Marriott Bonvoy HDFC Bank Credit Card – Benefits, Fees & Eligibility

Introduction

The Marriott Bonvoy HDFC Bank Credit Card stands as India's premier co-branded hotel credit card, specifically designed for individuals who frequently visit Marriott properties globally. This premium lifestyle and hotel-dedicated card, with a joining and annual fee of ₹3,000 plus applicable taxes, delivers exceptional value through a comprehensive suite of benefits. Cardholders are welcomed with complimentary Marriott Bonvoy Silver Elite status and a Free Night Award, alongside opportunities to earn substantial reward points on hotel stays and other expenditures, complemented by exclusive access privileges.

Welcome Benefits

• Complimentary Marriott Bonvoy Silver Elite Status.
• One Free Night Award and 10 Elite Night Credits upon an eligible spend transaction of Rs. 500 or the levy of the card fee.
  • This Free Night Award is redeemable for a one-night stay, inclusive of room rate and applicable taxes, at participating Marriott Bonvoy hotels, with a redemption value of up to 15,000 Marriott Bonvoy Points, and is valid for 12 months.
  • Wallet reloads and EMI transactions are not considered eligible for the first spend to avail this welcome benefit.
• The welcome benefit, including the Free Night Award and Silver Elite status, is also provided annually upon card renewal, following the realization of the annual fee.

Fees

• Joining Fee: Rs. 3,000 + Applicable Taxes (approximately ₹3,540). This fee will be charged on the 45th day of card issuance, effective from December 1, 2023.
• Renewal Fee: Rs. 3,000 + Applicable Taxes (approximately ₹3,540).
• Foreign Currency Markup: 3.5% on all foreign currency spends.
• Interest Rates: 3.75% per month (equivalent to 45% annually) on revolving credit.
• Fuel Surcharge: A 1% fuel surcharge waiver is applicable on transactions ranging from Rs. 400 to Rs. 5000.
• Cash Advance Charges: 2.5% of the advanced amount or ₹500, whichever is higher.
• Spend-Based Waiver: Not applicable.
• Rewards Redemption Fee: Not applicable.

Rewards

• Reward Points Accrual

  • Earn 8 Marriott Bonvoy Points per Rs. 150 spent on retail at hotels participating in the Marriott Bonvoy program.
    • This accelerated reward rate is applicable up to a monthly spend threshold of ₹10 Lakhs, after which cardholders will earn 2 Marriott Bonvoy Points per Rs. 150 spent.
    • Cardholders have the potential to earn up to 53,335 Marriott Bonvoy Points each month in this category.
  • Earn 4 Marriott Bonvoy Points per Rs. 150 spent on travel, dining, and entertainment.
    • This accelerated rate applies up to a monthly limit of ₹5 Lakhs, after which 2 reward points are earned per Rs. 150 spent.
    • Cardholders can earn up to 13,335 Marriott Bonvoy Points each month in this category.
  • Earn 2 Marriott Bonvoy Points per Rs. 150 spent on all other applicable purchases.
    • This rate is valid up to a monthly limit of ₹1.5 Lakhs on grocery spending, beyond which no reward points are earned in this category.
    • There is no cap on points earned for insurance spends.

• Excluded Spend Categories for Reward Points

  • Fuel
  • Smart EMI / Dial an EMI transactions
  • Wallet loads / Gift or Prepaid Card load/ Voucher purchases
  • Cash Advances
  • Payment of Outstanding Balances
  • Payment of card fees and other charges
  • Government related transactions & Rental transactions

• Milestone Benefits - Bonus Free Night Awards

  • Earn 1 Free Night Award on eligible spend of INR 6 lakhs in an Anniversary Year.
  • Earn 1 Free Night Award on eligible spend of INR 9 lakhs in an Anniversary Year.
  • Earn 1 Free Night Award on eligible spend of INR 15 lakhs in an Anniversary Year.
  • Each Free Night Award is valid for 12 months and can be redeemed for a one-night stay, inclusive of room rate and applicable taxes, at participating Marriott Bonvoy hotels, with a redemption level up to 15,000 Marriott Bonvoy Points.
  • This benefit is exclusively for the primary cardholder.
  • Free Night Awards are credited to the Marriott Bonvoy membership account within 8 to 12 weeks of reaching the respective milestone.

