Small Business: Marriott Bonvoy Business or Amex Business Platinum?
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Choose the Marriott Bonvoy® Business American Express®* Card if your business spends less than $5,000 a month: it earns you more, for $150 a year. The Business Platinum Card® from American Express pulls ahead over 3 years once you unlock its welcome bonus and use all of its annual credits.
These are two cards we really like for their benefits, which can make the choice a hard one: one costs $150 a year, the other $799. That is why we compared them on three costed businesses, a Quebec City consultant, a Montreal IT firm and a Laval exporter, using our own point valuations.
The key numbers at a glance
The table below gives you the basic figures for both cards. Keep two rows in mind above all: the annual fee and the spending required to unlock the bonus.
| Criterion | Marriott Bonvoy Business | Business Platinum |
|---|---|---|
| Card type | Credit card | Charge card with no pre-set spending limit |
| Annual fee | $150 | $799 |
| Welcome offer | Up to 80,000 Marriott Bonvoy points | Up to 120,000 Membership Rewards points |
| Spending required | $5,000 in 3 months (70,000 points), then $1,000 in month 13 (10,000 points) | $15,000 in 3 months (80,000 points), then a purchase between months 15 and 17 (40,000 points) |
| Earn rate | 5 points per dollar at Marriott, 3 on gas, dining and travel, 2 elsewhere | 1.25 points per dollar everywhere |
| Value per dollar spent | 2¢ to 5¢ | 2.1¢ |
| Annual credits | None | Up to $820 (travel, wireless, Dell, Indeed) |
| Signature annual perk | Free night up to 35,000 points | More than 1,550 airport lounges |
| Travel medical insurance | No | Yes, under 65 |
| Employee card | $50 a year | $250 (Platinum) or $0 (Business Gold) |
| Minimum income | None | None |
How much each card earns your business
To compare Marriott Bonvoy points with Membership Rewards points, we convert them to dollars with our valuations: 1¢ per Marriott Bonvoy point and 1.7¢ per Membership Rewards point. You will find the details in our guides to the Marriott Bonvoy program and the American Express Membership Rewards program.
We only count what you actually receive: points, the credits each profile uses, the free night and the fees. The value of lounges and insurance stays out of the calculation; we cover it further down.
Profile 1: Quebec City marketing consultant
Picture a marketing consultant based in Quebec City who meets her clients in Montreal and Toronto. She puts $40,000 a year on her card:
- Marriott hotels, about ten nights: $2,000
- Gas, client meals and travel: $10,000
- Software, advertising, phone and subcontractors: $28,000
She buys nothing from Dell or Indeed. She therefore uses the Business Platinum travel credit and wireless credit, not the other two.
The result is clear, because she spends $3,333 a month and never reaches the Business Platinum bonus threshold. Each year, here is what she keeps once the fees are paid:
- Marriott Bonvoy Business: $1,160
- Business Platinum: $371
| Item | Marriott Bonvoy Business | Business Platinum |
|---|---|---|
| Points earned per year | 96,000 Marriott Bonvoy points | 50,000 Membership Rewards points |
| Value of the points | $960 | $850 |
| Credits used | $0 | $320 |
| Free night (from year 2) | Up to $350 | $0 |
| Annual fee | -$150 | -$799 |
| Welcome bonus (year 1) | $700 | $0 (threshold not reached) |
| Net gain, year 1 | $1,510 | $371 |
| Net gain, year 3 onward | $1,160 | $371 |
| Total over 3 years | $3,930 | $1,113 |
In year 2, the Marriott card also adds 10,000 Marriott Bonvoy points ($100) once you spend $1,000 in month 13.
Profile 2: Montreal IT services firm
Now picture a 6-person IT services firm in Montreal. Its technicians travel to clients in Ontario, it buys its laptops from Dell and hires through Indeed. It puts $150,000 a year on its cards, with 5 employee cards:
- Marriott hotels, for technicians in Ontario: $5,000
- Gas, meals and travel: $30,000
- Licences, cloud services, equipment and suppliers: $115,000
This business uses all 4 Business Platinum credits, Dell and Indeed included. For its 5 employees, it takes Business Gold cards at no fee rather than Platinum cards at $250 each.
Here, the time horizon changes everything. The Business Platinum clearly wins the first two years thanks to its two-step bonus, then the Marriott card takes the lead every year:
- Business Platinum lead in year 1: $819
- Marriott lead from year 3: $191 a year
- Business Platinum lead over 3 years: $1,017
| Item | Marriott Bonvoy Business | Business Platinum |
|---|---|---|
| Points earned per year | 345,000 Marriott Bonvoy points | 187,500 Membership Rewards points |
| Value of the points | $3,450 | $3,188 |
| Credits used | $0 | $820 |
| Free night (from year 2) | Up to $350 | $0 |
| Annual fee | -$150 | -$799 |
| 5 employee cards | -$250 | $0 |
| Welcome bonus (year 1) | $700 | $1,360 |
| Net gain, year 1 | $3,750 | $4,569 |
| Net gain, year 3 onward | $3,400 | $3,209 |
| Total over 3 years | $10,650 | $11,667 |
Year 2 adds a further boost to both cards: 10,000 Marriott Bonvoy points ($100) in month 13, and 40,000 Membership Rewards points ($680) for a purchase between months 15 and 17.
