Copyright Men's Journal
Sonder, for years, touted itself as the short-term rental company that offers “a better way to stay.” But talk about a rude awakening, after thousands of travelers were forced over the weekend to vacate Sonder properties after the San Francisco-based company suddenly went out of business. Sonder, once a rival to Airbnb, was forced to shut down operations after its 20-year licensing deal with Marriott came to an abrupt end. Marriott announced on Sunday that its licensing agreement with Sonder “is no longer in effect due to Sonder’s default. As a result, Sonder is no longer affiliated with Marriott Bonvoy, and Sonder properties are not available for new bookings on Marriott’s channels.” The following day, Sonder announced “it will complete winding down operations immediately and expects to initiate a Chapter 7 liquidation of its U.S. business. The Company also intends to initiate insolvency proceedings in the international countries in which it operates.” Sonder, which was founded in Montreal and had operated in North America, Europe, and Dubai, essentially laid the blame on Marriott, claiming that the short-term rental company “faced severe financial constraints arising from, among other things, prolonged challenges in the integration of the Company’s systems and booking arrangements with Marriott International.” Guests Left Scrambling There are multiple accounts of guests sharing the nightmare they’ve endured since Sonder suddenly collapsed. Per CNN, Patrick M. D’Aoust received an email on Sunday from Sonder informing him that he needed to vacate his room, which he booked for an anniversary trip. He told the outlet that he asked staff if he could still stay until checkout time. The staff, however, told him he needed to check out as soon as possible. According to CBS News, Paul Strack, 63, was visiting Boston from Little Rock, Arkansas, when he received the same email. He ignored it, thinking it was a scam. Strack told the outlet that he went about his trip, exploring Boston. But when he returned, Strack says he found all of his stuff packed and waiting for him in the hallway. “Even our dirty clothes and toiletries were packed up, and our laptops were in plastic bags,” he said. Marriott says its “immediate priority is supporting guests currently staying at Sonder properties and those with upcoming reservations.” The hotel chain says it will “be contacting guests who booked directly through Marriott channels, including marriott.com, the Marriott Bonvoy App, and Marriott’s worldwide reservation centers, to address their reservation and booking needs.” Marriott says that “guests who booked through a third-party online travel agency should contact those organizations.”