• Complimentary Marriott Bonvoy Silver Elite Status Benefits

  • Priority Late Checkout
  • Member Rates
  • Free Wi-Fi
  • Earn 10% more points on every eligible hotel purchase, which includes room rates and other incidentals charged to the room (e.g., dining).
  • Opportunity for a fast track to Gold Elite status upgrade.
  • Earn 10 Elite Night Credits each year.

• Lounge Access

  • 12 complimentary accesses within India (at both domestic and international terminals) using the Marriott Bonvoy HDFC Bank Credit Card each year for primary and supplementary cardholders.
  • 12 complimentary accesses outside India using the Marriott Bonvoy HDFC Bank Credit Card each year for primary and supplementary cardholders.

• Golf Benefits

  • 2 complimentary golf course accesses per quarter across the world (Green Fee Waiver).
  • 2 complimentary golf lessons per quarter at top golf courses worldwide.

• Insurance Benefits

  • Air Accident Cover: up to USD 12,500
  • Emergency Medical Expenses: up to USD 18,750
  • Delay or Loss of Checked-in Baggage Cover: up to USD 250
  • Loss of Travel Documents and Passport Cover: up to USD 250
  • Flight Delay Cover: up to $250
  • Credit Shield Cover: up to INR 1 Lakh
  • Loss Liability Cover: up to INR 900,000

• Diners Exclusive Offers

  • Fast Track Airport Experience: Skip the line for check-in and receive baggage assistance.
  • Dining Delight: Access to exclusive dining offers, covering gourmet cuisine to local delicacies.
  • Luxury Spas: Special rates for access to some of the finest spas within India.
  • Small Medium Enterprise (SME) Offers: Tailor-made benefits such as workspaces, business insurance, and wellness discounts to cater to business needs.

Rewards Redemption Guide

• Marriott Bonvoy points are automatically credited to your Marriott Bonvoy membership account.
• Cardholders can redeem their Marriott Bonvoy points to book stays at properties participating in Marriott Bonvoy®, for unique Marriott Bonvoy® Moments™ experiences, and for travel and other related benefits.

• Free Night Award Redemption Process

  • To redeem your Free Night Award, search for a stay using the "Use Points / Awards" option on the Marriott website or mobile app.
  • Select your preferred hotel and room type.
  • Review your reservation details.
  • If an award is available for your selected stay, it will be automatically selected.
  • Proceed to book your free night.
  • You have the option to use up to an additional 15,000 Marriott points to extend the value of your Free Night Award, allowing access to an even wider selection of hotels and resorts under the Marriott Bonvoy chain.
• Marriott Bonvoy Points and Award Redemptions cannot be exchanged or redeemed for cash, prizes, or credit.
• Points that are posted as a result of a transfer or earned from the use of credit cards may not be redeemable for certain specific Award Redemptions.
• Marriott Bonvoy points do not expire as long as the cardholder engages in at least one point earning or point redemption activity every 24 months in their Marriott Bonvoy Member Account.

Card Eligibility Criteria

• For Salaried Indian Nationals

  • Age: Minimum 21 years and Maximum 60 years.
  • Net Monthly Income: Must be greater than Rs. 1,00,000.

• For Self-Employed Indian Nationals

  • Age: Minimum 21 years and Maximum 65 years.
  • Income: Annual Income Tax Return (ITR) must be greater than Rs. 15 Lakhs per annum.
• It is important to note that the eligibility criteria are subjective and are solely at the Bank’s discretion. These criteria may also be changed based on the Bank’s internal Risk management policies.

Card Review

The Marriott Bonvoy HDFC Bank Credit Card is an ideal choice for individuals who are frequent travelers and loyal members of the Marriott hotel chain. As India's inaugural co-branded hotel credit card, it provides substantial value to its cardholders.

• Pros

  • The card's fee structure, encompassing reasonable joining and annual charges, offers significantly more value than its cost, positioning it as a highly beneficial card to possess.
  • It delivers a wide array of lifestyle and hotel-centric benefits, including complimentary airport lounge access and valuable Free Night Awards earned as milestone benefits.

