Marriott filed a trademark for "Marriott Bonvoy Brilliant Business" on August 28, 2026.
The application, submitted by Marriott International, Inc. in USPTO Class 036, covers issuance of credit cards, payment processing, authorization, and transaction services. It's the clearest signal yet that American Express and Marriott are preparing a premium business card to match the personal Bonvoy Brilliant.The current Marriott Bonvoy Business® American Express® Card charges a modest $125 annual fee.
It earns 6x at participating Marriott hotels, 4x at restaurants worldwide plus U.S. gas stations, wireless services, and shipping, and 2x everywhere else. Cardholders get automatic Gold Elite status, 15 Elite Night Credits per year, and a free night award (up to 35,000 points) after renewal—plus another after $60,000 in annual spend. Solid, but hardly "Brilliant."The personal Marriott Bonvoy Brilliant® American Express® Card, by contrast, runs $650 and delivers Platinum Elite status, 25 Elite Night Credits, and an 85,000-point free night certificate.
It also throws in $300 in annual dining credits and other high-end perks. The gap between the business offering and this tier has been obvious for years—especially when Chase's Ink cards and Amex's own Business Platinum give business spenders stronger hotel alternatives in other ecosystems.This new "Brilliant Business" filing suggests Marriott and Amex are finally closing that gap.
A December 2025 Amex survey already floated a $600 annual fee for a premium business card. Speculation points to automatic Platinum status, a richer free night (likely 50k–85k points), more Elite Night Credits, and stronger earning or credits tailored to business spend. The "Brilliant" naming convention aligns it directly with the personal flagship rather than the workhorse Business card.That’s smart positioning.
Business travelers who already juggle Bonvoy status, corporate spend, and personal cards have long been forced to choose between mediocre hotel co-brands or routing spend through Chase Ink or Amex Business Platinum for transferable points and broader flexibility. A true premium Bonvoy business card could change the math—especially if it stacks Elite Night Credits with the existing business card (currently 15 from each side) and delivers Platinum-level benefits without needing 50 nights.Of course, nothing is official.
Trademarks get filed and sometimes sit. The lag between filing and launch can stretch months. No issuer statements have dropped, and benefits remain speculation based on the personal card and that old survey. Still, the intent is clear: Marriott wants a bigger piece of business wallets currently feeding Chase and the Amex Platinum ecosystem.If you’re optimizing Bonvoy status while running meaningful business spend, the play is obvious.
Hold off on grabbing (or renewing) other hotel business cards—Hilton, Hyatt, or even doubling down on the current $125 Bonvoy Business. The new card will almost certainly come with a fat welcome bonus and superior ongoing value. Applying now risks burning a 5/24 or Amex slot on a product that could be obsolete in six to twelve months.Watch for leaks in the coming weeks.
When pricing, exact earning rates, and the free night tier surface, the decision gets easy. Until then, keep your business spend on whatever earns transferable points or the current Bonvoy Business if you need the Gold status and 15 credits immediately. The upgraded version is coming—don’t jump early and regret it.Action item: Set a reminder to check Doctor of Credit and One Mile at a Time in October and November.
The moment concrete details hit, decide whether the new Brilliant Business justifies its likely $550–$650 fee for your specific mix of Marriott stays and corporate expenses. Early movers usually win on welcome bonuses; patient ones win on the final product.
