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Get free elite status with Marriott’s ‘Business Access’ scheme for small businesses

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In late 2020 Marriott launched a new program called ‘Business Ready’ aimed at SMEs in Europe, the Middle East and Africa. Unsurprisingly, given the pandemic timing, it didn’t seem to take off.

Six months ago, Business Ready turned into Business Access.

I thought it was worth taking a look today as Marriott is currently giving away free Gold and Silver elite status in Marriott Bonvoy to new Business Access members.

Business Access by Marriott Bonvoy

What are the benefits of Marriott Bonvoy Business Access?

Whilst the ‘Business Access’ microsite here is pretty sparse, these are the key benefits:

  • ‘Discounts’ on standard flexible rates seven days a week
  • Access to a company tracking and reporting dashboard
  • Ability to also book trains and car rentals via the Business Access platform
  • For a fee, you can access expense and budgeting tools

Under the previous SME scheme, Business Ready, the room discount was set at 8% off the Best Available Rate. The Business Access website does not say what discount is currently offered.

Business Access administrators can gift elite status

Based on the number of hotels nights booked via the platform, the administrator is able to gift Marriott Bonvoy status to their travellers.

The thresholds are:

  • 1 qualifying night stayed –  Gold status (1x)
  • 100 qualifying nights stayed – Silver status (1x)
  • 200 qualifying nights stayed – Silver status (1x)
  • 300 qualifying nights stayed – Gold status (1x)
  • 450 qualifying nights stayed – Gold status (2x)
  • 600 qualifying nights stayed – Platinum status (2x)

It is not clear if these thresholds are annual or over a certain time period.

Are there any exclusions?

Yes. Looking at the terms and conditions on the Business Access site, Design Hotels and Marriott Executive Apartments are not taking part.

You can currently only join Business Access if your SME is based in the US, Canada, Europe, Middle East, Africa, Caribbean or Latin America.

Marriott Bonvoy Business Access

How to register for Marriott Bonvoy Business Accesss

To access Marriott Bonvoy Business Access you need to register your company on the website here.

Once registered, you have to wait ‘a few business days’ for Marriott to approve your application.

In terms of whether your company qualifies, the terms says that ‘an SMB must be a legally registered corporate entity or possess a valid tax ID number, business number, or other relevant documentation that demonstrates that the SMB is a legal entity’.

Membership is for an initial 12 months. To retain your membership, you must meet unpublished targets in terms of the number of nights and the number of different locations booked.

How do I get free elite status with Marriott Bonvoy?

Business Access is currently running two promotions for travellers who link their Bonvoy account with their employer’s Business Access account:

Free Silver Elite status until December 2026

For a limited period, all new Business Access members who log in and link their Marriott Bonvoy profile to their employer’s Business Access account will receive Marriott Bonvoy Silver status until December 2026.

The benefits of Silver status are not great, frankly, with the key one being 10% bonus base points on every stay.

‘Fast Track to Gold’ offer, with status until December 2026

After receiving their free Silver status, members who complete eight nights within a three month period will be upgraded to Marriott Bonvoy Gold Elite status until December 2026.

The benefits include potential room upgrades (although you sit behind Platinum, Titanium and Ambassador members), 2pm late checkout (not guaranteed) and a 25% bonus on base points earned from stays.

You must register by 14th July 2025 to be eligible.

Conclusion

Business Access is the complete opposite to Hilton’s ‘Hilton for Business’ scheme which launched last year. Business Access wants to be a full travel management platform, with Marriott also selling you rail and car hire, but it ends up being quite complicated in the process.

‘Hilton for Business’ as our review shows has far fewer bells and whistles but it is exceptionally simple to set up and integrates easily with your individual Hilton Honors account. Let’s see which model ends up being most successful

You can find out more about Business Access by Marriott Bonvoy on its website here.


How to earn Marriott Bonvoy points and status from UK credit cards

How to earn Marriott Bonvoy points and status from UK credit cards (February 2025)

There are various ways of earning Marriott Bonvoy points from UK credit cards.  Many cards also have generous sign-up bonuses.

The official Marriott Bonvoy American Express card comes with 20,000 points for signing up, 2 points for every £1 you spend and 15 elite night credits per year.

You can apply here.

Marriott Bonvoy American Express

20,000 points for signing up and 15 elite night credits each year Read our full review

You can also earn Marriott Bonvoy points by converting American Express Membership Rewards points at the rate of 2:3.

Do you know that holders of The Platinum Card from American Express receive FREE Marriott Bonvoy Gold status for as long as they hold the card?  It also comes with Hilton Honors Gold, Radisson Rewards Premium and MeliaRewards Gold status.

We reviewed American Express Platinum in detail here and you can apply here.

The Platinum Card from American Express

50,000 bonus points and great travel benefits – for a large fee Read our full review

You can also earn Marriott Bonvoy points indirectly:

and for small business owners:

The conversion rate from American Express to Marriott Bonvoy points is 2:3.

Click here to read our detailed summary of all UK credit cards which can be used to earn Marriott Bonvoy points.

Comments (6)

  • Ian says:

    I have it.

    It is impossible to use as you need to log in to another platform to book and all hotels, even UK ones are priced in USD!

    The Hilton scheme just works.

    I was also called by them out of the blue to go over the system, but was driving so asked the gentleman to call me back.

    He didn’t.

    I did an hour later, get an email saying how great it was to chat and how I am now fully informed etc.

    I doubt that I will use it

  • Matt says:

    Business Ready was great – a definite discount and free breakfast for 1, and you just had to put your code in when booking.

    Business Access seems unusable, and I can’t see any reason why I’d want to try: as far as I could tell when I looked after signing up the discount was so small as to be invisible.

  • Carl says:

    I’m a little confused, it says business administrators can gift gold status after one qualifying stay.

    The article then goes on to say must complete 8 qualifying stays to be upgraded to Gold.

    • Gagravarr says:

      As the admin, you get 1 gold to give out after the first stay

      Beyond that, any of your team can also get gold after 8 stays

    • Rob says:

      The administrator can give out Gold to one person after one stay (I assume the person who gets Gold does NOT have to be the person who did the first stay).

      ALL travellers, however many hundreds in your company you get to register, can do the ‘8 nights to Gold’ challenge.

  • Gerry says:

    Gold and silver are pretty much worthless. Let’s not forget everyone these days has Bonvoy Gold status from some credit card.

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