Copyright Newsweek
Sonder, a partner of Marriott, has gone bankrupt, and guests staying at its global locations have been told to vacate their rooms. One guest shared a photo on X of an email he apparently received from the hotel chain, informing him that he had to leave the premises before 9 a.m. the next morning. It read: "Sonder is no longer able to honor the remainder of your stay. We urge you to vacate the premises as soon as possible." There have also been reports that some travelers have returned to Sonder properties to find their belongings stuffed into plastic bags or dumped in hallways, according to the Daily Mail. Newsweek reached out to Marriott via email for comment. Why It Matters Sonder was once considered a rival to Airbnb as a widely used site that travelers relied on to book high-end accommodations around the world. The company, previously valued at $1 billion, was forced to file for Chapter 7 liquidation on Monday after Marriott International terminated its licensing deal due to "Sonder's default." Sonder properties are no longer available for booking. In its bankruptcy announcement, Sonder said that it had "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." What to Do If You Have a Sonder Booking The bankruptcy now means that anyone with future reservations at Sonder will have had their bookings canceled. If you have made a Sonder booking, you should have received an email about alternative accommodation affiliated with Marriott Bonvoy. If you have not received the email, Marriott recommends contacting the customer care team directly. How to Get Your Sonder Refund If you have made a reservation to stay in a Sonder property that was booked through a Marriott channel, such as Marriott.com, the Marriott Bonvoy Mobile App, the Customer Engagement Center, or Fliggy, it is recommended that you contact your bank to initiate a refund request. This will ensure that your refund is accurately recorded, Marriott said on its website. The refunds will be credited to the card used for the reservation payment, and Marriott has indicated that it will provide support in initiating the refund process. But as Marriott wasn't the one to charge the card, it will only be able to coordinate the appropriate parties. If you made the reservation through a non-Marriott site, then you will need to contact that company instead. In terms of how long it will take to receive your refund, this depends on your bank's policies, according to Marriott. It is unclear if those who were told to leave Sonder properties mid-stay would be given some form of compensation or refund as well. What People Are Saying Sonder interim CEO Janice Sears said in a statement: “We are devastated to reach a point where a liquidation is the only viable path forward...The Board and I are deeply grateful to our employees for their longstanding dedication to putting the guest experience at the center of everything we do. Due to their passion and effort, Sonder spent the last decade redefining hospitality with remarkable and accessible guest stay experiences. On behalf of the entire Sonder team, we express our gratitude to our guests and partners for their business and support over the years.” What Happens Next Those with bookings are advised to contact their banks or Marriott to organize refunds and find alternative accommodations.
