This is an ideal time to check out the co-branded cards if you're thinking about a Marriott hotel booking in the near future. There are currently three welcome bonus offers that run high on the Marriott Bonvoy American Express cards, and both of the top-tier personal cards (Bevy and Brilliant) have limited-time packages that will expire on September 30, 2026. The business card offer doesn't have an end date, but you should compare it with the other offers.

These three cards offer total value of $875 to $1,300 based on the one that matches your spending habits and your redeeming Bonvoy points. Let's take an objective view of each one.

Best Value Per Dollar of Annual Fee: Marriott Bonvoy Bevy Card

The Bevy card carries an annual fee of $250, and currently offers a $150 statement credit and 125,000 Marriott Bonvoy bonus points for spending $5,000 in the first six months. This bundled option comes with about a $1,025 per year value, which is pretty high for a mid-tier annual fee.

The benefits are ongoing, which is why it's worth keeping the Bevy beyond year one, especially if you stay at Marriott properties weekly! The card is automatically eligible for Gold Elite status, and 15 Elite Night Credits will be deducted from the annual card spending to help achieve Gold Elite status every year; the card will receive a free night award every year as well (valid at properties up to 50,000 points) after $15,000 in annual card spending. The earning curve is competitive in all the categories of everyday life: 6x at a Marriott hotel, 4x at any restaurant in the world, and 2x at U.S. supermarkets (on up to $15,000 combined per year), and 2x on everything else.

If you're a traveler who visits Marriott properties a couple times a year and aren't willing to pay $650 annually for some serious bonus points, the Bevy is a solid mix of immediate return and long-term return.

This is the Flagship option for Loyal Marriott Guests, the Marriott Bonvoy Brilliant Card

The Brilliant is $650 a year, and gives the largest welcome incentive at $250 in statement credits, plus 150,000 Bonvoy bonus points, after spending $6,000 in the first six months. The value of the total welcome is estimated at $1,300.

Bigger annual fees are warranted by the length and breadth of the continued benefits. It comes with platinum elite status for free, a welcome improvement on gold, and includes free room upgrades, better breakfast offers at participating properties and an increased elite night earning multiplier. In addition to the Dining Credits, the Brilliant also gives players 25 Elite Night Credits per year, which doubles their chances of qualifying for status a much more valuable certificate than the Bevy's 50,000-point award and up to $300 in annual dining credits, awarded to players as $25 per month in restaurants around the world.

While the credit card may seem like a fairly new thing in the hotel industry, it is definitely the most tangible advantage for frequent visitors who wouldn't otherwise be able to qualify for Platinum status, and would have to do so with actual stays.

Other benefits include the $100 property credit at Ritz-Carlton or St. Regis properties for two-night stays, Priority Pass Select lounge access when signing up and the Global Entry/TSA PreCheck fee credit. For heavy spenders, the additional value is added by hitting a card spending threshold that triggers the Brilliant Earned Choice Award (BEC).

The Small Business Option-The Marriott Bonvoy Business Card

The business card is a whole other game; a $125 annual fee and welcome structure consisting of two tiers: 75,000 bonus points after six months of $6,000 in purchases, and 50,000 bonus points after an additional six months of $3,000 in spending during the first six months. That's a total of 125,000 points and the welcome bonus is worth up to $875.

The business card is worth 6x at properties operated by the Marriott family, 4x at restaurants worldwide, as well as U.S. gas stations and U.S. shipping purchases and wireless telephone services directly purchased from U.S. providers. It also offers Gold Elite status, a 15 000 Elite Night Credit every year, and two free night awards: one on the account anniversary (up to 35,000 points) and one after $60,000 in annual spending (up to 35,000 points). With a worthwhile added bonus, there's up to a 7% off on paid stays at any Marriott Bonvoy property.

The Business card is especially effective for small business owners that may already be spending a ton in the mentioned bonus categories; the two free night awards valued at $125 every year is easy to justify.

The Selection of three Species Between which to Choose

The right card is based on a few simple questions on how you travel and spend.

The following is an overview for finding just the right spot:

• If you're looking for something that will give you a solid line-up of benefits, but not require a high-risk commitment of premium, then you should opt for the Bevy, which includes automatic Gold status, a $250 annual fee, and a great welcome bonus.
• Keep the Brilliant for frequent Marriott guests who appreciate automatic Platinum status, the free night certificate that has more points (85,000), the dining credits that you're actually using every month, and lounge access on the road.
• If you are a small business owner, are looking to earn 4 times across a variety of practical business spending categories, and want to enjoy two night awards per year at no extra cost ($125), then opt for a Business card.

Welcome bonuses usually revert back to lower standard offers after a set time with no assurance of when higher offers are available the Brilliant and Bevy offer is no exception. Amex also has a once per lifetime rule for welcome bonuses so it really matters when you apply them if you're looking for a boost.

Webinar on the Truth about the Effects of the Points System

For example, 125,000 Bonvoy points can be used for several nights' accommodation at mid-range Marriott properties or a single night at higher priced properties in off-peak periods. The 150,000 point Brilliant offer ventures into a realm where it's reasonable to expect to hit the score for a free weekend at a St. Regis, a W hotel, or a JW Marriott without needing extra points. Bonvoy's dynamic pricing model allows for actual point values to fluctuate based on property and date, but the ballpark value at standard redemption rates for the cards range from $875 to $1,300.

The certificate points are available for both the Bevy and the Brilliant, and can be supplemented by extra points if the desired property is a bit more expensive than the certificate, meaning the certificate points are quite useful on more properties.

The Bottom Line

The following three Marriott Bonvoy American Express cards offer welcome boosts that are presently running: Here are three welcome boosts that are currently active on Marriott Bonvoy American Express cards: The Bevy card has 125,000 points and a $150 statement credit when it comes to $5,000 in spending (worth $1,025), and it has an annual fee of $250 and comes with Gold Elite status automatically. 

The Brilliant provides 85,000 points each year that you spend free nights, $300 in annual dining credits, automatic Platinum Elite status, and a $650 annual charge after spending $6,000 worth of points on it ($1,300) worth. The Business card gives two tiers of up to 125,000 points for $9,000 in combined spending ($875) for $125 per year; Gold status with two free night awards. For any of these cards, a pre-deadline application by September 30 is a must to qualify for the higher bonus, and the once-per-lifetime Amex feature can help you make the timing of your application advantageous when you want to reap the most benefits from a card's welcome bonus.