Marriott Bonvoy Brilliant Card’s Welcome Offer History: 2019 to 2026

If you’re looking for a premium hotel credit card that blends luxury perks with long-term value, the Marriott Bonvoy Brilliant^® American Express^® Card has likely caught your attention. Positioned at the top of Marriott’s co-branded lineup, this card is designed for travelers who stay frequently at upscale properties and want meaningful elite benefits, statement credits, and strong earning potential.

Issued by American Express in partnership with Marriott, this card is one of the most comprehensive hotel-focused products available.

This guide covers when it makes sense to apply, how the welcome offer has evolved since launch, what benefits matter most, and whether this card is still worth its high annual fee.

When To Apply for the Marriott Bonvoy Brilliant Card

At its core, the Marriott Bonvoy Brilliant card is a hotel rewards credit card designed for travelers deeply invested in the Marriott Bonvoy ecosystem. Instead of offering flexible bank points that can be transferred to multiple airline and hotel programs, it focuses on earning Marriott Bonvoy points for free nights, upgrades, and on-property experiences.

This structure appeals to travelers who regularly stay at Marriott brands and prefer a single, integrated loyalty program. Many cardholders like this card because it combines automatic elite status, generous statement credits, and strong earning rates on hotel spending, making it easier to justify the high annual fee over time — $650 (rates & fees). It also works well for travelers who want premium perks without having to manage multiple cards and loyalty programs.

Unlike some other American Express cards, this card does not offer direct points transfers to airline or hotel partners. While Marriott Bonvoy points can be transferred to airlines, the rates are generally poor compared to transferable currencies, so this feature is best viewed as a backup option, not a core benefit.

Historically, this card has undergone major changes. It originally launched in 2019 following the Marriott–SPG merger, aiming to unify Marriott’s premium credit card portfolio. In 2022, American Express significantly revamped the card, adding new credits, adjusting benefits, and repositioning it as a true luxury hotel product with a higher annual fee.

Currently, the Marriott Bonvoy Brilliant card offers the following public welcome bonus:

• Earn 100,000 Marriott Bonvoy^® bonus points after you spend $6,000 within the first 6 months of Card Membership.

This bonus is structured to be achievable over time, with a long earning window that makes it accessible to many frequent travelers. Here’s how that offer compares to previous publicly available bonuses:

*Value based on our latest points and miles valuations, not provided by the card issuer. We value Marriott Bonvoy points at 0.7 cents each.

Looking at this history, the Marriott Bonvoy Brilliant card has experienced noticeable fluctuations in its public welcome offers, particularly around major program changes.

The highest offers appeared in the 2021 to 2023 period, when bonuses reached as high as 150,000 points. Those promotions coincided with broader changes to Marriott’s credit card portfolio and were designed to drive new applications during a transition period.

Since then, bonuses have gradually settled into the 95,000- to 100,000-point range. While these are lower than the peak offers, they remain competitive for a premium hotel card, especially when combined with the card’s ongoing benefits.

Terms Apply / Rates & Fees

Marriott Bonvoy Brilliant^® American Express^® Card

U.P. Rating 

The rating for this card has been determined by our own industry experts who know the ins and outs of credit card products. Bonuses, rewards as well as rates and fees are all taken into account. Compensation from the issuer does not affect our rating. We only recommend products we either use ourselves or endorse.

A premium card for Marriott fans who want perks like an annual statement credit and Free Night Award, plus a fast track to Marriott elite status.

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Marriott Bonvoy Brilliant^® American Express^® Card

A premium card for Marriott fans who want perks like an annual statement credit and Free Night Award, plus a fast track to Marriott elite status.

Welcome Offer

Earn 100,000 Marriott Bonvoy^® bonus points after you use your new Card to make $6,000 in purchases within the first 6 months of Card Membership.

100,000 points

UP's Offer Valuation*:

Up to $700

Annual Fee

$650

APR

19.49%-28.49% Variable

Credit Recommended

Upgraded Points credit ranges are a variation of FICO^® Score 8, one of many types of credit scores lenders may use when considering your credit card application.

Good to Excellent

Why We Like This Card

The Marriott Bonvoy Brilliant^® American Express^® Card is a premium card designed with road warriors and Marriott Bonvoy loyalists in mind.

So is the card a worthwhile addition to your wallet?

Pros & Cons

Pros

• 6x points per $1 at hotels participating in Marriott Bonvoy program
• 3x points per $1 on flights booked directly with airlines and restaurants worldwide
• 2x points per $1 on all other purchases

Cons

• Steep annual fee of $650 (rates & fees)
• 6x points per $1 is the same earn rate offered with lower annual fee alternatives like the Marriott Bonvoy Bevy^® American Express^® Card

