IHG One Rewards Premier vs Marriott Bonvoy Bevy: Which Is Better In 2025?

Marriott Bonvoy Bevy® American Express® Card Breakdown

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Why We Like It

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This card offers a solid package for Marriott loyalists, and here’s a closer look at what we appreciate about it.

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• You can earn 6X points on eligible Marriott Bonvoy hotel purchases, 4X points at restaurants worldwide and U.S. supermarkets (on up to $15,000 in combined purchases per year), and 2X points on all other eligible purchases.
• Cardholders automatically receive Marriott Bonvoy Gold Elite status and get 15 Elite Night Credits each year to help them climb the status ladder faster.
• By spending $15,000 in a calendar year, you earn an Annual Free Night Award (worth up to 50,000 points) that can easily offset the card's annual fee (See Rates & Fees). (publisher-formulated estimate)

_{Terms apply to American Express benefits and offers. Enrollment may be required for select American Express benefits and offers. Visit americanexpress.com to learn more. Eligibility and Benefit level varies by Card. Terms, Conditions, and Limitations Apply. Please visit americanexpress.com/benefitsguide for more details. Underwritten by Amex Assurance Company.}

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Pros

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• Cardholders receive complimentary Marriott Bonvoy Gold Elite status, which unlocks valuable hotel benefits like potential room upgrades and late checkout.
• The card offers strong rewards-earning potential on hotel stays, as well as at restaurants and U.S. supermarkets.
• An annual Free Night Award is available after meeting a yearly spending requirement, and there are no foreign transaction fees on international purchases.

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Cons

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• The card comes with an annual fee, and the annual Free Night Award is tied to a significant spending requirement rather than being an automatic perk.
• Its value is heavily dependent on frequent stays within the Marriott Bonvoy portfolio, offering limited benefits for travelers who aren't loyal to the brand.
• It lacks certain premium benefits available on other travel cards, such as statement credits for hotel purchases.

Marriott Bonvoy Bevy® American Express® Card vs IHG One Rewards Premier

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Categories

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Deciding which is better, the IHG One Rewards Premier or the Marriott Bonvoy Bevy, depends entirely on your travel habits and hotel loyalty. Both cards are designed for frequent travelers, but they cater to different hotel portfolios.

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• IHG One Rewards Premier Credit Card: This card is an excellent choice for frequent travelers who regularly stay at IHG Hotels & Resorts. It is designed to help you maximize hotel rewards and enjoy elite status perks within the IHG ecosystem.
• Marriott Bonvoy Bevy® American Express® Card: Also categorized for frequent travelers, this card is built for those who prefer staying at properties within the Marriott Bonvoy portfolio. It focuses on maximizing hotel rewards and providing elite status benefits.

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Redemption

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IHG One Rewards Premier Credit Card: Points earned with this card are primarily redeemed for award nights at IHG Hotels & Resorts properties worldwide. You can also use your points for other travel experiences or transfer them to partnered airline loyalty programs.

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Marriott Bonvoy Bevy® American Express® Card: Cardholders can redeem points for free night stays across the extensive Marriott Bonvoy portfolio of hotels and resorts. Points also offer the flexibility to be transferred to dozens of airline partners for flight awards.

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Travel Perks

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• IHG One Rewards Premier Credit Card: The travel ecosystem for this card is heavily weighted toward IHG properties. While cardholders can book through the Chase travel portal, the primary benefits are designed for IHG loyalists. It features no foreign transaction fees, making it a good companion for international travel. The card provides a statement credit for a Global Entry, TSA PreCheck, or NEXUS application fee. A significant perk is the anniversary free night and the ability to get a fourth reward night free on award stays. Cardholders also receive automatic IHG One Rewards Platinum Elite status. However, it does not include airport lounge access.
• Marriott Bonvoy Bevy® American Express® Card: This card’s ecosystem is built around the vast Marriott Bonvoy portfolio. Like its competitor, it has no foreign transaction fees. Cardholders receive complimentary Gold Elite status, which provides perks like room upgrades and late checkout when available. While it doesn't offer an automatic anniversary free night, you can earn one after meeting a substantial annual spending requirement. The card also lacks airport lounge access but includes various travel protections common with American Express cards, such as trip delay insurance and car rental loss and damage insurance.

