Marriott Severs Ties with Sonder, Stranding Thousands of Guests
Minjun and Kevin Ngo found themselves in a precarious situation during their stay at a Sonder rental in New York City. They received an urgent notice from Marriott stating that they must vacate immediately. The couple was in between apartment leases and relied on this rental as their only accommodation.
On Tuesday, Marriott announced the abrupt termination of its partnership with Sonder, leaving thousands of guests scrambling for alternative lodging with less than 24 hours’ notice. Many affected guests took to social media platforms like TikTok to voice their frustrations.
Marriott’s Partnership with Sonder Ends Abruptly
The relationship between Marriott and Sonder began in 2024, aiming to integrate Sonder’s apartment-style units into Marriott’s offerings. However, financial difficulties at Sonder led to Marriott’s sudden departure from the partnership. Issues with technology integration also plagued the collaboration, resulting in costly delays.
Recent financial figures from Sonder painted a grim picture. The company reported a $101 million net loss for the first half of 2025 and faced a staggering 469% decline in revenue compared to the previous year. Interim CEO Janice Sears expressed the company’s devastation in an official statement.
Guest Reactions to the Cancellation
The timeline of events raised many concerns among travelers. Bonnie Strahs, a guest in Philadelphia, expressed her disbelief about how the situation was handled. Travel advisor Georgia Fowkes noted that such an abrupt eviction from accommodations mid-stay is unprecedented in the industry.
Kevin and Minjun were among many guests who questioned the legitimacy of the evacuation notice they received, with one user initially mistaking it for spam. Customers reported that they had no prior warning about the partnership’s termination and felt abandoned by both Marriott and Sonder.
Marriott’s Response
In its statement, Marriott emphasized that its priority was to assist guests affected by the sudden changes. Those who booked directly through Marriott would receive support, while those who reserved via third-party platforms were advised to reach out to those services directly. However, this approach did not alleviate frustrations for many travelers facing higher hotel rates in the wake of their cancellations.
As holiday travel approaches, many guests with upcoming reservations are struggling to secure alternative accommodations. For example, Jaycee Brammer, who had booked a stay in New York City over Christmas, lamented the price increase for new bookings.
Impacts on Sonder Employees
The abrupt termination of the partnership also had a significant impact on Sonder employees. Many lost their jobs as the company faced its financial challenges. A former Sonder employee shared the shock of learning about the closure on the same day as guests were informed to vacate.
While Marriott’s customers seek compensation and alternative arrangements, the company has yet to clarify its plans to assist those most affected. As the situation unfolds, questions remain about the decision-making processes that led to such a chaotic termination of the partnership.