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Card Highlights

• Earn 100,000 Marriott Bonvoy^® bonus points after you use your new Card to make $6,000 in purchases within the first 6 months of Card Membership.
• Earn 6X Marriott Bonvoy^® points for each dollar of eligible purchases at hotels participating in Marriott Bonvoy.
• Earn 3X points at restaurants worldwide and on flights booked directly with airlines.
• Earn 2X points on all other eligible purchases.
• Earn up to 21X Marriott Bonvoy^® points for every $1 spent on eligible purchases at hotels participating in Marriott Bonvoy. Earn 6X points with the Marriott Bonvoy Brilliant^® American Express^® Card. Earn up to 10X points from Marriott Bonvoy for being a Marriott Bonvoy member. Earn up to 5X points from Marriott Bonvoy with the 50% Bonus Points on Stays, a benefit available with your complimentary Platinum Elite status.
• $300 Brilliant Dining Credit: Each calendar year, get up to $300 (up to $25 per month) in statement credits for eligible purchases made on the Marriott Bonvoy Brilliant^® American Express^® Card at restaurants worldwide.
• A Marriott Bonvoy^® Platinum Elite member will earn 50% more points on eligible purchases at hotels participating in Marriott Bonvoy for each U.S. dollar or the currency equivalent that is incurred and paid for by the member.
• Receive 1 Free Night Award every year after your Card renewal month. Award can be used for one night (redemption level at or under 85,000 Marriott Bonvoy^® points) at hotels participating in Marriott Bonvoy^®, such as Le Metropolitan, a Tribute Portfolio Hotel in Paris. Certain hotels have resort fees.
• Each calendar year after spending $60,000 on eligible purchases on your Marriott Bonvoy Brilliant^® American Express^® Card, you will be eligible to select a Brilliant Earned Choice Award benefit. You can only earn one Brilliant Earned Choice Award per calendar year. See https://www.choice-benefit.marriott.com/brilliant for Award options.
• $100 Marriott Bonvoy^® Property Credit: Enjoy your stay. Receive up to a $100 property credit for qualifying charges at The Ritz-Carlton^® or St. Regis^® when you book direct using a special rate for a two-night minimum stay using your Card.
• Fee Credit for Global Entry or TSA PreCheck^®: Receive either a statement credit every 4 years after you apply for Global Entry ($120) or a statement credit every 4.5 years after you apply for a five-year membership for TSA PreCheck^® (up to $85 through a TSA PreCheck official enrollment provider) and pay the application fee with your Marriott Bonvoy Brilliant^® American Express^® Card. If approved for Global Entry, at no additional charge, you will receive access to TSA PreCheck.
• Each calendar year with your Marriott Bonvoy Brilliant^® American Express^® Card you can receive 25 Elite Night Credits toward the next level of Marriott Bonvoy^® Elite status. Limitations apply per Marriott Bonvoy member account. Benefit is not exclusive to Cards offered by American Express.
• With your Marriott Bonvoy Brilliant^® American Express^® Card, you can enroll in Priority Pass™ Select, with an unlimited number of visits to over 1,200 airport lounges in over 130 countries, regardless of which carrier or class you are flying. This allows you to relax before or between flights. You can enjoy snacks, drinks and internet access in a quiet, comfortable location.
• Trip Cancelled or Interrupted? If you purchase a round-trip entirely with your Eligible Card and a covered reason cancels or interrupts your trip, we may be able to help. Terms, conditions and limitations apply. Coverage is provided by New Hampshire Insurance Company, an AIG Company.
• No Foreign Transaction Fees on international purchases.
• $650 Annual Fee.
• Apply with confidence. Know if you're approved for a Card with no impact to your credit score. If you're approved and you choose to accept this Card, your credit score may be impacted.
• Terms Apply.

Financial Snapshot

• APR: 19.49%-28.49% Variable
• Foreign Transaction Fees: None

Rewards Center

Marriott Bonvoy

Historically, a typical public offer is around 100,000 points with a moderate spending requirement. The best-ever widely available bonus remains the 150,000-point promotion from 2022 to early 2024, which delivered exceptional value for applicants at the time.

Marriott Bonvoy Brilliant Card Benefits

The Marriott Bonvoy Brilliant card is a luxury hotel credit card with big-name benefits to match its high annual fee. It’s designed for travelers who want premium treatment, elevated status, and meaningful credits, not just points.

Here are the card’s most important benefits and earning rates:

• Earn 6x points on eligible purchases at Marriott Bonvoy properties
• Earn 3x points on flights booked directly with airlines
• Earn 3x points on restaurant purchases worldwide
• Earn 2x points on all other eligible purchases
• Automatic Marriott Bonvoy Platinum Elite status
• Annual free night award worth up to 85,000 points
• Up to $300 dining credit, available as up to $25 per month
• Priority Pass™ airport lounge access (enrollment required)
• Earned Choice Benefit after spending $60,000 on purchases in a calendar year
• Global Entry or TSA PreCheck application fee credit

The standout benefit is Platinum Elite status, which unlocks room upgrades, late checkout, bonus points on stays, and lounge access at many properties. For frequent guests, this alone can justify much of the annual fee.

The annual free night award is another major value driver, especially when used at higher-end properties. By pairing this with statement credits, many cardholders can offset a large portion of the card’s annual cost.

Final Thoughts

The Marriott Bonvoy Brilliant card remains one of the most comprehensive hotel credit cards available. Since its 2019 launch and major 2022 overhaul, it has evolved into a true luxury product for committed Marriott loyalists.

Its welcome offer history shows clear peaks and adjustments, with 100,000-point offers reflecting a more sustainable long-term approach. While that bonus level doesn’t match record-setting past offers, it still provides solid upfront value.

For travelers who frequently stay at upscale Marriott properties, value elite status, and can maximize the annual credits and free night certificate, this card can be an excellent long-term option.

The welcome offer should be viewed as a starting point, not the deciding factor. The best card is one that aligns with your travel habits, spending patterns, and redemption goals. If the Marriott Bonvoy Brilliant card fits how you travel, it can continue delivering value well beyond the first year.