New card - "American Express Canada and Marriott Unveil Refreshed Starwood Preferred Guest® Co-Brand Credit Cards" | Credit card reward programs | Discussion forum

We were wondering when Marriott would come out with this co branded card and it's August.

https://www.newswire.ca/news-releases/american-express-canada-and-marriott-unveil-refreshed-starwood-preferred-guest-co-brand-credit-cards-686796011.html

Not sure why no chatter on RFDs or Reddit yet but this is very big.

Especially for business (the business card) with a 5% return rate (supposidly the points are worth more than a percent though, never verfied) when staying at their hotels. Below is a quote:

An updated earn rate. For each dollar of eligible purchases charged to their Card, Cardmembers earn:
5 points for every dollar in Card purchases at SPG and Marriott Rewards® properties
3 points for every dollar in Card purchases on eligible gas, dining and travel
2 points for every dollar in Card purchases everywhere else

The consumer card is also pretty good:

An updated earn rate. For each dollar of eligible purchases charged to their Card, Cardmembers earn:
5 points for every dollar in Card purchases at SPG and Marriott Rewards® properties
2 points for every dollar in Card purchases everywhere else

In America they say launch date is 1st of August for the American version. Likely same launch date for Canada:

https://www.doctorofcredit.com/rumor-american-express-chase-to-team-up-limit-marriott-spg-bonuses/

There will be two cards in America:

https://onemileatatime.boardingarea.com/2018/06/26/does-it-make-sense-to-have-a-marriott-and-starwood-credit-card/

Basically, it's competing with the AMEX gold of Scotia bank at a 4% earn rate for some categories and a base return rate of 1% on other purchases.

Issues:

-It's a AMEX

-If you dont travel alot this card will take a long time to be redeemed and the points you accumlate will lose it's value overtime

-There will be a annual fee involved with this kind of a return

-You have to limit your choices of hotels

-Unknowns like insurances.

I was wondering why there was so much activity recently. Likely was because of this card. The only other card that comes close is the GMC Scotia Visa at 5% earn rate on all purchases up to a limit and than 2% after but that can only be used to lease or buy a car. This card can be redeemed for travel etc. Makes it much more appealing.