Marriott Bonvoy Increased Credit Card Sign-Up Offers

Marriott has cobranded credit cards in several markets, such as Mexico, United Arab Emirates, and Japan, which still have an SPG branded one (I never quite understood this one).

Marriott Bonvoy has launched new sign-up offers with higher category certificates and bonus points with Chase and American Express for members in the United States.

You can access Marriott here.

Here are the updated offers:

American Express

Marriott Bonvoy Brilliant American Express Card – $450 annual fee

150,000 points and one Free Night Award worth 85,000 points (Category eight standard rate).
To qualify, new Card Members will need to charge at least $5,000 in purchases on their new Marriott Bonvoy Brilliant American Express Card in the first three months.

In addition to this limited time offer, annually Card Members receive: one Free Night Award every year after the Card Member’s account anniversary which can be used for one night (redemption level at or under 50,000 Marriott Bonvoy points) at a participating hotel, 15 Elite Night Credits each calendar year towards the next level of Marriott Bonvoy Elite status, and $300 in statement credits each year of Card Membership for eligible purchases at hotels participating in Marriott Bonvoy.
For each dollar of eligible purchases, Card Members can earn: 6X points at hotels participating in Marriott Bonvoy, 3X points at U.S. restaurants and on flights booked directly with airlines, and 2X points on all other eligible purchases.
$450 annual fee.
Terms apply. Go here for complete Card information and terms and conditions.

Marriott Bonvoy Business American Express Card – $125 annual fee

125,000 points and two Free Night Awards worth 50,000 points each (Category six standard, Category seven off-peak rates and not stackable).
To qualify, new Card Members will need to charge at least $5,000 in purchases on their new Marriott Bonvoy Business American Express Card in the first three months.
In addition to this limited time offer, Card Members annually receive: a Free Night Award after the Card Member’s account anniversary and can earn another Free Night Award after the Card Member spends $60,000 in purchases on their Card in a calendar year, receive 15 Elite Night Credits each calendar year towards the next level of Marriott Bonvoy Elite status, and complimentary Marriott Bonvoy Silver Elite status.
For each dollar of eligible purchases, Card Members can earn: 6X points at hotels participating in Marriott Bonvoy, 4X points at U.S. restaurants, gas stations, on wireless telephone services purchased directly from U.S. service providers, and on all U.S. purchases for shipping, and 2X points on all other eligible purchases.
$125 annual fee.
Terms apply. Go here for complete Card information and terms and conditions.

Chase

Marriott Bonvoy Boundless Card – $95 annual fee

125,000 points and one Free Night Award worth up to 50,000 points (Category six standard, Category seven off-peak rates)
To qualify, new cardholders will need to charge at least $5,000 in purchases on their new Marriott Bonvoy Boundless Card in the first three months.
In addition to this limited time offer, annually cardholders receive: 15 Elite Night Credits per calendar year and automatic Silver Elite Status each account anniversary year, a path to Gold Elite Status when cardholders spend $35,000 on purchases each account year, and a Free Night Award every year after the cardholders account anniversary, valid for a one-night hotel stay at a property with a redemption level up to 35,000 points.
For each dollar of eligible purchases, cardholders can earn: 6X points at hotels participating in Marriott Bonvoy and 2X points on all other eligible purchases.
$95 annual fee.
Terms apply. Go here for complete card information and terms and conditions.

Marriott Bonvoy Bold Card – no annual fee

60,000 points
To qualify, new cardholders will need to charge at least $2,000 in purchases on their new Marriott Bonvoy Bold Card in the first three months.
In addition to this limited time offer, cardholders receive 15 Elite Night Credits per calendar year, qualifying you for Silver Elite Status.
For each dollar of eligible purchases, cardholders can earn: 3X points at hotels participating in Marriott Bonvoy, 2X points for travel purchases, and 1X points on all other eligible purchases.
No annual fee.
Terms apply. Go here for complete card information and terms and conditions.

Conclusion

Members have been vocal about the difficulty of using lower category certificates due to every higher redemption requirement in many markets.

I haven’t had much difficulty using various Marriott free night certificates, but you do have to pay attention to when and where to use them to get the best value out of them (I am burning two next month in Dubai when the paid rates are really high).

The cards with bonus elite nights help members retain or reach a higher tier with the program but don’t do much for lifetime Platinum or Titanium members beyond helping to reach 50 or 75 nights for annual Choice benefit.