As Marriott International plans to change its loyalty program, Chase has announced that it will launch a new co-branded credit card with the hotel giant — featuring, for a limited time, a show-stopping 100,000-point sign-up bonus.
The $95-annual-fee Marriott Rewards Premier Plus Credit Card will launch on May 3, 2018, according to the issuer.
With this new offer, “we think we’ve hit a home run, based on all the consumer research we’ve done,” says General Manager Vibhat Nair of Chase Card Services, who manages the Marriott relationship.
Chase said it will also release another Marriott-branded card in 2019. NerdWallet will report details about that offer as they become available.
Key features of the Marriott Rewards Premier Plus Credit Card
The benefits and rewards of the Marriott Rewards Premier Plus Credit Card are a big step up from those on its sibling card, the Marriott Rewards® Premier Credit Card, which has an annual fee of $0 for the first year, then $85. Here’s what we know about the new offer so far:
Sign-up bonus: Earn 100,000 points after spending $5,000 in 3 months (this will be a limited-time offer)
Annual fee: $95
Ongoing rewards:
- 6 points per $1 spent at participating Marriott International hotels
- 2 points per $1 spent on all other eligible purchases
Other benefits:
- Free anniversary night at eligible hotels (good for stays worth up to 35,000 points; Nair clarified that this benefit is capped in points rather than by hotel categories, unlike the benefit on its sibling card, so that the benefit stays the same if the categories change)
- Guaranteed Silver Elite Status and a path to Gold Elite Status after spending $35,000 in cardmember year
- No foreign transaction fees
- Beginning in early 2019, cardholders will earn 15 Elite Night Credits toward the next level of Elite status, and annually every calendar year thereafter. Each cardholder can earn this benefit only once (even if they have other Marriott-branded cards that earn the same benefit)
Marriott points currently are worth 1 cent each on average, according to NerdWallet’s current valuations. These valuations may shift as Marriott makes changes to its program.
Should you get it?
The Marriott Rewards Premier Plus Credit Card offers excellent value for anyone able to use the once-a-year anniversary night benefit, which can far outweigh the $95 annual fee.
How to upgrade
Nair notes that you won’t qualify for this card, which launches May 3, if you:
- Already have the Marriott Rewards® Premier Credit Card, or
- You’ve earned the Marriott card’s sign-up bonus within the past 24 months
However, if you already have the current Marriott consumer card or the Ritz-Carlton® Rewards Credit Card, you can upgrade to this new card by calling or going online to MarriottRewards.com/Upgrade after May 3. You may qualify for an upgrade bonus (similar to a sign-up bonus, but smaller). Offers vary depending on your account history, Nair says.
The information related to the Marriott Rewards Premier Plus Credit Card and the Ritz-Carlton® Rewards Credit Card has been collected by NerdWallet and has not been reviewed or provided by the issuer of this card.
