Amex Canada adds a no-fee Marriott card and gives Gold status to the others, but free nights now need $3,000

Canadians will get a no-annual-fee Marriott Bonvoy card from American Express on Feb. 9, 2027. On the same day, the two existing Canadian Marriott Amex cards move up from Silver to Gold Elite status. The trade-off is real, though. The personal card's fee goes up, and the annual free night will need $3,000 in spending.

American Express Canada and Marriott announced the changes on Nov. 10, 2026, in a Marriott news release. These are Canadian cards only. The U.S. Marriott cards from Chase and Amex are not part of this news.

The new card: Marriott Bonvoy Bright#

The Bright card has no annual fee. Here is what the release lists:

• 3X points at participating Marriott Bonvoy hotels
• 2X points on eligible dining
• 1.25X points on everything else
• Free Silver Elite status
• Five Elite Night Credits each year

There is no free night award on the Bright card, based on the release. It is a starter card for people who want to earn Bonvoy points without paying a fee.

The two current cards get Gold status#

The Marriott Bonvoy American Express Card and the Marriott Bonvoy Business American Express Card both move from Silver to Gold Elite. Marriott says Gold brings 25% bonus points on eligible stays, 2 p.m. late checkout and enhanced room upgrades when available.

Both cards keep their 15 Elite Night Credits a year. Both keep a free night award worth up to 35,000 points after each card anniversary. But that night now requires $3,000 in total purchases.

Card	Annual fee	Status	Free night
Bonvoy Bright (new)	$0	Silver	None listed
Bonvoy Amex	$120, rising to $150	Gold	Up to 35,000 points, after $3,000 spend
Bonvoy Business Amex	$150, unchanged	Gold	Up to 35,000 points, after $3,000 spend

All fees are in Canadian dollars.

Earning on the existing cards#

The personal card keeps 5X at Marriott hotels and 2X on everything else. The business card keeps 5X at Marriott hotels, 3X on gas, dining and travel, and 2X on everything else. Earning rates are not changing on either card, per the release.

When the changes hit#

The personal card's fee goes from $120 to $150 on your first annual fee billing date on or after Feb. 9, 2027. So if your card renews in the spring, you will see the new fee then. The business card fee stays at $150.

Amex and Marriott say full terms for all three cards will be posted at launch on Feb. 9, 2027. That means some details, such as the exact timing of the $3,000 spending window, are not public yet.

Is it a good deal?#

For most cardholders, Gold status is worth more than the extra $30 a year. Gold's 25% points bonus and 2 p.m. checkout are useful even on a few stays a year. On the other hand, the free night used to come just for renewing. Now you need to put $3,000 on the card first. If you keep the card in a drawer for the free night, that change matters more than the fee.

The Bright card fills a gap. Before, there was no way to get a Marriott Amex card in Canada without a fee. Silver status and five night credits are modest. Still, 3X at Marriott hotels with no fee is a fair deal for light travelers.

Reaction on X#

Rewards Canada flagged the new card the morning it was announced:

View this post on X

Points Miles and Bling summed up the trade-offs, calling out the $3,000 spending rule and the fee increase:

View this post on X

What to do now#

If you hold the personal card, plan for the $150 fee at your first renewal after Feb. 9, 2027. Then decide whether $3,000 a year in spending is realistic for you. If you have been waiting for a no-fee Marriott option in Canada, watch for the Bright card on Feb. 9.

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