While traveling numbers continue to improve, the U.S. economy still struggles. According to the latest Amex Trendex report, more and more consumers (and especially Millennials/Gen Z) are planning epic experiences but are seriously focused on travel hacks to help make those journeys affordable. Now, Marriott offers a little help with two big, limited-time welcome offers on select Marriott Bonvoy American Express credit cards.
Amex Trendex Report Highlights Travel Hopes & Fears
The latest edition of the Amex Trendex report sampled over 3,000 U.S. consumers with a household income of at least $50,000 and at least one flight per year. Here are the major findings of the study:
Experiences Trump Costs
The biggest findings show that most Millennial and Gen-Z respondents agreed that they would be willing to spend more money on once-in-a-lifetime experiences. That majority – a whopping 87% of respondents – is moderated by the fact that about two-thirds of respondents (65%) of Millennial and Gen-Z consumers surveyed have been saving money over the past six months to pay for the experiences they’ll attend over the summer.
Stretching Dollars is Key
Notwithstanding the financial impact of the coronavirus pandemic and subsequent inflation, some 75% of Millennial and Gen-Z respondents plan on spending more or the same on travel over the next six months as compared to the prior six months. A further third (35% of Millennials and Gen-Zs surveyed) plan on traveling over three times in the next six months.
Despite that, saving money and utilizing “travel hacks” are integral to the jet-set crowd. Here’s how respondents reacted to specific money-saving tips on travel:
- Booking a trip on a specific day/time that seems less popular (68% said yes)
- Using a credit card with travel benefits (62% agreed)
- Paying with credit card points to book a trip (57% agreed)
- Using Wi-Fi over roaming with data when traveling internationally (54% said yes)
Check out the full results of the latest Amex Trendex report for more information.
Marriott Bonvoy Limited-Time Offers to Help Supercharge Travel Savings
If those travel stats have you feeling a little woozy – don’t worry. American Express currently has two new welcome offers on its consumer Marriott Bonvoy credit cards to help supercharge future travel plans. Here are the limited-time welcome offers for new Marriott Bonvoy American Express cardmembers:
- Marriott Bonvoy Bevy™ American Express® Card: Earn 125,000 Marriott Bonvoy points after spending $5,000 in eligible purchases on your Card within the first six months of Card Membership. Terms and Conditions apply.
- Marriott Bonvoy Brilliant® American Express® Card: For the first time, new Card Members can earn two Free Night Awards with a redemption level of up to 85,000 points (up to $1,200 in value) after spending $6,000 in eligible purchases on your Card within the first six months of Card Membership. Certain hotels have resort fees. Terms and conditions apply.
This offer is valid to new Bonvoy Brilliant and Bonvoy Bevy cardmembers who apply between September 21 and November 1, 2023.
Here’s how the two consumer credit cards from American Express and Marriott Bonvoy compare:
| Marriott Bonvoy Bevy™ | Marriott Bonvoy Brilliant® | |
| Rewards | Earn 6X points per $1 at hotels participating in Marriott Bonvoy, 4X at restaurants worldwide and U.S. supermarkets (up to $15,000 in combined purchases per calendar year, then 2X points), and 2X points on all other eligible purchases | Earn 6X points per $1 at hotels participating in Marriott Bonvoy®, 3X points on U.S. dining and flights booked directly with airlines, and 2X points on all other purchases |
| Elite status | Gold Elite | Gold Elite |
| Annual fee | $250 | $450 |
Bonvoy Opens Up Boundless Opportunities
Marriott Bonvoy gives cardmembers access to nearly 8,600 properties within over 31 leading brands spanning 138 countries and territories, including the largest collection of luxury hotels, resorts and other options to meet all travel needs, including:
| AC Hotels | Element | JW Marriott | Ritz-Carlton |
| Aloft | Fairfield Inn | Le Meridien | Sheraton |
| Autograph Collection | Four Points | Marriott Hotels & Resorts | SpringHill Suites |
| Bulgari Hotels | Gaylord Hotels | Renaissance Hotels | Regis |
| Courtyard by Marriott | Homes & Villas by Marriott | Residence Inn | TownePlace Suites |
| Westin | W Hotels | ||
Even better, Marriott Bonvoy points transfer to over 40 codeshare partners, including some of the biggest names in global air travel:
| Aegean Airlines | Asiana Airlines | Frontier Airlines | Lufthansa |
| Aeroflot | Avianca | Hainan Airlines | Qantas |
| Aeromexico | British Airways | Hawaiian Airlines | Qatar Airlines |
| Air Canada | Cathay Pacific | Iberia | Saudi Airlines |
| Air China | China Eastern Airlines | Japan Airlines | Singapore Airlines |
| Air France | China Southern Airlines | Jet Airways | South Africa Airways |
| Air New Zealand | Copa Airlines | JetBlue | Southwest |
| Alaska Airlines | Delta Air Lines | KLM | TAP |
| All Nippon Airways | Emirates | Korean Air | Thai Airways |
| American Airlines | Etihad | LATAM | Turkish Airlines |
| Virgin Atlantic | Virgin Australia | United Airlines |
Both cards in this special welcome offer also provide Gold Elite status in the Marriott Bonvoy loyalty program, entitling members to upgraded free in-room Wi-Fi, reservation guarantees, mobile check-in, late check-out, access to an elite reservation line, and complimentary room upgrades when available at eligible properties.
Related Article: Delta Air Lines Announce Big Changes to SkyMiles Rewards Program
Featured image by Marriott Bonvoy/American Express
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