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New Earned Choice Award Now Available for Marriott Bonvoy Brilliant Cardholders

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Juan Ruiz
Updated: 
Edited by: Nick Ellis
& Stella Shon
New Earned Choice Award Now Available for Marriott Bonvoy Brilliant Cardholders
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If you hold the top-tier Marriott Bonvoy Brilliant® American Express® Card, you already enjoy a long list of travel perks. But for those who spend big, the card just got a little more interesting.

Marriott has introduced a new incentive for those who spend $60,000 or more annually on the card. These cardholders can now access additional Choice Benefits like those available at the elite status level.

So, what does this mean for cardholders? Let’s dig in.

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A New Choice Benefit for Cardholders Who Spend $60K or More

If you spend $60,000 or more a year on your Marriott Bonvoy Brilliant card, you now get an extra Earned Choice Award to choose from. Until now, the card’s top perks maxed out at features like the annual free night award (up to 85,000 points), automatic Platinum Elite status, and a Priority Pass™ Select membership.

Now, Marriott Bonvoy Brilliant cardholders who hit $60,000 in calendar-year spend will be eligible for a new Earned Choice Award option: 50,000 Marriott Bonvoy points.

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Image Credit: Upgraded Points LLC

Once you hit that spending threshold, you’ll get to select an extra Earned Choice Award, which includes options like:

  • 5 Nightly Upgrade Awards
  • 1 Free Night Award valued at up to 85,000 points
  • $1,000 Off a Bed from any Marriott Bonvoy retail brand (This Earned Choice Award option will no longer be available for calendar years that begin on or after January 1, 2026.)
  • 50,000 Marriott Bonvoy points

A Marriott spokesperson confirmed that the 50,000-point Choice Benefit option is now a permanent perk for those hitting the $60,000 spend mark.

We value Marriott Bonvoy points at about 0.7 cents each, so if you’re a high roller spending $60,000 a year on the Marriott Bonvoy Brilliant card and pick the 50,000-point Earned Choice Award option, that’s roughly $350 back in value.

There are other solid options, too, like 5 Suite Night Awards (SNAs) or 1 Free Night Award worth up to 85,000 points. Both can offer some serious value. But if you’d rather have a fixed number of points to use whenever you want, the 50,000-point Earned Choice Award gives you that flexibility, making it a great option to have.

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Marriott Bonvoy Brilliant® American Express® Card
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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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Know if you're approved with no credit score impact

If you're approved and accept this Card, your credit score may be impacted.

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.
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 to $700
$650
19.74%-28.74% Variable
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
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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: 19.74%-28.74% Variable
  • Foreign Transaction Fees: None
Rewards Center

Marriott Bonvoy

This benefit is in addition to the card’s existing perks, such as the annual Free Night Award (up to 85,000 points), Platinum Elite status, and other travel-related benefits.

Hot Tip:

Once you hit the $60,000 spend threshold, you’ll have until February 1 of the following year to choose your Earned Choice Award. If you don’t make a selection by the deadline, Marriott will automatically assign the 5 Nightly Upgrade Awards — so be sure to pick your preferred award in time.

Final Thoughts

If you’re already spending big on your Marriott Bonvoy Brilliant card, this new Earned Choice Award adds more value to your loyalty. The 50,000-point option is now a permanent selection — so if you prefer the flexibility of points to use later (even without a specific redemption in mind), it could be a smart pick.

Remember to make your selection by February 1, or Marriott will assign the default suite upgrade awards to you.

Featured Image Credit: Upgraded Points LLC
Juan Ruiz's image

About Juan Ruiz

Juan is a leading expert in credit cards, loyalty programs, and airlines and hotels, with over a decade of experience helping readers and clients maximize points, miles, and travel value. His insights have appeared in prestigious outlets including USA Today, Travel & Leisure, CNN Underscored, Forbes, and The Points Guy, where he’s known for making complex travel strategies accessible and actionable. As the founder of JetBetter, Juan turns the complex world of points and miles into effortless, high-value travel, guiding clients through award redemptions, uncovering maximum value, and delivering stress-free, expertly planned trips that both travelers and industry insiders rely on.

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