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The Starwood Preferred Guest (SPG) American Express Credit Card is no longer available to new applicants. Following the merger of Marriott and Starwood in 2016, the card was rebranded as the Marriott Bonvoy American Express Card in February 2020. This page preserves a summary of the original SPG card for historical reference and provides some insights into the value of the new replacement.

About the card

The SPG American Express Card was a hotel rewards credit card earning points in the Starwood Preferred Guest programme, which merged with Marriott Rewards in 2018 to form Marriott Bonvoy. The card carried an annual fee of £75.

How points were earned

The card earned 3 Marriott Bonvoy points per £1 on general spending and 6 points per £1 at participating Marriott Bonvoy properties. Based on an estimated point value of 0.7p at the time of the original review, this translated to estimated rewards rates of approximately 2.1% on everyday spending and 4.2% on Marriott hotel stays, though actual value depended on how points were redeemed.

Annual benefits

Cardholders who spent £15,000 in a card year received automatic Gold Elite status in the Marriott Bonvoy programme. Spending £25,000 in a year triggered a free weekend night award, redeemable at hotels in categories 1 to 4. A welcome bonus of 30,000 points was available to new cardholders who spent £1,000 in the first three months.

Limitations

The free night was restricted to hotel categories 1 to 4, excluding higher-tier luxury properties. A 2.99% foreign transaction fee applied to non-sterling purchases. As with all rewards cards, the card was only cost-effective for those who cleared their balance in full each month; cardholders needed to spend around £3,500 per year on general spending just to cover the £75 annual fee.

The Starpoint to Marriott Bonvoy conversion

When the programmes merged, existing Starpoints were converted to Marriott Bonvoy points at a rate of 1 Starpoint to 3 Marriott Bonvoy points, reflecting the difference in point values between the two programmes.

The replacement: Marriott Bonvoy American Express Card

The current Marriott Bonvoy American Express Card is the direct replacement for the SPG card, launched in February 2020. Key differences from the original SPG card:

• Annual fee increased from £75 to £95

• General spending earn rate reduced from 3 points per £1 to 2 points per £1

• Marriott hotel earn rate remains 6 points per £1

• Annual free night threshold reduced from £25,000 to £25,000 (unchanged), but the voucher is now valid for hotels up to 25,000 points rather than restricted to categories 1–4

• 15 Elite Night Credits awarded on application and each January, giving automatic Silver Elite status

How much is a Marriott Bonvoy point worth?

According to NimbleFins' 2026 analysis, the average value of a Marriott Bonvoy point is approximately 0.55p, with a range of 0.4p to 0.8p depending on the property, dates and redemption type. Since Marriott moved to fully dynamic pricing (meaning points costs fluctuate in real time with cash rates) there is no fixed redemption value.

How do you get the best value? It depends, but luxury properties and off-peak bookings tend to offer stronger value, while airline transfers and merchandise redemptions typically offer weaker value per point.

Using an illustrative mid-range value of 0.5p per point:

These are illustrative figures only. Actual value will depend on which properties you redeem at and when. To check current redemption rates and compare cash vs points for specific hotels, Marriott's redemption tool is at marriott.com/en-gb/loyalty/redeem.mi.

The "Stay for 5, Pay for 4" benefit

When booking five or more consecutive nights using points, Marriott awards the lowest-priced night free, effectively a 20% reduction in the points cost of the stay. This applies automatically and is one of the most straightforward ways to improve value per point.

Transferring points to airlines

Points can be transferred to over 30 airline partners at a ratio of 3 Marriott Bonvoy points to 1 airline mile. Airline transfers generally offer lower value per point than hotel redemptions and are worth comparing carefully before committing.

Representative example (current Marriott Bonvoy Amex): Based on an assumed credit limit of £1,200 at a purchase rate of 29.1% p.a. (variable) and an annual fee of £95, the representative APR is 52.5% variable.

Other hotel rewards options currently available

As noted in our hotel credit cards guide, the UK hotel credit card market is limited. The Marriott Bonvoy American Express Card is currently the only dedicated hotel loyalty credit card available to new applicants in the UK. For those who do not hold an Amex, or who want to earn points transferable to hotel programmes, the HSBC Premier World Elite Mastercard allows transfers to IHG One Rewards and Wyndham Rewards, though it requires HSBC Premier status.

For those who prefer cashback over hotel points, the American Express Platinum Cashback Everyday card earns 0.5%–1% on all spending with no annual fee.

Representative example (Amex Platinum Cashback Everyday): Based on an assumed credit limit of £1,200 at a purchase rate of 29.1% p.a. (variable) with no annual fee, the representative APR is 29.1% variable.

Card details for current products correct as of July 2026. Terms, APRs and availability are subject to change — always verify current details directly with each provider before applying. This article is for general information only and does not constitute financial advice. ClearScore is a credit broker, not a lender.