Sonder Collapses After Marriott Split, What Travelers Should Do

Published on Nov 11, 2025, 11:03 am CSTUpdated on Nov 15, 2025, 10:18 am CST

4 min read

Key points

Sonder says it will wind down and pursue Chapter 7 liquidation in the U.S.
Marriott terminated its licensing deal on November 9, 2025, and removed Sonder listings
Active stays and upcoming bookings are being canceled or relocated with uneven handling
Travelers should contact the booking source immediately and secure alternatives
High-density Sonder markets will see tighter hotel availability and rising rates

Impact

Who Is Affected: Guests staying now in Sonder units, travelers with upcoming Sonder reservations, and advisers managing itineraries in cities with many Sonder properties
What To Do Today: Contact your booking source immediately, request relocation or a refund, and secure a backup hotel at a flexible rate
Dates To Know: Marriott ended the agreement on November 9, 2025; Sonder announced an immediate wind-down on November 10, 2025, with a Chapter 7 filing expected
Money And Points: If you booked through Marriott channels, expect refunds from Marriott; if you used an OTA or Sonder direct, pursue refunds or chargebacks through that channel
Plan B Guidance: Shift to nearby full-service or select-service hotels, prioritize flexible rates near your original neighborhood to minimize transport time

Sonder, the apartment-style lodging operator once positioned as a hotel alternative, says it will immediately wind down operations and pursue a Chapter 7 liquidation of its U.S. business. The move comes one day after Marriott International ended its licensing agreement on November 9, 2025, and removed Sonder inventory from Bonvoy and Marriott booking channels. Travelers in active stays have reported abrupt cancellations and relocations, and those with future reservations should secure alternatives now while inventory remains.

For a deep dive check out What Sonder's Collapse Means for Apartment Hotels

Sonder, Marriott, and what changed

Marriott said its agreement with Sonder was no longer in effect due to Sonder's default, and it removed Sonder properties from Marriott channels. Marriott also stated that its immediate priority was supporting guests booked through its systems. Within 24 hours, Sonder disclosed an immediate wind-down and said it expects to file for Chapter 7 liquidation in the U.S., with related proceedings in other countries. These two actions, taken in close succession, disrupted stays mid-trip and canceled upcoming bookings across multiple cities.

Latest developments

Independent and industry reports describe guests being asked to vacate, uneven relocation help, and confusion over who issues refunds. Coverage also notes the scale of the removal, roughly 140 properties and about 7,700 rooms that had been flowing through Marriott channels. Monitoring today focuses on the timing of the bankruptcy petition, city by city property status pages, and any expanded refund or goodwill policies from Marriott, OTAs, or card issuers.

Analysis

Travelers should assume that most near-term Sonder stays will not be honored, regardless of where they booked. If you are currently checked in, ask your booking source to move you to a nearby hotel tonight, then re-evaluate the rest of your trip. If your stay is upcoming, rebook independently at a flexible rate, then pursue a refund through your original channel. Expect higher prices and reduced availability in neighborhoods with heavy Sonder footprints, which historically included parts of New York City, Miami, Chicago, San Francisco, and several European city centers.

How refunds work

Booked through Marriott channels, Marriott has said it will support affected customers and process refunds. Booked through an online travel agency, you must work with that OTA for remedies. Booked direct with Sonder, start a refund request and document all communications; if service fails, use your card issuer's dispute process for services not rendered.

Fallback hotel guidance near former Sonder buildings

Prioritize large, well-located hotels that can absorb sudden demand, for example full-service brands near transit nodes and select-service properties a few blocks off prime corridors. When possible, use refundable rates and keep one backup reservation until your primary stay is guaranteed. If you previously booked through Marriott, consider rebooking within Marriott to keep your points plan intact. For broader context on the split that preceded this collapse, see our earlier coverage. https://adept.travel/news/2025-11-10-marriott-ends-sonder-deal-bookings-removed

Background

Chapter 7 is a liquidation process. A trustee is appointed, operations cease, and assets are sold to pay creditors. Unlike a Chapter 11 reorganization, travelers should not expect Sonder to continue operating through a restructuring period in the U.S. Third-party managers or landlords could reopen specific buildings under different brands later, but that is not a near-term solution for current bookings.

Final thoughts

The headline is straightforward, Sonder is shutting down in the U.S., and Marriott's termination accelerated the collapse. Do not wait for automatic notices. Secure an alternative hotel tonight if you are in residence, or lock a flexible backup if your trip is within the next two weeks. Then pursue refunds through the channel you used to book.