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Compare Top Rated Credit Cards with Kudos

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To make an informed decision based on your own spending, a tool like Kudos can help you compare nearly 3,000 credit cards and find the best fit for your wallet.

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• Test Drive Cards: The platform’s 'Test Drive' feature lets you simulate how much you could earn with a new card by using your actual transaction history, providing personalized projections without a hard credit pull.
• Approval Odds Analysis: Members get access to a detailed, personalized analysis of their approval odds for different cards based on their credit report.
• Bonus and Spending Trackers: You can track your progress toward earning credit card sign-up bonuses and monitor all your transactions and spending in one place.
• Reward Stacking: Kudos offers its own rewards program, Kudos Boost, allowing you to earn extra rewards on top of your credit card rewards when shopping at partner stores.
• Welcome Offer Guarantee: The service provides a welcome offer guarantee, promising to match a better public offer if you find one within three months of being approved for a card through the platform.

Who Should Choose the IHG One Rewards Premier?

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The IHG One Rewards Premier Credit Card is tailor-made for travelers who frequently stay at IHG properties like Holiday Inn or InterContinental. These cardholders will get the most value by leveraging the automatic Platinum Elite status and the annual anniversary free night. Furthermore, those who book longer trips can maximize their points with the fourth-night-free benefit, solidifying the card's worth for dedicated IHG loyalists.

Who Should Choose the Marriott Bonvoy Bevy® American Express® Card?

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This card is a strong contender for frequent Marriott guests who want to accelerate their journey to elite status and maximize rewards on their hotel stays. It also appeals to those who spend heavily at restaurants and U.S. supermarkets and can meet the spending threshold to earn an annual Free Night Award. With a $250 annual fee (see rates and fees), the card is best for travelers who will use its perks enough to outweigh the cost, as detailed in this card review.

Alternatives to Consider

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If our IHG One Rewards Premier vs. Marriott Bonvoy Bevy® American Express® Card comparison has you thinking neither card is the right fit, don't worry. There are several other excellent travel rewards cards to consider.

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_{Terms apply to American Express benefits and offers. Enrollment may be required for select American Express benefits and offers. Visit americanexpress.com to learn more. Eligibility and Benefit level varies by Card. Terms, Conditions, and Limitations Apply. Please visit americanexpress.com/benefitsguide for more details. Underwritten by Amex Assurance Company.}

Tips for Application Success

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Before You Apply

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• Check your credit score as most premium cards require a good to excellent credit history for approval.
• Plan your spending to ensure you can naturally meet any minimums for a welcome offer or key benefits.
• Assess your travel habits to confirm you'll benefit from a card tied to a specific hotel loyalty program.

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Application Strategy

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• Link your loyalty accounts – Have your loyalty program number ready to link during the application process for co-branded cards.
• Know the issuer's rules – Be aware of any issuer-specific application rules that might affect your eligibility for a welcome offer.
• Time your application – Apply before a planned large purchase to help meet spending requirements more easily.

Our Methodology

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We evaluate nearly 3,000 credit cards across the U.S. market — far more than the ~150 cards commonly featured on sites that focus only on products tied to affiliate commissions. Our goal is to provide a comprehensive, unbiased view of the credit card landscape so you can make confident, data-driven decisions.

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Our editorial team combines deep industry experience with rigorous verification standards. While our experts surface the most relevant recommendations in our guides, you can also explore the full dataset yourself through our card explorer tool, which includes thousands of cards — more than 95% of which do not provide us with commissions.

Frequently Asked Questions

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What level of elite status do the IHG One Rewards Premier and Marriott Bonvoy Bevy cards offer?

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The IHG One Rewards Premier Credit Card automatically grants you Platinum Elite status, while the Marriott Bonvoy Bevy™ American Express® Card provides Gold Elite status.

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How do the free night awards work for each card?

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The IHG Premier card offers a Reward Night after each account anniversary, valid at hotels up to a certain point value. In contrast, the Marriott Bonvoy Bevy card provides a Free Night Award only after you meet a specific annual spending threshold.

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Can I transfer points to airline partners with either of these cards?

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Yes, both IHG One Rewards and Marriott Bonvoy allow you to transfer points to various airline loyalty programs. However, the transfer ratios and available partners differ between the programs, so it's best to check the current details before transferring.

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