Marriott Plans New Credit-Card Deals, Sees Surge in Fee Revenue
Photo Credit: A family room at Pattaya Marriott Resort and Spa. Marriott International
Skift Take
With U.S. room demand staying subdued, Marriott may find its 2026 profit growth in a higher-margin place: credit card swipes on its co-branded cards.
Marriott expects "around a 35% increase" in co-branded credit-card fees this year, driven by issuers paying the company higher royalties and continued growth in cardholder spending.
Executives said on an earnings call Tuesday they're still negotiating new credit-card deals with JPMorgan Chase and American Express that could push fee income even higher once finalized.
Credit-card royalties have become among the highest-margin revenue streams for major hotel companies, and Marriott already generates more from them than any of its peers.
The expected jump would be "a material accele
