American Express Canada and Marriott Unveil Refreshed Starwood Preferred Guest® Co-Brand Credit Cards

New benefits added to the Starwood Preferred Guest Consumer and Business Credit Cards set to launch August 2018

TORONTO, June 28, 2018 /CNW/ - Today, American Express Canada announces changes to its Starwood Preferred Guest® Credit Card and Starwood Preferred Guest® Business Credit Card, both set to roll out in August 2018. The updates follow the announcement of one set of unified benefits under the Marriott Rewards®, The Ritz-Carlton Rewards® and Starwood Preferred Guest® (SPG) programs, and have been established to continue to provide Amex Cardmembers great value out of their Card.

Debuting in August 2018 alongside Marriott International's newly unified loyalty programs, the Cards will offer business and leisure travellers updated benefits and ways to earn points across 6,500 properties in 127 countries and territories, across 29 brands.

"Building on the award winning Starwood Preferred Guest® Credit Cards from American Express, we continue to offer Canadians exceptional value and great potential to earn and burn points," said Aileen Kheraj, Vice President of Lending Products and Partnerships at American Express. "We're thrilled to partner with Marriott and their newly unified program, which provides our Cardmembers access to the largest breadth of property options and benefits offered by any hotel loyalty program in Canada."

Starwood Preferred Guest® Consumer and Business Cards from American Express will Offer New Benefits

In August 2018, the Starwood Preferred Guest® Credit Card from American Express will be refreshed and benefits will include:

• 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
• An Annual Free Night Award. This no longer includes a spend requirement and will now be redeemable any night of the week at SPG and Marriott Rewards® properties with a room rate of up to 35,000 points. This means you can redeem at over 5,000 hotel properties. It will be awarded automatically after a Cardmember's anniversary date.
• Automatic complimentary upgrade to Silver Elite Status. This entitles Cardmembers to priority late checkout where available, exclusive member rates, and more. In addition, Cardmembers will be eligible for complimentary Gold Elite Status after spending $30,000 each year.
• Free supplementary Card. Cardmembers will no longer incur an annual fee on supplementary Cards.

The refreshed benefits for the Starwood Preferred Guest® Business Credit Card from American Express include:

• 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
• An Annual Free Night Award. This no longer includes a spend requirement and will now be redeemable any night of the week at SPG and Marriott Rewards® properties with a room rate of up to 35,000 points. This means you can redeem at over 5,000 hotel properties. It will be awarded automatically after a Cardmember's anniversary date.
• Automatic complimentary upgrades to Silver Elite Status. This entitles Cardmembers to priority late checkout where available, exclusive member rates, and more. In addition, Cardmembers will be eligible for complimentary Gold Elite Status after spending $30,000 each year.

"American Express has been a valued SPG partner for many years and we're thrilled to extend this partnership in a way that provides the greatest opportunities for our members," stated Don Cleary, President of Marriott Hotels of Canada. "These refreshed Cards will appeal to people who want to maximize their points earning potential and use them as they pursue their travel passions."

Existing Starwood Preferred Guest® American Express Cardmembers and consumers who apply for the Starwood Preferred Guest® consumer and business Credit Cards from American Express will automatically receive the refreshed benefits launching August 2018.

For further information on the refreshed Starwood Preferred Guest® Co-Brand Cards from American Express, please visit https://www.americanexpress.com/ca/en/credit-cards/starwood-credit-card/.

About American Express in Canada
American Express is a global services company, providing customers with access to products, insights and experiences that enrich lives and build business success. American Express was established in Canada in 1853 and offers a variety of consumer and business products. Learn more at americanexpress.ca and connect with us on Facebook, Twitter and YouTube.

About Marriott International
Marriott International, Inc. (NASDAQ: MAR) is based in Bethesda, Maryland, USA, and encompasses a portfolio of more than 6,500 properties in 30 leading hotel brands spanning 127 countries and territories. The company also operates award-winning loyalty programs: Marriott Rewards®, which includes The Ritz-Carlton Rewards®, and Starwood Preferred Guest®.  Marriott Hotels of Canada continues to rank as one of the top 50 best places to work in Canada by AON Hewitt and was awarded Hotelier Magazine's prestigious Company of the Year Pinnacle award for 2015. For more information, please visit our website at www.marriott.com, and for the latest company news, visit www.marriottnewscenter.com. Connect with us on Facebook and @MarriottIntl on Twitter and Instagram.

SOURCE American Express Canada

Media contact: Meghan Edwards, on behalf of American Express Canada, [email protected], 416-300-5720; Becky Brescacin, American Express Canada, [email protected]