives you plenty of rewards and benefits in exchange. Its rewards rates remain high as ever: 6X points on participating Marriott Bonvoy hotels, 3X points on restaurants worldwide and on flights booked directly with airlines and 2X points on all other eligible purchases.

Is a co-branded Marriott card worth it?

Anyone who immediately gravitates toward staying at a Marriott Bonvoy property will easily find worth in a co-branded Marriott card. Loyalists who also want to experience some luxury at the airport might even consider the Marriott Brilliant Card.

Overall, a Marriott Bonvoy card isn’t a bad idea. Not only will you quickly earn Marriott Bonvoy points, but you’ll also enjoy a few perks, depending on the elite status you’re granted.

However, we should note that the complimentary Gold Elite status offered by the two newest Marriott Bonvoy cards, and Silver Elite status on the Marriott Boundless Card, don’t offer as much compared to hotel elite statuses from other rewards programs. Only when you reach Platinum Elite status do you begin to experience a level of comfort and convenience that would significantly add to your stay. Plus, the annual bonus of one Free Night Award is nothing to scoff at, and regular Marriott Bonvoy customers will find it easy to take advantage of.

If you’re not a recurring patron of this hotel chain, you may find it difficult to make full use of a Marriott Bonvoy card — especially considering their expensive annual fees. Those looking for a well-rounded travel credit card should keep shopping around.