Three updates from the hotel points world. Two are limited-time offers. One is a permanent improvement.
1. Amex Marriott Cards Hit Record-High Signup Bonuses (Ends May 13)
Amex quietly bumped all three Marriott Bonvoy cards to elevated offers this week:
Bonvoy Brilliant ($650/yr)
200,000 points after $6,000 spend in 6 months
Includes 85k free night cert, Platinum elite status, $300 dining credit, Priority Pass
Bonvoy Bevy ($250/yr)
175,000 points after $5,000 spend in 6 months
Solid mid-tier option if the Brilliant fee feels steep
Bonvoy Business ($125/yr)
5 free night certificates (3 after $6k spend + 2 more after additional $3k)
Certs valid at properties up to 50,000 points/night
Best bang for the fee if you're a business owner
Are these worth it?
The Brilliant's 200k offer is the highest it's been. At ~0.7 cents/point (conservative Marriott valuation), that's $1,400 in value from points alone — before you count the annual cert, Platinum status, and credits.
Catch: Marriott points are worth less than Chase UR or Amex MR. But if you stay at Marriott properties, these offers are hard to ignore.
Offer expires May 13, 2026 — no rush, but don't forget it's there.
🔗 See what Marriott points are worth → Points Valuation
2. Chase Hyatt Business Card: 80,000 Points After $10,000 Spend
The World of Hyatt Business card is offering 80,000 Hyatt points after $10,000 in purchases in the first 6 months.
The math:
80,000 Hyatt points = 4-5 nights at a Category 4 property (Park Hyatt Nashville, Hyatt Regency Maui, etc.)
At cash rates of $250-400/night, that's $1,000-2,000 in value
Who should look at this:
Business owners or freelancers who can hit $10k spend in 6 months without manufactured spending
Hyatt loyalists who want to build status fast (card earns Tier Qualifying nights)
Anyone eyeing a Hyatt property for a trip later this year
The catch: $10,000 spend requirement is higher than most personal cards. Don't open this unless you can hit it organically.
3. Marriott Free Night Certs Now Top Off to 25,000 Points (Permanent)
This one's actually great — and it's a permanent program change, not a limited offer.
Old rule: Marriott free night certificates (35k, 50k, 85k tiers) could be topped off with up to 15,000 extra points.
New rule: You can now top off up to 25,000 points.
What that unlocks:
Cert Type | Old Max Booking | New Max Booking |
|---|---|---|
35k cert | 50,000 pts | 60,000 pts |
50k cert | 65,000 pts | 75,000 pts |
85k cert | 100,000 pts | 110,000 pts |
In plain English: that 50k cert you got from your Chase Boundless anniversary can now book a property worth up to 75k points per night. That opens up a lot more Marriott properties, including some Westin and Sheraton resorts that were previously out of reach.
If you have Marriott free night certs sitting in your account, check which properties are now in range.
🔗 See what your Marriott points and certs are worth → Points Valuation
Three separate stories, one theme: Marriott and Hyatt are competing for your wallet. The cert top-off change is the most quietly valuable of the three — it affects anyone who already has certs, with zero new spending required.
— Austin 🤌