Profile 3: Laval exporter that flies often
Finally, picture a 10-person business in Laval that exports food products to the United States and Europe. Its two executives fly about once a month to meet their distributors. It puts $250,000 a year on its cards, with 4 employee cards:
- Flights and non-Marriott hotels: $30,000
- Gas and dining: $10,000
- Suppliers, packaging, shipping and software: $210,000
It only uses the Business Platinum travel credit and wireless credit. However, it transfers all its Membership Rewards points to Aeroplan to pay for its executives' flights, so we value them at 2¢ rather than 1.7¢. Without that transfer, the Business Platinum would lose narrowly, by about $110 over 3 years.
This time, the Business Platinum wins every year, even without Dell or Indeed. Its lead comes from volume: on everyday spending, your Membership Rewards points transferred to Aeroplan are worth 2.5¢ per dollar, versus 2¢ with the Marriott card. And this calculation counts neither the lounges nor the trip cancellation insurance these executives use on every flight:
- Business Platinum lead in year 1: $1,621
- Business Platinum lead from year 3: $371 a year
- Business Platinum lead over 3 years: $3,063
| Item | Marriott Bonvoy Business | Business Platinum |
|---|---|---|
| Points earned per year | 540,000 Marriott Bonvoy points | 312,500 Membership Rewards points |
| Value of the points | $5,400 | $6,250 (in Aeroplan) |
| Credits used | $0 | $320 |
| Free night (from year 2) | Up to $350 | $0 |
| Annual fee | -$150 | -$799 |
| 4 employee cards | -$200 | $0 |
| Welcome bonus (year 1) | $700 | $1,600 (in Aeroplan) |
| Net gain, year 1 | $5,750 | $7,371 |
| Net gain, year 3 onward | $5,400 | $5,771 |
| Total over 3 years | $16,650 | $19,713 |
Year 2 adds 10,000 Marriott Bonvoy points ($100) in month 13 to the Marriott card, and 40,000 Membership Rewards points ($800 in Aeroplan) between months 15 and 17 to the Business Platinum.
Why the Marriott card earns more points
The Business Platinum gives you 1.25 Membership Rewards points per dollar, everywhere. You can transfer those points to Marriott Bonvoy at 1,000 Membership Rewards points for 1,200 points, according to the American Express Membership Rewards program guide.
For a Marriott stay, each dollar you spend therefore earns you:
- With the Business Platinum, after transfer: 1.5 Marriott Bonvoy points
- With the Marriott card, on everyday spending: 2 points
- With the Marriott card, on gas, dining and travel: 3 points
- With the Marriott card, at participating Marriott Bonvoy hotels: 5 points
If your goal is to sleep in Marriott hotels, the hotel card earns at least 33% more points than the Business Platinum on every dollar.
The Business Platinum takes back the lead when you aim for flights. Your Membership Rewards points transfer one-to-one to Aeroplan and Avios. At our valuation of 2¢ per Aeroplan point, each dollar spent on the Business Platinum is then worth 2.5¢, versus 2¢ on the Marriott card for everyday spending.
What the Business Platinum adds
Credits, as long as you use them
You can recover a good part of the Business Platinum's $799 annual fee with its credits. Your business still has to buy these services already:
- $200 Annual Travel Credit, on a single booking of $200 or more made through American Express Travel Online
- Up to $120 a year on wireless services: a $10 credit each month you spend $10, after enrolment
- Up to $200 a year on eligible Dell purchases, after enrolment
- Up to $300 a year on eligible Indeed purchases, after enrolment
- Up to $100 toward NEXUS application or renewal fees
On top of that, American Express offers up to $240 in Instacart credits within a 12-month period, until December 31, 2027. We left it out of our profiles because it is a temporary benefit.
Lounges, hotels and a charge card
The Business Platinum opens the American Express Global Lounge Collection to you: more than 1,550 lounges in over 500 airports, including Centurion and Plaza Premium lounges. You also get Fine Hotels + Resorts benefits at more than 1,600 properties, such as breakfast for two and guaranteed 4 p.m. late checkout.
It is also a charge card with no pre-set spending limit. Your purchasing power adjusts to your usage, which helps a business that pays large invoices.
In return, you must pay your Due in Full balance every month, or a 30% rate applies to the late amount. The Flexible Payment Option carries a 21.99% rate.
Insurance: the clearest gap
The Business Platinum includes out-of-province/country emergency medical insurance for cardmembers under 65, plus trip cancellation and trip interruption insurance. The Marriott Bonvoy Business card offers none of these three coverages, according to its certificate of insurance.
If you are 65 or older, neither card covers your emergency medical costs while travelling. We then recommend buying separate travel insurance before each trip.
