Amex Marriott Bonvoy Cards 2026: Brilliant vs Bevy vs Business
- Auto Marriott Gold status
- 15 elite night credits/year (helps reach Platinum at 50 nights)
- Free anniversary night up to 85,000 Bonvoy points (Cat 1-7 properties)
- \$100 Marriott property credit at qualifying Ritz/St. Regis stays
Amex offers 3 Marriott Bonvoy co-brand cards in 2026: Brilliant (\$650), Bevy (\$250), and Business (\$125). Each targets different traveler profiles. Brilliant offers 15 elite night credits + 85k-point free night for travelers near Platinum. Bevy is the mid-tier option. Business is the entry-level path. Here is the 2026 framework.
The Amex Marriott Bonvoy lineup
| Card | Annual fee | Notable benefit |
|---|---|---|
| Marriott Bonvoy Brilliant | \$650 | 15 elite night credits + 85k-point free night + auto Gold + \$300 dining credit + \$300 Equinox |
| Marriott Bonvoy Bevy | \$250 | 15 elite night credits + 50k-point free night after \$15k spend + auto Gold |
| Marriott Bonvoy Business | \$125 | 15 elite night credits + 35k-point free night + 6x Marriott + 4x business categories |
The Brilliant for premium Marriott travelers
Marriott Bonvoy Brilliant at \$650/year offers:
- Auto Marriott Gold status
- 15 elite night credits/year (helps reach Platinum at 50 nights)
- Free anniversary night up to 85,000 Bonvoy points (Cat 1-7 properties)
- \$300 dining credit
- \$100 Marriott property credit at qualifying Ritz/St. Regis stays
- \$300 Equinox credit
- 6x Marriott + 3x dining + 2x other
For travelers near 35+ paid Marriott nights (so 15 elite night credits + paid stays = 50 nights = Platinum), the Brilliant + Bonvoy Business 2-card setup bridges the gap. Combined annual fees: \$1,300. Combined elite night credits: 30. Combined free annual nights: 2 × 35-85k.
The Bevy for mid-tier Marriott travelers
Marriott Bonvoy Bevy at \$250/year offers:
- Auto Marriott Gold status
- 15 elite night credits/year
- Free anniversary night up to 50,000 Bonvoy points after \$15k spend (vs 85k on Brilliant; vs 35k on Business)
- 6x Marriott + 4x dining/groceries + 2x other
For travelers between mid-tier and premium, Bevy is the value option. Combined with sign-up bonus (typically 95,000-155,000 Bonvoy), this is a solid mid-fee Marriott path.
The Marriott Bonvoy Business for entry-level
Marriott Bonvoy Business at \$125/year is the entry-tier business co-brand:
- Auto Marriott Gold status
- 15 elite night credits/year
- Free anniversary night up to 35,000 Bonvoy points (Cat 1-5 properties)
- 6x Marriott + 4x business categories (gas + dining + shipping + telecom + advertising) + 2x other
- 15 elite night credits + 15 from Brilliant = 30 total = Platinum-bridging
For travelers wanting Marriott Platinum without 50 paid nights, Brilliant + Bonvoy Business is the strongest 2-card combination.
The combined Marriott stack for Platinum-bridging
For travelers wanting Marriott Platinum without 50+ paid nights/year:
- Hold Marriott Bonvoy Brilliant (\$650) — auto Gold + 15 elite night credits
- Hold Marriott Bonvoy Business (\$125) — auto Gold + 15 elite night credits
- Combined 30 elite night credits/year + 20 paid nights = 50 nights = Marriott Platinum
Combined annual fees: \$775. Combined elite night credits: 30. Combined free anniversary nights: 2 (up to 85k + 35k = 120k Bonvoy points across 2 nights).
The Marriott Brilliant credit menu
| Credit | Annual amount |
|---|---|
| Dining | \$300 (\$25/month at Resy participating restaurants) |
| Marriott property credit (Ritz/St. Regis) | \$100 per qualifying stay |
| Equinox | \$300/year |
| Total nominal credit value | ~\$700 |
Practical credit value (typical user): \$400-\$600 used annually. Net cost on \$650 fee: \$50-\$250 typical.
The decision matrix
| Profile | Best Amex Marriott card |
|---|---|
| Stays at Marriott 5+ times/year, no Platinum bridge needed | Marriott Bonvoy Bevy (\$250) — sign-up bonus + 15 elite credits + 50k free night |
| Stays at Marriott 35+ paid nights/year (near Platinum) | Marriott Bonvoy Brilliant (\$650) — 15 elite credits + larger free night |
| Hits Platinum via card credits + paid stays | Brilliant + Bonvoy Business (\$775 combined) for 30 elite night credits |
| Books Marriott aspirational property (Maldives, etc.) | Brilliant — 85k free night covers Cat 7 properties |
| Has small business with concentrated business spending | Bonvoy Business — 4x on business categories + 15 elite credits |
Bottom line
For travelers near Marriott Platinum threshold, Brilliant + Bonvoy Business at \$775 in combined annual fees produces 30 elite night credits + 2 free anniversary nights. For aspirational Marriott property bookings (Cat 7 = 85k points/night), Brilliant's free anniversary night up to 85k covers the booking. For mid-tier Marriott travelers, Bevy at \$250 is the value option. For entry-level Marriott travelers, Bonvoy Business at \$125 with business-category earning is the entry-tier path.
How does Amex Membership Rewards transfer to airline partners?
Amex Membership Rewards transfers to 18+ airline partners at varying ratios. Most transfer 1:1 (Aeroplan, BA Avios, Air France-KLM Flying Blue, Singapore KrisFlyer, Virgin Atlantic, ANA Mileage Club). Hilton Honors transfers at 1:2; Hawaiian Airlines at 1:1; Aeromexico at 1:1.6. Transfer bonuses run periodically (2-3 active per month typical), often in the 25-30% range. Pointify's transfer-bonus tracker monitors all live promotions across major Amex partners.
How does Marriott Bonvoy compare on cents-per-point?
Marriott Bonvoy uses dynamic award pricing on most properties (Cat 1-8 published categories serve as guidance ranges, not fixed rates). Standard award redemption value runs 0.7-1.0¢/point typical; aspirational properties (Ritz-Carlton Maldives, St. Regis, Edition Tokyo) reach 1.0-1.8¢/point. Marriott's 5th-night-free benefit applies to all members on 5+ night award stays — 20% effective discount. Marriott reaches Amex MR + Chase UR + Capital One (2:1.5) + Bilt (2:1.25) at varying ratios.
Compare Marriott co-brand cards on Pointify →
Last verified by the Pointify research team on May 1, 2026, against current Amex Marriott Bonvoy Brilliant, Bevy, and Business card terms. Annual fees and benefit structures may shift; verify with Amex before applying.
Written by Pointify Research Team
Published
The Pointify team analyzes loyalty programs, fare data, and booking strategies across 300+ airlines and 25 award programs. Our goal: help you get maximum value from every point and mile.
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