American Express Marriott Bonvoy cards are getting some changes in the new year, and mostly for the better.
On February 9, 2027, both the Marriott Bonvoy American Express Card and the Marriott Bonvoy Business American Express Card will get Marriott Bonvoy Gold Elite status instead of Silver Elite. Gold is a big upgrade over Silver. You'll get more bonus points and free room upgrades when available.
There are some other changes to be aware of. The annual free night will no longer be automatically awarded. Instead, you'll need to meet a small minimum spend requirement. And the annual fee for the Marriott Bonvoy American Express Card is increasing to $150.
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New Marriott Bonvoy status
The automatic status given by Amex Marriott cards is getting an upgrade.
These cards will be offering Gold Elite instead of Silver Elite status. Here are some of the key differences between these statuses.
| Feature | Silver Elite | Gold Elite |
|---|---|---|
| Bonus points on stays | 10% | 25% |
| Late checkout | Priority late checkout, if available | Up to 2 PM, if available |
| Room upgrades | No | Enhanced room upgrade, if available (excludes suites) |
| Welcome gift | No | 250 or 500 points, depending on hotel brand |
| Wi-Fi | Free standard Wi-Fi (same as all members) | Free enhanced/premium Wi-Fi |
The biggest differences are the bonus points on paid stays, where Gold offers more, and free room upgrades when they're available.
Annual free night award changes
A small change is coming to the annual free night award. Currently, it's awarded automatically after your card's anniversary.
Moving forward, you'll have to spend $3,000 per year to earn it. It will still only be given to you after your anniversary date.
For most cardholders, this won't really change anything. But if you don't currently spend much on the card and only keep it for the free night, you'll have to start earning your free night award.
Nothing else about this perk is changing – it's still worth 35,000 points, and you can use 25,000 points to top it up if required.
Marriott Bonvoy American Express Card annual fee
The Marriott Bonvoy American Express Card is getting a new annual fee. It will be increasing to $150, in line with the Hilton Honors American Express Card that was just released.
There are no changes to the annual fee for the Marriott Bonvoy Business American Express Card.
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