- Annual fee
- $799
- Our valuationMilesopedia first-year estimate First-year valueWelcome bonus$2,040Total$2,040Rewards on your spending are not included. The calculator that adds them from your own profile is on the card's page.
- $2,040
- Welcome offerAfter $15,000 in 3 months
- Up to 120,000 points
Apply Now
on American Express's website
Apply with confidenceCheck whether your application will be approved before you submit it, with no impact on your credit score*When you apply for a personal American Express Credit Card, we will tell you whether you are eligible without affecting your credit score. So you can apply with confidence.*Instant decisions are only available for consumer Card applications (also called “personal Cards”).
What the Marriott Bonvoy Business adds
A free night that pays for the card
Each year, 8 to 10 weeks after your card anniversary, you receive a Free Night Award valid at a Marriott Bonvoy hotel with a redemption level of up to 35,000 points. At our valuation, that night is worth up to $350, more than twice the $150 annual fee.
Elite status and $50 employee cards
You also receive 15 Elite Night Credits each calendar year, enough to reach Silver Elite status, which starts at 10 nights. You move up to Gold Elite status after $30,000 in net purchases a year, or after 10 paid nights combined with your 15 credits.
On the management side, each supplementary card costs $50 a year. It is a standard credit card: you can carry a balance at 21.99% on purchases.
- Annual fee
- $150
- Our valuationMilesopedia first-year estimate First-year valueWelcome bonus$800Total$800Rewards on your spending are not included. The calculator that adds them from your own profile is on the card's page.
- $800
- Welcome offerAfter $5,000 in 3 months
- Up to 80,000 points
Apply Now
on American Express's website
Apply with confidenceCheck whether your application will be approved before you submit it, with no impact on your credit score*When you apply for a personal American Express Credit Card, we will tell you whether you are eligible without affecting your credit score. So you can apply with confidence.*Instant decisions are only available for consumer Card applications (also called “personal Cards”).
Our verdict by profile
The right choice depends on three questions: can you put $15,000 on the card in 3 months, do you already buy from Dell and Indeed, and do you transfer your points to Aeroplan for your flights?
- Choose the Marriott Bonvoy Business if you spend less than $5,000 a month, often stay at Marriott hotels or want to be able to carry a balance.
- Choose the Business Platinum if you put $15,000 on the card in 3 months and use its credits, or if your business spends mostly with suppliers and transfers its points to Aeroplan for its flights.
- Take both if your business travels a lot: the Marriott card for your stays, gas and dining, the Business Platinum for its credits, lounges and transfers to Aeroplan.
Frequently Asked Questions
Which card earns the most Marriott Bonvoy points?
The Marriott Bonvoy Business American Express Card gives you 2 to 5 Marriott Bonvoy points per dollar. The Business Platinum Card gives you the equivalent of 1.5 per dollar once your Membership Rewards points are transferred at 1,000 for 1,200. For a Marriott stay, the hotel card therefore earns at least 33% more points.
Is the Business Platinum Card worth its $799 annual fee?
Yes, if your business uses its 4 annual credits: $200 for travel, $120 for wireless services, $200 at Dell and $300 at Indeed. Those $820 alone exceed the fee. Without Dell or Indeed, you only have $320 in credits left, and the card becomes hard to justify below $5,000 of spending a month.
How much do you need to spend to unlock each welcome bonus?
With the Business Platinum, you earn 80,000 Membership Rewards points after $15,000 in purchases in 3 months, then 40,000 points for a purchase between months 15 and 17. With the Marriott Bonvoy Business card, you earn 70,000 points after $5,000 in 3 months, then 10,000 points after $1,000 in purchases in month 13.
Is there a minimum income for these business cards?
No, American Express requires no minimum income for either card. You must be a Canadian resident, have a Canadian credit file and have reached the age of majority in your province. Approval remains subject to American Express reviewing your file.
Can you hold both cards at the same time?
Yes, nothing prevents you from holding both cards. You can then put your Marriott stays, gas and dining on the Marriott card, and keep the Business Platinum for its credits, lounges and insurance. Expect $949 in combined annual fees, though.
Is the Business Platinum a credit card?
No, it is a charge card: you pay your Due in Full balance every month, otherwise a 30% rate applies to the late amount. It also offers a Flexible Payment Option at 21.99%. The Marriott Bonvoy Business card is a standard credit card at 21.99% on purchases.
How much do employee cards cost?
With the Marriott Bonvoy Business card, each supplementary card costs $50 a year. With the Business Platinum, an employee Platinum card costs $250 a year, but you can add up to 99 employee Business Gold cards with no annual fee. Your employees' points accumulate in your account.
Which card should you choose if you are 65 or older?
Neither card covers your emergency medical costs while travelling after 65, and the Marriott Bonvoy Business card offers none at any age. Your choice then comes down to points and credits only. Plan for separate travel insurance before each trip outside your province.
Learn more
- Compare every option in our ranking of the best business credit cards
- Understand the tax side of your points with our tax guide to points for businesses
- Get new business card offers by subscribing to our free newsletter