• Cons

  • Redeeming Marriott Bonvoy Points often requires strategic timing to find the best opportunities, as the redemption value (ideally around ₹0.50 per point) can fluctuate significantly across different properties, leading to a lack of a clear and consistent redemption value.
  • The complimentary Silver Elite status, being only one tier above the basic level, could be seen as a drawback. For a premium, co-branded offering of this caliber, a higher complimentary elite tier might have been more fitting.

Important Product Details

• The Marriott Bonvoy HDFC Bank Credit Card is India's first co-branded hotel credit card, launched in partnership between HDFC Bank and Marriott International.
• As a welcome benefit, the card offers 1 Free Night Award, valid for one year at participating Marriott hotels and valued up to 15,000 Marriott Bonvoy Points.
• Cardholders receive complimentary Marriott Bonvoy Silver Elite status and 10 Elite Night Credits annually.
• The reward structure includes earning up to 8 Marriott Bonvoy Points per ₹150 on Marriott hotel spends, 4 points on travel, entertainment, and dining expenses, and 2 points on all other eligible spends.
• The card provides opportunities to earn up to 3 additional Free Night Awards upon reaching specific annual spend milestones of ₹6 lakhs, ₹9 lakhs, and ₹15 lakhs.
• Benefits include 12 complimentary domestic lounge accesses and 12 complimentary international lounge accesses per year.
• Cardholders also enjoy 2 complimentary golf course accesses and 2 golf lessons per quarter worldwide.
• Comprehensive insurance coverage is provided, featuring air accident cover, travel insurance, and credit shield benefits.

Other Details

• Zero Lost Card Liability: In the unfortunate event of losing your Marriott Bonvoy HDFC Bank Credit Card, immediately reporting it to the 24-hour call center ensures zero liability on any fraudulent transactions made on your credit card.
• Revolving Credit: Cardholders can enjoy revolving credit facility on their Marriott Bonvoy HDFC Bank Credit Card at nominal interest rates.
• Smart EMI: The card offers an option to convert your large spends into easy EMIs after purchase.
• Contactless Payment: The Marriott Bonvoy HDFC Bank Credit Card is enabled for contactless payments, offering a fast, convenient, and secure way to pay at retail outlets. In India, contactless payments are allowed for a maximum of Rs. 5000 for a single transaction without a PIN; for transactions equal to or higher than Rs. 5000, the cardholder must enter their Credit Card PIN for security reasons.
• Card Activation:
  • HDFC Bank Credit Card holders are required to activate their Credit Cards within 30 days from the Card Open Date, as per the Reserve Bank of India (RBI) ‘Master Direction - Credit and Debit Card - Issuance and Conduct Directions, 2022’.
  • If the credit card is not activated within 30 days, a grace period of 7 days will be provided for activation. The card will be closed at the end of the 37th day if it remains unactivated.
• How to Apply for the Marriott Bonvoy HDFC Bank Credit Card:
  • Applicants can begin the application process by clicking on the designated 'Apply Now' button, which will redirect them to the HDFC Bank portal.
  • Customers will need to enter their mobile number, name, date of birth, and other necessary details.
  • Authentication of details will be done via an OTP sent to the registered mobile number.
  • After confirming the details and submitting the application, the card will typically be delivered within seven business days upon approval.
• Marriott Bonvoy Membership Linking:
  • If an applicant is not already a Marriott Bonvoy member, they will be automatically enrolled in the Marriott Bonvoy Program upon the approval of the credit card.
  • For existing Marriott Bonvoy members, the membership number provided during the card application will be linked to the Primary Cardmember’s credit card.
  • Any additional or supplementary cards issued will also be automatically linked to the primary cardmember’s Marriott Bonvoy member account.
  • Customers with two distinct Marriott Bonvoy Membership Numbers have the option to merge both accounts after 30 days. Post-merging, all points, qualifying night credits, and other benefits will be transferred to the membership ID that the customer chooses to retain.
• Concierge Services:
  • Enjoy exclusive Concierge Services on your Marriott Bonvoy HDFC Bank Credit Card, available from 9 AM to 9 PM.
  • Toll-Free: 18003093100
  • Email: support@marriotthdfcbank.com
  • For HDFC Bank Customer Service, a 24x7 Helpline is available at Toll-Free: 1800 266 3310, and a Landline: 022-6171 7606 for customers travelling overseas.