American Express Marriott Bonvoy

Overview

The American Express Marriott Bonvoy is Amex's co-branded hotel rewards card for Canadian cardholders, earning Marriott Bonvoy points directly on every purchase. Issued by American Express at $120 CAD annually, the card earns 5 Bonvoy points per dollar at eligible Marriott properties and 2 Bonvoy points per dollar on all other purchases. Marriott Bonvoy is one of the largest hotel loyalty programs in the world, with properties across every price tier from affordable Courtyards to luxury Ritz-Carlton and St. Regis hotels. For Canadians who travel and stay with Marriott regularly, this card keeps the points accruing between stays.

Who this card is for

This card fits travellers who stay at Marriott-family properties at least a handful of times per year and want to accelerate their Bonvoy balance without relying solely on stays. The $120 CAD fee is in the mid-range and makes most sense for someone spending on the card consistently — the 2x base rate on non-hotel spend means the card isn't just useful at check-in. There's no income requirement, which keeps it broadly accessible. If you stay at Marriott hotels on business trips and want a card that layers points on top of those stays, this is the natural fit.

Key benefits

The 5x earn rate at eligible Marriott Bonvoy properties stacks with the Bonvoy points you earn as a member from the stay itself. Two or three business trips to a Marriott hotel, combined with that earn rate, can add up to a meaningful Bonvoy balance quickly.

The card includes 15 Elite Night Credits per calendar year — those credits count toward Marriott Elite Status tiers (Silver at 10 nights, Gold at 25 nights). Since the card automatically provides 15 credits, you only need 10 additional qualifying paid nights to reach Gold Elite, which carries perks like room upgrades and late checkout. After charging $30,000 CAD in net annual purchases, the card can upgrade you directly to Marriott Gold Elite.

One Annual Free Night Award is included after each account anniversary, redeemable at participating hotels with a redemption level at or under 35,000 Bonvoy points. A free night at that tier can cover many Marriott and Sheraton properties, and this perk alone is worth well more than the $120 CAD annual fee at most hotels.

Welcome bonus offers on this card have reached 50,000+ Bonvoy points — check the Amex Canada website for the current offer before applying.

Potential drawbacks

Bonvoy points are a hotel-specific currency — they don't transfer to Aeroplan or other airline programs at favourable rates (Bonvoy to airlines typically converts at a poor ratio). If flexibility matters to you and you want points you can use across airlines and hotels, MR-earning Amex cards like the Cobalt or Gold Rewards serve that role better. The 2x base rate is decent but not exceptional compared to category-specific cashback cards. Amex acceptance is narrower than Visa or Mastercard at some Canadian retailers.

How it compares

The American Express Marriott Bonvoy Business earns the same 5x at Marriott properties as the personal card but adds 3x on dining, gas, and travel at a $150 CAD fee — if you have significant dining or travel spend, the business version extracts more points on those everyday categories. For a non-business cardholder, the personal card's $120 fee and free night award make for a cleaner value proposition if you stay with Marriott regularly.

Bottom line

A solid option for Marriott loyalists who want to build Bonvoy points between stays and value the annual free night award enough to offset the fee. If Marriott isn't your primary hotel brand, a flexible MR-earning card will serve you better.