American Express Marriott Bonvoy Business

Overview

The American Express Marriott Bonvoy Business is the business-oriented counterpart to Amex's personal Bonvoy card, designed for Canadian business owners who stay frequently at Marriott-family properties. Issued by American Express at $150 CAD annually, this card earns 5 Bonvoy points per dollar at eligible Marriott properties, 3 Bonvoy points per dollar on eligible gas, dining, and travel, and 2 Bonvoy points per dollar on all other purchases. The 3x rate across dining, gas, and travel makes this a meaningfully stronger everyday earner than the personal version for cardholders whose business expenses skew toward those categories.

Who this card is for

This card suits business owners and self-employed professionals who travel regularly on business and favour Marriott properties — consultants, sales reps, or anyone whose clients are in different cities. The 3x rate on dining, gas, and travel means common business expenses accumulate Bonvoy points faster than the personal card's 2x base rate. There's no income requirement, and the no-preset-spending-limit structure accommodates variable monthly business expenses. If you're booking client dinners, filling up a rental car, and checking into a Sheraton or Delta hotel, this card rewards all three in a single product.

Key benefits

The 5x earn rate at eligible Marriott Bonvoy properties matches the personal card — on a $500 CAD nightly hotel stay, that's 2,500 Bonvoy points per night from the card alone, on top of the points earned through your Bonvoy membership for the stay itself. Where this card pulls ahead of the personal version is the 3x earn rate on gas, dining, and travel, which brings everyday business categories up to a meaningful level.

The card includes 15 Elite Night Credits per calendar year toward Marriott Elite Status, the same benefit as the personal card. One Annual Free Night Award after each account anniversary is also included, redeemable at participating properties with a redemption level at or under 35,000 Bonvoy points.

Welcome bonus offers have historically been strong on the business version — often in the range of 60,000–80,000 Bonvoy points on a spend threshold in the first few months. Check the Amex Canada website for the current promotion before applying.

Potential drawbacks

Bonvoy points are hotel-specific and don't convert efficiently to airline currencies like Aeroplan. If you want a business card that earns transferable travel points rather than hotel currency, an MR-earning business card gives you more flexibility. The $150 CAD fee is mid-range for a business card, and the free night award is the key offset — if you're not staying at Marriott properties at least occasionally, the award goes unredeemed. Amex acceptance at some Canadian vendors is narrower than Visa or Mastercard.

How it compares

The personal American Express Marriott Bonvoy card earns the same 5x at Marriott properties and 2x everywhere else at a $120 CAD fee — the business version matches on Marriott earn but adds 3x on dining, gas, and travel, making the extra $30 CAD annual fee worthwhile for business-focused spenders with significant dining or travel spend. The American Express Gold Business earns MR points transferable to Aeroplan, which is a more flexible currency if you fly more than you stay in hotels.

Bottom line

A strong fit for business owners who stay with Marriott consistently and want their non-hotel business spending — dining, gas, and travel — to earn at an elevated rate. The free night award and 15 Elite Night Credits provide solid structural value alongside the higher earn rates.