Thanks to Faarea Masud , Business Reporter and Danielle Kaye , Business Reporter BBC Online for the above headline.
Sonder was a Canadian Company similar to the AirB’nB , except they linked up very closely with the International Marriot Hotel Organisation even attempting to align to the Marriot Bonvoy Reservation Systems. The integration did not work and it looks like Marriot were not getting any funds for the use of their properties or rooms.
Hence unsuspecting Marriot guests were turfed out mid-booking .Indeed some of the Sonder employees who tried to help them have themselves ended up out of a job as Sonder seem to be in the hotels too. A double whammy, unsatisfied customers and disgruntled out of work employees.
Not sure what the business model was , but most of these hotels are not full all the time with their own Marriot generated bookings, so it’s natural to look at alternative ways of filling accommodation. Common sense would have said to honour the booking , take the loss and not use Sonder again. To throw people out in the street is not good business Marriot.
As for Sonder, well perhaps it wasn’t needed and there are Companies already in the market that can fulfil the need for good quality accommodation , perhaps even a friendly chat with your good ol’ local travel agent would enlighten you on availabillity.
thenotsomightyom 